L'amore: The Luminara Series (46 page)

Michael decided it was time to change his appearance, so his crooked teeth have been replaced by a not so respectable backstreet dentist. He paid cash with the drug money his mother Mary stashed away for him to have a complete new set of teeth implants, which he wouldn’t have bothered with before but he’s reluctant to leave any trace of his old self other than his scars caused by Lexi while trying to escape all those years ago in Australia.

His evil green eyes have been temporary camouflaged by tinted grey contacts. It’s been a busy week since arriving in the United Kingdom with a lot of seedy prep work being done as far away from the public eye as possible.

He has managed to transform his facade and looks almost like any other business traveller. Keeping tinted glasses on, he approaches British Airways first and to his surprise, he has the last available seat on the next flight.

Handing over his fake passport under the name of Kyle Saunders, he pays for the flight with cash. He could easily undress the sweet smelling red-lipped busty blonde with his natural greedy green eyes, but he doesn’t want to draw any attention, so he barely makes eye contact as he adjusts himself behind the desk.

He orders a black coffee, a muffin, and a bacon roll for breakfast then wanders into the nearest kiosk to purchase a newspaper and painkillers. He pulls his suitcase behind him.

Picking up a newspaper and turning the first page, he’s not watching where he’s walking and collides with the hard chest of a tall, dark gentleman dressed in a striking designer suit and a pink and grey tie.

“I do apologise, please excuse me,” The smart looking businessman gestures in an identifiable Scottish accent with Italian flavour.

“Watch it, man,” Michael hisses in his Australian accent. He barges past the businessman to pay for his goods before checking his luggage in. The businessman shakes his head at the stranger’s rudeness but continues onwards to meet his driver and phone his girl who he left just a few hours ago.

Once seated on the flight, Michael lifts the manila envelope from his hand luggage to scan over it again. Satisfied no one is paying attention, he discreetly scrolls though all the facts that Damien Thomson, the unconventional investigator, filed for him.

There is enough information on Grace Elizabeth Robertson to know where she is situated in Scotland. His intention is to hire a car under the name of Kyle Saunders. Then he’ll purchase a used car by cash under the name of Uuka Benadi. Uuka is a South African name meaning “uprising,” which Michael deems appropriate considering his intentions.

Frustratingly, he still can’t find anything on Alexis, Grace’s daughter.

The girl will be alive, he knows this for sure. She’s smart and will be staying away from the public eye, living a private life, as will the brother, Cameron. They were smart as children and if they have any sense, they should always feel threatened, especially if they have received any prior warning about his release. Michael scratches his nail over the scar on his wrist in contemplation. If they have sense, they should be hiding, he imagines.

This journey may be a lot more challenging than he initially thought.

Weighing his options, he toils with the best approach. He could approach Grace Robertson for the information he needs or have Alexis lured to him like blood to a shark. In Grace’s case, honey to the bees, but he would jeopardise his operation and chance to take Alexis.

Grace is not his priority and she would recognise him, even cloaked behind his new appearance. Then there is his obvious Australian accent.

Sharing a cell for many years at the Australian prison with a South African immigrant has become useful. He has managed to copy his accent successfully, and he can easily pass for South African as a result.

He needs to keep a low profile and be clever and patient. There is also the boy to consider, the brother who again has been difficult to trace. He wonders if their names are changed by deed poll perhaps, or they have had legal representation helping to maintain their privacy.

Closing his eyes and grinding his new sensitive teeth, he brings his focus back to the inevitable. The time has come to stalk his prey, claim his worth, and reincarnate demons past. Revenge is sweet. He can almost taste it as he runs his tongue across his bloody gums.

Damien was asked to go over and above his initial agreement for this private investigation brief for a substantial monetary increase. He has proved his worth and earned his respectable fee by setting Michael up with a casual job interview, a local job in the area he wants to survey.

Working underground, Damien also managed to arrange the required weapons, various drugs, another fake passport and credit cards, two new mobile phones, a tracking device, and various tools Michael requested, all of which will be awaiting him in a safety deposit box in Glasgow Town Centre. It’s a pity Damien won’t enjoy his respectable fee—he knew too much and had to be taken care of … permanently.

The headlines in London yesterday claimed Damien’s recent death to be a suicide. He was notorious for being involved with illegal drug smuggling and underground gangs were hunting him down. Although a post-mortem has not been carried out and investigations are underway, the police have made a statement saying nothing has been confirmed yet.

He was found dead in his car by a riverbank, and further investigations are underway. They’re hoping to fit another jigsaw piece into the on-going perplexed puzzle of one of the UK’s biggest drug trafficking operations. Damien is a little fish in a big pond, but they’re hoping to find some links to the untouchable underground group.

It was just by chance Michael met a few of the gang members associated with the underground drug scene when he had his second visit with Damien in a dark alley outside of a strip club in London’s Soho district. When Damien was called away to deal with an uncooperative client, Vladimir the Russian—who delivered a parcel of crack to Damien—was kind enough to enlighten Michael of the danger surrounding Damien. In regards to the close watch on him by the police, it was risky for Vladimir being there doing business with him.

