Chapter 118 Stalking II
“Who the fuck are you, Rayan?” Samantha asked between sniffs.
“Rayan Johnson.”
He said it simply, almost casually, as if he didn’t understand the real question screaming beneath her words.
Samantha’s jaw tightened.
She pushed back slightly, just enough to create space between their chests, though he didn’t let her slide off his lap.
“I already know that,” she snapped. “I mean… how did you know Don Nicholas?”
He didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he reached across her, popped open the glove compartment with a quiet click, and pulled out a small packet of medicated wipes. The sharp, clean sting of antiseptic bloomed between them as he tore the packet open.
“I asked you a question, Rayan.”
He paused, the wipe hovering near her split lip.
His voice came out slightly raised and edged with the anger he’d been trying so hard to suppress.
“What’s your deal with him?” he countered, his eyes narrowing. “Why the hell are you engaged to him?”
Despite the tears still clinging to her lashes, Samantha’s gaze flared hot.
“Don’t you dare raise your voice at me.” Her own voice cracked , but she held on. “I asked you first. Answer me.”
He exhaled through his nose, his jaw clenched so tight a muscle ticked in his cheek. Then he gently almost reverently pressed the wipe to the cut on her lip.
She flinched at the sting.
He froze for half a second, fury burning hotter in his veins at the sight of her pain. His fingers trembled once before he steadied them.
“He used to work with us,” Rayan said finally, his voice quieter now but no less lethal. “The Johnsons. My family.”
Samantha blinked, the pieces not quite fitting yet.
“Wait… hold on. I thought you told me you were an orphan. What affiliation does your family have with Nicholas?”
Rayan’s gaze dropped to the wipe in his hand, now stained with her blood.
“I didn’t lie,” he corrected softly. “The old man adopted me…”
“Nicholas was one of our most trusted lieutenants back when things were… stable.” Rayan’s mouth twisted bitterly around the word. “He was our Collector. The kind of man you send when you want someone to remember exactly how much they owe and to pay it in blood if necessary. He was very good at it.”
He dabbed carefully at the dried blood on her chin, his movements were slow and gentle like he was handling something fragile that might shatter if he moved too fast.
“Then he got greedy,” Rayan continued. “Started stealing money from us. Small amounts at first. Then it got bigger.” He adjusted her on his laps.
“The old man found out. I should’ve put a bullet between his eyes, but Nicholas begged and swore he took the money to help his sick mother. The old man had a soft spot for family loyalty. So he gave him one chance.”
Rayan’s eyes flicked to hers, she saw the anger burning in them.
“That was the biggest mistake. He didn’t make it right. He was sent to our rival gang, Rodrigo, to collect what was owed. Instead, he sold us out. Planted Rodrigo’s men in our midst. We lost… and we had to flee. It all happened in one day.”
Samantha stared at him, her chest rising and falling too fast.
“You’re telling me your family is some kind of mafia?”
He ignored the question.
“Your turn to answer mine, Samantha. How did you get his ring on your finger?”
She looked away from his eyes, out the window.
“It wasn’t a choice,” she whispered. “It was a debt.” She paused, catching her breath. “My father owed him. I don’t know what kind of business it was, but he said it was gambling debts. After my father hung himself, Nicholas came for payment. Said I could either marry him… or pay him up.”
She licked her lips, biting the side as she tried to stop the tears.
“I wanted to get the money by all means,so I started dancing here secretly. I didn’t want to marry him. Anytime I refused, he would… beat me up. So I always played along. But today he..”
Her voice cracked on the last word.
“Shhh.” He placed a hand over her mouth.
His heart, carved in.
He leaned in, his forehead resting gently against hers, eyes closed for a moment like he was steadying himself and anchoring her.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me for disappearing. I know I don’t deserve that yet.” His voice broke on the last word. “But I’m asking you to believe me when I say I’m never letting anyone put their hands on you again.”
Samantha swallowed, her throat tight.
“As for Nicholas he has met his end. Johnson's, never forgets.”
\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eva kept her headlights off as she eased out of the estate after Maverick’s car.
She couldn’t shake the knot in her chest that had refused to loosen.
She followed him at a safe distance, her knuckles white from how tightly she clutched the steering wheel.
Ivory City stretched out ahead of them, lights blurring past as Maverick drove with purpose. Eva noticed he hadn’t taken the route to the Avalon mansion, nor the one leading to the base. This wasn’t anywhere familiar to her.
Eva’s pulse quickened.
He was indeed hiding something.
She stayed three cars behind him, careful at every turn.
They passed the bridge. She looked at the map by the side of the road.
That road didn’t lead anywhere important. It was the outskirts of Ivory City. It was filled with other old neighborhoods, narrow streets, quiet houses stacked close together.
Who is she?
How long has this been going on?
Her breathing turned ragged. She could endure him being drunk and miserable but not giving his attention to another woman.
Two streets away from Heaven’s house, Maverick checked the time. It was already late. He had promised to call her when he left in a hurry but he hadn’t so he decided to call her, to see if she was awake to open the front door for him. He wanted to be with her every second, round the clock.
He missed her.
Maverick’s eyes lifted to the rearview mirror for the third time.
His Military instincts kicked in.
The car behind him wasn’t random. He had noticed it for a while now. At first, he thought maybe they shared the same route but the coincidence had stretched too long.
Maverick slowed suddenly, testing.
Eva panicked, pressing her brakes just in time as his taillights flared red. She ducked her head instinctively, heart slamming.
Fuck.
She couldn’t turn. It was a one-way street.
Maverick continued casually, passing Heaven’s house before turning at the next junction too casually.
Eva followed, relief washing through her, thinking he didn’t notice
Maverick drove looking for a diversion, his jaw locked. He slowed again, this time pulling into a building,his indicators flashed again.
Eva cursed under her breath and rolled past, pretending not to notice. She circled the block and parked across the street, where she could watch.
Maverick stepped out, handed his keys to the valet, and entered the building.
After a few minutes, Eva got down, ready to continue stalking her husband.
She was stopped at the door.
The men pointed to the sign above the entrance.