The Cleaning Lady

Amaris Ricci –THE CLEANING LADY
THE CLEANING LADY

Amaris Ricci
© Copyright Amaris Ricci 2014
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Prologue
“Hi guys, everyone is here, are we secure?”

Five voices responded in the affirmative.
“What‟s our next power-up?”
“Barbados. Three inmates charged with murder, rape and child abuse. Our orders
are to LT.” Gigs spoke slowly and calmly.
“Synopsis, quickly Simm.”
“George Haynes – 4 murders, David Manning – 8 teenaged rapes both boys and
girls. Winston Jones – 6 child abuse victims. All confirmed and confessed.”
“Rom, why were we called? You know we don‟t pull and Locate and Terminate on
small jobs.”
“Each inmate committed a crime against a high profile victim and the families got
together and want them wiped out ASAP.”
“Sata?”
“One hundred and fifty large each, deposits already made. Each family has over
20 mil in their personal accounts and I already have access to them, just in case.”
“Toggle. Setup?”
“Flights booked, you leave in two days. Four hours in the air, two hours operation
and four hours out. I think we should go with you.”
Everyone went quiet.
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Chapter ONE
“I need all of you safe in case I screw up Toggle, you know the drill, you are the
one who created it.”
“I‟m getting old Batch, pretty soon I won‟t be able to do this, and the signs are
there. Take us with you. Please.” Toggle never says please.
“Guys?” Batch questions the faces on each screen.
“We‟re in.” They all responded at once.
“If we all leave now, we can‟t come back.”
“We know, everything is already set. As of 6am this morning we own nothing
here. All the accounts have been transferred to where they need to go.” Toggle
waited for Batch to react.
“Okay, what‟s going on?”
“Last job Batch, you need a life, your childhood was one dramatic experience after
the next. We feel guilty bringing you into this life and it‟s time we all get out.”
“Don‟t guys. You‟re all I have, all I know. Why now?” The tears began to pool
in her eyes. She wiped them with the back of her hand.
“Toggle is dying sweetie. He and Giggs are going to retire and take a permanent
vacation. Rom and Sata want to get married and have a family. That leaves you
and me. The others already know and I can‟t hide anymore. I‟ve loved you from
the day we rescued you. I would give my life to see you happy. After this job, I
would like us to start dating and if you agree we will get married in a few months.
If not, you will never see me again because I can‟t bear to see you with another
man.”
The sniffles became louder.
“Oh geeze, honey don‟t cry. This is all sudden, we know that and we wanted to do
this in person but this job came up and Toggle‟s instincts are never wrong. We
knew this day would come and this way we can get out by choice and not by
death.”
“Yes.”
“Yes what?” Five voices responded.
“I‟ll marry you Simm but not in a few months, tomorrow.”
“Toggle, Giggs, permission to marry tomorrow.”
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“Permission granted. Okay power down, we meet at headquarters at 6am

tomorrow morning.”
Headquarters happened to be a picnic bench in the nearest park. Toggle and Giggs
showed up walking hand in hand. Rom and Sata rode up on bicycles, Simm
cruised in his cream SUV and Batch zoomed in on her Ninja Bike.
Everyone sat down but said nothing.
“We have company, look alert.” Rom whispered.
“No, that‟s Father Mark, he‟s here to marry us.” Simm explained quickly, he
could see Toggle‟s hand resting on his concealed weapon.
“Good morning everyone are we all ready?” Father Mark asked as he reached the
crowd.
“Yes we are Father.”
Toggle stood as Father-Giver and the others were witnesses. The licenses were
called in as favours and within 20 minutes it was over. They were all moved to
tears when Simm and Batch kissed for the first time. They said good bye to the
Father and congratulatory hugs and kisses were shared.
“Are we all set Toggle?”

“Yes. Today we run through the transfers, mark points, weapons, your extraction
and base camp. It‟s old school on this one kid.”
“Duly noted.”
They discussed everything in half hour and committed it all to memory.
“Batch, Simm, tonight is your honeymoon and it‟s on us. Make it count. Others
will tell you that you will be happy forever but in this business we know better.
Tomorrow maybe the last either of you see one another so conjure up every ounce
of love you have and give it to each other. We love you both. Now, the limo is
waiting.” Giggs spoke softly. Her baby girl had grown up and it was time to let
go. She tried to stop the tears when they newlyweds walked away.
“Oh honey, they will be just fine. We taught them well and no matter what
happens we did good. Now we have to go home and pack. See you later guys.”
Simm and Batch got into the limo and Toggle and Giggs drove their vehicles back
to the house. The limo took the couple to the La Bleu Hotel. They were escorted to
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their honey moon suite. Breakfast was waiting and as they sat down the tension in
the room was getting thick. They started to eat and Simm broke the silence.
“Sweetie, I feel like I forced you to marry me by telling you how I feel and topped
it off with impending doom on this job. If we survive, all I can ask if that you give
me the opportunity to make you happy. I won‟t touch you unless you want me to.
If within a year and you find that I haven‟t succeeded, we can get a divorce but I
won‟t give up without a fight. I love you Nacola.” He reached out and took her
hand. The ring she wore cost him 75 large. If she knew the price she would make
him take it back.
Nacola looked up with tears in her eyes.
“Did you lie when you said you loved me from the day you rescued me?”
“I would never lie to you sweetie. Yes I meant it. Toggle will tell you I said I was
going to marry you when you turned 21.”
“He never told you what I said to him?”
“No, what was it?”
“I told him I would marry you before our last job that was 6 years ago. I turned 21
last week. The only person who knows my birthdate was him, not even Giggs
knew. He set this up.”
“I guess he did, is the job even real?”
“Yes, he wouldn‟t go through all of this for a fake job, I guess the timing was right.
I won‟t start questioning him now. He would never put us in deliberate danger.”
“True. Let‟s finish breakfast.”
“Matthew?”
“Yes sweetie.”
“I……… can we………… never mind.”
“Honey, you can ask me anything. I am your husband now. Tell me what you
need and I will make sure you have it.” Matthew knew she wanted to make love
but he needed her to be sure. He hid his arousal under the table cloth in case she
got up and hope he didn‟t have to either. Her eyes were darkening and she was
twisting her hands in her lap.
“I‟ve never been with anyone before. I‟m afraid I won‟t please you.”
“Honey, you are my life, I have waited 9 years for you, and there is nothing you
could do that would displease me. Are you scared?”
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“Of being with you? I guess I am but I don‟t want to wait. I need to be with you
now. Make love to me please Matthew.”
“Nacola, I won‟t stop after I kiss you, your permission now binds us together
forever, do you understand me?”
“Yes my love, I need you now.”
Chapter TWO
Matthew stood up and held out his hand to his wife. He wanted to court her first,
take her out on dates, have some fun tell her everything and then get married but
she surprised him. Tonight had to be special for her, it would give her a peace of
mind for the job.
He walked with her into the bedroom and sat her down on the bed. She was
wearing high-heeled black boots, black leather jeans, a bra top and a biker‟s jacket.
He knelt down and undid her boots one by one, took them off and placed them at
the foot of the bed. He pulled her up and slowly slid her jacket off.
“Honey, can you speed this up, I‟m burning up over here.”
“No love, we have time, if you rush you will get hurt and I want this to be special
for you.”
“I can‟t wait Matt, I feel like we don‟t have time and if we don‟t do this now,
something bad will happen.”
“Aww come on honey, we are fine. It‟s just you and me. You are so beautiful, let
me enjoy this.”
Nacola resigned herself to allowing her husband to slowly undress her but she was
trembling with anticipation and to try to speed things up, she moved closer to him
and started to unbuckle his belt. Matthew groaned.
“Yes Matt you feel the same way I do, so please, please, put us out of our misery.”
“Okay you win.”
Matthew stepped back and quickly took off all his clothes. When he was fully
naked, Nacola stepped back. She reached out and ran her fingers along the thing
scar that ran from just under his arm across to his navel. She moved her hand
lower and boldly held him.
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“Nacola……….” Matthew growled.

He grabbed her and almost dragged the rest of her clothes off. She giggled when
he fumbled with the zipper on her jacket.
“Oh you think torturing me is funny. When I am inside you I dare you to laugh
then.”
Matthew was tall and muscular. Years of training kept him fit and Nacola wanted
to feel all over him.
Now she was naked she felt vulnerable. This was it, she would give herself to the
man she loved and hold onto that memory for as long as she could. She stepped up
to him and kissed him softly. A few seconds later that kiss turned into a rush of
hormones. Hands, tongues, skin, feet, hair all meshed into one.
“Matt oh Matt!”
“Are you ready for me honey?”
“Umm hmm.”
His fingers were inside her, teasing and torturing her. She knew it would get better
soon. Matthew would fill her body up and they would be united forever. He
would quell the aching need to be with him.
Matthew reached under the pillow for the condom he placed there when Nacola
wasn‟t looking but when he tried to put it on she stopped him.
“Please don‟t.”
“We have to honey, we can‟t risk you getting pregnant until after the job is done. I
want to feel all of you believe me I do but we can‟t yet.”
“No Matt please, we need this now…….. in case………oh please.”
Matthew leaned his forehead to her. He knew why she wanted this so badly but
could he risk it? With the way he was feeling they would probably have
quintuplets.
“Ah to hell with it.”
He threw it on the floor and returned to Nacola.
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you love.”
Matthew knelt between his wife‟s legs and looked at her. He was in love. His
heart was bursting. He took himself in one hand and propped on the other and
lowered himself onto her. She reached out to hold him and felt the muscles ripple
in his back.
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“It will hurt a bit and then it will stop, okay honey!”
“Okay.”
Nothing prepared her for that moment. He pushed into her and paused. When he
pushed a bit further he felt her entire body tense.
“Oh Matt, it hurts.”
“I know baby, it will pass soon.”
He kissed her cheeks. He kissed her breasts and they shook when she cried.
“It‟s okay honey, I‟m here, I‟m here.”
Just as the pain subsided, she felt a warm glow begin to grow in its place. She
looked up at her husband and his eyes were closed, patiently waiting for her signal
to continue.
“Matt.”
“Yes love of my life, I‟m still here.”
“I‟m ready now.”
Without a word, Matt slowly pushed inside her. He let out a slow breath.
“My God woman. You are incredible.”
“So are you honey.”
Matthew pulled back and surged forward. Nacola moaned her pleasure.
She wanted to feel all of him so she scooted down and rested her heels on either
side of his waist. Matthew took her cue and pushed all the way in again.
She matched his thrusts with her hips and soon enough the pleasure was too much
for her and she called out his name.
“Oh Matthew!”
“Nacola!” He was right there with her feeling her body clench around him. He
kissed her deeply, roughly, willing both their bodies to calm down. He collapsed
on top of her and without removing himself from her, rolled onto his side.
“Sweet Jesus. I am so glad I waited. Can we do that again soon?”
“Nacola honey I hope we have another 50 years doing that. Come here.”
He pulled her on top of him and began to move inside her.
“Oh Matt, I love you so much.”
“I love you too honey, now let‟s really get started.”
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Chapter THREE
Nacola‟s Rescue.
“Toggle, is that a little girl? Oh GOD, is it. Shit!” Simm was pissed at all different
levels.
“We have to get her out now!”
The operation was going bad, they were sent into to rescue a doctor and his wife
but they received the wrong location and had to double back. By the time they got
to the site, both the doctor and his wife had been beheaded. They had heard crying
from underneath the bed of the shack and saw a small pink shoed foot peeking out.
“Hello sweetie, can you come out on your own? We promise not to hurt you.” His
voice sounded warm to the child.
The foot retreated under the bed and a small hand stuck out instead.
“Would you like me to take your hand?” The fingers wiggled.
“We have to lift the bed and get you out okay!” The fingers wiggled again.
Simm took the offered hand and Toggle held the bottom of the bed and lifted it
slowly. No one was prepared. The sweetest little girl they had ever seen. Her
curly hair was jet black and she was wearing a soft yellow dress which was
covered in blood.
In one movement, Simm lifted her up covered her face in his chest to shield her
from seeing the carnage and ran to the waiting chopper. He couldn‟t chance her
getting shot so he sent it away and gave their next extraction point co-ordinates.
“What‟s got you in a spot son?” Toggle asked his protégé.
“She is beautiful, I‟m gonna marry her when she turns 21.”
“You will be a grandpa by then. Let‟s go. There‟s nothing we can do for these
two. We can‟t even bury them. Torch it and get to the extraction point.”
Toggle and Simm threw gasoline on the hut and set it on fire. They waited until the
blaze was high and ran into the forest.
The chopper came back and picked them up and on the way back to base camp,
Toggle noticed a change in his partner.
“You‟re serious about her aren‟t you?”

