by Kenya Wright
It’s odd that she’s here with me now.
Today, we docked to begin the area’s Five-Pearl Experience. The all-inclusive had one of the best private airport lounges. Seaplanes could be seen near our dock. However, no one was out. Most of the area was shadowed in dim lighting.
This would be the place where I ended Freddy for good. The man was starting to annoy me. At first, it had been fun, twisting him around at my leisure. But our time on the boat had shoved me over the edge.
You’ve had your fun. Now, it’s time for you to go.
I left the boat.
Freddy and Dawn walked ahead of me whispering to each other. They’d been mumbling things for the past few days. Dawn never left her room. We hadn’t talked since that horrible dinner and the scheduled house explosion. For the past days, Freddy grabbed her food and brought it back to the room. My time with her was left to spying on them. Half the time, I couldn’t make out anything on the recordings. Watching their footage was even worse. If Freddy wasn’t fucking the hell out of her, he was holding her close and declaring his love.
Did he lie to me? She seems just fine with being with him. Am I being paranoid?
Freddy said that she wasn’t sure about being married, but she looked pretty damn certain to me. In fact, she appeared too confident in their love.
What happened? This was supposed to be the opposite. She doesn’t love him enough to marry. And he doesn’t want to be locked down. Are they both pretending?
My main guy stopped me as I headed to our cars. “Sir, I have to show you this.”
I grabbed the paper from him. On the page, there were only two lines of text from Freddy’s phone and an unknown number.
“What is it?” I asked.
“He sent a text message. This is what we were able to decipher.”
I read the page.
Freddy: I really need your help. Please!
Unknown: Okay.
I handed the page back to my guard. “When did he send this?”
“Two nights ago.”
Rage burst in my chest. If this was another time and place, I would’ve choked my guy right there. Information was an important part of staying ahead of everyone else. There should’ve never been a moment where Freddy did something and I didn’t know about it.
Two nights ago? Anything can happen in forty-eight hours.
I glared at him. “Why am I just getting this now?”
“The message came out garbled. The person he sent it to scrambled it somehow.”
Who would Freddy know that could do that? I’ve checked him out. Even his security was low-grade.
I put my hand in my pocket, realized I hadn’t brought a new puzzle cube with me, and clenched my teeth. “Anything else?”
“Yes, sir. He sent another message to the unknown number.”
“What does it say?” I asked.
“It’s still taking us forever to decode it. For whatever reason, when he texts this person, all the words come out garbled to us.”
This isn’t a regular person. It’s someone in the community.
“Keep a close eye on the rest of his texts and find out who he’s messaging.” I grabbed him before he could rush off.
“Yes, sir.” Sweat dripped down the side of his face.
“And do it quickly. I don’t want to hear about problems with decoding. This is 2017, not a fucking 1970’s James Bond movie. Get the shit translated and in my hands by this evening, or I’m going to decode your ass into little bits and pieces, pour it into a stew, freeze it up, and have a special caterer arrive at your nice little wife’s home with it made into a broth. What’s her name again?”
Silence.
“Peggy was her name. Right? Yeah.” I nodded. “I would have your broth specially delivered to her in two weeks. That’s your wedding anniversary. That’s why you’ve been trying to get off, right? Well, picture this.”
With my free hand, I traced a large box in front of us. “Peggy gets a nice card from you saying that you love her so much, but you had to miss your fourth wedding anniversary. But no worries, here’s a romantic dinner just for her. I bet your fleshy broth would season a large lobster just right. Does she like lobster?”
The guy trembled under my hold. “Y-yes, sir.”
“Good.” I tapped his shoulder. “I’ll make sure she has some. And if you do as you’re told, you’ll get to enjoy the lobster too.”
His Adam’s apple skittered under the skin of his throat. “Thank you, sir.”
“Get the message and do it fast. I want to know who this fuck-face is talking to and why. And next time he texts someone, you tell me immediately.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
He fled the area.
Freddy added a player to the game. Who and why?
Twenty feet ahead, Dawn and Freddy stood by the limo and stared at me. Both of their hands were locked into the other. They appeared strong—a foundation that couldn’t be cracked or shattered. Too bad they didn’t understand that any surface breaks with the hardest pressure and strike.
Freddy asked for help. Why? Was it that he knew this was a game or that he wanted some extra insurance to protect Dawn. Or did he think he could bring someone around that could handle me?
I laughed at the failed possibilities. As long as I walked this earth and worked with fellow murderers, there was no one else I feared but The Eight. And that was only because they could hurt Dawn.
Two of my men opened the back door for Dawn and Freddy. The happy little couple entered the car, but not before Freddy glanced back at me over his shoulder. I nodded at him and he smiled and climbed into the limo.
Do you really want to tussle with me, little Freddy? You’re only alive because you’re amusing. Don’t test me.
My gut told me that Freddy knew this all was another game. I’d figured as much before my guy showed me the text. Freddy seemed off. Less desperate and confused. He looked me in my eyes more and asked fewer questions as if he had the answers already. As if his cock had grown several inches.
