Chapter 6

Kevin Carter woke up feeling hot and stifled. The grey light of dawn came through the two windows facing him and shrouded the vast room into a soft, mysterious light. He felt a brief pain on his face as he lifted his head from the pillow. He touched the plaster on his face and grimaced. He looked at his strap watch. The time was 8:30. He got to his feet, picked the air conditioner remote pad on the dresser, and turned it on. The big machine started into life and began to hum.

He went into the bathroom, shaved, showered, and dressed. He left the room and walked down the stairs to the living room. He found a pot of steaming hot coffee on the table. He could hear Gina moving the crockeries in the kitchen. He sat down and poured himself a cup of coffee. Five minutes later, she came out of the kitchen carrying two plates of thick, grilled ham and bacon.

“Good morning," she said, sitting opposite him.

“Morning," he said, beaming.

She set one of the plates in front of him and poured a cup of coffee for herself.

“How’s your face?” he asked as he cut into the ham. “I saw him hit you yesterday."

She hunched her shoulders as she shovelled a piece of ham into her mouth.

"I'm being hit a lot of times. I'm used to it."

Kevin lifted his eyebrow.

“In the army, I suppose?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Yeah! I get hit a lot of times during training by the male and female. It's part of the fun. "

"Your folks must be really proud, you know," he said. “Enlisting in the army, defending the country and stuffs."

“You’re wrong!” she chewed, shaking her head. “I got a lot of heat for enlisting. But eventually, it panned out for me. Anyway, let's talk about that man that attacked us yesterday."

Kevin nodded, noting the way she had changed the conversation.

“What about him?” he said.

“I think he's been used by Razor.”

“Yeah? Are you sure? "

“Damn sure! He might look bad, dirty, or rough, but I don't think serial killing is his turf. Razor must be using him. "

“Well, if you say so."

“I know so. Razor knows he had overstepped his boundary. He shouldn't have touched detective Tomayo. That was another mistake he made. He knows he's going to get a lot of heat on this, and to play safe; he wanted to divert our attention. That's why he's used that brute who came here yesterday as a decoy. But he used the wrong man. That idiot shouldn't have even told us Razor sent him. It was a stupid mistake."

Kevin stared at her incredulously.

“I’m impressed," he said, smiling at her. “You think so fast. But how can you be sure about all these? "

Gina shrugged.

"It's straightforward. You put two and two together. All criminals make mistakes. No matter how foolproof a plan is, there's always one piece missing out. Your job is to look out for that piece, and when you find it, you nail them with it."

“Wow! That's fantastic! “He said.” I don't really know about all these stuffs you say. But I do know one thing; I’m a businessman who has never cheated any of his business associates in any deal. I have no criminal records with the law, I pay my taxes regularly, and I'm a law-abiding citizen. But I don't have a good record with the ladies. When it comes to women, I'm a pretty bad guy. I won't deny that. Razor is a man, not a woman, and that makes me wonder what he wants with me."

Gina regarded him for a moment.

“I think we should look at things from Razor's angle. Detective Tomayo gave me a dossier concerning the entire woman he has killed, and the little evidence gathered about him so far. I've studied it well. He struck me as someone who seems unbalance, and yet it seems to be fighting for a cause."

“I don't get you," he said.

“Think Mr. Carter. This man killed five women, all because of you. The day he killed Wynter Summers, if he wanted you dead that day, you'd be dead by now. And yet, you're still alive, breathing, and eating. So, it's as if he's transferring the aggression you deserved to the women you're dating."

Kevin swallowed hard.

“You said he's fighting for a cause? What kind of cause?"

“I don't know. I think maybe he's trying to punish you for hurting him. Let's say you did something terrible to him. Maybe you took someone from him? Someone he loved?”

Kevin licked his lips.

“He told me it was because of me he killed a woman. A woman named Angelina. He told me the day he killed Wynter. "

“Have you have dated a woman named Angelina?” she asked. “Do you have anybody by that name in your family? Or in your place of work? Think hard”

Kevin shook his head.

“I’ve never heard of that name before. I've thought so hard about it. I don't know any Angelina. Razor must have mistaken me for someone else."

“Alright, have you fought with a man over a woman? You know, maybe the woman left you for another man? "

“Never," he said. “I don't snatch other men's women if that's what you mean. I'm used to women throwing themselves at me. They loved me for my looks and money. There's no way I could have known if a woman had left me for another man. I don't ask about their pasts, and neither do they. We meet, hook up, hit it off and that's all."

Gina nodded.

“Well, the name Angelina is a clue for us. The only problem is that looking for one dead Angelina in millions of dead Angelina will be a pretty waste of time. We could spend months without getting anywhere. So, you see, if you can delve back into your past and see if you've dated anyone with that name, I believe we could nail Razor."

Kevin stared at her for a long moment. Then he nodded.

“I’ll think about it," he said solemnly." If I remember anything, I'll let you know."

“That’s good!” she said.

“So, where would you love to go?”

She glanced at him, puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I'm taking you out, Gina," he said, giving her a boyish smile. “I’ve got to thank you for what you did yesterday."

Gina shook her head

." You can't possibly think of taking me out. It's dangerous. Hell, Razor is still out there. That short brute too. We can't risk. It's like asking for trouble."

“We are going out!” he said adamantly. “If you're not going, then I will go all by myself."

“It’s suicide!” she gritted out. "It's like asking for trouble.”

“It’s suicide if you're not with me. As long as you're with me, then I'm fine."

“I can't go," she said. “I can't." She broke off when Kevin silenced her with an impatient wave of his hand. He got to his feet and gripped her hand.

“No woman has done half of what you've done for me, Gina," he said thickly. “I’ve got to show my gratitude to you. This is the least I could do. Don't drag this. I'm taking you out. That's it”

She regarded him for a long moment.

“If we were attacked, what are you going do?”

He beamed at her.

“I’ve got you, Gina. There's nothing for me to worry about."

She heaved heavily.

“I hope you're right."

“I’ve got to live a little, Gina," he said. “I’ll get the car ready. You get dressed. Meet me outside in thirty minutes “he let go of her and bounced out of the room.

Gina watched him go, a longing expression on her face. She stood like that, thinking hard and fast, deliberating on whether to go with him or not. Then she seemed to make a decision. She shrugged her shoulders and began to clear the plates from the table.

