LUCAS’S POVI walked into the car flanked by my usual entourage. The air outside the police station really did sound and feel nice. I could still feel the weight of my gun in my pockets as I walked out of the double doors of the station's main block.That stripper— lovie or whatever the fuck her real name was had annoyed me by doing the one thing I hated the most and the best way to pay her back was to give her the best punishment there was.Death.“The ride is ready sir,” Darwin, who stood close to me turned to my side. I nodded softly, turning my gaze to the sight of the car parked outside.The car was painted all black just the way I liked it. I strutted up to its figure and paused taking a moment to stare at the car. It was definitely one that came off my cargo which was recently dropped from Russia.Darwin hovered to the door and opened it wide for me to enter. The door chimed open and I stepped into the car, the warm air enveloping me. The warmth from the leather braced my skin,
LUCAS'S POVAUTHOR’S NOTE: Dear readers, I read all your comments and I appreciate each and every one of them. I'd love to read more under this chapter. The chapter below is very long and I know you all deserve more. I hope you enjoy it. ~~~“The presidency,” I growled, my voice low. A dark grin tugged at my lips, my gaze flickering to the sight of the familiar man on the bed.He had aged quite far from the last time I saw him. His hair, which was once vibrant black was now bleached white, soft wrinkles here and there but overall, I could still see the face of the one man who disowned me years ago in his vibrant green eyes.I know you're expecting me to talk about how much of an easy going person my father was but I'll rather tell you a different story. He was the first person in the world to shun me— the first person to ever pick someone over me.He picked him over me.He did that when we were kids and now, I wouldn't let history repeat itself. Rage flashed in my green eyes as I suc
LUCAS'S POVIn that swift moment, I watched the president being wheeled out of the room into the theater. I rushed alongside the speeding nurses but paused before the ICU unit. I watched the theater's lights flicker red.It didn't take up to a minute before I saw the doctor who was stepping in. “Is anything wrong doc?” My voice was stern, cold. The doctor, an Asian man in a doctor uniform, stared back at me with wide doe eyes.“He had another attack.” I heard the doctor say. “And at this point it is very crucial at this point. The president's heart can not take—” I listened attentively, taking in the details and the information he was spilling but just before he could complete his speech, I heard the sound of footsteps speeding into the hallway.I stiffened, maintaining my stance. I already knew it was Xavier running down the hallway and just then, I heard the sound of his panting. I turned, staring at him from the side of my eyes. It was obvious the hospital had sent out a notificat
XAVIER'S POV When I heard the president had another attack, I had rushed out of the mansion in my car with my heart reeling. “I'll be there as soon as I can.” I said, my phone clutched tightly in my palm.I raced out of the main building, Ella and I were in the middle of a conversation when I received the call from the hospital. The nurse that had called had a shaky voice that added to my worry.I shuffled through the parking lot with Alex, my assistant, running behind me trying to catch up but I was too fast. I paused in front of one of the cars and turned to him to give me the car keys. “Are you going to be okay sir? I can call a driver to drive you to you lo—” I watched him speak as I interrupted, “Just give me the keys.”With my order, he threw the keys in my direction. I caught it, the keys making a sound as I clutched them. I pressed the button on the key and watched as the car's lights flickered. I walked over to the driver seat and pulled the door open, the clear class refle
LUCAS’S POV“We're here sir.” I heard the voice of the driver who was driving me.I turned to face him. The driver. He was dressed in an all black attire just like all of my other men. I gripped the knob to the door and twisted it as the door sprang open.I stepped out of the car and felt the soft chilling breeze that plucked greedily at me. It was windy today, I remarked. Darwin, my assistant hovered close to me as I made my way from the parking lot over to the mansion's door.It glistened under the soft rays of sunlight, clear tall glass's that chimed open and close automatically. My mind was still fixed on Xavier and that doctor, they were both hiding something— something crucial.Just as I walked past the door, I heard Darwin's voice. “After the visit with Madame Browne, you have another one—” Just as he was about completing his words, I interrupted him, “Clear my schedules tonight,I have somewhere I have to be.”I strutted past the huge living room, the maids in the mansion turni
LUCAS'S POV “Oh, let the poor maid go, darling. Besides, we both know there are more important things to get settled on.” I heard the calling voice, recognition clicking almost immediately. I gazed back into the tear filled eyes of the maid huddled up against the wall, watching as muffled gasps seeped out of her lips. I was just about to grab her by the neck when I heard her voice. Madame Browne, my pretend wife.I released a low chuckle, turning to face her slowly. My gaze caught her figure, long lustrous hair, thin figure, heavy make-up— she looked just as beautiful as the wife I'd left back home thirty two years ago. She had on a long mermaid gown that clung to her edges, her dolled up face staring back at me. It all seemed as if Madame Browne was the only thing, person rather, who was still the same as I'd left her.“Let her go!” I ordered, my voice shrill. Immediately, the lady was released, I heard the low grunts she made before scurrying alongside the other maids like she w