How much do you know, Freddy? You don’t want to have a dick measuring contest with me.
Days ago when my boss called I was shaken. I had no idea that he knew Dawn was on the island or that I’d returned there myself. Thankfully, I’d already started the beginning of a game. The house was ready to blow up and happened right on schedule. With the fake explosion, my boss would think that Dawn was dead. I would contact them days later to let them know that I’d taken care of everything. They were used to me faking my death so much that they never were alarmed from one of my properties or planes exploding. It was all part of the job. Keep everyone guessing and uneasy. Always stay ahead.
As planned, my men knocked over the dining room furniture like I’d asked them to. While there had been no explosions near that section of the house, I wanted the impact to make it look that way. Rick oversaw slamming into Freddy and knocking him down. Tony dropped the fog bombs, while the drug in Dawn’s wine had put her to sleep seconds before the explosion.
The illusion was always more important than the reality.
Freddy heard bombs several feet away and would not be wondering about how close they were. Explosions triggered panic. Under anxiety, I could twist terror out of nothing at all.
But Freddy wouldn’t let her go. He had to carry her to the boat. He thinks he’s fucking Romeo. Doesn’t he know that Romeo killed himself because he was a dumb fuck?
I’d planned on losing him once I had Dawn in my arms. So, I had to improvise and switch to a new plan. If Freddy thought he wanted to be with Dawn, then fine, give it to him. I knew his inner core better than him. He wasn’t marriage material. Even Dawn would be able to see that. Fucking and dating him would be fine, but an actual commitment would be insane.
She knows that, right? There’s no way she thinks that she really loves him. Why would she?
I headed to the limo. I hadn’t been able to work through a proper plan with all their fucking going on. It was like F
reddy was intentionally trying to fog my brain. All night and during the day, he ravaged her and she was screaming his damn name louder than she needed to. I’d broken glasses and plates. I’d come close to grabbing Freddy and shoving him off the boat to drown in the dark sea waters.
But then what would Dawn do? She was a puzzle that was hard to solve. With the way that she’d been moaning, she would probably jump over the boat after him. And then everything would be lost for good.
In the limo, Freddy and Dawn sat across from me holding each other’s hands.
I kept a neutral expression and turned to Dawn. It had seemed like forever since I saw her in person. My fingers itched to touch her.
“Are you two excited?” I asked.
Silent, Freddy just watched me.
Dawn formed those wicked lips into a smile. “As excited as I can be.”
“Meaning?” I asked.
“People are trying to kill me. I’m being forced into a marriage with someone that I don’t know that well. This is all pretty ridiculous and over the top, but that’s the story of my life. And thankfully, Freddy is good-looking and...talented or this would be harder to swallow.”
Talented? Be careful, Dawn. I’ll stop his heart from beating.
I’d seen her swallow enough in the past two days. Had my gun been next to me, I might’ve shot Freddy right there, just for her comment on him being talented.
She’s too calm and pissed. She knows it’s a game. And Freddy looks too confident. What do they have up their sleeves?
Our limo drove off. Two cars guided us in front, while another two cars followed in back. They were all my men, ready to keep the game alive for several more days before we had a real mission to begin. My boss had loved the aftermath of the Miami attack. The Eight had received the public’s approval for a declaration of war. Life would be busy and even more violent than before. I needed Dawn by my side more than ever. I didn’t know how I would do it, but I’d keep her close to me. She was the only person that anchored my darkness and kept it at bay.
She was my addiction. The one that I’d never been able to quit. No matter how much money I had, no matter how many women I took to my bed, or how many people I killed, Dawn was the only woman I wanted, the one that I had to have more than anything.
Yes. Our break is really over. These past weeks with her have shown me that. Why did I let myself be away from her for so long?
Dawn looked out the window. “Where are we going?”
“Freddy, have you ever been to Bom Island before?” I asked.
We glared at each other.
“No, I haven’t,” he said.
The limo continued down the island’s rocky road.
“Good,” I said. “You’ll love it here. It’s a perfect place to have a wedding. Twenty-five spacious and tastefully furnished chalets equipped with anything you would need—telephone, private bathroom, flat screen TVs, whatever.”
Freddy’s angry expression never softened. “Sounds delightful.”
“I rented the entire resort out for privacy reasons.”
“Of course,” he said.
“If you get hungry, there’s a short walk to the resort’s private restaurant. I could arrange a table on the pier for you two or even a romantic meal on the beach.”
“I don’t need help with romancing Dawn, but thank you.”
“And did you want any of your friends and family here for the special occasion?” I asked.
“No.” Freddy’s words grew dark. “Someone’s trying to kill Dawn. I don’t want anyone knowing where we are until she’s legally my wife.”
“Good.” I set my hands on my lap and threaded my fingers. “And you still can’t find your phone?”
Rage blazed through his gaze. “I’m sure it blew up in your house explosion.”
“I’m sure it did.” I turned to Dawn. “Did I ever tell you about the funny parrot here? They call him Chaplin the African Grey parrot. He greets all the guests. It’s so funny. He even patrols the hotel. You’ll love it.”
