When the car came to a halt in front of Seth’s house, Christian tightened his jaw and switched of the engine. “We’re here,” he said again, very simply, and at once he saw that Seth and Phoebe did not even seem to have heard him; they remained in a kind of trance, still gazing at each other.Phoebe finally averted her eyes and looked at Christian with a small smile. “Thanks for driving,” she replied in a low voice, which was warm but not exactly friendly. Christian only nodded and tried to smile, but it didn’t look genuine at all.They got out of the car and went in, but the strain between the three of them was as thick as fog. After entering the house, Seth went to examine the papers Bennett had given him, while Christian stood by the door, observing the girl as she wandered nervously about the room.He had been seething with jealousy throughout the day and it was not long before the head got the better of him. He just could not stand it.“Phoebe,” Christian said, his tone scarily clo
Just then there are some noises of footsteps in the warehouse. All of them stopped moving and looked towards the door.“Who’s there?” Seth asked, his hand tensing at his side.Out of the darkness a man appeared. Standing six feet two with broad chest, he was dressed in a black trench coat when he moved into the light. It was Marlin.“Well, well, well,” Marlin said, his voice dropped to a low, sneering tone. ‘I knew you’d come for me eventually.’ But I didn’t expect you to be so predictable.”Seth’s jaw clenched and he moved towards her. “You’re done, Marlin. The enemy has all that is required to defeat you.”Marlin laughed bitterly and glanced at Bennett. “Oh, I see. You have made my own pet rat betray me. How quaint.”Bennett cringed, fear etched all over him.“You won’t get away with this,” Phoebe said, her tone equally calm as she stood beside Seth.Marlin’s eyes moved to her and he was smirking in a very dangerous way. “Oh, but I already have. You know, while you’ve been running a
Seth looked at her and she at him, and there was a clear mutual understanding of what was going on. He held her hand and gave her a small, encouraging look as if to say that everything would be all right. Phoebe was not sure if she was ready to believe that but having his hand clasped in hers gave her an odd sort of comfort in the midst of it all.Christian, who stood a few steps away from the two, tightened his fists in anger. It was obvious that no matter how hard he attempted to insert himself between Seth and Phoebe, there was still something that bound them. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, averted his eyes from them for a moment, his thoughts still swirling with unreleased feelings.The sound of police cars arriving outside the house reminded them about the situation they were in. Marlin might have escaped for now, but the threat he posed to the family was bigger than he could have ever imagined. He had too many friends, too many people he could turn to in order to avoid the
They stick with his money,” Seth replied. “And if we can make them believe that Marlin has lost all chances to live, they will kill him themselves to stay alive.” We just have to be selective about who to target.”Christian didn’t argue but the thinning of his lips was enough to tell a story. His eyes shifted towards Phoebe, and despite the usual composed look that he wore, he looked worried. “Are you okay to do this, my dear Phoebe?” They told me, “You don’t have to put yourself in the line of fire.”Phoebe adjusted her posture, stiffness setting her jaws. I’m not sitting on the bench anymore. Marlin has taken too much from all of us. I am going to do this.”Christian clenched the handle of the weapon in his hand even harder, his hand whiter than the weapon itself. He nodded his head even though he looked as though he didn’t believe it at all. “Just be careful. Both of you.”“We will,” Seth said, his words full of determination. “We’ll stay in touch.”When they were leaving the wareh
Seth moved nearer and his face was set like a mask, but his eyes were burning. We have enough to get him, but we require specifics. Details only you can provide. And we can make it worth your while.”The woman’s eyes shifted with the look that was both interested and suspicious at the same time. “You really believe you can give me something more than Marlin?” She said the words with as much doubt as she could muster, but the tone held a definite tinge of greed.Seth was now facing Joseph and as much as Phoebe wanted to speak she kept a safe distance behind Seth. She could feel that this was the opportunity they needed or the one that would ruin everything. There has never been a greater risk.Seth didn’t waver. You know what happens to people who stick with Marlin when things go wrong, don’t you? You’ve seen it. He doesn’t leave loose ends. If you assist us, then you will be on the right side of the fence. If you don’t you will go down with him.”The woman looked at Seth for a few sec
Marlin was always one step ahead and they could never seem to catch him no matter how close they came, he was like smoke.When they got to Seth’s house, the usual sight of the magnificent house did not reassure her at all. It was more like a refuge and not a home where they were both prisoners of their own history and of the war to come.When they got in, the house was extremely quiet. Despite this, Phoebe could not get the feeling of discomfort. She looked at Seth as he moved to the kitchen, each step measured, but his face was that of a man who had not slept in days. This fight was wearing him down as well.‘We have to have a plan,’ Phoebe said, entering the kitchen after him. It’s not possible to solely rely on that woman’s information. What if she stalls? Or worse, what if she’s already tipped Marlin off?Seth took a glass from the cabinet and poured water into it, then drank the water before he responded. "She won’t tip him off yet. Not until she is sure that there is something t
And so Phoebe’s mind went blank with all the possibilities she had in her head. Marlin had a large network and if they were going to play the game, then they had to be smarter, faster and more brutal than anyone that he had at his disposal."What about a bluff?" she said finally after a long pause, the calmness of her voice betraying the activity in her mind. The idea is that we can’t buy her everything, but what if we make it look like we have a piece of Marlin’s secret fortune? What there is that will make her feel that she is safe as well as wealthy if only she will follow his instructions?Seth raised an eyebrow. “A bluff could work… but it’s dangerous. If she discovers that we don’t have anything, she leaves and we miss our chance of defeating Marlin.”Phoebe looked out the window once more, the gravity of the situation sinking in her. “It could be a risk we may have to take,” said she gently. If we don’t, it’s all about waiting for Marlin to attack. We need to get ahead of him."
Christian’s eyes softened. He could not compel her but he could not look the other way and see her a prisoner of her circumstances. “I’m here for you, Phoebe. No matter what you decide. All I want you to remember is this – you are never without options.”Phoebe took a deep breath, nodded even if her eyes were not fully convinced. “Thank you, Christian. I just need more time.”Christian looked at her for a second and then he simply agreed. “You have all the time in the world that you want.” But when you’re ready to leave… call me. I’ll be there.”He walked to the door then suddenly stopped himself just before his hand touched the door handle. “Phoebe, one more thing.”She raised her head and her eyes were puffy from crying. “What is it?”He gulped, his voice barely audible. “I love you. Don’t ever forget that.”But before she could answer, Christian strode out, which left Phoebe standing there, her heart in a war between the rock and a hard place.Phoebe stood frozen in the hallway, Ch