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“Damm straight, we have to keep her safe. I will go through every channel and
call in every favour to be there when she comes of age. I will kill anyone who
even thinks about hurting her.”
“I‟ve been meaning to talk to you about something, I guess now is a good time.”
“What‟s up? This sounds serious!”
“I‟m ready to call this quits and set up my own jobs, I‟m tired of having no control
and bad information. I spoke to Romm, Sata and Giggs, they are all ready as well
and that leaves you.”
“I‟m ready.”
“That settles it, send in your resignation as soon as you can and let me know, I
have ours in my office waiting to add yours.”
“You know me so well.”
“I was there when your father impregnated your mother.”
“Can you get ANY more personal?”
“Get over it.”
Toggle patted Simm on the back and the ride was continued in silence.
When they got back, an hour later, Simm made his way over to the infirmary to see
his future wife. He was only 19 himself and wasn‟t seeing anyone but for some
reason this dark skinned little girl took his breath away and stole his heart. She was
sitting on a bed in the corner and she had been given a bath and her hair washed.
She was wearing yet another pretty dress and was even more beautiful than before.
Her head was bowed and the nurse was drying her hair with a towel but it was so
long and thick she was having trouble. She had parted it in 8 and twisted each
section.
“Need help Samantha?”
“Her hair needs a dryin‟ an ah doan have the time to take „er outside to dry it in the
sun, can ya‟ take „er for me?” The Scottish have a way with words.
“Sure, I‟m off duty now. What‟s your name little one?”
She looked up and smiled.
“Nacola Francis, what‟s yours?”
“Matthew Harlan. Pleased to meet you Nacola. Would you like to go for a walk
so we can get that lovely hair dried?”
“If it‟s not too much trouble for you.”
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“Not at all and with that accent, I will turn the moon into chocolate if you like.”
Nacola laughed. Oh what a perfect sound.
Matthew extended his hand and bowed and for the second time that day, she took it
without fear. She got down from the bed and walked out into the afternoon sun.
“I know this is hard for you sweetie but if you ever need anything, you call me
okay!”
“Okay. My hair dries well in the sun, my mother taught me that.” Nacola hung
her head and started to cry.
Matthew kept walking and talking to her.
“Has anyone told you what happened to your parents?”
“No but I heard everything while they were being killed. Dad was dead first he got
shot and Mum came back and hid me under the bed and told me not to make a
sound until all the men were gone. She was covered in blood that‟s how it got on
me. She said to only come out if the building was burning or if the US army came
to get me. I was there for almost half hour and no one came. I started to crawl out
backwards, that‟s when you found me. I have no home to go to, I don‟t have any
money, I don‟t even have any family. What am I going to do?”
“Do you trust me little one?”
“Yes, it was your voice that got me from under the bed, you have a nice voice.”
“Thank you, I promise I will take care of you from now on. As soon as I can take
you with me I will and you will have a family again. I can‟t bring back your
parents but I can provide you with a future from now on.”
“Why are you doing this for me Matthew?”
“Everyone deserves to be happy, you had everything taken from you and I know
personally what that‟s like. Now, it looks like your hair is dry, I will see about
getting a room for you to stay in while I go ask about taking you home to meet the
others.”
Mathew had sat down on a bench and Nacola bent over and kissed him on his
cheek. If she only knew what that kiss would bring, she may never have done it.
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Chapter FOUR
The Team is completed.
At the top level is Toggle 52, mastermind of all sorts, he controls everything, the
jobs, the team and the clients. Second in command is Giggs 50, is his wife of 30
years, sexy as hell, a boss at deciphering any codes, cyphers, ancient text and
speaks 15 languages. Next is the perfect pair – Rom and Sata born on the same
date, of the same month of the same year in the same neighbourhood, went to the
same schools all the way to college and have been friends ever since. They can
pick apart anything with wires and buttons, and can hack into any secured
computer. They joined the army together and travelled up the ranks together, it
was never about competition, the treated each other with the utmost respect and
anyone dared to mess with one, faced double the trouble.
Simm was the ultimate ladies‟ man. Tall dark, sexy, bald, bow legged with a
swagger to melt the bark from an oak tree. His skills were unparalleled by anyone
in the group. He had an IQ of 198. He could shoot any weapon anywhere,
anytime, anyhow. He was actually the most intelligent on the base but he never
felt the need to make anyone feel stupid. He had the gift of persuasion, his
negotiating skills got many a hostage out alive. He joined the army to effect
change but found himself being used as a tool to kill an unseen enemy. Simm
could slip into a camp with thousands of men and never be seen. He could stand
next to you in the dark and you would never see, smell or hear him. He was
perfect. At 25 he was in his element. He actually got a say in his life now that
Toggle had formed his elite team. They made their own rules and the others
Toggle insisted upon were easily followed.
Last but not least was Batch, the baby in the bunch, trained by the other five. She
was the best sniper Toggle had ever trained. She maintained a sweetness that
belied her skills. She trained with Simm to always be in a perpetual state of stealth
mode. Simm went to the top to get custody of Nacola. Giggs and Toggle would
be her adopted parents and of course he lived in the same house as they did but that
thought never even crossed his mind. It never crossed his mind that she would turn
into an even more beautiful woman than when they saved her. She had a figure
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that made a man‟s mouth water. Her eyes were two brown pools you would get
lost in. When she smiled the sun took a nap.
Batch became an assassin at 15 and of her own choosing. She came home from
school early and wanted to sneak into the house and grab some chocolate before
dinner. She thought no one was home and took a Cadbury Bourneville Dark from
the fridge and when she got to Toggle‟s office she heard voices.
“We have to protect her at all costs. She doesn‟t know what we do Matt, she is just
a child. Look at how her parents died, would you want to do that to her all over
again if it happened to one of us in this house?”
“Why are you talking about me as if you are all going to leave me? Did I do
something wrong?”
No one had bothered to lock the door and Nacola walked right into their
conference.
“You can‟t leave me, I can‟t survive that again. Whatever it is you really do for a
living can‟t I help when I finish school?”
The entire room went quiet.
“Hi sweetie, when did you get here? Sneaking chocolate out before dinner again?”
Simm responded.
“Don‟t hi sweetie me to cover up your conversation. I know you are planning to
leave me. I‟ll get better grades, I won‟t eat anymore chocolate. I‟ll do anything
just please don‟t leave me alone.” The tears came and the other adults in the room
were just done for. Giggs spoke first.
“Come sit next to me, pumpkin.”
“I think it‟s time we tell you about our lives, this will not be easy to hear and I
need you to understand who we are okay?”
“I don‟t care who you are, you took me in when I had no one, how bad can you
be?”
“Don‟t do this Giggs, she‟s too young.”
“I‟m not too young, I can handle anything with the five of you by my side.”
“Nacola honey, we kill people for a living.” Toggle gripped the desk, he didn‟t
want to tell her but their lives are always in danger and she needed to know what to
do in case someone came after her.
“I know that already. What else?”
“What do you mean you know? Who told you?”
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“All of you are gone at the same times, you come back at the same times. The
baby sitter you hire, is army trained. She spends more time securing the house
than she does looking after me. The safe in the basement is too big to store just
money and I know the code, I looked at the most worn buttons and calculated the
combinations. I took a peek, love the guns by the way. Can I have one? Anyway,
I picked the lock on your desk after I heard you tell Momma you needed new ID‟s
for all of us. You really should get a laptop pops, this is the tech age, no one does
paper anymore.”
The five people in the room stared at Nacola as if she had suddenly grown a horn.
“What else do you know?” Simm was intrigued by his little spit fire. He will enjoy
training her to perfection.
“Matt your name is Simm. Pops yours and Momma‟s are Toggle and Giggs, and
you two are Rom and Sata. I will be called Batch when I join the team.”
“When you join…………….. “ Toggle let out a growl that Nacola swear shook
the glasses on the shelf.
“You are NOT joining anything other than a pen to your books, do you hear me
young lady? It‟s NOT happening. All of you get out except Nacola.”
“Allez-y doucement sur elle, elle est plus difficile que nous le pensions!” Giggs
said to Toggle.
“Je parle couramment français mamans!” Nacola responded.
“Sie spricht kein Deutsch aber!”
“Ja, ich Papa zu tun!” She responded to Toggle.
Simm, Rom and Sata stood rooted to the floor.
“Também falo português.” She now looked at Rom and Sata who spoke that
language fluently.
When she turned to Simm she smiled.
“The best for last. I speak everything you speak. You take me to school and when
you think I don‟t see you, you pay the security guard to watch out for me. You
keep your gun under your pillow, you should really lock that up in the safe in your
closet and why do you have so much money in the house, do you know how much
chocolate 25G‟s can buy? The security code on the alarm is the date of the day
you found me.
I have listened to you guys long enough to understand and respond. I am tired
being the average girl at school. Do you have any idea what my IQ is?? It‟s
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frickin 182. For the time I have been around you all, I‟ve seen the way you do
things, with the utmost precision. I kept my grades low key because I didn‟t want
to draw attention to any of you but I can‟t hide it anymore if it means you will
leave me. I don‟t want another family. I can prove that I‟m smart ask me
anything.”
“Since you are so eager to prove that you can be one of us, answer me this, if you
had one question you needed an answer to, what would it be?”
“Why would someone want me dead?”
“What?” Toggle sat upright.
“The day my parents died, they died protecting me. The men who killed them
came to the house asking them to give me up. They died because of me and I
never knew why. I don‟t even remember what my mother looks like anymore. All
I remember is the blood spattering the walls, their screams. Mom shoved me under
the bed before Dad answered the door. I heard her scream when they dragged
them into the kitchen. They told them I was at school. What did I do that someone
wants me dead?”
As Nacola spoke of that horrible day she was shaking like a leaf. Giggs walked
over to her and hugged her and they both cried. Simm left the room in tears, he
wanted to tell her he loved her and he would wait until she grew up. Rom and Sata
saw her as their only baby sister but this was too much to handle. They left the
room in tears as well. Toggle got up from his desk and hugged his two girls and
cried right along with them.
The emotion dredged up by that day was gut wrenching. All this time, Nacola
knew she was the target but she trusted these people to take care of her. She would
do whatever they needed her to do.
“Enough of that now you two. Nacola honey, I know you think what we do is
glamourous but it‟s not. We have to live everyday with the deaths of those we kill
on our consciences. We don‟t want that for you.”
“Teach me what you know, please, I feel like an outsider.”
“Never pumpkin, you are our daughter now, we never had any children of our own
because of the life we chose, we don‟t want the same path for you and if that crush
you have on Simm progresses, we want you to look back and have a clear mind.”
Nacola blushed. She did have a crush on Matthew but she never thought anyone
realized.
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“I‟m smarter than you are munchkin, I see things.”

