Billion Dollar Hearts (Inconguity Series Book 3)

by Thandiwe Mpofu

  Caleb has a malicious look on his face and grins at Demetri who is now angry, his stout stature short in the face of a tall and swanky looking Caleb who I now realize—has been silently gearing for a fight all along and decided his father’s method of oratory storytelling was getting on his nerves and so he took matters into his own hands.

  “All of this is because of me! I found her! I made the connection! What kind of sick leader do you think you have, Brothers?” He hollers in the room, making a three-sixty turn around the room, looking at everyone, and then stops right in front of his father once again.

  “This man you call your leader doesn’t even have a firm grip over all delicate matters, including anything about potential heirs. What more the issues related to the syndicate? You think he knows everything?” Caleb questions loudly. “You think his head is in the game? You think he is a fit leader?”

  “Son. . .”

  “No! I’m not your son. I have never been your son. You killed my mother!” Caleb shouts and then charges over to his father who just stands there watching him as more guards quickly step forward to stop Caleb. Sam and I are now left standing alone and Sam prompts me to inch backward, one step at a time since no one is actually looking.

  “Let go of me! Let me at him. The Snake lord, huh? You actually mean the Shit lord. Because that’s exactly what he is. Horse shit!”

  There is no calming Caleb now, it almost seems like he has been waiting for this moment all his life. To confront his father and to doing so in front of this syndicate gathering of the ‘brothers’ is probably a bonus.

  “What exactly are you saying?” Giovanni questions, his voice as cool as a cucumber. Not at all bothered by the fact that his son is practically insulting him in front of the people that follow whatever bullshit this cult of a syndicate is.

  “You know what I’m fucking talking about! Hell, everyone in this damn room is thinking it!” Caleb spits and thrusts around, fighting the hold that the guards have on him. “Let me at him.”

  “You heard the man, let him go.” Giovanni says as he takes a few steps forward, closer to Caleb now. Is it me or does the whole room gasp and tense right after. I watch as some of the men seated in chairs begin standing up, and I wonder what kind show is about to happen. Whatever it is, Caleb is very much aware of it.

  “You think I’m scared? You think I won’t tell them everything?” Caleb shouts. His father narrows his eyes at him but doesn’t stop walking towards him. The guards have since released him and have stepped back but Caleb seems to be frozen in place as he watches his father advance towards him.

  “You think I’m scared?” Giovanni questions him slowly, the way he moves now almost looks like how a snake would move. It can be mesmerizing, but I can feel the raw violence in the air as Sam and I step back simultaneously, as if we instinctively know that something bad is about to happen.

  My head is now spinning with all of this drama. I can’t wrap my head around it all.

  “I know you are fucking scared.” Caleb holds his head high, his shoulders broad and back straight, staring at his father with all the churning hate and loathing in his eyes. A hate that was probably caused by the very man who is taunting him yet he doesn’t know it.

  “Isn’t that why we are all here? You have always been scared of Hamilton and all the success he found. You especially hate—deeply hate the Blacks because they managed to out do you at everything, haven’t they?” Caleb gestures to Alexander first as he speaks then turns to look at Gideon who for some reason, doesn’t seem bothered by what’s happening.

  Max is now beside him, maybe he moved while all of this has been happening but I know that look of indifference on their faces. I know they are planning something.

  “I have always been better than all of them! I am better. At everything!” Giovanni explodes at his son’s words. I’m shocked at his outburst but really what did I expect? Pride is part of this man’s DNA so to have his ‘foes’ success rubbed in his face will definitely make his head roll.

  “Really? Isn’t that the reason why you pit Black against Hamilton all these years?”

  “What?” This time, it’s Alexander who shouts the question.

  “What? You didn’t you know?” Caleb questions Alexander dramatically gasping. “You sir are in luck seeing as my father saw to it that the reigning generation of the Black household is here to face his wrath—ensuring the end of the Black name of course—you see the genius of this whole thing?” Caleb explains, shedding some light to some of the questions that have been buzzing in my head.

