Chapter 4 - Appetizer

Death of two Havu's elders announced. The night Johnny was killed, Havu's sixth leader, Father Morgan was also killed in his condominium. He was shot in the head by a sniper, the same thing happened to Johnny, P's father.

"Two business brothers from Havu. corp was killed yesterday.."

She shut the TV off, leaves her office, and walks down the corridor with her bodyguards and Ezekiel, the personal guard.

Havu's big family gathered at the elders' funeral. They held the traditional ceremony at the main Noro Memorial Building, located in the suburbs, quite far from the main city. The fifteenth floor is already purchased for Havus by Father Yoshua, the third Havu.

The lady boss, also the head family decided to evacuate the family to Havu's safe house. The put bodyguards in charge with extra caution, thinking two elders might not be the main target.

This is just the beginning of the war.

"I didn't know... It happened so fast" spoke Heidi, Father Morgan's second child, the middle, Heidi Viona Havu.

"I know, I can't believe that-" said Jacob Dane Havu, the youngest with his wife, Sonya Young.

"Sstt. Please respect" shushed Tommy Xander Havu, the eldest. Realizing they are talking too loud at the funeral.

"But, I think we need to at least talk to that spoiled little daughter" Heidi whispered to her siblings, smiling mischievously at P.

...Havu cousins never get along, moreover when I take the Havu's throne....

Even though Havu's siblings are trained to be professional, still, they never get along and P never trusts them, ever.

Tommy walks towards P and smiles sincerely, "Hey, Riri" he patted her shoulder gently.

Tommy Xander Havu is like a brother to her, he is a good eldest, unlike the other two.

"Hey" P gave a brief smile.

"It's been long, huh" they haven't been talked much since a year ago, Tommy is super busy with the Casino he's in charge of. Too busy until they have got no time to speak like they used to, just a "Hi" to each other when they meet at the Silver Casino.

"Yeaa..." she replied him shortly, grieving at two eldest' tragedies.

The lady boss has been racking her brain all day trying to think of ways to catch this son of a bitch. She'll kill whoever killed her father and her uncle.

"I'm so sorry about Uncle John" worries etched in his brows, knowing that P and her father were inseparable.

Tommy took a seat across P, folding his arm on the table, "Are you okay?" to make sure she doesn't feel too lonely, at least. Since the only person who was close to her was her father, Johnny.

"Yes..." she nods, "Sorry about Father Morgan" P left a frown on her face.

The tough smile returned to his lips, "You know who to depend on when you aren't okay"

"No worries. I'm fine, really" said P, biting her lower lip. She feels much better that someone warm like Tommy cares about her like a real brother, "Thanks, bro"

Tommy leaned forward, whispering, "So, where's Auntie Jul?" concerned about P's mother's safety.

July Andersen Lee, P's birth mother, P lived with her until eighteen and just visit her once a month ever since.

"She's not coming" her mother would probably be in danger, so she locked her up in her house with four guards in charge. She told her men to cover mother's window with steel, so the sniper won't stand a chance.

Heidi came up sighing, "Why isn't she here? Isn't Uncle Johnny still her husband or--? Oh..." Heidi sniggered. After a pause, she speaks again in a sarcastic tone, "Apparently, the two love birds had divorced, sorry. Just because of their stupid daughter. Such bad luck"

P stood up abruptly, she kicked the table and pulled Heidi's white collar. Havu family members shifted their gaze towards them, thought it would create some scenes.

P almost tear her shirt, but Heidi didn't try to move, instead, she gave P the look that makes her want to kill her right now.

I am too busy to deal with another source of drama, she refrained from her intention to give her lessons. Heidi won't learn too, she's just jealous.

"Watch your mouth, you punk!" she pushed her away.

"Or what?" Heidi replies, she's grinning, "Are you gonna kill me in front of everyone?"

"Whoa.. stop it girls" Tommy stops them, at least trying to stop them. He jumped between them, in case one of them start a fight.

"Get lost you motherfucker" P popped between them.

"Please...?" Tommy looked into P's eyes and speaks carefully, slowly, "I beg you" he added, turning to Heidi. He knows P could kill his sister in no time.

The lady boss thought of that time in her life as a metaphorical vale of tears.

Back to years ago.

.

Eight is an ideal age to train Havu's kids. She was never interested in it, so she rejected her father's training sessions but Johnny never gave up. So that one day was a mistake. He trained her Taekwondo, beating their leg against the bricks with axe-kicks; frontal kick with an emphasis on the downward stroke of the heel.

She was never good, but Johnny never stop trying. He kept telling her everything, about Havu's and the other things with the hope that she could probably change her mind.

Turns out that one shitty day, P's little leg injured, big swollen red and purple, it was ugly and damn freaking painful, she ran and cried to her mother, she was just a kid, a clingy kid.

That was her biggest mistake in her whole life.

The little P told her mother she doesn't want to be Havu, or anything regarding them, and how she hated Havu.

Mother was upset. Since that day, July and her husband argue a lot and blame it all on her husband.

They divorced when their daughter was ten, July took P to her hometown.

She grew up with her mother until eighteen.

