chapter 20

It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend- William Blake.

***

~Kara's POV~

"So I guess Earl's inviting us to his party?." I gave an amused bleak laugh as I scanned and toyed with the sleek invitation card in my gloved hands.

I took some carefree steps around the moderately sized living room like I was contemplating an issue as I flicked my blue ponytails backwards.

Johnny just gave me an amused look like he was thinking what I was thinking.

"..." I opened my mouth to speak but I couldn't find my tongue when a cunning thought dawned me.

"How does he have this address?." I furrowed my brows at Johnny, whom waa sitting across from me on a brown plaid sofa.

He sank deeper into his seat and crossed his legs, then he cleared his throat lightly and spoke, "Oh! He left it at my old place in the Narrows." 

Really?, I thought to myself but just waved the thought off.

Edward had got us this place close to the lake, after all dead or not, he was still a billionaire, His own way of helping Johnny and I carry out our plans was by getting us a well safeguarded and comfortable place to stay.

Well the Sterlings had a taste for luxury and finesse, so Edward thought it wise to procure us a Condo, he had various properties across town, but everybody wants a dead man to remain dead, especially when they can Will his belongings and auction every single original piece he owned.

Although I had asked him why he didn't leave town when the path was completely clear for him after he successfully faked his death, he said he'd wanted to stay close and keep an eye on his family.

I wanted to ask him why he hadn't been in touch with his son at least but I knew better, I didn't want to speak about or bring up Lance in any of our discussions.

"One of my guys said they found the invite in my mail box, so they brought it to me." Johnny added and shrugged, sitting up uneasily.

I just nodded.

"Oh look you're also invited!." I smirked mischievously as I saw his name on the invite.

I glanced over at Johnny as I held the invite between my index and middle finger out to him, which were covered in sleek leather gloves.

He took it calmly and surveyed it. 

"I see it's some shitty reunion." Johnny scoffed.

I winked at him.

"What's with that look?." Johnny asked looking a bit confused.

"What'd you say, we go add some jazz to this reunion huh?." I quirked a brow with an amused expression.

I stopped pacing now and maintained a comfortable stance. The thought in my head seemed very appealing, I would have cackled but I didn't know how to.

He understood what I meant immediately.

"I'd like that!." He beamed as equally, then he sat up fully and placed the invite on the coffee table in front of him, which had a ceramic white saucer and glass cup on it, the glass cup was already empty.

"C'mon!, Tell everyone to suit up, we'll be paying Earl a lil visit." I grinned mischievously and made my exit without waiting for his reply.

In practiced steps, I staggered from side to said as I swayed slightly on my black pencil boots, head up high, shoulders straight, hands dangling at my sides and heels bouncing once they hit the ground.

Did I forget to mention I was putting on a Black Widow inspired outfit, I was dressed like someone in a sci-fi movie or a character for a marvel production, but in the real world, I looked like an assassin, which is what I am now!.

I have trained consistently to master major fighting skills and techniques, now it was save to say that I was a Certified Killer.

This is what my new shade was about, a new hair color equals a totally different personality, and I'm so loving the new me.

This is the new me and Earl's gonna be the first to witness my ruthlessness.

Say hi to The Broken Rose!.

***

~Lance POV~

The dinner had kicked off to a good start, some slow 90s R&B music was playing faintly in the background. I was used to attending parties but right now I was bored out of my league.

I felt sick in my stomach and melancholic, something just didn't feel right. 

I rubbed the tumbler in my hand against my thumb and index finger stylishly and with ethic just like I'd been brought up, right when my life was still Utopia.

I brought the glass to my shaky lips and took a small sip of the expensive champagne, I'd admit Earl had good taste, so moral lesson: Never Underestimate The Don!.

"Do you think she'll turn up?." Silver's voice pulled me back to reality.

I was beginning to get fond of her voice and company and we were getting along pretty well, we clicked in so many ways.

Now that someone finally brought it up, I know why I was feeling unnecessarily gloomy. I didn't want the thought to linger too much.

"Well the one person I know she cares about the most is here right now so..." I sighed heavily and looked over at her.

It wasn't yet time for the main dinner, so guests were just lurking around and making happy memories. Silver and I were standing at a corner by a wall slab overlooking the rest of the event.

"You mean her Mom?." Silver asked looking worried.

I almost gave a bleak laugh but I sucked it in. "No Silver, the other one beside her Mom wearing the fancy green silk gown." I nodded towards Nana's direction.

"You mean Risha?, She's Anna's junior sister." Silver told me with a shrug.

"I give up on you Starllions!." I joked and we both laughed.

"But I'm for real though, so why would She prefer her aunt over her own mother?." She asked suddenly like as if something just dawned on her.

"It's a long long story." I sighed and shook my head.

"So far this party is damn boring, so I'd be definitely down for all the details." She huffed as her shoulders sank in tiredness.

"You think?." I gave her an amused look.

"What'd you say we bail?." She asked me with bright eyes.

Eyes that I've gotten so so fond of.

"Let's hope nobody notices." I said and placed my tumbler gently on the slab surface.

