Chapter 42- Triggers
Giovanni POV
It’s been two days. Melody had been hospitalized for two days with no sign of waking up. For those two days, I was miserable. I couldn’t work like I used to. I had Anita take up melody’s position temporarily until she wakes up. I also made sure that Lorena and Hope were guarded by securities appointed by Dennis. After the attack, Daniel introduced someone who could help investigate and catch the attacker. I needed to know why and who wanted melody and myself dead.
If only I could regain my memories, I would be able to find out the real truth. I wanted to ask Lorenzo for help but I didn’t trust him yet and he could be the attacker. I glanced at my wristwatch for the umpteenth time while waiting for the investigator Dennis hired. I’ve been in a cafe where we agreed to meet while Dennis went to pick her up. I’ve been in the cafe for hours and there was no sign of them. I tried calling Dennis but he didn’t pick. I got pissed to the extent that I walked out of the cafe and stood outside and then I went back in anger when I didn’t see them.
Just when I was about to give up, they both made an entrance as they entered the cafe. When Dennis saw me, he waved and walked towards him. I glared at him but I glared harder at the redhead behind him. I never knew the investigator was going to be a woman. She seems tall about 175cm and I could see her she has broad shoulders that she might have gotten from training. Her red hair was neatly styled into a ponytail. She wore sunglasses so I couldn’t see the color of her eyes. When they got to my table, Dennis bow and took a seat opposite me. The lady also took a seat that was beside him.
“Why were you both late? I’ve been waiting here for hours!” I told them. Dennis opened his mouth to speak but the woman beat him to it.
“Traffic,” she simply said and removed the sunglasses from her eyes. “So you are Giovanni?” She asked with an accent.
“You are British?” That explains her pale skin.
“One and only. I’m Kendra James,” she introduced and stretched her hand for a handshake which I gladly took. “So tell me, Giovanni, what are we looking for here?”
I didn’t like how she was informal with me. I looked at Dennis and signal for him to say something. He seemed to get me as he cleared his throat and open his mouth to talk. “Boss, this Kendra we served together in Iraq.”
“I thought you said she is an investigator.”
“I am.” She responded. “I was in the army then I joined the intelligence agency in London and now, I work at law and order firm. I work as their investigator.”.
“Law and order?” I had heard the name somewhere but I don’t remember.
“Jeremy Akinsola, does that rings a bell?” She raised her brows as she asked.
I shook my head at her and she let out a frustrated groan. “You don’t know Jeremy Akinsola? He conquered Daniel Hamilton two years ago. He is a popular lawyer.”
“Oh!” I remembered. “Now I know him,” I told her and she smiled. “So about the investigation, has Dennis briefed you?”
“He has but I need to hear more from you.” She answered back.
“Would you like anything before we get started?” I asked and she shook her head.” very well then,” I began explaining how melody and I were attacked and she listened with rapt attention. “I need to find the attacker.”
“Oh!” That was what she responded with.
“Oh? Is that all you have to say? Are you even a real investigator?” I asked getting angry that’s she seems to be playing me.
“Hush,” she shushed me and I stared in awe.
How dare she?
Dennis tried to talk to her but she cut him off. “Let make one thing clear Giovanni, I hate rude people and you seem to be one of them. If you want me to help you then you’ll have to be patient and treat me with respect.” She crossed her leg and raised her brows at me.
At me!
I frowned at her but didn’t say anything. I knew I was been a jerk but I hated her attitude. I decided to be quiet because of what I needed.
“Go on Kendra,” Dennis implored.
She sighed and then continue. ” whosoever is attacking you and your wife is within.” she pointed out.”I mean it’s one of your family,” she whispered. I didn’t know why she was whispering but I didn’t question her. “The attack would happen again.”
“What do you mean by that?” I finally asked.
“All I’m saying is that whoever is attacking will strike again and with the looks of it, he might be onto it now.” She admitted.
I gasped and looked to see if I’ll see any suspicious face but I didn’t. Melody was in the hospital protected by heavy security while Lorena and Hope were protected by the bodyguards Dennis appointed. If the attacker couldn’t get any of them then it means he is coming for me.
“What are you thinking of?” Kendra’s voice bought me out of my thoughts. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this,” she assured me.
“Dennis, call all securities guarding melody and Hope now!” I ordered. I needed to make sure they were fine.
“Yes sir,” he excused himself and walked outside to make a call.
“You must love your family that you’ll do anything for them,” Kendra said.
