Deadly Target: Force of Nature

Chapter 10 The Files

"OK, down to business," Samantha said. "You sure you don't need a minute?"

"Nope, I am good, just trying to get this over with as fast as possible." My mind was still on Jay. I knew they could tell, but they didn't say anything.

"OK." Samantha shrugged her shoulders and continued to talk. "Is there anything I need to know about you that is not in your file?"

"No, it's all there." I nodded my head but kept looking down.

"You're just going to lie like that. You really are secretive." Samantha sat back in the chair.

"I am not lying about anything." I was already pissed off. Now she was trying to annoy me. "Everything you need to know is in my file you have."

"OK, well, the first job you did was in Italy. Boss Juan Dajero and Lieutenant Carlos Suaze." I shook my head up and down.

"I remember that mission, that was Joseph's boss, you know the job from the Caribbean’s. Juan and Carlos died from a gas leak in the house. The maid found them the next morning." I was trying to help Samantha with the files without letting her know exactly who I was. "Wife and kids moved away after she collected the insurance money. I checked on them. Kids are smart, getting ready for college in the fall."

"Excellent, Aza." Samantha was talking to me like I was a dog. I was still angry. The thoughts of me smacking her were running through my mind. "Now, did you do this mission?"

"This file was supposed to be destroyed." She just looked at me, waiting for an answer. "Yes, I did this job. He was a mob boss. I waited a couple of blocks down and heard the sirens as I walked. I confirmed with the hospital of their death."

"How did you get them in the house together?" Bean asked.

"When he and his wife were out, I snuck in and planted some bugs around the house to keep tabs on him. That day he told his lieutenant that they have to celebrate and to come to the house. They were celebrating a deal they did here in America. Is that enough for you, or do you need more?" I gave them an attitude. I had every right to have one. I had just fought with my husband about working too much.

"I'm not here to hurt you Aza, I'm here to help you," Samantha said.

"Look, I don't know who to trust at the moment in time." I was not trying to be complicated. I just wanted to rush the situation.

"Well, let me tell you this, I am just about the only one. You can trust me," Samantha said.

"And why is that?" I looked her in her eyes and folded my arms.

"The same people that are coming after you are coming after me all because of this second file I possess and the last file you possess." She was not lying; they tried to kill her too.

"What, The Thompson file, why?" I asked, surprised.

"Give me a minute," Samantha said.

"A minute, no tell me now about the Thompson file," I demanded answers. This file was more revealing than she should have known. She ignored me and proceeded to tell me about the second file she had.

"The second file I have is one of a judge. I did this job," Samantha said. "I took this file because I saw your name on it, and it was given to me because you were out for a while. Now I know why. I didn't ask any questions. I did the job. I made a copy of the file and destroyed the copy I made in front of the boss." I could not believe that she had one of my contracts. I just stared at her while she talked.

So, that's how she knew who I was all because of these files, I thought. "The suicide of Judge Mitchella was national news," I said.

"Oh, I made it look good. It came out by accident that the judge was crooked, well, kind of by accident. Now, the people that had the Italians and her assassinated are after you and me. The last file is the one you took," Samantha said.

"OK, I got that. What about the Thompson file?" I raise my voice a little in aggravation.

Bean looked at me with concern. "Calm down, Aza."

"f**k that, calm down s**t, I need to know how much you know and how much they know, or I am going to start spreading a lot of love around here." I shot up from my seat. I had started turning red.

"Look, sit your ass down and shush so I can tell you," Samantha demanded.

I slowly sat down on the couch and looked at Samantha, waiting for an explanation. I had to hear this. My trust was wavering, and I had something in the room if she was to try anything. Samantha looked at me and smiled.

"I am not the enemy. Remember that. You were supposed to assassinate a man named Jackson Thompson." I just looked at her expressionless. "You brought back photographs of proof of death and supposedly buried his body. Who is Jackson Thompson Aza?"

I just looked at Samantha and didn't say a word. She already knew who he was. She recognized him. Her memory is superb. How could I let that slip my mind?

"Aza WHO. IS. JACKSON. THOMPSON." Her voice was demanding, and her tone was knowing. She knew when she saw him. She just didn't say anything. She wanted to make sure. Something I would have done. I took a deep breath.

"Jackson Thompson was a male nurse from New York. The Organization wanted him assassinated because of his reputation with someone they knew." My voice was low, and I could not get the thoughts out of my head. I just kept thinking she is here to kill him, and I led her here. She had the upper hand for the moment, so I just kept playing along.

"Who is the person he knew?" I just looked at her.

"You already know. Why do I have to tell you?" I looked at her angrily.

"I want you to say it." Samantha thought she was so bright.

"Fine, fine. Alexia Ranclaus, they were childhood friends. She was sixteen years old when she left her parents' house. She disappeared after her seventeenth birthday. Nobody has heard from her since." Samantha sat back on the chair and crossed her legs, satisfied with the information I told her.

She started talking again. "Judge Phillip Jones was among that file. He was also assassinated because of the information in that file and the other file you took."

At the mention of his name, a frown formed on my face. "He died in an explosion. The file was sitting on his desk, and I snatched the file. He talked to me before it happened. He told me in time, I will know the truth. And I did. I cried that night because of a stupid job. They wanted him taken care of because he was working with a Drug Taskforce to take down big bosses."

Samantha looked surprised. "You read the file."

