Dictator s Daughter

by Angell, Lorena

  Eliwese came out of the restroom wearing slim fitting, stylish jeans with a floral print silk blouse. She was so beautiful all dressed up in girls’ clothing that he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  “What are you staring at? You’ve seen me with no clothes on, yet you never looked at me like this before.” She seemed mildly embarrassed.

  “I’m …um…sorry. It’s just you look absolutely awesome.” Now he was blushing for being so brazenly juvenile.

  “You are something else, Sean Cutler. Come on, we need to get back. It’s almost noon.” They started walking toward the courtyard. “Still no word from Ryan?”

  Right on cue, Sean’s cell rang. Ryan.

  “He has the laptop and he is over at the electronics store.” Sean looked down the corridor straining his head to see above the other shoppers. “That way, come on.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her along quickly.

  “Sean, please slow down. I can’t…I can’t move this quickly.” She was in pain not only from the fast pace but also from the twisting and bending required to change her clothes.

  He slowed, apologizing to her.

  They reached the store and found Ryan sans disguise. He rushed over to them ushering them toward the back of the store.

  “The guards are everywhere.” Ryan had his hand all bandaged up from punching the wall at the hotel. He gingerly handed items to Sean and Eliwese. “Here’s the laptop, the video is in the shared file on the desktop. I made another copy of the video on this flash drive.” Ryan waved the mini drive briefly. “I’ll hold it as a backup to our couriers. Here is your earpiece, although they will probably take it away. Don’t worry; you just won’t be able to hear us. We will be able to hear you, though. Right here on the computer is a tiny microphone. They can sweep you for bugs and wires, but they won’t find anything.”

  “Where’s Dr. Randall?” Sean asked.

  “They took him,” Ryan replied quickly, yet quietly.

  “What?!” Sean and Eliwese exclaimed in unison.

  “It all happened so fast.” Ryan’s voice was breathy and trembling. “I was in the one room working on the laptop when Dr. Randall shut and locked the divider door. I hurried over to the door and heard loud voices and commotion. I couldn’t help him and… they took him.”

  “Damn it!” Sean raked his fingers through his hair.

  “I watched out the peep hole as a whole army of guards escorted him to the elevator. He locked me out to protect me, to protect the information on that,” he pointed to the laptop, “but there isn’t anything we can do about it right now. Sean, take her to the main courtyard. I will circle back and position myself up on the second floor balcony, good luck.”

  Sean turned to Eliwese to see if she was in agreement with the plan. She nodded. Sean was impressed with the leadership qualities coming out of Ryan.

  “Right. Be careful,” Sean said to Ryan.

  Chapter 13

  They left the store and headed back to the main courtyard. They walked slowly and deliberately with a purpose. Sean’s heart pounded in his ears and his hands were cold and clammy as he held the laptop. He glanced over at Eliwese discovering her complexion was pale as a ghost. He took her hand in his and made her stop.

  “Are you ok?”

  “Compared to what?” She smiled slightly. “No time for pain or sickness now.” She took a few more steps and stopped abruptly taking a sharp intake of breath which startled Sean.

  “What’s wrong, Eliwese?”

  “Riley.”

  Sean scanned quickly to try to find Riley but the many busy shoppers blocked his view. A break in the crowd revealed three men in suits, standing with their feet shoulder width apart. They were positioned right in front of the toy store where many mothers with children bustled in and out of the entry way. Riley stood in the middle and wore a vindictive smile on his face. Sean assumed the other two brutish looking men were bodyguards.

  Sean and Eliwese walked forward to the men and stopped just short of three feet from them. Riley glared at Sean, the smile left his face, as recognition replaced it.

  “It’s you. A bit on the daring side for you to climb out of your hole where you could have been picked off so easily.” Riley’s low growling voice was cool and harsh.

  “Too bad no one, including yourself, realized I needed to be picked off.”

  Riley scrunched his eyes together bringing his eyebrows to near touching. “Jacquline is not your type.”

  “And you think she’s yours? You’re old enough to be her father.”

