Gwen held her breathe for a second. She knew Richard couldn't pull the trigger so soon...atleast she hoped he wouldn't.
Richard cackled and retreated his gun.
" Just kidding. Not yet. " He sighed. " Father dearest, don't worry. "
" Cut the crap! What the hell is all this nonsense!" Ryan was visibly furious and Richard just sat there playing deaf.
" You know , Gwen , he was much nicer when we were kids. " He was being an ass on purpose.
" Anyways , the main purpose for this gathering is..." His gaze went across the room. " ...drum roll ! Shifting of power !"
" You see , Alec , dad has had alot on his plate lately. Well , apart from begging you and Freya to come back to him , he's also been having alot of health issues lately. " Richard signaled Rick to get him a glass of whiskey.
" The doctors say he may not make it. " He hissed as he poured the whiskey down his throat.
" You're full of shit. " Alec didn't think it was true , but Ryan was silent and the look on his face said it all.
" Say something. " Alec asked his father.
Ryan pursed his lips. " Son , your brother played his cards just right. He got me right where he wanted. "
" Very sad. " Richard frowned.
" So you're trying to kill your own father just for this stupud business? " Alec growled at Richard.
" Not just him , by the way , you too. " Richard added.
" You're bad for business Alec. You're hell bent on ending us so...technically...you're the enemy. " Richard sighed. " And you hate Dad. You've been running from him for years now so I don't know why you're acting like you care. "
Gwen kept moving the zipper against the rope. She had to think of something fast. Richard had lost his mind.
" And Gwen! " He suddenly exclaimed. She froze.
Did he notice her movements? He couldn't possibly have.
He got up and walked to her.
" You know , Louis has been off the hook lately. Drugs , women , firearms. The kid's gone astray. "
" Keep his name out of your mouth , please. " Gwen glared at him.
" I'm sorry. I can't. He's part of this story too." Richard threw his arms In the air.
" You see , Father dearest here doesn't like you. We all know that. So he came up with a plan. A lousy one , if I may add. "
" He teamed up with Dwayne , your brother's boss , to double cross him. Your brother was supposed to set fire to my home then somehow , somewhere the police would get to him , the jail , then...blah , blah , blah. " He frowned.
" It was lame. So lame. I didn't like the plan." He turned to Alec. " So I changed it."
Gwen held her breath. She hoped he wasnt going to say what she thought he was going to say. Louis couldn't possibly be that stupid.
" In the original plan , no one was supposed to get hurt. Just a fire. " Richard picked up two glasses and held them out as if he was demonstrating.
" So I got Dwayne on my side and sent Louis to the wrong house. " He switched the glasses. " Your house Alec. "
By this time , Alec was ready to break the chair he was tied to and use it's pieces to stab Richard.
" I didn't know Freya was in the house. Trust me. I was honestly hoping you'd die or maybe Gwen. But oh well...Freya was a victim. "
" I'm going to end you Richard!" Ryan was red. He looked like he was going to blow up.
" Calm down Dad. That cyanide might just work faster. " Richard stated plainly.
Ryan burst into violent coughing again. His chest was burning up and he felt like the air just wasn't getting into his lungs. He clutched his chest and gasped for air.
Gwen couldn't believe it. Was Louis responsible for Freya's condition?
Whether he knew it or not , he was involved. How could she face Freya again ? How could she face Alec?
Derrick and his men were in. Luckily, the room was empty. They made sure they were as quiet as possible. They didn't want to alert anyone.
" Remember , this is a rescue mission. We have to make sure they're safe first , then we can blow this place up.
Derrick carefully turned the doorknob and opened the door. The corridors were clear.
" Let's move. " He made sure he stayed close to the walls and kept his guard up.
It was all going well until one of the guys knocked over a picture frame. It fell to the ground and the glass shattered.
Derrick spun round and glared at the person in question.
" What the fuck Ross?"
" I'm sorry , but I think we've got another problem. " Ross pointed behind Derrick.
" Fuck. "
It was Raymond , Richard's nephew. He stood there hugging a huge teddy bear just staring at nearly 30 grown ass men , all wielding weapons , cramped up in a corridor.
Derrick put away his gun and approached him with the warmest smile he could make up.
" Hey big guy! " He bent to his height and grabbed his tiny shoulders. " Why are you out here this late? You should be in bed. "
" It's just 9:50 . " He showed Derrick his spiderman watch. " I'm not sleepy yet."
" Wow..." He laughed fakely. " Listen , how about I take you to your room? Is that okay?"
Raymond peaked at the men and then looked back at Derrick. " Are you the bad guys? "
It was an innocent question.
Derrick cussed under his breath. Richard was truly stupid to leave a kid in such a house filled with armed men.
" Umm...no. We're just here to pick up someone. " Derrick patted his hair.
" Is it uncle Alec? " He looked down nervously. " I saw him in the study. I also saw the pretty lady from the park with him."
" Yes. That's why we're here. " He smiled.
" You're one smart kid , aren't you? "
He gave a goofy genuine smile. " I can take you there. "
" No , you can't. " Derrick didn't need a kid involved in all this mess. There would be a cross fire , that's for sure. The kid should be out of the house.
" Maybe you can just...direct me? " Derrick scooped him up in his arms.
" Go down the hall then down the stairs and turn left. " He was brief.
" Thanks kid. " Derrick bumped foreheads with him. " Now , how about I get you out of here? Somewhere with lots of ice cream and candy?"
He smiled at first , but then frowned.
" But...Mom's not going to let me leave. She says outside is dangerous. " He puffed his cheeks.
Derrick sighed. Shit was getting complicated. This meant he had to find a way to get both mother and son out of here.
" Ray! Honey , where are you?" Katherine yelled from her room. She was drowsy from all the sleeping pills she'd been taking.
The house was fuller than usual. She didn't like how Richard let such dangerous people be around her son. They were a bad influence.
She sighed as she lazily put her robe on Nad walked to the door. But before she could open it , someone turned the door knob.
" Mummy!" Raymond laughed.
" Hello. You must be Katherine , right?" Derrick smiled. He'd never met her personally. He'd just heard about her.
" Who are you? " She pulled Raymond a2ay from him in panic mode.
" That doesn't matter. All that matters is that you and Raymond leave the premises. " Derrick's expression darkened.
" No! First tell me who you are! " She was already shaking like a leaf.
Derrick knew her shrieks would attract attention. He frowned for a second before deciding to knock her out.
" Raymond , can you step out for a second?" He spoke without breaking eye contact.
The kid followed the orders.
" Please don't hurt me !" Karherine whispered.
" I won't. "