She turned the corner and several men were heading towards her. They gave her a strange look as she charged towards them. The two in front charged towards her as well as the ones behind slowed. Gloria slowed as they increased their speed. As they got close, she brought her arm up with the knife, blocking one’s assault. As she blocked him with the knife, she spun, dodging the other’s attack. The hall was small. The guy behind her spun and swung his blade. She dropped down and the man sliced the guy in front of her across the chest. She brought her other hand back with the blade and the man behind her screamed a high-pitched scream as the knife went handle deep into his groan. Her hand went down as she stood. Bringing her foot up between the man’s legs in front of her that was staggering backwards, she spun with both blades in each side of the man’s neck behind her. The razor-sharp blades sliced his neck easily he fell. As she turned and stepped over the man in front of her, the others looked at her approaching, her body soaked in blood.
Two more started walking towards her, more cautiously than the men before them. Her wild eyes locked on the men showed no fear as they shifted from one to the other. Despite the fact that she looked like a woman that was out of control, the men who had seen her attack the first two knew she was a skilled killer. With no room to separate, the only choice was to face her head on. One of the men shuffled his knife from hand to hand. With only a few feet between them, she brought her hands up at the same time. Her movements were so fast and unpredictable, before they could react, the knives were in the throats of the would-be attackers. The look of surprise and utter fear showed in the eyes of the men as blood came from their mouths. She moved faster towards them, grabbing the knives, and spread her hands away from each other, slicing out the side of the necks. The last two men looked at each other, turned, and started back down the hall. Gloria ran after them.
Gloria walked from the building into the parking lot, her body soaked in blood. She swallowed hard as she took in the sights of everything that was surrounding her. The empty parking lot, a few trees on a small grassed area. The street that didn’t have any traffic on it. People ran in the distance, all of them heading away from the building. She continued walking, the knives clasped tightly in both hands. Bobby saw Gloria walking and he started towards her. Gloria’s gaze locked on his, concern in his eyes. She slowed her walk as he neared. A man grabbed Bobby by the arm. “I wouldn’t, son. Not unless you want to get killed.”
Bobby looked at the man. “That’s my wife.”
The man shook his head. “Not now she ain’t. Now she is a predator and anything that nears her is her prey.” Bobby started to say something when a low growl vibrated from the man’s chest. The sound was more animal than human. Gloria stopped as the man started walking towards her. Their eyes locked, Gloria refusing to look away. She shifted her stance and the growls became louder. His eyes looked more like that of an animal than a man as he walked towards her. “Drop the knives, Gloria.” His voice was calm but demanding. Refusing, she positioned her hands to defend as he kept walking towards her. “I said drop the knives.” His voice became more demanding and filled with authority. The urge to obey him grew strong and it was harder to hold his gaze. But she remained steady in her stance. “Now!” his voice demanded. Her eyes shifted, her hands lowered, and the knives dropped to the ground. The tall man walked up to her. She stood in silence with her head lowered. “You’re coming with me and I will not take no for an answer. You are a member of this pack and you will be treated as such. You will be expected to act as such.” She didn’t look up or say anything. “Go find Sophie; she will take you somewhere where you can get cleaned up and some clothes.” Gloria turned and walked away, not saying anything. The man looked back at Bobby. JD had walked up beside Bobby. The man turned and walked to them. “They are safe. Our arrangement has come to an end. Many of the kidnappers escaped. Gloria is coming with us. When she is better, I will return her.” Bobby stood watching as Gloria walked away and didn’t look back. The man walked away in the same direction as Gloria.
Bobby looked at JD and JD said, “Boy, some things are just better not known. This is one of those things.”
Gloria opened her eyes, feeling a very muscular and naked body behind her. The room was one she had never seen before. ‘Where am I? How did I get here?’ “Bobby?” she said, not wanting to turn over and see who was behind her.
“It’s about time you said something,” came the deep-toned voice.
“Gordon, what am I doing in the bed with you? Why are you naked? Did we…?”
“No, we didn’t. But it wasn’t for your lack of trying.”
She swallowed hard. “How did I get here? Please tell me we are at the retreat.”
“We brought you here. Xavier had to force you to submit. This is the first time you have said anything for weeks. This is the only way that we could keep you in the room. Even if we tried locking you in a room, you would get out. I didn’t trust any of the others not to take advantage of your weakness.”
Gloria rolled over and faced him. “What is happening to me?” she asked with a pleading look upon her face and a desperate voice. Then she held him close.
He returned the embrace. “The best we can tell is that you are having a lot of mental problems. We’ve called in some of the best doctors in the world. The medications they have you on seem to be working.”
“This has got to be more than just mental problems,” she said with a trembling voice.
She felt his lips touch her head. “I almost wish that were true.” She lay in his arms for a long time before they got up. He got dressed and they went downstairs to eat. She noticed how most gave her hard looks, but no one said anything. Sophie walked in and sat down beside her. Gloria sat watching Gordon cooking them some breakfast. Sophie touched her hand. Gloria looked at her and gave a troubled smile. “Can I see your phone?” Gloria asked. Sophie reached into her pocket and held her phone out. Gloria looked at it for a long moment, took it, and dialed a number.