“I love him papa, I always have but he thinks I‟m too young to understand.”
“Never you mind that now. It seems we have several choices to make. Either we
start your training now or wait until you turn 16. Giggs, what do you think?”
“Start now, while her mind is susceptible. She will be better than all of us
eventually.”
“I will talk to the others and if we are all in agreement, your training will begin in
two weeks.”
Nacola smiled and picked up the chocolate she had hidden in the desk outside
Toggle‟s office.
“Put that chocolate back in the fridge munchkin, dinner will be ready soon.” Giggs
yelled from inside.
Chapter FIVE
Operation Day.
Strolling through the airport terminal were six of the most deadly assassins in the
world.
To the average eye they looked like three pairs of the most loving couples you
have ever seen.
They all arrived at 4:30am on the dot. Their charter flight was fueled and cleared
for take-off. Toggle had cleared all of them through Customs and Immigration to
avoid delays. They boarded and took their seats in pairs.
Toggle waited until they took off and Batch drifted off to sleep and signaled to
Simm.
They made their way to the back of the jet and stood behind the last seat.
“How is she?”
“Tough as nails, she loves me, why didn‟t you tell me?”
“I wanted you to find your own way but knowing death is near was a great
motivator. I was right about you, and you were right about her. You two need
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each other, no more secrets, your thoughts are in perfect sync. Today will decide if
you have a future and I hope I‟m around for another few years to see at least one
grandchild.”
“I hope so too. How are the others?”
“All fine, the other two love birds are anxious to retire and Giggs can‟t wait to take
me mountain climbing.”
The two men chatted a bit more and returned to their seats. Just then Batch stirred
and jumped right out of her seat.
“Giggs where‟s the file?”
Giggs pulled a folder from her bag and handed it over.
“Oh God no!”
“Batch what is it?” Simm took his wife‟s hand.
“Did any of you think to look at these photos?”
“No, why would we, you know you are the only one who sees the targets. What‟s
wrong?” Rom unbuckled his seatbelt as he spoke.
“Winston Jones!” Batch shrieked.
“Should we know him?” Simm asked.
Toggle made a frightening groan and clutched at his chest. Giggs dove for his bag
and pulled out an inhaler and put it to his mouth. After a few deep breaths he
calmed down.
“You knew. You knew. YOU KNEW!” Batch shouted at the man who adopted
her. She was shaking furiously as she fell to her knees.
“What‟s she talking about Toggle?”
“Winston Jones is not his real name, it‟s Alocan Francis.”
“Oh God!” Sata exclaimed.
“You need to tell her honey, we can‟t hide it from her anymore.” Giggs pleaded
with her husband.
“Alocan contacted me from prison. He found out we saved you and adopted you.
I thought I had made sure he was locked up for good but after the phone call I
knew he would try again. I told him he would die before I let you be harmed. I set
up this op, I‟m funding the entire thing.”
Simm helped his wife to her seat and motioned for the Flight Attendant to bring
her some water. Nacola pulled her knees up to her chest and rocked back and
forth.
18
“I‟m sorry honey, you weren‟t supposed to remember his face, he left your mother
when you were just two years old and he‟s been gone ever since. I can bare
anything but your hatred. Forgive me.”
“I could never hate you, any of you. What I don‟t understand is why you would
have me kill my own father. As bad as he is, I could never live with myself.”
“Come on now munchkin, would I ever do that to you? One of the targets is
terminally ill and has made his peace. He will take out Alocan, then you take out
the other two. Why do you think this is our last job? When we are done, you and
Simm are leaving for Hawaii. Giggs and I are leaving for France and Rom and
Sata are off to Germany.”
“You‟re all leaving? You are just like him, I thought I meant more to you that that.
I can‟t believe this is happening all over again.”
“Hey hey, you need to spend some time with your husband munchkin, we will
always be around when you need us, but this job will bring much publicity and we
can‟t be seen together as we used to be.”
“Wait, how did you recognize his face if he left when you were two?” Sata asked
quietly.
“He sent photos to my mother every year, she would throw them away but I got
them from the trash and looked at them.”
“This still doesn‟t explain why he wants you dead. I think there is more to this
than we realize. Can you tell us exactly what happened that day?”
“Mom was in the kitchen cooking, Dad was in the next hut tending patients. He
came in running and the men were behind him. Mum had seen him coming and
pushed me under the bed. Wait! I remember something I didn‟t before. They
didn‟t want me dead they said they had to take me to my father. What do I have
that he wants?”
“This may sound strange Batch but can you turn around for me a minute?”
She got up and turned her back to Rom. Her hair was tucked under a beret. When
Romm touched the scar at back of her neck she flinched.
“You have GOT to be kidding me.” Toggle sounded angry.
“Do you think………?” Giggs was almost out of her seat.
“Batch honey, I need to numb the area in your neck and take out what‟s in there.”
“WHAT?”
19
“Your father somehow implanted a chip in your neck before he disappeared.

That‟s why he needs you. I will bet my life that the chip contains bank account
numbers for the money he stole. The money was never recovered.”
“I don‟t know how I got this scar, I‟ve always had it. It always hurt when I touch it.
This is too much to digest, I need a minute.”
“We don‟t have a minute, suck it up and let‟s get this over with. You can come
apart in your husband‟s arms tonight. Right now we need get that chip and see
what‟s on it as well as re-hash the op or do you want me to do this myself?”
“You couldn‟t hit a docked barge two inches in front of you. I‟m the best so back
off.”
“That‟s my girl. Now let‟s get cracking, this puppy lands in an hour.”
Chapter SIX
Rom wiped the back of Batch‟s neck with alcohol and sprayed it with Vasocaine.
He scanned the area for the chip to see how big it was.
“Can you feel that?”
“Feel what?”
Rom took a scalpel and sliced the skin quickly and took the chip out with a tiny
pair of tweezers. She didn‟t need any stitches so he closed the wound with
Dermabond. He dropped the chip in a petri dish with Biocynclear. He swished it
around and when he was satisfied, he seated it in a micro-chip reader and plugged
it into his laptop.
Sure enough, the names of 6 Banks located in 6 countries along with the account
numbers popped up on the screen. He whistled.
“How much is it?” Asked Toggle.
“32 million.”
“That‟s not a lot.”
“Pounds and that‟s only the first bank.”
“What‟s the total then?”
“Batch you are rich. I see a grand total of £250 mil”
20
“No we are rich, access all the accounts and transfer.”

