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It hadn't.
I couldn't changemy mind. We were in a kill or be killed situation, and I preferred to avoid the latter.
I went to the window and looked out at the cars leaving the compound. The Levine family came to the house, as was customary. Everyone wanted to shake the don's hand and be remembered for a promotion if one became available.
Even among family members, it is all about business. Is there anything else to my life besides business?I wondered but quickly dismissed it because I had little time with Vanessa before leaving, either to die or to return.
"I want you to be safe no matter what happens today," I said. "Your door would be locked, but—"
"No, you're not locking me in.We've moved on from that," she reminded me.
I agreed with her and apologized for suggesting it, but all I cared about was her safety. And after the incident with Sean Mullen, I was even more committed to keeping her safe. In those days, I carried a pistol with me at all times.
Considering the plan, I had my men leave the mansion early in the morning, inconspicuously, in vehicles out of the mansion before the sun rose to bring members of my family to the house. The same cars had returned the guests to the mansion but not with the same number of men who had left with the vehicles.
With this plan, I had many men scattered throughout the city, waiting for action. I was fairly confident in my counter-plan, but I had no idea how many men the Robinson family intended to use to murder me.
"It’s today, isn’t it?" Vanessa asked, her eyes filled with fear. She had asked to come, but I had refused. To have a non-family member at the memorial was a huge disrespect to our ancestors' ghosts if I still believed the scary stories my father told me when I was a toddler. My uncle, I knew, would never be on board with the idea.
As I grew older, I realized that the family men frequently had discussions at the cemetery because it provided privacy, among other benefits. Nonetheless, I kept Vanessa away from it for her own safety. She couldn't know the plan because it would make her even more worried. However, keeping secrets from her left a bad taste in my mouth. It was challenging.
The Mullens were outspoken about their attack, and the Robinsons attempted to be as well. I had a good feeling after spending the entire night thinking about the plan. And there was no way I'd be seen cowering behind the mansion's walls just because I'd been shot at a few times and beaten.
I am not going to die today.
I kissed Vanessa goodbye, knowing it might be our last kiss, and hugged her before she could speak, squeezing her tight against me prior tomeetingthe rest of the family.
Walking down the stairs, I couldn't get Vanessa's teary eyes out of my mind, no matter how hard I tried. I will return. I have to do it, or she'll be a mess, I reminded myself.
Looking around, I searched the crowded room for Luke or Dylan but couldn't find either of them.
"Do you know where my Uncle Luke might be? He should have arrived by now, and I've been calling his phone," I asked Scott, a cousin of mine.
"Yeah, no one has been able to reach him all day. I heard one of the old ladies called Dylan last night, and he told her they might be late. Uncle Luke appears to be suffering from a mild fever," Scott stated.
"That's strange. He's never late, ever," I saidaloud.
"He is growing older. When you get older, things change," Scott stated.
"Thank you," I said, nodding in agreement before departing. "We'll talk later."
That's strange.
I made my way through the crowd, wondering what was going on. Everyone wanted to talk to me, and I didn't have much time. In their defense, they knew I wouldn't be able to see them after today.
Uncle Luke had always been the most conscientious about this tradition among my immediate family circle. I never imagined the day would come when he would be late. That didn't work with my plans.
I had planned to attack the Robinsons in less than an hour and had brought the majority of my family into the safety of the mansion. They couldn't have been out in the open when the shooting began. I dialed my uncle's number again but received voicemail. When I called Dylan, I received the same response.
They can't possibly be dead, can they?I admit I was concerned.
"Are you ready?" I came across Tristan. He was dressed for the occasion, wearing a tacky leather jacket and carrying two pistols in a holster beneath it.
"Have someone check on my uncle and cousin," I asked, while he gave me a suspicious look. "This is not the time to become distracted. You should be concerned because no one has heard from them. We're atwar. Everyone is fair game,"I reminded him.
"I'll have one of the men check on them," he said. "The car is prepared."
I followed Tristan out of the mansion. As I stepped outside, the air was humid. It was a little difficult to breathe, but I knew it was the same for all of us this morning, all of us who were about to face death.
