by Leo Sullivan
My head was spinning and it was all just too much to process at once. Roberto was their baby brother and the restaurant they owned, Sir Roberto’s, was named after him. He knew about my involvement in the Gutierrez Cartel members’ murders and on top of that my mother was having an affair with Gorge. She’d lied to me about the Gutierrez brothers killing my father and uncles over drug territory and power. What had she hoped to gain by doing that? I would’ve been better off not knowing. In my case ignorance was bliss, so why’d she come up with a lie? What did she hope to gain? I cleared my throat.
“Is what he’s sayin’ true mama? Gorge had a thing for you and that’s why my father was killed? You stealin’ his money explains all the money I saw in that suitcase when I was younger. Were you buyin’ the dope for Goody to sell too? Is that why you gave it all to Buff?”
She nodded. “I regret it every single day baby. I was afraid of Gorge and I didn’t know what else to do. The sexual relationship with him was never consensual. He’d been so called in love with me since I was a young girl. He had even asked for my hand in marriage, but my parents condemned it. My brothers weren’t much help. They couldn’t control the Gutierrez brothers. I couldn’t leave you behind because I love you mi hija. I did steal his money and I tried to keep us safe. I just knew that Gorge would come kill me, or you and when he never did, I felt like it was only a matter of time. I only got with Goody for protection. He had a name in the streets, but he was obviously not who I thought he was. I used the money I stole from Gorge to invest in more drugs for Goody, but I ended up addicted. I needed to numb the anxiety and the pain. After I saw your reaction to ending Goody’s life I knew that you weren’t like most young girls. You didn’t show any emotion and you didn’t have any remorse. I knew where the pain stemmed from and I knew that you wanted some answers about your father. I couldn’t tell you the truth, I’m sorry baby girl. I know that you’re cold because of my bad choices and what happened to your father. What happened to you made me want to change my life and that’s why I stopped using and gave the drugs to your friend Buff. I could never tell you what really happened, but I knew that the time would come when I’d have to tell you something. My guilt was eating me alive and I didn’t have the drugs to help me cope anymore. I had no idea what else to do or say and there was no way I could tell you what really happened. I didn’t think you’d take it so far Ze. If I’d known you would get involved in something like this with such dangerous people, I wouldn’t have said anything,” she said weakly.
I ran my fingers through my unruly hair. “If you know one thing about me mama, it’s that no man scares me. I can’t believe you. You came to me with all of that Holy crap and you were lying the whole time. Who the hell are you? I don’t know you.” I held on to her hand as she closed her eyes. Knowing that she was dying was killing me inside, but I had to express my feelings.
“I am your mother Zeaira and I love you. I loved your father. The situation with Gorge was out of fear. I never loved him. I’ve always loved your father. I never wanted your father killed, but I had no say in the matter. Yeah, I lied to you, but I never meant to hurt you. I never thought…”
“You never thought this would come back to haunt you? Because of you I killed someone and enjoyed it for the first time when I was fourteen mama. Because of you I conspired to kill some of the most dangerous men in the world. Because of you I don’t know what I’ve become.” Sobs shook my body as I watched my mother take her last breaths. “But I forgive you mama. I love you.” I put my cheek next to hers as the hot tears rushed from my closed eyes. She just needed me to forgive her so she could let go.
“Zeus is your boyfriend and Buff is your best friend from childhood.”
I opened my eyes and visibly flinched at the mention of their names.
He must’ve noticed. “Don’t worry, your mom told me about them. Roberto doesn’t know about them. Roberto connected you to your mother as a result of Donreco’s forced confession and you were the next target. It’s only a matter of time before they find out about your friends and the fact that you’re not dead. I got here as soon as I could, but I was too late. Your mother and I had kept in touch over the years and your arrest record intrigued me. What kind of fourteen year old is capable of cold blooded murder? Then you and your friends courageously and successfully conspired and executed the bloody massacre of some of the most powerful and dangerous criminals in the world. You need to be able to protect yourself from them and I am going to help you do that. I promised your father that I’d look out for you if anything ever happened to him…or your mother.”
I was relieved that the cartel members didn’t know about Zeus and Buff’s involvement, but I was sure that Darrick had figured it out. I wondered if the hit man who was dead on the floor had been who I saw following me and Zeus the night before.
“My brother Black is one of the most sought after assassins in the world. He was a highly trained Navy Seal, who took a different career path after the military. I’m aware that you know a little about our past with your father. What Black does has made him lots of money and he wants to retire. There’s no penchant or retirement plan in murder for hire, so there comes a time to stop. It seems that he’s also sort of…developed a conscience lately and may need someone to take over his… assignments. From what I’ve seen and learned about you, you don’t have a normal response to fear. Your reaction to any kind of threat is to strategize and then attack. You’re like your father in so many ways. That’s why he was a great marksman in the Army. Those same attributes makes for the perfect hit man, or in your case hit woman. Black will train you and teach you everything he knows. He is highly trained in several forms of martial arts and weapons. He can kill his target with his eyes closed because he’s so good at what he does. As a matter of fact, because of his level of skill his bare hands are considered to be a deadly weapon. I’ve learned over the years that a woman is an even more dangerous killer than any man. It’s not all just about brute strength. You’re lighter on your feet, flexible, agile and the weakness of man. You have an innocent look that will work in your favor. Your mark will never see death coming. With the right training and discipline you’ll be on top of your game because you’re young. You have the capacity to be even better than my brother and nobody will be able to fuck with you. With the training that he’s offering you, you can save your life and your friends’, but you have to leave with me right now. There’s no thinking about it. As a matter of fact you will have to kiss this life and all the people you know and love goodbye. You can’t communicate or contact anybody from your former life. The life you are about to begin will be a lonely one. No more friends, family or loved ones. Just you, your marks and your money. No ties means no emotions,” he explained sternly. “That’s if you choose the life of a paid assassin. Once all of your threats have been eliminated you will be able to return to your former life, if you chose.”