***

By the time Gina walked into the garage, Kevin was already waiting for her in the glittering Aston Martin. She had changed into a simple lemon blouse and white linen slacks, which fitted her perfectly. She wore no jewellery and no makeup. Her black glossy hair was immaculate, and if not for her plain, expressionless face, she would have looked attractive. Gina got into the passenger's seat and turned to him.

“I’m only going with you, not because you forced me but because I really wanted to."

Kevin licked his lips.

“I know. You're one hell of a woman, you know."

“I know," she said. “And that's why I'm not taking any chances." She raised the side of her blouse, and he saw the gun which she had tucked in her waistband.

“Is it necessary?” he asked.

“I got a feeling something might happen," she said, “But don't worry, like you said, let's live a little."

Kevin beamed at her.

“I live for fun, Gina."

“I know," she said. “Now, let's change side; I'm driving this monster."

Kevin shot her a puzzled look.

“What? Do you want to drive? "

She nodded.

“Come on, Kev, don't be scared. I want to drive. I'm handling her today."

Kevin stared at her and drew a long, slow breath. He wanted to say something but thought better of it.

“Okay!” he said.

He opened the car door and stepped out. Gina also stepped out too. She went around the car to the on-the-side door, and he went around to the offside door. They both slam the door shut simultaneously.

“Brace you, Kevin," she said to him, and she fired the engine and shot the car off with an expertise change of gears that startled him. She said nothing until they were roaring along the beach road that led out of Key Biscayne Boulevard, and then she asked abruptly, “You love seafood, don't you, Kevin?”

“Certainly!” he said. “I love it."

“I know a nice seafood restaurant in Miami Beach; about we go there?”

“Sounds great!” he answered.

She concentrated on her driving, and although Kevin hated to be driven, preferring to drive by himself, he had to give it up to her for her driving experience even though she drove at an enormous speed. He thought about what Rogue had told him. He shook his head. This can't be her, he told himself. He wasn't to know that Gina Rux was the same girl detective Tomayo had told Rogue and the other boys about, and he wasn't to know that just three cars away from them, maintaining a normal speed level, was the battered Cherokee jeep of Snitch.

He had left the motel very early that morning. He had waited few blocks away from Kevin's penthouse and had waited patiently until he saw the gleaming body of the Aston Martin come out of the garage, and he had waited for thirty seconds and then drove after it.

They arrived at a small restaurant situated on a lonely strip of beach. From its look, it whiffed of expensiveness, and this suited Kevin perfectly. They got in, and he ordered king-sized prawns, hanging from wine glasses that were filled with crushed ice, lobster in a cream, and champagne sauce.

During the meal, they talked of this and that. He asked her about her life in the army, and she told him she had enlisted at the age of twenty and had served for six solid years before leaving the army. She told him she would have loved to continue, but she had to think of her life.

He tried to probe more into her past life, trying to see if she would reveal something that would let him know if she was really Tomayo's daughter, but he met a brick wall. Her answers were very few and vague. She switched topics, and they discussed the latest novels, latest music, and movies.

As they talked, he felt her big blue eyes staring into him, regarding his massive shoulders, his hands. He tried to ask about her personal life, but the answers she gave were too vague for him. All these baffled him. He felt she was going hot for him, yet a tight string was pulling her back. When they were done, he signalled to the waiter and settled the bills.

They walked together to the car. Gina said it was one of the best meals she had had, and she thanked him for it. Kevin smiled in response, and when he asked her if she wanted to drive them home, she shook her head.

He got in the car, started the engine and when Gina was by his side, he turned to her and held her hand.

“Gina ", he said.” I really had a swell time."

She stared at him for a long moment, and he could see the conflicting emotions in her eyes. Then she smiled at him. As he looked at her, he was surprised to see how relaxed she looks. With the limpid and kind look in her eyes, coupled with the smile and despite the plainness of her face, she looked beautiful. Then it all went away.

“Drive, Kevin ", she said stiffly.

He drew in a long, slow breath and drove away from the restaurant. They were about to get onto the Rickenbacker Causeway now, and neither Kevin nor Gina noticed that Snitch, sitting in a Cherokee jeep, was following them.

Kevin slowed down and stopped as the traffic lights turned red. Snitch, who had seen the traffic light half a kilometre ahead of him, and knowing they were heading to the penthouse, hit the pedal hard and, with a shocking piece of driving, shot past two three cars in front of him, drove too fast until he got to where the traffic light was and stopped behind just two cars away from the Aston Martin.

The light turned green, and Kevin he hit the pedal, and the car surged forward powerfully. Suddenly, they heard the screeching of tyres, and they both jerked around and saw an old shabby jeep racing towards them at a menacing speed.

“We’ve got company," Gina said, turning to look at Kevin. “I told you. That slimy bastard won't rest”

Kevin swallowed hard.

“Don’t worry! We'll fix this."

Gina nodded, but she did not say anything.

Kevin looked at the driver's mirror and saw the jeep closing upon them. He increased the speed car, and it surged forward. He checked the driver's mirror, but there he was no jeep. Then he heard Gina muttered a curse. He turned to her. The jeep was beside the Aston Martin now, and the two cars seemed to be racing head-to-head.

“Kevin, just take it easy," she said tightly. “Don’t freak out.”

“What do you think he's planning?”

“He wants to nail us with that old junk." She seethed out.

Kevin, his hands clammy with sweat, gripped the wheels tightly. He jerked his head to the passenger's window and saw the jeep window rolled down. Then he saw something move through the window, which had a snub nose pointing towards his car. Just then, Gina yelled.

“Oh shit! He wants to shoot! Hit that pedal."

Her voice made him swerved violently, and he heard a crack sound followed by a distant rifle shot. Something hard thudded into the car, and the frightening sound made him swerve again.

“Gina!” he said sharply. “You’ve got to help me."

“We’ve got to distract him, okay. I think there's an intersection ahead of us. When you get there, turn left."

Kevin did not argue with her. He stepped on the accelerator and increased the car speed. Snitch noticed the speed of the Aston Martin had increased speed, and he knew the car was much faster and better than his jeep, so he hit hard on the pedal, swerve the car left and tried to close in on them. Kevin saw the intersection, and he increased speed. He got there and turned left. The road was the Rickenbacker Causeways, and there was less traffic. Kevin touched the horn of his car repeatedly as he sailed past the cars on the road.

