THREE MONTHS AGO

Montego Bay, JAMAICA

"So you can't go, you pass, you've been dead since the game start!" Oshane laughed while looking down at his deck of dominoes before glancing up at Mr. Paul. "I doubt you can surprise me!"

"Stop reading the game and just go, nuh?!" Paul chuckled aloud, while growing eager to see what the young man had in his hand. After a night of trash talking on that end of the table, Mr. Paul was growing quite tired and wanted to put the game to rest. After all, there was no telling what his day working for the Hines' would look like in the morning.

"Alright, remember I warned you!" Oshane pointed ahead, just before slamming the double blank domino down on the table. "Game block, now!" He shouted, amused at the sight of everyone's faces. "One more piece in my hands, Pauly if you can't go just say it from now.

Mr. Paul looked at both ends of the game, blanks on each side. It was apparent that the rest of the players knew they was no come back after passing as many times as they did throughout the game. With one piece in his hand and one in Oshane's it was between the two of them.

Mr. Paul dropped his head down for a moment and Oshane bursted out laughing, the rest of the table sighing. Last thing they wanted in that house was to have to hear Oshane go on and on for the rest of the week about beating them yet again. As good as he was, the chanting did get quite annoying after a while.

The rest of them pulled out their seats meanwhile Oshane continued to celebrate his win. Placing his last domino on the table, he snickered. "And that is why I am the reigning king. This is too easy."

"Yeah, yeah." Mr. Paul waved him off, taking up his hat and plopping it on his head. "Soon and very soon, someone will humble you."

"I'm waiting for the day." Oshane rubbed his hands together while looking down at the game on the table.

"Maybe tomorrow we can get the Hines' boys to join in." Paul said while pushing his chair out and taking his time to get up.

"As if any of them would be a challenge. We will see though, we will see." Oshane let out a big yawn and stretched as he stood to his feet. "Heading to bed now, pops?"

"Yes sir. There's no telling what my schedule will look like in the morning. I know Tosh was talking about going down to the market so it might be one of those days."

"I feel you on that one, I should get some myself. With everything going on around Shai-Anna. The Mrs. got me on the clock, like crazy."

"I see that. I'm surprised you even got the night off." The two of them began taking up the pieces and placing them back into their box, neatly.

"I'm only off because tomorrow's a big day. Guys coming in hot and ready on the plane, so everyone else is out there preparing meanwhile I just gotta get my mental together."

"Blood on yours hands, yet again."

"Why do you make it sound like that?" Oshane smirked, "you know it's for a good cause."

"All I know is that you're in very dead." Mr. Paul pointed out, "never, did I ever expect for this to be your life."

"What do you mean?" Oshane's brow lifted and his head tilted just a tad.

"You know what I mean, I voice my opinion on this every single time it happens."

"Pops, they're only here once a summer. I get paid to be their body guard, which is easy now that Mrs. Hines has retired! For the most part, I'm just chilling with my best friends and making money while doing so. I also get trained for a job that I dreamt of! Can you imagine? Secret service agent, sharing her knowledge with you over the last five years. What could be better than this?"

"I don't know, I just thought maybe you'd become a doctor, a lawyer, a judge." Mr. Paul shrugged, "As good as it sounds. In the blink of an eye, all that fun can change and things can get serious real fast. Just as it has this summer."

"Oh, c'mon Pops!" Oshane groaned, "This is rare and the guys basically deserves it, as bad as it sounds. You know it, I know it. Mrs. Hines doesn't eliminate people for fun, there always gotta be a reason."

"I hope you got a better story than that for when someone pulls up to this house and digs up the ground we tread on daily. The amount of blood in this soil."

"The amount of blood from the wicked!" Oshane pointed, "let's be specific and also remember that someone pulling up is never going to happen. Mrs. Hines is not the one to mess with, let's not act brand new."