  Riley stepped forward so that their toes touched. Riley’s height was a good four inches taller than Sean and he was attempting to establish his dominance. Sean would not give Riley the pleasure of seeing him shrink.

  Sean had visions zipping through his head of Riley and the horrible things he had done to Eliwese. He thought about the other Shawn and how he was shot in cold blood, dying in Eliwese’s arms.

  Sean reached down into the furthest, deepest storage of courage and spoke to Riley in a quiet, calm voice, “You are the lowest son of a bitch on the face of the earth, Riley, and I will take you down,” Sean poked Riley in the chest with his finger, “if it’s the last thing I do.”

  Riley tossed his head back and laughed mockingly at Sean. He said to Eliwese, “This is your protector?” He laughed again and turned his attention back to Sean. His voice went darkly serious. “You shouldn’t make threats with no intention of carrying them out.”

  “Oh, I meant every word,” Sean said confidently.

  “Really, then try this on for size, you shouldn’t make threats you have no possible way of completing. Eliwese is in my charge now, not that she ever left it.” Riley’s eyes never left Sean as he said, “Oh dear, didn’t she mention this to you?”

  Sean said nothing.

  “I’m the one who arranged her crossing with your father.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.” Sean had to get control of his emotions. If Riley was aware of half the information Sean knew about him, he would kill him to keep the secrets safe. This was not the time to expose Riley.

  Riley leaned his head to the right side of Sean’s head and whispered in his ear. “Try this on for size then, I killed your worthless father. I made sure your mother was covered with his blood and brains.”

  Sean took a deep breath, trying hard to keep his cool, but there wasn’t much of that left in him. If it wasn’t for the fact he knew his father lived, Sean would’ve tackled Riley down to the ground and killed him with whatever he could get his hands on.

  Instead, Sean spoke carefully. “You are everything I imagined you to be, Riley; pathetically trying to provoke me to attack you. Only cowards shoot defenseless people in the back of the head. What you don’t know is my father lived, so it’s impossible his brains splattered all over my mother. So I guess that makes you a low life liar and a coward; oh, and a heartless bastard for killing your own mother.”

  Riley’s stance went rigid and his fists clenched tightly to his sides. Sean got the impression Riley was under strict orders not to harm them before the meeting, otherwise, Riley might have pounded Sean right then.

  “All this harsh judgment from a boy who was too stupid to realize his fiancée was a spy.” Riley moved slightly over to Eliwese. He pushed one foot in between her feet and placed the other one between Sean and Eliwese. He leaned his malevolent face to her ear nearest Sean and said in a voice loud enough for Sean to hear, “Did you tell him about us? Did you tell him you are carrying my child who will become the next dictator? Maybe we should tell him about the many times I’ve had my way with you. I know you enjoyed it as much as I did. Well, I take that back; almost as much as I did.” Riley allowed his lips to touch her earlobe and Eliwese shuddered under his arrogant attempt to anger Sean.

  Sean shook with rage and his blood boiled. The anger he had for this man was incomprehensible.

  Eliwese came to Sean’s rescue before he exploded. She brought her hand up between Riley an
d herself, placing it in the center of his chest. Her fingers gently massaged as she pushed him away slowly. She peered in his eyes and tilted her chin upward and said in the calmest, surreal voice, “You know, Riley, you can only fool yourself for so long before it catches up with you. I’m not pregnant… anymore.”

  She rubbed his arm in a friendly way, almost a comforting manner.

  His eyes had gone cold.

  “Don’t worry, Riley,” she said calmly. “You’d be a horrible father.”

  Riley’s whole demeanor changed. He straightened up taller and his face turned red with ferocity. Sean worried Riley was about to hit Eliwese. His bodyguards must have picked up on the same vibe because they stepped forward and flanked Riley on each side.

  Riley turned to Sean and said, “Our business is finished! I’m going to thoroughly enjoy killing you and your worthless brother.” He turned back to Eliwese and with the backside of his fingers he gently stroked her cheek. “And as for you, sweetheart, it sounds like you and I have a lot to ‘get on’ with tonight.”

