Billion Dollar Hearts (Inconguity Series Book 3)

by Thandiwe Mpofu

  Why does that name so familiar? Do I know someone named McGuire? It doesn’t matter though, let me read on. The date is also inaccurate, my parents were murdered on the 3rd of August. I would know because it was the day after I turned nine years old and we had a small chocolate cake right where their bodies were found.

  A shudder goes through my body, making me almost drop the tablet but I keep reading. The report states where my parents were found, with a detailed description of the trailer itself but the details of the incident itself is wrong.

  The bodies of the deceased, James Smith and Sandra Hamilton were found on the floor of the trailer, having bled to death from gunshot wounds inflicted on the bodies. It seems like it was a murder-suicide. . .

  A murder-suicide? What does that mean? That one of my parents shot the other and then shot themselves too? That doesn’t make any sense and none of it is true! My parents would never harm each other and they would damn well never think of leaving me alone. I continue to read.

  The weapon used was a semi-automatic 9mm handgun, a silencer was possibly used when firing, and this might explain why the neighbors were not aware of the obvious scuffle that took place. The gun was found in the hands of James Smith, who killed his wife first before he shot himself in the temple.

  This report is just nonsense. I remember there wasn’t a single trace of a gun anywhere near the bodies, I would know because I had a view of their rotting bodies from my hidden position. This then means that the weapon was definitely planted by someone but who? And most importantly, why would anyone do that? This report has left me with more questions than I started with before getting my hands on this. I wonder what Gideon thinks of this report.

  I look up and around the small restaurant and catch Tom by the front bar side, nursing a cup of coffee while pretending to read the newspaper in his hands when all the while, he is really scanning and looking at every single patron that enters or leaves the small restaurant. I’m barely cognizant of all this, but my mind is racing. I can tell that someone tempered with this report, or in the most extreme cases, the person who recorded this also gave an incorrect account.

  I glance back down to the report and check once more for the reporting officers. My gaze remains transfixed on the one name that feels so damn familiar but I’m not sure if I even know the name or maybe my brain is playing a game with me. I feel the onset of a headache coming on, it’s been too many activities these past weeks and I can’t seem to catch a break.

  As I look for my phone once more so that I can dial Gideon’s number, the phone starts vibrating in my hand and I see Sam’s number.

  “Don’t tell me you are stuck in traffic.” I joke when I answer.

  “Miss. Smith, thank you for answering.”

  I sit up straight as soon as the deep, unfamiliar grunt of a male comes through the speaker. I remove the phone from my ear and check if it’s really Sam’s number and yes, it is.

  “Who is this?” I demand quickly, as I start looking around, hoping to get Tom’s attention, but now he is actually reading the damn paper.

  “I wouldn’t make any sudden movements if I were you. Please, remain seated calmly, in your seat.” The voice instructs lazily.

  Now I feel like I’ve heard this voice before, it sounds so damn familiar but nothing I’ve heard in a while.

  “Agent McGuire?” I gasp out when I finally place the voice, matching it also with the name currently emblazed on the large screen of the tablet on the table in front of me.

  “Bingo. So very perceptive of you.” He says with a chuckle but it only brings dread to me.

  “What do you want and why are you using my friend’s phone?” I demand, remaining motionless in my seat because now I know it’s obvious that someone is watching me.

  “Oh, I think you are already calculating why I have her phone. You see, you are a hard person to get access to, I had to be inventive.” He says with a sick, twisted chuckle in his voice.

  ‘If you have touched a single. . .”

  “Yes. Yes, you will kill me. These movies are making people sound so cliché nowadays.”

  “That’s not what I wanted to say.” I state, as I look straight at the bar, looking for Tom but he isn’t there. Where did he go? The one time I really need him, he isn’t there.

  “Now is your chance. I’m going to give you this one chance Miss. Smith. Stand up calmly and come out the front door, there is someone there waiting for you.” He instructs.

