Lawless – Episode 7&8

RECKLESS 2

Lawless – Episode 7&8

→ Chain•Of•Obsession ←

[Book 2 in The Untamed Duet]

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a BOLDLY written permission from ME.

Copyright © 2026

Naomi Cindy B.

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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

 

The atmosphere experienced a total flip, turning Zendaya and Elmira to guests in their own show.

They were totally sidelined, and the new bî+ch collected all attention like pokemon without even trying.

Not a single guest is on their seats anymore. Who’d sit to witness such fatal, lethal perfection?

The dress? The way she carried herself like she was birthed on the runway? The strut? The makeup? The rare waist? The attitude.

She devoured the moment, and the cameras couldn’t even do justice to her dominance.

Yet, they scrambled, dazzles flashing, desperate to keep up.

“Holy motherfuckin’…” Elmira’s shock melted her bones, the couture on her body suddenly feeling like rag.

“Shit,” Zendaya muttered, her airflow blocked.

Roxy was the last to get up in the midst of the guests, her mouth wide like a drama-starved ex still auctioning for sympathy.

“What the f+k,”

• Stacy Montana?

• Stacy?? Albert’s daughter?

The guests began whispering loudly when they got their wits back.

• Who else would flaunt pink this hotly? She owns the color.

• This is unexpected!

• Unexpected but fine as hell!

• Tell me about it!

• Look at me thinking only voluptuous people could rock this dress when Elmira and Zendaya were on the runway.

• But she rocked it better! I’m placing an order now! I want color pink too!

• Gag!!!

• I love this shit!

• Sick!!

Stacy let the cigar remain between her lips, smokes forming worm-like twists around her as she moved towards the runway edge where the two sluts are currently standing with their mouths completely agape.

With each step, they smelled their own doom, but they didn’t run.

Stacy’s strut stopped in front of them, and she smiled sweetly like she was gonna give them handshakes, but the sweetness of the smile collapsed as fast as it formed, and the axe on her shoulder went down.

She swung the axe blade.

Before the two knew it, the blade caught them on their forearms.

Blood dripped on the hallway, and the arms of the people who were enjoying the show dropped.

Their eyes popped too, and phone cameras went asides for eyes to have clearer views. Mouths zeroed too, and gasps erupted in echoes.

Zendaya and Elmira looked at each other, then at their slashed forearms, then at Stacy who still looks like a devil mistress in front of them.

“Agghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!” Their screams collided in sync, and the venue spiraled into chaos.

Guests rushed to safety, organizers called for securities, camera stands fell, and phones slipped away.

Roxy jumped over the chair in front of her, rushing to the runway…

“You should have died with your father six years ago you tasteless ho!! Sour bî+ch!!” She screamed, attempting to grab Stacy’s hair from the back, but Stacy shifted to the edge, and from there, she twisted and swung the axe forward, getting Roxy on the side of her stomach.

“No!!!!!” Zendaya and Elmira screamed, seeing the real horror.

Stacy dropped the axe and went for them, hand for hand.

Blows for Blows.

Slaps and Hits.

Her palms resounded on their skins as the fight escalated, but their slashed forearms slowed them down, so they couldn’t fight back much.

That gave Stacy the upper hand, and when she slapped them for the fifth time each, she proceeded to jamming their heads together, and they fell.

“Never in your fuckin life! I repeat… never in your whole damned life try to target my baby! Never come close!!! Hoes never come close and try to harm my baby!!!” Stacy yelled, kicking them on the floor.

Roxy grabbed her from out of the blues, and she let out a breath.

Despite Roxy’s bleeding stomach, she was still stubborn enough to get a grab. She dragged Stacy’s head down.

“You do not mess with me and my friends! You aren’t our level financially, in beauty, fashion or classiness! If you see us coming, just bow your head and eat shit!”

Before she could bring Stacy to her knees, Stacy pushed back and pressed her slashed stomach.

“Darn..urghh!!!” Roxy howled,her blood squeezing out.

With that bloody hand, Stacy threw three thunderous consecutive slaps to Roxy’s face.

The bî+ch staggered, but it wasn’t over. Stacy slapped her again.

“You do not!!”

Slap.

“Mess with my!”

Slap.

“Baby!!”

Two damn slaps.

Roxy nearly received a sucker-punch, but the securities finally entered. Jeremy followed them inside with Trinidad and the rest of the girls except Tania.

When she wasn’t picking her phone, they figured she’d be here, so they all came for her. They weren’t wrong

Seeing the blood and chaos going on, their eyes widened.

Jeremy was faster than any of them, he was the first to get to Stacy and pull her back.

“Let go of me!” She struggled against the heat of his arm. “They have to learn how to not fuckin touch my baby! They have to learn!”

The securities covered the three bitçhes protectively.

“As much as I’d love to let you go, I can’t do that,” Jeremy replied, his arms locking tighter on her stomach from behind.

She kept throwing her legs forward, struggling to get off.