"Yes, I left the company shortly after. I started questioning the jobs they gave me. So I just went my own way." I could not believe she knew this. I tried to keep this information to myself.

"Now, who is Alexia Ranclaus?" She really wanted me to say it.

I didn't even fight her on it. "She is me. Well, I used to be her. I was emancipated, so I changed my name. I even changed my hair color. I tried to change as much as possible." With government help and a close friend, we got it done. Alexia Ranclaus was no more.”

"That is why your file is only from when you are sixteen, and there is no other information on your former self because it just seems like she disappeared. Now, tell me about Jackson. Who is he to you?"

I looked her in the eyes. "I need to know why you want to know?" I moved my body forward towards the coffee table.

"You think I am here to kill him?"

"The thought might have crossed my mind for a moment." I was still staring at her.

"I'm not. This is for Bean's purpose only. I already know who he is. The moment I saw him when I got out of the car last night, I already knew." She had a slight smirk on her lips, and I could not do anything but smirk back. I was still close to the coffee table.

"He is my husband."

"H-he is your what?" Bean was stammering her words.

Samantha had this look on her face like a mother about to discipline her child. "OK, I get you all dating, but you said, "husband." So this just got a lot more interesting. I think you lost your mind." Bean mouthed a wow, the surprised look still stuck on her face.

"He is my husband. They gave me the contract to find and eliminate three people. Because Jackson and I are married, I hid him. I put him in hiding and changed his name. His parents mourn his death like he was dead.

"Oh my God, Aza, are you crazy?" Samantha started yelling at me.

"What was I supposed to do, Samantha? Kill him. That was not an option."

"That's why you left the company. You left because of Jay," Samantha was mumbling under her breath, but I could hear her.

"Yes, OK, yes, I left because of him, among other reasons, but he was the main reason. I was not going to kill my husband, let alone the father of my child."

Just then, Jay walks back into the house, and all eyes were on him. Everyone just stared at him. He looked at me, and I stood up.

"What's wrong?" Jay had concern in his voice because of the way we were staring at him. He walked towards me and put his hands on my waist.

I gave him a peck on the lips. "Nothing, nothing." He let go of my waist and walked past me without another word.

"So, what do we do now?" Bean asked.

Samantha touched Bean's arm. "We need more answers. We need to find out who these people are."

I started nodding like a maniac. "I might know someone at the company. They keep track of clients' information."

"OK, and is she or he trustworthy?" Samantha asked.

"She is as loyal to me as my own sister would be." Samantha nodded. I gave her a grateful smile. "OK, I'm going to make that call, but first, I need to talk to Jay."

I walked out of the room before anyone could stop me. I walked into our bedroom expecting an earthquake, but it was calm. Jay was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands. I called his name.

"Jay."

He looked up at me. He had tears in his eyes. He didn't answer me. He just looked at me. "Jay, please."

"Please, what, Aza. What do you want me to say? He was trying to keep his emotions under control. "I don't know what to tell you. I just had to go for a walk. And now you come in here, and I know what you are about to tell me."

"Jay, I'm sorry, I really am."

"I will, I will say this, I gave you all of me. I love you no matter what, and I care so much about you. I know you want to protect Anna and me, but what about you?" Let me help you, please."

"OK, Jay, here is the problem." I sat down on the bed next to him. "Someone from our past is out to kill us all right. They don't know who I was. They just know me as Aza, and they don't know you are alive. Samantha knows the truth now. That's everything." It felt so good to get that off my chest. "So, any ideas."

"Well, I do remember that your father came by and asked about you. He said he needed to talk to you about something important. I told him I had no idea where you were. You left and didn't leave a number or anything. I know he didn't believe me, he looked at me and said he will be back. I know it's weird to ask, but do you think he knew then that someone was after you?"

I was getting disgusted with the situation. "I don't know, but I am tired of running." He touched my face softly, rubbing his thumb on my jaw.

"Baby, I love you." He used his other hand and grabbed me by my waist to slide me closer to him. "I just want to make sure you are alright."

"I'm fine, Jay." He kissed me on my neck. "Jay, what are you doing ?"

"I'm apologizing for earlier today." His hands started roaming on my body. His tongue slid up and down my neck, ending just below my chin, giving it kisses on the side.

"Jay, stop, don't….fuck, I can't concentrate when you do that." I started pushing him away, and he was pulling me toward him.

"Please, Jay, please," I started begging him to stop.

"You really want me to stop so we can talk, or do you want me to make that kitty purr." He started kissing me up and down my neck.

"Jay, please." My voice was so low, I was whispering in his ear.

"Come on, baby, I will be quick."

"Sweetie, there is nothing quick about you."

"You know what I mean, baby." He was still kissing me, moving down my body. I shivered, and a moan escaped my mouth.

I could feel him smile. "Your mind is saying no, but your body is saying yes." He took off my shirt and kissed me on my stomach. I moaned again, and he laid me back on the bed.

"Jay, we really don't have time, please, baby." He paid me no mind and kept going. He went to unbutton my pants, and someone knocked on the door.

"Aza, come on, we need to figure this out," Bean said through the door.

Thank God for Bean. "I'm coming, Bean."

Jay started chuckling. "s**t, saved by the knock." I kissed him on his lips, threw back on my shirt, and walked out the door. I left him there lying on the bed.

I grabbed Bean by the hand and dragged her away from the room. "Let's go get some answers."