"We will be having guests today. Important guests and I expect the house to be sparkling clean. I don't expect any mistakes or negligence. You know what will happen if I see any." Sarah completes her short speech and I look around wondering why they called me. It's not like I'm needed here.
"Jada. Follow me." Sarah says in her authoritative voice and I do as she says. We walk about a metre away. "Now, Leonardo has been talking about this place where he met some friends. Would you be kind enough to take him as everyone will prepare for today's guests?" "It's okay. Do I...." "His chauffeur knows the place. He'll take you there." Hmm! Rude much? I bite my tongue. "It's okay ma'am." Sarah only nods and turns leaving me standing. 'I better go check on Leo.' I think as I walk towards his room. "Leo we're leaving in ten." I announce as I get into his room to find him talking to Jayden. Jayden gets up and only nods at me in greeting then leaves. I don't mind him and walk towards Leonardo. I study his face. He doesn't seem sad or distressed. "Uncle said the doctor has some news for us and so we'll go see him tomorrow." He announces with a small smile before it vanishes. "Do you think it good or bad? I don't want to be sick anymore." His smile is now turned into a frown. "You know what? You're one of the strongest kids I know. My mum had brain tumor and you are as strong as her." I try to cheer him up but he looks up at me in curiosity. 'Did I have to open my mouth?' I almost let out a groan. "Let's get ready. Is there something you want to carry to this special place of yours?" I ask instead and his eyes light up. "Yes I promised my friend this helicopter." I nod and take it from his hand then place it in his bag. "I'll just take something I need and I'll be back so that we can leave." I say as I head out. I get into my room and shut the bathroom door so that no one can get through it to my room. I shut my laptop and leave it there. Everything else is secure. I get out of the room with my phone in hand and head towards Leo's room to find him already waiting and so we head towards the car garage. "Looks like Travis isn't here yet." Leo comments with a wide smile and I look at him suspiciously. "What did you do?" He looks at me innocently. "Nothing." He gives a nonchalant shrug just as a black Tesla drives towards us. Leo gets into the back as I head towards the front. My eyes scan the whole car as soon as I settle until the rest on a man with pale blue eyes and ash blonde hair. "Sir. I didn't know you're the chauffeur." I say and he smirks as Leo lets out a giggle. So that's what he was hiding. "At your service ma'am." Jayden says in a fake British accent making Leo laugh. I only manage to let out a small smile as he passes through the enormous gates. The first ten minutes are surprisingly quiet apart from the song Leo is singing to. I notice the familiar road leading to the children's home. Okay, should coincidences work like this? I can't get in there with this hair and eyes. I know they'll somehow know me. "Could you please drop me off in the next right turn?" I ask Jayden who turns his head to me his eyebrows raised in question. "My apartment is around and since Leo is with you, you'll just pick me up when you're done." Jayden doesn't say anything but his eyes show that they don't believe me. "But Jada. I want to show you to my friend." Leo whines and I smile. I remember Ryan talking about Leo. I just never expected him to be the same Leo. "Next time." I promise. Jayden stops the car and I get off. I start walking when they take off until I see the familiar building. I take out my keys and open the door to my apartment. Everything is the same. Nothing seems disturbed. I walk around the apartment trying to find any suspicious object until I'm satisfied. I go to my room and take out my other laptop and start writing my report about Leonardo. Just as I'm almost done, my phone starts ringing showing Cole's name. "Costa." I answer. "Hey Jada. The car plate you sent yesterday night was Alexis'. She drove to a house outside town and it belongs to Ivy Armstrong." Ivy Armstrong. "Anything on Ivy Armstrong?" "Ivy works as a stripper in 'The Legend'. She lives alone and no criminal records for the past four years since she started working at the club. She was jailed once for a getting involved in a fight about five years ago." I wait for more information but Cole doesn't continue. "Is that all? There has to be more." I say. "That's the only thing I could get. It's like she started existing six years ago. There are no other information." Cole says and I scoff. "Then find out." I say and cut the call then finish my report for the next fifteen minutes. When everything is ready. I send the report to Mike then shut down the laptop and prepare to go back. I take the blue teddy bear wrapped in a box