  Riley snapped his fingers and the two bodyguards grabbed Sean and Eliwese and ushered them to the center courtyard. Sean didn’t see Riley slip off in another direction. The bodyguards led them between chairs and tables, strollers and high chairs, all happy shoppers unaware of the threatening danger. They came to a stop in the very place Eliwese figured her father would center himself.

  “Sit down, please,” a low calm voice came from the man who had his back to them. They were escorted to the other side of the table and seated. The guards stepped back a few paces. A couple other guards stood on either side of Victor Rawlings with their holstered guns visible inside their jackets.

  Sean looked at the man seated across the table. This seemingly simple man held so much power, so much fear, that his people would bow down to him and do whatever he bid. His bodyguards, snipers and undercover spies all would act on any command he gave; like mindless drones, as Ryan would put it.

  He looked to be in his late forties with dark brown hair with platinum strands growing over his ears. His eyes were deep brown with bushy eyebrows nearly touching in the center of his forehead. He had a prominent yet handsome nose and a crisp jaw line. His double-breasted midnight blue suit made Sean angry because he figured the money to buy such an expensive suit probably came from the exploits of Eliwese.

  The one thing which stood out as unusual to Sean was a bruise on his lower left jawbone. Victor had thugs to do his dirty work, so why would he have a bruise?

  Victor rested his elbows on the arms of the chair with his hands in front of his jaw. His fingers intertwined and his index fingers extended straight up resting on his lips. “Well, well,” he said leaning forward and moving his hands down to the table, “The mysterious son who held my daughter captive.” He clicked his tongue in disgust at Sean. “You have Sierra’s eyes.”

  Sean had a confused look on his face. He didn’t know anyone named Sierra.

  Victor Rawlings smiled. “Your mother’s real name is actually Sierra. Didn’t you know that? You have her eyes and,” he paused and lightened his voice, “her mouth.”

  Sean’s heart dropped to the soles of his feet.

  “You would have been my son, my heir, if not for your pathetic father.”

  Oh, he insulted the wrong man, Sean thought as he sizzled with fury. “Mr. Dictator, sir, I happen to have my father’s DNA, not yours.”

  “Your father is dead. Again.” Victor leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.

  Sean was confused. “My father is alive and he’s someone you’ll never measure up to.”

  “Riley killed him personally. He’s dead. You’ve been hiding in your cave a little too long and aren’t up on current events.”

  “How current are we talking about? I just spoke with my father yesterday. Has he died since then?”

  “Hmm. This wouldn’t be the first time he’d miraculously evaded death.”

  Sean felt as if he might be winning the argument until Victor delivered his next comment.

  “Too bad you’ll never get to see him again.”

  Sean scooted out to the edge of his chair, ready to bolt across the table and wrap his fingers around the pathetic man’s throat.

  Eliwese quickly turned her head to Sean. “Don’t, Sean.”

  “Yes, by all means, don’t. In fact,” Victor snapped his fingers and two men materialized and grabbed one arm each, “why don’t you don’t over there.” He casually flicked a finger in the direction of the open courtyard.

  The men dragged Sean to his feet and ushered him to the open courtyard, far enough away he couldn’t hear what was going on. They sat him down at a table and moved away. Sean felt utterly helpless, sitting all by himself. He felt even worse for Eliwese who was all alone now. His cell phone began to vibrate as Ryan called.

  “Ryan, can you hear her?”

  “Yes…. she’s trying to get Mom released…he won’t do it…there are one-hundred of his men here in the courtyard…we will all be shot. There is no point in letting Mom go…she is insisting.” Ryan repeated tidbits of the conversation between the father and daughter. Sean looked around the public area and spotted many dark suited men. He assumed they were all toting firearms under their jackets like the other guards. It wouldn’t be like the Rawlings to order his goons to kill the Cutlers right here in the mall; he would more likely turn the ugly task over to Riley and he would do it somewhere else and avoid a run-in with the Northtown police.

  Sean watched the motions and body language from Eliwese and her father. Ryan narrated the scene but it wasn’t enough.

