38 ~ Brinda Must Be Back

“Pick up the call.” Mark said for the third time while he tried pulling Bullet away from him.

“What? What is your problem? Do you plan on being a loser all your life? How long will you serve Francesco?” Bullet raised her voice. She smacked his hands off her, let out a heavy sigh, nodded her head for some seconds and bit her lips. “You dare push me away because of Francesco?”

“I am pushing you off because I want you alive. I can’t bear it if you die. Do you want me to live all my life in regret?” Mark asked, then he crossed his arms over his chest. 

“Then do you want to live the rest of your life in bondage? I can’t believe this.” She clicked her tongue before she settled on the bed. 

Mark spread his right hand across his face, tired of the argument between them. He brought down his ego and reached out to his woman. He went on his knees and rubbed his palm on her lap. “I do not wish for all this to happen. I just… I just do not want us to die. As long as we get to live, there is hope.”

“What hope? I am the one given a chance of a new life because Francesco just gave me the antidote to the poison. I could have left but… I didn’t. Why? Because of you. I couldn’t imagine living without you.”

A smile brushed across Mark’s face. 

Bullet’s face went pale, surprised at his reaction. “What the hell is that? Do you think that was funny? I’m done.” She yanked his hands off her body and stood so she could walk out of the room but she was stopped when Mark reached out and stopped her.

“Relax! I knew he was going to give you. I have a plan already.” He whispered into her ear. 

Bullet’s face turned alarming. “What did you say?” She asked, surprised at the revelation. Never in her life had she expected that Mark would do such a thing not especially after what happened that night. 

“I have been planning. I have been scheming behind everyone’s back and very soon… I will get us out of here. We will no longer be Francdesco’s slave.” Mark explained. “Did you think I will sit idle after what he did to me?”

Bullet decided to get more into his head. “Do you think I will buy that? Why are you lying to me? Is it to make me feel better?” She drawled.

Mark burst out laughing before he clapped his hands. His eyes burned with an evil agenda. He smirked while tilting his head to the left. “If only you knew how much I have planned. Do you think it was a joke when I said I can kill the world for you?” Mark pointed out. 

“Whatever. I want proof.” Bullet replied, looking him straight in his eyes. The last thing she would ever want to do in her life is to be with a coward and a loser. 

Mark grabbed her forearm and pulled her to the wardrobe. He opened it and brought out a brown briefcase. “In this file…” Bullet’s phone rang again causing a distraction. “You should really pick up his call now.” He urged.

Bullet breathed heavily. She looked away in disbelief. “Fine… but I will be back for the evidence as you claimed.” She picked the call and then came Francesco’s roaring voice. 

“Where have you been?”

“I was taking a shower,” Bullet whispered.

“Forget it! One of my informants just gave a heads-up that some men were found loitering in front of Brinda’s house. I fear that the crypt key might be there. If it is Marshall, the key will be gone. Take our men and move there quickly.” Francesco commanded while he yelled on top of his voice. 

“What does he want this time?” Mark inquired, suddenly over-protective.

Bullet rubbed her chin before she burst out laughing. Mark just kept on staring at her performing her antics. “Mr. Mark…” She threw her arms over his neck. “Are you becoming possessive or jealous all of a sudden?”

“No!” Mark answered nonchalantly.

“Since you aren’t, there is no need for me to be worried.” Bullet patted his back and smiled.

“Seriously? Stop this. Tell me what is going on?” Mark begged. 

A warm glow spread across Bullet’s face. She released Mark’s body and moved away from him. She slapped her phone on her palm gently. “The love Francesco secretly has for Brinda will be his end. Can you imagine? How long can he play hard to get? He has started making mistakes already and I love that!” She chimed, turning back to look at Mark who was still trying to pick up her words. 

“Will you speak clearly?” Mark asked.

“Francesco had been secretly helping us during missions. He even came to the hotel when he thought his beloved Brinda would die. How pathetic!” She spat.

“How do you know that and how sure is it?”

“While we were escaping, I saw the mysterious man’s hair. His dreadlocks to be precise and I am damn sure that it was no one other than Francesco. I just need one more move for clarity” She clicked her tongue again, turning it to her latest habit. “Now, he wants me to go over to her house because he found some men loitering around her house. No problem… I will go.”

Back in front of Brinda’s rented apartment, Alice, Marshall, Scar and Alessia stood with their group of men who rushed out of the house. They informed them that they found nothing.

“Then burn the whole building down! We need the crypt key.” Alessia flared up, her body temperature rising.

“We can’t burn it down. Do you want it gone? We will place some of our men around. I guess they are still mourning. Very soon, Francesco or his men would come get it. A patient dog eats the fattest bone.” Marshall concluded. 

Bullet and the other men who worked for Francesco arrived a few minutes later, however Marshall and his allies were gone. Bullet gritted her teeth and banged the steering wheel. “We need to hack into the CCTV footage.”

She brought out her cell phone and informed Francesco immediately, “They are gone, Don.”

“What about the crypt key?” Francesco asked with a shaking voice. 

Happiness shone brightly on Bullet’s face. “It might be gone too.” Francesco’s breathing came hard over the phone. “I mean… It might still be in the house.” She corrected herself after satisfying herself.

“Brinda must be back,” Francesco said inaudibly. “She must wake up.”