As soon as she came into view around the corridor, she was welcomed with a flying bullet.She cracked her shotgun and firedIf these men were here, it only meant that they were protecting someone Her first thought went to Emille. She thought they were protecting him. 'If I can get him, then I'll be able to pinpoint Dom and Brantley with ease.'She took cover.The men returned fire.She stayed behind the wall until the fire stopped, then she fired two more shots.Either party was firing randomly, no one was actually able to aim.The Grandmaster decided to follow the sound of the gunshot. But due to the effect of echo and refraction of sound, it actually led him in the opposite direction.Mila and the two men went back and forth, spraying bullets everywhere.Dom could hear the intense shelling from behind the door.Meanwhile, as soon as Grandmaster's reinforcement saw SWAT, they took cover in the Bundermann house and began exchanging fire with the police.This group was armed with sophi
She kicked the door open."Dom!" She whispered."Fabby!" Dom called weakly.Fabiola ran towards him, she tried to support him to stand up. "Can you walk?" She asked softly.He drew in a deep breath, "I think so. Get me a gun!" Even in his pain, his voice still held dark authority."You sure? How about you stay here and then I'll come for you later?" Mila suggested."Am not dead, am I?" Dom looked at her. He could barely open his eyes widely due to the swellings on his face…his whole body."No, you are not!" "Good, then do not ask me to sit here and do nothing!" He leaned on the wall and tried to balance his weight on his legs."You are bleeding." He remarked when he noticed the cut on her arm."Nothing serious, just a flesh wound." She brushed it off."By the way, do you have any idea where Brantley is being held? They got him too." Mila looked at him."That jerk! Don't bother about him, they would not hurt him." Dom stated nonchalantly and began limping his way out."What do you mean
"Stop this madness right now!" Grandmaster ordered.Fabiola did not stop."Mila!" Brant came rushing in. "Mila, you will kill him, stop!" He tried to pull Mila off Emille. She still would not stop"He is your brother!" Brantley yelled.Grandmaster's eye's bulged open.Even with the pain, Emille still rolled his eyes, 'This guy really has a problem keeping secrets.' Emille thought.Dom, who was at the verge of passing out, sat upright as though an electric revival current had been passed through his body.Mila, who was about launching another punch on Emille suspended her fist in the air.She furrowed her brows, "Carlson?" She looked down at Emille.She went for his neck, touching and pinching it, trying to take off the mask he had on."No, your real brother." Brant stooped down beside her.She looked at Brant and then at Emille who had a bloody face under her."Hi." He flashed her a smile with bloody teeth.Grandmaster sighed and took a step forward, drawing everyone's attention. "Don'
"I bet you have heard of the dark Princess?" Emille asked."Please don't tell me that the dark Princess is Mila?" Brantley dropped the picture, giving Emille an exhausted look while silently praying that he should be wrong and Emille was going to say otherwise."Yes she is." Emille replied bluntly."Why are you telling me all this?" Brantley asked."Because I need your help." Emille crossed his hands over his chest and stared at Brantley."You want me to take down the Grandmaster? I can't even…" Brantley started ranting.Emille rolled his eyes, "will you just shut up, young man!" Emille snapped, cutting Brantley off, "This is serious, ok?" Emille softened his tone. He pinched his temple, attempting to suppress the headache that was brewing."Aight, just kidding, bring it on." Brantley clapped his hand and leaned on the table."I'll…." Emille started.Brantley cut in by waving his finger in front of Emille.Emille furrowed his eyebrows, 'what is he up to again?' "Just so you know, you
"Everything went haywire when he killed my parents." Emille paused and swallowed spittle. His throat was not only patched from too much talking, but from awakening the pain he'd buried within him for years.Brantley could not hide his surprise, he jumped upright, "Did you just say that he killed your parents?" The turn of events…it was something that he'd never have imagined."I was there when he gave the order, I….." Emille's voice cracked."I begged him, I pledged to do anything he asked. He told me that they were dying because of my stubbornness." Emille blinked the tears away from his eyes.Brantley was scared to ask any question at this point, lest he triggers Emille, despite the tons of questions he had. He cleared his throat, "What did you do?" Brantley asked in a shallow tone…he wasn't sure of his voice."I sent a letter to my parents, telling them everything. I told them not to pay the money again, and I told them where to find me. The cops were to raid the place…well, the
Chapter 138Digging The Truth 1"Was the Painite ever mined?" Brantley asked."Yes, it was.""By whom?" Brantley asked."By me." Emille replied nonchalantly.Brantley was in utter shock. He snapped his head to stare at Emille. Emille had a passive look on his face as though it were a non-event."You mined it? How?" "The same way my father would have done.""Hold up, a lot of things don't add up." Brantley shook his head. There were still a lot of gaps in the story, he needed clarification."I know, you'll get to know about how I came to own all of this, including this building." Emille replied."This was your father's too?" Brantley asked, referring to the building__The Bundermann house.Emille nodded."So what is the plan?" Brantley asked, he did not want to prey in too much, despite his curiosity."I need to assemble everyone involved in this charade tonight. I thought it was gonna take some time, but no. I ran into Dom yesterday, I just could not let him go. I had to make adjustme