  “You must be eating shit or be on some drugs if you think I’ll do what you say.” I grit out angrily, hoping with everything within me that Tom walks in any second now.

  “Miss. Smith, unless you want to find your dear friend’s body floating in the Hudson just like your previous employee, then you might want to do what I say.”

  I hesitate for a second, running over every chance I can so that I can get out of this. But, what about my best friend. She didn’t ask for all of this, and now she is at the center of this twisted game, being treated like a damn pawn.

  “I will go with you wherever if only you let her go.” I say, feeling proud when my voice comes out steady and strong. No trace of my stress in sight.

  “I’m afraid, I can’t do that. I don’t even have negotiating powers.” He says with false sympathy in his voice and I remain silent, still discreetly looking for Tom.

  “Listen, I’m going to give you five seconds. When the time is up, you’ll regret your decision to be so proud and stubborn.” He says maliciously.

  I can literally feel the evil intent in his voice, as if he gets off from inflicting untold pain on people, particularly women. And I severely doubt it’s in a consensual way.

  “1. . .” He starts counting after our pause and I quickly grab my stuff as if to pretend like I’m cooperating, when meanwhile, I’m planning what I can do. I know there is no way out this so I have to be smart.

  “2. . .”

  I can’t go with the tablet, that’s a definite way to show that I’m on to him. I have to leave it behind.

  “3. . .”

  I stand up as smoothly as I can, making sure to take my purse and I start walking towards the door, meanwhile, dropping stuff on the floor. Including the tablet.

  “4. . .”

  I count along with him and almost feel the thirst in his voice, the incessant need to get to five. It’s like he is trigger happy.

  Before he can reach the doomed number, I open the door and I’m met with one of the goons from gala night who tried to kidnap me.

  “Sweetheart, we meet again.” He rumbles out and the next thing I know, my vision goes dark.

  Again. . .

  Chapter 14

  Gideon

  My mind is racing at a speed that it’s not used to. I have so many questions that need answering and the people that would somewhat bring clarity to all this are either dead or not conscious at all. One of them being my own grandfather.

  And it’s that knowledge that has brought me where I am right now, in front of the older man who has been studying me since I took a seat right in front of him.

  “You have your grandmother’s eyes.” Alexander Hamilton says as he steeples his fingers together, resting his chin while studying me. The man is cunning and intelligent, when he isn’t drowning his sorrows in a bottle that is.

  “She was the best.” I utter, trying to see where he is going with this. It’s only now as I look at him that I really try to check and see if he looks a anything like Charlotte but, I can’t see the similarities. Their features are completely different—which probably explains why I have never really seen it until I knew that he was her grandfather. Honestly, he looks nothing like Charlotte.

  “She was, sweet Cleopatra. You know, Samuel had game. Always knew how to get the ladies.” He says with a hint of a smile on his face.

  “You know, your grandmother introduced me to my dear wife, Susan. I’ll be forever grateful for that stormy day when your grandmother and Susan were stuck at the side of th
e road, with a flat tire and then Samuel and I had to go help.” He narrates, with a faraway look in his eyes.

  “I can’t say I was really thrilled with that idea, seeing as I had a very important meeting that day and could not afford to go along with your grandfather but he pulled me along with him. I remember I was chewing him out the whole way but by then, he was too in love to listen to me. Stubborn motherfucker.” He laughs, after that and I can’t help but agree with him. My grandfather was—is—indeed still very stubborn.

  “So you went to help them with the car while it was raining?” I interject, hoping that if I can keep him talking, then he will be able to answer some of my questions.

  “Why of course. It was raining cats and dogs that night. And I remember that day I had just gotten a new suit. Imagine my mortification at having to fix a tire while it’s raining. Everything got ruined. But by the time we were done and I finally got a look at the ladies in the car, particularly the one breathtaking lady in the driver’s seat, I forgot everything.” He says with a sigh.