"Seems as if both you and Mrs. Hines are in denial of the fact that her reign will not last forever. I've been alive for quite some time now, in case you haven't noticed." He pointed towards his grey hair. "Before her was someone else, and before him was another and before I was alive, I'm sure the same process went on. As much as she is powerful now, it won't last forever; which is why I want you to move on with your life. I want you to wash your hands while you can."

"And what if I want to take over from her?" Oshane inquired.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

"Dad, why not?! I've put in work, I've been trained, I'm fast on my feet like no other."

"You made her sharing of wisdom get to your head. As nice as she has been to us all, she's turning this little ring of justice into nothing but a mafia. I've told you many times before, you can help, you can train, become a police officer or even work for the government once your done. But this, will not be your life forever."

"I'm content."

"You're comfortable." He pointed at his son, "I've watched you put your life on hold for too long. You can't date, you can't go to school, you can't work anywhere else. How enjoyable could this life be if you're practically keeping tabs open and having to be alert 365, 24/7. There's no peace in that Oshane."

"I've gained so much respect over the years. I'm well known, I strive for peace at all times. Once again, I know my stuff, I know the people, I know when something is off and when to be on high alert. There is no one as capable and ready to take over as I am."

"I said no, Oshane. Yes, you are skilled but no... I don't want this for you." Mr. Paul shook his head, "in fact, I almost wish that I never brought my family here. The Hines' were nice, they helped us get on our feet and provided for us, for years. I love them like a family and I know you feel the same, but... witnessing everything I have over time; doesn't make it worth it. Till this day, I have nightmares that I will never be able to shake. I worry about people rushing into this house, hurting your mom, people finding you in a party and doing the same."

"That'll never happen." Oshane denied.

"Because you aren't man, right?" Mr. Paul smirked, "let's get real, let's see life for what it truly is."

"I am built for whatever comes my way."

"Yeah and the titanic was meant to be unsinkable." He looked his son dead in his eyes and shrugged. "We are not in control here. Which is what makes the place you're in as dangerous as it is. You don't see, at any moment... anything could happen."

"Pops, as usual. I believe you're overthinking this. I understand where you're coming from; don't get me wrong. But, at the end of the day I don't want you to stress. Take it easy, I got this. I know what I'm doing."

"Your hardheadedness is going to send me to grave, I swear."

"Don't blame me, sir. That's all you and your overthinking!" Oshane tried his best to make a joke out of the serious conversation as he usually did, but seeing that his father wouldn't let up this time; turned his contagious grin into a frown. "I've dreamt about taking over forever. Once I do, you won't have anything to worry about. I will make sure you, mom and I are well protected."

"It's as if you live in a fairytale or something." Mr. Paul shook his head, turning his face up at the sound of his son's words. "I can only talk so much at the end of the day. You know my motto; who doesn't hear, must..."

"Feel."

"There you go." He nodded.

"Which is why you will feel what I mean when I say, you have absolutely nothing at all to worry about! I got this and I got you forever."

"... you don't get it."

"No, you don't get it." Oshane's tone shifted. "I'm tired of going back and forth with you."

"I know what i'm talking about, I have been around for y-."

"Years and years, I know. You say this every single time I get serious and tell you that this is what I want. You try your best to deny the fact that I'm good and I will be even better holding the position that Mrs. Hines holds. I'm a native, this is my country. It makes sense that I take over as opposed to one of her boys. I know this place like the back of my hand dad, I care for the people. I know that in a position like this, it's my job to protect those who need it most. What you see as a bad thing is good and if I die for being noble then so be it."

"And what if it's one of her boys who kill you?" Oshane's brow furrowed. "You know it all, but don't seem to know how it is that someone like Mrs. Hines got so much power to begin with. Yes, she's smart. Yes, she has a lot of allies. Yes, she's known and gives a lot to those who need it most." He shook his head, "But there are a lot of people in this country and out that have those same qualities and still, don't hold the power that she holds. You're stuck in this fantasy that somehow she reigns supreme due to her noble acts and heroic ways when that's far from the truth."

