Chapter 2

Ace

Business was done as usual and I had to clean myself up before I went home to my wife. I have missed her and couldn’t wait to see her beautiful smile. I handed the gun to Filip before taking my gloves off as I stared at the corpse on the roof.

“You know what to do,” he nodded as I walked off.

I made my way back to my office for a shower and change. I needed to be quick because Diya would not be pleased with me if I took too long. On my way home, I should get her flowers. As I prepared to shower, I smiled, thinking of her.

I haven’t seen her in three days and being in here made me smell her rosy perfume. I didn’t think I would love someone as much as I love her. I made sure I scrubbed myself clean before I walked out and changed into another suit.

I placed the stained shirt and the suit I was wearing in a bag. I made my way back up so I can torch the suit and dispose of the evidence. Carrie was not in sight, and my jaw clenched because she knew the rules. I would hate to dispose of her if she can’t do her job right. I would deal with her when I see her in a few minutes.

“When is the chopper coming?” I asked as I walked back to where Filip was bagging the body before pushing the bag.

“Should be here in five minutes.”

I nodded as I disposed of the bag in a garbage tin before getting gasoline and torching it.

“Does he know the instructions?”

“Yeah,” he said, getting up, “I’m flying with him. It’s an effortless task to drop the bag around the massive garden and be gone.”

“Good,” I said. “Be careful and call me once it’s done.”

“Don’t worry. You know I’m always careful,” he smirked before he pressed the water spray gun on the bloodied place where the body had fallen. I could hear the chopper from a distance.

“Don’t get corky.” I gave him a pointed look. “I have a wife waiting. You should be good here.” I said.

“More than good, boss,” he grinned.

I shook my head as I walked away just as the chopper was about to land. This should teach my enemies not to threaten me because I don’t like being threatened. He thought he would come into my town and expect me to be a pushover, but he thought wrong. I kill for far less.

“Oh, good. You are done,” Carrie said. “Your wife is waiting for you.” I was almost in my office when she spoke behind me.

“My wife?” I stopped and turned to look at her. She had jokes today, but I was not in the mood for funny jokes.

“Yeah, she is in the office.”

I felt my blood drain. “Carrie?” I strode back to her. She almost dropped her chopsticks. “I came back and showered before going back up and my wife was not in my office.” I towered over her, looking her in the eye.

The chopsticks dropped in her takeaway box. “I told her to wait in your office.”

“You know I kill people for bad jokes?” my eyes never twitched.

“Sh- she must be there.” I turned and rushed to the office.

The office was empty, like I suspected, and I panicked. If she were here, where would she have gone?

Could she?

No. No. No. She couldn’t have. I was rushing to conclusions. There was a good explanation.

I saw a bag on the desk but fished my phone in my drawer. I noticed she had called and left a text.

D: Hey honey, I know your meeting will be done soon, but I’m on my way to drag you home. I have wonderful news 😊😉

I heard her ringtone before I placed my phone on the ear. I noticed a bag I hadn't seen before next to her phone. Panic rose in me.

“Carrie!” I shouted.

It was as if she was behind the door waiting for me to call her.

“Yes.” she breathed out. Scared. Like she should be, because I was about to snap her head if I didn’t get the correct answer from her.

“Where is she?” I gritted my teeth, almost snapping the two phones in my hand.

“I- She- I asked- She was here,” she looked down.

“You better have not fucked up,” I warned.

She remained quiet as I moved closer to my desk to check the security footage on my computer screen. This top floor and roof were the only feed Filip, and I had access to for obvious reasons. I quickly logged in and rewinded the feed until I saw her and played.

I looked at the bag on the desk before looking at the feed to see that she had walked in holding it. She was looking beautiful, as always. My heart warmed before I fast-forwarded. I watched her rush out of the office before looking around and froze because she had turned for the stairs.

I looked at Carrie. “You had one task.” I bellowed, and she jumped, “All for what?” I pushed my chair back hard as it rolled back, hitting the glass behind me with a thud.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she quickly responded. That’s not what I wanted to hear from her.

“Get out of my sight before I strangle you where you stand.”

Carrie almost tripped as she rushed out. I went back dragging the chair back and took a seat in front of the screen. I was shaking with anger as I pressed play and watched her panic state as she ran into the elevator. Everything was ruined. She had seen something I had fought hard to hide from her. I didn’t have to play the feed again to understand the state she was in. Anyone else but her who had seen it I wouldn’t have cared, just not her. She would never look at me the same again. 

I walked to the bag and looked inside and saw a white cloth. My knees went limp when I pulled it out. I had to hold myself steady on the desk, so I didn't fall. The feed of the smile she walked in with and the horror she left in, invaded my head that I felt my heart go stiff. I couldn’t breathe as I rounded my desk to make a call.

“Linda, is Diya at home?”

“No, she left a while ago to fetch you. Hasn’t she arrived?” there was a pause. “Ben drove her there,” she added.

“Thanks, Linda,” I hung up quickly.

Ben wasn't picking up when I called him. There was nothing after I called his number again. I would not wait here, so I rushed home. I walked into Carrie’s office, who seemed to stare at nothing, chewing her lip.

“Give me your car keys.”

“What?!” she jolted up.

“Car keys, now. Don’t make me repeat myself. You are not deaf,” I didn’t have to shout. She knew my leveled tone as she opened her desk and hesitantly handed them over, “Call the house and get the driver to get you home.”

She heaved a sigh. I was being generous for now. The night was still young.

I was out of her office and on the elevator in no time. Ben's phone kept ringing when I tried to call him again. I was still holding the clothing in my hand. She was here to tell me she was pregnant and instead she saw the worst side of me. I ran out like a madman from my building before getting into Carrie’s car. I wasn’t thinking because all I needed was to see her and explain. My throat was getting dry with my heart thrumming like a bongo, reaching my ears.

My phone rang on the seat, but it wasn’t the call I needed. I was still holding the clothing in my hand as I sped through traffic on my way home. I was trying to plan the best words to tell her.

It needed to be done.

I’m sorry.

This is a part of me.

I’m doing this for us.

I was afraid of how you would see me.

I’m still me.

This is for our baby.

I chastised myself for the last thought because the baby wasn't even in the picture while I was killing a man. I didn’t know how honest I wanted to be when I saw her. What if she asked me how many people I had killed? Should I tell her everything or partially? Should I tell her I strangled the idiot boy who called her granny pants? Should I tell her about the man from last week who flirted with her? What of her mother? God no. I should not tell her about her mother.

I drove into our home and rushed into the house and was welcomed with an amazing aroma. I could hear talking in the kitchen, but when I walked in, it was Linda.

“You are back,” she smiled. “The roast should be done in an hour,” she added.

“Where is Diya?” I breathed out.

She frowned, “She hasn’t come back,” she dropped the whisk, “Did something happen?”

I never responded and walking outside. I was about to get one guy to get me the number plate of the car Ben used so I could track it before I saw the car pulling in. I sighed. I pocketed my child’s first clothing. She was back, but when I looked, the car wasn’t coming to the entrance but going straight for the garage. I didn’t wait for him to park as I ran to the garage and caught him as he was getting out of the car.

“Where is my wife? Why the hell were you not answering your phone?” Ben looked down as I neared him.

“She made me throw away the phone,” he responded under his breath, adding to my already bad temper.

“Look at me,” I snarled as he looked up. “Where did you take her?”

“She asked me to drop her at the church and then-,”

“Take me to her,” I interrupted, but he didn’t move.

“I can’t, sir,” he added. His eyes looked elsewhere.

“Why the fuck not?” I was losing my patience.

“She was only there for five minutes before she asked me to drop her off at the train station.”