  “I forgot that it was raining. I forgot that I had a meeting with big sharks to get funding for my struggling hotel. I forgot all the problems I had because a pair of gorgeous gray eyes were staring up at me, wide-eyed and oh so grateful that I got tongue-tied.”

  There is a pause of silence and I allow him to gather himself but honestly, I need that silence because another stunning, breathtaking pair of eyes has invaded my stream of consciousness.

  “Sorry my boy, sometimes I just get lost in the memory of her.”

  “That’s alright. I imagine you miss her a lot.” I phrase it as a question though.

  “With every rise of the sun. I’ll tell you this my dear boy, when you find her, there is not a single part of you that won’t know. And when she isn’t with you, it’s as if your own heart is rebelling against you, wanting to be with her.” He points a shaky finger at my chest, passionately putting his point across.

  “Like that young girl from your birthday. I’ve seen the way you looked at her. She’s the one isn’t she?” He questions with a knowing smile.

  “I’m not so sure.” I say uncertainly, hating the way he seems to know something that I don’t.

  “What’s the matter then?” He asks.

  “There is trouble that she might be prone to.” I say those words with sincerity but I really just want to see how he would react to that and as he jerks in his seat, I think I have a reaction.

  “What? Is she alright?” He questions.

  “I’m not so sure which is why I’m here. I need your help, sir.” I start.

  “Of course, I will help as best as I can.”

  “Thank you, sir. You see, my grandfather was in the middle of telling me something, imparting some valuable knowledge if you will but he never got to the parts that matter.” I start, looking him directly in the eyes.

  “Ever since the accusations that Black House Inc has been facing, I have been doing some digging, trying to find the source of these vile accusations. So, I came across something that I was wondering you could help me, seeing as you are my grandfather’s oldest and closest friend.”

  “I’m listening.” His sharp, intelligent eyes, much like his granddaughter are on me.

  “Can you tell me about Giovanni Lorenzo.”

  A tense silence baths the room so suddenly, I have no time to react. I watch as the light in his eyes just, disappears, leaving without a trace. I watch as his facial features tighten, his jaw clenches and anger makes its way to his eyes. In one fell swoop, Alexander rises from his regal chair that matches the dark woods of the old money type of office and brings his fist down on the table.

  “How dare you say his name in here? And where the hell did you learn it from?” He demands angrily, gone is the sweet melancholy of a few seconds ago.

  I stand as well.

  “I wouldn’t be asking if I thought it wasn’t important, Alexander. Everything is up in the air and I feel like I don’t know as much as I should.” I explain calmly but with determination lacing each word. I make sure that he sees I’m not leaving this office until I get answers.

  My phone begins vibrating in my pocket but I ignore it, feeling relieved that I remembered to silence it before meeting with Alexander.

  “You need to stay away from that immoral, wicked and malicious man, that’s what you need to know!” He waves a shaky finger in the air, clearly upset now.

  “You know him then.” I point out.

  “Why should I help you, as far as I know, that man is dead!” Alexander says but I see the doubt in his eyes.

  “I think you and I both know that isn’t true.” I start, carefully constructing my words. “I think you have a suspicion as to why exactly I’m asking this.”

  “That doesn’t mean I will just tell you! If Samuel didn’t tell you about Giovanni, then he had a reason. And trust me Gideon, you don’t want to know any of this!” He urges but I can’t turn away now, not after what I learnt the other night.

  “I believe he was going to tell me, but since that didn’t happen and he is now laid up in a hospital, the only other person with the information I need is you.” I point out.

  “But why should I help you? I want nothing to do with this!”

  “Unfortunately, you are at the very center of it all.” I inform him and he stills.

  “What. . . what do you mean by that?” He questions with a stammer that makes me incline my head to the left, studying him.

  “As far as I know you sir, your life is in danger.” I inform him but I watch confused as he visibly relaxes.