Toggle trusted them all to spend wisely, they had one bank account with six names
on it. Whenever they needed to make a purchase, they discussed it and did what
was best.
“On Second thought, have you bought your tickets yet?”
“Nope, I plan to get them on the way to the airport.”
“Don‟t, call Max and have him ready the jet. We are not splitting up. Sata, go buy
a house where Toggle can go skiing when he wants.”
“Batch, don‟t do this, you know it‟s dangerous if we stick together.”
“I don‟t want a phone call telling me one of you are dead, I want to be there to help
if I can. I know we all have to die someday but I don‟t want to be half way around
the world. Sata buy the dam house. Case closed.”
“My baby has grown up. Sata buy the dam house.” Toggle laughed and buckled
in.
Simm looked at his wife and knew he had chosen right. She was everything he had
prayed for in a woman. He watched her grow, taught her everything he knew and
they would spend as much time making each other happy. He walked over to her
and checked the bandage on the back of her neck and kissed her behind her ear.
“I love you so much Mrs. Harlan. I want you so bad right now, I will forget the
others and take you where you stand.”
Nacola blushed and looked around to see if the others heard what he said.
“Simm, I know you‟re a newlywed but if you keep telling Batch those naughty
things I will throw you from this plane.” Giggs tried to keep a straight face but
burst out laughing when she saw the look on Simm‟s face.
“How the hell did you hear that?”
Giggs pulled an ear piece from her right ear.
“You bugged me?”
“I bugged all of you. Yours got amplified because Batch has the most powerful
one.” Giggs burst out laughing again.
“Honey……. You‟re having way too much fun. Leave the kids alone.”
“Spoiled sport.”
Toggle whispered something into his collar and it was Giggs turn to blush.
21
The plane landed at Grantley Adams International Airport and taxied into the
terminal. They all got their bags and laptops and strolled through. When they got
inside a drop dead gorgeous man dressed in a suit had a card with “Tech Talk Intl”.
They walked over to him, handed him their travel documents and he left them.
Five minutes later he came back and handed Toggle all their documents. He
checked them over and they all made their way outside. Three taxis were waiting
for them to go to 3 different hotels. They paid attention to the roads, buildings,
landmarks and everything they saw on the way down. The three cars separated
when they reached The Sir Garfield Sobers roundabout. Simm and Batch went to
the south coast, Rom and Sata went to the west coast, Toggle and Giggs went to
the East coast.
Check in time for the op was in an hour, they each set up their gear and made
contact with the other teams.
Batch started to get nervous. Everything was riding on this job. They had half
hour to get her to the point and wait for the targets to show up. Simm was
watching his wife prepare herself mentally and he could feel the energy radiating
from her. She was sitting in the middle of the bed in a towel in the lotus position.
He walked over to the bed and sat opposite her, naked as a jaybird.
“I need you Matt. Make love to me.”
Without a sound, he reached out, opened her towel, pulled her onto his lap and slid
into her.
“How did you know?”
“Never forget who I am honey, I could smell you from across the room. As calm
as you are to the average person, I can see your pulse racing at your throat. Now
hush let me love you.”
Matthew knew this would be quick, he wrapped her legs around his back and
pulled her closer onto him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and moved with
him. The need to be with one another was volcanic. Nacola shuddered her release
and Matthew soon after. As they came down from their high, Matthew got up
from the bed and walked them into the shower and washed down with bicarbonate
of soda. With twenty minutes before they left the apartment, Nacola took her ring
off and gave it to her husband, he put it in a small box with his ring and locked it.
She wrapped a bandage around her ample breasts to restrict any movement. She
22
pulled her locs into a stocking cap and pulled on a black beret. She pulled on a pair
of black slacks, a white dress shirt and a pair of Tai Chi shoes.
Batch was as ready to complete the mission but she was not ready to see the face of
the man who had her parents killed and ruined her childhood. The bus with the
target would be leaving the prison at 11:30, and make its way down to Oistins
Court. Batch would be on point at 11:15. Toggle had people all over the place and
rather than risk being searched at the airport, he had a friend provide them with
weapons. At 11am sharp Batch kissed Simm goodbye, got out of the car and made
her way to her location.
The hideout was an old abandoned house along the road between the airport and
Oistins. Her PGF was sitting nicely in its casing waiting to be assembled. She
checked her surroundings and within 2 minutes she had her weapon in hand. Her
gloved hands trembled slightly but she shook it off and turned on her communique.
“Batch to Toggle.”
“Here.”
“Giggs come in.”
“Here.”
“Rom and Sata.”
“Here.”
“Simm.”
No response.
“Simm come in please.”
No response.
“Giggs, double check Simm‟s location.”
“He is at his point, wait I‟m getting a text hold on.”
Giggs checked her cell phone.
“Oh shit!”
“What‟s wrong?”
“The police are all over the place. Someone tipped off the prison about the op but
the bus had already left. Simm can‟t pick you up. You have about 10 minutes
before it reaches you but you have to get out on your own.”
Batch was silent.
23
“Fine, message him back and tell him you will pick him up and go straight to the
airport. Rom, Sata, get our stuff from the hotel and head to the airport. Book us
on the first thing leaving, I don‟t care where it‟s going.”
“The plane hasn‟t left and we aren‟t leaving you Batch so be there.”
“Make sure you have my husband and I will be. I can see the bus coming. This is
my last message. Dump everything, scrap the laptops and get to the airport.”
The radios went dead.
Batch lined up the bus and counted four prisoners instead of three. She aimed and
when she went to pull the trigger, she realized two of the targets were already
down and Alocan was staring at her.
“SHIT!”
She pulled away from her vantage point and let out string of epithets as she
watched the bus bypass her location.
She disassembled the weapon, closed the lid and put it back in the position she
found it in. She scanned the area in case someone was waiting for her and she fled
the building.
She doubled checked the road before stepping onto it. Out in the open now she
looked like the average woman, taking a stroll. A car crept up behind her and
when it stopped the driver rolled down the window and the driver spoke.
“Nacola Francis get in the car now or I will kill your husband.”
“I don‟t have a husband.” She continued walking.
The driver picked up a cell phone and dialed a number.
“If you don‟t hear me in 2 minutes kindly kill Matthew Harlan aka Simm.”
“How do I know you have him?”
“The six of you arrived this morning to kill Winston Jones aka Alocan, Rom, Sata,
Giggs and Toggle will all be shot if you don‟t get in this car. Nice ass by the way
it looked great moving up and down on your husband in the hotel this morning.”
Batch cringed inside but didn‟t show it. She opened the car door and got in.
“What do you want?”
“The money Winston stole from me.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“Can I make a phone call?”
“Sure.”
24
Batch dialed Rom‟s number.

This is what the men closest to Rom and Sata heard.
“The weather is nice here at the beach, I saw a big white lion today. What‟s up
sugar?”
This is what the Batch understood.
“These idiots sent one man to watch us, we are safe for now.”
This is what Victor heard.
“Transfer half of Toggle‟s account to Victor Ross‟s account. He doesn‟t really
want to kill us he just wants the money. Call me when it‟s done. He has Simm, I
am on my way to the airport. Call me when it‟s done.”
This is what Rom understood.
“Victor Ross is a gold digger. I have him covered. Don‟t transfer anything.”
“Well well, I‟m impressed. If I had known you would grow up to be like Toggle, I
would have tried to kill you years ago. I must admit I didn‟t want to kill your
parents but your father paid a pretty penny to find you.”
“I don‟t give a shit about the money. Let everyone go and I promise I won‟t come
after you. Now let me talk to my husband or we both die in this car.” Nacola
spoke quietly.
Victor redialed the number and handed it to her.

“Honey are you okay?”
“Yes Simm, I am fine. The men will let you go in a few minutes, if they so much
as touch you, kill all of them and meet me at the airport.”
She hung up before he could say anything else. He knew she loved him, he heard
it in her voice. He watched the men propped up against the car he had been
driving. He had stopped at a red light on his way back to the hotel to wait for
Batch to finish the job. They had shoved a gun in his face and told him they had
his wife under surveillance and if he tried anything she would be killed. He could
have killed them both but he didn‟t want to risk her life. As soon as he was free he
would take them both out just for being a nuisance.
He had already calculated their height, weight and their weak points. The shorter
one walked with a limp and his right arm twitched. The other one continuously
blinked a lot and he breathed like an asthmatic. Piece of cake.
25
“All done.”
“Thanks Rom.”
“Let my husband go, or you will die a slow and painful death unlike my parents.”
Victor redialed the number.
“Kill him.”
In a flash Batch pulled the trigger of the gun she was hiding under her jacket.
Victor never bothered to check. Batch pulled the hand brake while grabbing the
steering wheel. They weren‟t going fast and the car slowed to a stop.
She called back Rom.
“Victor is dead, kill the man guarding you. Find Toggle and Giggs. Airport in 20
minutes.”
She called back Simm.
“Hi honey, what would you like for dinner?”
“Two dead men. Airport in 20 minutes.”
She hung up, got out of the car. She checked to see if anyone was around and just
walked away. Ten minutes later she could hear the roar of the planes and knew she
was close. Just then a car pulled up behind her. She turned to fire.
“Want a ride in my pretty car lady?”
She saw the one face she ached to see.
She got in and said nothing. Simm had killed the two men breaking both their
necks. He saw her walking and never felt so happy in his life.
Neither of them could talk.
Just them the radio in Batch‟s jacket buzzed.
“Batch, please tell me you are okay.” It was Giggs.
“We both are. Who‟s with you?”
“Everyone except you two, hurry the plane leaves in ten minutes.”
“Be there in five. Step on it.”
Three minutes later Simm pulled into the parking lot. Got out, put the keys under
the mat and closed the door. Batch was already running across the car park and he
followed until he caught up to her. They saw the others waiting at the door to the
departure lounge and without another word, they made their way out to the private
jet.
26
Chapter SEVEN
The plane took off and an hour later, the cabin was still deathly quiet. No one
knew what to say. Rom and Sata were holding hands as if they thought the other
would disappear if they let go. Toggle and Giggs were facing each other and
saying nothing.
Simm was staring straight ahead with a blank look on his face. It was Batch who
broke down first. It started with a sniffle. Simm took her hand. Then she let out a
croak. He unbuckled his seatbelt and then hers. He got up picked her up and sat
down with her in his lap. That is when the dam burst.
Nacola cried for all it was worth. She couldn‟t seem to stop. The others just let
her, they knew the memory of her parents was swimming all over again in her head
and the thought of losing a husband just after being married, tore into her heart.
When she calmed down. Simm kissed her softly on the lips.
“I‟m sorry to be such a baby. Everything just crashed inside me, getting married,
my father, the work, clients, everything. What would I do without you guys? You
took me in when I had no one and I almost got you killed!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Victor Ross came to me a few months ago asking about the money. I didn‟t know
what he meant. He said he knew all about us and what we did for a living. He said
he would get the money one way or another. I remembered something from that
day. He was the one who killed my parents. I told him I knew what he did and if
he ever tried to harm any of you I would see to it that he paid for it. I didn‟t hear
from him again and I thought he had given up after I threatened him. How could I
be so stupid? Then when the job came around I never thought it would be my
father and Victor never crossed my mind again, if he had, everything would have
gone smoothly.”
“I have a confession.” Toggle spoke up.
“What now, are you gonna tell me Victor was really my father?”
“No Nacola. I am.”
Nacola let out a laugh and a cry all at the same time.
“Tell me something I don‟t know.”
She pulled something from her jacket pocket. It was a photograph of Winston and
the man the others know as Toggle whose real name was Spencer Charles.
27
“I told you Winston sent my mother photographs, I never said who was in them.
It‟s only when you came to get me I realized who you were and I decided I wasn‟t
going to let you leave me again. Why do you think I wanted so bad to train and
stay with you. Mom told me you left to protect us and she married Winston to give
me a name but Winston got into trouble and you covered for him when he stole the
money. He got greedy and started stealing so you could protect him. She also told
me that she wasn‟t my real mother either, my real mother‟s name was Seijai, who I
know as Giggs.”
“I‟m sorry munchkin, I got pregnant while I was still in the army and after
everything Spencer went through to protect us, we knew you would be safer with
Sarah, we didn‟t count on Winston and his greed. Sarah was a former FBI agent
and so was the Doctor she married after Winston got sent to prison. We always
knew where you were, Sara sent us pictures of you growing up. When Spencer
told us Winston was after Sarah and her husband, he and his team went in to get
you but Victor got there first and killed your parents. I was so happy Simm was
adamant that you stay with us. I spent every day wanting to tell you but that was
our mistake.”
“Oh God, my whole life is a lie, everyone keeps lying to me to protect me and only
end up hurting me. Have you lied to me as well Matthew?”
She got up from his lap and walked towards the bedroom at the back of the plane.
“You have to tell her Matt, no more secrets from now on, she can‟t take anymore.”
Matthew sighed heavily and followed Nacola.
“Can I come in honey?”