“Fulton Law Firm,” the woman said.
“Gloria Thomas Coleman to speak with Austin Fulton. It’s important.”
There was a pause and then a man’s voice came on the line. “Gloria, how can I help you?”
Gloria ran her tongue through her lips and let out a deep breath. “Austin, I need to have something rushed. I want a no-fault divorce from my husband. He is to have full custody of our children. I get one weekend a month visitation, no child support. He is to get everything we own and two-thirds of everything in the bank. I retain the studio in California and the motorcycle that belongs to me and the one that was left to me by Stanley. Have the papers delivered to the house today. Do everything you can to push it through the courts.”
“As you wish,” Austin said when Gloria went silent. Gloria ended the call and handed it back to Sophie.
“Gloria, I…” Sophie hesitated. “I wouldn’t do that. You seem happy in your marriage.”
Gloria looked at the table. “He deserves better, Sophie. Since Stanley died, my life has turned upside down. I have knowingly and unknowingly cheated on him. Everyone tells me I am unstable or have mental problems. I am no fool; most people with mental problems don’t think they have a problem. He is better off without that drama in his life. Our children definitely don’t need it. If I am right and something is going on, I do not need them to be caught up in things that are more than they can believe or handle.” She looked at Sophie. “I hope I am crazy. But to be honest, everything inside of me says something is happening. I do not know what, but I am going to find out or have myself committed. I love my husband, but to be honest, married life is something I want so bad. But I lack the ability to remain faithful. He is not the kind of person that would stay with me in the lifestyle I truly desire.”
Chapter 32
The Beaten Path Of Revenge
Gloria stood in the studio in California. She walked over to a hidden room afte
r opening the door. Memories flooded her mind of something that took place there. She wasn’t sure if it actually happened or if it was all in her mind. She lifted the covered clothes hanger and walked out of the room fast, closing the door behind her. She walked out and got on the motorcycle.
Barbra Ann Chandler was sitting in her home office when she looked up at Gloria. She leaned back as she saw the white blouse on that was sleeveless, the v shape that nearly didn’t cover the nipples of her breasts, white slacks that clung to her curves of her body. She would have thought Gloria looked sexy if it wasn’t for what the white clothes she wore represented.
“A bit early for Halloween, isn’t it, Gloria?”
Gloria slowly approached the desk. The nervousness showed on Barbra’s face. Beads of sweat started to form on her forehead as Gloria’s gaze was ice cold. Her eyes showed no remorse. “Is it over?” Gloria said with a voice of uncertainty.
“I’m afraid…”
She went silent as Gloria pulled a revolver from her back and aimed it at Barbra’s head. “Yes, I can see that. But I have a feeling the words that you were going to say next would’ve been a lie. You don’t know what I am talking about. But everything about you says you know exactly what I am talking about. If it would’ve been any other person, I wouldn’t have given you the chance to speak. Very few people have the knowledge to place dance mates together. They don’t even know what to look for. Those dancers were not all from one country; they were from around the world. Not many people follow the dance circuit that close. I know you have been using William’s connections to gather information. It started after your mother died. I ask you again, is it over?”
Barbra looked away. “For my part, the contract was fulfilled. All I wanted was for the dance mates to bond and start the completion. I instructed them not to take you, your husband, his mate, or Britney and her mate. He blackmailed me once he had taken the dancers. I knew your husband’s uncle would eventually find them. I had no idea that the pack was watching you.” Barbra stood. “If you are going to kill me, then do not do it in my house. I do not want my grandkids or my children to find me.”
“Why, Barbra?”
Her voice was truthful. “Money, Gloria. The year you and the others competed, the dance circuit made nearly four times the money they had made in several years. The dance faction has all but abandoned the dancers. Only a couple Order members remain. I think Sam is the last Council member. The guards are nearly gone. The money that they use to fund safe havens was divided up among those that remain. It is the responsibility of the circuit to keep the safe havens like Primerose operational. Our dance supply company sky rocketed when they danced. I used every bit of my share of the money to keep Primerose open. If something doesn’t change year after next, the schools will close. I couldn’t allow that to happen.”
“You betrayed the ones you claim to admire the most for what, a faction that is nearly no more?”
Barbra narrowed her eyes. “I betrayed no one, Gloria. They all loved to dance, and I helped them to become better than they thought.”
“It would be best if you killed her,” the voice said.
Gloria spun, holding the gun and facing the man. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Her hands shook as she held the gun on him and he started walking towards her. “Are you okay, Gloria?” Barbra called from behind her. Gloria was actually surprised to hear the sound of concern in her voice.
He smiled as Gloria said, “Do you see him?” Her voice filled with panic.
“See who?” Barbra said, and it sounded closer.
Gloria turned pointed the gun back at Barbra. “Don’t you move. How can I trust you after what you done?”
