CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE

CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE

Alex POV

You know the story about what had happened to Sarah.

And how me and Jericho handled the situation afterwards.

But what we never told you was what happened after that.

As you can imagine word got out what had happened to Sarah.

Word also got out what had happened to the three guys that were involved.

Their names were Chris Maddox, Glen Johnson and Patrick Harris.

All from good upstanding families and all from good breeding.

Which would make you question why they did it.

Now…

At the time neither I nor Jericho expected these three to be involved in anyway.

But then a good friend of ours gave us the heads up that it was indeed these three gentlemen that were the perpetrators of Sarah’s hideous crime.

Turned out that they wanted to teach her a lesson.

“What for?”

Alexis interrupts.

That my dear was the question on both mine and Jericho’s lips at the time.

And when we did indeed track down these scumbags was the question, I would ask them myself.

As you could imagine I was so full of rage.

The woman I loved had been beaten and raped within an inch of her life and at the time was also pregnant.

Which is a little fact Jericho, and I have just found out.

If it was known to us before…

Believe me their punishment would have been so much more severe.

I see the shock on Alexis’s face when she too does the math and realisation comes across her face.

“Jericho’s child.”

I nod.

“Hmm Hmm.”

He hands cover her mouth.

Tears start to well in her eyes.

I offer my hand to console her.

Anyway.

Believe it or not the old friend who guided us into their direction was none other than Greg.

Alexis’s eyebrows raise.

She knew as well as I did that the situation was strange.

But at the time being as angry as I was.

The rage I felt inside me.

I didn’t put two and two together until just now.

But yes.

How strange for Greg to know the culprits of Sarah’s crime.

Unless he himself had a hand in it.

I bring myself out of my thoughts and the memories of that time.

Yes, Greg was the one who told me and Jericho about the three guys that had attacked Sarah.

Now I knew exactly what I wanted to do to them.

But Jericho…

He was always so level-headed.

He saw the big picture.

He knew that if they ended up dead that we were going to be the prime suspects.

So, we had to play smart and wait for the perfect timing.

Leave enough time to go pass that they think people have forgotten about what had happened to Sarah.

Enough time for them to relax.

Get comfortable.

Lower their guards.

Then that way.

They would never see us coming when we made our move.

Alexis was so into this story.

Neither I nor she heard Jericho enter the room.

The look on his face told us something was up.

Apart from the fact that he had just found out he was a father that is.

“What’s wrong.”

Alexis was always first to call someone out on their bullshit.

But she was very perceptive also.

She knew something was wrong way before I did.

“Cassandra has made the decision to leave me.”

He grabs for my drink and throws it back like water.

“To leave all of us in fact.”

He slumps down on the chair.

Today was not his day.

“What do you mean leave all of us.”

“Where is she going.”

I ask.

He gives me a side glance.

“I’m surprised you’re not loving this brother.”

“The woman I love is leaving.”

“Is this not what you wanted all along.”

He chucks the glass against the wall.

I can see the rage in his eyes.

Mixed with the alcohol.

Not a good mix.

I stand.

I wasn’t going to be blamed for this.

“Jericho I can assure you this is not what I want.”

“Do you honestly think I’m sitting here finding pleasure in your anguish.”

“I can assure you I am not.”

He starts to stand.

Starts walking towards me.

He stops inches from my face.

“You win Alex.”

“I’m done.”

And walks out of the room.

Out the front door.

I just watch after him.

Unsure of how to react in this moment.

Why would he think that this was what I wanted.

I mean yeah sure at first.

This would be the icing on the cake.

But knowing what we know.

The game was quite over for me.

I stand there contemplating what to do.

How to help Jericho my big brother.

But then I remembered.

Cassandra was leaving.

That was the last straw for him.

I look around the room.

Alexis had disappeared.

I guess in the moments Jericho had lost his marbles thinking I was enjoying his despair.

She made a dash to find Cassie.

Was she still here.

“Alexis.”

I call.

“Alexis you here still.”

I go searching for her.

As I start to think about going up the stairs she appears right at the top of them.

“She’s gone Alex.”

“Cassandra’s gone.”

My eyes widen in disbelief.

How could she have slipped by us.

Then I see Alexis is holding something in her hands.

“What’s that you’ve got.”

“It’s a letter from Cass.”

I knew I had no right to demand what was written in it but I cared about her and her safety.

“Well.”

“What does it say.”

She opens it up as she starts walking down the steps.

“I’ve gone.”

“Don’t try looking for me.”

“I need time to process everything.”

“Tell Jericho I love him no matter what.”

She really was gone.

“P.S. Alexis while I’m gone watch over those boys for me would you.”

Boys.

Was she referring to me as well as Jericho.

I never knew she cared.

But then who was I kidding.

Cassandra cared about everybody.

That’s just who she was.

“How could she do this to me.”

Alexis made me jump out of my thoughts.

“I’m supposed to be her best friend.”

“Why didn’t she tell me she was going.”

She takes a seat on the wide bottom step.

I accompany her.

“Because you are her best friend is exactly why she didn’t tell you.”

“She knew you would have talked her out of it.”

“This is something she clearly needs to do.”

Alexis looked at me tears falling down to her cheeks.

“I’m going to miss her so much.”

I pull her closer to me and allow her head to rest on my shoulders.

“Me too Alexis.”

“Me too.”

And we just sit there.

Wondering how we were going to cope with losing a friend like Cassandra.

And the truth was…

We weren’t.