“No go away if you are going to tell me more lies.”
“I won‟t I promise.”
He heard the lock click, pushed the door and closed it behind him. Nacola was
sitting on the bed, head bowed.
Matthew knelt down in front of her and took her hands in his.
“Look at me honey.”
She raised her eyes to meet his.
“I loved you from the day I saw you, I loved you every day since then and as long
as you will have me, I will love you until the day I die. I need you to trust me now
and listen to everything I have to say before you respond okay?”
28
She nodded.
“My father is Anthony Ross, he was a multibillionaire before he died and left me
everything. My mother tried her best to raise me as a humble person and she did a
good job but Victor was always jealous of my father and he killed her and tried to
control my money. Spencer was my father‟s best friend and it‟s only when I
joined the army he took me under his wing. Right after we rescued you, Spencer
told me he wanted to get out of the army and start his own company. I offered to
start the business but he refused so I offered to fund all our operations not him.
This jet is mine, all the houses we have lived in are owned by me. The company
has an expense account of 400 million dollars. I really wanted to tell you all of this
before we got married, that‟s why I said I wanted to take you on dates but when
you said you would marry me the next morning I couldn‟t take the chance that
either of us would die without knowing how we felt about each other.
I have always known about Spencer being your father. He told me when I said I
wanted to marry you as soon as you turned 21. I am a trained cold blooded killer
but yet you are the only person who turns my insides to mush. I have so much I
need to tell you but only if you decide you want to stay married to me.”
“I love you Matthew Harlan, more than life itself, it hurts that everyone lied to me
and I can understand why but so much has gone on and I can‟t process it right now.
Thank you for finally telling me the truth. I want to stay married to you but I need
to get away for a while as soon as we land. Right now I would like to sleep can
you please leave?”
Matthew got up and left the bedroom and made his way to his seat. The look on
his face told the others not to ask anything.
Nacola refused food and drink but Spencer drew the line at water. He almost
forced it down her throat.
“She is my daughter but I swear she is as stubborn as her mother.”
“That‟s why you love us both.”
“You love me?”
They all looked around to see Nacola in the aisle.
“Of course I do munchkin, I loved you the day you were born and the doctor
handed you to me. I held you and cried like I was stupid. Why would you think I
didn‟t love you?”
29
“I just needed to know. I had a bit of time to think about everything and I have
decided to let go of the past and work on my future.”
Seijai got up and rushed over to her daughter.
“We will be alright sweet pea, I promise. Now that everything is in the open, we
can leave this life behind and spend some time as a family.” They two women
hugged and cried.
“Oh for crying out loud cut the water works will you. It‟s getting contagious.”
Sata chimed in.
Spencer got up and hugged his daughter as well. When Nacola let go, she went
back to the bedroom without talking to her husband.
He turned his head to the window and watched as the clouds passed by.
“Give her time Matt, she feels raw right now but she will come around soon.”
Chapter EIGHT
The jet landed on a private airstrip and a limousine was waiting for them on
arrival. Everyone piled in and Matthew offered everyone something to drink.
Nacola refused.
When they got to their location, Nacola could not believe her eyes. The limo
stopped outside two ten foot high iron gates and the driver spoke into a speaker
inside the car and the gate opened. The structure that greeted them could not be
called a house. It was more like a small palace. The driveway was lined with palm
trees, the gardens stretched from one side of the property to the other and flowers
littered everywhere. They stopped under a car port and got out. A butler greeted
them kindly and showed them inside.
Sasha and Mike, were oohing and aahing at the intricate interior design. Seijai was
in heaven when she saw the ancient works of art. Spencer just wanted to get to bed
and sleep „til the next day.
Nacola on the other hand was trying not to let her emotions show. She knew
Matthew was hurting from her rejection but it would be worth it.
30
Everyone was shown to the rooms they would occupy for the rest of their stay and
were told dinner would be served at 7. Formal attire was requested.
Nacola went up to the room she and Matthew would share but he didn‟t
accompany her, he stayed to give instructions on dinner.
She took a shower and when she got out there was the loveliest satin red dress she
had ever seen. The cold shoulder Valentino creation was deep cut in the front, a
split from the hip to the ankle, small red folded satin bow at the waist front. The
LV shoes caught her breath and she knew her husband had personally selected
these for her. She dried her skin and put the dress on. Next to the shoes was a red
velvet box and a small red velvet bag. She opened the box first and the sparkles
almost blinded her.
“Oh my god, Matthew what did you do?”
Nacola held in her hand a Bvlgari Serpent necklace. It fit perfectly between her
breasts. Last but not least the wedding ring. She knew that‟s what was in the red
velvet bag but she would not put it on until after dinner.
To top everything off, Matthew picked the perfect perfume – a Hermes‟ 24
Faubourg.
“Oh Matt you are nuts.” She sprayed some on her and slipped on her shoes.
As she came down the stairs, the others turned to stare.
Spencer met her at the bottom of the stairs and escorted her to the dining room.
She sat down opposite Matthew and tried not to look at him. He was so handsome
in his suit, he had shaven and she really wanted to reach out and tell him they were
going to be okay but she drew it out a little longer.
A bottle of 1982 Petrus wine was served along with Bruschetta and Canapes.
“Jesus Christ Matt, this wine cost £35,000.”
“£45,000 actually, I couldn‟t find one from 1993.”
Nacola‟s heart fluttered. This night was for her and she was be brat but all she had
to do was hold out a bit longer. She didn‟t talk much but the others chattered on
and Matthew was a bit uncomfortable and the others were also being very
affectionate with their partners. He just wanted to make it through dinner and hope
that he could give Nacola the space she needed.
When dinner was served, Nacola almost burst into tears, for on her plate was
Buffalo wings, with celery, broccoli and carrots and blue cheese dip. She was not
31
going to make it if she was right about dessert. The others oblivious to the tension
between the two of them chatted on and on about everything.
Sure enough when desert came Nacola was about to give in and tell Matthew she
wanted to spend the rest of her life with him and nothing else mattered.
Kahlua Cheesecake with fresh strawberries on top and chocolate sauce. The
butterflies in her tummy were growing and she continued to eat in silence.
When everyone had finished eating, Nacola went out onto the balcony and
wandered around the property. She took off her shoes not wanting to ruin them
and she came across a swimming pool, she hiked up her dress and sat at the edge
and let her feet dangle in the water. She was out there a long while and it suddenly
hit her that she did not know where they were. She never even thought to ask. She
got up quickly and went back inside to find the others but when she found them
Spencer looked at her with a strange look and Seijai was crying.
“What‟s wrong guys?”
Sata handed her an envelope and walked away with tears in her eyes as well.
Nacola‟s biggest fear came to light. Her husband had left.
She sank to the nearest chair and began to read.
„Hi Sweetie,
I asked the others not to tell you where I have gone, you asked for time to sort
things out where our marriage was concerned and I agreed but I didn‟t realize it
would be so hard to have you so near me and not touch you or say how I feel for
fear of making you run away from me. I love you so much Nacola, I told you I
couldn‟t bare to see you with another man but if this is what you want, I will not
stop you in anyway. I will make sure you have everything you need to start over
wherever you want to live. My heart is breaking so badly. You see, the dinner
was to show you that I know you better than anyone but it didn‟t make a difference
and I am sorry I could not make you happy as I promised. You can stay at our
home as long as you wish, I will return when you have made your decision.‟
Yours Forever
Your Husband Matt
“He left me. How could he when I need him the most. How could he?”
32
Nacola yanked up her dress and ran to her bedroom and threw herself on the bed.
Her cries could be heard throughout the mansion.
Nacola woke up in the dress from the night before. She stripped and took a
shower. Put on her robe and crawled back into the bed. She barely ate anything
and not even Spencer could get her to eat, threats didn‟t work this time.
Days passed. Weeks passed. Nacola was a zombie and she lost weight rapidly.
One morning she got up and felt sick right after she had a bit of toast. Seijai was
usually the first one to look in on her but when she got to the bedroom, she wasn‟t
there and when she checked the bathroom her scream brought everyone running.
Nacola had passed out and there was blood on the floor.
“Sweetie please wake up, I shouldn‟t have left you. I love you so much.”
A voice was talking to her that sounded like her husband.
“Matt?”
“Yes my love, I‟m here, oh god I‟m here.”
He stroked her face gently.
“I thought I had lost you Matt. I‟m sorry I pushed you away. I need you to come
home and be with me, please!”
“I‟m never leaving you again. When I take you home I am going to take care of
you as I should. I need to give you some bad news before the others come in.”
“What‟s that?”
“You were pregnant and you miscarried, that‟s why you passed out.”
“I was pregnant? We were going to have a baby? Oh Matt a baby. I lost our
baby, I‟m sorry, I‟m so sorry.”
“It‟s okay my love, the doctor said we can have more babies and these things just
happen, so not to worry.”
“Take me home Matt, I don‟t want to be here.”
“Okay, I will hire a nurse until you are better is that okay?”
“Yes as long as you are there with me.”
“Until death do us part.”
33
Chapter NINE
Nacola came home from the hospital and everyone fussed over her. She was never
left alone for too long. She meditated with Matthew in the mornings, she exercised
with Sasha before lunch and she went for a walk with her mother before dinner.
Within two months she was back to good health and Matt thanked the nurse for her
care and gave her a bonus.
Nacola really wanted to make love with her husband. Her body was craving his to
the point where it was all she thought about and tonight she would make sure she
got what she wanted.
She asked the kitchen staff to prepare all his favourite foods. She told the others to
find somewhere to go, she wanted to do something special for her husband. They
all decided to go to the opera. England had some awesome performances to offer
at night.
She left instructions for Matt to dress for a private dinner with her. She picked out
the sexiest dress in her wardrobe. She got dressed and he met her at the bottom of
the stairs.
“You look beautiful Mrs. Harlan, may I escort you to dinner?” Matt kissed her
hand and bowed slightly.
“Why yes Mr. Harlan you may.” She curtsied and took his hand.
Every time a dish came out Matthew laughed.
When they were finished Nacola asked her husband to dance with her.
She pressed a button and raised the volume on the stereo. The music filled the
room and gave it a ballroom atmosphere.
“You chose my favourite piece as well, Mrs. Harlan I am impressed.”
“What The Second Waltz by Andre Rieu is your favourite? I never would have
guessed.”
Matthew held her close and nuzzled her neck while she rested her head on his
chest.
When the song finished, they were still dancing. Nacola looked up into her
husband‟s eyes and saw so much love that the desire burning within her was about
to consume her if she didn‟t tell him what she wanted.
“Nacola……..”
“Yes my love.”
34
“Are you sure?”

