Chapter 98

***Levi.***

The men laughed.

They didn't need money,or they would have made their demands. Rather they seemed to be here for me.

"You have me. Take me and let everyone go." I sneered.

My lips tight as I stared into his eyes. He must have seen something in my gaze that startled him for a moment, before he regained himself.

"I heard you are very precise and a good negotiator." The man started slowly in my face. "Sadly I am here for one thing." He grinned.

I tried to buy sometime, hoping Blake found a way.

"I'll pay you triple whatever you were given. How much? A million dollars? Ten million? Name your price.” I spat. The man's armor cracked and I could swear I reached him. I could pay more than that. But first he had to agree.

"I would forget this ever happened, but let everyone go and the money would be yours." I baited him.

Someone in his group took him aside. He released me. I panted anxiously.

*God I hoped that Blake had an idea. Because these men had bloodshot eyes and I hadn't been prepared for this.*

The worst thing I could do now was die. Because I made a promise to my wife. I never broke my/promises.

The man gave me a look as they talked in their dialect. And I wished I could hear them.

I flicked a gaze to the woman who still had a gun pointed to her head. If I made a move for the man's gun, how many could I shoot down, before I got shot. I still had my knife in my leg. They hadn't spotted it. I could do something.

Shifting a gaze to the man who held the woman hostage. I said.

"Mind if I get a drink of your water?"

The man eyed me, dubiously. I shrugged, inching closer. I was a hairsbreadth away. My hands held in midair.

"I haven't had a drink of water in hours and if your boss there is going to consider my options, you wouldn't want me dead.” I smied.

The man was thoughtful. I saw the others had converged and they were almost all talking, except for a few, who distractedly stood around.

Sparing me another glance, the man began reaching for his canister.

Swiftly, I lowered myself and pulled my knife. Before he knew what he was about, I covered his mouth, slitting his throat. Silent and precise, I lowered the man to the floor.

I looked to ensure the others weren't looking.

*They must be arguing about the money.*

I crouched low, picking the man's gun. Then I crawled to the woman.She startled and I covered her mouth. Dragging us behind one of their cars.

I wasn't too good with the dialect, but I managed to ask her to crawl out

of the area. She nodded and obeyed.

Then I heard a gunshot and one of the men fell dead. They began firing randomly. At the same time more fell dead.

*Good timing Blake.*

Looking around. I saw the men pointing in where I had been standing.They were searching for me. I fired my shots and they dropped dead like flies.

Just as I rose to my feet, attempting to take cover behind the trees,someone stopped me.

“Don't fucking move, Ruthford! You thought you could run away right.”

I stilled and saw from my periphery vision, Blake had a gun raised. He gave a signal and I docked. A bullet firing and hitting the man. I panted,shaking.

For a second I thought I was going to die. Blake and two of my men rushed to me, ensuring the man was dead. I rose to my feet, my body still fighting for balance.

"Thanks man." I breathed, watching the dead man.

It wasn't the leader and I grew worried.

I turned around, wincing from a wound I sustained, while I crawled. And a shot was fired, hitting me straight on my right side. I stilled from the shooting pain. Staggering to get my balance. Blake yelled, and another shot was fired, but I didn't bloody know who did. All I know is that Blake had his hand around me.

The pain was shooting like a million nails. *Okay that didn't even cut it*.It was worse than the time I got shot by Black Pea. And all I could think at the moment was I had failed Kenya.

I didn't even know when I had my fingers on the wound. When I pulled it back up. blood covered my palm.

"Steady Levi... Someone call a fucking doctor!" Blake yelled,lowering me gently.

The floor suddenly felt cold, or did I feel cold.

“Blake...Kenya...I asked her to...I promised that I'd stay with her for..."

“Don't speak man." I heard Blake say. I drifted in and out of consciousness. I couldn't feel anything around my side. It was like I was slipping away.

I cried in pain when someone rushed to my side, pressing the wound.

Everything ceased to exist.

*I open my eyes. Am not dead yet, right? I look and see corpses lying around me. Broken bodies. That nightmare again. I struggle to banish the sight. But this time it doesn't go away.*

*Dodging the bodies, I see mum. I freeze, watching her. She comes closer.I flinch.*

*“Don't be afraid, she says. I wouldn't bite." She says. I try to believe her,but I am mostly scared. Then she holds my hand and walks me through the labyrinth of bodies. I hitch my breath all the way. My eyes closed

against the carnage.*

*We soon stand in front of a very bright light. I look at the light,wondering at it.*

“*Am I to enter the light, mum?" I ask her.*

*She smiles.*

*"Yes. Because the light means you will finally open your heart again. You'd finally allow her in your heart."*

*“Allow who,mum?”I ask.*

*“Kenya.”*