Chapter 61

"Who are you?" Claire looked down at Reaper and his men on one knee.

"I am the man who decides what happens here tonight."

Mr. X sat on the chair with one leg folded over the other; his shiny shoes had the reflection of the chandelier. The silence in the house was deafening, and you could hear a pin drop on the floor. He then stood up and stretched out his arms as the men rushed over to remove his coat. Beneath his coat, he wore a navy blue silk shirt. "Where are your friends?"

"I don't know what you are talking about?"

He said in a deep voice, "I won't be so polite in repeating myself."

"Are you talking about Marcus?"

Mr. X snapped his fingers as the Reaper stood up. Claire looked bewildered with fear and uncertainty about what was about to happen. The Reaper turned around and walked into the back, "no, no, leave him, please." Her mother pleaded.

"What are you guys doing?" Claire was about to pull out her gun when she felt a pistol to the back of her head, "drop it." said a deep voice.

The next thing she saw was her dad being dragged in by his hair. The reaper was pulling him into the lounge with one hand. Her dad tried to show no fear but was shitlessly scared.

"Please leave my family out of this."

"Family is the weakness of the heart," Mr. X grabbed a sharp knife, holding her dad's head up in the air with the blade pushing to his neck.

"Please stop. I will tell you where to find them."

"Oh, will you now, dear?"

"Start speaking, young lady. Your time is running out."

"Claire, tell them what they want to know. Whoever you are covering up for is not worth it."

"Fine, they found out who I was and let me go on my own they took the black Ferrari, and I took the BMW."

Her father couldn't believe his ears. "The same dull Claire who was always worried about her looks and sensation and wanted to become a model is now a."

"Now a what. What exactly is she? A double agent? Who are these guys? It looks like heavy business tycoons."

"Listen, Claire honey, give these men what they want. They look like decent folks."

Mr. X looked over his shoulder at reaper, "come get him and shut him up?"

"Hold on; I'm a wealthy man. I have some good connections and can make you a rich man."

"Daddy, no." Claire knew her dad's big mouth would get him killed.

Reaper stood up straight, holding the blade to his neck, "Boss, should I shut him up?"

"Wait, everyone, breath."

Her dad started to panic, realizing all his blabbering was pissing the people off. Clearly, they wanted revenge more than money with the fancy suit of $15000 and a Rolex. Mr. X didn't need the money.

"What can you tell me that won't change my mind about killing this talkative asshole?"

"I will remain a soldier if you let my family go."

Mr. X stood up and walked over to the curtain, peeking out of the window, "do you know I have no memories of my parents."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Did something happen to them?" Said her dad.

"Dad, shut up already."

"Boss, please let me slit his throat?"

Mr. X closed the curtain and held the blade in his hand. The fear, the anticipation of what was about to happen, Claire's dad had never felt so scared before. Claire confidently walked up to Mr. X, "let's say you kill anyone here. How would that benefit you? This here is not worth it, let my dad go, and I will go with you."

"You will go with us?" Mr. X Repeated.

"Yes, let them go," Claire walked closer to Mr. X, seductively whispering, "I will go with you."

"Claire, what are you doing, don't do this. We can get out of this."

"Ignore him. Let's leave this place."

Mr. X looked over at her dad, "he can now identify us."

"He won't say anything. He knows you will come back for him if he does."

"Right, dad?"

He took a deep breath, "I won't say anything, but don't hurt my daughter."

Mr. X walked up to her dad, "I kill people, but I don't hurt or kill cowards."

"Yes, you, that's exactly what you are. I now understand why your daughter is with us."

"I'm not. You outnumbered me and threatened to kill my family."

"Dad, just stop." Mr. X was becoming impatient. Claire took him by the hand, "that's enough." She stared at Mr. X in his eyes.

Deep inside, she was scared, hoping Marcus and Jack would rescue her.

Mr. X snapped his fingers as Reaper, and his men ran outside, "securing the area."

"It's safe, boss."

"I know it is." Mr. X said sarcastically, then extended his hand, staring at Claire, "come on, what's taking you so long."

"I need to say goodbye to my family."

"Okay, don't take too long and make me come back for you."

"Why would you come back for me? What don't you trust me?"

"It's not that I don't trust you. I become impatient waiting around for people like your friends."

"You won't have to wait long; I'm just going in to say goodbye and come out."

Claire placed a piece of paper in her dad's hand, "give this to Jack. He will know what it is."

Her dad stood up straight and wrapped his arms around her, "I don't care what you are involved in, but I am going to get you out of this mess?"

Claire had tears in her eyes, "I will explain everything when I get back."

"There is an escape through the back, but they will kill all of you. I will go and come back. Please take care of mom and tell her I am sorry for not being the perfect daughter, but I love her and will see her soon."

There was a knock on the door, "that's Reaper. I have to go, daddy. Please give that to Jack, no one else but him. He is the only one who can help me get through this."

Her dad said, "I will do that, honey."

Reaper knocked harder on the door, "I have to go before he breaks down the door, daddy."

Claire leaned in and hugged her dad tight. His scent always made her feel safe. Now he could do nothing.

"I love you, honey."

"I love you and mommy to daddy."

Claire took her gun, placed it in the back of her pants, opened the door confidently, walked right past reaper, and climbed into the car with Mr. X, "you don't listen, do you? I told you I become impatient waiting."

"Just because you grew up without parents, don't take it out on mine."

Mr. X snapped and nearly punched her, "don't dare speak of my parents."

"I have this bad gut feeling about Claire."

"What do you mean, Nicole?"

"I can feel something happened to her, Angela."

"She will be fine. She is a fighter," said Marcus.

"For how long are we going to stay here, Angela?"

"Just the night, Jack, so we can get sufficient rest."

"Then what? We don't have any transport or cash."

"We must return to the safe house to revive ourselves and be more prepared. I also think we should instead let the police handle this."

"No, the cops will lock them up, and a few months later, they will be released. I would say we go after them."

"Nicole, let the law handle this. We are not sure what we are walking into. We can tip them off."

"Do you realize by the time the cops get the tipoff, they would have left that place?"

"Do you have better ideas, Nicole? I mean, regardless of the cops or whether we go there, they would be gone by the time we reach a phone. Maybe we should go back and follow?"

"No way, Angela, I am dehydrated and tired."

"I will do it."

"Do what, Jack?"

"I will go back and follow them. You guys find the safe house and call the cops."

"No, it's too risky, Jack," Nicole said.

"It's either that or we let them get away."

"I will go with you," said Angela.

"You can't. One is better than two. Besides, we know Nicole needs you."

"Jack, I can't leave you to follow these men alone."

"You can, Angela, and you will have to."

"But promise me you will come back for us."

"I promise I will come back."

"No, we are not letting him go out there. It's dangerous," Nicole insisted, "if he stays, I stay."

"Nicole, I can't do this now; we are wasting time. I will meet you guys back at the safe house."

"Fine, Jack, take care of yourself," replied Nicole. Her appearance was different; it was as if she had a personality switch. She showed no emotion.

"Let's go back to that safe house. We will see you soon, Jack."

Jack turned around and went back while Angela, Nicole, and Marcus went back to the safe house."