“I‟ve been waiting forever.”
Matthew lifted his wife in his arms and turned to go to the bedroom but she
stopped him.
“No wait, this is your night but I‟m in charge.”
“All of a sudden I‟m afraid.”
Nacola pulled out a blind fold and wiggled it in her fingers
“Play along?”
“Sure why not.” He rested her back onto the floor.
He let her put it on and she took his hand. Nacola placed both his hands on her
hips and stepped forward, matching his steps with hers. She led him out into the
garden and when she stopped and turned to face him, she took the blind fold off.
“Oh sweetie, you did this for me?”
“Well no, this is for another man I just wanted you to see what you were missing.”
She giggled.
Matthew lifted her in his arms again, placed her on the bed and pulled the drapery
down.
“I love you so much Matthew, can we try for another baby?”
Matthew paused.
“You don‟t want to? Do you think I will lose another one?”
“Slow down sweetie, do you want to try again because you lost the first one or do
you really want another one?”
“I would give anything to have your baby Matthew, it would be the ultimate gift.
We have spent so many years together and we are still young. We should dedicate
some of the time we have now to not only creating another life but raising him or
her the best way possible. We have seen and done so much, I don‟t want to go
back to that life. I want to be happy with you and the others if they chose to stay. I
love you more than anyone in this world. Please give me this.”
“I just needed you to be sure, I am happy as long as you are happy.”
They made love until the sun came up and for some reason they kept hearing
voices laughing right outside the tent. Matthew unraveled himself from his
sleeping wife and peeked outside the drapery.
“Well look who decided to crawl out. Morning Matt, do you have our daughter in
there? Well I hope so if not I‟d have to shoot you with a cracker.”
35
Matthew groaned.
“Your parents are making fun of us sweetie, we have to get dressed for breakfast.”
“Tell them to go away.”
“She said go away.”
“We have arrangements to make. Get up!”
“What arrangements?” Nacola grumbled.
“The other two love birds wedding you silly gooses.”
“OH! Okay well go away now, we will be right out.”
An hour later, Matthew and Nacola emerged from the tent arm in arm, fully
clothed and made their way inside to get dressed for a late breakfast.
“Will you have the wedding here?” Matthew asked.
“Of course, it‟s free. Our parents will be coming for two weeks.”
Everyone laughed except Nacola and of course her husband noticed.
“Don‟t worry sweetie, I have something planned for us, I know our wedding was
rushed but we can have our celebration when you are ready.”
“It‟s not that but I wished my mother were here.”
“I am here munchkin.” Seijai came up from behind her.
“Oh sorry mom, not you, my other mom. I‟m glad I found you but she was a
wonderful woman and I miss her sometimes.”
“That‟s quite okay I miss her too, she was my best friend at college.”
“Now no more sad faces. Us ladies have to go shopping and Matthew has given us
his credit card.”
“Oh great show us up man. They can spend your money till all its gone. I‟m
saving mine for when I have no teeth and need diapers.” Spencer chimed in.
“You did that for us?”
“Anything to keep the ladies happy, you haven‟t been able to do much shopping in
the last few years or so, so why not. Go crazy but come back in time for dinner.”
Matthew got up and kissed his wife warmly on the lips.
“Okay honey. Let‟s go girls.”
36
Chapter TEN
No matter how retired an assassin is, their senses remain in peak shape. It‟s not
something you can forget how to do. Sasha, Seijai and Nacola had been shopping
all day and their driver had made it easy for them by picking up the mass of bags
and piling them into the Hummer so they wouldn‟t have to walk around with them.
Jensen was ex-army and Matthew paid him well. He was trustworthy and would
never betray his employer. If he had a problem with any instruction he was given,
he would voice his opinion in a respectable manner and most of the time Matthew
agreed to his suggestions. He and Matthew got along like brothers.
It was a lovely Saturday afternoon and Matthew had told him to take the ladies
wherever they needed to go and have them back by dinner time. He was actually
enjoying their chatter and every once in a while they dragged him into a store to
get his opinion on a dress or shoes.
Sasha spotted a van twice within half an hour and she excused herself to go to the
ladies room while they were having fish and chips at a local restaurant. She
slipped out the back, made two lefts and there it was. A white panel van, with
tinted windows. She could not make out the driver unless she actually walked up
to the van and knocked on the window. She made note of the plates. On her way
back to the restaurant she called Matthew.
“Simm.”
“We are being followed by a white panel van plate number A62487E.”
She hung up. When she got back to the restaurant Jensen noted her face and
without alerting anyone, slightly nodded.
Sasha sat back down and whispered.
“Ladies, I think lunch is at an end and we need to get to a safe house.”
They didn‟t flinch, they all got up and Jensen paid the bill. They continued to
chatter like nothing was going on and made their way to the Hummer. Jensen
opened the door and when they were all in he got in and drove away.
He kept his eye on the white van since it moved out just after they did. He knew
he could lose them but just to make sure they were actually following them, he
lead them away from the house and made several wrong turns and ended up at an
amusement park. Sure enough the van was right behind them.
37
“Okay ladies follow my lead. All of you get out and walk normally into the park,
look for somewhere with lots of people and take a seat buy something light to eat
and just chat with each other. I need to find out who they are after. I will circle, if
they follow me, it means they are after Matthew. If they follow you then we have
problems. Sasha, give me your cell and take mine, it has a tracker in it and Matt
will know where you are. Please don‟t get separated. If you do, call Matt, he will
know what to do. Be safe and I will be right back here in an hour to pick you up if
they follow me. I will lead them to the house and the others will take care of
them.”
The ladies followed instructions but to their dismay, the white van remained
parked outside the park.
“Shit!” Jensen used the other cell phone in the car to call Matt.
“Simm, it‟s the ladies they are following. Orders?”
“Number 8. Call me when you get there and Blue……..”
“Sir?”
“Keep them safe, stay with them „til we get there.”
“Okay Boss.”
Blue loved action but this kind pissed him off. He can handle someone being after
the men, but the ladies! No way. He went into full protect mode. He checked his
weapons and parked the Hummer outside the park. He got out and called Sasha.
“All of you meet me back at the entrance, the van is still parked where we left it.”
He hung up and waited.
Five minutes passed and then he saw people rushing and screaming. He ran
through the gate while calling Sasha.
“Blue! You HAVE to come see this. We are by the extremely orange clown with
the balloons you can‟t miss him.”
Sasha stood with the others and waited until Blue got to the location. When he got
there the expression on his face was worth a thousand words.
The ladies were standing next to two men who were laying on the floor face down,
hands tied behind their backs.
“What the hell?”
“Our two drivers in the white van.
“The must have gotten out when I was circling. They tried to jump you?”
38
“Yep, Seijai took them out, we stood and watched, she was awesome.”
Blue rubbed the back of his hand across his forehead and laughed.
“Has the police been called as yet?”
“No, we told them we would handle it, from the way Seijai moved they knew we
could handle ourselves.”
“Okay let‟s take them to number 8 and call the Boss, the team will meet us there.”
They dragged the men back to the hummer and kept them at gun point. Blue drove
away from the park and made his way to the marina.
Nacola knew Matthew was rich but when she saw the name of the boat nothing
money could buy would ever make her feel this happy. Matthew named the boat
The Happy Batch.
“Oh he is so whipped.” Sasha grinned.
They climbed aboard and put the two men on deck. Blue called the boss and
cleared the vessel for deportation. He maneuvered The Happy Batch out of the
marina and cruised for about 15 minutes. He cut the engines and went to see how
the ladies were faring.
Why wasn‟t he surprised?
They were planning the wedding.
He sat where he could keep an eye on the two men who up to that point have not
uttered one word.
Nacola heard the sound of a helicopter and she knew her husband would be with
her soon. Sure enough, the copter hovered over the boat and three angry men
propelled themselves down to the deck. Spencer was first. He sauntered over to
the ladies who were still chattering away about the wedding and dragged his wife
from her chair and planted a hot kiss on her, put her back in the chair and went to
stand next to the two men. Matthew had other plans, he held out his hand to
Nacola, led her into the cabin, and he locked the door. Picked his wife up, wrapped
her legs around his waist and undid his shorts. He pulled her panties aside and
pushed into her. Nacola gasped and kissed him feverishly.
“Oh Matt!”
“Shhhhhh, give me a few minutes.”
He didn‟t need to finish, he just needed that intimate contact. His breathing slowed
and he touched his forehead to hers.
39
“I love you Mrs. Harlan, I‟m glad you are safe.”

“I love you to honey.”
“I‟m sorry, I just needed to feel you, we have to go back up, I promise you we will
finish this later.”
“No please Matt, I‟m bursting.”
“I know sweetie, I can feel you but we have to go deal with these men before
Spencer kills them.”
“Okay, promise we will finish later?”
“Yes I promise.”
Matthew eased himself from his wife and lowered her to the floor. They went to
the bathroom to clean up and then rejoined the others who were sipping smoothies.
Spencer took out his gun and pointed it at one of the men.
“I don‟t have time to babysit, answer me or you become shark bait.”
“Sizin kadınlar yakında ölecek.”
Seijai spoke first.

“Amatör, şimdi soruyu anser.”
The two men looked up in surprise and changed language.

“Todos vocês vão morrer em breve.”
Sasha laughed.
“Não temos tempo para o seu absurdo.”
One last try.
“Nacola je jedna želimo, ona mora umrijeti.”