.......

P turned to Ezekiel, her personal guard. Eyes soaked in glassy tears, but unwilling to show it.

She always know it was her fault and she never stops regretting it. She was such a stupid kid, Heidi was right.

P decided to leave the VIP room, upset and angry at the same time.

Ezekiel was about to follow, but Heidi stops him when he grabbed his second footstep.

"Hey, handsome. I think you should leave that girl for a while. She needs a little me time" she leaned in and was flirty to the tall and good-looking personal guard.

Ezekiel nods his head and brushes her hand away in a polite way, not even thinking twice to follow his boss. After all, he is P's personal guard. He is responsible for the head family's life.

Surely he could feel his throbbing heartbeat. Deep down, he cares a lot about her.

At the balcony

P ran outside to the balcony on the seventeenth floor, alone and upset. She sips her beer-can and blows the smoke out of her mouth, taking pleasure in the smokes she made. It's the only way to make her better, somehow she feels slight relief in her chest.

Ezekiel appeared from the sliding door suddenly, making P jumps in surprise but she doesn't turn her body.

P flicks the cigarette and the ashes fell from the height, "Tch. Fucking pretty boy. Don't come near me" she let out her irritation through her teeth.

He doesn't talk much like how he used to be, but Ezekiel used to smile a lot.

The lady boss twisted her body and found him still waiting by the door. Ezekiel gazed away and leans behind the door, as P wipes her tears from her cheeks, afraid that he found out she's crying.

P turned away and continue watching the cityscape. She'll calm down and head back soon before sending all of them home.

I've always been afraid of losing someone I love, the pain is overwhelming, it's torturing to think that someone who used to support me is now gone, forever.

All she needed right now is a little distraction away from their mysterious death. A bar could be possible but going for a drink in this situation is suicide though. P lifted her head and feels the cold wind drying up the tears of her eyes.

...His body fell to the ground, the warmth of life stolen by the cold embrace of death, blood rushing out of his open wounds. His chest laid still, no flickers of life or his usual innocence remaining in her bosom, a surefire sign that he is dead. ...

That horrible scene plays in her head, haunting her sleep, she is unable to take a single nap since last night.

She clenches her palms. She will never forgive them, whoever owes life to her father.

"I'm so sorry about Uncle Johnny and Father Morgan," said Ezekiel, finally.

P said nothing, her stoic features do not suggest what is on her mind.

He sighed silently, he lowered at the brown beads bracelet he wears, "Perhaps, I was-" he said.

She quirked an eyebrow and stop sucking her cig, "Shut up" noticing a tiny blink of a thing came from far, something different and odd.

Someone has been spying on me, on us, a sniper? she thought.

In a flash, she squads down, hiding behind the bars and crawls quietly towards the sliding door. Ezekiel turned to P and realized the threat, as soon he guides her into a safer place, while at the same time the sniper shoot them, but missed.

P stretched her hand inside her blazer to find her phone, calling for Fong, "Westside AMG Building. The sniper is there" then she hung up.

The sniper who killed the elders was good, but luckily this time it missed. Now I know, a thousand percent sure, two elders are just an appetizer. They aren't after them. They are after me!

They stop at the elevator, knowing they are now safe. Ezekiel lengthen his arm to click the elevator button, sending themselves down to the fifteenth floor, where the elders' ceremony is held.

Fong's call interrupts in.

"Yes, Fong" answered P.

"Boss, it's empty, they've left. Maybe we should do a check on the bullet they shot"

"Make sure it is safe before you stand your feet in that place" she reminded.

"Okay. Got it, boss"

As they arrived at the funeral, P orders the Havu bodyguards, "Send them home immediately to the safe house. The sniper is here. Take the safest route home and make sure they arrive home safely"

And families start to pack their stuff and leave.

The lady boss bowed respect before leaving with Ezekiel.

"Let's go"

At Lady P's office

"12.7×99mm NATO (. 50 BMG) ammunition," said Carven, one of her bodyguards who understands guns.

"Isn't that the same with Father Morgan and Uncle John?"

Carven nods, "Yes, Boss. Perhaps a Barrett M82A1"

"Means, they are from the same-" she said, rubbing her chin, thinking of a way to find the sniper who killed her family, "But M82A1 isn't hard to find, right?"

"Yes" Carven's unsure, "But-- No, Barrett is developed by the American, it's a powerful weapon for their military, so it is not that easy to purchase and import it to our country"

American Barrett, rare firearms, illegal weapons. They could be from the same source, but different sniper, she thought.

She clicked her fingers, "Have you traced the security cam?"

"AMG Building, Mac's, Calvary, Pox, and Violett, some possibilities building also has been checked. Our team said no one has been traced" Fong reported.

Again, no one has been traced, huh.

Let's say if the sniper is after me. Does he miss the shoot or... the sniper purposely miss the shot?!

A drop of sweat appeared at her temples and, although it seemed impossible, her frown got even deeper.

"Like a ghost" P sighed, "If I catch those bastards, I'll kill them with my own fucking hands" she stood up, kicking the chair away and delivering a fist to the wall.

drrtt drrttt

"Hello?" P took the call immediately since it came from her mother's bodyguard.

