Chapter 8 - Deal

Maria signaled and Romeo, Acid, and Pluto walked in. She explains everything to them, including the life of Ken's daughter. They were silent as if in deep thought. Romeo was speechless. He couldn't believe an assassin will confess with just bit of kindness from his victim. He finally broke the awkward silence and spoke to Ken.

"Maria has already made a promise to you so we will keep it as such. You will tell us everything you know about your contractor and We will find them and rescue your daughter but whatever we do with your contractor Is none of your business. Do we have a deal?" He asked disdainfully.

" Deal" he responded.

"But wait, how could you trust him. What if he turns against us?" Pluto asked with concern.

"I don't think we have much choice. I know that it's risky trusting blindly but everything in life is a risk," Romeo concluded.

"I know it's difficult for you to trust me but for the life of my daughter, I will never betray you", Ken swore.

"Good. Because if you do, both you and your daughter will be buried together." Romeo threatened.

So who contracted you to kill Maria"? He asked with a bitter look. It was obvious that had it not been for Maria, he would have tortured him to death after his confession but a promise is a promise, he thought.

"I was contacted by a lady called Monalisa Knight." He revealed, bringing out a shock look on Romeo and Pluto. Maria was confused because she was expecting him to mention someone she knew.

"Monalisa? What the fuck!" Romeo exclaimed. Are you sure about this? He asked rhetorically since it was obvious Ken was not lying.

This is the last name Romeo was expecting to hear. The mere mention of the name brought back memories he had kept hidden for a long time. Now it was playing back as if it was just yesterday. He didn't know he will ever hear that name again and was completely taken aback. Monalisa will never do that, he thought. But how could this guy know her name? It means she is the brain behind it. But why? What could be her reason for wanting to kill Maria? He wanted to know. Ken continued as if reading his mind.

"She said you hurt her so badly in the past and she will make sure you never find happiness in your life." Ken said looking down. It was obvious he feared Romeo and could not look him straight in the eyes.

"Me? I don't know anyone by that name." Maria said with confusion.

"He's talking about me, Romeo said punching the wall.

"Someone should give me clarity. I thought you were sent to kill me".

"Yes, I was sent to kill you as a form of revenge on Romeo". Ken said sadly.

"Wait, wait, wait. You mean there's someone out there wanting revenge on Romeo?" Maria asks trying to crack down all she's heard.

She thought she was Safe with Romeo only to realize there was even more at stake for her. This can't be happening, she thought.

"So why does she want revenge and who is she to you anyway?" She asks frantically, looking at Romeo

"Maria, that's a long story." Romeo said calmly.

"Well, there is no better time to tell it than now." She said with all seriousness.

"Monalisa was my first love. She thought me how to love in the first place. We met as teenagers in her uncle's coffee shop. I still remember that day. She was wearing a yellow floral dress that gave her an innocent look. I thought she was a customer so I offered to buy her coffee. She laughed and said she didn't want one. I wondered why she came when she didn't want coffee. Then I heard a male voice call her and instantly felt jealous. To my relief, she called him uncle and ran off, giving him a big hug.

Since that day, I found ways of meeting and talking with her. We became so close. As the years went by, I knew she was the one and popped the question. I first asked if she wanted to settle down. We were both twenty - two by then and considering how long we've known each other, I didn't think it was too early. She told me she was ready to settle down. So I asked her if she will marry me.

She looked at me sadly and told me she was seeing someone else who she loved more. You can't imagine how I felt. I was ready to fight for her but before I found out who the guy was, they had eloped to a different state. She abruptly cut all contacts with me. I was left with anger, pain, and bitterness. A few months later, I met Charlotte. She was beautiful. Blue eyes, blonde hair. She looked almost like you. The only exception was the eye color.

Charlotte loved me in a way that I couldn't love myself. Even when I refused to take over my father's business because of the threat it posed, she encouraged me to handle it differently. I gathered the courage to be a man and proposed to her and to my utmost surprise, she accepted my proposal. I was enveloped with happiness.

To prepare for our wedding, we came here to renovate this house. I decided to surprise her and prepared the bedroom where you slept in.

A week to our wedding, Monalisa appeared from nowhere. The guy she eloped with had ripped her off all her money and run off with another woman. She came begging me to take her back.

Will you take her back if you were in my shoes?" He asked looking intently at Maria with a burning gaze.

"Considering the fact that you have found someone else, I wouldn't. Maria said dismissively.

"Great. I told her I met someone I love and cherish more than her and to make her more jealous, I showed her that room."

"You mean my current room"? Maria asked with amusement.

" Yes and being the materialistic girl she is, she cursed me and told me she was just testing my love for her. Of course I never believed that. I asked the guards to escort her out because she wasn't willing to leave peacefully." He chuckled.

"Then a day to our wedding…."