Matthew answered this time.
“Mora da se šališ. Ubijte ih i vratimo se na ručak.”
He walked over to the man who threatened his wife and punched him in the face.
“Tko želi moja žena mrtva kopilad?
“We don‟t know, we were just hired to find her and report her location. We have
tracking devices so they will be here soon.”
“Shit! I didn‟t search them Simm, we need to get out of here now.”
40
“No. I need to find out who is behind this and take them out if need be. Ladies,
are you up for some fun today?” Simm asked joyfully.
“Hell yeah!” Three voices replied.
“Spencer, weapons are in the lock box underneath bed in my cabin. Rom, I need
you to find out what devices they have and remove them ASAP. Blue, keep a look
out for incoming. Ladies let‟s go gear up.”
As heightened as their senses were at this moment, they all carried out their
instructions to the letter and remained calm.
“Enemy at 4 O‟clock, 15 minutes out. It‟s a private boat, and they are heavily
armed. This looks like it‟s not going to end well for them. Are yall ready?” Blue
sounded as if he was asking them how was their ice cream.
“We are a go.”
Nacola was sitting on the deck, in a shorts and tank top. Her gun was under her
seat. Sasha was at the bar sipping a soda and Giggs, was locked in a hot kiss with
her husband. Rom and Simm where doing Tai Chi. Blue was at the helm and
looking as sailor-like as possible. The two men were down below tied up and in a
closet.
The boat approached and right away Blue knew who was behind the hit. His name
was Klava, everyone knew him by that name. He was a millionaire but never
worked a day in his life. He stole money from anywhere he could and this was
probably just another attempt.
“Boss! It‟s Klava.”
“WHAT? Why would he….?”
“The money Simm, he knows about the money Winston stole and now he wants it.
Let‟s have a civilized conversation first and see where his head is at.”
Simm grunted his disapproval at the tactic but went along with Toggle nonetheless.
As the boat approached a horn blew and pulled alongside.
“Can we come aboard?”
“Leave your thugs and weapons behind.” Toggle spoke with authority.
“Fine.” Klava motioned to his men to remain in their positions.
The Water Knife was an awesome vessel, not as fast as The Happy Batch but it
would give a good run if they were chased. The gangway was lowered and when it
touched The Happy Batch, Klava slithered onto the deck and made his way over to
41
Toggle. Giggs got from the chair next to Nacola as Klava was passing by and
bumped into him accidentally. Sata altered her body to focus on the closest man to
her on the other boat. Rom did the same. Giggs stood about four feet away from
her husband. Simm kept his eye on Nacola and the man who had her in his vision.
“Let‟s not play games Klava, state your business and be gone.”
“I want the money Alocan stole from me.”
“How much?”
“8 Million.”
“You want to kill for 8 million dollars? All you had to do is ask, what kind of shit
are you playing at? What else do you want? 8 million will not even put a dent in
your pocket.”
“Her father promised her to me as a wife in exchange for his life. I have come to
collect.”
Nacola leaped from her seat and pointed her gun on Klava.
“Sorry buster, Alocan is not my real father, he tricked you.”
“What? Who is your real father?”
“He‟s dead, Alocan had him killed trying to retrieve the money. I am already
married as you can see.” She wiggled her hand at him. “You have wasted your
time. You can have your money but I am not for sale.”
“That son of a bitch. I will have you Nacola one way or the other.”
Klava made the mistake of trying to grab Nacola‟s gun and she pulled the trigger
and the bullet hit him in the shoulder. Klava‟s men reacted a fraction too late and
Sasha, Blue and Rom took them all out in a matter of seconds with exception of the
Captain, he was unarmed.
“Klava, you know you aren‟t going to leave this boat alive, I am not going with
you. I promise not to let my husband kill you if you give your word you will not
attempt to contact me again over this.”
“You have my word Nacola, I will accept defeat and take what was owed to me.”
“You damn well better, or I will hunt you down myself.” Matthew gritted through
his teeth.
“The transfer is complete Simm.” Rom yelled from behind his laptop.
“How did you know my account number?”
42
“Your security is faulty and now you know we can find you wherever you go.
Now get off my boat before I feed you to the sharks piece by piece and take your
two idiots with you.” Toggle said as Blue brought up the men from below.
Klava gripped his shoulder and struggled back over to his boat. The Captain
helped him on and put him in a chair.
“When we push off blow the boat, I want them all dead.”
“Sure boss.”
Giggs watched as the boat got far enough and pressed a button. The others
watched as Klava exploded all over the deck of the boat. The captain tried
frantically to turn the boat around and try to escape but what he and Klava didn‟t
know is Blue was busy planting explosives on the boat via shot gun darts. When
the boat was far enough, Giggs pressed another button and the boat exploded to
smithereens.
“Well that‟s that. Can we do some more shopping?” Giggs asked.
“God I love you woman. Come here.”
“God you two, give it a rest.” Nacola said as she hugged her husband and kissed
him as well.
Not wanting to be left out, Sasha pulled in her fiancée for a hot kiss as well.
“Oh go ahead show off. As soon as I get yall off this boat, I‟m going home and
impregnate my wife. Yall make me sick.” Blue laughed as he got the boat under
way.
Chapter ELEVEN
One year later.
Nacola was sitting on the edge of the bed watching her husband get dressed. They
were going out to dinner with the others and all she really wanted to do was stay
home and make love. She was moody lately and always on edge. She tried not to
show her frustration but Matthew knew her all too well.
“Sweetie, just say you don‟t want to go and I will stay home with you.”
43
“You have been wanting to go out for a few weeks now, I can endure it just for
you.” She spoke in a low tone.
“Okay out with it what‟s wrong.”
“Nothing Matt, let‟s just get this over with.”
“No Nacola, tell me what‟s wrong now.” He was getting angry.
“Don‟t you love me anymore? You are never here and when you come home, you
are too tired to touch me. Are you bored with me already?”
Matthew laughed.
“Oh I‟m a joke now? Fine, go to dinner, I‟m staying home where I can be by
myself.”
“Nacola…………”
“What Matthew? We promised to be honest with each other, I just told you how I
feel and you laugh at me?”
“Dammit woman, tonight is not a good night to test my patience. Now get your
butt off the bed and get down stairs now.”
Matthew didn‟t want to talk to his wife that way but he didn‟t want to ruin the
surprise either. He knew she was pregnant but she didn‟t realise it. Matthew
wanted a baby just as much as she did and he planned it down to the letter. He
made notes of her cycles and knew exactly when she would be fertile. She missed
her last period and although she didn‟t have morning sickness yet, her body was
already changing. Her breasts were growing and her skin was glowing. She was
about six weeks. Yes Matthew knew his wife‟s body better than she did. Makes
no sense being a genius of you can‟t put it to good use.
Nacola stared at the closed door and tried to understand why her husband was so
angry with her. She slowly got up and made her way down to the others.
As she got to the bottom of the stairs, Toggle greeted her and took her to the limo.
When they got to the restaurant, her spirits were at an all-time low. She did not
want to be there.
As the appetizers came, she refused and opted for just water. When the dinner
came, her stomach heaved and she excused herself to go to the ladies room. Giggs
wanted to follow but that would spoil the surprise.
As soon as Nacola hit the bathroom door, someone gently locked it from outside
and the restaurant was transformed.
44
Nacola didn‟t throw up and her stomach calmed after a few minutes. She touched
up her makeup and tried to leave the bathroom but the door was locked. She took
out her cell phone and called Sasha, no answer, she tried the others and got no
response.
“What the hell are all their signals out?”
Just then the door of the bathroom opened and a lady came in.
“Oh thank you, I thought I had to kick the door down.”
“Happens all the time dear. Enjoy the rest of your night.”
“Thanks, you too.”
Nacola made her way to where she thought she left the others but when she saw
the restaurant she could not stop the tears.
Matthew had the place transformed into a fairy tale in the space of 10 short
minutes.
He walked over to her and got down on one knee.
“Nacola, I have loved you from the first day I saw you. I watched you grow into a
beautiful woman, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I promised I would
make you happy and I hope I have done a good job so far. Happy Anniversary my
love.”
Matthew presented Nacola with a green velvet box and when she opened it, it
contained a silver rattle.
“Matthew?”
“You‟re pregnant sweetie, we are going to have a baby.”
“I am?” Nacola‟s face registered shock, awe and realization all at once. Then she
fainted in her husband‟s arms.
When she came to she was sitting in Matthew‟s lap and everyone was standing
around her.
“Oh dear.”
“Too much excitement sweetie?”
“I‟m pregnant.” Her hands went to her belly.
“I calculate about six weeks.”
“Congrats munchkin.” Seijai said softly.
“Oh mom, I‟m so glad you are here.”
45
“Me too honey.”