  “Well, go on then, just ask him.” Caleb says, gesturing to Gideon and all eyes turn to look at him.

  Chapter 26

  Gideon

  The tension in the room is intense and I have to admit, it all works in my favor. All eyes now shift onto me now.

  “Tell us, Mr. Black. How is dear old Samuel?” Giovanni questions me now, and I know he knows that my grandfather is awake. I wonder how Lawrence Harvey found out and where is he anyway?

  “I think you already know the answer to that.” I say calmly. I won’t give him what he wants and I know what he wants. He wants everyone in the room to see just how deranged and lose Hamilton and his own son are, without even trying. And he definitely wants to make me out to be in the same light.

  He is a snake alright. His eyes narrow at me now. He knows I can see his through his poor tactic. I can see what he is trying to do here, which makes me wonder if getting the position of power with these people—this syndicate—if it’s actually given or earned by some kind of blood thing?

  “I guess he is finally happy to be conscious and out of that self-induced coma—caused of course by an accident he planned himself. How very artistic of him!” Giovanni exclaims then begins laughing again, but there is still a hard glint in his eyes.

  “Tell me dear, did you know that all of this was a vicious circle and that he was only using you all this time?” Giovanni says as he looks at me but he questions Chloe, a smirk on his face.

  “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Chloe’s voice is strong as she stares up at Giovanni, she doesn’t even flinch, nor does she back away.

  “Oh really? So, you mean to tell me this man, who is known to play the best of businessmen in the world, obviously changes women like I change my socks—that man—just approached you out of nowhere?”

  “How he approached me and how we met is absolutely none of your business.” Chloe grits out.

  I wish she would look at me but she doesn’t, her gaze remaining focused on Giovanni. She hasn’t looked at me since I told her that the snake of a man standing in front of her is her grandfather. Her beautiful eyes haven’t looked in my direction not once and I hate to admit that I feel like she has already begun shutting me out.

  “So, you mean to tell me that you didn’t know that this man,” Giovanni gestures to Demetri, who is dragged forward, “that this man murdered your parents? You weren’t aware of that?”

  I see her throat work, but her gaze doesn’t waver, nor does it shift from side to side. “Of course, I knew.”

  Demetri cuts a surprised look at Chloe but she doesn’t spare him a glance. Giovanni isn’t even shocked. On the contrary, he is pleased with this admission.

  “And you admit that in all the times you were working for Stefan Demetri, you were planning on exerting your revenge on him, am I correct?” Giovanni states, now pacing the room as if he is some kind of prosecutor, questioning the accused on the stand. I really hate men like that who think all the world is theirs to dominate.

  “It so appears that the little witch was correct, bring her in!” Giovanni orders to his goons and I watch as the doors open again and in comes a figure, whose head is covered by a black bag. It looks like a woman, dressed in black and has blonde hair. Dread goes down my spine, and I can feel rage start moving once again. Something about the way she is screaming for the goons to let her go, that voice. . .

  The bag is removed and th
ere she is, Tabitha. Why am I not even surprised? I hear a low growl from somewhere beside me and I look beside me to see Max whose hands are now clenching and unclenching reflexively, I can actually see the veins on his forearms straining on his skin.

  If there is anyone who loathes Tabitha with a passion, it’s Max. I nudge him back but he doesn’t respond, his eyes now solely focused on Tabitha.

  “She failed at her one job of infiltrating your family and so she thought she could weasel her way into my son’s bed, only to go rogue and watch you, Gideon. She even has pictures of the day you met my dear, long lost and now found granddaughter.” Giovanni explains.

  “I’m not your granddaughter!” Chloe spits out.

  “Oh, don’t hurt my feelings dear. We even have the same eyes. And you are just as beautiful and tempting as your grandmother.” Giovanni says with a chuckle, not at all moved by the death glare being shot his way.

