Caesar Shaman chugged down shot after shot of hard liquor. They were in Peter’s home office. His jowls trembled with anger, he glared at his friend with disdain, “ Peter, tell me the truth, l won't be angry with you but if you keep lying l will be.” Peter Ratliff returned his venomous stare, “ piss off Caesar, how many times do l have to tell you l had no idea Max knew where the girl was, let alone visiting her? The child came as a surprise too. My family kept me in the dark, l'm as shocked as you are.” Caesar admitted in a reluctant tone, “ well, l trust you are not lying. We come a long way for you to fuck me. Since the situation is like this, what do we do?.” Peter swallowed on repeat, he knew what Caesar wanted and he was unprepared to give it to him. His grandson’s appearance changed everything. If anything happened to Nora, he was as good as dead, Max would see to it.His delayed response annoyed Caesar, “ what is it? You have switched sides? Peter, you will help me or die tr
Nora's POV Bluewaters welcomed me with warmth, from the weather to the people. I got accustomed to Zurus ' dry and hot weather but when the temperature reached its peak l missed my country with its wet and humid temperature. The morning drizzle kissed my cheeks as l alighted from the car. I smiled happily at anything in my sight, birds up in the sky, in the trees, a toddler running from his mother on short sturdy legs. My grin faded as my eyes met the bodyguards Max insisted l needed. I did not buy his reasons for dumping bodyguards on my doorstep. I was still at granny's place a week later after my return from Zurus.I grovelled and pleaded until he agreed to extend my stay at my former home. I got the fright of my life last night when i went to fetch something from the porch and a figure materialised out of the darkness. I screamed at the top of my lungs, “ l'm sorry Mrs Ratliff, l didn't mean to scare you.” The tall figure clad in black apologised.“Who are you, what are you do
Max's POV The meeting dragged on and on, taking me closer and closer to my wife's wrath. She must be mad at me for being late. I could not walk out of these two investors. The Ratliff Group of Airlines would sink if l did. If l bagged these two the company was on the home stretch.My father did the company dirty. Talking of my dad, two weeks ago l got a frantic call from him, he asked for a meeting. He caught the reluctance in my voice, “ please son, it's a matter of life and death, please this isn't time to feud, time is of essence.”His plea fell on deaf ears, l trusted a hyena more than l trusted that man. “ I'm busy, sorry l can't accommodate you.” I caught what sounded like a sob from his end, Peter Ratliff crying? Maybe my ears played tricks on me. “ Son, l will not back down, otherwise i will die with regret and i'm not prepared to do that. Nora's life is in danger, please come home, now if you can.”My wife's name propelled me out of my office, l raced to the car, Frank read
Max's POV Ralph shouted into the phone as he sprinted towards us, “ l need an ambulance right now at The Wolverine. Be prepared for gunshots wounds, hurry. Dr Reidy has been shot.” He bent down, retrieved the gun and tucked it at his waist. He tapped my shoulder, “ move aside, let me have a look.” I shook my head, clung tightly to my wife, l wanted to be left alone in my grief. Nora's body temperature was already dropping, her head lolled on my shoulder, her pale face lifeless. There was so much blood, l could not pinpoint the origin of the wound or wounds. All l knew was my wife was dead.“Don't just stand there, come and help me. I will hold him, you take Mrs Ratliff out of his hands.”Ralph wrenched my arms backwards, l tried to fight him. In my weakened state it was futile. At the same time the bodyguard scooped Nora up and ran to the car.Frank helped him put her in the back of the car then asked for permission with his eyes, l inclined my head. “ Let go. I'm going with my wif
Cathy’s POV I heard through the grapevine Nora came back from wherever she was. My rage boiled over. Time did nothing to erase the betrayal. A friend who found it easy to snatch my man was no friend. She denied it, Selborne denied it.They both made a fool of me. I would deal with Nora first then Selborne next. On a normal day l was a good natured person. The problem arose if you crossed me, then I became a vindictive, heartless bitch.To defeat Nora, it was imperative l got strong allies. The photographer was a small fish, he bucked under pressure. I had to find someone who could go head to head with Max if worse came to worst.Max forgave Nora's betrayal, l could not. It was clear any person who hurt Nora was in the line of fire, Max would hurt or kill for Nora. I found my ally in Caesar Shaman, he did not know it yet. l just had to convince him he needed me too.I drove to the Shaman residence one Saturday morning. The imposing black gate looked menacing. I parked the car on the r
Cathy's POV I vomited my guts out, the security guard watched, his face passive. The stench of the vomitus must have been strong because he puffed furiously on his cigarette, the smoke swirled around him for a minute before being blown by the air.Now his face bore disgust, “ miss, you must clean that.” He pointed at my stomach contents. “ I know.” I replied, my voice scratchy. He pivoted, went into the security room for a bit and brought me a pail of water and a rag. I glared up at him, “ no gloves?.” “Where do you expect me to get gloves?.” His indifferent response was accompanied by him leaving. He entered his tiny room and shut the door behind him. I cleaned the hard surface as much as i could, left the cleaning materials there and wobbled to the security room. He flung the door wide on my initial knock. “ What more do you want from me, miss?.” His irritated scowl failed to intimidate me, “ my friend, the Dr. Is she alright?.” He took a deep breath, let it out on a sigh, “
Max's POV Nora's eyes moved from my face and roamed around the room. She touched her bandaged arm, “ Max, l was shot, who shot me?.” The question threw me off guard. I thought the first thing that would cross her mind would be relief she was alive.A look passed between Ralph and I. “ It's Caesar, my love. He hired some thugs and then ran, we have no idea where he is now. Your husband will do everything in his power to catch the culprit.”Nora stared at me for a long time, mute. “ What's going on in your head, baby?.” I asked her when minutes ticked by and she remained unresponsive. She inhaled deeply and remarked, “ l maybe wrong, but l think you must track Cathy down. I don't think it's Caesar.” l sandwiched her hand between my hands. “ Baby, we have reasons to believe it's Caesar, he made threats against your life. After a short interval you are shot, it's him.”Nora searched my face, her gaze doubtful. “ Don't rule out Cathy, my gut feeling says it's her.” Once my wife made up
Max's POV My astonished gaze fell on my father, “ so soon?.” My dad hit his chest with pride, “you act as if you don't know your old man. I'm faster than a puff added if cornered. Caesar made me feel cornered.”I clapped his back, “ good job dad, l'm proud of you.” He took the compliment with a neutral face but his shining eyes betrayed him. “ Listen son, l think we should take shifts to guard my daughter in law. Go and do what you have to do, l will look after her.” I grinned at him. This was huge. My dad hated my wife, wished her out of my life. The turnabout was unexpected, l felt profound joy. The words he just uttered erased the animosity and grudge l harboured against him.You love my wife, l love you, you hate her l hate you more.After my dad snitched on his friend, l was still unsure of his motives, but his offer to protect my wife redeemed him in my eyes. I decided to let bygones be bygones. He and i would start on a clean slate. Shad or Ralph, l forgot who, advised me