“This is Vogue Vision, anything you do here would be seen across the world, and you started the fight which isn’t good for you. You’ve made them the victim Stace!”

“Do I look like I care?!” Stacy shot, her hair funnily scattered. “And what victim? They targeted my baby at the beach with fuckin’ dynamites!”

“Listen to me! This place don’t care about that! You should have waited till the end of the runway before attacking to preserve your reputation! You’ve only just started your father’s death investigation, you can’t jinx it by calling too much attention to you and your son, please, Stace. Please, calm down, a’ight?”

Stacy’s breaths still stayed unbalanced, but her bones calmed a little, and he took that opportunity.

He started pulling her out.

Roxy and her girls were helped up by the securities.

Elmira and Zendaya held their bleeding forearms, Roxy held her bleeding stomach. They all have scratches all-over their skin, redness on their cheeks from slaps and shit.

“Get that f+kin bi+ch outta here!!” Elmira yelled loudly.

By now, Jeremy already took Stacy out successfully, but Trinidad and the girls are still by the door.

Hearing that, Trinidad took off her suit and threw it away.

“Say that again, slut! I’mma kill you! You targeted my godson, and you’re still talking? Oh you’re cooked!” She jumped over the row with her long legs. Tasha are Kehlani followed her, flinging their heels away.

This time, even security couldn’t hold them since their numbers are now balanced. Three versus three.

Trinidad and Roxy.

Tasha and Zendaya.

Kehlani and Elmira.

The round two of the fight started.

—

[Jeremy’s Car]

The silence ain’t very deep cos Stacy’s loud, heavy breaths kept breaching it as she tried to calm down completely.

She still wants to enter that place and kill these sluts, but if she does, jail will knock at her door, and if she goes to jail, how’d Louis survive?

Keeping that in mind, she tried her best to continue calming down.

The other door opened, and Jeremy came in with a very cold can of soda.

She’s sure it’s even iced.

“This is what you went to get?”

“You didn’t wanna go to the hospital,” he lifted his shoulders.

“Hospital over this little scratch?” She raised her right leg. There’s a small scratch on her calf.

“Exactly why I got this. It’ll help calm the itch.” He said and brought her leg to his laps before she could protest.

“No! I’ll do it myself…” She quickly withdrew her leg.

“But i—”

“I’ll do it myself, Jerry.” She nodded.

He let go of her leg, and she folded it on the chair, taking the iced soda can and placing it on her calf.

She was soothed immediately.

“Mm,” she m+aned. “Wow, calming.”

“Told you,” he smiled marginally, winding down for air. “You shouldn’t have attacked them on the runway. This is why I was hesitating to tell you. I knew you’d do this.”

“If you didn’t save Louis and I, we’d have landed in the sea and drowned before anyone would find us!” Stacy glared. “They planted dynamites at the beach obviously with plans to kill him! He was their target so don’t give me shit about calming down!”

“I get it, seriously,” Jeremy nodded. “But there are other ways instead of getting yourself on Vogue. Stace, it’s Vogue, you know…”

And almost instantly, the LED screen beneath a skyscraper lit up, broadcasting the breaking news.

📺 Coming in just now is the physical assault of the two most sought-after American models Elmira Wolfe and Zendaya Brown, and their artist friend Roxy George at the vogue vision runway, carried out by the daughter of the late Albert Montana—Stacy Montana and her Glitz Society crew. Verified news had it that the three friends were beaten till they passed out on the runway—”

“Passed out?” Stacy gasped. “Bullshit! I were scratched them! Assault? They planted dynamites first at the beach!”

“This is exactly what I was talking about,” Jeremy said. “This is vogue, and they’re the highest paid models, the faces of the industry. And Roxy? She’s a worldwide artist with connections—they’re powerful. To defeat them, you’ll need more than physical fight.” He said calmly.

“Damn,” Stacy muttered, throwing the soda can away.

“Exactly,” Jeremy nodded. “If you’re gonna also catch your dad’s killer, you need strategy before violence, trust me.”

Stacy looked at him, nodding. “You changed, a lot.”

“For someone who spent six years behind bars for what he didn’t do, it’d be odd to remain same.” He said.

“And this car? This is a damn SUV, Jeremy. Not every jailbird can buy a SUV.” she stated.

“I worked in jail, and I made enough money to sustain me.” He replied.

“Smart, ain’t it?” She smiled, and he returned it warmly.

Her phone rang in her purse.

After retrieval, she sighed. t’s Louis.

“He has a phone?” Jeremy asked.

“Yup, but the only thing it can do is call me or my friends. It has been programmed that way with only call icons.” She replied.

“Cool,” he nodded. “But the securities? How did you get them to come late when you were beating the girls? How did you even get the couture? No, how did you even enter?” He asked.

“My dad was a good person,” Stacy nodded. “And he’s got connections I still make use of, so it was pretty simple.” She smiled.

Her phone began ringing again.

“I gotta go meet my little boyfriend.” She told him, and he chuckled.

“I get it,”

She made to get down from the car, but he held her back by the wrist.