"If Mrs. Hines was a bad person, you'd never have me around her for this long. You'd never have us grow up under this roof. I know you, dad."

Mr. Paul held his head down for a moment before looking back up at his son. "When you know as much as I do, walking away freely is far from an option. I've come too far to lose my life for the sake of freedom. I want to watch my only son grow into the man that I know he will be."

"W...wait, what are you talking about?" Oshane's eyes squinted. "Lose your life? How?"

"Oshane. Before you, was me. I had the role you have now. As hard as it is to believe, once upon a time; I made it my duty to serve and protect because of how cool it seemed. The big man in charge; a wealthy man, well known in the streets and feared by many. He helped me in ways that I never imagined possible as a young man coming up in these streets. What started as a simple thing turned into me becoming the top guard, and being as close to the top as you are now."

"You used to work for the guy that came before her?" Mr. Paul nodded. "So, realistically you can't judge me."

"Let me finish." He held up his hand. "The man in charge became the only family I grew to know. I left my parents, moved into the estate that once was here on this land also, I ran things, knew people, helped, only made extreme decisions when necessary." He pointed, "sound familiar?"

"Yes..."

"Well then the time came, he was getting old... and there were many eyes on his position and the place he held. He brought me up to office one day, sat me down and told me that there was no one else he could see, taking over and controlling the place as well as I could ever. Unlike you, the job came to me..."

"And you turned it down?"

Mr. Paul cleared his throat before gazing out towards the pool. "There's a big difference between just genuine fear and respect. He explained to me that this position wasn't given to him because of the fact that he was wealthy or known, it was given to him because he did the unthinkable and killed the one before him. Not to mean in a parable or anything, but he was the iceberg that sunk and unsinkable ship. The respect he earned was out of fear, he took the throne with blood and nothing less and it may seem simple; murders happen every day. But no, to kill a man's family and then come and kill him... made someone look as crazy as one could be. You didn't want to mess with someone knowing that. I mean, many came, many tried... but none of them every succeeded, none of them made it back out of those gates which is what made someone untouchable. You either steered clear or you got ran over, for being in the way."

"Yeah but Mrs. Hines is different."

"Is she?" His brow raised, "Or is your vision just cloudy?"

"I am the closest guard to her."

"She looks at you as a son. All three of them didn't know about her real job until they were teenagers."

"Yeah but I did, I worked for her so of course I knew."

"You know what she allows you to know."

"Can you stop beating around the bush and just tell me what it is that you're trying to tell me! I know her, I know this job. Nothing you say can or will surprise!"

"Have you ever asked yourself why it is that her husband wanted her to let go of her job so badly? I mean, she worked for the government of the United States, followed in her father's footsteps, she's smarter and quicker than anyone I have ever come in contact with. If anyone was meant for a job like that it would've been her and as far as I'm concerned, as a husband I would be ecstatic to know of the importance she holds. I mean, look at her! At the bark of an order; she can stop an entire island from moving!"

"The job was getting strenuous, had far too many demands, she was getting targeted for who she was."

"How could a position that was meant to be a secret, create so much targets?" Mr. Paul questioned. "If anything, if I were that afraid; I'd want her to work even more knowing that it came with added protecting at all times."

"I don't know, maybe as a man; his ego got in the way and he felt as if it was his duty to protect her?" Oshane shrugged, "either way he wanted her to get out because he was worried about what would happen to his family."

"Okay, sure." He nodded, "and then, he decides that he wants to buy land somewhere else and build a home for just the two of them."

"For privacy, yes. The boys will be taking this one."

"Hmm." Mr. Paul scratched his head, "and with the information given, I'm sure you can add one and two together to figure out the only way it is possible to own this land, is to be the head. Mrs. Hines is stepping down, meaning that..."

"One of her boys are taking over." Oshane finished.

"And the only way you can win, is if..."

"I kill him." Oshane ran his hand down the side of his face, "... are you serious, Pops?"