He glanced at the rear-view. The jeep was not in sight. Just then, he heard a gunshot and jerked his head to look at Gina's side. The bullet had come from there. The jeep was on the other side trying to catch up with the Aston Martin. The shock of seeing the jeep make Kevin sweated, and he slackened speed. This gave the jeep a chance that it needed. The snub nose of the gun appeared out of the jeep windows.

“Take your leg off the pedal ", Gina howled, her face like stone, “take it off!”

Kevin took his leg off the pedal, and the Aston Martin speed dropped. The jeep already on a full-speed course pulled ahead, but a bullet from Snitch's rifle rang out and shattered the passenger's mirror of the Aston Martin.

“I’ll kill that bastard!” Gina said, and she brought out the gun. “When I tell you to hit the brakes, hit it!”

“What?” he asked puzzled.

“Hit the goddamned breaks when I tell you to ", she said, her eyes concentrating hard on the jeep that had also slowed and was trying to keep in line with the Aston Martin. Just then, the jeep slackened speed, swerve left, his rugged body coming against the body of the Aston Martin. Kevin looking at the jeep knows this. In a moment or so, the car will be crushed. Then he heard Gina scream.

“Stop! Now! "

Kevin slammed hard on the brakes, and the car halted abruptly. The jeep spurred forward, and just at that moment, he saw Gina raised the gun and aimed the snub nose at the jeep tyres. Loud multiple bangs of the shot rang out as she fired at the jeep's tyres at a close range. For a moment, the jeep fishtailed, swerving violently from side to side, then went out of control, into a spin, before its flings itself across the road, rolling over and over and by some odd freak, it crashes into a gigantic billboard post. Then there was a tremendous noise like a blast, and a long tongue of orange flame rushed up into the sky as the jeep exploded.

“Holy shit ", Kevin howled, staring stupendously as he looked at the mangled body of the jeep.

The few cars on the highway had stopped, and men and women began to tumble out of the cars, their faces wild and white with shock as they ran toward the mangled jeep to have a closer look.

They both stared at the pandemonium around them for a long moment, and then Gina turned to him.

“Let’s go home, Kevin."

He nodded, and then he fired the engine, shifted gears, and sped away.

***

Snitch staggered into his room, his clothes tattered and drenched with blood. He sprawled out on the dirty rug, heaving heavily, his breaths coming in short gasps. Panic flooded his mind. I'm going to die, he thought, I've got to do something, or I'll die. It was a miracle he had survived the car explosion. He needed nobody needed to tell him that.

As he lay on the rug, his mind went back to how he had heard the jeep been shot at. Suddenly and vividly, he saw how he had tried to control it when it had begun to swerve violently, how it had lost control till it crashed into the billboard and how he had struggled out of the car and before he had thrown himself over the bridge, into the sea, the car had erupted into flames, setting his clothes alight and injuring him severely. He recalled how he had anchored himself to a cruising boat which had later docked at the. Rickenbacker Marina, and from there, he had managed to find his way back to the motel.

He remained on the ground like that, staring with terror at the growing pool of blood that made a puddle around him, knowing it was his own blood. I’m gonna die, he thought; I've got to do something. He thought of what Razor will do to him, and his fat body shook with fear. He needed to get out of the motel fast.

Somehow, he struggled to his feet. Feeling faint and lightheaded, he lumbered to his rucksack, which lay at the foot of the bed. He unzipped it, moved towards his clothes which was packed haphazardly on an easy chair, grabbed the clothes with trembling hands and began to rummage the clothes into the rucksack.

Dimly, he heard a slight movement outside his room door. He stiffened into a rigid, horrifying stillness, heart pounding hard against his ribs. Suddenly, the door busted open, and Razor came in. He was wearing a black shirt and jacket, black pants, black heels boots. His eyes were yellow, cold, and feverish. As he stepped into the room, he jerked his head to the bed and saw Snitch, transfixed on the spot; his open rucksack lay on the bed.

“Going somewhere?” Razor said quietly.

Snitch swallowed hard. He could feel cold sweat rolling off him. The yellow, expressionless eyes terrified him. He licked his lips and muttered something incoherent. Then he said in an unsteady voice.

“I’m so sorry, man…"

Razor eyed his drenched, blood-stained clothes and smiled wickedly.

"It's okay! I understand. “He paused, and then he said, “I’m hungry. Let's see what I can find in the kitchen."

He went into the small kitchen while Snitch looked on numbly. He was beginning to feel weak, and he could barely think straight. He drew in a long, slow breath and began to pack his clothes into the rucksack. Then the smell of cooking oil hit his nostrils.

He glanced up, wondering what Razor was doing in the kitchen. He waited for some moment, thinking if he should go and check out what the man was doing. His curiosity got the better of him, and he moved away from the bed; walking lethargically, he entered the kitchen.

He saw Razor standing over a gas cooker. On the burner was a saucepan full of boiling cooking oil. He stared stupidly at Razor, wondering what he was up to.

“What’s…this?" he mumbled. “What are ya…doing?"

Razor, who had been staring hard at the saucepan, looked up and grinned evilly.

“I’m hungry!” he said, still grinning. “I’m just going to fry some eggs. Want some? "

Snitch shook his head, suddenly frightened. He looked at the saucepan, then at Razor, then the saucepan again. Something inside his head was telling him to run, to get the hell out of the kitchen. And yet he stood there as if he was carved out of stone, staring like a man who had seen a snake on his bed.

Every now and then, he shivered. Then something snapped in his head. He took a step back, moved out of the kitchen and ran blindly to the room door and as he flung the door opened, he heard the sounds of running footsteps behind. Terrified, he looked back over his shoulders. That was how he took the hot oil in his face.

***

Back at the penthouse, Kevin and Gina entered the vast living room and shut the door. Gina snapped on the light and strolled to where the cocktail cabinet was. Kevin stood by the door, scratching his jaw as he watched her.

He thought of how she had shot the jeep, and he felt a violent sexual urge towards her. To control himself, he went to sit on the sofa. Gina fixed drinks and gave him a glass. Then she sat opposite him and crossed her legs.

“What do you think happened back there?” he asked, watching her face.

She hunched her shoulders and took out a pack of cigarettes from her purse. She put one between her full red lips and then raised an eyebrow at him.

