by A. G. Khaliq
326
“It's okay, girl,” I whispered, trying my best to help her feel better. “I know what it's like to lose somebody. You'll heal with time.”
“My brother wasn't a bad man,”
Felicia sighed timidly, wiping her eyes.
“He was so young… And they robbed him of his future.”
“Do you have any idea as to who could have shot him?” I asked.
“I think it was the Mafia…” Felicia began, scratching her chin uneasily, “but I don't know.”
I felt my heart drop as she mentioned the Mafia. I couldn’t help but to take the opportunity to ask about Donte.
“Was it Donte Abruzzi that shot 327
him?” I asked.
“No, no, Donte is a close family friend,” Felicia denied. “He and Alfonze were good friends, he looked out for him like a brother. When he found out that Alfonze died, he was broken. He's been sending me and my family money for food and our living… And he saved me from getting raped.”
I took a deep breath in, my heart hammering against my chest. “But I thought that Donte was Russian Mafia?”
“I have no idea what he is,” Felicia shrugged, “but he didn't kill my brother.
Donte isn’t that kind of man. I know he’s involved with some shady people, but he wouldn’t be capable of killing innocent people.”
“Okay, thank you for letting me know,” I breathed.
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I couldn’t help but to feel waves of relief. I felt reassured, knowing that I’d now got confirmation that it couldn’t have been Donte behind the murders.
“Do you know where they're holding
Alfonze's
body?”
Felicia
questioned tearfully.
“Why would anybody be holding it?” I asked, taken aback. “You should have had the funeral by now.”
“There hasn't been a funeral,”
Felicia muttered.
“What?” I said blankly, unable to make sense of any of this. “That's really strange.”
Something terrible was going on here… But I couldn’t quite figure out what, or put my finger on it. Maybe this 329
case was going to be a lot bigger than I thought…
Because
the
more
I
investigated, the more questions I seemed to be left with. It felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere.
“Please find out where his body is…” Felicia pleaded. “I need closure.”
“I will,” I reassured her. “I promise I'll get to the bottom of your brother's murder.”
“Thank you.”
“And Felicia, can you do me a favour?” I asked quickly.
“Yes?” she replied uneasily, folding her arms.
“Don't tell anybody my name or who I am,” I responded quietly. “About Secret Service, or that I came to visit you.
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You'll blow the whole operation if you do.”
“I understand,” Felicia nodded, swallowing. “Thank you for coming to see me. You have my word.”
“Thank you.”
“Now we're gonna give you one last chance,” said the white man, shaking his fists angrily as his veins made their way to the surface of his skin alarmingly.
“One last chance to come clean! Tell us what you fucking know!”
“I don't know anything, I swear!”
the Chinese man cried hysterically, his face horror-stricken. “Please, don't do this! You're making a mistake!”
“You had your chance,” the Puerto Rican man roared. “You should've 331
thought to know better, with all the people we murdered before you when they found out information. You had a chance to walk away and you fucked it up for yourself, you fucking bastard!”
He began battering the Chinese man with his fists, knocking him down to the ground. I leapt back in horror, doing my best to suppress a sob. I wanted to intervene, but I knew that the man would probably kill me for being a witness to this whole thing. I felt my heart hammer against my ribcage, and my chest heave upwards and downwards as my surroundings closed in around me. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. It felt like I couldn’t fucking breathe.
I couldn’t breathe…
The man continued to batter the Chinese man, beating his face till it was blue, and he wouldn’t stop. The Chinese 332
man’s jaw snapped, as his cries got weaker with every blow. He was crying out for help, and I felt frozen to the spot.
I could barely fucking move.
The white man joined forces, and began beating the Chinese man with his friend, to make him feel treble the pain.
His skull cracked open, blood gushing out of his head, as half of his face had been beaten to a pulp, and he’d lost his ability to breathe. His eyeball rolled out onto the ground, as well as three of his teeth knocking clean out as he coughed out blood.
He wouldn’t be able to survive this…
There was no fucking surviving this…
I continued to watch in horror, tears streaming down my face. I felt so 333
fucking helpless. I should’ve helped the man. I should have willed my body to move. I should have put my life on the line to save him. It was what secret agents like myself were meant to fucking do.
But I felt glued to the spot. I was fucking petrified.
More than ever, I was so fucking ashamed of myself. I felt so fucking stiff.
“This will teach you and your family not to fuck with the Russian Mafia,” the Puerto Rican said quietly, slapping the Chinese man’s face to the side as he spat on it, and kicked it down to the ground. “We were sent by them to warn you. Don’t say we didn’t give you a fair fucking chance to walk away from this free. See you in hell, motherfucker.”
“Take this gun and finish the fucking job,” the white man spat angrily.