She looked back.

“Promise me you won’t do anything silly,” he said.

“Chill, strategy before violence, right? I got it.” She said.

He let her go, and she got down, picking Louis’s call.

“Hey baby!” She was smiling as she got in her own car.

She drove off fast, and Jeremy’s eyes went to the news again. Stacy’s image is being tarnished. They’re exaggerating what she did.

A news even said she pulled out Roxy’s intestines to the floor.

He made a quick call…

“Hey can you check the media houses these ridiculously exaggerated shit are coming from?” He asked.

“Your mother bought shares in nearly all media houses in this LA, so I guess you could ask her.” The helpline said.

“You mean my mother is behind the exaggerations?” Jeremy frowned.

Another call interrupted him.

“Hold on,” he told the helpline and picked the new call from a known line… Former Minister Lane.

Remo’s father.

“Yes?” Jeremy sounded strict.

“We should meet tomorrow, Jeremy.” Minister Lane said.

Jeremy crushed the phone tighter in his palm.

—

[Australia, Her Excellency’s Office]

A fireplace burned brightly in one corner, blending with the dim glow of the chandelier above.

The office carried Shelby’s scent—sandalwood mixed with the freshness of rain. Classified documents were stacked neatly across the desk, and the windows sat lower than those in any other part of the Syndicate building.

By the door, Ten and Eleven stood like sentinels.

Along the southern wall, Mio kept a watchful stance.

At the west side, two human-like robots remained stationed, weapons secured in their hands.

Shelby sat in her chair, eyes unblinking, while the devil himself faced her, relaxed, one leg crossed over the other.

His wine-colored leather coat pooled beneath him, slightly crumpled, and there was nothing human in the way he looked at her blind sister.

They’re like two warring pitbulls.

“Eleven,” he spoke up, and Eleven stepped up with a flashdrive with he placed on his palm.

Thiago dropped the flashdrive on the desk and relaxed, lashes lowering.

“That’s it, the ownership of the last app that you want so bad. Have your wish.” He muttered.

Shelby’s expression remained icy. “You left for years, and you came back thinking I’m a fool? You’d rather crawl to Hades than let me achieve my wish. That flashdrive contains a bug that’d suck all my databases dry once connected.”

“I wouldn’t employ the stress of giving you a flashdrive if I wanted to plant bugs, Daughter of a bîtch. I could simply attach the bug to your firewalls and destroy it.” Thiago commented casually.

“Your firewall bugs won’t work here anymore, Thiago.” Shelby smirked. “Do you think this is the 90s? We upgraded, and you have no idea what you’re up against. Even if you employ devil from hell, you won’t succeed in taking this Syndicate.”

“The devil already crawled out from hell and is right in front of you. Hell is empty now.” Thiago’s words turned heavier, and he stood.

“Take it, or leave it.”

With that, he left the office with his rogues.

As the door closed behind them, Mio rushed to Shelby’s desk,.

“No, you can’t take his words for it! That bastard worked on OBSCURE since he was six! It took him four years to complete. His most treasured app which took his time the most! You’ve been trying to build a replica of it for years with no success, and he’s suddenly handing it over?”

She picked the flashdrive. “This! Is a trap…a big one!” She said in Japanese.

“You talk too much, Mio. I’m not a toddler, and I know what I’m doing. It shan’t be opened here. Take the flashdrive to the lab of the dead Great uncle and have it opened there. Give me feedbacks.” Shelby said.

“I’m on it,” Mio stepped back.

Then one of the robots by the east talked… “A flight to LA has been scheduled by T!”

The news is crawling around the LED chest of the robot in large block letters like snakes too.

“He’s going to LA?” Shelby muttered.

A rogue cane in just at the nick of time. “Yes, your Excellency. He’s using his own airline this time.”

“The f+k is that bastard planning?” Mio mumbled in confusion.

“Go open the flashdrive. You have thirty minutes.” Shelby said.

Mio bowed and left the office in silence. The rogue dropped two new documents on the desk and left too.

“Pick up and read for me,” Shelby ordered. The robots walked forward mechanically, picking the documents one per each, they began reading.

First one is about their astronaut on his way to Mars and the other one preparing to go to the Moon.

Second one is about the first human in the pod that’s supposed to unfreeze and wake up tomorrow.

Shelby relaxed after the detailed reading and tapped the table.

“Call the LA lab,” she said, and one of the robots made the call.

She built labs in several more countries over the years, and there are powerful branches too which are already coming in handy.

The call was still dialling when another call came in.

“From the US President office!” The second robot interpreted the call.

Shelby leaned forward. “She finally called? Well I’m not ready for a talk yet. Shut it off.”

The robot did just that, and the call to the LA lab connected.

“Keep an eye on him, he’s coming over down there.” She ordered.

“Yes, your Excellency.” An automated voice replied.

—

[TX Airlines]

TX, meaning; Thiago X.

As a result of Thiago’s criminal records, the airport has been shut down for years. No flights, no business, but it’s all good.