Kevin grunted as he took out a gold lighter from his pockets and moved towards her. She bent to dip the cigarette end into the flame he sheltered with his cupped hands. She lifted her head, and he went back to sit.

“What were you saying?” she asked as she dragged hard on the cigarette.

“Back there, what happened?”

“I don't know," she answered.

“Don’t you think it was Razor that was inside that jeep? “

Gina shook her head.

“It can't be.”

Kevin narrowed his eyes at her.

“What makes you sure?”

“Instincts," she answered. “That can't be Razor. He can't be that stupid to pull a stunt like that. I believe the person who attacked us what's that bum he had sent the first time to fix us. The fool came back to finish the job. Only this time, we fixed him for real."

Kevin swallowed hard.

“So, you think he's dead?”

“Definitely! He couldn't have survived that kind of blast—no one can't—the only person to worry about his Hell Razor. Right now, he will be really pissed off. He had gambled on a fool, and that fool had failed him. I believe he'll be cooking up something bad. "

Kevin nodded and drew in a long, slow breath. He tossed down the whisky down his throat and grimaced. He stood up, walked over to the cabinet, and fixed himself another drink. Then as he turned back, he saw that Gina had already stood up from the sofa.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“I’m turning in ", she replied, staring hard at him.” I'm dead beat.

Kevin checked his gold wristwatch.

“It’s just past eleven. Let's talk more”

“No. We'll talk tomorrow."

“Come on, Gina,” he said huskily. “Don’t runoff. Stay awhile."

She hunched her shoulders.

“Goodnight, Kevin," she said, and she gave him a wan smile and moved out of the room.

Kevin watched her go and grimaced. He drank the whisky and put the glass on the glistening countertop. Then he moved out of the room, mounts the stairs, and entered the bedroom. He went to the window and opened it. The moonlight came in through the window, making a small square of light on the white Persian rug.

He took off his clothes, shoes and flopped hard on the bed.

He lit a cigarette and frowned up at the ceilings. He was feeling hot and uneasy. Lying there, he knew he couldn't sleep. His mind dwells on Gina. He thought of her, lying on the bed in her bedroom, and he sweated with sexual desire. Why am I feeling this way, he thought; what's gotten into me? He drew smoke into his lungs and crushed out the cigarette.

He knew she was not his type of girl, especially because of her face, but the little time he had spent with her and the way she had handled the man who had attacked them both in the house and on the bridge that morning made him regard her as one hell of a woman.

She had done so much to protect him that he now felt tender towards her, recognizing at that moment, with a resigned grimace, that he was falling in love with her. In love? He sat upon the bed. Had he fallen in love with her? He thought, it’s that why he was feeling like this?

He swung his legs off the bed. His mind turned to the day she had sat on his lap, kissed him hard, and a surge of emotions washed over him. He wanted Gina. He wanted her so badly that it made him feel weak. She was just across the room, behind the door. He had only to go in there and take her. He knew she might fight him off, maybe even threatened him with her gun, but he was prepared for all that.

He lay back on his elbow, gnawing his lips savagely for some moment. Then he made up his mind. He got up from the bed, wore his clothes, went to the door, and slid out of the room, making no sound. As he walked through the small hallways, his heart was beating fast, and his breathing was unsteady. He paused outside her bedroom door and listened, then, hearing no sound, he turned the door handle gently and pushed open the door.

The bed was well laid, and it looked as if she had not slept on it. On a chair by her dressing table were her sweaters, pants, bra, and panties. He could hear the shower going. All these rushed blood into his loins. He stepped into the bedroom, shut the door, and walked over to the bed and sat down.

He lit a cigarette with unsteady hands feeling cold sweat rolling off him. As he smokes, he kept thinking of what her reaction would be when she sees him. After five minutes of waiting, he heard the shower turn off. He heaved heavily and crushed out the cigarette. He could hear her moving about in the bathroom. Another minute dragged by, then she came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a white Turkish towelling wrap.

They both stared at each other as the hard white light of the overhead lamp fell on her face.

That was when he got the greatest shock of his life. The woman he was looking at was not Gina. Her body figure was still the same, and yet she had the face of a woman completely different.

The woman standing before him was extremely beautiful with bright China green eyes, silky blonde hair, high cheekbones, and a long nose. In fact, her face matched the body.

It was as if the cold, expressionless face he was used to seeing had now been replaced with a face so perfectly sculpted and so alive. His mouth gaped open; his mind was vacant with fear. He felt a trickle of cold sweat run down the side of his face, into his eyes, making them smart.

She stood motionless, her hand on the door handle, her hand holding the towel in place. Just by staring at him, her beautiful face had turned the colour of bleached bones.

“Who…are you?” he stammered, wiping the sweat away from his face.

She did not say anything. She only continued to stare at him.

“Who the hell are you?” he said through locked teeth, clenching his hand into a fist. “You better start doing some talking."

Her face remained expressionless, but her mouth tightened. She moved into the room, went over to the dressing table, and sat down. She picked up a comb and began to comb her hair, her back half turned to him, her eyes watching him through the big mirror before her.

Kevin stared at her stiff, arrogant back, his body smouldering with rage and confusion. He got abruptly to his feet, stretched out his hand and swung her around violently. He grabbed her arms, hauled her to her feet and shook her.

“Who are you?” he gritted out, his face hard as stone.

She had to lick her lips before she could speak.

“Gina Rux!” she said evenly.

“What?” he said, staring at her bewilderedly?

“I’m Gina Roux! The woman who saved your ass on the bridge this morning."

His eyes widen.

“Gina?”

“For Christ sakes! If you don't recognize my face, how ' bout my voice”

“You’re not Gina!” he mumbled." You just can't be”

" Don't be foolish, Kevin ", the familiar voice seethed out." Look closely at me. Listen to my voice. Are you so dim-witted you wouldn't recognize my voice? "

It was Gina alright. That voice could belong to no one else. Kevin regarded her, his heart beating wildly against his chest. His mouth was so dry he couldn't say anything. He just stared at her. Then a thought came into his mind: a crazy thought; that made him stiffen and stare at her. Detective Tomayo and Gina had played a trick on him. They must have an important reason for playing such a trick on him. The only question left was how? How could they have tricked him without him noticing? "

“You’re wondering how we tricked you, right.” Gina said, watching him. “Yes, we tricked you. I'll show you how we did it “she wandered to her closet and brought out something. Then she came back to him and thrust it into his unsteady hands.