334
He handed the gun to the Puerto Rican, and the Puerto Rican shot the Chinese man three times straight in the fucking chest.
There would be no saving him now.
No calling the ambulance. No need for paramedics.
He was fucking dead.
He.
Was.
Fucking.
Dead.
I felt my lungs constricting, as I struggled for air. I couldn’t believe I had the nerve to just sit here and watch. My blood continued to run cold as I stared at 335
the horrifying scene.
“Clean up this fucking mess like it never goddamn happened,” the white man spat angrily, rolling his eyes.
The Puerto Rican nodded, reaching for a body bag that he had in his car boot.
I dithered in the middle of the room, my skin feeling like it was on fire as I relived every painful moment. Every memory that I had in this case. Everything I’d witnessed.
I had all of this evidence…
And I was still no closer to finding the serial murderer.
I felt terrible about myself. I’d gathered so much information, yet I still hadn’t put all of those people to justice.
336
All of the families who’s sons or daughters were tortured, raped or murdered.
I wished I could solve it.
I fucking wished I could.
But everything was leading to a dead trail.
Leading to nobody.
Leading to nowhere.
But at the very least, what I’d gathered was enough to prove Donte's innocence in all of this. He wouldn’t go to jail for any of this, because he wasn’t behind the murders. It was somebody else trying to frame him…
I folded my arms uneasily, as I continued to gather my thoughts 337
together.
Trying to process everything.
All of the information.
Suddenly, my phone started to ring. I furrowed my eyebrows in worry, holding it out in front of my face. I could feel my heart drop when I saw the number that was blaring across the screen.
; It was a Secret Service number.
I let out a deep breath.
“It must be my boss…” I mumbled to myself.
It felt like the walls were closing in on me. Like I was suffocating, and somebody was twisting a dagger right through my chest.
338
Donte had repaid his debts to me.
He broke off the marriage contract with Sharon.
I guessed it was time for me to return the favour…
For not being honest with him.
The very least I could do was make some sacrifices for his sake, too…
I let out another sigh, before I pressed ‘Receive’ on the call, and held my phone against my ear.
“Hello?” I sighed.
And I was right.
It was Boss’s voice on the other end.
“Hello Maya,” he snarled. “I was 339
ringing to check up on you. I wanted to see if you've seen sense, and if you've made any progress in the investigation.
Any closer to putting Donte Abruzzi behind bars?”
“No Boss,” I seethed. “I don't know what the fuck you're up-to, but after you killed my mother, I ain't helping you for shit.” I balled my hands into fists, doing my best to keep myself together. “All I have is proof that Donte is innocent. And since you're so desperate to have him taken down, I won't be aiding you anymore.
“I'm resigning. I'm out, Philip. I can't do this anymore. All these lies, all of this shady shit.
“I won't be returning to the Secret Service. I'm done.
“You can remove me from the 340
system.”
I took deep breaths in and out, my breathing becoming laboured. It felt like a massive burden and weight was lifted off of my shoulders, although I knew that my boss wasn’t going to take to this kindly. I wasn’t mentally prepared for how he was going to react, but I knew that I had to at least try and fix this.
He cracked up with manic laughter on the other end of the line, causing my body to shudder with uneasiness.
He was a psychopath.
He was a fucking psychopath.
“Did you really think this sentimental bullshit was going to sway me around?” Boss snarled. “I gave you this life, Maya, and I can take it away just as easily. I couldn't give two fuck's if you 341
leave or not.” He clenched his teeth. “But you know that I don't take kindly to threats… And I don't take kindly to people defying me. So I'd watch your next steps very fucking carefully, Maya.
You think the Secret Service is a holiday camp? That you can just walk away?
“Make sure you look at both sides before you cross the fucking road, because you've got a shit-storm coming your way, you filthy whore. Leaving the luxury I gave you, for a pretty-boy criminal you met on a mission. I'm warning you, Maya.”
Before I could open my mouth to respond, the line crackled, and went dead. I screamed angrily, suddenly boiling with rage.
That fucking bastard! He had the audacity to threaten me, even after everything he’d already done…
342
I rattled my fists angrily, seething.
Wanting to kill.
Wanting to murder.
Wanting revenge.
“I don't care about his petty threats,” I blustered angrily. “This is me returning a favour to Donte.”
I could feel my heart hammer against my chest rapidly, as I thought about Donte.
As long as I was with Donte, I was sure that no harm would come to me. He loved me so fucking much, that he would protect me with his life.
Our love was worth fucking fighting for.
343
He was all I wanted now.
He was all I cared about now.
Now…
And forever.
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37
maya
A few days later
I was at my skin transplant appointment with Donte's mom. It was time to finally get rid of the F that Fibonacci had branded on my leg. He was dead... And the scars were going to die with him.
345
I was looking forward to this a lot.
