"Doctor, is she going to be alright?" Uncle Pete asked the young man who looked to be in his thirties with cool nerd glasses as he approached us."She's in a critical condition. She's going to undergo surgery to remove shards of bullets detected in her stomach. Also, she seemed to have been tortured badly. Some of her organs are in desperate need of repair before they become damaged." The doctor divulged importantly.Blood drained from my face. Despite the many tears I'd shed, more still filled my eyes and ran down my cheeks.Critical condition.If she was this way, then how would I ever know the situation or location of my children?Who would do this to me?Elisa had said, just before she went unconscious, that 'she had them'.My hands were stained with her blood but in that moment, it didn't matter.Who had my kids?She. Who was the 'she' that would hurt me this bad? Who
CHRISTIAN"Denise?" My brows furrowed in befuddlement as soon as I stepped into the storage room located across the hallway of my office. I switched on the light. I could tell it was her even in the dim lit room but I had to make sure. I had just come out of my office when I saw suspecting movement from the storage's window and decided to have a look at who might be there.There she was in a casual shirt, jeans and a pair of sneakers — totally not office wear. And she was with someone.A man. "What are you doing in here, Christian?" She stepped forward, trying to appear calm but I could see through the calm exterior.She was a bit unnerved that I'd caught her in here with that man."Who's he, Denise?" The man asked. His question rubbed me off the wrong way. "Who am I? What does he mean by that question, Denise? Are you cheating on me with an elderly man?" I was trying to hide my hurt and anger."Hey, watch your tongue." The man with a long coffee brown hair with silver glints in
"What are you doing? Leave me the fuck alone! I don't know anything about any kids." Mia yelled and struggled with the officers as they clasped the handcuffs around her wrists. "What do you think you're doing, Hailey? Arresting my daughter-in-law?" Martha blocked my path, stopping me from leaving their home."Leave my path or I'll have the police arrest you for aiding and abetting." I warned her in the chilliest of tone. It was the next day and my kids were yet to be found. My secretary was still battling for her life in the hospital. I was this close to losing my sanity."Control your fiancee, uncle. Why are you letting her do this? She's using your influence." Jared was talking to his uncle. "Fiancee? What are you talking about?" Martha appeared confused until she spotted the engagement ring I'd bought for myself nestled amongst my fingers. "Oh, I see. You wench! Gold digger!""Don't let me have you arrested." I nudged her out of the way. "Let's go." I beckoned on uncle Pete."S
His phone rang, I grabbed it from him and picked. "Hello, who's this? Where are my children?! Give them back to me!" I screamed into the phone."Hello, bitch. Been a while." The voice chuckled, it was mischievous-sounding.Tears were already falling down my face, disbelief and shock spread through my features. "Catherine?""I'm glad you remember me." She laughed again.Uncle Pete was surprised, he gestured for me to put in on loudspeaker."Where's my husband? I want to talk to him."With shaky fingers, I handed the phone to Uncle Pete.He took it. "Catherine?""Yes, it is me darling. How have you been? I've missed you, it's been years.""Why do you have the children? How do you even know about them?"A low, sinister chortle emanated from her. "You should know by now, I will do anything to have you back with me.""Release the children.""I would love to but you have to get Mia out of
"Where are my babies?" I cried, struggling to get up from the hospital bed I was laid in.The heart monitor beeped faster and erratically. "Calm down, Hailey. You'll end up hurting yourself." Jared was trying to calm me but I was having none of it.Uncle Pete was nowhere in sight and neither were my kids. "No! I need to see my babies." I would not stop crying. The mental image of my babies tied up and unconscious in those boxes was enough trauma for me. Who would do that to five year olds? Zaya and Zion were innocent in all of this. Why would Catherine do this to my children?"Calm down and I promise to get them for you." Jared's tone took on a softer edge. I met his gaze. "Where are they? A-are they fine?""Yes, they are. The doctor said they're responding to treatment and will be awake soon. I'm sure you do not want to them to see you in this state." He said as a way of trying to make me relax.I stopped struggling but it was hard to relax. I couldn't relax until I was sure they
JAREDI stood at the window watching her. She was tired and unwell, that much was obvious.There was this difference about her that I'd noticed the moment I set my sights on her in that ballroom.She had changed in these past few years. The old Hailey would never have been bold enough to arrest Mia. Or talk back at me.Hell, she even raised a hand to my face in public. Well, honestly, I think I deserved that slap. I should never have made such an insensitive statement.I would apologize for it as soon as things were back to normal.She held both arms of her kids and closed her eyes, her body slouched on the seat. For some reason, I found her incredibly strong and appealing but I shouldn't.She was my uncle's fiancee. It was still a shock to me realizing what she and my uncle had achieved together.I was angry. And yes, jealous as well.They had two beautiful, smart kids. Something I craved for. Maybe I should not have asked her to abort years ago, that was stupid of me. But how would
CHRISTIANAnger surged through my veins but I could not react or act upon it, not when there were four hefty bulldogs in dark sunglasses and black attire daring me with their presence to make a wrong move. I was yet to heal from the beating from two days ago.Denise was with them. "Why are you doing this, Denise? I trusted you." I could only express my anger and disappointment with minimal action to back it up."Hailey trusted you." She replied calmly. "You never told me you were siblings. Why?" I was currently standing outside the gate of the mansion I used to live with Hailey until I had thrown her out. Denise was doing the same to me. Fuck! To think I loved her."Step siblings." She corrected, then continued. "Why should I have told you? Where's the fun in that?""Does Hailey know?" I wanted to know because Hailey never told me she had any step sibling. In fact, she was an only child from what she'd told me."You think she would have married you if she did? No, of course not."