"Follow me!." She beamed and lead the way.

***

"Lance stop that!." Silver squealed as I splashed her with some pool water.

"After one last one!." I replied happily and splashed her some more.

"I'm going to hurt you boy." She threatened like the teenager she was and then giggled.

I laughed softly alongside, we were behind the Manor at the back patio, but we were sitting by the pool with our toes immersed in the water, faint music could still be heard from the living room.

"Ok so back to the game..." Silver said as she raked her fingers through her rich auburn hair.

She had taken off her glasses earlier and also loosed her cute bun, she seemed really sick of party do's and dont's. Everyone did get sick of the party procedure every once in a while but hers particularly seemed to have a more shady reason to it, hanging out with Kara was gradually turning me to a psychologist.

"Ok so tell me one thing you're grateful for..." She heaved.

There was a short silence before I finally replied.

"I'll sip on that." I said and sipped my drink.

We decided to play Sip or Spill, so we had a waiter serve us a champagne bottle and two glasses, it was more like a bonding exercise which was meant to help us get to know each other. This should probably be my third sip so far.

"Ohh." She said, her tone carrying a hint of disappointment.

"I'm sorry." I muttered.

"No it's fine, I totally get it if you don't wanna talk about her." Silver told me as she dangled her feet in the shimmering pool water.

It was past twilight now so the sky was already a nebula blue and black, the crescent moon spread a shadowy light through out the patio although the led lights from the Manor we're streaming through the window blinds.

Truth is, we were having so much fun together and bringing Kara up now was going to ruin the moment.

"What about you?, What are you grateful for?." I asked giving her a distinct look.

"Well for one there isn't much going on in my life but still I do have a lot to be grateful for, I would say I'm grateful Earl adopted me." She said and sighed as she smiled sadly.

"Hey I'm happy you're here!." I told her as I gently nudged her shoulders.

"Thanks." She smiled back.

As she smiled her sparkly grey eyes lit up with joy, it was shimmering under the crescent moonlight and it looked just like the crystal pool beneath us, her eyes were like a glassy sea.

"Can I?." She asked as she motioned to hug me, I nodded with a smile and she laughed in relief.

We hugged for a few seconds, my hands were wrapped around the small of her back and strands of her hair got entangled alongside while I could feel her small flail arms wrapped around my neck gently.

As we broke free, I asked...

"So are you gonna tell me why you hate parties so much?." I asked her warily.

"Is it that obvious?." She asked shrugging uneasily.

I nodded.

"Oh you know, I'm just not caught out for these type of scenes." She told me and sighed.

Yeah she's lying, there's more to it!.

"I'll just probably sip on that." She said after a short moment of silence.

She didn't seem comfortable all of a sudden, I noticed how her shoulders tensed when I asked her the question and now she was nervously tapping on the surface of her wine glass.

I'm sure I mentioned being a psychologist.

I watched as she shakily lifted the glass to her lips but then she paused and said...

"You know I'm lying, this is useless." She said and gently placed the glass back on the patio floor.

I slowly placed my palm over hers and squeezed it gently to reassure her.

Sighing heavily she said, "it goes back to a childhood thing, like back at the orphanage all those years ago, whenever a party was hosted, I just knew one of my friends was going to go and everyday I kept wishing it'll be my turn and then Don Starllion came, but anytime I'm at a party it just brings back all those memories, the trauma and all, it was so bad, I had to start attending therapy anytime he was leaving, because I sorta have abandonment issues." 

"Wow that's a lot!." I winced as the magnitude of her saga hit me.

"I know but I've never really spoke to anyone about it, not my therapist, not even Earl." Silver told me.

"It's fine, you can trust me." I reassured her.

"I know." She said and gave me a small smile.

The silence that followed was quite very comforting, we both savoured the moment looking up at the night sky and letting the cool autumn wind caress our cheeks, then I turned to look at her, she looked so peaceful, I felt compassion for her, somehow I know there's still more to whatever she had said to me.

She seemed very happy, I kept on admiring her features until she turned her attention to me and caught me staring, I noticed how color filled her cheeks, she looked so pretty.

I held her palms firmly in mine as we both leaned closer to one another.

Our faces were inches apart now.

Nano seconds were ticking away and we savoured the moment.

Then everything went pitch black.

We jolted apart Immediately and stared back at the Manor.

"Any idea what happened?." Silver asked me, worry etched in her tone and voice.

"What are the odds of a power outage in this place?." I asked back meticulously.

"It almost never happens!." She answered me courtly.

Ok don't panic but this can't be good, something is off I can feel it.

"C'mon let's go inside, whatever you do, stay behind me." I told her as I lifted my legs from the pool.

"Do you think it's Her?." Silver asked as we stood up to leave the pool area.

"Well Kara is full of surprises, but why would you even think so?." I stopped and looked back at her.

"Because I know what her Mom is capable of." She said firmly.

I was a bit shocked, then it occurred to me she was always dressed like an assassin anytime I saw her, but then I just nodded and picked up the champagne bottle from the ground.