At least, he gets to use it for his own private shit now.

The pilot was already on standby when he arrived with his rogues, and twenty minutes after they settled in, they took off to the skies.

Ten passed him his tablet, and he tapped his earbuds to connect before he began reading the LA news.

The one about the runway fight between his Dollface and the three bitçhes. His interest got more piqued as he read, and he started scrolling faster, faster till he saw the video.

He clicked play, and seeing the way she used the axe on them made him burst into a sinister laughter, dripping with satanism.

It was dry, haunting, hollow like there’s no soul in it.

His fangs made it darker, and his grip on the tab tightened as if he’s holding her through the tab.

And watching how she was dealing them with slaps and hits and punches made him grin, eyes madly excited.

“What the f+k did they do to piss off my woman this much?”

“The beach incident with the dynamites, they were behind it.” Ten replied aptly.

Thiago’s laughter stopped, and his eyes snapped back to emptiness.

Then, he returned his attention to the playing video.

“Never in your f+kin life! I repeat… never in your whole damned life try to target my baby! Never come close!!! Hoes never come close and try to harm my baby!!!” Stacy yelled in the video, and he smirked, turning off the tab and dropping it.

“She was fighting for the little bastard? Now it ain’t so cute. Her baby? Hers? How dare she even acclaim someone else as hers besides me?” He muttered.

Ten and Eleven exchanged glances behind, and they kept their breathings steady so he won’t unleash this sudden anger on them.

He pulled out a honey eclipse chocolate from his suit pocket, unwrapping it and taking a bite.

But he spit it out almost immediately, squeezing the remaining one in his palm till water nearly dripped.

“There’s more in the video, though” Eleven said slowly.

With clenched jaws, Thiago picked the tablet back up, resuming the video till he got to Jeremy’s part.

Jeremy held her, AGAIN.

More intimately this time. He wrapped his arms on her stomach from behind.

How beautiful would those hands look in a dog’s mouth?

“He’s intentionally pissing me off, and that’s not recommendable.”

He threw the tab outta the window and relaxed, drumming his fingers on the armrest slowly but eerily.

“Get a sheep ready before we land in LA. I need to set fire on something, else I go on a rampage.” He said.

“Sure,” Ten picked a designated phone to send the text.

Eleven received a alert mail, and he immediately read it out.

“There’s no signal that Shelby opened the flashdrive in any of the Syndicate labs, T. She must have taken it out to open like you predicted.”

Thiago looked up. “Yeah they should do that. Still won’t stop the chaos from exploding in a week from now. I’m spending a week in LA, and she’ll spend that week in fake peace, but when I return after a week, she’ll be ready to have my head. Damn, this will be highly interesting. Been a while since I got entertained.”

He shut his eyes, but not for long.

“Get me the list of people Jeremid met in jail, especially the one who gave him the low millions he’s living with.”

“Yeah,” Eleven replied.

—

[Los Angeles, Monroeville Hospital]

Roxy and her girls sustained more scratches and bruises after the continuation of the fight, and they had to be brought down here when things went down a bit.

But even as their skin and slashes got treated, they couldn’t stop watching the TV and rejoicing.

Yeah, rejoicing. Cos the news is favoring them as the victims of Stacy’s assault and battery.

“She messed with the wrong fuckin people! I knew she’d meet her waterloo with us!” Zendaya laughed.

A bandage is currently being wrapped on her forearm cut.

“We should party tonight, don’t you think?” Elmira grinned. “My slash ain’t even painful anymore cos her slander is curing my pain!”

“Vogue should better get her arrested! Her baby daddy is a criminal and so is she! Can someone just kill that son of hers already? He’d grow up to be a bigger killer!” Roxy said.

Her stomach has already been stitched and bandaged, and she’s on painkillers like the rest.

“Who says he’s gonna grow?” Zendaya cackled. “He’ll be dead before he clocks seven. See how Stacy became desolate when her father died? I wanna see her devastated and ruined when her only son dies with no hope of any child again!”

“You know I’ve got some really dangerous patrons from Macau. These people are mafias, I only have to say a word and Stacy will be wiped off the earth crust!” Roxy said.

“Oh she’s finished!” Elmira grinned till she almost collapsed.

“And the other friends of hers especially Trinidad? They’re gonna feel it too!” Roxy promised.

“You’ve been keeping her secret for six years, babe.” Elmira said, pressing icepack on her swollen cheeks.

“That’s because I’m waiting for the most important moment of her life. I said it that I’d make it grand, don’t you trust me?” Roxy said. “She’s soon gonna get picked to play for America, and that’ll be the right time.”

“Mm, real nasty shit!” Zendaya nodded.

Max entered the ward, and Elmira’s face squeezed immediately. “Fiance…your wife-to-be was assaulted, and you’re just coming?”

“I was at the secluded football pitch with the guys, was oblivious.” He replied blandly. “How’re you feeling?”

Elmira knelt in bed and crawled to him, her arms going around him and her lips pressing on his own.