The loud, erratic beeping machine of the machine startled me out of the chair, landing me on the floor.My eyes were wide open with confusion and for the briefest period of time, disoriented too. Before it suddenly seeped into the sleeping part of my brain that I was in the hospital with my children.I turned to see it was Zaya yet again. She was bleeding and this time, it was worse than before.I gasped, fear choked words out of me. "Zaya baby." I crawled to where her bed was to check her. There was blood flowing out of her mouth and nose. Scrambling to my feet with tears blurring my vision and my heart rate faster than normal, I ran to towards the door to find the doctor."Doctor!" I called, spotting her already hurrying this way. Maybe she has heard the beeping. "I heard, ma'am." Her tone was calm but there was an urgency underlying it that had me wondering if all was well.I gave way and allowed her into the room. She was on her pager. "Bring the gurney to the VIP room two now!
"He's still not picking his phone. Why is he not picking his phone?!" I paced about the living, almost out of my wits. The television was on. I'd turned it on with the hope of hearing the President making his denouncement speech regarding Jared. The voices of random people talking on TV buzzed around the room, but I didn't pay attention.They weren't what I was interested in."Hey. Hey. Hey. Come here." Jared stopped my agitated pacing and drew me into his embrace. "Calm down, worrying yourself will not help.""That girl is counting on me to save her. I have to save her. Oh God! She gave me a clue, I have unraveled it and now, I have... I have to save her." My heart was beating faster than usual. Time was running out. Just few hours ago, the kidnapper had called just as I was leaving the room assigned to Denise until she recovered and reminded me, in no mirthful or light tone if I may add, about the deal. I had no idea why the President was doing this to his own daughter. Now, he w
BRONX"What are you still doing sitting there, Bronx?!" The sharp, trembling voice of my wife shook me out of my depressing thoughts. "Why aren't you on air yet?!"She was like a woman on a mission, storming into my small, private office without knocking. Not that any of my family members ever needed the permission to have access to me unless I was with very important guests or in a crucial political meeting. "What?" I almost knocked my glass of bourbon off the table in a slightly tipsy daze. "I said why are you not on air right now pulling Jared from the race and saving my daughter's life?!" She seethed, reaching my table and placing both hands on it. "Francesca where did you hear that?" I had to ask. I didn't tell anyone about my meeting with Peter, Hailey and Jared. "Don't reply me with questions, Bronx. Where is my daughter?! Why are you intent on making my poor girl suffer in the hands of those...those monsters?!" She cried, anger and despair clouding her big, blue puffy eyes
MIA"Husband-to-be? What are...""Come here." His lips smiled, his tone calm but there was an underlying order coating those two words. "Now."Subtly clearing my throat, I took small steps towards him knowing my mom and his mom were watching. He grabbed me by my waist and lowered his head, I dodged his kiss. "What are you doing? Our moms are watching and I'm married to your brother. Stop this.""Exactly, baby. I want them to watch and know I'm the right brother for you. And henceforth, you're no longer married to my brother. I went into the room you used to share with him, I saw the divorce papers, he signed but you're yet to. You'll sign it." His tone gave the hint of a command.Our voices were hushed whispers so only us could hear. "No, I'll not. Stop this, Jerome.""Say you don't want me. Look into my eyes and say it, I'll leave you alone. Maybe." It was almost as if his eyes were taunting me knowing I couldn't.I licked my lips. "See, I want you. I love you but it's your brother
MIAI watched her come out of the mall, my car parked a distance from hers. My blood boiled and hatred flamed. She was the cause. It was all her fault and I was here to stop that nonsense. I stepped out of my vehicle, my sunglasses in place, I approached her, hurrying as she walked to her car with shopping bags in her hands. What was Jared's old secretary doing with her? Anyways, she was not my concern. "Hey you." I didn't bother to hide my disdain when I neared her.Removing her own sunglasses, she coolly assessed me. "Didn't expect to find you here, Mia. It's been awhile.""Where's my husband?" I got to the heat of the matter. A chuckle escaped her. "Does it look like I have him in my purse or in the back of my car?"A growl rumbled low. "You bitch! I see what you're trying to do here. You couldn't have him six years ago, now, you're playing every dirty game in your book to keep my husband from me.""Pick a side, Mia. Stop gallivanting like a helpless feline cub who can not dec
