by Ashley
The funeral service may have been convincing to everyone else, but in the back of Murder’s mind, he had known that it was all for show. It was no coincidence that he was on the same plane as Leena. He knew that if he followed her, sooner or later she would lead him to The Cartel, and as he sat next to her his trigger finger began to itch.
“What brings you all the way to Brazil?” Leena asked.
“I have a score to settle with an old friend. Unfinished business.”
* * *
Breeze boarded the private jet with Zyir behind her. He tapped her lightly on her backside, and she giggled like a schoolgirl as she swatted his hand away.
“I don’t know what you acting shy for. I’m about to induct you into this mile high club,” he said jokingly. He was completely at ease for the first time in years. There was no business to tend to, no reason to watch his back every second, and no street code to uphold. It was just him and Breeze. Nothing had ever felt so right, and happiness surged through him as he sat next to his wife.
“You’re so silly,” Breeze said as she leaned into his shoulder and rested her forehead against his. “I can’t believe we did it. I can’t believe I’m married.”
“Do I make you happy?” he asked as he gripped her chin gently.
She nodded. “You know you do,” she replied as their tongues met. Finally they were together, and all of the horrible things that had kept them apart for so long no longer mattered. They were soul mates and had weathered the storms that life had thrown their way. Now it was time for their new lives to begin.
“I’m going to go get a few blankets from the flight attendant before we take off,” Breeze said. She stood, still dressed in her beautiful white dress, and walked past Zyir.
“Yo, B?” he called after her.
She turned around and was so radiant that his breath caught in his chest. “I love you.”
“I know you do, Zyir. You know everything there is to know about me and you still love me. That’s why I love you so much,” she said. She blew him a quick kiss before walking to the front of the plane.
Zyir closed his eyes in relaxation, but it was soon interrupted when he heard Breeze’s blood curdling scream. He jumped from his seat and ran to the front just as Breeze came staggering back down the aisle. A knife was imbedded deeply inside her chest, causing her white dress to slowly turn bloody red as the wound in her chest bled out. Her eyes were open wide in bewilderment, and her hand reached out to Zyir.
“Breeze!” he cried. “No, ma. Not now. Not like this.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but choked on her own blood as she fell into his arms.
“Help me! Somebody please!” Zyir gripped the knife and tried to pull it from Breeze’s body, but the more he tugged on it, the more blood seeped out.
“No, ma. No. You’ve got to live,” he whispered.
Breeze’s eyes spoke to him, telling him all the things that she could not physically say.
“I love you too, ma . . . forever, baby girl,” he said to her. “Don’t die on me, Breeze. I’ma get you some help.” He was too heartbroken to even worry about who had harmed her. He just wanted to get her help and keep the love of his life alive.
He picked her up, scooping her into his arms as she struggled to hold on, but it was no use. His wife died in his arms before he could even step off of the plane. He buried his head in her long hair as he let out a scream of agony.
It wasn’t until he heard footsteps in front of him that he looked up.
“Hello, Zyir,” Illiana stated with a devious leer as she pointed a gun directly at him.
He instantly regretted leaving his pistol behind. While reveling in his newfound love with Breeze, he had gotten too comfortable, and that mistake had cost him dearly.
As she pulled back the hammer of the pistol and wrapped her finger around the trigger, he didn’t even look at her. He focused his attention back on Breeze and hugged her dead body tightly. They had been so close to escaping it all. They had almost had their happy ending, but almost doesn’t count. Zyir closed his eyes as he waited for the inevitable shot that would end his life.
* * *
Carter Diamond, the man who had started it all, sat at the head of the rectangular dining table and smiled as he looked around at his children. His beautiful wife, Taryn, sat directly across from him at the other end. Finally, they were all together again. Heaven had opened its gates for the entire Diamond family, and they all sat amongst a feast fit for kings as they enjoyed this fateful reunion.
Monroe hugged Mecca tightly in forgiveness, as Taryn looked in amazement at Breeze in her beautiful wedding dress. All the while, Carter Diamond presided over them all. He was as distinguished in the afterlife as he had been on Earth, and his heart swelled at the sight of his family. They had been reunited at last. Death had come for them all, and only had one last member to claim.
Young Carter’s seat was the only one that sat empty, and although Carter Diamond was proud of his oldest son for surviving in a game where so many had fallen, a part of him still wished that he could be there at this moment. He belonged with his family.
Taryn walked over to her husband’s side and kissed his cheek. “He’ll be here soon enough,” Taryn whispered in his ear. “Let him live his life, and when it is his time, he will fill that seat and our family will be complete.”
Carter Diamond nodded and kissed his wife’s cheek as he raised his pure gold wine goblet. “To my beautiful wife, twin sons, my dearest Breeze, and to my son who isn’t among us just yet. I love you all,” he toasted.
They all raised their glasses and drank together as they watched over Young Carter. Through him, the legacy of The Cartel lived on, and it would not end until he had joined them in heaven, where Diamonds lived forever . . .
To the dedicated readers, we love you all.
Thanks for helping us make history.
—New York Times bestselling authors,
Ashley & JaQuavis