  “Where was I? Oh yes, the day you two met! She was there!” He exclaims with a delighted laugh. “Let’s see now. She was also there the night you and Chloe met up. Dearest Tabitha was also the one to plant listening devices in my granddaughter’s apartment and her office—working together with our exceptional FBI Special Agent McGuire.” Giovanni says as he gestures towards McGuire who stands behind Demetri. I must admit, I hadn’t seen the guy yet but I knew he was going to be here.

  “I believe Tabitha also planted the same audio devices into Chloe’s purse the night she was to meet up with Mr. Black here.” Giovanni gestures to me as he speaks. “So, in conclusion, we heard every single conversation you two had together the night you agreed to ‘work’ together.”

  With each word that comes out of his mouth, my jaw tightens. There is no doubt in my mind now, I’m ready to tear this place apart. “Are they in place?” I question Tom underneath my breath but he hears me.

  “Yes, the whole place is set up.” Tom’s cool voice comes through my earpiece. Max glances at me from the corner of his eye and I see the message there. We need to end these bastards before we can escape.

  “Tabitha was also there the night of your birthday party, Gideon. She is, after all, well versed in the skill of disguise and blending in! She is the one who was cooperating with my son, and they thought they could keep their business away from me.” Giovanni laughs now.

  “You don’t know anything! You used me!” Tabitha shouts at Giovanni.

  “Is that why you were about to escape? You had your own sinister plan here right?”

  “You are damn right I do! I am the one who planted that Ponzi-scheme rumor and guess what, the story caught fire more than I thought. And this bitch you are with, she isn’t smart!” Tabitha spits at Chloe as she turns to look at me. “You fucking killed Craig!” She shouts. “And that’s why I went a few rounds with your slut earlier!”

  Tabitha is the one that hit Chloe? A red hue suddenly blinds my eyes and all I can see is red and danger but Tabitha only laughs. I’m going to kill her. If she hadn’t ran off right after her fucking lover or step brother died, I would have done it then. And now, my mistakes have chased me into the future.

  Giovanni claps his hands as he starts to laugh, completely aware of course—of the tension in the room that is now higher and much more intense. I can practically taste the need for violence that is wafting in the room.

  “I’ve got the FBI and CIA on my scanners. All of them are headed right here.” Tom’s warning comes through my ear, making Max and I look at each other. We don’t want to be anywhere near this hell before they get here. Max raises an eyebrow now, looking at me. We need to get this going.

  “So.” I start, as I step forward, walking leisurely towards Giovanni, watching as everyone now tenses in the room. Obviously now aware of the raw, potent danger in their midst.

  “You created a hell of a show here Giovanni, I will give you that.” I say, now having the full attention of everyone in the room. Behind me, I know Max is inching closer to Chloe and Sam as the rest of the room is transfixed onto me.

  “But what’s the point of all of this? There is no direction to anything you do and it shows.” My voice is cool and I watch in cool fascination as Giovanni’s face turns a deep shade of red. He obviously doesn’t fancy being challenged.

  “The point is right there, Mr. Black.”

  “Actually, we don’t see it.” The same federal judge from earlier says. “What exactly is going on here and are you going to eliminate all of these people? They obviously know too much already!”

  “Yes of course, we can’t have witnesses. Which was Demetri first crime.” And without warning or any kind of signal, a guard that was standing in behind Demetri kicks him to his knees and out of nowhere, another guard stands in front of him and aims a gun at him and pulls the trigger.

  A loud bang sounds through the room just like that, making Sam scream and Chloe jump. It’s a cold execution and I know Giovanni is getting a kick out of this.

  “Now, who is next?”

  Chapter 27

  Gideon

  All hell breaks loose then.

  As Demetri’s dead, limp body splatters to the cold, hard floor with a loud thump—bits of brain tissue and blood all over the place—the room grows silent and Giovanni thrives at the shocked looks on everyone’s faces. But suddenly, a war cry shouts from somewhere as a woman begins running towards Giovanni, taking out blades that were concealed from somewhere on her body and I immediately recognize her.