PRISCILLA "Leave me alone, you wife beater!" I struggled with him to let go of my shirt he'd held on to. I heard a rip and seethed. This was one of my very expensive shirts. "Not until you tell me where the stuff in my safe is." He seethed as well. "What safe? What stuff? Did you tell me of any safe in this house?""You and I are the only occupants of this house, Priscilla. Don't fucking lie to me! Your behavior recently have been rousing suspicions.""And yours haven't?" I shot back."Give me the things you took from that safe or I'll make you regret knowing me, Priscilla." He threatened."I already regret knowing you, Philip!" I retorted. "I regret ever walking down the aisle and tying the nuptial knot with you! You're meaner than a snake and more vicious than a bear!" I lashed out. "One would look at your calm exterior and be deceived, I know I was until you began to show you true, evil colors! The devil resides in you, Philip!" The back of his hand swiped across my cheek, har
"Well, that went well. I guess." I strapped in just as uncle Pete started the vehicle, driving out of the compound. "I guess so too." Jared stared from the rearview mirror, our eyes met. The drive back home was mostly silent. My mind were filled with thoughts of Nina, Celine and when Denise would become conscious and tell her side of the story.Feeling exhausted, I closed my eyes and worried more. "Hey." A soft voice sounded close yet far. "Hailey." The voice called again, a gentle, patient tap followed. My lips parted slightly open in an unconscious response when I felt a pair of lips mesh with mine. A small moan escaped me. All of this was a dream. The face I saw kissing me was Jared. I wound my arms round his neck to bring him closer to me. The kiss progressed more passionately and it became a delightful merging of mouths, tongues yearning to each other. "I love you, Hailey." That had my eyes fluttering open. I released a shocked gasp and unwound my arms, licking my lips.
"What the hell is she saying, Peter?" The President who was currently pacing his office, looking sleep-deprived and angry, faced uncle Pete."Calm down and listen to what she has to say. There's sense in it." Uncle Pete was trying to calm him. "What sense is in there, Peter?! She's asking me to make a fool of myself out there!" He looked like he was about to pummel someone. "If denouncing your support for Jared and pulling him out of the race is what makes you a fool, then be a fool to save your daughter!" I retorted, getting worked up by his own anger. I was trying to save his daughter's life but he was proving stubborn all for some keeping a clean record and an unblemished career. "It's your fault she's kidnapped! I told you this was a dangerous game but you thought blackmailing me with a secret daughter from my past will solve everything. Now look at where it has landed me! Damn it! I can not believe I let myself be toyed by you! A woman!" He all but spat at me. I leaned closer
"What?" They chorused in puzzlement. "She did a play on words there. I can't feel my lip. I need a pill to help me relax. Get it? Feel-lip Pill-ax." "Oh, good gracious! That girl's smart as hell." Uncle Pete said. "Exactly!" I concurred excitedly."And Hailey is just brilliant enough to figure it out." Pride shone in Jared's eyes. Jared and uncle Pete looked impressed. "I do my best." I cleared my throat, carelessly ignoring the fluttering in my stomach. "Philip Pillax is behind this?" Uncle Pete looked from me to Jared. "I'd always known that guy to be shady and dangerous. But he must have some guts kidnapping the President's daughter.""And some help." I put in. The men looked at me. "The President's aide, a creepy guy named Rashford. I suspect he's the one giving information out to Philip from the White House.""How do you know this?" This was from Jared. "I noticed how he was lingering at the door the day I went to visit the President. Plus, I talked to Nina who confirmed he
"How's she, doctor?" I wiped the remaining tears from my eyes. Now was not the time for tears.I'd heard uncle Pete's conversation with Catherine and had bring both angry and sad hearing her confess to Derek having a hand in my father's death.It was all part of the plan though. Jared and I had stayed hidden to take pictures and videos of her.I should have him and Denise locked up but not yet. Something told me that was not the whole story and I would want to know it before having the police take over. "The bleeding has stopped, her system is stabilized but she's still weak and sleeping." The doctor said. "I'll be back to check up on her.""Thank you, doctor." I shook hands with him and he left.I couldn't wait to hear Denise's story on how she had ended up on the side of the road, almost bleeding to death until I and Jared drove past.Jared came in just then, uncle Pete and his lover, Miss Nancy, as well.Zion rubbed his eyes, he was feeling sleepy. But he smiled when he finally s