Behind them, Roxy lit a cigarette to smoke, and Zendaya was getting wet, wishing she’s the one getting kissed.

—

[JeMira Haircare]

Jeremy showed no restraint as he stormed into the skyscraper, shoving aside securities and stationed staffs near the elevator.

They knew he was the CEO’s son, so none of them dared stop him.

Most simply stepped out of his way before he could even make contact.

He pushed straight into Anita’s office, only to find her arriving at the same time, just back from a board meeting.

“Look who found my office,” Anita said with a calm smile, hanging up her suit jacket. “To what do I owe this sweet visit?”

“Call the darn media houses you bought shares in and tell them to stop exaggerating the news about Stace!” Jeremy slammed impatiently.

“What are you talking about?” Anita frowned behind her desk.

“I know you bought shares in several media houses from Bel-Air to Malibu to WeHo and Hollywood hills, even Seattle is included!”

“And that gave you the stupid assurance that I ordered the exaggerations?” Anita scoffed angrily.

“Stop playing innocent when you’re not!” Jeremy yelled.

“Oh, the jail food has messed with my son’s head so much he’s now talking rubbish?” Anita shook her head.

Jeremy vaulted over her desk in a blur, closing the distance before she could say more.

His hand locked around her throat, forcing her back against the wall with brutal precision.

“Jer…e…m…”

Her voice broke as she struggled for air, eyes widening in shock.

The wild, unfamiliar look in Jeremy’s blue eyes froze her in place.

There was something different in him now, something foreign and unrecognizable, like he wasn’t entirely himself anymore.

“Why’d you do that?!” He yelled, his fingers holding all space in her throat she can’t even have a breath.

Tears filtered out of her eyes forcefully, and she’d have passed out if Matteo didn’t come inside.

“Jeremy!” He yelled in shock, pushing him off Anita quickly.

Anita held her neck, chasing her breaths, fingers pushing documents and system off the desk.

She staggered back and forth, struggling to stand.

“Anita,” Matteo held her to stillness, and she took greedy breaths.

“Were you gonna kill her?” Matteo faced Jeremy who still looks like a hellhound behind them.

“You know about her media houses shares, isn’t that why you’re here too? She’s telling anchors to exaggerate news on air!” Jeremy yelled.

“Your twin sister’s wedding is less than two months, and this is what you’ve chose to do?” Anita smirked, leaving Matteo’s grip.

Jeremy looked inside his pockets like he’s looking for something, then he looked back up, smirking. “I found no f+ks to give, so you might wanna stay off Stace’s life and stop tormenting her! Leave her alone! And if you think I’m never gonna find out your connection to her father’s death, think again! I’m not your former loving Jeremy. Love is scam.” He muttered, raising a middle finger to Anita before leaving.

He slammed the door.

Anita held her forehead, groaning. “Prison has messed with my son’s mind so hard,” She muttered, rubbing Jeremy’s deep fingerprints on her neck.

“Did you really order the news exaggeration? They’re dragging Stacy everywhere online.” Matteo asked, eyes examining her reaction.

“She beat up my daughter! She deserved it!” Anita spat.

“What!” Matteo’s eyes widened.

—

[Battery Slut-house]

Kehlani suggested somewhere the girls haven’t visited before, and they chose this place.

In the midst of rap music, strippers, drugs and smokes, they all sat on a round table, all phones on table.

Looks like they’re waiting for calls.

Trinidad’s phone was the first to ring with her dad’s call, and immediately she picked, Investor Brooke exploded….

“What the fûck did you do, Trinidad? My daughter fighting on a runaway? It’s the biggest scandal in America right now and you’re involved, and it’s already affecting my business!! Planning to ruin your footballing career? What if you get dropped from the new players list? I’m so dis—”

Trinidad cut the call before he could finish, and she inhaled.

Tasha’s phone rang next. It’s Kingmaker Delgado as expected.

She picked.

“Now that you’ve been suspended from your media house, are you happy? Hmm? Are you cool? I’ve been getting calls from people telling me how violent my twin daughters are! Do you wanna land on a wheelchair like your—”

Tasha cut the call at this point.

Stacy and Kehlani’s phones rang at the same time.

They picked at the same time too.

“You’ve been suspended from the ice till your scandal gets settled.”

They dropped the call and let out collective heavy breaths.

“If I wasn’t on this wheelchair, I’d get the heaviest scolding cos I’m sure I’d send one of those bitçhes to coma.” Tania muttered, and they all laughed off their stiffness.

“Yeah, no need talking. We know you, superwoman.” Tasha said.

“I can’t believe those bitçhes were painted as victims and we as the heartless villains, and why is every news outlet glorifying them?” Kehlani said, sipping beer.

“They got connections with the media houses, whatchu think?” Stacy shrugged.

“I think it’s hightime you opened back your father’s media houses.” Trinidad said with a nod.

“No. I already promised to never do that till i—”

“Till you know who killed him, we get, but why is it seeming like you have to open the media if you wanna get closer to the truth ASAP?” Trinidad replied.