I'd already grown confident to wear sexy clothes with the bruise, but I would be even more confident without it.
To have my ex completely erased from my body, and my memory. And to just live a happy life with the real love of my life, Donte Abruzzi.
“I'll be grafting your skin to put healthier skin onto your damaged skin,”
the surgeon explained.
“Okay,” I replied back nervously, as I lay on the hospital bed.
“I'm going to give you a general anaesthetic, because the affected area is quite large, so it would be good for you not to feel this happening,” she went on.
“After the procedure is done, it should take around two weeks to heal.”
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“Thank you,” I said appreciatively.
“Good luck, Sapphire,” Maria smiled at me reassuringly, reminding me that I had the strength and courage to go through with this. “You've got this. I'll be waiting outside.”
“Thanks, Maria,” I sighed.
“I'll begin,” said the surgeon.
And then everything went black.
Two weeks later.
It had been two weeks since I had my surgery. I’d spent most of the two weeks just lying down in bed with Donte, and there was no place I’d rather fucking be.
“Are you all better now, baby girl?”
Donte asked, pressing his lips to my 347
forehead.
“Yep,” I grinned, with my hands on my hips. I was feeling much better. “It's been two weeks now.”
“Let's go out tonight,” Donte grinned. “Show off your sexy new look.
You've stayed in bed for two whole weeks.”
I giggled in response.
“I'd love to,” I said coyly. “Only if you're able to keep your hands to yourself when we go.”
A smirk formed on the corners of Donte’s lips.
“Is that a challenge, baby girl?”
“Maybe.”
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“You're gonna have to let me have you all to myself right now, then.”
“I think that can be arranged,” I moaned, as Donte’s eyes smouldered with lust.
Donte’s mouth came crashing down on mine.
“By the way, I lied,” he growled against my mouth. “I won't be able to keep my hands off you. I want everyone to know you're mine. I want everyone to see how sexy my girl is.”
“You're impossible,” I whimpered.
“It's so sexy when you claim me like this.”
“You love it.”
“That, I do.”
349
Later on that day
I made my way back to my apartment block, because I wanted to speak to Maisie. I hadn't seen her in a while.
“Hey Maisie, you in?” I called out, outside of her apartment door.
“I'm coming, girl!” came her bright, bubbly voice.
Speaking to Maisie was always like taking a breath of fresh air. She was always so excited and full of energy, and I loved that about her. There was never a dull moment when I spent time with her, and it didn’t matter how long I went without speaking to her, our friendship still remained strong. We didn’t have to speak every day to prove that we were solid.
“I haven't seen you in forever, girl!”
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Maisie exclaimed, as she opened her apartment door. She threw her arms around me, pulling me in for a hug.
“I missed you,” I smiled.
“I missed you too, Saph'.”
I made my way inside, walking into her living room. I let out a sigh as she walked in with me, closing the door behind her.
“I wanted to thank you,” I admitted. “You know, for helping Donte to see the truth.” I took my head into my hands, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. “If it hadn't been for you, I'd literally be dead right now.”
I could fee
l my eyes well with tears.
Maisie had done so much for me. She’d been such a good friend.
351
“Donte needed putting in his place,” Maisie reassured me, her face falling. “I had to convince him that there was no way you'd leave him. And honestly?” She trailed off her sentence, getting emotional herself. “I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to you. I know you've only been living here for a few months, but you're honestly one of the best friends I've ever had in my life, along with Millie.
I’m so happy I met you, girl.”
At this point, it felt like the guilt was consuming me entirely. The guilt that even somebody who saw me as one of their best friends had no idea who I really was. My stomach twisted into knots, and I couldn’t stop it.
“It's the same with me,” I mumbled.
“I've never really had many friends, or the luxury of a good life. I’ve spent most of my life alone, with just myself for 352
company. Taking each day as it came.
You being here has made everything so much better for me. It’s made me realize how much I’ve needed female company.
Being able to laugh and have fun with some girl mates. It’s something that I’ve never had at all.”
“I'm glad,” Maisie smiled. “It’s okay to be on your own, but it’s important to have a work-life balance too. Spending too much time in isolation and shutting yourself away from the world is never good for anyone, introvert or extrovert.”
I nodded in agreement, letting out a sigh that I didn’t know I was holding.
“So, do you have any plans tonight?” she asked.
“Well, two weeks ago, I finally got a skin transplant on my leg,” I admitted sheepishly.
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“You looked beautiful despite having it anyway,” Maisie grinned, with her hands on her hips.
“And to celebrate my new look, me and Donte are going clubbing tonight,” I went on, blushing.
Maisie clapped her hands in delight, and I couldn’t help but to let out a giggle.
“Does this mean you'll finally stop being picky when I pick out clothes for you?” she exclaimed.
