(Survival) Chapter Eleven: Weakness

Lionel stormed out of the rugged structure, into the dust filled street. He walked swiftly to get away from his men and everyone else. This was a moment of sadness and with his ruthless demeanor, which was the last thing he’d want to expose- weakness!

Lionel walked for miles into the abyss of red dust. It smelled like death not because of the misery the world was in. He was used to it. But because he lost his most trusted friend, his companion, his soul mate—Emery.

“Is she really gone? No! That’s not possible!”

He muttered under his breath as large drops of tears trickled down his shriveled dry skin.

His eyes felt blurry, his stomach churned at the thought of her gone. It took every shred of his being to keep it together when John Castor gave him the news. He had to. No one ever saw his soft side but Emery.

His brain was trying to come up with alternate scenarios where Emery was still alive.

“Maybe she was another imposter. Castor is an idiot! He made a mistake again. It can’t be Emery!”

He screamed as he slammed his hands against his sides over and over, as if he were trying to beat himself senseless over the news she was gone.

Suddenly he stops near an abandoned house on a narrow street. Most of the houses here had a charred appearance like huge fire had ravaged them. But this one was mostly intact but stood tall where just one side wall partially broken, exposing parts of its skeletal structure.

Lionel slowly walked in through the broken side wall. This time, his back slightly hunched, his shoulders drooping forward, his head tilted, his mind lost in thoughts. He no longer looked dreadful, just a man who felt helpless.

The living room was dark, covered with dust and cobwebs yet splendid with a large crystal chandelier holding on from the last few shreds of the ceiling canopy or what was left of it. He fell on his knees clenching a heavily folded photograph. He slowly opened it crease by crease, fold by fold to unveil his lady love. It was a picture that he took of her 10 years ago on their first date. She dazzled in an embellished red halter neck dress. Her chestnut brown hair tied up in a bun with some loose wavy strands, perfectly framed her oval porcelain face. He began to reminisce...

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It was 2020. He had just been promoted as the CEO of a top finance firm. His chiseled face, romantic hazel eyes and macho physique along with his charming personality, high intellect and “go getter” attitude was making him incredibly famous. From making millions to guest appearances of popular news outlets to appearing on magazines covers as the “most eligible” bachelor Lionel was on top of the world.

He had no time for love or friendships. Growing up in foster homes after his father killed his mother and went to prison, Lionel learned at a very young age that love was for the weak as he believed that it softens one and makes them vulnerable, something he was a master at concealing.

Sometimes, that’s what it took to survive in those rough foster homes, never flinch, and look straight in the eyes of the abuser. Let them know you are not backing down. Lionel lived solitary and led a lonely life. He only did what he learned to do best—manipulate and bully people into getting what he wanted. But on the night of December 24, 2020, that changed.

It was a corporate party. All the big suits, the who’s who of America’s corporate world were there. Lionel sat at the bar, making small talk on the possibility of acquiring yet another piece of prime real estate to add to his collection.

Lionel’s wandering eyes landed on a young, tall brunette in a suit. He was amused and immediately walked towards her.

“Hi, I’m Lionel. I’m sure you have heard of me” Lionel smirked with his smug attitude oozing through his voice.

“Look, I don’t care who you are, and no, you are not getting into my pants tonight. I’m just here to do my job!” She quipped with a straight face and piercing eyes.

“Can I have a name at least?” He smirks again this time with a little desperation.

“Emery, now please go away! I have to find my boss.”

“You’re new here, aren’t you?”

“I just moved here from the New York office. I’m the new Executive Assistant, would you like my resume too?” Emery snapped and she looked around impatiently.

He laughed and nodded as he backed up, still looking at her but he knew he could not take no for an answer.

He pursued her all night and she finally agreed to go on a date with him the next day when she found out that he was the boss and she could probably score some favors since he so desperately wanted to sleep with her.

They meet the next day at the Ocean Club. He looked charming in his Armani suit, rugged beard and she stunned him by wearing a long-flowing satiny red dress.

The dinner meal started with Lionel bragging about his accomplishments and Emery pretending to care. It slowly changed when Emery opened up about why she really moved to LA. She was trying to get away from her abusive fiancé. The one time she let her guard down and trusted someone with her heart.

Lionel felt a connection he never did since his mother. After dinner, they walked down the beach. The sky was clear with twinkling stars, the air felt cool and fresh. It was just him and her on the soothing waves of the ocean. They talked all night about their dreams and ambitions, their past and future. He realized how much he had in common with her and how much she felt like home.

Over the years, they strictly kept their relationship under wraps. Emery meant business when she was at work and Lionel could not feel any different. Privately, it was a different matter altogether.

Over the next fours years, Lionel and Emery shared everything together, and there wasn’t anything Lionel would do for her. And just when things couldn’t get any better—the world came crashing down around them.

Time passed where survival was of the utmost importance, but Lionel had changed. Not against Emery, but he changed to the point where he saw an opportunity to control what was left around him. But to do that, he needed people he could trust to be his eyes and ears.

When the war hit, Emery helped him lead his organization and kept everyone in line. Lionel remembered his last conversation with her when she offered to be his eyes and ears.

“Emery, it is too dangerous for you to infiltrate that group. I will send someone else”

“No! I can do it. Besides, I don’t trust anyone else for this job. It has to be done right and fast. Leila is a tough one. I have to be there to see things with my own eyes. Don’t you trust me?’

“I do! It’s just that, I’m worried with something happens to you.”

“Arggh! I’m not a child, besides, John Castor will be there as well. He can watch my back. This is our one chance to break Kirkland and his minions. And if I can fool that dim-witted Monique into her believing I’m Leila, then I can fool Kirkland as well.”

A week after their conversation, Lionel sent two men to infiltrate Kirkland’s base of operations, and the first opportunity they had, they snuck up on Leila, who gave them quite a fight before she was beaten senseless and brought back to Lionel.

After a few hours of manipulation, hair color dye, a haircut and makeup, Emery transformed herself.

After a deep kiss and longing embrace, Emery said to him as she held his face in her hands, “I love you. You know that right? I’m doing this for us and our future”.

Lionel smiled warmly and kissed her. “ I love you too! Be safe!”

Lionel had to choke back the tears forming in his eyes. He just sent the only woman he ever loved to a possible death.

*********

He shut his eyes again and thought harder this time to contemplate on what must have transpired. The pain she experienced as Monique took her life, the fear she felt as she learned that she was going to die. Lionel’s brokenness was morphing into rage. Rage that would not satisfy until he had Monique’s and Kirkland’s head on a platter. He blamed Kirkland’s existence and Monique’s stupidity for her death.

Lionel charged back to his organization. This time, he won’t just be a ruthless mafia lord, but a full blown monster. Grief and anger had consumed his mind and he was a madman on the loose, on his way to kill and destroy everything in its path.

“Castor! Where the fuck is Castor?” Lionel roars.

Everybody is terrified as they have no idea why their boss is so mad. They know better not to piss him off.

“Sssir, he is not here. I can go find him for you..” One of the guards stutters.

“If he’s not here, I have a mission for you. I want Monique before me—NOW!”

“Yes Sssir, of course. I-I-I will pull her out. Get her now. Tell her it’s urgent.”

’Yes please! I have a surprise for her.” Lionel smiles as he flicks his gun with his fingers.