Her smile appeared deadly. “I’m excited.”
And then the limo stopped and parked right in the middle of the road. I gazed outside of the window. Being so late, no one was on the path but us and my men. Yet, I hadn’t planned on a stop. My strict instructions were to take us straight to the resort. Every minute was accounted for.
Why the hell did we stop? What’s going on?
That wasn’t a thought that I was used to having. I usually always knew what was going on and at the time it needed to happen. Tonight’s only plan was to head to the resort. I’d already had Freddy and Dawn’s room bugged. My men had hired a fake preacher and a couple of people to blend in with the staff. I wanted as many people as possible to be my ears and listen to everything going on around me.
Parking the limo in the middle of the road had not been part of the plan.
Yet, I remained sitting in my spot, calm and neutral-faced. There was no need to let Freddy and Dawn think that I was caught off guard. People used a person’s weakness against them. Tonight, they wouldn’t see any of mine.
The cars in the back shut off their lights. I leaned to the window and noticed that the front cars turned off their lights too. There was a divider between us and the driver. I toyed with the idea of pushing the button and pulling it down to discover the problem. If anything, someone should have phoned me with an update by now, not have me sitting here in silence.
Dawn and Freddy exchanged looks, but they seemed even more confused than me.
They didn’t plan this. But if this was something like a flat tire or minor complication, someone would’ve called and said something.
I stared out into the darkness. There were a few fruit stands bordering the road. When a good group of tourists visited, people sold their freshly picked harvest out here during the day. At night, no one could be seen anywhere in the area. The roofs were not perfectly flat but instead, sharply angled.
A shadow blurred across the roof and then disappeared along the other side of the stand. I jolted back from the window as my stomach pitched. My heart raced as I scanned the silent darkness.
What had I seen?
I wasn’t sure. The shadow had appeared person-sized, but it was so fast that I couldn’t be positive. I stared at that window for several seconds waiting to see if anything else moved, but other than branches from the trees lining the road there was nothing.
The limo jerked a little like someone opened the door. A silent minute passed. No other movement came. Right as I reached for my phone to discover what was going on, the limo started. A low breath left Dawn’s parted lips. I realized in that moment that she’d been holding her breath the whole time, probably scared at what was happening.
Maybe, they don’t know it’s a game. She looks genuinely scared for her life.
My cars behind and in front turned their lights back on and we journeyed off several minutes behind schedule.
Someone better have a good reason for why we stopped when we arrive.
Nothing else happened out of order. We arrived on time. I hopped out and watched the happy couple depart and then enter the hotel. When we got to the front desk, no one sat there. Three different colored envelopes sat on the surface—pink, baby blue, and white.
“Each one has a key to your room.” I offered Dawn the pink one.
She took it. “Freddy and I are in different rooms?”
I nodded. “The groom can’t see his bride before the wedding. It would be bad luck.”
“I don’t like this.” She bit her bottom lip and gave a worried glance to Freddy. “This isn’t even a traditional wedding. You don’t make the rules.”
It was a struggle to keep myself calm. “I’m protecting you. Haven’t I shown that my interests are to keep Freddy and you safe?”
She scowled. “Is that what you call your past actions?”
“I got you both out of Miami, right? I didn’t need to do that. Did I?” It was a low blow. I doubt she wan
ted to remember the tragedy in Miami. Neither of one of us had discussed my part in the situation, but I’d heard enough whispers in Freddy and Dawn’s room recordings to realize that she was certain I kept them both out of danger.
Did she say all of that for my benefit? Or did she really understand the weight of my part in the attack?
Dawn stepped back and fingered the envelope.
“This will be for one night,” I said. “I made everything easy. We’re on the first floor.” I pointed in the direction of our rooms. “You just walk that way and around the corner.”
“You’ve been here before?” She eyed me.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“When I was trying to get over you.”
“Good. Maybe, this place will help you get over her again.” Freddy walked up to me and I handed him the blue envelope. “Is there anyone else staying here?”
“Besides my people? Not really. Besides a small staff, it will be just us.”
He ripped open the envelope. “Good.”
That’s right, fuck-face. No fucking tonight or anymore.
If this evening worked out like it was supposed to, Dawn would be back in my arms by the morning and Freddy would be gone forever. This game was a stretch, but what else I could do? Dawn had reminded me of her importance in my life. She kept my head off the heartache of the world, had my mind boggled all the time.
My brain came up with thousands of theories but none rang true. This evening, all would be revealed to her and me. Freddy had his sick time with her on the yacht. Now his role was over.
“Tomorrow, you two wed,” I said.
Dawn pulled out the key. It was a long gold one, reminiscent of those ancient movies on old skeleton keys that opened gothic castles surrounded by empty space and haunted mountains. At the top of the key, the number one was engraved. Freddy took out his and showed her the number three.
Dawn focused her attention back to me. “Your room is number two?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t appear pleased at all that I was in the room between them. “Where will the wedding be?”
“The resort has a chapel and a priest. I booked them for tomorrow morning.”
“And the tuxedo and bridal gown?” Freddy asked.