"It's the only way, which is why you've been kept close but not close enough. You're the only other person capable, it makes sense to keep you close being as you'd be the closest thing to a threat."

"I'd never kill one of them..."

"And she knows that, because I... wasn't able to do the same. It's in our DNA, our hearts are too big."

"What do you mean? You weren't able to do the same?"

Mr. Paul sighed and folded his arms across his chest before looking directly at Oshane. "When the man I worked for let me in on how he gained his power, he put a gun in my hand and told me that with it being tradition; I could only take his place if I, too followed the necessary steps. He didn't have love or family for a reason, he knew that someday this time would come. I couldn't be in control without fear attached to it, so it was my job to take out just one person, him."

"And you couldn't."

"And I couldn't..."

"Meaning that she... but how? She's from the states, she worked for the government, she doesn't believe in violence unless necessary... how?"

"The craving for power and control will make anyone do unspeakable things my son. Mrs. Hines did her research, saw a window of opportunity for somewhere small, less developed as the States and figured she could easily do what was necessary in order to take it. Like I said, there's no one faster on their feet, no one as smart. Many came, but she was the only one that we couldn't stop."

"She sunk the ship."

"I came in the office that night to return the gun and let him know I couldn't do it. Only to find her, sitting in his seat, blood on her hands, tears on her cheeks, fear in her eyes."

"She didn't..."

"She did." He nodded, "you can ask anyone within my age group. Hell, ask Miss Pat"

"She did that and you stayed?"

"I had your mother to think about! My family that although distant, still cared for me like no other. With a job like this you don't just get to hand in your two weeks notice, it's either protect the one in charge or you never walk out the gates again. What did you expect me to do? Once again, she knew how much skill I had. She knew that keeping me around would be her best bet. So, we made a deal there and then. I help her build up her power and she keeps me breathing."

"You knew all this and you still made me get close?"

"Nah," he shook his head. "I knew all this and kept you within reach. As far as you were concerned; you only knew what I allowed her to tell you, only gain skill that I gave her permission to pass down. As far as everything else is concerned, you're still in the shadows. Which is why, I say that it's best you walk away while you can as opposed to waiting for something that'll never happen. This isn't a position held by someone that cares about the people, it's held by someone who once thought power was the root of happiness."

"Mrs. Hines has helped so many people, she's kind... it's hard to believe that she would ever be that person."

"Oh, of course she is!" Mr. Paul exclaimed, "people grow by the Grace of God and they meet the love of their lives. In this case, the love of her life; changed her entire perspective. Before Nasir, Mrs. Hines was a ticking bomb. She was young and had so much power under her belt, the adrenaline that came with it was what made her go. When I tell you that this soil is filled with blood, I mean it. It's more than the ones you've seen, more than the people who 'deserved it'. Mrs. Hines got the respect she now had because she was and still is a force to be reckoned with. She did enough damage for her name to hold weight forever. Unlike my past experience, no one has ever tried to take it from her which is why she is confident enough to step down and give it to one of her sons. She believes that fear will last forever as well but trust me, I've witnessed these things and as soon as she's gone; the cycle will continue. Which is exactly why I don't want you to have any parts."

"None of her sons... will ever be able to stand with such power if that's the case. If that's the criteria, I can assure you that it won't work."

"As long as she breathes, it will."

"And what happens when she passes off?"

"She has a plan for everything Oshane. When that times comes, her sons will not be able to come back into the country. It's the only way to keep them alive. She's created this loophole in the way things run, that way no one gets hurt in the process. Like I said, her husband came and changed her entire way of thinking. Although Mrs. Hines, isn't the young and reckless woman I met her ass; she still has a lot of skeletons in the closet that she tries so hard to keep her sons away from. Which is why, you; her honorary son, know nothing about it."

"Her husband knows all of this too?"

"Yup, which is why he was so adamant on her stepping down. Nasir believes in legal justice, he believes in things like peace over war, the exact opposite from who she was at the time. I don't know how, but for some odd reason; the love he had for her made a difference that I never knew was