Beautiful Mysterious Woman

Leonard

I sat in my office looking over the papers that Nicolae had given my secretary. I now lived with Graceona in the south of France, I sighed, though Annette and I had made up we decided that after the events that we should go our separate ways. I smiled as I heard the doors to my office open and fast approaching feet make their way to my desk, I looked up to see Riley, who was now sitting in the chair in front of my desk a white piece of paper in her hands, a big smile on her face, "I have a feeling that you want to show me something." I chuckled.

"I got an A on my English test, Leonard! Can I go hang out with my friends, I did my chores. Can I please?"

I put the document down as she placed the paper on my desk, I looked at it, "Sure, be home in time for dinner." I reach into the drawer of my desk, "Before you go, Riley. Take this with you." I reach her a cell phone, she looked at me, "Remember the rules, don't."

"I know, Leonard. Don't talk to strangers, and never ever take anything from a stranger." She got the phone putting it in the pocket of her pink dress, "I'm going to Melanie's house, to watch some Netflix, her parents are going to be home." She placed a hand on my hand, "Don't worry, I'm always careful. Plus, I know that if I get in danger, you'll come to rescue me, you're a good big brother."

I looked at her with a smile, " Go watch Netflix with Melanie, behave yourself. I love you, Riley."

"I love you too, I'll be home at eight."

She jumped from the seat running from the office closing the doors behind her. I smiled looking at the graded paper picking it up, placing it in the drawer, I set aside for everything Riley had given me. My thoughts switched to something grave, as I thought of the phone call I received from Annette a few weeks ago, She had seen someone roaming around the J.M Enterprise building; the employees rolling a man around in a wheelchair a black hood covering his face if Jarrod was alive Annette and Riley put in harm's way, his terror would reign once again, but what I couldn't figure out was how he survived that explosion, he seemed to be like a cat with nine lives. The company has been silent for months, which caused me to worry even more for Annette and Riley. Jarrod wouldn't stop until he had them out of the picture stood from my desk walking from the room. I got to Riley's bedroom, sitting on the bed. The phone rang in my pocket as I retrieved it looking at the caller I.D I answered, "Annette, how are you?"

I heard a moan, then a thud, "Leonard, it's been too long."

"Jarrod, I see I should have taken that headshot. You cockroach."

The line grew quiet, "You're in no position to be cocky with me, Leonard. But since you're on the line, I have a message for you and Audra will be the one delivering this message, and to make sure she doesn't mess this up. She will have an escort to your doorstep."

"I wouldn't send a message, Jarrod. We both know that if you silence Annette, you can never have another mind to manipulate, as I told you months ago, your power gone. And if you kill Annette that will be a mistake that you will pay for, no one fears you."

"Perhaps, you have me there. However, Riley is unaware that I exist. She'll have quite the shock when her injured father shows on Melanie's doorstep and finds out that her favorite brother is the one who tried to kill the man that had a hand in her birth." He chuckled, "That will be quite the reunion."

"You're scum, Jarrod, she's ten. Will, you ever stop, the affair is over you got your revenge, two wonderful women died because you wanted to get fresh. You need to let it go."

"My revenge isn't over, not until that abomination that your mother created is out of my life and everyone else's misery."

"My mother had help with Riley, it takes two for sexual activity, Jarrod, as for Riley being an abomination in your eyes. You don't put up with her, it's me that has taken the responsibilities in raising your child, and I don't need your child support money, you cling onto a rich name, the only card you have to play is the McGee name. I have more money than I know what to do with, my name has nothing to do with my wealth, the Shepherd name is just that, a name. I feel sorry for Riley if you want to know the truth, she has a loony, hypocrite of a father who can't man up and accept his responsibilities, he instead wants to kill a child who is too good to carry the McGee name."

"She will die you worm!"

The lines disconnected, I stood up running from Riley's room, getting the car keys from the coffee table running out the door. I got to Graceona's Lamborghini getting in starting up the car, seeing the revolver in the passenger seat, leaving the driveway. I drove until I got to Melanie's neighborhood, parking the car a few houses from Melanie's home. As expected, I saw as Riley walked inside the house. I turned the lights off on the car and waited; I looked at the clock, leaning back in my seat, waiting, my hand resting on the revolver.

I wasn't long in my wait until a tall hooded man limped to the door, pounding on it, I grabbed my gun getting from the car, "Jarrod, I will not hesitate this time." The front door opened as the figure looked to me, then at Melanie's father.

"Please don't shoot!" The figure looked at me, the voice a female, "Just please let me explain myself, let me show you who I am, Leonard. Please."

I paused, lowering my weapon, "Show yourself."

The woman pulled down her hood, tears coming from her eyes. Tears coming from scared Bambi eyes, beautiful eyes of liquid blue, her hair a honey shade huge. She was beautiful. I felt my heart skip beats.

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