Chapter 147

***ANNIKA***

“She’s leaving,” I announced to Braden as I stepped into my sister's bedroom.

“What? Who is leaving? Antra?” he asked as he lifted his head from the magazine he was reading.

“No, Kara,” I said flatly as I sank into a chair beside him nervously. I kicked off my boots as tension grasped me in its right hold, its claws digging deep into my skin.

His shoulders tensed as he got on his feet, “What do you mean by she's leaving?”

“Kara,” I almost yelled. “We need to do something about it, Braden. We need to stop her. She's leaving for another country. She and her brother. She didn't disclose the exact country nor did she tell me the exact day she's leaving. It could even be tonight. I tried but they wouldn't spill. Even my boyfriend!”

Braden was dumbfounded as he tried to process words. I battled with conflicting emotions as I thought about what to do. If Kara went to another country, she would still be successful.

Maybe I had to take matters into my own hands. Maybe I could release the videos now so she wouldn't be accepted even if she traveled. They would have her locked up in a psychiatric ward and put her under intensive care.

Within that short period, I could move past her. I could have all the deals and before she would be able to get her life on track I would've been ahead.

“What are we going to do?” Braden asked.

“Release the video,” I said. “If we do, she won't be accepted.”

Braden shook his head, “I'm talking about me. We already know that's how you will pave your way to success. Do not ruin it now. I need to have Kara within my reach. If she goes to another country, I may never be able to see her again. My chance will be missed.”

I mulled over his words. He was right, not my head was blank. I didn't know what to do. Kara was loved. Even if I released the video now, she would still be accepted and she could easily ask bloggers to take it down. I would still be at a loss.

“I have an idea,” I suggested, staring into his eyes.

“What's that?”

“We'll have Kara kidnapped. Braden, I will lure her in and then you'll take her with you to your dwelling. When you're away I will release those videos. Then people will assume something bad happened to her and come for Mateo. The whole attention will be on him because he's her brother. What do you think?” I said beaming at my plans.

He grinned widely at me, “You’re smart. When do we do it?”

“I don't know,” I said as I paced the room, “I need to strategize. One wrong move could ruin it all. I would keep up with her frequently and invite her out but you'll come with me and hide.”

“Is your sister asleep?” Braden asked suddenly.

I shook my head, suddenly becoming aware that I had left her in my bedroom and she was very excited, so much so that she agreed to spend the night with me. But she was an early bird. She could be asleep. A part of me prayed she hadn't overheard us because that would be a disaster.

“I'll check on her,” I said to Braden and reached for the knob of the door.

***

***ANTRA***

I lay as still as possible til I was sure they were out of the house again. The minute their voices were distant and the house was quiet, I got out of bed.

I had overheard their conversation and recorded it on my phone. I knew my sister was up to no good and she had lots of things up her sleeves. My head was a mess as I tried to piece the information together.

Annika never really liked Kara. She was only close to her because she wanted to bring her down for an untold reason. What videos were they rambling about uploading? Did they have Kara’s nude? Why were they hell-bent on destroying her? They had also talked about kidnap. Why were they doing all this? Who was my sister? I was devastated. I wanted to call the cops and give them the voice record as evidence. But it was too little. I needed something more.

And Braden, why did he want Kara?

I grabbed my phone and forced myself to my bedroom. There had to be a clue somewhere. I pushed the door open slowly and walked in. The place was disorganized and it angered me. I would never leave my mom this easy but this damn stranger treated it like a den. I found some of his clothes in a corner of the floor and heaps of magazines on my gaming table.

I clenched my fists tightly so well that my nails dug into my skin. I observed the magazines. They were about mythical creatures, mostly werewolves and the current one he was probably reading before he went out was titled, ‘How to Tame a Werewolf.’

I shrugged. Humans could be dense. They wrote books about taming a wolf that didn't exist and sold it to idiots.

I took a few pictures of that and rummaged through the rest of his things. That was when I found a photo nestled in one of his clothes. When I pulled it out, I was dumbstruck.

It was a picture of him and Kara. Again? What the hell was going on? How did he have a picture with Kara? But she looked sad. Sad in the picture he had an impish grin plastered on his ridiculous face.

Could this be why Braden was after Kara? I was lost. Braden had a connection to Kara, the same as Jaxon. Who was Kara and who was she really with? I wondered.

I took a picture of that and sent everything to Jaxon. I was about to leave the room to analyze everything I had found when I heard the sound of the front door and my sister's laughter flooded in.

“Fuck!” I cursed.

I was screwed.

My eyes scanned the whole place for a spot to hide. I finally found one under my abandoned table. I crouched small and kept my phone in my pocket.

The door opened and I heard them whisper in hushed tones. Braden guffawed and said good night before closing the door behind him. The moment he stepped in, he sniffed the room and went to check his things before kicking out of his jeans.

I shut my eyes tightly as a pair of balls came into view. I wasn't interested in seeing someone's nude. I held my breath when he neared the table I was hiding under. He dropped a cloth on my head and walked away, into the bathroom. I waited for a few minutes till I heard the sound of water in the bathroom.

I hissed silently and took off the cloth that had been dropped on my head only to find that it was boxer shorts! I scowled and tossed it before scrambling to my feet. I clutched the photo tightly— I would return it tomorrow or the sound of opening drawers could alert him.

As I turned the doorknob, I came in contact with my sister. My mouth dropped open as I met her eyes. She glared at me with suspicious eyes.

“What are you doing here?”