I thought about what he’d just said to me. “Right now?” I asked hesitantly as I glanced at my mom?” She was getting pale and her skin was very cold. Tears blinded me as I checked her pulse. She was dead.
He nodded as he picked his gun back up. “Roberto will just send someone else to finish the job and he won’t be willing to negotiate. Let’s say that most assassins lack a conscience. Both of your parents are gone and I have to keep my promise. I have to make sure that you stay alive.”
I sighed as I thought about my dead parents, the love of my life and my dear friends. Speaking of a conscience, I certainly had one at the moment. I didn’t want them to be killed because of me and now my mother was gone. She’d conspired Gorge’s murder without even knowing it. She’d planted the idea in my head like a seed with her lies and then nurtured it until it happened.
Damn, I would miss Zeus, Buff and Teena, but I would plan Peaches’s murder along the way. Boy how life had been altered for me. I was on my way to becoming a trained assassin. I preferred the title murderess though, because it sounded feminine, but deadly at
the same type. Just like me. I would accept the terms to keep the few people that I loved alive. Besides, killing for money didn’t sound too bad. Although my mom had pretty much betrayed me and the legacy of my father, she was still my mother. I couldn’t live with the fact that Roberto had gotten her killed. I knew that I was faced with being murdered as well if I didn’t make a sacrifice. My job was not done. The last of the Gutierrez Cartel members had to be dealt with permanently.
“Can I have a minute?” I asked.
“Sure, I’ll be in the car.” As he walked out of the house he glanced back at me before closing the door.
I broke down and grieved for my parents, the loss of my friendship with Peaches, my friends Buff and Teena, and the first real love that I had to leave behind. When I was all cried out, I felt like my soul had been washed clean. I promised myself for the second time that I’d never cry again. Tears would only blind me from what I really needed to see clearly. There would no distractions caused by emotions. From that point on I had tunnel vision and my mission was to destroy my enemies. In the process I could make millions by doing something I enjoyed anyway. Murdering Black’s marks after his retirement would be just target practice compared to what I planned to do to the Gutierrez Cartel, Peaches and anybody else who crossed me. I’d started my hit list.
After kissing my mother’s cheek and saying a quick prayer for her, I picked up the phone and dialed 911. Instead of speaking to the operator, I just left the phone off the hook.
“911, what is your emergency? Hello? Is anybody there? Hello.”
I walked out of the house knowing that they’d be able to trace the call’s address and send a patrol car to the location. There was no way I was leaving my mother’s body in there to rot. Knowing that the police would find her and my aunt would give her a proper burial was all the closure that I needed. The door was busted open and it would appear to be a mysterious double homicide. Zeus would find my note, hear about my mom’s death and assume that I was dead too. That was what I hoped of anyway. I’d rather he think I was dead than for him to think I’d ever willingly leave him.
* * *
As I got stepped in the black Lincoln, I noticed the sunlight’s reflection on my diamond necklace. I’d forgotten that I had it on. My tears were gone and a smile suddenly spread across my face. At least I had something to remind me of Zeus and his undeniable love for me. He’d promised that it was my time to start enjoying my life. I accepted the fact that some of us were put here to suffer. Just like those diamonds, my love for Zeus would last forever. I also knew that I wasn’t the one for him. He wanted to get married and have kids. I didn’t give life. I willingly took it without remorse. I didn’t deserve kids. I’d have to live every day of my children’s lives in fear of karma. That was no way to live. Only I should be condemned for my mistakes, not innocent lives. Besides, I would never complete him. If you added one to zero you would still end up with one. At that moment I knew that I’d spend a life time alone. All I could do was hope that Zeus would get over me and move on with his life. It was the only way that I could save him and Buff.
“So, where are we going?” I asked as I fingered the necklace that would always connect me to my old life.
“Miami first and then you’re off to your training,” Darrick said. “This is Black, my brother. He will be training you.”
Black nodded in my direction. He was darker than Darrick with the same facial features. I could tell that he was a little older, although he was just as handsome. Instead of a bald head he had a close hair-cut. “You look a lot like JRo.”
I smiled at that. My father’s friends called him JRo, which was short for Jerome Rowe. I stared down at the bracelet I’d decided to put on the night before. I hadn’t worn it in since that night in Miami, but I’d put it on at the perfect time. I opened the locket and looked at my father’s picture. At least I had a couple things to remind me of my life before. “And where will I be training?”
“You’ll see” Black said letting me know that the line of questioning was over. “So, what do you want us to call you now? Zeaira’s dead.”
“Zero, Zero Degrees,” I said as he pulled off.
Sullivan Productions Presents…
Titles by Leo Sullivan
Innocent
Innocent’s Revenge
Innocent’s Revenge II
Innocent Forever
In This Life
Life Without Hope
Gangster’s Bitch
Gangster’s Bitch II
Gangster’s Daughter
Billionairess Thief
Titles by Nika Michelle
Black Butterfly
Black Onyx: The Sequel to Black Butterfly
Forbidden Fruit I
Forbidden Fruit II: A New Seed
Gluttony (Erotic Short)
By Rio
The Cocaine Princess 1 and 2 by Rio
Coming Soon
Gangster’s Daughter II by Leo Sullivan
Forbidden Fruit III: The Original Sin by Nika Michelle
www.leolsullivan.com
Available on Kindle and in Paperback
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2 Two Months Later
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5 Two weeks later
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
other books