“Happy Anniversary Matthew, I‟m sorry I was such a grouch earlier. You did all
of this even though I was so mean to you.”
“Blame the hormones sweetie. I know you wanted to stay home but I had to
pretend I was mad at you. Forgive me?”
“No need. I love you so much.”
“Love you too sweetie. Now, let go celebrate.”
They cut cake, danced, did karaoke and chatted about the new Harlan addition.
They thanked the restaurant staff for their help and said their goodbyes.
The ride home was filled with laughter and happiness. They stopped at the traffic
lights about five minutes from home when Blue‟s voice came over the speaker.
“Brace for impact!!!”
They all reacted quickly as a black SUV slammed into the side of the limo. Blue
assessed that it was done deliberately and recovered the limo and stamped on the
gas. The SUV followed and Blue had only two options. Get to the house where
they could protect themselves or try to out run the vehicle. The latter was highly
unlikely since he had seven passengers.
“Sir! I can try to make it home but it will be a close one, we may not be able to
keep them off the property but at least we have the advantage there.”
“Do it. Tell Masozi we are on our way.”
“He knows.”
Matthew held onto Nacola‟s hand. He promised he would protect her and every
time they seemed to have a normal life, someone tries to kill them.
“When we get home you get to the safe room and take Giggs with you.”
“I can‟t leave you Matt, don‟t do this without me please.”
“It‟s not just you anymore sweetie, I have to protect both of you now. Don‟t fight
me on this.”
Just then the SUV rear ended them.
“A few more minutes‟ sir and we will be home. Masozi opened the gate and
everyone is on defense point. It will be a rough stop.”
Blue fled through the gate and stopped under the car port. He got out and prepared
to defend the gate. The SUV stopped outside the gate. Everyone rushed inside and
46
Nacola and her mother made their way to the safe room and shut the door. The
others would know what to do.
“Oh God please let them be okay.”
“We will survive munchkin, we always do and if anything goes wrong, we will
survive that too. Our men are tough and Sasha is good back up. Let‟s prepare
ourselves if there is a breach in here.
Seijai, pushed a button on a remote control and a secret wall opened, they stepped
inside and closed it behind them. Matthew had a bunker built when he designed
the house, he knew it would come in handy someday. It was designed with two
safe rooms. The first one was about 20 by 20 and was for short term only, it had a
fridge-sink-stove, a small bathroom and dry goods to last a week to serve at least 4
people. The second safe room could accommodate 20 people for 6 months. Every
once in a while, Blue would empty it out, give the food to the homeless society and
restock.
Matthew gave Seijai control over the safe room. She made sure everything was in
working order in case they needed to use it. Blue maintained the weapons and
computers.
Nacola sat wringing her fingers at she paid attention to the screens in. Not only
could they survive but they could see everything that was going on and right now it
did not look pretty. Matthew, Spencer, Blue and Mike were at a stand-off with
several men who showed up right after the SUV parked outside the gates.
There were men stationed all over the property and all of the armed. Right now
Toggle and the others had things under control since only one man was left and he
was already seriously wounded. Blue took care of that, one shot in his neck and he
went down. The security team quickly went outside, rounded up the bodies, put
them into the van and drove it to the outskirts of the beach and lit it on fire.
Upon return they saw several more men attempting to sneak on to the property,
they were dispatched with quickly.
Things cooled down for a while then all of a sudden one of the security team yelled
over the radio ……… “RPG RPG!!”
47
The entire roof of the south wing exploded and was engulfed in flames. Matthew
decided it was time for them to leave.
“Giggs, take Batch and get out, we will meet you at number 12 in an hour, if you
don‟t see us, take the jet and find .....”
“Simm?” The radio was dead.
“Nacola honey we have to go, the boys can take care of themselves, I need to
protect you and my grandchild. Let‟s go.”
Nacola looked at the door of the safe room and turned to follow her mother.
The entered an underground maze of some sort but Giggs seemed to know where
she was going so she blindly followed.
When they reached a black door, Giggs called Masozi.
“Max! The house is under attack, we are on our way to you.”
Giggs punched Nacola‟s date of birth into the keypad and the door silently opened.
Giggs grabbed Nacola‟s hand and started running.
No one could see them on the beach, it was private and at the end of the beach was
a path to the runway and hopefully safety.
When they entered the plane, Max was hiding behind one of the seats and he
waited until he heard Giggs whisper the code.
“I hope you know how to fly this thing.”
“Oh god, Giggs, I thought yall would never get here. I‟m wounded so you will
have to help. Nacola, have a seat and buckle up. Congrats on the little one.”
Giggs got the medi-kit from the cupboard and wrapped Max‟s arm in a bandage, it
wasn‟t bad and he would get better care when and if they landed.
Chapter TWELVE
The Survival.
Max and Giggs managed to successfully fly the jet to yet another safe house about
two hours away. Giggs pulled the bullet from Max‟s shoulder, stitched him up and
put him in one of the upstairs bedrooms. The security team had arrived twenty
minutes before them and almost shot them on site. Max in his delirium had given
48
the wrong code. Fortunately one of them recognized Nacola and asked her the
code, she didn‟t even realize she knew it.
“Mom, I need to know he‟s okay.”

“I know baby girl, let me see if I can reach any of them.”
Giggs pulled a small device from her bag and put it into her ear. She pressed a
button on the back of it and it laminated green.
“Oh God Giggs. Are yall okay?” It was Toggle.
“Yes honey, your daughter and I are fine, Max got shot but he is fine now. Talk to
me.”
“The house is gone, we are in Ireland. We will see you in two hours.”
“Hurry honey.”
Giggs hung up.
“They are in Ireland, the helicopter will be here in a few hours. You need to get
some rest. I need some as well, I‟m not as fit as I used to be. I will check on Max
and find some food.”
“Yes mother.”
The safe house was actually a small hotel on an island but they entered from the
south side so no one would see them. Nacola looked around and realised they
were deep under water. She took a shower and put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
She didn‟t realize she was so tired until her head rested on the pillow.
“Oh Matthew please come home, we need you.” She drifted off with thoughts of
the first time she laid eyes on her husband.
“Sweetie, wake up, I‟m here.”

“Matthew?”
“Yes my love, I‟m here. God I missed you.” Matthew lifted her from the bed and
settled her in his lap.
“Oh Matt, is this how it‟s always going to be? How can we raise a child living like
this?”
“Are you saying ………. You want to………?”
“Abort the baby? NO! I could never do that to us but we need to do something so
people will stop coming after us. This has to be about that damned money. We
49
don‟t need it, so let‟s find out who Alocan stole from and give it back. I want our
child to have the life we never had.”
“Already done. Rom found the list on the chip and he is already transferring the
funds to each account with a message to leave us alone.”
“How are the others?”
“They are fine, Spencer got shot in his leg, but it‟s just a flesh wound, he cried like
a baby.”
“I did not you liar.”
“Oh Dad! I‟m glad you are okay.”
“My wife is taking good care of me, why wouldn‟t I be? How are you and my
grandbaby doing? Today was a rough one wasn‟t it?”
“Yes it was but I have my family so I‟m good.”
“Well let‟s hope that with the money being returned, we can live a quiet life. I‟m
getting too old to be shot. Now, I promised your mother I would spend the night
with her, so good by you youngens, I will see you all in the morning.”
Spencer kissed his daughter and patted Matthew on the shoulder.
“Shower with me sweetie.”
“Anything for you my love.”
Nacola ran the bath water and dropped eucalyptus oil into the water.
“Mmmmm just what I need.”
“I thought you needed me.”
“Need, is not the word I would use.”
“Oh.” Nacola giggled.
Matthew stripped and stepped into the tub. He held his hand out to his wife who
dropped her robe and stepped in with him. Matthew sat first and Nacola nestled
between his legs and rested her head on his chest.
“I love you so much Nacola. I couldn‟t think of anything else but getting to you.”
Matthew kissed her ear lobe and ran his hands over her tummy.
“Now that we are going to have a baby, I have so many regrets about choosing this
life. On the other hand, I have to live with the things we did.”
“I agree, I never thought I would feel this way about a woman and to have you be
the mother of my child just fills my being with so much love and happiness.”
50
“Agreed.” Nacola drifted off to sleep again and when she awoke this time, she was
in bed curled up with her husband who was snoring lightly. She stared at his face
and reached up to touch it.
“It‟s times like these I relish the most, when you seem to know what I need without
me telling you.”
“I know what you mean. Make love to me Matt.”
“With pleasure.”
Chapter THIRTEEN
The Beginning All Over.
Matthew sold everything he owned, paid out the staff, kept Blue and bought a
house in Bhutan. They decided to move when Nacola was about 5 months
pregnant. She wanted a natural birth against her husband‟s wishes but he would
give in to any demands she made eventually.
Three more months passed and Nacola was ready to pop, her feet disappeared from
her eye sight and she spent most her days relaxing by the pool.
Sasha and Mike had gotten married and they were on their honey moon. Spencer
and Seijai took a one week vacation and would be back in time for the birth, or so
they thought.
Nacola was sleeping out on the pool deck when her water broke. She decided if
she could fire a weapon and pierce a skull 300ft away, she could give birth. Boy
was she wrong. Within minutes she was screaming for Matthew, who came
running right along with the mid-wife they hired to live there for the time being.
“Matt, remind me again why I don‟t want any drugs?” She squeezed his hand.
“You are stubborn and don‟t listen to your husband.”
“I‟m never letting you touch me again.” She screamed through another
contraction.
The nurse asked them to get her into the birthing pool and get her into position.
51
About three excruciating hours and two broken fingers later, Ayana Syrenni Harlan
came into the world bawling up a storm. The nurse cleaned her up and handed her
to her father. She got Nacola cleaned up as well and left them alone.
“Oh Matthew, look at her.”
“I need to upgrade my weapons, she is going to be a heartbreaker.”
“I already upgraded mine, couldn‟t you wait a little bit longer?”
“You‟re back!”
“Yes munchkin, Matthew sent the jet for us but I guess Ayana, had other ideas.
She is perfect.”
“Yes she is.”
Just then Ayana turned her head towards her mother‟s breast.
“Demanding already, I can see we will have a handful.” Nacola was a natural, she
positioned her daughter and fed her quietly while the others watched in awe.
“She will be the brightest and best of us sweetie.” Matthew could already see his
daughter would turn out to be just like them.
The End.
Preview
The Cleaning Lady Part 2
“Ash honey, what are you up to?” Nacola called out to her 15 year old daughter.
She was quiet for way too long and that usually meant she was up to something.
Ayana was normally a reserved child and her parents were glad they never had to
discipline her much. With a higher IQ than both her parents, she was starting
college in a few months. She wanted to be a doctor and they encouraged her in
every way. She already spoke 15 languages, she taught the slower students at her
school and they all loved her.
“I‟m cleaning Dad‟s gun.”
Nacola stopped dead in her tracks. She started walking again and with every step
tried to decide how she would approached the situation. When she got to her
52
daughter‟s bedroom, Ayana was sitting on the bed with her father‟s gun in 8
pieces.
“I know everything Mom. I found all your files on your laptop and yes I know you
went through this and you don‟t want that life for me but someone needs to carry
on the work.”
Nacola sat next to her daughter realizing all the things she saw came from her and
Matthew. She was perfect, created out of love and nothing they could say would
change her mind.
“You start training in two weeks. Your Code name is now Ash and you will be
The Cleaning Lady.”
53

The Cleaning Lady

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The Cleaning Lady

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Amaris Ricci –THE CLEANING LADY

THE CLEANING LADY

© Copyright Amaris Ricci 2014

“Hi guys, everyone is here, are we secure?”

“Permission granted. Okay power down, we meet at headquarters at 6am

“Are we all set Toggle?”

“Nacola……….” Matthew growled.

“You‟re serious about her aren‟t you?”

The Team is completed.

“I‟m smarter than you are munchkin, I see things.”

“Your father somehow implanted a chip in your neck before he disappeared.

“No we are rich, access all the accounts and transfer.”

Batch dialed Rom‟s number.

Victor redialed the number and handed it to her.

“Can I come in honey?”

“Are you sure?”

“I love you Mrs. Harlan, I‟m glad you are safe.”

Seijai spoke first.

The two men looked up in surprise and changed language.

“Nacola je jedna želimo, ona mora umrijeti.”

One year later.

“Me too honey.”

“Mom, I need to know he‟s okay.”

“Sweetie, wake up, I‟m here.”

The Beginning All Over.

The Cleaning Lady Part 2

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