The Rich Life

38

"It's not what it looks like!" Dad protested. Murderous rage filled me. 

"It looks like you killed one of my only friends," If that man wasn't my father he would have a bullet through him immediately. What on earth did James do to deserve this. He protected me when no one else would. 

He helped me get away from England in the first place. He was my first kiss. He was the only person ever willing to listen to me. James was my first love. Oh God. Is that why Dad had killed him? Because he found out about that? Was he plotting to kill me? 

"Well. You aren't wrong. But this isn't just my fault! Dervishi helped-"

"ADAM DERVISHI, YOU GET YOUR SORRY ASS HERE RIGHT NOW," I screamed, my voice echoing throughout the house. His footsteps became increasingly nearer and I noticed Aman trying to make a run for it, "Oh hell no. Not you. You stay here," I snarled to him. 

With all three of them surrounding me in a loose circle, I began my tirade, "Now you explain what happened to James Whitbread. Right the fuck now," 

They all stared sheepishly at each other whilst I continued to give daggers. Aman cleared his throat, "I was only doing what the boss asked,"

"And what was that?" I arched an eyebrow

"Well. It was more of clean-up..."

"Aman if you say another word to her, I'll butcher you myself," Dad interrupted. Aman shut his mouth quickly.

"I thought we agreed we wouldn't tell her," Adam whispered. But not quietly enough. 

My heart was being ripped into shreds. Just like with Tony all over again. God. So many lives wasted, gone, lost. And for what? Maribelle, Tony, Asif and almost Halima. Now, James. James, who I held so highly in my eyes. Human life is so fragile in the big scheme of things. And in the end, everyone loses it.

"Tell me what?"

Was I ready for the truth again? Why is everyone lying to me over and over again? Do they think I can't handle it? Either way, it will rip me apart. Please don't cry Zahra. Not in front of them. I can't stand being weak. But the rolling droplets down my face told me I've had too much pent-up emotion. 

"Why did you murder him," I sniffed, "What did he ever do to you," 

I grabbed a handful of tissues and started dabbing at my eyes furiously. I couldn't comprehend another death in such little time. 

"It's not about what he did to us," Adam said finally, "It's about what he did to YOU," 

"What do you mean?"

Dad sighed and started to explain, "Well. There's no getting out of it. Dervishi you start. You were there,"

"Amara. Just remember. I love you no matter what. And what happened that day, I will be forever sorry about," Adam took a deep breath, "The last thing you said you remembered before you fell into the coma was dancing with James. And me watching,"

"Right,"

"Well. There was more to that day. We lied to you about how you fell into a coma. It wasn't your iron deficiency, it was trauma. Trauma that James inflicted on you. We lied to protect you. I called you a...whore. And you ran away from me, upset. I think James left you a note to meet him at the bottom of the garden,"

The suspense is killing me. What did James do that was so bad? Why is he dead? 

"And when I got there...you had passed out and James was on the verge of raping you. But I stopped him before anything happened. But the damage had been done. You weren't waking up. And your Dad was pissed beyond words. So we killed James for what he did. To protect you. Because you are the most important thing to us and there is nothing, NOTHING on this Earth we won't do unless it was good for you,"