Chapter 139Digging The Truth 2"He is a lunatic, Fabiola, come on now." Grandmaster attempted to sway her once more."No, I am not." Brantley accompanied his response with a head shake. He leaned in on her warm palms when she opened her hand and cupped his face."Why would you do something like that?" Mila asked softly, her smile gradually faded."Because he is just as his father, murderers!" Grandmaster snapped. "O thought he was different, he wants to get rid of you too, after pretending that he was happy having you back." Grandmaster technically whispered the latter words. His words cut slowly and deeply through Mila's heart. The sound of his voice echoed and reverberated over and over in her head.For once, she had forgotten that Brantley was Mr White's son. It did not matter if he acted differently, maybe grandmaster was right…maybe Brantley had been pretending all this while.Mila's mood immediately changed, the mentioning of her family stung her, not only that, but also mentio
Chapter 140Closing up on the Truth 1"Brantley, are you Ok?" Mr White came rushing in from the direction in which Brantley and Emille had come from.Mila instinctively cracked a gun on his head, taking everyone aback.His voice startled everyone, but expressions quickly shifted to immerse surprise when Mila pulled out the gun. Her instinct caught all of them off guard.Mr White froze. He reflexly raised his hands in the air in surrender."Fabiola?" He whispered her name to be sure that he was seeing clearly.Maybe he was seeing well, she was actually Fabiola, but she looked like a pissed off demon. ' Isn't she Brantley's girlfriend?' he asked himself. 'Why is she pointing a gun at me when she had no gun at Brantley?' A lot of questions ran through his mind, but he was scared to ask. Not in a situation like this."Hello Uncle Brandon." She smiled a forced mechanical smile. It sent chills down Mr White's spine…literally, everyone felt the dark aura, probably more than what she'd exhib
THE END."What order, Mr Walborn?" The attorney went ahead to ask Mr Walborn."That Mr Rivers should be eliminated." Silence.Emille clenched his fist beside him.Even though Mr White only walked in, he was sitting on needles. He had his secrets, he knew what was going on. "We have the videos." One of the Court's IT workers announced.It was there, everything….from the squabble in the office to the phone call in the garage.Everyone gasped and turned to look at Mr White.Mrs White passed out.Brantley rushed to his mother.The twins held each other's hand tightly.Brenda leaned back in her chair.Mila's mind was teleported Somewhere else. Carl was bamboozled, he stayed motionless in his chair.Mama Rivers and Papa Rivers….well, there were no words to describe everything.……..All along, Mr White had been pulling the shots. He'd hired Mason based on Mason's greed.Mason had been working for him the entire time….he was the real Grandmaster.He found out about Mr Walborn being alive o
COURT TALES OF TRUTHFourteen minutes.It was almost time……"It is already time, your Honour, we should proceed." Grandmaster stood up and said.That was the advantage of representing yourself."We still have some more seconds, your Honour." The prosecution quickly added.The judge nodded. Grandmaster stood up to say something again, but his words were interrupted by the loud opening of the door.Everyone's attention was directed towards the door.One after another, all those who were against Grandmaster released breaths they never knew they were holding…surprisingly, even the judge.Disappointment was evident on Grandmaster's face.Dr Edgar accompanied Mr Walborn in the courtroom. Mila and Freya waited outside.When Brantley did not see Mila in the two-man procession, he immediately stood up on his feet and went outside."Which of these men is the supposed witness?" The judge asked even before Dr Edgar and Mr Walborn could reach the front of the courtroom.Dr Edgar indicated that i
THE CLOCK IS TICKING"Can the prosecution explain to the court why your said witness is not yet available?" The judge asked. She was getting impatient, it was evident."Technical transportation issues." The state lawyer responded.He leaned towards Emille and asked, "what is keeping your witness?" He asked in a whisper."What is holding him back is the only reason why they would not want him to testify, but don't bother, he's being escorted by one of the best bodyguards." Emille replied."Excuse me." Emille stepped out of the court to call for Mila.Brantley had arrived in the court too. He was worried, not that Mila could not take care of herself, but because he loved her, so it was natural for him to worry."What the hell is going on?" Emille asked in a concerned tone as soon as Mila answered."We got company." Mila replied."Do you need more refreshments?" Emille asked."I got it, I guess water would be enough to entertain them." Mila said over the phone."Good then, tell me where
