Chapter 19 Nineteen
ANNIE
I know that feeling
The one every night where your head hits that hard surface
The one you wish every night to die in your sleep
Instead of this slow painful torture
Maureen.
I stared at the note for almost an hour before dropping it on the desk. How did this person know my middle name? Even my best friend Cammie didn't and even if she did, she would still be bawling about how my abduction had stayed for almost half a year and how the police dropped my case because I wasn't so important and…
Remember you're a wanted criminal.
I sighed picking up the note once more. This wasn't the only one that was sent and it made me more terrified that Amy was in a couple of them. What would that person actually gain from us? And it hit me hard on the head .
To destroy Dylan.
“Annie!” Amy screamed and I quickly put the notes into the drawer. Faking a smile, I stood up and opened the door. “Hey Amy, do you want ice cream?” I asked and the young girl nodded innocently.
She looked so innocent and it was a personal duty to protect her. “Go find Owen so I can get you both some”, I said, patting her hair.
I watched as she ran out of sight, probably going to look for Owen. I sighed going to the kitchen to get some ice cream for them_ I've been doing that lately. Sighing.
I opened the fridge just to see a note neatly placed on top of the ice cream. I shut my eyes and opened the note. It was beautifully designed with wild flowers but had a dent in the middle of the paper… blood!
I bit my lips to avoid screaming and read the content. It was just a word.
A month in the year and a month that was soon coming.
July.
“July”. I muttered biting my tongue to ease the pain I felt within me
“What happened to July?” I heard Amy's voice behind me and I turned quickly suddenly feeling the urge to vomit.
“Nothing sweetheart. What happened in July?” I said hating myself for asking such a question, but she replied.
“Mummy died in July”
I felt sick.
DYLAN XAVIER
“You've spent three weeks here, Mr Xavier, I guess you're missing home?”
“I spent years homeless while building my empire, Mr Winters, of course I miss home, but I'm not homesick”, I said as we entered the car. “Why's that?” He asked adjusting himself in the seat. “We're business associates, Mr Winters, my personal life doesn't concern you”
We said nothing for a while then I asked. “What's the best thing you'd give your wife after three weeks of absence?”
Mr Winters looked at me suspiciously, then laughed out heartily.
How is this man ranked no1 in ammunition and oil?
He was too happy for someone who ran this kind of shady businesses. “ I always take her to a nice restaurant and then have good sex”. I rolled my eyes, I did want her to meet soon and maybe we could…
“Is it that girl? Annie?” I said nothing, just staring at my watch and wishing we could get home faster… homesick.
Scoff
Or just sex sick.
“I knew it! You like her a lot don't you?” He said but I said nothing, there was no need to banter with an old man or there was just nothing to banter about.
“Business will soon start soon in Tokyo”. He tried again but failed.
“Good”, I said, then he sighed suddenly giving up. “Yes, I guess Annie's good that's why I gave her a gun to protect herself from people like your wife” I said knowing I just made a dry joke, but the old man laughed anyway, we were business associates after all or something more than that.
“My wife could be a bit extra, I know” he admitted and I clicked my tongue. The Winters were interesting.
A call came in and I picked it up. “Speak”, I said and after some minutes I hung up. Something was brewing and I had to quench it before it ignited all the more.
“We're home, Mr Xavier”, the driver announced and I smiled sinisterly.
I've missed you, my milkweed.
ANNIE
I sat on the porch waiting for Dylan, he said he would be home soon and even though I didn't want to say it, it was written all over my face.
I missed him.
Still in my thoughts I didn't notice when a car pulled over and someone came out from it.
“Were you waiting for me?”
I jerked back to reality and looked up at the owner of the voice.
Yes I was. I wanted to say.
“Why the fuck would I wait for you, eh, Mr Xavier”, I said folding my arms and trying to hide my embarrassment but it was evident because he grinned. “But you missed me, hun_” he said coming to me then he suddenly stopped 10cm away.
“_ or did you not?” I said nothing and that seemed to annoy him. I missed Dylan Xavier so badly but I couldn't just tell him that. I would look vulnerable and he wouldn't like that.
I quickly covered up the space between us and kissed him, he didn't hesitate and I loved it. “It's enough, Annie” he mumbled but I didn't stop. Feeling Dylan's lips on mine was like tasting a glimpse of heaven but tasting his lips…
God!
Lost in the thoughts of him doing crazy things to me, I felt a fun at my neck.
Click.
“Did you miss me so much milkweed?” He asked again and I sighed leaving him to stand on the porch. “I want you to meet someone outside the estate”. I looked up at him surprised then thrilled but I didn't want to show it, I couldn't show it.
What if the police caught me?
Just then, I noticed Mr Winters standing beside the car watching us.
“ How long has he been there?” I asked and he grinned. “ We came home together, he's such a nuisance, really”, he said, biting his lower lip. They were thin and matured and…
Shut up.
“Where's Amy?” He suddenly asked, just then Amy came running as if she knew what he was thinking. “ Owen told me you were back, but I didn't believe it," she said, letting him carry her in his arms. She was so small compared to Dylan's large body.
“Annie didn't tell you I was coming home?” Amy shook her head and looked at me in betrayal.i gave her a pitiful look telling her I would make it up to her.
“Go play with Owen, my angel”, Dylan said putting her down, she nodded and ran off into the house. “She has so much energy”, I muttered, finally able to pull out a strand of hair from my head.
“I'll go make dinner”, I said, turning to leave. “Is there something about a letter I do not know of?” He suddenly asked and I felt my heart miss two beats in a second. How did he know?
I needed air…
“Y…yes, it's just a note” I stuttered. “I told you I would be watching everything. Get them” he growled. I ran into the house before he pulled out his gun to shoot.
Fuck!
I came back a few minutes later giving him the letters and oh God, he saw the one with his daughter's name on it. I could see his expression change from calm to nothing. He wore an expressionless mask on his face but I knew his mind was thinking fast.
“Were you going to show me this? You were hiding this from me?”
Was it me or did I hear hurt in his voice?
“Hide! No… no” I said shutting my eyes and waiting for the worse but Dylan Xavier wouldn't kill me right?
I opened my eyes to see him pull out his gun from his belt and shot at a poor guard who was standing and watching
He'd live.
“Get out” he mumbled but I heard it loud and clear.
Scurry.
I ran going to the kitchen to make dinner, my hands were shaking and it couldn't stop and while cooking I hurt myself twice
Fuck this. I thought then suddenly remembered that letter with just a word but held so many memories.
July.