chapter Thirty-Six
The Protector
Kamara
I yawn, covering my mouth, while I scramble eggs on the stove. Our engagement party was amazing. We danced the night away in the room fit for a king and queen.
Our family and friends surrounding us. It made me wonder how long Toby had been planning it all. I’m excited about leaving this afternoon for Ireland.
I cannot wait to see what’s in store for our wedding. We’re leaving first thing this afternoon. Thank God, Toby had the foresight to have our things packed for us.
I’m a bit of a nervous wreck. This will be my third flight ever. I was so scared, when I flew to America as a fifteen-year-old. It wasn’t any better when I flew alone with the twins to Seattle.
Then there is the wedding. I don’t know what to expect. Toby reassured me that it would be perfect. My mother said I have nothing to worry about, I will have the perfect Nigerian wedding.
My mind has yet to form the right image of a perfect Nigerian wedding, in the middle of Ireland. This shall prove interesting. I think back to Toby in his kilt, all those years ago. I wonder if he’ll be wearing one on our wedding day.
I want the wedding to be as much a part of him, as it is me. Although, in my head, that makes for one very busy wedding. I laugh out loud at my thoughts.
I go to start making a second helping of eggs, hearing noise at the front door. Toby ran out for coffee and orange juice. We were out of both. TJ and Lulu insisted on staying the night with their Uncle Felix. Apparently, he has some new game or gaming system the twins wanted to play.
Those two are so advanced for their age, when it comes to electronics. I think it’s because Felix talks to them like little adults about his gadgets. Lulu seems to suck it all right up.
“That was fast,” I smile, while stirring the eggs in the pan.
When I hear nothing, I look up. I gasp, finding two strange men glaring at me, in the middle of my kitchen. My heart starts to race, my mind scrabbling for a way out of this. My eyes dart around the kitchen quickly.
“It is time you come home, Princess,” one of the men hisses at me.
The same man lunges at me, my brain snaps into action. I pick up the hot pan and swing it at the one heading towards me. I make contact.
I know I have, as I hear the sound of the frying pan collide with flesh and bone. His cry of pain follow swiftly after. Yet, the blow is not enough. The man with the now blistered face and swelling eye, growls at me.
Before I can strike again, the other man comes up behind me, grabbing my wrist. I cry out in pain, as he tightens his grip. The frying pan falls from my grasp.
All I can think of is my children and my husband. I’m grateful they are not here, but my heart aches that they are about to lose me. All we have done, all the hiding I’ve done all my life, and it ends like this. I finally reveal myself and the darkness has come for me.
~B~
Toby
Everything went perfectly last night. I’m tired as fuck, but I know my girl had the time of her life. Lulu’s eyes sparkled the entire night as well. I can see that I’m going to have to shell out a fortune, when my baby girl has her special day.
I don’t mind at all. As long as, the dude is worth her time. Thank God, I have plenty of time, before I have to worry about that. I don’t think my heart is ready to handle the thought of anyone wanting to date my daughter. Not now, and certainly not when it’s time for that.
I chuckle to myself, as I place the bag of coffee and orange juice in the car. We could have waited to eat on the plane, but I was starving just as much as Kamara. We still have a few hours before it’s time to get on the flight.
I get ready to call my dad to see if he and my mom will be ready, when my phone goes nuts. I know right away it is the emergency alarm for my house. I floor it without even thinking.
I dial Felix right away to find out what the fuck is going on. He will have access to the camera system on my property. I’m not that far from home.
“The alarm has been tripped from outside. I’m logging in now to see what’s going on,” Felix says, without greeting.
“My kids are still with you?”
“Yeah, they’re eating cereal. Otherwise, I’d be doing this from my car. John, Noah, Brax, and Ry already texted in. They’re on the move,” Felix replies.
“You have eyes?”
“The fuck,” Felix roars. “Your house is surrounded. I have two moving into the house.”
I gun the car faster, darting around a car moving too slow in front of me. I hear Felix tapping away on the other end. The call drops, but Felix’s voice comes back through the speakers.
“Okay, everyone, I’m patched into everyone’s cars. Dad and Wyatt are on the move now as well. You want to split up. I need a team at the back of the house and one at the front,” Felix orders.
“I’m a block away,” Braxton returns.
“Yeah, I’m here as well,” John replies.
“We’ll take the back,” Wyatt’s voice comes in.
“I don’t mind the front door one bit,” Noah growls.
“Where’s Kamara, Fel,” I demand.
“She just smacked the fuck out of a guy with a frying pan. You guys need to get in there now,” my brother answers, as I come to a screeching halt in front of my home.
I have the gun from my glove compartment in hand already. I take out the first two motherfuckers I see without so much as a thought. It’s like I walk right through them.
Noah and Dad do the same thing. Taking out targets as they climb from they’re cars like its nothing. Even though my property is pretty private, each of us show courtesy to the neighborhood with silencers on our pieces. Not to mention, wanting to do this a stealthily as possible to keep Kamara from getting hurt.
I move through my front door hugging the wall. I can hear Kamara’s screams for help. It tears at my heart, but I stay focused.
When I turn the corner, I see my wife being held by one guy, while another with a burned and swollen face stands before her. He is hissing something to her too low for me to hear. When her ripped t-shirt and exposed breast comes into view, I feel my sanity slip.
I aim at the fucker with the burnt face and blow his head off his shoulders. I move just as quickly to step behind the stunned asshole that is still holding onto Kamara. He has a dumbfounded look on his face, while looking down at his dead friend.
“Get your hands the fuck off my wife, before I blow your brains out next,” I hiss in his ear, my gun to his head.
He releases Kamara quickly. My dad grabs Kamara moving her to safety. I get ready to pull the trigger, but Noah’s voice stops me.
“You don’t want to do that,” he says. “We can assume we know where they came from, but it is better to be sure. Everyone else is useless. He’s the last one.”
“I know nothing. I don’t speak English,” the asshole before me starts to yell, in Kwäzē’s native language.
“That’s alright. I can understand you just fine,” I reply in his own dialect. I can see in the reflection of the refrigerator that he understands me. I have shocked the shit out of him once again, and this time I think it’s literally.
I shove him forward. “Get his shitty ass out of my face before I put a bullet through his skull,” I growl.
Ryan and Brax groan, when everyone looks at them. This type of shit always gets tossed on them. They move into action, while Wyatt gets on the phone to put in a few calls. We have a front and backyard to clean up and a police department to keep at bay.
I know my brother will handle it. That’s the least of my worries. “John, can you call Felix. Have him check on my in-laws,” I say to my brother.
“On it,” he nods.
Noah and Wyatt follow me in to the living room, where Dad is sitting with a rattled Kamara. She’s holding one of the twins’ blankets to her chest and she’s visibly shaken.
“I want a gun,” she blurts out when she sees me.
“No,” I press my lips.
“I want to learn to fight, like Nellie,” she follows with.
“No,” I repeat.
“Toby,” Noah interjects and I know what he is going to say.
I hold my hand up. “It’s not the way her father wanted her raised. It’s not what I will allow now. She has enough people around to keep her safe.”
Wyatt snorts. “It doesn’t hurt for her to at least know how.”
“No,” I say again.
I see the look in Noah’s eyes. I know that look. “I said no, Noah,” I snap.
He holds his hands up and grins. “I’m not saying nothing.”
“This is not over,” Kamara murmurs defiantly.
“We’ll see,” I retort.
“We will,” she pouts, narrowing her eyes at me.