THE AMBUSH.Randy rode in another car, tailing closely behind Mila.When she got to her condominium, she did not step out, rather she called Dr Edgar to bring Mr Walborn outside.Dr Edgar had personally selected a suit for Mr Walborn. The different clothes made him look 10 years younger."You look handsome, Mr Walborn." Mila smiled as she held the door open for him."Thank you, child. At least this doctor here has fine taste in quality clothes, only if he could put those skills to what I put in my stomach." Mr Walborn glared at Dr Edgar. Mila could not help but laugh."You look handsome too." She mouthed to Dr Edgar when Mr Walborn got into the car. Dr Edgar was dressed in a simple shirt and trousers, he had a clean shave. That alone made him look really different."Thank you. You look stunning yourself." Dr Edgar complimented back. Compliments were being poured at randa."Thank you for coming with us." Mila smiled at Dr Edgar."I have to do my job as a babysitter." Dr Edgar gave a sh
NAKED SLEEPOVERThe newly bonded family decided to spend the night together.Carl and Phelix were pals, they warmed everyone's heart, especially Mila because she never known that he was good with kids. She had no idea whether or not he loved kids, she did not even know what he loved.Pops had ruled their lives in such a way that all their likes were buried within them and only what he approved, that was what they did…to his face though.She allowed the cold water to run down her body. Everyone together, the smiles, the crying, the hugs, the laughter…this is what she'd ever wanted, not tension, the type of atmosphere she grew up being used to under Pop's roof.It was less than twenty four hours, and everything changed. For once in her life, she did not have to worry about tomorrow. Only if everyone she loved could be here…Only if Dom had lived to experience this different breeze…even just for a day."Fuck this life!" She cursed, turned off the shower, threw a bathrobe on her wet body.
BRENDA IS SCARYBrantley laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling while he pondered about what Brenda told him earlier.Brenda was nosy, everyone knew that, but she wasn't a liar. She could be blunt sometimes, but the kid sure knew when to keep her mouth shut.She was smart too, probably more than all of them…well, except him, he had a photographic memory after all.He knew that she would not tell him all those things except something more was going on in that house. He had plans on saying hi to his mom before leaving, but he left without saying a word. He felt guilty, but he could not do otherwise.With the revelation, he wasn't sure to face anyone, especially his father.He needed time to think. He could not just jump into conclusions, he had to get more details about everything before concluding."She said that she was pushed, by who? Who would want to hurt you?" He pondered out loud.'Then why did she keep quiet only to say it now?' He thought."Who are you going to see in th
WHAT BRENDA KNOWS'Why do good men die and the selfish monsters live?' Brantley pondered as he walked down the corridors of his father's house empty mindedly."Do you want to bulldoze me before you notice that something is in front of you?" Brenda was starting in front of him, with her short self and crutches.He halted abruptly, for real, he had not taken note of the girl."Oh, I see you've upgraded to crutches. They're cute." Brantley rubbed her head like a kitten.She supported her weight on one crutch, freed her other hand and used it to slap his hand off."Why are you always fighting with father?" The youngest White asked.Bran was stunned, he did not expect that question from here. He was speechless for a few seconds, trying to think of an appropriate response to that."We were talking, maybe a little of a disagreement, but we were not fighting." Brantley looked down and said."You were loud!" She raised one side of her lip, confident about her statement and presumption."Wha
SWEET REUNION"Nice meeting you." Carl forced a smile.The expression on his grandparents' faces changed immediately.He sunkened his shoulders, 'Just as I had expected, outcast!' The words reverberated in his mind.He wished he could turn back the hand of time to just a 5 minutes ago, he'd make sure to get away from here and prevent none of this from happening."Mason had a son?" Papa Rivers looked at his wife. "Isn't he handsome? He looks like an angel." Mama Rivers praised.Carl raised his brows. 'Did they mean the opposite of what they said, or…he had judged the situation wrongly.He looked at Mila, she smiled at him."How old are you, boy?" Mama Rivers asked."I'm 28 years old, ma'am." Carl held his hands together in front of him as though he was for a religious procession.Mila raised her brows and hung her mouth open at his lie."Nonsense, don't call me ma'am. I am your grandmother. Come here!" Mama Rivers rebuked him and hugged him."Just for the record, he is still 27 years o
OUTCAST"Why do you want to see Fabiola?" Brantley decided to ask at one point. He just refilled their tea cups.Mama Rivers who was about raising her cup to take a sip, paused mid way. She stared at her husband who also had the same look on his face."Oh, we knew her when she was a kid. Since we were in town, we decided to drop by." Papa Rivers replied."Oh, ok. I see." Brantley nodded. There was an awkward silence among them."We'll see your father and enjoy the view a little before going back." Papa Rivers added."I will be glad to show you around town. I bet they'll be so much to entertain both of you." Brantley smiled."Yeah." And there goes the silence again. ________"I got a text from Brant, he said that the package was at my doorstep." Mila looked at her brothers. They were just touching down back in Limesville."Just as we thought." The ever nonchalantly Emille said.Carl was silent."I bet they got my address because of the media." Obviously."So…we are going to your hou