From behind her, she heard, “I told you to do just the opposite of what you would do. You only partially followed my advice and you see where they got you. The Chandler family is powerful, and you know that. It won’t take someone with half the skills of Bobby’s uncle long to figure out who was behind that. Now let me paint you this picture. He discovers it was the Chandler family. He kills her, what will that do? William will go after him and anyone close to him. That puts your ex and children in the line of fire. Not to mention your other ex, Britney, and her daughter. Figment of your imagination or reality in this scenario really doesn’t change the facts of what will happen.”
She glanced back. “Shut the fuck up,” she hissed.
“Gloria, lower the gun,” Barbra said, for the first time fear dominant in her voice.
“Do you know what you started?”
“This couldn’t work out better even if I had planned it,” a new voice said.
Gloria was about to say something when the familiar male voice shouted, “Move now!” Gloria leaped just seconds before a sharp pain went through her left shoulder blade and came out her chest. She saw Barbra’s chest go back and her shoulders go forward as the muffled sound of a silencer filled the room. Gloria spun, bringing her gun around, and fired it at the man. Her shot was off balance and she missed. The man pointed his gun again at her and fired it again. Gloria felt a burning sensation in her side and her body slumped towards the side where the pain was. She hit the floor and slid, lifting her arm, and shot again. The pain was nearly unbearable, but she knew lying in the open, she was as good as dead. She scrambled as best she could behind the desk. She heard, “Looks like you don’t have to kill her after all.” Gloria moved to her knees and peeked around the desk. The man was gone. She lowered the gun used the desk for support to stand, blood flowing from her back, chest, and side. She started to move, and the pain nearly brought her to her knees. After a moment, the pain started to dwindle down to a bare ache. Then it was gone. She looked at the man who was standing beside Barbra lying dead on the floor. She walked over. “It has nearly come full circle. He found you,” he said casually as he lifted his gaze to meet hers.
“You are not real. She couldn’t see you.” Gloria said.
He smirked. “Then I guess I will fuck hell out of your mind, then. The time is getting closer.” He walked past her. “By the way, since when did a figment of an imagination see behind you when your eyes were facing forward. Maybe that was just a coincidence. Well, you best go into hiding because William is going to hunt you down for killing his sister.” Gloria looked down at Barbra and walked out of the room.
Ashley looked at Bobby as he pulled his wedding band off. “It’s official; we’re no longer married.”
“I’m sorry, Bobby,” she said with a hint of sorrow in her voice. There was a knock on the door. Ashley walked towards it. “Uncle Dumas is early,” she said. She opened the door, and before she could say anything, her head went back and she started to fall. Fragments of the back of her skull and brain along with blood splattered on the wall behind her. Bobby stood after hearing the sound of gunfire and sprinted towards his bedroom. He had made several steps when he gasped. Blood trickled from his mouth and he heard the shot. Suddenly, another sharp pain and another sound brought him to his knees. He fell forward as Angelina started towards him. The man pointed his gun. Several shots being fired filled the room the men started falling.
“Ash and Bobby are down,” Dumas said as he rushed towards Angelica, lifting her up and moving towards the playroom with her in his arms. He felt the sting in his back just moments before he heard the sound of the gun. “Hit. Need backup. Kids are safe for now.”
“On my way now,” he heard from his Bluetooth as he set her down in the room, closing it. He spun just as a man walked around the corner, he fired his gun the same time the man fired his. The both dropped to their knees. Dumas fired again, and the man fell back. JD turned as Dumas’s voice sounded in his Bluetooth. He turned. As he did, Britney fell forward, her eyes opened wide. JD grabbed her with one hand and pulled his revolver with the other. He saw several men moving towards him firing weapons. Britney’s body shook as bullets peppered her back. JD aimed and fired his gu
n at the men, using her as a human shield as he moved backwards. He got closer to the truck. He released her and she dropped to the ground. Crown, Dumas, report.”
“Two mins from Ash,” Crown said.
“See you in hell, boys,” Dumas said in a weak voice filled with pain.
“Fuck, Jake!” Crown said. JD emptied the clip in his gun and grabbed another from his ankle pouch.
“Continue on. Get the kids out of the house if they are alive. Taking heat here. Get to safe house asap. Watch your ass,” JD barked out. His eyes shifted towards Britney for a moment and then he looked around and saw several people taking position at the edge of the tree line. The sound of a shotgun loomed, and they turned. JD stood and started shooting as the men were turning.
JD walked over and was looking down at Britney. Daniel came walking up. “Who the fuck were those people?” he huffed out as he looked at Britney. JD sighed, and the sound of his voice said he was holding back tears. “Dan, when all of this started, Dumas said that Ashley and Bobby were down.”
“Down? What the hell does that mean? Did Bobby get hurt?” Daniel said, fear creeping into his voice.
“He’s dead, Dan. You need to call his momma, call the rest of the family. Make arrangements for his funeral.”
Daniel’s hands trembled. He grabbed the truck to keep from falling to his knees. After a few moments, he walked away.
JD took in a deep breath and he called Britney’s mother. Brenda answered the phone. “Hello, JD. I have been worried. Britney hasn’t answered her phone.”
Love and Beyond Part 3 Page 34