I bought for Ryan and shut the door behind me. I take my phone out and call Abby as I start walking towards the children's home. I have to figure out how to give it to her without blowing my cover. I see her just in time as she gets out of the gate and so I call a kid of about seven years old. "Hey, can you take this to that lady?" He looks at me with doubt until I show him a twenty dollar bill. He smiles and takes the box and as he goes for the money I stop him. "Take it to her first. And tell her that I already left. She's called Abby." I say and he nods enthusiastically. He does as I say and I see Abby look around for me until she decides to head in just as Leo and Jayden appear. They talk for some minutes as Abby shows them the box and Jayden looks around and his eyes fall on mine. How did... ? Leo waves at Abby with a smile as they head towards the car. I jog towards them and get in too. "So what was that all about?" Jayden asks and I just shrug dismissing his question. "I got a new best friend. His name is Ryan. And he's six. I gave him the helicopter and he was so happy and we played around. He was sad when we were almost leaving. He said he missed his mommy." I tune off Leonardo's voice as I think of Ryan. I never knew he considered me as his mother. Ryan is like a son to me. I was supposed to have a baby his age six years ago. I didn't even know their gender. Would I have a daughter? A son maybe? Damn the Italians. They took my baby away. I always dreamt of the day they'll die. It happened. I got my revenge. But I'm still childless. Could Ryan be another chance for me? Could it be destiny brought me to him? He told Leo I'm his mother. He never called me that. I thought he always saw me as a friend. "Jada." I find Jayden shaking my hand slightly to get my attention but I yank it away. "Leo has been calling you for some time now." He says and looks ahead. "I've known Ryan for four years. I'll go visit him during my day off." I say absent-mindedly and Jayden looks at me curiously but I don't mind him. "You know Ryan? Cool. We could play together sometime." "Yeah. Cool." I only say as Jayden drives through the mansion gates."Do you think this is the right thing to do? Jayden proposing to Alexis? Alexis doesn't even seem to love his genuinely. She only seems to be interested in the cash." I hear Leah's voice through my laptop. 'So that's what this party is about.' I realize. Sarah seems to be deep in thought. "I know. But he has to show me that he's serious about his life. And besides Alexis is so good at this business, Jayden wouldn't want to inherit a clothing line. It's a win-win." She seeps from her cup and Leah shakes her head. "I have a bad feeling about this. About her." Leah says lowly. "Leave it." Sarah says and they both stay in silent. I must say they have a good relationship. My phone vibrates next to my laptop and I see Cole's name. "Costa." I respond. "Hey, Jada. I've just seen a photo of Armstrong with Leonardo's teacher, that Shawn guy. They were in the same club Ivy works at but they weren't together. I'll just send it to you." He says a
"I've been looking for you everywhere. You need to give me your phone number." Jayden says just as I pick up another mismatched pair of socks in Leo's room. "Just state what you want." I say curtly, and he raises an eyebrow, but I pay no mind and continue with what I'm doing. "Okay." He says dragging the 'a', but I offer no reaction. "I just got a letter. No return address. It only has my name on it. But it's printed." This makes me move towards him, and he hands me the small opened envelope. My eyes drift to his face, which now shows anger and frustration. I see a folded note inside, and I take it out. 48 hours. The boy or the micro-chip. We're watching your every step.The note says. My eyes drift to Jayden once again, trying to look for any emotion, but I find that he's already looking at me. Suspiciously. "What?" I ask when his gaze doesn't move. "You could be one of them. Playing a good game of someo
"Hey Abby, how are the kids doing?" I say as I hug her. It's finally Friday night, and I had planned to surprise Ryan since he's expecting me tomorrow. "They're doing great. Well, apart from Ryan. You know how he is when you leave." Abby says with a chuckle, and I slightly smile. "Yeah. That's why I came here sooner. Where are they?" I ask "Homework. You know nothing has changed here, Jada." She chuckles a bit, but I only nod, then excuse myself. I greet the other two women who stay here. Kaely Potts and Skylar Saturday. I didn't see Conner. He's probably out with his friends. These people are my family. When I came here, I was cold and emotionless at first when I escaped from the Italians, but they took me in. My walls were so high and unbreakable, but they still nursed me. They tolerated me and helped me get on my feet once again. I would always protect each one of them. I would give my life for theirs. I walk towards the last ro