He stared at his hands, shocked into silence. It was a mask. A full-face mask with thick female black hair and eye, ear, nose, and mouth holes. He dragged his eyes to her face.

“What’s this?” he asked in a shaky voice.

“This is a hyper-realistic silicone mask,” she said. “You can get it on any online store. Amazon, eBay, Aliexpress, you name it. I ordered this, by the way. Mind you; it does not come cheap. Whenever I wear it, all I have to do is to apply very good makeup, though it's not really necessary. If I wear it, you won't know the diff between a real face and a fake."

“Prove it!” he said, his voice loaded with doubt.

She nodded and took the mask from him. Then she straightened her hair and wore the mask over her head. The mask covers her actual head, neck, and upper chest so that there is no visible joint around the collar.

Kevin stared at her in extreme shock. It was as if the natural Gina face was back. The mask clung to her face perfectly. The eyebrow and lashes, the hair, the nose, and the mouth were impeccable. As he stared at her, he now saw the reason why he couldn't even have imagined she had been putting on a mask all the time there were together. She took the mask off her face.

“So, you've been wearing this all this while?” he asked in a low voice.

“Yes.”

“All the time you've been with me?” he asked, already knowing what her answer will be.

“I’ve been wearing it the whole time,” she said. “Every time except now. This is my real face."

He narrowed his eyes, looking hard into her sea-green eyes.

“Do you wish your eyes were blue?” he asked.

“The blue eyes are fake. That's a contact lens at work. My real eyes are green, as you can see. "

“I preferred them blue,” he said.

She did not say anything. She only stared at him, her beautiful face white and hard and unflinching.

“Why, Gina?” he said in a hoarse whisper " Why all the pretence?”

“We had to do it, Kevin ", she said evenly.” We had to."

“You did all these because of me?” he said, looking puzzled.

" Yes, everything was for you ", she paused and went on ", don't you see; If you had seen me in the first instance, with my beautiful face, we wouldn't have gotten this far. You won't be able to concentrate. You will never see me as someone who is here to protect you. All you will be thinking about is my beautiful face and how you will lure me into your bed. You will be distracted, and you will also get me distracted too."

Kevin felt blood rush to his face.

“Are you trying to say I'm loose when it comes to women? Are you trying to say I wouldn't know how to control myself if I had seen your natural face? "

She hunched her shoulders.

“I don't know, Kevin. Think whatever you like. But everything we did, what's just for the best, and it's all because of you."

He stared at her for a long moment, his mind busy with thoughts. He drew in a long, slow breath and grimaced. Then he moved away from her and moved over to the dressing table. He picked up a whiskey bottle, sloshed the drink into two glass cups and came to her. She took it from his hand. They both looked at each other through the rim of the glasses as they sipped the whisky.

“So, what are you going to do now that you've found out my little secret?” she asked, lifting a well-pencilled eyebrow at him.

Kevin rolled the drink in his mouth.

“Nothing changes. Beautiful or not beautiful, you're Gina to me."

“What’s does that mean? “She asked, her green eyes glittering.

“Well, " he began.” Seeing the way things turns out to be, I would say I really don't blame you for the stunt you pulled on me; neither do I blame the detective. I understand you guys had to do all it takes to fix Hell Razor, even if it means deceiving me. But I've seen things from your point of view. So, I don't blame you for what you did. So, like I said, nothing changes."

She studied his face for a moment and drank the whisky in two quick gulps. Then she cleared her voice.

“I think that settles it then. The detective does not have to know anything about this. Right? "

“He won't hear any of this," he said. “So, tell me how you are related to detective Tomayo?”

She did not hesitate.

“He’s my father. I'm his only child, by the way. My real name is Gina Daniel's. Roux is my other name. Dad divorced my mother when I was very little. He came to over Miami. So, I stayed with my mom in the Bronx for a long time before going off to the army. I got a lot of heat from both of them. None of them ever wanted me to go, but I made my choice. Then I left the army. Finding nothing worthwhile to do, I came to Miami City to stay with Tomayo, and I even assisted him with some detective work. Actually, protecting you, Kevin Carter, will be my third assignment."

“How many knew about this arrangement?” he asked. “You know, protecting me, wearing mask stuffs and things like that."

“Just me and Tomayo," she said.

He narrowed his eyes at her.

“None of his men knew?” he said, puzzled. “At least Rogue ought to know. He's a good man. The detective should have told Rogue something.”

“I told Tomayo not to tell Rogue and the other boys anything as a cockeye for trouble," she said.

“I don't understand."

She heaved heavily.

“It’s part of the training I got in the army. Think of it this way, If Rogue or any of the boys knew anything about me, or should I say the main reason why I'm staying with you, their lives might be in danger. The reason has been that Hell Razor might try to get to any of them too. Look what he did to Tomayo. It's a baffler that he had survived that merciless torture. How many of the boys could withstand such merciless torture without revealing anything? Even if they could, what if they died in the process of keeping their lips sealed. I know you, Kevin Carter, can't stand such torture. You wouldn't even last ten seconds. So why put those men lives in danger? That's why it had to be between Tomayo and me."

Kevin absorbed all this in. Then he drew in a long, slow breath.

“Well, Gina, I'm really impressed. You're quite a girl, I really dig for”

She regarded him under thick lashes.

“We’ll continue as if nothing has happened, alright?” she said.

Kevin muttered alright. Just by looking at her, he was already having trouble with his breathing. She must have sensed the sudden change in him because she suddenly moved away from him and went to the bedroom door, and then she opened it.

“Better go back to your room now, Kevin."

He turned to her. He suddenly had a desire to reach out and touch her. He could feel the sexual heat and tension in the room, and he was damn sure she was also feeling it too.

“You didn't even ask why I was in your room in the first place?” he said.

She shrugged indifferently.

“What difference will it make even if I know?” she said the words so casually, but he was not deceived.

“You’re right,” he said, “It wouldn't make any difference as long as you and I know what we both want. We just don't know how to get it yet."

She didn't move, but her eyes had darkened.

“But I think I know how to get my now ", he said, moving towards her.” I don't even need to put on a damn mask to get mine “he got within a foot of her, and then reached out, putting his hands on her shoulders.

