Carla had finished her duties for the day. She went to change into a low-cut light-green cropped blouse, skin-tight pants, and heels. Her brown hair hung freely down her back. After adding a touch of lipstick on her lips, she took her golden portable purse and walked out of the hotel to her destination.
Damian lived in a fancy bungalow with four rooms and a hot shower plus jacuzzi that was solar-powered. He was outstretched on his leopard skin sofa, listening to some music when Jack Al arrived.
“Hey man,” Jack Al greeted while eyeing his friend’s stereo system. Damian sat up and reduced the system’s volume.
“Hi Jack. Come in,” he replied enthusiastically, then stood up to give his friend a proper welcome handshake. After the handshake, Jack Al ensconced himself on one of the seats. Damian excused himself. While he waited for his friend, Jack Al busied himself by perusing through an auto magazine that was on the glass table in the room.
Damian reappeared with two bottles of freezing-cold tequila.
“Just the way you like it, Jackie boy,” he said, then handed Jack Al one of the bottles and sat where he formerly sat.
Jack Al took a huge sip of the drink, wiped his mouth, and asked, “Where’s Easter?”
Damian had sipped his drink and was letting its taste linger in his mouth. He swallowed and replied, “She’s out of town till Monday. Went to visit her folks.”
“Didn’t she spend the night here?” Jack Al probed while staring intently at his friend.
“Sure she did. She woke up, had a shower, got ready and left,” Damian replied, then they both sipped their drinks.
“Won’t you miss her?” Jack Al asked, then took another sip. Damian shook his head grimly.
“I can always call her and ask her to shorten her stay. But after last night, I think I can do without her for a day,” he replied, then took a sip of his drink.
“You sure you won’t bring in an extra flame to keep you warm tonight?” Jack Al asked with a naughty smile, then studied his bottle keenly. Damian took a huge sip of his drink, then glanced at his TV then his friend.
“Easter is my life, man—the woman I intend to walk down the aisle with very soon. And do you know why, man?” He asked Jack Al. Jack Al shook his head. He continued, “Because not only do I love her, but I admire her as well. She shares my job. How many women can kill in cold blood without blinking? Not many. I watch in admiration every time we’re on a mission the way she kills brutally with a sinister yet attractive smile.”
He paused and continued, “Besides, if she caught me with any other chick, she’ll kill her, then me, without flinching. I’m satisfied with only her. No other will ever take her place.”
Jack Al nodded in admiration and sipped the last of his drink, then put the empty bottle on the table.
“And what about you, man? Have you met a woman who has caught your eye?” Damian asked him. Jack Al spread his arms on the backrest of his seat then crossed his legs. He thought about Carla.
“Nope. I’m flying solo for now. A girlfriend is the last person on my mind right now. I haven’t achieved much in life, but then I know that urges do come now and again, so I have to gratify them with any girl whose body and looks have caught my eye without being emotionally attached to her. I’m only human, right?” He explained, then broke down into a hoarse laughter.
Damian finished his drink and stood up, then took his friend’s bottle.
“Want another round?” He asked him. Jack Al shook his head jovially.
“It is too early to be drunk,” he replied. Damian took the bottles away then returned. “I have a favor to ask you, man,” Jack Al said to him after he sat.
“I’m all ears. Let’s hear it,” Damian replied, then folded his arms and crossed his legs. Jack Al took a deep breath and leaned forward.
“I need you to lend me some green to go to the East Side,” he breathed, then continued, “My mission to rob Wise Enterprises is pending and I’m flat broke.”
Damian breathed in thoughtfully then replied, “Sorry, man. I spent the money I received from my warehouse mission on Easter. You know how women are, wanting to squeeze men dry to the last penny. And so it was with Easter. I spent everything on her last night. I only have $50 left that I intend to use on drinking tonight.”
That reply didn’t please Jack Al. He stroked his long curly hair desperately. He suddenly remembered his rendezvous with Carla and stood up.
“It’s okay. Let me go and try some other place. Thanks for the drink,” he said, then turned to go.
“Stay for lunch?” Damian suggested to him as he went.
“No, thanks. I’ll see you tonight.” Jack Al replied before opening the front door.
“Sure.” Damian replied. With that, Jack Al left for his place. He arrived at 1.00 p.m. and found a brunette pacing from side to side on his front porch. She looked at him.
“Finally! I thought you decided to ditch me,” she said to him while walking towards him and continued, “I’ve stood here for almost an hour.”
“Sorry, Carla. I had some business to attend to,” he replied briefly, then went to unlock his front door.
“It’s alright. What matters is you’re here now,” Carla replied while following him. He unlocked and opened the door, then ushered Carla in.
His place was a simple two-bedroom apartment with a basic living room consisting of several seats, a wooden table, and a TV stand on which a TV sat. The highlight was a pedestal of himself beside one of the seats close to the stand. There was a collection of weapons in one of the bedrooms. His place was generally dirty.
“Don’t mind the place. I’m normally too busy to clean it,” he said gruffly as they got into the living room. He dusted one of the seats for her, then she sat on it. “I’ll get you a drink,” he said after, then disappeared into another room that Carla guessed was the kitchen.
As he fetched it, she looked around the room she was in after crossing her legs and putting her intertwined fingers on them. Jack Al replied with a tall glass of orange juice and gave it to her.
“Aren’t you having some?” She asked him, then sipped the juice.
“I’m fine,” he replied, and sank into a seat beside her. He looked restless. Carla set the glass on the wooden table.
“Is something bothering you?” She asked him with a look of concern, then stroked his muscular right arm. He stood up.
“I-I’m fine. I just need a shower. I haven’t had one since yesterday,” he explained, then added, “I’ll be with you in a second,” then left.
He came out of the shower after a while with a towel wrapped around his waist. He was wiping his hair with a smaller towel as he passed by the living room to his bedroom. He was surprised to find that the living room was empty.
“Carla?” He called out, “Carla!” He cried, this time with an urgent tone. “Where could she…Carla!” He roared, then went to look for her in his two bedrooms. She wasn’t in the one with the weapons. He stormed into his room and found her seated on his bed, going through his photo album as she sipped her juice peacefully. She looked up at him, then his body.
“Is there a problem?” She asked calmly. He grabbed hold of her and pulled her to her feet, spilling her juice in the process, and brought her face to face with himself. He had a deadly expression on his face and cast her his trademark steely gaze.
“Who told you to come in here and go through my things?” He whispered to her angrily behind gritted teeth. Before she had a chance to speak, he gave her two fatal blows that sent her sprawling outstretched on his one-person bed. “No one, I repeat, no one, goes through my personal things without my consent. Am I understood?!” He barked loudly at her.
She was too frightened and overwhelmed to speak. She nodded while cupping both her cheeks. He turned away from her.
“Excuse me. I want to dress,” he hissed, without turning to her. She got up hurriedly, faced him, then wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I-I’m sorry, Jack. It won’t happen again. P-please forgive me,” she begged urgently. He cupped her lower jaw with his powerful left hand and pressed her cheeks forward.