XAVIER'S POV After the last nurse stepped into the theater room, I watched the door close. The lights against the wall glistened red hues that sent shivers down my spine.I waited behind in the hallways waiting patiently for the feedback from the doctor. I had been sitting there for over an hour and a half now. It seemed the surgery wasn't going to finish any minute from now.My mind was filled with worries, intrusive thoughts and concerns about the president. What if he didn't make it? I shook my head softly, trying to remove the thought from my mind.Thinking negative things could only make them happen, I had to look on the bright side. For starters, the doctor had told me the president had a very strong heart that was able to withstand the last two attacks so I was sure, it would be able to withstand this one also.I ransacked my mind for other good points I could deliberate about but I found nothing— nothing but the intrusive thoughts that lingered freely in my mind. The silence
XAVIER'S POV I couldn't believe my eyes. The rage and the anger in my veins all washed away once my eyes met his. The president. He… he was alive?My jaw fell as my fingers brushed my eyes to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. The president, the same man the doctor had proclaimed dead, was standing right there, in a hospital gown on a wheelchair.I had a lot of questions bubbling up in my mind, queries surfacing as I watched him being pushed closer. The look on my face did not do enough justice to the series of emotions I had reeling in my veins.My heart skipped a beat, maybe even two. I turned my head to glare at Doctor Jiang, he wasn't shocked. He sat on his chair, tucked nearly back on the high neck swivel chair as if I hadn't pushed him against a wall some minutes ago.Slowly, I tilted my head back to see the president and confirm it all. He was still there. No, that couldn't be. Just hours ago, he was rushed into the surgery room with little chances of making it out alive and no
MADAME BROWNE'S POV He was there.Right there.Seated on the chair and cladded in all black outfits. His eyes sparkled under the soft hues of lighting from the chandelier. As I strolled towards the dining area, my heart thumped violently in my chest. My fingers clenched into hardened fists that were pressed to my sides. Sweats.Cold sweats clung to my forehead as I walked towards the table where he sat. I moved towards the table and once I was close enough, I took a seat on the chair and fixed my eyes on him. He had on a hat that shaded over his face and allowed dark shadows cast across his features.His eyes sparkled nonetheless. His gaze is as heavy as carrying rocks but in my case, the rocks were being dragged against my body. My chest fell as I heaved out a sigh and tapped on the table.“Hello?” I muttered and his fingers which I now noticed were cloaked in dark gloves pulled off his hat. A sense of fear washed into my veins as my lungs tightened and I choked on a breath.A low
MADAME BROWNE'S POVWhile in my unconscious state, I felt darkness wrap around me. I saw, felt and even heard nothing. Nothing other than that ding. With each time it came, I writhed, twisted and strived to get it to stop. I was sick and tired of it and to make matters worse, I was beginning to get scared to my wits as questions pulsed through my mind. Did I die? Was this all another version of hell? I was expecting an erupting volcano, heat and a little bit of fire but all I saw was darkness. Thick, dark darkness. I was about to ponder on a question when I heard a ding. I tried to move but my body wouldn't budge.I tried again and then again but with each trial, I drew closer to the realization that maybe I had died. I mean my body wasn't going to move anymore and the signs were beginning to police together.I was about to accept the finalisation of my current dilemma when all of a sudden, I felt the elevator shake. Panic surged through me and in a fit of fear and confusion, I trie
MR MCKINNEY'S POV If you are reading this now, you must've thought Madame Browne had died. Well, I wished she was dead too but not all of our wishes came true and the acceptance of the fact was the beginning of maturity.Don't be discouraged yet. There was still a lot of things coming for her that she just didn't know yet. You see, when I planned on getting someone to do something, I made sure to leave no stones untouched. Right now, I was seated on my chair with my arm crossed and my eyes fixed on the tablet in front of me. Right there on the screen was Madame Browne, fallen and weak with sharp fearful gasps rolling out of her lips.She was afraid.Don't get me wrong this was the only time I'd seen her this shaken to fear. Her hair which you'd expect tostull be tied up in some fancy bun was now let down in rough, messy strands that draped down to her back. She was currently trying to block the dings I was letting off stop but little did she know that I, Mr McKinney, was the one beh
