Mr Miller and every member of the Black Mamba family who came with him to California flew back to Los Angeles that same day. They took Raven's mother along with them, of course. One of the guys was told to follow her from behind since Mr Miller said it wasn't right to tie her—at least not yet. They entered a new set of Cadillac bulletproof cars waiting for them at the Los Angeles airport and drove to the far end of the city where Mr Miller had a hidden mini-mansion. The few people who knew some of his properties didn't know he had any in this part of Los Angeles—not even Alvin. Darkie ordered the guards to take Raven's mother to a room in the boysquaters which had a small chair and tiny window for air. They treated her with respect as ordered by their boss and they gave her a tray of bottled water and snacks to eat immediately she was put in the room. “You're wasting your time! Just let me go. I would never call my son under false pretence and even if I do he wouldn't come ho—”
Nora's POV Alvin and I were in front of a large multi-room hotel built for the richest people. It was named “Paradise Hotel” because the outward and inward beauty was out of the world. I didn't need to check my phone to know it was the most expensive hotel in North Hollywood. Why had Alvin stubbornly insisted that we come here of all places? Was it one of his low-key attempts to remind me of how rich he was? We both got in through the gate and I was marvelled by the sight before me. Barely few people know this about me: but I studied architecture as a sub-course while I was in school. I love buildings—especially one with a lot of art work and a brush of nature. This hotel in particular has a small river flowing through the back. It also had trees with orange leaves and old gold statues of fishes and birds. I almost ran into a flower due to my keen eyes on the surroundings but Alvin pulled me back. “Look where you're going,” came his soft voice. I looked up at him. He looked re
Catherine was flustered and confused. It had been four days since Nora left the house and she had not heard a single word from her till this current moment. She had since left the private hospital David had put her in and come home. They didn't say anything much about what happened. Catherine didn't regret it a little bit as long as she remembered she was doing it for a bigger purpose. “Many actresses use their body before they can get into the industry. I won't be the first.“ Those were the words she said to herself when David dropped her later in the house that day. She had expected to find Nora outside or in the sitting-room or possibly even in her room. But she had ransacked the house and found out it was empty. Then she sat down on the sitting-room chair and decided that Nora must have moved-out without telling her—more possibly because they had been on ill-terms before she left. But now, the more Catherine thought of it, the more stupid she realised it was. There was no
Mr Miller and Darkie arrived in front of the North-hollywood estate some minutes after the Scorpions left with Catherine. They came in a black Cadillac. Mr Miller and Mr Lyam and two Black Mamba soldiers sat at the back while Darkie and a the Chauffeur were at the front. Immeditely they reached their destination, Darkie first came out with the the black Mamba soldiers to observe the surroundings for threats. When they were sure that there was none, they opened the back door and Mr Miller and Lyam both stepped out of the car. A towing-van was around, and it seemed the people in it were unsure of what to do. There was quite a few number of people staring from afar and some looking right from inside the estate. A man resting on a Jeep with two strong-looking guys was talking to the people in the towing-van and demonstrating wildly. Mr Miller didn't have to ask to know that he was the owner or relation of the owner of the estate. Mr Miller approached the man with Darkie and the
Alvin returned from the bathroom ten minutes after he stepped in. He walked into the room, shirtless and sexy like a naked temptation. Nora had to stop herself from licking her lips as he walked in the room and went to take a towel near the wardrobe at the end. She watched him in silence as he dressed. He was wearing the cloth he had been wearing before going to the bathroom but he suddenly flung them in anger. “What's wrong?“ Nora quietly asked. “I can't wear these again,” he answered, almost painfully inaudible. “Why?“ “You know why. It's drenched in sweat from running.“ Nora nodded, like she could really understand his reason. “What do you plan to do, then? Stay shirtless?“ “I would—” “You could check the wardrobe. Might be lucky to find a robe in there from the room's last user.“ “That is impossible,” Alvin stubbornly replied, grunting like a spoiled kid. “This is North Hollywood. There aren't that many rich people here to lodge and forget their clothes in executive s
The black Mercedes Benz drove into a large compound and made a stop in the car park. Catherine shook badly and refused to raise her head even though she felt the car stop. Raven lightly tapped her back, sending a shock of electricity all over her body. “We're home,” he muttered while patting her back. The Scorpion Soldier at the back seat opened his door almost immediately and walked to the other side to open the door. “Raise your head!“ Raven said with a brush of anger and dragged her hair so she was looking straight at him. Catherine's eyes were red and full of tears, and she was shivering like a chick abandoned in the harsh cold of winter. She looked frightened like Raven's face in front of hers was the devil in human form. “Don't be scared. You'd probably get out of this alive. Only if you cooperate, though.“ Catherine just stared without answering and Raven got out of the car. He dragged her out with a half smile and banged the door behind them. The driver and sold
Mr Miller kept panting outside his Banana Penthouse. He had a big cigar in his mouth and a stern expression on his face as he had a lot of things on his mind. Some of the Mamba soldiers had attempted to calm him but he chased them off with a single glance, even Darkie. He sat on a chair near the car garage but soon stood up again almost immediately. “This better not be!“ he groaned, blowing hard at the cigar. Darkie suddenly showed up. He looked unbelievably calm, like he believed the earth was flat and nothing would happen as long as he doesn't fall of the edge. “Have you found him? Or them?“ asked Mr Miller. “There's no way we can do that, Don. The soldier assigned to watch his movements recently gave up for some unknown reasons. And we didn't find any CCTV Cameras that could've found where they ran to after they left the estate.“ “Why are you here, then?“ Mr Miller fired. “To remind me of how you warned that we should kill her then?“ Darkie nodded negatively. “We could
(Continuation of Alvin and Nora's scene) Nora felt her body go numb at the words she just heard Alvin speak. Her heart stopped its beating. Her legs were weak beneath her and at the same time refusing to give up. Time seemed to stop for minutes and the world suddenly stopped its rotation. They were both staring at each other, Nora's green eyes lacking emotion or colour. Alvin looked uncomfortable even though he was trying hard not to show it. And he had that familiar look of regret on his face—like he shouldn't have said what he said. Nora suddenly took a step back, her hands brushing the hem of her gown. Her eyes started to appear moist; and Alvin had the sudden wish to go back in time and bend their conversation to a different direction. Nora took another step, and a tear-drop slipped from her left eye. “Nora,” he calmly called, taking a single step forward. “Don't come near me!“ she yelled. “Don't even think of it.“ Alvin stopped, his expression shifting from regret to g