Chapter Nine: Anxious Breaks

ANDY’S POV

Half asleep, I trudged downstairs to the door to let Ray’s cat, Tiger, out the door. As I opened it, a piece of paper caught my eye. It was a white envelope addressed to “Mr and Mrs James” in cut out magazine letters. I took the envelope to the kitchen, opening it as I went along not really paying attention to what I was doing. I switched on the coffee machine and grabbed a mug as I started to read its contents.

The coffee mug fell out of my hand to the floor. We thought our nightmares were over but they had come back to haunt us.

NICK’S POV

I woke up on the carpet of the bar with a pounding hangover. Crystal was cuddled up into me with her head on my chest and an arm thrown over my stomach. I carefully unwound her and pulled my boxers on. I threw a blanket over her and curled a pillow up where I had laid so she wouldn’t wake up because of there being no one next to her..

I walked out into the living room. It was so damn bright in here; not exactly the greatest thing for a hangover. My intentions were to get myself and Crystal a strong cup of coffee each and wake her up with the smell. After a round or two of morning sex, I would take her for breakfast at a swanky bistro before dropping her at home and going for my fitting with the rest of the guys. As I walked through the living room, a white envelope near the door with my name in cut out magazine letters caught my eye. As I read its contents, my head started to feel light.

I had developed the habit of putting my car keys and phone down on the table as I entered the house when I walked in. Without looking, I reached for my phone and long pressed the A key to get Andy on speed dial. It rang about five times before he picked up. Without greeting I started, ”Andy, I just got a letter…” but he cut me off before I could even finish talking. “Yeah, we got one at the house too. I need you and Crys here now. Trevor and Tanya are already on their way.”

I ran upstairs and pulled on a pair of jeans, a shirt and shoes then bounded back down the stairs shoving my wallet, keys and phone into the pockets as I went along.

Crystal looked so peaceful but this was a disaster situation so I had to wake her up. I shook her lightly and whispered to her: “Crys, baby, we need to go. We have a situation.” Crystal’s eyes snapped open at that. It was the fastest I had ever seen a woman get dressed.

RAY’S POV

I heard glass crashing downstairs and sat bolt upright. Andy wasn’t anywhere near me I panicked as I thought of ways to save him and protect the baby at the same time.

I knew Andy had gotten a gun and we had both gone for training. We also had Chinese “display swords” in each room. They weren’t for display at all. Andy, Joe and I were fully trained and sparred with each other countless times. I got the gun, put it in my pyjamas and got both swords out the display piece and crept quietly to Joe’s room. I shook him lightly and signalled him to stay quiet and follow me. I signalled again for him to hand Kita the gun as I knew she was could handle a gun and handed him the second sword.

Kita went ahead with the gun, Andy had her back and sides and I had Andy’s back and sides as well as my own. We cautiously headed towards where we had heard the glass breaking and found Andy in the kitchen, ending a phone call with a letter in his hands and a broken mug on the floor.

He looked at me with a worried glance and started talking. His voice was shaky as he spoke. “The other guys will all be here soon. I need you guys to sit down and Ray, I think you need to read this out for the rest of us. He led me by the hand to a single couch where I sat down and started reading.

“Wedding planned

Guests arrived

Wrong place; wrong time

The past may be shackled or in ashes

But there’s always something that will haunt you”

As I read out the letter; Crys, Nick, Trevor and Tanya walked in. Nick piped out: “My letter is different. Here, read it.”

I was already shaken up by that first letter. I was riddled with fear by now.  I took the letter he was holding out to me and began reading.

“Blood family shackled

Adoptive family in joy

But you’ll all pay for her sins

There will be blood”

My head was now spinning. Someone was after us again and I had the strong suspicion it was to do with Tamar and Kyle. The wedding was in just under a month and with all of this, it wasn’t a good way to head into a marriage.