Chapter Five
900 Words
“We need to move. Now.”
Karhi was already picking the weapons from the hidden compartment in the warehouse. He'd been preparing for the moment long before tonight.
“Go where? I demanded, following him toward a black SUV.
Every cop in the city is looking for me.”
“We are not hiding, we are attacking.”
“Karhi, are you insane?
Vincent is out on bail, and they have questioned almost half of his men.
Right now, the Williamses are vulnerable. It's now or never, Joy.”
My phone buzzed continuously in Karhi’s pocket. Elijah is calling, probably losing his mind.
“What about Tolu?”
Michael is moving him to a secondary location, somewhere I don't even know of. Karhi met my eyes, “The less we know, the less we can reveal if things go wrong.”
Tell me the plan,” I said, climbing into the passenger seat. Karhi started the engine.
I want to burn the warehouse where Vincent kept all his valuable assets.
So how do we get in?
Karhi showed me a photo on his phone, and my heart stopped.
Elijah is unconscious, tied to a chair in a basement.
“Michael grabbed me some minutes ago, “Karhi explained.
You have Elijah. “My mind raced. “You’ve had him this whole time.”
“You needed to sell the kidnapping story on the phone. If you'd known we already had Elijah, your performance wouldn't have been convincing.” He glanced at me, I'm sorry, but it wasn't necessary.
I should be angry, but I am vindicated. Elijah is now a prisoner.
Where is he?
“Safe house at the Ninth Ward. We took Elijah to the warehouse, used his biometric to get inside, downloaded everything, set charges, and leveled the place.”
And Elijah?”
Died in the explosion.” Karhi was so determined.
You're going to kill Elijah?” We are going to kill him. “Karhi corrected, you're part of this now.
Could I walk away knowing Elijah would eventually come after Tolu and me?
Or I permanently end it tonight.
I want to see him,” I said quietly, I want to look Elijah in the eye.”
Karhi nodded and changed direction.
The warehouse was in a neighborhood. Michael met us at the door.
“He’s awake, Michael said.
Karhi led me to the basement and said, “Five minutes, Joy.”
He opened the door.
Elijah Williams slumped in a chair, his mouth taped shut. He looks small and ordinary, not the monster who'd haunted my nightmares.
His eyes were focused on me, then he raged.
I walked closer and ripped the tape from his mouth. He gasped, You stupid b***h.
My hands cracked on his face.
“Two years, you owned me, controlled me, and destroyed me.” I moved close.”Did you think I wouldn’t fight back eventually?
“Joy, baby, listen… His voice changed. “Whatever he has told you is lies. I love you, Joy.”
You r***d Motun’s daughter, and she killed herself because of you.
His face went blank. “That was business, her daughter knew too much…”
“She was just seventeen.
She was a liability. “No remorse. “Like you're about to be.
I figured it out, and give a s**t about you? You're just a tool, Joy.
“Maybe. I agreed. But at least I'm dead free; you’ll die in a warehouse fire, and nobody will mourn you.
He was scared,” Wait, Joy, we can sort things out amicably.”
You can't give me back the two years you stole. I turned to Karhi, I'm done here.”
As we walked to the stairs, Elijah’s scream followed us.
Michael appeared at the top. “We have a problem,” he said.
What? Karhi asked.
Vincent knows about our location; he's got men coming, and we are five minutes out. Someone talked.”
How many?
Twenty or more.” Michael was grabbing weapons. “We need to move Elijah and get out, now.”
Before anyone could move, the lights went out, leaving it completely dark.
Then, some men are already breaking glasses.
Basement! Someone shouted. “The men are in the basement!”
Karhi grabbed my arm, pulling me behind. In the darkness, I heard someone release the gun’s safety.
“Michael, “Karhi said quietly, “Take Joy and Elijah out of this place. I’ll hold them off.”
There are too many…”
I know, Karhi’s voice was calm. That's why you need to run. Finish the mission.
No! We stay together.
The basement door exploded. Michael grabbed my wrist, dragging me toward a corner where a hidden panel had opened, the tunnel. Move! Now!”
We can't leave Karhi alone.
He's buying us time, don't waste it.
I looked back and saw Karhi fighting with deadly precision.
I saw him get hit, and I felt bad.
Karhi!!! I screamed, but Michael was pulling me into the tunnel, and they dragged Elijah behind us.
The last thing I saw before the tunnel closed was Karhi dropping to one knee and still firing.
Then we're running through darkness, and I don't know if the man who'd turned my life upside down is dead or alive.
All I knew was that everything had just changed.
And there was no going back!!!
- Writer
