Chapter 20
He swore at the twig that trapped his shoe, going through the note one more time. He looked straight at Andrew Stephen who was gulping whisky to help his impatience. He walked through the backyard to his room window.
Andrew was dying of guilt and the urge to end someone's life. He stamped a foot hard and hit the wall angrily, making Eleanor's painting come crashing down.
He grimaced at it painfully and gulped more whisky. He was drunk.
Turning to his window, he sighted someone that made the glass of whisky drop from his hand; the masked man.
He stepped backwards in fear, "You coward. Can't you for once show your face."
The man reached for his jacket's inner pocket and got the note meant for Andrew. Dropping it on the window panes, he stood for a while, watching the shivering Andrew, then walked away.
Andrew rushed to the window after the masked man had gone and tore the note open;
Freezy Warehouse, the estate's gate. 4pm, tomorrow. Come alone!
He threw the note and held his head. One thing he hated was following orders, especially when it was from lowlifes like this. Well, it was Daniella they were speaking of here.
He picked the note up frowned at it, the handwriting. It pointed to the same person. But no! He could not just make assumptions, especially careless ones like these. Maybe it was someone who writes like him. Or another game from Alex. But... It looked so... Real.
* * *
Thomas clutched the machine gun as the acura car pulled up on the drive.
Andrew glowered at him and parked the car. Sighing, he stepped down. He eyed the bodyguards that followed from behind and walked on. He smiled as the plan flowed. Alex came beside Thomas and watched Andrew approach them with an undefined stare. Reaching them, he walked past, ignoring them.
They both smirked and joined him.
Corridor to corridor, room to room, they reached where the others were kept. Andrew huffed at the sight of Cruise clutching Daniella's chin as he poured threats to her face.
When he turned and found Andrew staring at him, he yanked her face away and stepped aside. Andrew frowned in delight, picturing his face after he was done with him. If only he would still have a face then.
Alex ordered, "Untie them." And the three victims were freed.
Daniella rubbed her wrists where the rope had cut through her skin.
Now, Alex nodded to Cruise who reluctantly understood the order.
Walking to the back of Andrew, he pushed him to his knees. Dani smirked. Andrew was so going to kill him for that... Except, Andrew was not moving. He just bowed in surrender, as if he had expected that to happen. As if that was what he had agreed with Alex.
Daniella tried to guess the deal as his death for their freedom and blurted, "No. If we do not go with Andrew, then we won't be going anywhere."
Alex smiled and placed Andrew at gunpoint, "That is the first wish I would grant for you sweetheart. You all wouldn't be going anywhere at all."
Andrew looked up in worry, "No way! It's me you are against right? This is not what we spoke of."
Alex stated simply, "It's you who I am against because you know something I do not want anyone to. But now, they do too. You do not think I am foolish enough to set them free. They would kick my ass. I don't wanna go to jail Andrew Steve."
Davis snarled, "You son of a gun..."
"I am your son, I know that, " Alex smiled.
He faced Andrew again and continued, "Shall we?"
For an infinitesimal moment, Andrew thought it was over, thought Alex would win, until a distant gunshot brought back that long lost hope. He smiled; they were here.
Alex looked up at Cruise and turned to run. However, Alfonso Raymond appeared at the door post with a loaded rifle, "Everybody freeze.. Except, " he faced Andrew with a smile, "the boss and co."
Andrew got up and wiped his knees with a bandanna given by Alfonso.
Alex glowered at him, "You con. I asked you to come alone."
Andrew retorted, "You snake, I asked you to free them if I did."
Alan perked his head into the room, "Uhmmm Andrew, we have a little help here."
Andrew turned to find his big brother, Simon. It felt so good to receive help, yet he frowned.
Simon spoke up, "I saw them coming and insisted on helping. I can't stay back while you go through all these."
Andrew sighed and retrieved his hidden gun, "It's over Alex."
Alex shook his head, pushed a stack of boxes down and ran off. Andrew faced Cruise and Blaze with a clear motive; to end Cruise first for his actions earlier and do whatever got into his head with Blaze.
Simon stepped in, "First of all, let me take Dani home. She is not meant to be here."
Alfonso and Alan tied the two foes up as the rest of them walked out of the warehouse.
Simon pulled Daniella gently to his car as Andrew watched uncomfortably. Then a frown crossed his face. The height, the steps, the smooth black hair, the square shoulders.
Taking out the note from the masked man out of his pocket, he examined it one more time. He knew the handwriting was familiar. After careful, patient analysis, his gaze widened. He had figured it out.
The truth that dawned on him that instant made him stand agape, shocked to all borders.
He had traced Simon's features to the one he saw on the laptop.
And he recognised the handwriting he swore to be familiar to his brother's.
All this while, the masked thing had been under his nose, sharing the same roof, his very own blood; Simon Stephen.
No wonder he knew so much about him, someone dear to him his foot.
Returning from his world of thoughts, he ordered simply, "Stop!"
Simon turned around. The sight of Daniella's hand in his made Andrew want to stagger.
Simon inquired impatiently, "What now?"
Andrew maintained his cool painfully, "So all this while, this darn masked fool has been you."
Daniella gently released Simon's grip around her wrist and walked to Andrew.
Simon seemed to stammer, "What are you talking about?"
Andrew handed the note to Daniella"This masked dude sent this note. "
Daniella confirmed, "And this is Simon's handwriting." Facing Simon, she continued, "You are the pistol master in your family, the masked man was so good with pistols."
As Andrew heard that, he swallowed the pain in his throat. The truth was before him the whole time.
Turning around, he watched the disordered war between the two gangs.
Facing his brother again, he growled, "You... You killed Eleanor, killed Ashley... Killed Jennifer. Then you are still trying to kill your brother. You want to kill me Simon, my brother." Sniffing, he wiped his tears, "You know what. I least expected you but... This game is on. Even if I have to kill you with my own bare hands."
The cat was out of the bag now.
Reaching for his mask and pistol from his inner pocket, Simon smirked. Wearing the mask, he stated, "Yes Andrew. I am the masked man. Infact, good thing you know. I am tired of hiding. But now, I can end you with my aim accomplished."
Andrew did not really understand his brother's reason for all his doings. But one thing he knew was, he was going to cause the biggest conflict in Texas.
He shot into the sky and consequently stopped all the action. The sight of the masked man shocked everyone. Matthew got the signal though and phoned the police as well as the entire gang of theirs.
He let Simon do the same; phone his own clan. The biggest state riot had just begun.