Chapter 173: The coast!

The coast!

****

We were all confused as we made our  way walking in the direction of the shore. Meanwhile, we sighted three men on guard, looking in and out.

  "Be ready!" I said

I came into their view as they stretched their guns you shoot, I shot at one man, Lamar shot at the other while Jeff was hesitating.

  "Do it!" I screamed to urge him, he squinted his eyes you shoot

  "Por favor mi amor, I'm sorry! (Please, my love)" He said as he pulled the trigger, before he attempted to pill the trigger; I shot at the man who almost had a chance to take Jeff's life. Jeff shot at nothing precisely.

  "Really Jeff?" My brows furrowed staring at him in disbelief. "We were about to lose you!" I stated

  "I had him in track..." He answered defensively

  "Of course you did while praying to Holy Guadalupe, huh?!" Lamar teased

  "Not funny!" Jeff snapped angrily

  "Chill out! Please next time, shoot before you think of Zoe, she'd kill you and y'all ain't prepared for none!" I stated as we walked ahead. My phone buzzed, it was a call from Nessa.

  "Nessa!" I didn't hesitate to pick up the call

  "Really Jordan, you'd really go through hell for her?" She asked probably smirking.

   "What do you want Nessa, we don't have to do this...we don't have to end things this way..." I explained

  "I was thinking so too but not anymore. I thought you loved me, you told me! Just watch me kill your trophy wife and son!" She hung up

I ran towards the shore, what I saw struck me hard. There was  cargo box which I suspected Gianna was inside and maybe Khaleed.

I sighted Nessa holding some cables that was connected to the box on a stagnant boat.

  "Nessa!" I called out screaming as I ran a little closet. One hand was pointing a gib at me while the other held a controller, she didn't have that charming angelic  benevolence that somewhat attracted me to her. She had now unleashed the monster in her.

  "Don't come any closer!" Her british accent didn't change at all, in as much as I was fascinated by it, danger was daintily written on her alluring physique and face. "Put your gun down Jordan, respectfully!" She Instructed and i did as I was told

  "Nessa, let's talk about this. We can figure this out without hurting each other!" I said while she laughed hysterically

  "Oh my Jordan, you can't fool me. I had you on a platter, we were perfect together but every single time you mention this bitch, I can't stand. Sometimes I can't even pretend about it!" She scoffed as she shot the air, I was caught off guard, her hands were shivering. Even in the dark, I could see her clearly because of the fluorescents all around "I want to end her pathetic life once and for us, we'd just start a new life and have our very own kids, but you wouldn't say yes to me, would you?" She stopped

  "Nessa, you are better than all these..."

  "Another deceit?" She chuckled "that's not enough, it's her life to recompense for the shit she made go through. Jordan, stop forcing your emotions on her. You don't love her like you love me...it's me you love. We've been through a lot, we scaled through and you can't turn back now..." She added

  "Nessa, we don't have to end this way. Let's talk elsewhere...just let her go. I'll give you whatever you want...I promise!"  I was confused, i played with her emotions months earlier and now everything keeps caving in on me. What on earth should I do, no one seems to be forth coming. Picking the gun up would be disruptive, she could just activate the explosives tied around the box.

  "Why do you think we are here? I just wonder why you got so so so inquisitive, chasing around the entire city in search of an ingrate. She did you no good Jordan..." She began to raise her voice angrily "...She doesn't deserve you and that's why I would end her for the both of us to have a quiet life!" She said

  "Nessa, just let her go! I want her and you know it..." I blurted out before I could realize or retrace my words. She groaned ferociously

  "You still wouldn't choose me, would you ever? Don't forget that I did a lot for you..." She bragged

  "Like what exactly? All you ever did was make her look like a terrorist, you tried to ruin our reputation, you hurt Gia, you took everything from me...leaving me unhappy..." I stated defiantly