"We should do this more often. Like we used to." I turn around and continue putting on my clothes. I should hit the shower as soon as I can. I'm disgustingly sweaty and sticky. "I have other things to do." With that, I stand and leave the room without looking back. I walk to my room across the hall and see Ryan sleeping peacefully. I walk towards him and watch him for about ten minutes, then go to shower. Thirty minutes later, I walk to my side of the bed and lie next to him. Sleep doesn't come for the next ten minutes, but my phone's vibration makes me alert. I take it and look at the bright screen only to see Jayden's name! Why would he call me at one a.m? "Jada speaking." I answer. "Where are you? You're supposed to be here." He shouts, and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "Jayd..." He cuts me off. "Leo... Leonardo is gone." I can tell he's panicked through his voice. I stand immediately and place the phone b
"I think you should rest." I tell Jayden. He doesn't react. I move in front of him and look into his eyes. "Go home and shower, eat something then rest. I'll update you whenever anything comes up." I say and he glares at me. " You promised to take care of him. Where were you when he was taken?" He says his eyes turning into a deeper shade of blue. "I know and that's why I'm not going to rest until I find Leo." I say but he shakes his head. "He's my nephew. I have to find him." He says and moves away from me. His phone rings and he receives it in a flash. He stays silent for a few seconds and disconnects the call. "Alexis just arrived home with bruises." He says and we jog to his car. Mike shouts my name and I tell him the situation as I get into the car. "Let me drive." I say but Jayden starts the car and drives so fast. We arrive at the mansion ten minutes later instead of fifteen and leave the car immediately he stops it.
"Hey, Jada. Any news?" Jayden asks immediately when I step into the mansion. "No. All these have nothing. Cole's coming in an hour to check your car. Maybe they placed it somewhere in there." I say as I hand him a bag with the locket, watch, and Sarah's photo frame. "We have thirteen hours." Jayden whispers just as Alexis walks to us. "What if we give them something... counterfeit. We make a deal. Leo for the chip." She says, looking between us. "Alexis. I told you, we can't risk Le..." Jayden starts, but I cut him off. "Jayden, it seems we can't find it anywhere. Maybe your brother destroyed it or gave it to someone else. I think we should do what Alexis just said. We have no option." Alexis nods, and Jayden looks so conflicted. "And furthermore, that way I can catch them, and they'll go to jail." "No, you can't." Alexis says in alarm, and I turn to her with an eyebrow raised. "Those men are ruthless. What if they hav
Jayden has been silent since we left Sydney's base. I know he wants answers, but how can I just tell him. Should I be like; Hi, my real name is Candice Martins and I joined the American Mafia six years ago seeking revenge against the Italian Mafia after they fucked up my life. After I got my revenge I started my life from scratch and got into the FBI bla bla bla. I can't just tell him anything. In fact he shouldn't even know about the mafia. I'm not that evil to introduce him to it. I know how insane this sounds, I'm an FBI agent and a mafia member. No, I'm not a spy but I made a deal with Sydney Kings. After Marko Russo (the Italian mafia lord) would be killed, I could go away and do my own things. Sydney has changed the mafia and so it hasn't caused any problems since he and Isabella took over and for that I'm so thankful because the police have no issues with them as long as they don't cause chaos. Mike found me and gave me an opportunity to join the FBI. Mar
I raise my eyes towards a silent Jayden. He isn't moving or saying anything. His eyes are closed, and I can see tears dropping down to Leonardo's body. I look down to the body, but as every time I do, my heart skips, and I feel it clench in pain. I know people are around me, but I can't hear them. I'm sure Jayden can't, either. I see some men try to pick Leo from Jayden's arms, but he still clings on him. "Leave him alone. He's supposed to wake up." His lips say, and for the first time, a tear falls down my left cheek. The men say something, but Jayden doesn't let him go. Someone picks me up and hugs me. I don't hug the person back, but soon, I hear a whimper from me. Leonardo Williams is dead. I hit the person's chest as I cry. How could I let this happen? My mission was to protect him. A mission that I belittled. Leonardo is dead. I cry. The person hugs me, saying words that I don't understand. I stand in the person's arms until I can hear e