“I do. I’ve been separated from them for a long time so I’ll do anything to keep them safe.”
“Don’t worry, we will catch the attacker.” She assured me again and I nodded at her and just then, Dennis came back to the table. “Any news?” She asked him.
“They are all fine but,” he paused and looked at me. I hold my breath while dreading the worst. “Melody has woken up,” he announced and I found myself releasing my breath.
“Let’s go see her,” I told him and he nodded.
“I’ll come with you,” Kendra offered.
“You don’t have to,” I declined.
“I insist and besides I’m going there for surveillance.” She said and walked towards the entrance not bothering to hear what I had to say next.
She is sassy.
Kendra sat down at the front while I sat at the back. Dennis got into the driver’s seat and drove us out of the cafe into the streets. The ride to the hospital was fun for Kendra and Dennis as they both talked about their time in the army. I on the other side laid my head on the seat and closed my eyes. All I could think of at that moment was Melody. My phone rang and made me open my eyes. I bought out the phone from my blazer jacket and when I saw the caller, I hissed and dropped the phone in the driver’s seat. The phone rang again and this time, Kendra urge me to pick the call. I sighed and picked up Lorenzo’s call.
“Giovanni! Where are you?” I could sense the fear in his tone
“Why? I’m heading toward the hospital. Melody has woken up!” I informed him. I didn’t want to tell him at first but I felt I needed to tell him.
“In your car?” He asked and I responded. “You need to get out of your car now! You are under attack!”
“Attack? How do you mean?” I asked him but the call ended, ” Lorenzo! ” I shouted his name and tried calling him again but the number was switched off.
“What’s going on?” Kendra asked.
“My brother said we are under attack in this car,” I told her.
Kendra and Dennis both stared at each other and then both said at the same time. “There is a bomb in the car!”
“We need to get out!” I shouted.
“Hold on,” Dennis said and increased the speed of his car.
“We need to get out of this car now!” I shouted at him.
“We can’t. We are in the midst of people. If we stop now, the car will explode and kill everyone. We need to find an open space.”
“An open space! We can’t even find the bomb. What if it isn’t a bomb but something else?” I reasoned but none of them gave me a reply.
“There!” Kendra pointed to the left side of the road. “There is an abandoned road there.” She directed.
“We need to get out now!” I shouted at both of them.
None of them replied to me as Dennis increased the speed of the car and turned to the left side of the road. Once we were far away into the abandoned road, Dennis stopped the car and we all jumped out and just then, the car exploded and went on fire. The explosion causes us to land ten feet from the car. We were so close that It felt as if my body was burning. For five seconds I couldn’t hear anything but the ringing of bells and when I finally did, I let out a scream as I remembered the fire incident. I felt my body on fire but I wasn’t burning because the fire didn’t get close to me. I was only imagining it. I let out another scream as another memory rushed into my head. It was a memory of my savior who saved me from the fire. When the face was revealed, I gasped.
It was Lorenzo.
More memories rushed in and I could feel the warm tears rolling towards my ears. I stared at the sky for a while then I welcomed the darkness that has come.
*****
Lorenzo POV
My phone was ripped off my hand and threw to the wall.” That’s enough! ” the assailant said. The attacker paid a visit to my house and forced me to call Giovanni that he was under attack and just when I was about to tell him everything, he threw the phone away. I had no idea why he wanted Giovanni to know he was under attack but I believe he did it because he found it interesting. “Why are you doing this? Giovanni is family!” I shouted at the man I had loathed all my life. “Why are you bent on killing your blood!”
“Blood!. He might have forgotten but I suffered because of him. I made you call him so that he would suspect you and believe that you had killed him as he takes his last breath. You’ve saved him once but you can’t save him again. The pain is going to be excruciating! ” he laughed. “Just pretend for once Lorenzo.”
“I can’t!” I yelled. “He is my brother and you’ve killed him. You killed your blood!” I rushed to hit him but he got to me first and hit me on the stomach. “Why?”
“Because he doesn’t deserve to live! He is the reason I was sent to prison!” The attacker shouted at me and punch me in the face. “Now that Giovanni is out of the way, the company would be mine. If you inform Lorenza about all of this, I’ll kill you!” he threatened. He bought out a gun and pointed it at my head. ” the reason why I keep you around is that you are just as bad as I am. If you try to play smart, I’ll kill you without blinking. I don’t care if you are family.” He threatened and walked out of my apartment.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
Once he left, I rushed to shut the door, and burst into tears. I sat on the ground and cried out. I had successfully murdered my brother.