Page 80 of His Playground
Shit. If this is my father, if he’s somehow managed to get up into this apartment, he’s going to know I’ll be here.
I move and sit with my back against the wall directly opposite the door. After a few minutes of not hearing anything, I stand on shaky legs. I’ve trained for these scenarios. Never have I actually had to act on that training, though.
Opening the door just a crack, I peek into the hallway. I don’t hear anything, so I step out, my gun raised. Do I really have what it takes to shoot someone? I guess we’re about to find out. But when Jazzy’s face pops into my head, I know I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.
I tiptoe my way down the hallway, stopping in the foyer. The sight before me has my mouth gaping open. Lailani is leaning over a suit-clad body on the floor, digging through its pocketswhile pools of blood continue to spread out around her. I slowly turn my head to the left and see two more suit-clad bodies, also surrounded in blood.
“What happened? And what are you doing?” I ask her. I don’t lower my gun, though. I have no idea what’s going on.
Did she shoot these guys? Who are they?When I take a step closer, I have my answer.
“I’m looking for ID. We need to know who these guys are,” she says.
“They’re soldiers. My father’s soldiers.” I sigh, recognizing the man she’s still leaning over.
“Where is Jazzy?” Lailani presses.
“Why?” I question her.
“Because we need to get out of here, Antonia. We don’t know how many more of them are out there.”
“Who are you?” I ask her as much as I’m asking myself.
“I work for Emmanuel,” she says.
“What?”
“Call him if you don’t believe me. But we need to go,” she urges.
Movement to my left catches me by surprise. Evie. My eyes roam up and down her body. “Are you okay?” I ask her.
She nods her head.
“Did you know she works for Emmanuel?” I say.
Evie shakes her head, her eyes wide.
I’m about to pull my phone out of my pocket and call Carlo, when I hear Emmanuel’s voice on Lailani’s speakerphone.
“We’ve been compromised. It’s handled but I’m getting them out,” she says.
“Where’s Evie?” he replies.
“Here, safe,” Lailani answers.
“Jazzy?”
Lailani looks to me. “She’s okay. We all are,” I tell him.
“Lai, get them to the compound. Now.” Emmanuel keeps his voice calm, but there’s an undertone of anger… Fear? I don’t know what.
“Go get Jazzy. And where is Charlotte?” Leilani asks while pocketing her phone.
“She’s in the panic room with Jazzy. I pushed her in there and shut the door,” I explain.
“Good.” She nods. “Let’s get them.”
After letting Jazzy and Charlotte out of the room, I pick up Jazzy. My body is still weak from the tainted food, but I don’t want her to see anything. “Jazzy, sweetheart, close your eyes and don’t open them until I tell you to, okay?”