“Can we not talk about that tonight? Strategy over violence. Let’s take these bitches done first.” Stacy said.

“You still have to open your father’s medias to do that. Once news start contradicting each other, people will think.” Kehlani said.

“Guyssss…” Stacy drawled.

“There’s a little good side to what you did though,” a husky voice boomed beside them, and they all looked up to see Remo and Frank towering.

“What a effective way to ruin my night. I hate these faces.” Trinidad muttered with an eye roll.

Frank smirked. “You want your friend to walk or not? I’m the key.”

“You haven’t even contacted the orthopedic yet, have you?” Tasha rolled eyes. “I’ll kneel in front of you any day you link us up and Tania gets operated on to walk again.”

“And that’s a deal!” Frank shifted closer to Tasha. “You’ll kneel in front of me and call me Daddy when she eventually walks again.”

Tasha pushed him off, and he laughed.

“What’s the good thing about my scandal?” Stacy asked.

Remo who’s still standing took his seat. He flipped his phone and showed them different sites where people are praising Stacy’s pink dress.

And in vogue stores, the pink color of the dress have all been sold out, leaving the red and black untouched.

“Damn,it’s the Stacy effect, duh…” Stacy tilted her head proudly.

“Next time you wanna beat Roxy, target her chest. That junkie gets weak on the chest. Next time you wanna beat Elmira, target her BBL butt. Zendaya was once your friend so you know where to target on her. All I’m saying is… make your next fight more intense especially on Zendaya. I love this one though.” Remo said crazily.

“If you wanna beat Zendaya that much, why not go for it yourself?” Tania rolled eyes.

“I don’t wanna beat her, I wanna kill her. I don’t beat females now, i kill em.” Remo’s smile thinned. “And it’s not time for her death yet, so she needs to enjoy beatings from y’all first.” He nodded, bringing a large blunt of weed to his lips.

His eyes strayed from Tania’s, and Tania rolled her eyes again.

Kehlani is on IG, posting a picture of the club. Someone by username Well- liked the picture immediately.

But he unliked immediately too, and Kehlani grinned.

Max…Well.

It’s Max.

“He’s such a c+nt,” she shook her head, sipping again.

Trinidad’s eyes are buried in her phone too. Now she has the time to read the Italian news.

~ Trevor Morano, the Morano empire heir achieved yet another feat again by securing an alliance with the Japanese merchants and widening the coast of his horizon.

“His mother better be feeling very lucky to have him. He’s everything.” Trinidad sighed, scrolling to the end maybe they’ll post his face.

Nothing.

“They’re doing this on purpose.” She muttered, missing him more.

The music pumped higher, and more strippers climbed the stripping table in the middle of the club.

The girls exchanged glances, and Stacy was the first to stand, yanking off her top and bum shorts.

Left in her br@ and thongs, she winked.

“Here comes the s+xiest single mom in America! Give it all up for Stacy! Girl!” Tania shouted happily.

“I know that’s right?” Stacy stuck her palm with her.

Kehlani, Trinidad and Tasha stripped down to their thongs too, and they all entered the private strip room in the club where they can dance and party alone without the eyes of the crowd.

“How do you feel not being able to join in their fun with your legs?” Remo whispered in Tania’s ear.

“Go to hell,” Tasha told him, pushing her wheelchair to the private room to watch her friends.

“They’re trending and getting dragged online, and they’re still partying?” Frank laughed.

“They’re sick, dude.” Remo laughed. “I love it sick.”

—

[Next Day, Washington DC, President’s Oval Office]

“She kept shutting off the call, your Excellency.” Kaylee’s Secretary reported for the third time.

The call to Shelby.

Kaylee lowered her coffee cup from her lips. “Let’s hope my patience won’t run out before she’d decide to pick up.” She said.

The Secretary stepped back. “Your schedule is packed today, ma’am, as I forwarded earlier. You only have five minutes to talk with Mr. Brown—right after your national security briefing and the bilateral foreign policy call with the Prime Minister.”

“Let him in,” Kaylee shrugged, and the Secretary rushed to the door.

“Has Rian landed in LA yet?” Kaylee asked suddenly.

“No, ma’am. But he should land by 2pm.” The Secretary responded.

She left the office, and Mr. Brown stepped in, his round belly straining against his suit and his teeth bared in a stiff, unsettling grin.

‘if ugly was a person’ Kaylee thought, but she was smiling brightly as the man filled a chair in front of her.

“I knew it’d be hard to meet the President, but darn, I wasn’t expecting this level of hard.”

“I’m a busy President, Mr. Brown. This country wouldn’t be this peaceful if I was lazy.” Kaylee said blankly, and he grunted.

“I made your Presidency easy, yunno? You should make more time, cos if I hadn’t killed Albert, you wouldn’t be here.” He said.

“I knew you were the right person for the job, which is why I took it upon myself to visit you in jail six years ago. Now we used Anita’s info and did a clean job, together. We shouldn’t be threatening each other, considering the fact that I helped your Oil and Gas business to continue running, and I helped your daughter Zendaya get on top of the modelling charts.” Kaylee said with a fake smile which didn’t reach her lips.