She clenched her fist and tried to shove him away, but he was expecting such a move. He caught her wrist, jerked her to his body and crushed his mouth on her. It was as if she was already waiting for him to do this.

They stood like this, straining against each other, kissing hard and fast. He pulled one hand around her and cupped her heavy breasts with the other. She moaned, and he felt his blood moving through his body, rushing into his head. Then she pushed him away. Her face was dazed with desire for him.

“It’s enough," she said, heaving heavily. “Let’s take it slow."

In the light of the room, he could see her breasts were rising and falling rapidly and the points of her nipples, hard against the soft wool of her towel. His breath rasped at the back of his throat, his heart was beating hard, and there seemed to be an iron around his chest that was suffocating him.

"DeMint, I'm crazy about you," he said through clenched teeth. “I want you."

“No! Can't you see? It will spoil the whole thing," she said. Please go, Kevin. Not now. It's not safe."

He reached out for her again, but she shook her head and gently pushed him out of the room. As he stood in the doorway, they both stared at each other for a long moment, and then she heaved heavily and closed the door.

***

Kevin scarcely slept that night. The thoughts of Gina were running around his skull like a gopher in its hole. He wanted to go back to her room, slam down the door and take her forcefully, but he crushed the idea. She wasn't the ordinary, simple women you meet on the streets or the whores you meet in the back alleys or cheap hotels. She was a special woman and needed special treatment.

Many years ago, the idea of ever feeling like this for a woman would have been unthinkable. He had always considered men who fall in love weak and stupid. And yet, look at him, thinking hard over a woman, the temperature of his body rising and falling irregularly.

He lay awoke most of the night, thinking about her, and when he did doze off, he dreamt of her; a dream that brought him upright in bed with his heart hammering wildly and his bed sheets damp with sweat. He checked his strap watch. The time was 8:30 a.m. He yawned, got off the bed and went into the bathroom.

He shaved and showered. Then he called Roxy. She updated him about the company's operations the staff performance, and she ended it by telling him how much she missed him. Kevin chatted with her for some minutes then he ended the call. He crossed the room to his closet.

As he dressed, he checked his face in the big mirror. There were tired bags under his eyes, and it looked sunken and had dark smudges. He swore under his breath and grimaced. He went out of the room, down the stairs and into the living room. There was a delicious smell of frying onions coming from the kitchen. He drew in a slow breath and walked in.

Gina, wearing a blue wool sweater with jean bum shorts, her hair tied with a red ribbon, was chopping potatoes. She looked over her shoulder at him.

“Morning, I'm preparing French fries and pork chops; I hope you like it?”

Kevin, who obviously had been staring hard at her heavy solid hips, swallowed hard and nodded.

“Cool ", she said.” go wait out there, I'll be done in a jiffy. Help yourself to some coffee too. “And she turned back to what she was doing.

Kevin stood there for some moment, watching her. If she knew he was still standing there, she did not show any sign of it. When he could stand it no longer, he moved close to her, put his hands on her hips, feeling hard flesh come alive under his fingers. He bent his head and kissed the side of her neck.

“Gina…" he began, but she twisted out of his grip and faced him. Then she put a well-manicured finger on his lips.

“Don’t say anything. Let me finish with my cooking."

The cold glint in her sea-green eyes told him there was no room for argument. He nodded, touched her face lightly and went out of the kitchen. He sat down at the table and poured himself a cup of coffee. He sipped it and waited, his nerves ragged, his head pounding with a severe headache.

Five minutes later, she came out of the kitchen, carrying plates heaped with French fries and thick pork chop. She set a plate before him and settled down. They began to eat.

“Rogue called me this morning ", she said.

Kevin, who had been picking at his food, glanced up.

“Rogue? What did he say? "

“He says detective Tomayo is pretty much okay now, and he will be moved back to his house tomorrow.”

Kevin could feel the joy in her voice. Looking at her, he could see she was really in a happy mood this morning. Is it me? He thought, or she's just happy that her father is alright? He was not sure.

“That’s great news, Gina ", he said." I'm glad he's better now."

Gina beamed at him.

“I’m glad too. Anyways, the boys are organizing a little get-together party for him next tomorrow. Rogue invited us. "

“We’ll be there," he said solemnly.

“Good,” she said, “So have you thought about what we talked about the other time?”

He frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“Angelina’s case! Don't tell me you've forgotten all about it."

Kevin grimaced.

“Look, I'll tell you the truth. I did not need to think about anything because there's nothing to think of. I've had my share of women, and I broke up with them based on one thing or the other. For me, it will be a waste of time to start brooding on a girl named Angelina. Someone I don't even know if we've met or not. Razor is a crazy guy. He's got me mistaken with someone else. That's what this is all about. When he realizes he's chasing the wrong man, he will back off."

Gina, who had listened to him, drew in a long, slow breath.

“Kevin did something bad to Razor, and he would fix you for it. Make no mistake about that. People like Razor do not forget about settling a score. They lay low for some time and then strike again."

“Finish your food, Gina ", he said exasperatedly. “It’s getting cold."

An angry glint came into her eyes and went away. She heaved heavily and continued with her food. Kevin continued to push the food around with his fork. She glanced at him and noticed what he was doing.

“Are you not hungry?” she asked, concern in her voice. “Is it bad?”

Kevin shook his head and drew in a long, slow breath.

“The food is great, Ginny," he said, staring at her face while she lifted a well-pencilled eyebrow at him. He had meant to say Gina, but the word Ginny had slipped out from his mouth. He had said it in such a way that suggests she was his girlfriend or his wife. My God, he thought horribly; I'm so goddamned love struck.

Gina regarded him for a long moment; then, she continued with her food. She finished it, pushed her chair back, got to her feet and began to clear the plates. Kevin looked on, a bemused expression on his face. He watched her as she went into the kitchen; he heard a clear away the dishes then she came out.

“Finish your food. I'll get you some aspirin."

“How do you know?” he asked, puzzled.

“Your eyes," she said. “All there is to know is there.” She moved out of the room. He heard her run up the stairs and a few seconds later she came back to him. She tossed a fillet of pills onto the table, went into the kitchen, and return with a glass of orange juice. She pealed the pills off the foiled, tells him to open his mouth, put the pills into it and gave him a glass. He swallowed the pills and nodded at her. She grinned at him.