"Boss, this is William, Bob was shot in the arm. The sniper was about to shoot Miss July but missed"

Her eyes went wide, "MOTHER? IS SHE OKAY? WHAT THE HELL SHE WAS ABOUT TO DO?!"

Sweats starting to drip from his head, "S-sorry, boss. She insisted to go, but we had her all protected" he was so careful to report it to his boss.

"Next time, if she wants to step her feet out of the house, call me!"

"Okay, boss, we have to send Bob to the hospital and Fong will send another bodyguard to replace him," he said again.

"Okay," she rubbed her forehead as she grunts.

beep

Her eyebrows lowered and pulled together, lips tightened and curl inwards, P is so angry. She slammed her hands on the table and throw the vase away, it broke into pieces.

"Wait" P paused, "Who the hell are William and Bob?" just to make sure they are the top ten best bodyguards.

Fong cleared his throat, "It's our ten best bodyguards, boss"

...***...

The night, for the first time in her life, she tosses and turns in the bed, her sleep is interrupted by memories of her old man. She sits up, gives up on what she has experienced whenever she closes her eyes.

P sent all Havus to the safe-house. She stays in her place instead, pretty sick with their family-shit-gathering, gossips, and else talking about elders death. She never likes it to be Havu, but she loves the power they have. She's surely a complicated bitch.

Six hours ago after dinner, P played the CCTV footage from Huang's office. All she got for the whole month's tapes were just casual customers and some girls in short skirts flirting with this old fat pervert, except one day.

Huang accepted a brown envelope and he was scared to death while looking at the odd signature.

Just a moment after he received it, Huang's body was shaking, he took a call and bite his nails, as he was speaking with a petrified expression.

P put on her thinking face, staring blankly at the ceiling, pondering the big problem they had.

Consider it as the Angel Skull.

Huang was involved with them.

But why?

Maybe she should try to make a call to that old pervert. Since that man told them he can help, as long as Havu protects him.

Damn it, now the Havu's disk still can't be found. Havu itself would probably be in danger too. No, we are already in danger.

P grabs the TV remote, planning to watch something to distract her thoughts for a while. She's been thinking, working hard these days, no result was found.

pip

pip

pip

The only sound she can hear whenever she presses the button.

pip

pip

"Fuckk!" she ranted and threw the remote to the wall, then it bounces back landing on the bed.

She dropped her face to the pillow and grunts loudly, "ARGHHH!!"

The lady boss lays her feet onto the cold floor, twisting the doorknob.

On her way to Ezekiel's bedroom, just beside hers, still awake too. Ezekiel leaves his door open. He was reading a book, wearing a casual navy t-shirt.

P came in without knocking, but Ezekiel knew she's here, "Yes, boss" without moving his head, he's still reading.

"Come and give me a hand," she said, then returned to her room.

Ezekiel grabbed the broken remote control and P was just about to take it for him, she flinched when it turns out to be Ezekiel standing too close to her.

P returned. His presence, sending shivers across her body. She waits patiently as her personal guard starts adjusting some of the wires behind the TV. He fixed it in less than a minute and the TV finally works normally.

"Done"

They moved towards each other simultaneously, P was about to grab the remote control and Ezekiel was about to move away, they are too close to each other again.

Gripped by the heat of the moment, she turned her head slightly and felt the heat of his fresh peppermint breath tickle her ears like the warm wind on a summer day. All she knew at that moment is that she needed to be...

"You may leave"

She needs to stay away from him.

Ezekiel heading to the exit, but he stopped and turned his body staring at P, "Still likes Anime, huh?" when he heard P playing an Assassination Classroom episode.

"Tch. Then what? Are you going to tell the others and **** with everyone about how Otaku I am? Suck your own business!" she said without looking at him. Just staring at his pretty face ruins her mood already.

"Lady P, can I speak with you?" he was hesitant at first, wanting to try to talk to the new Patty several times ever since they reunited.

"Spit it out" she replied curtly.

But the old Patty had been buried down, she's now a new person to Ezekiel.

"Can I talk to you like the old Ezekiel, not Ezekiel Han?" figuring out ways to convince her. Ezekiel needs to talk to her about something.

The lady boss is no longer interested in Ezekiel Han, she hates him, a lot, "Tch. You better tell me what you are up to" he looks and sounds the same, which irritates her.

"I was just wondering if we could at least talk"

"Then, spit it out before I kick you out" still not interested to tilt her head to him.

Ezekiel leaned by the wall and sighed, "Do you really hate me that much?"

With a bland expression, she replied while turning to him, "Of course, a lot, I hate you so much, I could never forget the hate I have inside me, it's a burning hell"

"Okay" Ezekiel leaves with a straight expression. He doesn't plan to explain, instead, "Goodnight, boss" he closes the door carefully.

It kills inside and out and he can't get it out, he feels painful inside but it wasn't her fault. He is the one to blame.

"Tch. Scumbag"

They just met, after eleven years apart. Ezekiel understands how she feels towards him. He was shit and he regrets that, so much.

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