  "Yes. Yes. Yes!" She yelled "I wrote those articles, I hired David, I planned everything...even the meeting at the hotel, I followed you everywhere and that's how I knew your movements...so what are you going to do about it? Kill me or save your darling wife? If your parents didn't hurt my mother then I wouldn't draw the line tonight but what's the point anyways? Hmm?" She said turning to the controller "Just as I projected, let's end this here and now. You have not less than 2 minutes to decide if its Gianna or Vanessa. Go on! 1 minute 58 seconds...still ticking!" She said laughing sarcastically. I looked at the gun ad she blurted out

  "Don't even think of it, Jordan! Don't risk it, I still want you alive baby!" She took a glance at the controller and said "1:28!" She snapped.

  "Nessa," I added two step closer "We both don't wanna do this! Do you remember i said that I'd divorce her for you?" I said

  "Don't come close or I'll shoot you in the knee, Jordan!" She was defiant "Don't test me!" She warned but I wasn't taking it. I added a step slowly

  "Nessa c'mon, im still in love with you!"

  "Im warning you!" She took a quick glance at the controller "57 seconds, this is not a joke! I'll blow her up if you don't decide." She reminded but I strongly shunned, I was certain that anything could give wrong but I couldn't stand back and do nothing. I added a step again as she shot sideways, I almost panicked but I shunned again.

  "The last bullet would be for you Jordan, don't come any closer! 25 seconds left. Is it me or Gianna?" She screamed out as I added a step, I was real close that the tip of her gun rested on my forehead. If she didn't love me, she wouldn't wait another second but she halted, she was shaking as well as the her hand.

  "Jordan! Is this what you want? Risking everything for here? Did you ever risk anything for me? Huh?" She questioned as I remained silent trying to figure out how to get her off guards. "10 more seconds and that's it!" She snapped, I supported her hand to prompt her. I was also hoping that this little act wouldn't cost me more than I'm bargaining for.

  "Shoot me Nessa, if you think it's best. I'd gladly accept it because I don't want us to end this way..."

  "Don't try to act funny right now, it won't work!" She countered

  "No Nessa, don't listen to him. You have come a very long way, you can't turn back now, he'd only use you and dump you.." A feminine voice from behind urged her, i realized that it was Tiana's voice. I turned instantly

  "Tiana?" I called out, I really did see her at the restaurant

  "Yes its Tiana, did you expect that I wouldn't make it out?" She smirked as she pointed a gun at me again. Am I really going to die today, I asked myself.

  "You did this, didn't you?" I asked

  "Of course! I wouldn't sit and watch you live happily while you cut me off!" She sternly said, she turned to Nessa.

  "Do it already Nessa, he's just another idiot! If you let them go, they'd end up happily while you end up pathetically. Take revenge now Nessa, don't let him fool you...you stand a chance. He fooled me once and I don't want you to end up that way, hurt him back Nessa. We worked our asses for this day to come, remember? You are one step to the end!" Tiana stated with authority, then understood that even Vanessa had been under some sort of pressure. If Tiana was driving at this then Garry was involved, they instigated this too.

  "Time's up!" Nessa snapped

  "Do it, Nessa. It's now or never!" Tiana prompted again. I turned to Nessa, I was humbled into an apologetic chap. "Do it or I would!" Tiana yelled. Someone saved me from these psychos, how did I get here.

I braced up to finally do something, I was sure that neither or either of us would die within a snap. 

I swiftly dragged the controller from Nessa and disconnected the cables while she shot at Tiana, her fingers had been on the trigger for quite some time. Jeff also shot at Tiana from behind, she dropped down dead. Jeff, Lamar and my parents were standing.

  "Vanessa?!" Father called out

I turned to Nessa who was staring at herself and the gun yet she attempted to shoot me as I grabbed the gun from her suddenly as she fell to the ground. I rushed to the box trying to unlock it while the others ran towards us. Nessa attempted to run but there was no way she could maneuver her way out of sight. Father instructed the guards to take Nessa away, as we struggled to open the box. Chains were tied around it but the sides had punched holes on it. 