MADAME BROWNE'S POVThe entire walk from my room down to the elevator was long because most of the minutes were spent pondering on the invite. I bit my fingers slowly as fear pulsed throughout me in sharp jolts. The guard who was sent to call me over there led the way since I was too shaken with suspicion and fear to go alone. As I followed his lead, I still couldn't let out the gleams of suspicion that clawed at my chest.Something was in the hallway. Something was watching over me, judging maybe even cackling as I made my way to the elevator with my steps as soft as feathers. The guards' back figure filled me with relief as I rubbed my chest and sighed.Several droplets of sweat trickled down my forehead as I paused and watched as he jabbed his fingers against the controls. The buttons by the elevator beeped countlessly for a long period of seconds but the doors didn't open.It was as if someone was in it but if that were to be the case at hand, the indicator had to be flashing red
MADAME BROWNE'S POV As I stepped out of the car, the cold wind justled several strands of my hair into the air as I struggled to keep my strands down. My fingers brushed off some blocking strands as I paced towards the door leading into the mansion. Two guards stood by it with firm frowns on their faces. “Thank you.” I muttered out loud to the driver who was probably engulfed in something else to respond. I made my way to the door and as I approached it, the drivers standing by it, pulled it open as I stepped into the mansion. I walked into the mansion and walked directly to the staircase. I made sure no one was watching before I placed silent steps up the stairs. The overhead lights in the room flickered brightly as I traced my steps up it. It didn't take long for me to arrive at the hallway leading into the elevator. I tapped on the buttons and as the door chimed open, I locked my arms and inhaled deeply as I waited for the ride to come to an end. My body was aching so much I n
MR MCKINNEY'S POV I stayed at alert all through the time the guards informed me she had stepped out of the mansion down till the car that drove her out veered into the mansion. My eyes widened almost immediately as my fingers roved over to the window panes as I adjusted to me to get a clearer view of the car.Just as it parked safely in the parking lot, the door to the room pulled open and as the cracks it made slashed through the silence in the air, I paused then flashed my gaze in the direction. I tilted my head and I met the blank faces of the two security guards I gave the task of relaying every update on Madame Browne's movements to me. The golden brown lighting in the room buzzed over their cold features as one of them stepped forward. “She's here, sir.” he mumbled coldly and just then, I heard a sound. It wasn't from the room but from the parking lot.If I heard it correctly, it was the sound of her driver's voice. I wasn't able to catch the exact line of words he used but I
LUCAS'S POV The moment Madame Browne stepped foot out into the restaurant, I felt my heart thump heavily in my chest. A cold shiver trudged down my spine as a sensation sprouted within me. I didn't know how to explain it but it was there. Blossoming. Growing. With my gaze fixed on her figure, I carelessly grabbed a bottle of wine and raised it to my lips. The sour taste of grapes washed down my throat as I stared back at her. She was pacing towards the table in a black dinner gown that wasn't too flashy but still blended in with the people in the bar.They all seemed discreet enough to not even flash a glance at us. Everyone had their attention fixed on the people they came to meet and nothing else. No stolen glances, no glaring eyes… nothing. It felt like we were all alone.I had to give accolades to my assistant. She really did know what her job entailed and delivered effortlessly. My fingers curled around the wine glass as I placed it back on the table and for a split second, sho
MADAME BROWNE'S POV AN HOUR EARLIERAfter the call with Lucas, he passed the phone over to his assistant who I surprisingly caught up well with and as he did, her voice blared out. “You can come over. I've fixed a dinner reservation for you and him to talk it all out and figure out the next step to take.”I nodded softly as I asked, “What time is that going to be in?”Her reply came in quicker than I was expecting. “In about twenty minutes from now, I'll send you the address.”Just as she said that, my phone buzzed in my grip and as I paused talking just to glance at my screen, a pop-up message from her number came up. I read the letters on the card slowly and after reading it, I replied her softly. “Okay. I'll be out in a bit, it actually isn't that far from the mansion.” I uttered the words and as I finished, I ended the call and raced over to my wardrobe where I picked the first dress I saw and zipped it down as I stepped into it. Pulling the gown back up, I ran my fingers over t
MR MCKINNEY'S POVI shouldn't have chased him away. He wasn't wrong but I just couldn't stand seeing him like that. For the first time in the entire decades I'd spent raising him, my little boy was making his stand and as much as I wanted to let him flap his wings I couldn't let him go out there and lose his life to Lucas.I knew who he really was and how dangerous he was and having him contend with Xavier would crush me. Lucas could have him killed within the blink of an eye and I'd lose the one thing I promised myself I'd watch over. Just if you weren't aware, I made a promise to myself after the death of his parents to take care of him and shield him from any form of harm and now…I guess he'd outgrown my tactics buti just couldn't let him out of my grasp. At least not now. Not when everything was a standstill and each and every move we made was being closely watched by him. Lucas.My heart palpited in my chest as I watched him turn his back and leave. A part of me wanted to hold h