Hitting it against the wall it broke into several pieces and then I picked up a larger and sharper glass piece.

I motioned for Silver to follow behind me. We warily went back into the Manor through the back door.

As we walked towards the hall I noticed a red tiny laser light hover in front of us, without thinking twice I pulled silver to myself and we both crashed to the ground.

"You okay?." I asked her as she groaned lightly.

"Yeah I guess why?." She looked confused.

"You see that red laser light over there?." I asked her and she nodded. "It's a sniper rifle." I added breathing heavily.

"Maybe we should just stay put till the lights are back on." Silver suggested.

It seemed like a more likely idea so I compiled and we both sat up, back against the wall and raised our knees up, we intertwined our fingers and then Silver rested her head on my right shoulder.

***

~Kara's POV~

As the lights came back on, you could hear sighs of relief from everyone but the noise soon dies down as they spotted me and all my men scattered around the house.

We were all armed and ready for anything the Vipers had to offer, it was a well planned out activity and so far everything was falling into place.

I strolled across the dinning from where I was standing by the window which I had slid in from, everyone was a standstill and I purposely savoured the moment.

All my men were stationed strategically everywhere and right inside this room with loaded and ready weapons ready to gun down anyone who so much as cough right now.

All the guest were seated at the dinning now so this was perfect timing, some lucky guest even had knives on their throats, everyone was tensed, I guess I really beat their imaginations, the synergy in the room boosted my confidence and aura.

I walked up straight towards Earl whom was sitting at the head of the table, perfect spot so everyone can see what I was about to do.

I pulled my knife from my holster and gave him a mischievous smirk.

"Hello Earl, why you surprised?, Or wasn't I invited?." I taunted him.

"Hi everyone, I'm Kara and I was invited to put up some show for y'all." I gave my short introduction and motioned for the guests to cheer, which they complied to immediately not wanting to get hurt.

Earl pushed his chair backwards and Immediately on cue all my assassins had their weapons pointed at him.

"Ah ah ah." I shook my head and gently swung my index finger from side to side in a tik-tok clockwise mode.

Without uttering a word he sat back and watched, I gave him my best fake smile and took my time to scan the faces of all guests seated. The room was as silent as a cemetery.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw a particular face but then I've been able to shadow my emotions so it wasn't noticeable, I just flickered my eyes from the face and kept scanning the room.

Johnny appeared behind me and nodded to confirm that all of Earl's security had been neutralized.

Now showtime!.

"Oh and nice to see you too Mother!." I turned to Anna and gave her a baby like smile.

"Least I forget did you leave my message?." I  quirked my brows at her and she just stared at me sternly.

I shrugged and turned my attention back to Earl whom was the main reason I came here today.

Was I here to kill him?, Most definitely not!.

Killing him was too much of a kind gesture, I was gonna make him wish, pray and beg for his death.

"Don't worry your guards will be back on any moment now but I'll be long gone by then so they'd be no need for any blood shed eh?." I smiled again.

"My boys and I just came to jazz things up a little you know what I'm saying." I gave a sarcastic laugh.

"Earl you and I, we need to have a little chat." I said cunningly as I toyed with his cutlery.

Before he could utter a word, I stabbed his left palm to the table using the cutlery as I gritted my teeth.

He groaned but he couldn't move because one of my boys held a knife to his throat, I didn't want to take chances.

I motioned to him to let Earl out of his grip.

"Aren't you gonna say a word?." I asked because he was making it too easy.

"Well I'm impressed." He spoke finally after a short silence, his baritone voice sending chills down my spine.

"Why thank you..." I smiled mischievously.

I gently placed my knife on his cheek and slid it down slowly, making sure I was going deeper as I pulled it across.

"I'm going to make you feel my pain and more." I said to him through gritted teeth.

Tiny drops of blood started to trickled down his face but he didn't even flinch, anyways what I was doing was giving me so much pleasure.

"Kara stop this isn't you!." A voice yelled from beside my Mom.

I didn't need to turn around to know whom it was, the voice made a knot in my stomach tighten, I felt sick when several unlikely thoughts hit me.

When I was about to reply her, we all heard footsteps approach and come to a final stop at the entrance as all the guards pointed their weapons towards that direction.

My head snapped up immediately.

My knife almost dropped from my hands when I saw them.

Lance and some pretty girl with auburn color hair who was wearing a frozen inspired dress stood frozen at the entrance to the dinning.

My eyes darted to their intertwined fingers and my heart sank inside me.

Before my brain could calculate or tell me what next to do.

"Kara watch out!." Two female voices yelled in unison from behind me, calling me out from my heartbroken reverie.

In that split second I spun around and I didn't even realize when my knife fell from my hand.

"I'm sorry." He muttered as he used the hilt of his gun to knock me out.

His chilled expression while betraying me was the last thing I saw before I crashed to the tiled floor and everything went black.

***

A/N: yay I'm so happy, this chapter was quite the one, it was a rocky reunion don't you think especially for Lance and Kara, plus who do you think knocked her out and why?.

Thanks for reading, much love.