The hairs standing on Iryna's neck weren't enough to help the situation. Her neck suddenly felt stiff, she tried to force herself to turn back to the staircase. She could smell something very acrid in the air, almost like gas, but it was stronger and it gave her a slight headache. Her eyes were still on her phone, her body was still on the live video, and the intruder was still there.Without second thoughts, Iryna forfeited looking up at the intruder and she ran towards the corridor. The cellar was at the end of the corridor, she would hide behind the numerous wine cartons there. Iryna was already close to the door when more men in Balaclavas blocked her path. She yelped as she fell to the floor. They stood and looked at her. Under their mask, she knew they were smirking and laughing at her. She knew she was being looked down on because they didn't touch her. They didn't even come near her. They just blocked her path and stared at her.She stood up and started banging on all th
Who the fuck was that?Iryna stopped herself from spewing the question out loud at the last second. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes."Who is that?" She questioned, her voice becoming stronger with each passing second. Tyrese's face twitched beneath the balaclava. He sighed and went away from her. He was displeased that Iryna didn't know of him.He turned to her. "So you seriously haven't heard of me?" He asked again."No," Iryna shook her head and shrugged her shoulder. "Is that a problem?" She asked."Yes —I mean, no! God, curse that damn Lucien, he didn't say anything about me," Tyrese said as he paced around.Lucien? Iryna's eyes darted about. Come to think of it, Lucien had mentioned Tyrese."Wait, you are that Tyrese?" Iryna asked.Tyrese's turned enthusiastically in her direction."You are the one that was a bodyguard for Fred right? You could have just said that," Iryna said. "There are a lot of Tyrese I know so I was kind of thinking which Tyrese I had offended but
AN HOUR AGO...The medic had just finished wrapping a bandage around Reynold's finger. He sat in the ambulance and waited for Lucien to pick him up so they could go home. "Thank you very much," Reynold said to the medic. She nodded and left. The concentration of police officers had reduced a bit. And they were still gathering evidence under Jim's direct supervision, which explained why he wasn't there with Reynold.Reynold grabbed a blanket from the ambulance and wrapped himself up. It was starting to get chilly since the sun had set, so adding another layer other than his plain white shirt wasn't a bad choice, since his suit had gotten torn when he was running. Lucien came back to the ambulance and he had a visible frown on his face. He rested his hands on the side of the ambulance while his security phone was on his ear. He put down the phone and muttered a silent curse.Lucien rarely got worked up. One look at him and Reynold knew something was wrong."What is it?" He asked. "I
A police van and an SUV came to a stop at the gate. Jim had come with his men and they were suiting up."Hold up," Reynold said. "Tyre tracks on the floor," he pointed to the floor.Lucien nodded. "I saw that from the gate. Whoever came left in a hurry, hence the detailed tracks on the floor," he said. He immediately narrowed his eyes and started walking fast.Reynold understood that he had seen something, and he followed behind quickly without saying a word. The men in security details were passed out on the ground, all twenty of them."What is going on?" Reynold said as he looked around."They have been knocked out, by sleeping gas," Lucien said. "Be careful when you breathe," he warned and bent to examine his men. "Knocked out cold the moment it entered their system, good thing we placed a call for an ambulance."Jim and the SWAT team caught up and started spreading out."Word?" Jim asked. He was already in his bulletproof vest and holding a big gun in his hands. He kept on scann
Reynold watched from the glass as Iryna slept in her bed in her private hospital ward. Lucien hadn't said a word since he had seen Iryna, the man was taking it out on himself internally.He sighed and settled down on the long chair in the waiting room. The doctor hadn't given the green light for Iryna to have visitors since they were still cleansing her lungs of the dangerous gas."It's all my fault," Lucien whispered.Reynold looked at him and shrugged. "Okay," he replied. He didn't know what to say in this kind of situation.There was silence again for a while. Reynold had started drifting into sleep when Lucien spoke again."It is all my fault," he whispered again.Reynold frowned. "I heard you, the first time."Lucien turned to him. "Aren't you angry that I failed at protecting my boss? It is my fault she is in this situation." He put his hands to his face and raised his head to look at the ceiling.Reynold shifted close to the seat and let out a sigh."Look, I think you did your
Iryna's eyes flew open. She sat upright immediately and felt an obstruction on her nose. She yanked it away and frowned because she noticed that she was in a room other than hers.The door flew open, and Reynold and Lucien came inside. They stood at the door, looking at Iryna while she stared back at them."Why am I here again?" She asked.Reynold ran to hug her. He gripped her against him tightly. "You are safe now," he whispered.He pulled slightly away and she glared at him. Iryna cocked her brow and looked at Reynold. She noticed the way Reynold looked like a mess, and questions kept on popping into her head."What is going on?" Iryna asked.Reynold held her hands. "You don't remember what happened?" He asked her.Iryna's frown deepened. "What happened?" Iryna looked at Lucien for the support this time."You seriously don't remember anything about the mansion, about Tyrese?" Lucien asked. He folded his hands at the doorway, not wanting to come too close to her.Iryna shook her he