“Good boy, don't worry, you'll be okay. And lest I forget, please call the maintenance boys to fix that damned maintenance hole. “And she moved away from him and went out of the room.

He watched her go and grimaced. He knew what she was trying to do. She was trying to avoid him at all costs. She did not want a reoccurrence of what had happened the other night. He knew all these were a facade. Pretence on her part. He felt she was crazy about him, yet seeing the way she was behaving, he was not so sure.

He got to his feet, went up to his room, checked his contact list, and put a call to a Home Maintenance Agency. A few minutes later, a minivan pulled up in front of the penthouse.

Three men tumbled out of the van. They were tall and powerfully built, and they wore grey coveralls with black boots. In their hands were maintenance boxes and kits. They entered the penthouse; Kevin shook hands with them and told them about the maintenance hole on the roof. The men nodded and went to work. Half an hour later, they came down the roof, a sweaty, grimed expression on their faces.

They told Kevin they were done with the work. He nodded and went up the stairs and entered the room where the maintenance hole was. He checked out the roof and smiled. The affected roof had been replaced with a fine roofing sheet. The men had done a perfect job. He went back to the living room, paid the men, and thanked them for the nice job they did. When the men had left, Kevin went back to his room and, finding nothing to do, he lay back on the bed and brooded about the first day he had met Gina Rux.

***

Two days later, Kevin and Gina drove to detective Tomayo's house in Miami Beach. When they got there, he parked the car under a row of trees on the kerb, and they both stepped out of the car. The front of the house had a lawn that was well-mowed. Nearby, many cars were parked—Cadillac, Chevrolet, Mercedes, and Toyota Camry.

Kevin was wearing a dark blue lightweight suit and a white open neck shits matched with black penny loafers. Gina was in a black evening dress, cut so low he could see the tops of her breasts and the furrow between them.

In the evening light, her flesh was porcelain white and smooth. She had put on the fake mask to keep up the pretence, telling him she did not want to arouse anyone suspicion.

Even with the mask on, she looked sensational and sexually exciting and just to look at her sent a feeling through Kevin so violent it scared him. When they got to the front door, he lifted the knocker, rapped on the door, and waited.

The door opened, and Rogue stood in the doorway, a wide grin on his lean, hard face.

“Mr. Carter!” he said, smiling. “Please come in."

They both went in. The room was a little crowded; the men dressed in simple fawn suits, and the women wore colourful, simple dresses. The faint sound of dance music was filtered out from a home theatre, and the waiters, dressed in white and black uniforms, circled the room. Rogue led them across the room to a closed door. He opened the door, and they went in.

Blake, Jack, and Smith were sitting around a table in the centre of the room. They were playing poker. Beyond them, sitting on an easy chair was Tamayo. He was reading a magazine and gripped between his teeth was a thick cigar. The men all glanced up as they came into the room. No one looked shocked when they saw Gina's face, which did not baffle Kevin. He was sure by now Gina must have told Tamayo about her not using the silicone mask again, and if the detective had heard about it, there was the chance his boys would have known too.

“Hey! Mr. Carter! Gina, “Tamayo said, beaming with a warm smile.” Nice to see you guys. "

Kevin, also beaming with a smile, shook hands with Tamayo, and then Gina wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Seeing the way, Gina clung to Tomayo; nobody needed to tell Kevin there was a kind of father and daughter bond between these two. Father and daughter disengaged.

“Good to see you back on your feet, detective ", Kevin said, noting that Tomayo looked healthier and stressed free.

“Thanks, Mr. Carter ", he replied, smiling “I know I am far behind this whole Hell Razor stuffs. But since you are here, I'll like you to bring me up to speed. Has there been any recent attack since I've been in the safe house? "

Gina nodded.

“Yeah! There has been but only just one."

Tomayo's heavy brows came down in a scowling frown.

“I know he won't give up. That bloody nut case. Tell me about the attack."

Briefly, she explained to him everything that happened the day Snitch had attacked them. When she was done, Tomayo cursed under his breath and grimaced.

“So, you're sure it was not Hell Razor?”

“Yes!” she answered “It wasn't him, alright. It seems he sent this short man to finish the job. The problem was that the man got greedy. He forgot what he came for, and I nearly fixed him for making that mistake."

Tamayo drew in a long, slow breath.

“I believe you when you said Razor sent this man to finish the job. I think he got scared. He knew there would be a lot of heat on what he did to me, so he had to look for another man to finish the job while he lay low. But he had made two mistakes; one, there was never going to be any heat whatsoever, and two, he used the wrong man. "

Gina inclined her head.

“Well, I fixed that guy, and I ain't scared of Razor either.”

Tomayo grinned ruefully.

“I trust you, Gina. But you've got to be careful. Anywhere you are, you don't let your guard down. Razor is alive, and he's still itching to do more harm. By now, he'll be crazier than ever. So, we've got to watch out for him. “He paused and turned to Kevin, who had been listening all this while “So how are things between you and Gina?”

Kevin swallowed hard.

“Touché, detective," he said, smiling stiffly. “Well, I would say it's been all good. We got along well. In fact, I really enjoyed being with her. It's been fun."

Tomayo dragged his eyes from Kevin's to Gina’s. He arched an eyebrow. She nodded, but she did not say anything.

“Well, okay, I guess that means you guys are getting warmer. Let's go and meet the other guests,” he said as he slid his arm through Gina, and they all went out of the room.

Kevin was introduced to almost all the guests in the room. Some he shook hands with, some a smile and some a curt nod. The ladies in the room were beautiful and sexy looking, but none of them attracted him. Few even rolled their eyes at him, but he ignored them. When the introductions were over, the drinks were served, he leaned back on a settee where Tamayo’s boys and some of the men in the room sat, listening to the hearty banter between them.

Tomayo's boys, most especially Rogue, were extremely funny and lively. He told them different anecdotes, which brought a roar of laughter from them. Kevin himself could not even resist the urge of bursting out with laughter. Kevin had no real friends. He considered himself as a loner, but this night, he found himself warmed up to the jokes of Rogue. When the jokes moment had passed, he brought out a cigar case from his pockets, selected one, and lit it.