Mr. Brown nodded, then smiled back with fakery. “Thanks for the reminder. You said you wanted to know the identity of the Sniper?”

“Who’s it? She billed a billion, collected, and she didn’t miss? Phenomenal.” Kaylee asked straight.

“Mio. She works for Shelby X in Australia.” Mr. Brown said.

Kaylee frowned, recognition hitting her gaze. “Works for Shelby?”

—

[Los Angeles, Y Group]

Remo’s text was the first thing Scott received when he came out of his car at the park, and he nearly hissed as he read it…

Idiotic Remo: Clubbing tonight?

“I’m one water gun away from blocking this bastard,” Scott muttered, wanting to pocket the phone without replying, but then…

If he should stay home all night tonight, he’d only waste his night trying to concentrate and failing at it, thinking about the fake-gay.

He replied to Remo.

Scott; Send me a reminder at 7.

He pocketed the phone and strode inside the skyscraper, riding up his floor where he refused to receive greetings as usual.

“Tell me the subsidiaries report is already on my desk.” He said as he walked past the HR.

“Your Secretary dropped it already, sir.” The typist said.

“My Secretary?” Scott frowned.

The typist blinked, and that was when it clicked.

Scott barged into his own office, meeting Kane who’s arranging the office and putting things in place.

“Good morning, boss.” Kane smiled trickily, the filth under it the smile so raw, unhidden.

Scott stepped out of the office without waiting. He made a call to the cops, and he only had to wait five minutes before they arrived.

The staffs were staring in shock from their seats, not understanding the ongoing melodrama.

“He’s in,” Scott told the cops.

The able-bodied cops proceeding to get Kane inside the office.

Kane didn’t struggle—as if he was already expecting this outcome. He was smiling as the handcuffs were snapped on his wrist, and as he was escorted out of the office, he smiled wider at Scott, but not for long.

The smile wiped off as he walked past Scott, and he whispered silently in Scott’s ears…

“You’re trying so hard, tsk-tsk. But I can hear your runny heartbeats. I’m sure I’ll still be hearing the sweet sounds from the police station, Frickin Freckled Sin.”

Scott’s fists balled, and his gaze turned shaky as he watched the cops lead Kane into the elevator.

He entered his office and rested his back on the door, biting his lip.

—

[Lane Mansion]

Jeremy arrived at the agreed time and found Minister Lane already seated in the garden shed beside his mansion.

The retired Minister’s wife had been with him briefly, but she excused herself the moment Jeremy sat down.

“You look too fresh for someone just out of jail,” Lane said with a faint smile.

‘Can you get to the point?” Jeremy replied flatly.

“How do you intend to start?” the minister asked.

“I already have,” Jeremy said with a shrug. “I’m gathering information on the girls he assaulted and raped in the past.”

Lane nodded, his brow tightening.
“While you were in jail, I sent you a note that I’ve got something on Kaylee. You can’t take down the son alone, you have to include the mother.”

Jeremy’s phone buzzed, and Minister Lane paused mid-thought.

“Go on,” Jeremy said without looking at the phone.

“It’s nothing important.”

—

[A Private Coffeehouse]

Dorian didn’t even step his own mansion when he landed in LA.

He had arranged to meet Jeremy here privately, but Jeremy is nowhere.

He has been waiting here for five minutes now, and Jeremy is still not showing up.

Doesn’t look like he would.

He has been calling too. Jeremy ain’t picking his calls.

Angela stood behind him, watching his impatient, angry move as he dialled Jeremy’s line again.

This would be the third ring.

Jeremy didn’t pick.

Dorian stood, the heavy diamond chains on his neck dangling. He faced Angela with a grin, slanting his head.

“He’s trying me now, isn’t he?” He muttered. “Now that I got his arse outta jail, he’s acting up, hmm?”

“What do you want me to do, sir?” Angela asked slowly.

“If I dial him for the fifth time and he doesn’t pick, I’ll get a hold of his twin sister with the big BBL booty and fûck her till she dies.” Dorian threatened meanly.

Then, he dialled Jeremy… again.

—

[Whitmore Kiddies School]

It’s almost closing time, and pupils are on their last subjects for the day.

But…

Everything looks like bunch of packaged rubbish to Louis as he sat on his class desk, watching.

His brain is following as the teacher wrote the basic mathematics on the white board, and she didn’t even have to solve them.

Immediately the teacher writes, his brain does the calculation and tells him the answer in a second.

He just rested his chin on his desk, watching and wondering why he’s even in this school.

He’s bigger than these simple equations, he needs bigger challenges

He stood out the most in their uniform of ash trousers and wine-color suits, and he looks the tallest in the class when he stood.

He grabbed his bag.

“Where are you going, Louis?” The teacher asked immediately.

“To pee,” he responded and went for the door.

“Pee with your backpack?” The teacher scoffed.