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA. The safest city in Central America, as the locals said was very busy at noon. Airplanes flew in from the north, coming from different parts of the United States of America and Europe. The line of tourists at the local market wasn't getting any shorter. The sun was high in the sky, and the tourist had gathered under shades provided by shops.The traffic was mild for mid-afternoon and the cops weren't in sight. A perfect time to commit crimes."How much for this one?" An English tourist asked. He wasn't even going mild on his accent."Just, twenty dollars senōr," the shopkeeper said. He held out a bundle of ripe, colorful bananas in the face of the tourist.The tourist's face went from normal to a range of pink, light red, and very deep red as anger flooded him."I can't buy that? That will be mugging me of my hard-earned money!" He exclaimed so loud that other people turned their heads at him.The shopkeeper clicked his tongue and tried again."Senōr, Pura Vida,
Lucien dropped at San Jose airport secretly with his men. In fact, they had come in a private plane and they had only come out when the plane had docked indoors in a closed hangar. That way, it wouldn't be easy to get their identities.Lucien entered the waiting black Escalade and made himself comfortable. The last time he had come to Costa Rica was to claim the remains of Fred's crashed plane, twenty-three years ago. Being here felt very uncomfortable. It was a place full of bad memories."Is the hotel ready?" Lucien asked the men at the front."Yes sir, we have scanned the whole building just for you sir, all the equipment you requested has been brought there just as you wished," one of them replied."Good," Lucien murmured. He couldn't wait to start work and leave that place immediately. He would cause a lot of havoc. He had left Iryna and Reynold in a safe house in Portland, Maryland where they would be safe if anything was to happen in Lucien's absence. That way, he could keep a
The court had been swift in declaring Marcus and Michael's verdict.Michael had hired a hot-shot criminal lawyer that lied like fuck during the entire hearing. The man was so good that he had almost even convinced everyone at the hearing that his client Michael was innocent, but the evidence was just too much against him.Marcus had been sentenced to ten years in prison with light labor in a penitentiary in California.Michael was sentenced to twenty-one years in prison, with hard labor and no parole. His modeling career was over, his life was over as it stood."Mark my words, you will pay for this!" Michael had said to Iryna when he was being thrown in a van."It should get old by now, shouldn't it?" Lucien waved him away at the court.Amanda Walters was still being held by the FBI, and it looked like it would remain like that for a while.The FBI wanted to fish out all information about the Mafia network in Latin America.Tyrese's charred body was later recovered.It was discovered
The sound of helicopters got closer and panic started spreading among the gangs and Mafia lords that surrounded the empty cars."The FBI!" Someone screamed.Government-issued SUVs pulled up and FBI SWAT teams were already over the place, holding their guns at them. They were completely surrounded.Michael gritted his teeth and dropped his phone. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" He screamed. "Why does this always happen to me!"The FBI team wasted no effort in apprehending all the Mafia and gang members.The mission was possible because of two things, one, the FBI had come in massive numbers and had surrounded their enemies. Two, because of their magnificent entree, the enemy was too overwhelmed to act that they had suddenly given up their will to fight."Drop your weapons and go down on your knees, order of the bureau!" someone said on a loudspeaker."Fuck this!" Michael dragged Amanda and kicked Marcus out of his way. He ran forward to a nearby vehicle, but he was stopped by agents.Amanda tried
"Sir, the plane has landed," the intercom buzzed.Michael was seated inside a black limousine and sipped wine from his cup."Any sign of them?" He asked after he had put his glass down."Yes, they are stepping out of the plane," the intercom buzzed again."Jesus, New Orleans is so cold at this time of the year," Amanda shivered as she entered the car. "So this is the United States," Amanda looked out of the window at the high-rise buildings in the Central Business District."The target has landed, the plan is being kicked into motion," Michael said."Good, they will be heading to the mansion, and we will cut them off in that location you mentioned," Amanda held Michael's chest and began drawing circles."What are you doing?" Michael suddenly asked.Amanda came up and kissed Michael on the lips, short and fast."What was that for?" Michael asked as blushes developed on his cheek."That is just part one, I will give you the rest when we are done with them," Amanda whispered in his ears.