He now had time to examine the room he was in. It was moderately furnished with simple modern furniture. The floor was covered with a light grey rug. In the corner of the room was a flat H.D TV set. There was also a minibar which was well stocked with drinks. His eyes regarded the people at the bar. That was when he saw Gina talking to a tall man who lolled against the bar, a whisky in his hand, grinning sheepishly as he stared at Gina. Kevin's face flushed, his eyes becoming angry. Rogue nudged him with his arm.

"You are in love with her," he said.

Kevin stiffened.

“What did you say?”

“You are in love with her,” Rogue said, giving him a knowing smile before sipping his drink. “It's crystal clear. Don't sweat it."

Kevin felt blood rush to his face. Feeling embarrassed, he gave a fake smile.

“Come on, man, she's way out of my league. I can never be in love with her," he lied easily.

“How?” Rogue said a puzzled look on his face. “You're young, very attractive, and you got a whale of money, so what's the problem? "

Kevin looked non-plussed.

“Gina is tough, very tough. I know what I'm talking about," he said, thinking about what Rogue reaction would be if he told him, he had been wrong about Gina having a twin sister. He cleared the thought from his mind. “She’s okay for some guy, but not for me."

“But you are in love with her?” Rogue continued.

Kevin wanted to deny it. He wanted to tell Rogue that he was spewing rubbish. But he could not. Because, deep down inside, he knew the man was right. He shrugged his shoulders.

Rogue studied his face for a long moment then he smiled.

“You know I'm right. I can bet she's aware of it too. ", “What?” Kevin sputtered out, perplexed.

“I tell you the truth, Mr. Carter. She is a woman, for Christ sakes; she can't possibly deny the fact she is not aware of you been in love with her. It shows clearly in your eyes. She must be terribly blind if she claims not to know how you feel about her. But if she truly knows, she won't say anything about it. I'm damn sure she will even try to hide her feelings from you; that's if she's got any for you."

“Are you telling me she might be having feelings for me? If she has, why she afraid to show it, I won't bite."

Rogue smiled.

“Women instincts," he said, “you can't expect her to reveal her feelings to you just like that. She knows your reputation, coupled with the crisis going on with you. It's too dangerous for her. She reveals it, and you lose your head. It is so simple. She can't afford to make that kind of mistake. "

Kevin nodded his mind busy with thoughts. He now understands while Gina had been controlling herself. He was known to have a bad-boy reputation. With the ladies, he was a hit and run kind of guy. Gina would never want to fall in love with that kind of guy, even if she's got feelings for him. The only way was to drive his point home. But how? He wondered, how could he prove to her that he really loved her? Then a crazy idea dropped into his mind; an idea that made cold sweat broke out on his body and made him feel a tightening across his chest. Why not propose to her? Right here! Right now!

For Christ sakes, he loved this woman. She made him felt like no woman had ever made him feel. She has everything he could ever want in a woman. Why the hell not? Could he not propose to her?

He glanced at where she was. She was still talking to the man. Blood rushed to his head, and his face lost colour. He felt like hitting the man. He did not even know when he got to his feet, left Rogue side watching him curiously and started towards them. They must have sensed he was coming because they turned to look at him.

The man talking with Gina was tall and massively built, about twenty-nine or thirty, with thick wavy hair, small cold dark eyes, a long, massive jaw, and a small mouth. He wore a dark navy suit and tie. On his hairy hand was a sliver Tag Heuer watch. He whiffed strongly of money. Kevin disliked him on sight.

“Gina. “He said, ignoring the cold stare of the man.” I need to talk to you ".

“Hey, you can't just buzz in here, like Mr. Take it all. “The man gritted out. “You can see I'm talking to the lady. Show some respect. "

Kevin turned to the man.

“I’m not here for you. I'm here, so back off and keep your respect to yourself."

All this while, Gina was watching the two men, her face plain and expressionless.

“You should watch your mouth ", the man continued. “Do you know the fell you’re talking to? This is Vincent Todd you're beefing with right now, man. "

Kevin scoffed. This is one arrogant bastard, he thought.

“Mr. Toad, is that it?” he said, a jeering glint in his eyes.

The misspelt of the name made Vincent reacted at once. With a face red with anger, he lifted a glass from a waiter's tray passing by and spilt the drink on Kevin's face. Kevin, who had been itching to lose some steam, did not hesitate. His fist flashed up and slammed against

Vincent's jaw. Vincent went backwards and landed on the floor with a crash that shook the room. He sprawled there, staring up at Kevin, his eyes dazed.

“Oh, my God!” Gina said, horrified.

“Get up, you bum ", Kevin said.” On your feet, fool! "

Some of the men in the room grabbed hold of Kevin's arm, but he shoved them away.

Vincent shook his head. His eyes became full of hate as he stared up at Kevin.

“I’ll teach you, boy, not to fuck with Me." he said, “I’ve got men who loved to handle pretty boys like you."

As he got to his feet, Rogue came in between the two men, his back to Kevin while facing Vincent.

“This is not a place to fight ", Rogue said with artificial politeness, his cold eyes glittering.” Don't break up the party."

Vincent hesitated, and then he shrugged, pulled his coat into shape, ran his fingers through his hair, grinned evilly at Kevin and walked out of the room.

Rogue turned and looked at Kevin.

“I saw the whole thing,” he said, “Just cool off, alright."

Kevin nodded, gnawing the bottom of his lip.

“Thanks for ruining my night, jackass,” Gina seethed out.

Kevin turned to her, his face white.

“Jackass?” his voice shook.

“Yeah!” She snarled. “You’re like loose cannon. Can't you control yourself?” She brushed past him and walked out of the room.

Kevin started to go after her, but a handheld him. He turned to see Tomayo staring at him.

“What made you do it?” he asked, in a soft voice. “What made you punch Vincent? He's got a bad temper and a big mouth. You should have controlled yourself."

Kevin swallowed hard.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I guess I lost control, that's all."

Tomayo regarded him for a long moment.

“Go home, Mr. Carter. Go work things with Gina. Just so you know, Vincent Todd is the son of the senator, William Todd. "

Kevin hunched his powerful shoulders.

“Screw 'em both," he said, and he gave a stiff nod and walked out into the hot, airless night.

He got to where he parked his car. He was not surprised to see Gina was not there. He took out his cell phone to call her number. Then he remembered that he had never asked for her number all the time they've been together. Infuriated with himself, he yelled out angrily, got into the car, fired the engine and with a loud screech of tires, he drove away.