The "Backup" Guy
Marley POV
I knew exactly why Mamou sent this guy. He was my match. But the second one....the shorter one...the 'backup'.....who seemed a bit inexperienced, I couldn't make out why.
But all I needed to do right now was to escape, or rather, hide everything I had that would bring Mamou down. Cause he would stop at nothing. I knew him too well.
As for now, I needed some space. To recollect myself. These past days had not been good to me.
Oklahoma... Colorado...Nevada maybe...or Nebraska. Yes. Nebraska.
I knew they wouldn't easily get to me there.
Eve.
I'm calling Eve.
I knew she got me on this one, cause she worked at the Wichita Eisenhower National Airport. She was not just a friend who worked at the airport. She was my best friend. The one I told everything and obviously the only family I had.
She'd talked me into most of the decisions in my life. She'd had my back for sure. And now, she was to book me a flight to Nebraska and prepare my hotel room. SHE was the only one to do this for me. Not myself. Cause Mamou watched out for every move I made.
It's such a shame I had to walk the streets in complete disguise, hiding from a man I'd take down completely if I wanted to.
But I didn't want that.
Cause he had his own share of trouble with me.
I had mine too.
" Done, Flight to Omaha, Nebraska, first class booked and Staybridge Suites room 34B reserved for my babe," Eve replied.
"You are such a darling, I said smiling," She really got my back.
In an hour I was at the airport and the next I was checking in at the hotel. At least I'd be able to do excellent research before I went to meet the bonehead Mamou in court...or at least before he tracks me and I'd have to flee once again.
I had to know how Flores and Mamou came to terms. I had to know what else they'd been doing all along, so that just one blow would send all of them to jail for good.
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3:45 PM
"Room Service ma'am,"
I slowly went to open the door and BOOM!! Flores!! He was dressed in staff uniform.
He opened the metal plate cover and there lay a gun.
" Ask Eve..." he said pointing at me and pulled the trigger.
I fell on the floor and suddenly struggled to breathe.
I struggled to breathe.
Struggled.
Then I opened my eyes.
I was on my bed...in my hotel room. It was a dream, but I still couldn't breathe.
I couldn't even see through the smoke in my room. Then I finally noticed the fire alarm at the hotel. Then screams, coughs and sounds of people running, calling for help. My head was heavy and my vision blurred by the minute.
I was too late I suppose. Cause my efforts to drag myself to the door and down the hallway then the stairs proved futile.
I only managed to open the door and that was it. My body surrendered.
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The humming noise from the air conditioner soon penetrated into my subconsciousness making me kind of awake. The beeping sound of the heart rate monitor and nauseating smell of drugs made it difficult for me to sleep.
Beside me sat a man. A bit short and a bit...like familiar. The cologne. It was him...my second attacker. The backup guy.
He held a bouquet of flowers and soon put them on the side table.
" How are you cousin, well that's the best lie I could think of, but I have a get-well-soon gift for you," he said placing the bouquet on my side table, and just as I was getting my eyes off them I noticed the small white envelope inserted into the flowers.
" Let them all envy our enmity just like they envied our friendship.
P.S. I'll burn down the whole of Nebraska for you, Love. "
"Son of a bitch!!! I banged my fist on the side table as I broke down uncontrollably. I'd had this for far too long. I'd had enough. But I sat there helpless... cause I knew he'd pass all limits.
I looked at the guy hopelessly. Man I'd failed. Big time. I knew my series of failures would be long, but shorter if I wanted. I mean short like.... it would all end in a jiffy. If I wanted that. But I was not yet done.
Yes I'd cry for ten or less minutes and in a few I'd be done and back on track.
"Who are you, you were at my house to kill me, why??? Did he send you to kill me... to kill us??"
Wait a minute.
Us!! Both of us!!
I thought as I looked at that guy in disbelief. I'd started to figure out this guy's role. I'd found out exactly what he wanted in my house that night.