The box was now open. I found Gia and Khaleed, he was in her arms but they were both motionless. I carried her out while mother embraced Khaleed, father was right behind her, embracing them all. My friends gave me an assuring smile as they patted me on the shoulder as we walked to the car. The securities rushed on us but I insisted on carrying my wife.

She was pale and livid, her blonde was loose and unkempt, her lips looked arid. I couldn't describe the excitement even if it wasn't demonstrated, having her into my arms was a huge one for me.

The love of my life was now in my arms once more, I was played but I contributed to all of these mess.

****

01:14am,

Right after Gianna and Khaleed were rushed into the ICU, we all remained behind to let the doctors do their job. I was restless, pacing back and front in chaos. Few minutes ago, the doctor attending to Timmy said he was still under a close observation, but the good news was, he survived. I could only wonder what Nessa must have given it had done to them earlier. The other woman from the underground, she too survived the attack, I would wait for more explanation because this information don't mash up that well.

Lamar and I Jeff approached, I felt their hands on my shoulders then I turned to them instantly. I was lost for words.

  "I really don't know how to start but y'all should know that I love you and I also got you, no matter what!" I said

  "C'mon man, we know that you'd always come through if something good or bad goes wrong!" Lamar said

  "That's right! We should have really trusted you not judge you, we forgot that you were only human." Jeff added

  "Maybe if I were in your shoes. I would have gotten married to her!" Lamar snapped as we smiled. "She's really corny!" 

  "It just happened and again, I was a victim of another toxic relationship. Always is." I added

  "Its all in the past now, all you got to do is focus your family....its only a few hours and they'd be fine. Just like before!" Jeff assured

  "Thanks guys!" I gave each of them a hug. I insisted that they returned home with their wives even if they tried to decline severally.

  "Oh my god Kareem, I can't believe this shit happened to you and Gia...you've got to be strong, A'ight?" Zoe said as we hugged, she was really a friend to me since from way back.

  "Thanks a lot Zoe, I want to see more of you around..." I turned to Riley who stood smiling sympathetically. "You too Riley, don't say no!" I said

  "How could I ever?!" She said as we hugged again. I turned to my friends and handed them my car key since they had no car.

  "Take my ladies home!" I snapped as I watched them leave. I stood alone, I really couldn't tell where father and mother had gone to. I sat by the hallway watching people, old and young troop in and out, some would run while others walked, it was chaotic. I didn't want to think about Nessa's betrayal,  really liked her or even loved her but not as much as I loved Gianna. I guess its normal to get attracted to someone else, especially for the fact that Nessa came into my life like an angel but its better to be with the devil you know than the angel you barely know.

I couldn't stop regretting a lot of things that went wrong, when Gianna would always warn me about Nessa. But then, she had also wronged me by not sharing or telling me what exactly was happening and Garry played a huge role in this conspiracy. I didn't want to bother about him for now because, right  after Gianna and my sons get better, he'd see the last of me. He'd breathe his last breath, I swore to myself.

  "Kareem honey!" Loner called as she approached, like always, I embraced her like a child. Father rubbed my shoulder.

  "How are you coping with all of this?" He asked

  "I just wanna deal with everyone involved in this shit! I won't forgive any of them...not even Nessa!" I blurted out in a pissed manner.

  "Chill son," Mother said "there's a lot going on, it'd not about Nessa. So many things went wrong, you should hear them all before you carry on!" Mother explained. They did not seem mad like I expected, they were cool, as well as trying to convince me somehow

It got me confused.

  "Are asking me to forgive Nessa. We are here because of her..." I tried to state my point but they were buying it.

  "Just listen!" Father snapped "Shania is the pilot of the plane, she's using Nessa for her own purposes. Nessa is not her priority, she's not even her daughter!"

  "What do you mean? Why would Shania hurt me, I don't even know her 'coz I've never even seen her."