  “That isn’t right. You see, many years ago when your grandfather, his twin and I crossed paths with the likes of Giovanni Lorenzo, a kind of agreement was made that we wouldn’t be touched.” He starts as he takes a seat and I follow suit, slowly though.

  “Why is that?”

  “I can’t really get in the particulars of that but I will tell you this, when Samuel, Steve and I rejected the ‘business’ proposal that Giovanni had in mind, he was clearly not happy. Having at that time starting our own businesses and finding success, it was clear to see that Giovanni wanted a piece of the pie, by sprinkling in his unsavory—and illegal—business practices.” He explains.

  “So, naturally, as men of honor, we said no but he decided to teach us a lesson.”

  “That’s when my grandfather’s twin was killed.” I finish, connecting the dots in my head.

  “Yes and no. You see, Steve was a man of honor, but he was also very protective of his twin. So, unbeknownst of Samuel, Steve went to meet up with Giovanni and then offered himself as a sacrifice if only Giovanni promised not to touch either one of us. Me or your grandfather.” He explains as he looks at me.

  “Sacrifice? Why would he do that?”

  “Because he was a very intelligent man and he knew what we didn’t know at the time. He knew that Giovanni would do everything in his power to destroy us just because we were on the rise and we rejected him. He also had a plan that night as well.” He informs me, his gaze direct and unwavering.

  “He wanted to set Giovanni up so he could be caught by the officials.”

  Fuck, it all kind of makes sense now.

  “Yes, but by then, it was too late. The so-called ‘officials’ were already in his back pocket but he saw the devastation Steve’s murder caused on Samuel and myself that he took that as payment. And so, he left us alone.” He ends his rant and I’m just silent. So, the man not only looks at himself like he is a supreme being, able to execute people as he wants, but he is fond of doling out judgment on those that don’t agree with him. Such an asshole.

  “That doesn’t answer why you are not in any trouble though?” I say as I look up to meet his waiting gaze.

  “That’s because Giovanni likes to do things by clans and family. He likes to inflict the hurt where he knows one would never recover. Unfortunately for Samuel, that was Steve. My dear friend was never the same man after his twin was murdered. The c
oldness that grew in him. . .” Alexander explains with sorrow in his eyes, his gaze looks past me, as if he isn’t seeing me but is away in some other time.

  “Well, the ruthlessness and calculative nature that the world knows, only came after Steve died. And as for me, I did my best to hide my family and he never found them but now, ever since I found out about the death of my child, Sandra, fifteen years ago, I wonder if it was him.” He muses over.

  “So, what you are saying is, he would never touch you directly but is all too willing to go through the people that are connected to you.”

  “Yes, so that their blood would be on our hands, or whatever shit he said the last time I saw him.” He explains, his voice is now agitated.

  “Then, I think I have to tell you something.” I say.

  I don’t think him not knowing will help matters anymore now, because from what I heard and saw that night at Harvey’s house, it’s obvious that Alexander Hamilton is in danger but not what he might think.

  My chest tightens, my fists clench and I feel sick to my stomach. I suddenly need to get to her. I need her in my line of sight, I need her to be with me because if there is something I learnt today, it’s that Giovanni really enjoys bloodshed. He likes it a whole lot more than I first thought earlier this morning when we were spying on him with Lawrence Harvey. Giovanni is a cold, manipulative asshole, in fact, he is actually cunning about everything. And now, he knows about her.

  Charlotte. . .

  “What do you have to tell me?” He questions as the door opens suddenly and Peter walks through without even looking at Alexander.

  It’s the look on his face. It’s the way my heart skips a beat or two.

  It’s the way blood rushes violently through me. It’s the way that I stand up automatically and fish in my suit pants pockets for my phone. It’s the way I feel the shortness of breath.

  It’s the sharp stag that I feel prickling in my chest.

  It’s Peter who utters what I don’t want to hear. The worst words ever to be uttered.

  “She’s been taken.”