“I’m bored with this class, is that a better answer?” He replied rudely, stepping out like that.

He made his way to the washroom, and locked the bathroom door with a soft click, the kind that sounded too deliberate for a child his age.

The fluorescent light hummed and reflected off the clean tiles as he unzipped his backpack.

He brought out one of the toy guns Trinidad gifted him.

He laid the toy gun beside the sink, the bright plastic colors feeling almost insulting in his hands.

He unscrewed the chamber, his small fingers steady like he’d done this a hundred times before.

From his pocket, he brought out sharp blades.

He worked to sharpen these blades yesterday when Stacy was out with her friends.

The blades are thin, sharp with killing edges which are glinting.

He examined each one, tilting it toward the light, studying the edge before sliding it into the empty spaces where the toy gun rubber bullets were meant to sit.

The blades fit imperfectly, but he adjusted, improvised, pressing them in with quiet patience, his lips curling faintly with a smirk at the corners as the gun accepted his changes.

When he reassembled the gun, it no longer looked like a toy in his eyes.

Louis raised it, aiming at the tiled wall with his head tilted slightly as if calculating something unseen.

He imagined the wall as his father.

His finger rested on the trigger, pulling it. One of the sharp blades flew out, piercing the wall.

His smirk turned into a satisfied smile, and he lowered his arm professionally.

Ten minutes later, it was closing time.

When he arrived at the school park, Stacy’s car was already waiting. Stacy herself is standing with a beam beside it.

She wrapped him in her arms in a affectionate hug and peppered his face with a kiss, then she helped him up into the car.

“How’d your day go, boyfriend?” She asked attentively when she settled on the driver’s seat beside him.

“Bad. My brain is too active than what they’re teaching. Can’t I just go to highschool already?” He whinned.

“I told you this a number of times already, a six year old in highschool? We’re not arguing again today, please.” Stacy frowned.

He nearly replied her, but he saw the invitation card sitting between the chairs, and he picked it up, tore it open and was stunned when he read.

“Dumbian Wesley and Stacy Montana? Engagement? Not my own Stacy.” He said possessively.

“Of course not, they’re kidding.” Stacy laughed slowly, and he inched up to kiss her chin.

“Let’s make a detour at the store and buy enough popcorn for a movie night. Let’s watch hor—”

“I’m not letting you watch horror. Failed!” Stacy rejected.

“Fine, war film.” He said.

“Failed!” She rejected.

He slumped back to his seat, and she sighed tiredly.

“I’ll be the one to chose the horror,” she gave in eventually.

“Deal!” They stuck hands, his handsome face broadening into a sunshine-like smile.

She drove into a exclusive mall, and she grabbed their shopping cart, placing him inside while she wheeled it around, picking their wants.

They ended up getting getting lots and lots and lots of snacks, more popcorn though.

Things were going well till people started getting out of the store as if a pandemic entered the store.

Three people from the same row as Stacy went out, and the fourth person was about to exit too when Stacy stopped her.

“Anything the issue?”

“Someone bought this store down just now, and we’ve been requested to leave without taking what we bought.” The woman said.

“Bought this store down?” Stacy cringed. “What the f+k? People be crazy about money these days. Damn,I’m buying it back! I’m not leaving what I picked.”

“Excluding you, ma’am.” An attendant said behind, and Stacy turned to the brunette attendant.

“Excluding me?” Stacy frowned.

“Yes, ma’am. The buyer said you can shop alone.” The attendant said.

“At least… whoever it is knows how not to do shit to me.” Louis said from the cart.

“Language, baby. No cursing.” Stacy shrugged, throwing packs of saltines into the cart.

Louis bit his lip, and the attendant left after smiling at them.

Their shopping continued, approaching the end of that row.

But even before they got to the end of the row, Stacy could feel the hair at the back of her neck rising slowly.

“I don’t feel comfortable,” she muttered.

“In what way, mama?” Louis asked.

“Can’t explain,” she muttered, dropping yogurt in their cart.

She moved forward, but then the strong, dark scent of something hit her nose. She stopped.

Vetiver?

Why is she selling that scent here?

Do they also sell perfumes here?

But whatever this uncomfortable shit is, she needs to get out of it.

The more she moved, the stronger the scent got.

“Enough shopping for today,” she threw the last set of snacks in the cart and rose to the end of the row where there’s a curve that leads to the paying desk, but getting to the curve, her palms turned clammy on the handle of the cart, and her legs screeched to a slow halt.

She could almost hear the screech.

Now she understands the hair rising,the scent.

Now she understands the uncomfortable feel.

It’s here, right in front of her.

He sat on a couch, elbows rested on his knees with his massive body propped forward, and a curl on his wicked vile lips.

Thiago.

He sat there like a ripper, Ten by his right and Eleven by the left.

Louis stood in the cart, and Stacy immediately got in front of him, covering him from the killer.

But Louis still peeped out from behind her, his eyes meeting Thiago’s with the same depth of hate.

“Hello, little bastard.” Thiago muttered.

TBC.