  “Sean, second floor in front of the burger stand, it’s Mom. He has agreed to let her come down to you, but he says we’re all dead anyway. Here she comes, she looks terrible. I’ll kill the bastard myself!”

  “Cool down, Ryan. Isn’t there another way for me to hear the conversation?” Sean asked.

  “Maybe, hang up and let me try something.”

  Sean did so as his mother made it to his table. He stood up and hugged her tightly. They both cried into each other’s shoulders.

  “Oh Sean, you are alright?” His mother wept. “What about Ryan?”

  “He is fine. He is on the second floor, but don’t look at him. We don’t want to give away his position.”

  “Sean, your father, he’s…” She couldn’t finish.

  “Mom,” Sean said tenderly, “sit down, this is not over yet.”

  Sean’s phone vibrated again. He opened it and heard Victor Rawlings voice talking to Eliwese.

  “…you think you can blackmail me? Where in the world did you come up with that idea? All I need to do is wink and they will all be shot.”

  “Well, after you watch it, you might change your mind.”

  “Why should I do anything you ask me to do?”

  “You don’t have to, father. But if you have any wisdom left in that over inflated head of yours, you’ll do this.”

  “Eliwese, there is nothing you could possibly blackmail me with, and you know it, don’t you? But, I’ll watch your little movie, just to entertain you, darling.”

  There was a pause in talking and then the sound of the video beginning.

  “My name is Eliwese Rawlings. I am the daughter of Victor Rawlings. I was not kidnapped, nor was I extracted from Baylend. I left my homeland to seek refuge from the abuse of my father and an elaborate scheme was executed to cover up my disappearance. One might ask themselves, ‘why would the daughter of the Victor Rawlings want to leave her plush life?’ The answer is too complicated to fit on this video. However, what I do want the world to know is that since I was twelve, my father has used my body to fund his many arms missions and massacres. He wants an heir and he accepts large amounts of money from wealthy men across our nation and yours to attempt to produce an heir through me. In the company of many wealthy, powerful men, I learned a far greater scheme that is in the process of completion. Many men, powerful men, are already placed within the gover
nment of Baylend, strategically positioned to help orchestrate a hostile takeover by my father. If he is not stopped, many thousands of innocent people will die. He possesses the financial backing, the manpower and the nuclear weapons to succeed. To ignore this threat would be catastrophic. To validate my accusations I implore you to investigate Senator Thompson, Senator Vilante, Senator Stevens, Senator Bell, Senator Jorage, Senator Ardell, Senator Williams and Director Edwards for financial funding from my father in my name, Eliwese Rawlings. I, in no way, made these contributions to these men. This warning is valid and true. If you choose to ignore my words, then heaven help you. If you are to take heed, then you must first start by confronting the corrupt Senators. The invasion cannot happen without their help. Please consider my words. Thank you.”

  All went silent. Sean was both proud and frightened at the same time. He knew some of those Senators. Senator Stevens was from his region. The silence which ensued alarmed Sean. Victor Rawlings must be unnerved by what he’d just viewed. But what would his next move be?

  “I don’t understand you, Eliwese. You endanger so many innocent lives just to stand on your soapbox and scream lies. Your determination to defy me is exhausting. You know nothing of what you say, and now you’ve named individuals who will have to be terminated, and by the look on your face, I can tell you aren’t even one-hundred percent sure they are involved with me. How does it feel to be responsible for so many forthcoming deaths?”

  “Why don’t you tell me?”

  “Really Eliwese, if you hadn’t spoken their names just now, they wouldn’t have to be eliminated.”

  “Is this how you convince yourself you’re a decent man? By telling yourself the death of others is always someone else’s fault? Well, it’s not going to work on me this time, father.”

  “Oh really, how about this death, you can’t tell me this one is not your fault.” He took a photograph out of an envelope and laid it in front of Eliwese.

  “Oh no, Dr. Randall.” She gasped trying to hold her composure. “What did you do to him?”

  “Riley took this picture of your companion this morning. He didn’t even put up a fight. He probably thought he was a martyr or something. But I know better. I would’ve killed him myself, if I’d had the chance. He and I go way back.”