Iryna's eyes felt like lead when she woke up. She was in and out of sleep for the past eight hours. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. The bandages on her hands made them feel even sore.She looked out of the window and all she saw was water, from a bird's eye view. They were on their way to The United States... home."You were out for quite a long," a deep voice spoke.Iryna turned in the direction of the voice and saw Lucien sitting on a chair on the other side. IV lines were there and he wore a blanket over his legs. He looked better now, and his wounds had been tended to."Gosh," Iryna rubbed her eyes and yawned. "How are you doing, Lucien?" Iryna asked. She stretched and heard a few bones bop in her shoulders."Never been better," Lucien laughed. "The doctor said it was a miracle I was alive. My liver has been grazed, plus a lot of other internal blood vessels," he said with a smile. "Seems like I will be out for months," Lucien chuckled."Just rest up," Iryna told him. She looked o
Michael was getting irritated where he was. All of a sudden, the cops were showing up in large numbers, and Amanda was nowhere to be found."Alright boys, let's round this up!" Michael spoke out.The men all stopped and looked at him."I know, I am not your boss, but I can't seem to find Amanda anywhere and the police are coming, so we will have to ditch this place and run," Michael explained.He expected Amanda to do just fine, besides she was crazy enough to save him from the FBI that day. She would save herself."Where is Amanda?" One of the men asked. "We can't leave without her," he looked around. There was a murmuring passing among the group."For Christ's sake! It is almost morning, we have to go," Michael pointed at the sky.The sun was just On the horizon, it was just seconds away from sunrise. There was no time to wait around anymore."Michael!" Amanda suddenly appeared from behind a vehicle and she limped heavily.Her Kawasaki bike was oddly naked and there were a few crazy
Amanda stood up and stepped forward. Her left leg side roared with pain from her contact with the ground after that stunt with the van. There was a bruise on her forehead, but nothing she couldn't handle.Amanda picked up a bat that lay on the floor and smiled. She walked in the direction of the van.Iryna was the first to open her eyes. She let out a cough. Her legs hurt, but she could still feel and move them.She looked around and saw that the door at the back was missing. She felt fear develop in her and turned towards Lucien. He was still breathing, but he was knocked unconscious after the van turned over. Reynold was also unconscious, but his breathing was becoming raspy.Iryna looked at the front, and she saw Selena dangling from her seat belt upside down, the wound on her head looked very bad, and she could already tell that the driver was in an even worse state.Iryna tapped Selena's face. "Selena, Selena, wake up," there was a response, the twitching of facial muscles and so
"Shit, hold him tight!" Selena cussed as they lifted Reynold across the burning parking lot.Iryna held his legs, while Selena held his hands. He turned out to be too heavy for one person to carry."Huh," Reynold groaned. They had managed to stop the bleeding, it was a miracle he was still alive after all that blood loss."Hang in there, we will soon get you a doctor," Iryna said despite the pain in her leg, as they carried him to a waiting vehicle. A nab was waiting outside and when he saw them, he brought out a stretcher and ran to them."He needs medical treatment," Iryna said to the man."Christ! Señorita Selena! What took you so long?" The man asked. He had a very thick accent."Long story, just focus on getting us out of here," Selena said to the man.Iryna opened the door to the bus and saw Lucien sleeping on a bed. There were vials and IV lines that were still attached to him."Hey madam," Lucien's voice cracked."Lucien!" Iryna hugged him. "God, you are alright.""Last time y
Selena would never forget Iryna's scream. It rang through the night and was momentarily louder than the sound of bullets moving around them.Iryna herself could not even hear her own screams. They were silent in her skull. She couldn't even hear the sounds of gunshots. She didn't care about the bullets that ricochetted against the cars.As she watched as Reynold slowly fell to the floor, she wanted to die too."Shit!" Selena cussed as she grabbed Iryna and ran to take cover.Kynes fired several shots at them, but they had safely gone behind vehicles."What are you doing?" Iryna was hysterical. "What about Reynold? We can't leave him there!" She kicked against Selena and thrashed about.She refused to accept that Reynold was dead. He was lying on his back, a pool of blood was already forming there."What are you doing? There is nothing we could have done! There is nothing I can do to bring him back!" Selena screamed.She looked over the trunk of the car and several shots rang. She duck
Reynold rested on the bench and ran his hand gently on Iryna's shoulder. It was the first time he was finding comfort in detention. Even in their situation, Iryna still looked very appealing.Reynold tried not to wake her up as he caressed her gently. Very soon, Selena would come up with a crazy escape plan.He was worried about Iryna, he didn't want any bullets touching her, and how they would move Lucien who had just come out of surgery —everything was hard.Reynold bent down and kissed Iryna's head. She smelled of mint, she must have used the twenty-four hour mist. It had been two days since they had gotten a proper shower. But Iryna still smelled nice.He heard footsteps at the door and Reynold clenched his jaw muscles. He sure hoped as hell that it wasn't Kynes. He always spoiled the mood.There were two heavy thuds. Reynold cocked his brows and watched the door.The door flew open and Selena walked in. She looked around the room and pressed the switch. Reynold flinched from the