It was then Michael had the foresight to use Damien for his contacts, but paid Vladimir a substantial amount to take care of him and make sure it looked like a suicide, keeping it clean without a trace.

Vladimir accepted the money and the job as nothing fazed him—it wasn’t the first time he would wash blood from his hands. Damien was drugged with sleeping pills then placed in the driver’s seat of the car. He suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and there was no sign of struggle.

At Glasgow International, Michael picks up a rental car under his temporary name of Kyle Saunders. Programming the GPS for Glasgow, he then pulls out the crumpled photograph of the brown-eyed girl. It’s one where she is tied to the bedpost in Simon Parks’ room.

The picture depicts a young Lexi, helpless, petrified, and innocent with a torn vest and no panties. Time is near. Not being able to help himself, the strain of his erection in his black trousers has distracted him. It’s a weakness he has never been able to contain when thinking about her and the unimaginable cruelty he bestowed upon her.

Sitting behind the wheel in the multi-storey car park, he masturbates while staring at the picture. He throws his head back and clutches the wheel with his hand. It won’t be long until Michael has Alexis—he’ll come all over her face before scarring her and doing inexplicable things. He’ll leave her to suffer after torturing her and violently taking her life, like she took another’s that wasn’t hers to take.

Runner

I sleep so long that my phone buzzing wakes me up a few hours later. Smiling, I answer Lucca, who is calling to say he’s landed in London and currently being driven to the hotel for the conference. When I tell him I’m back in bed, he groans quietly down the phone and tells me he misses me already and that he wishes I was lying beneath him.

I need to press my legs together with that familiar pulsing listening to his sexy voice. I wish him good luck with his meeting and tell him my plans for today. After a quick shower, I slip into my fitness bra and tank, short black running shorts, and running shoes.

I strap on my iPod armband, pull my unruly, long, soft brown hair into a ponytail, shuffle around with my playlist, and grab my earphones. Running with earphones in isn’t something I used to be able to do. It’s only since I got Doris that I’m able to. She alerts me if there are any intruders or strangers and keeps me safe. Sitting on a wooden chair on the back pergola area just outside the indoor pool section, I drink a bottle of water and enjoy some south facing sun beating against my legs.

I send out my texts for the morning.

To Lucca – I miss you already. I love you, Romeo. Have a good day. Xxx

Lucca - It is driving me mad not having you by my side. Have fun this week. I will call you later. Keep your phone on and be careful. Miss you. Romeo. Xx

To Cameron – Thank you for speaking to Mum. I owe you. What shift are you tues/weds night? Can you stay with me? Xx

To Hazel – Can you check in later? If you pick me up, I will come to class with you. Xx

To Jess – You ok to stay with me 2nite? PJs, dinner, and movie? Xx

To Lucy – Are you ok? Lucca’s away so I’d love your company. You can stay Tues/Weds night whatever suits. Xx

To Jane – Still ok for lunch tomorrow? I hope baby hippy is behaving xx

To Rachel – Sorry haven’t caught up with you yet. It’s been a busy week. Let me know when you’re free. I could do Weds 4 coffee xx

Then I send a group text to the girls …

The Darlin’s - Coffee night Weds at Castello di Caruso, my darlin’s. Bring your suits 4 a swim. Xx

Samantha – Fuck the coffee, Frozen Margaritas senorita? xx

This makes me smile—any opportunity to relieve the work stress.

Welcomed by a refreshed Rose and Peter after their weekend away. I give them their gifts. They are overwhelmed by my thoughtfulness, and I’m thrilled they like the things I picked out. I truly feel comfortable around them both.

Doris nearly knocks me over in her excitement. She spies the running shoes. Her almost human eyes roll in her head, and then she does her hyperactive dance and sprints to the front gate. She knows we’re going for a run, and as always, she’s one step ahead.

Peter is on the phone talking to Lucca’s security firm about fixing the side camera around the house, so I politely wave and head off. I just manage to get the leash around Doris before she drags me off my feet.

Walking briskly at first, I start to jog, listening to my power fitness tunes courtesy of Hazel. As I jog through the Victorian streets, I watch the sun bursting little streams of light through the sprawling branches of the tall maple trees adorning the narrow pavements and shadowing the red sandstone walls. I jog past the boutiques and restaurants on the main street and ignore the stares as I continue onwards and head to Bothwell Castle grounds.

In my training zone now, I’m breaking sweat just controlling my rapid breath while Doris looks as if she’s meandering slowly by my side. I pound up the narrow pathway overgrown with green hedges listening to my music, hammering my frustration of all my worldly worries on my steps. I turn my music up when I get into my training zone. I’m deafened by my music as it’s so loud …

But I sense something.

I sense someone approaching

I feel goose bumps, shivers under such hot, sweaty circumstances. My heart rate increases and the blood drains from my head and thumps in my ears. Doris glances up to me in mid-stride and closes the space between us, ensuring her grey velvet coat brushes my legs as we move together. This is the reason I picked her—her protection and loyalty. The burn in my stomach and thumping heartbeat drives me to accelerate.