  Sofia Demetri aims her blade, her reflexes fast as she throws the blade at Giovanni but she misses. Before she can attempt to throw any more blades, some guards attack her, tackling her to the hard ground but as I watch, the undercover FBI agent who helped us get in before—roughly picks her up and starts leading her out of the room and I know she is going to be safe. However, Sofia’s actions have caused the chain reaction to start.

  As Sofia is being led way, I suddenly notice Tabitha punches and slips through the guards that hold her back, grabs a gun from one of the guns, and is in a full sprint. Running towards where Sam and Chloe are and aims the gun at Chloe.

  I react purely on instinct as I start running towards them, evading the flood of bodies that are suddenly in my way. The bodies are pushing and pressing me back and when I hear the unmistakable sound of a gunshot that suddenly escalates the panic in the large room—my body stills suddenly. Someone was shot and soon after, another gunshot is heard.

  “No. No” I murmur under my breath as I begin roughly pushing and shoving people out of my way in search of where I thought I last saw Chloe. She has to be alright. She just has to be alright. Oh God.

  Ahead of me, I can see a pool of dark red blood on the hard floor and ice freezes my blood. That better not be her. I start running, shoving and pushing towards the circle of people that have gathered around, looking down at something and as soon as I get through, I see a body of a woman on the floor.

  But it’s not Chloe. It’s not Sam either. It’s Tabitha.

  She is face down and the smell of evacuated bowels and blood permeates the air as she lies there in a pool of her own blood.

  “Max! Are you alright?” I hear the loud shrill of a voice sounding from nearby and I turn my head in search of where it might be coming from. I see Max on the floor, clutching his arm and I know he was shot. Quickly striding over to him, I see Sam and Chloe crouched on the floor with Max.

  “Fuck.” Max groans as I reach him and my gaze connects with Chloe but neither of us say anything to each other with our lips but her eyes. . .fuck. She slices me open with the look in her eyes; shreds me to pieces of nothing with that look of pain and fear in her eyes. Breaking gaze with her, I kneel down and access the damage, but I know it’s nothing big.

  “Man, I’m alright.” Max says as he sits up straight then our gazes connect. I know he is hurting but I also know he won’t give in to the pain.

  “He needs something to stop the bleeding and apply pressure on the wound.” Sam informs and I watch as Chloe rips off a piece
of cloth on her dress and then helps Sam wrap it around Max’s arm.

  I remove my bowtie and wrap it around on top of Chloe’s dress fabric to tighten the makeshift bandage. Chloe and I lock gazes and we both stand at the same time. Breaking our connection, I extend my hand down to Max to help him up.

  “Thanks man. Let’s go!” He says and I step closer to Chloe, her gaze tracking my every step. I watch as she watches me. I watch the unsteady rise and fall of her chest. I watch as her plush, sweet lips purse into a displeased line and I feel like kissing her. The urge is so strong and completely misplaced.

  We are in the middle of fucking chaos and all I want is to make love to her mind. Her soul, her lips and every single inch of her that has sucked me in. We now stand toe to toe and I’m looking down at her. Time blurs completely and everything falls away. It’s only her beautiful, haunting gray eyes that keep me rooted to this earth.

  There is a storm brewing in her eyes and all I want is to calm it for her. My hand lifts and I grasp her hand into mine. Her fingers entwine with mine but we still haven’t said anything to each other but that’s okay, we are already having a full blown conversation.

  “Chloe, let’s go.” Our connection is cut short when Sam grabs Chloe’s hand and forcefully starts pulling Chloe with her. I watch as they start weaving through the crowd and I know they are expecting me to be following after them but I remain standing there, watching as they disappear into the sea of ‘party goers’ and syndicate snakes alike.

  And just as they make it out the door, I turn and start making my way back to where I was initially. I have important business to take care of.

  People scream and many of them are running for the door, curses and screams being shouted, mayhem and pandemonium galore in this damn snake pit, but I keep moving. Now I know Chloe is well on her way to get out here, there isn’t more to concern my mind with but the task at hand.

  “Where the fuck are you?” The question comes through my ear and I recognize Max’s voice through the earpiece.