The Arrangement

Meeting his other side

I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sorry, but Butcher? Seriously Siya. Stop playing tuu." In a flash, I was held up against the wall, my feet barely touching the ground as his hand tightened around my throat. "S-Siya s-s-sssst-" I scratched at his hands. Black dots danced around my sight. Just when I had accepted that this is it, he threw me to the side and my shoulder hit the corner of the couch.

"You'd better not say a word" my shoulder hurt like hell but my throat was worse. I scruffled into a seated position when he neared me. "Finally got you to shut up. Hmmm. I like it" he stared down at me. The man I was looking at was not my husband. He was a stranger.

"Now that I have your attention, firstly let me introduce myself." He paused. "Like I said, I am Butcher, Siyabonga's..." He looked like he was thinking. My chest hurt as I breathed in slowly, something that worked against my body.

Especially with the adrenaline rush I had going on. "...Alter ego." My head snapped up. He laughed, like a full blown laugh. "I haven't laughed like that in a while. You know," he sat on the couch. "I can see why Siyabonga is so in love with you. But that can't happen. No"

He saw the look I gave him. "You my dear, get him unfocused and that makes him and I vulnerable. I don't do vulnerable." He gripped my jaw. I tried moving away but he tightened his grip. Tears flowed down my face like the Nile river.

"Don't cry. Pretty girls shouldn't cry." He mocks, his grip tightening. There was movement on the bed and I quickly stood. "Ah ah ah. You stay right there." He warned. "No, please-"

"Don't make me angry woman. I'd hate to have to ruin that pretty face of yours." He sat on the bed and hushed Kelvin back to sleep. I saw his face soften at Kelvin's little whimpers. "Siy-Butcher please step away from my children." I beg, against my better judgement.

"They are my offspring too. Are they not?"

The tears just kept flowing. "N-no-"

"No?" He stalked at me. "Well then I guess you'll have to give me my own." My breath hitched when he said that. "No. You don't mean-"

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice." He began unbuckling his belt. I stepped backwards.

"Siya pl-" I felt the left side of my face burn as I fell back onto the couch. "I SAID DON'T CALL ME THAT!" his shouting woke the kids up. "Get help!" I shouted at the two on the bed. Butcher quickly turned but I threw myself on him to stop him. It was enough to get the two running out. He threw me on the ground and began strangling me again.

I fought with all my might. The door burst open and I felt his weight moving off of me. I heard grunts as I succumbed to the darkness.

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Siyaxola

I couldn't stop pacing up and down the hallway. "Babakhe please calm down. She will be fine." My wife said as she held my hand, squeezing it softly. I stopped and looked at her. "I shouldn't have encouraged him to marry her. Hell I should've asked her to run- or maybe helped her. I-" my throat tightened.

"I know My Love. I know. But trust the doctors. She will be fine." She pulled me into her warm embrace. My heart and mind were at a war. I should have stopped Siyabonga when he said he wants to marry her. I-i I won't be able to forgive myself if she dies.

And her children? How will I explain what their father, my brother has done to their mother. Kelvin hasn't had a mother figure in his life and thanks to me, he was robbed of the only person who showed him a mother's love.

I held Zandile tighter. Trying to envelop myself in her warmth. "She will be fine. She's strong. So far, she's proved to me that she's strong. We just have to be strong for her too." She brushed my head in calming patterns.

We were at the private clinic that we owned. Being a black ops operative had its advantages. After Zothile and Kelvin came running in, I was the first on my way to Siya's bedroom. Sabelo, Baba, Malume Mandla, Malume Sakhumzi and Bhut'Mlungisi followed.

Seeing Siyabonga choking the life out of Sinothando like that, I had to act fast and Ghost chose that time to appear. I pulled Siyabonga by his neck and immediately three punch after punch at him. Baba called Mamkhulu and MakaNathi to help Sino out. Sabelo carried her onto the bed. Malume Mandla helped restrain Siyabonga.

"I almost had her." He laughed maniacally. Sakhumzi brought a shot and injected it into his neck. He stopped fighting as the drugs travelled through his body. From then, we moved him to the jail cells. And he's been there since.

"Any changes?" Baba asked walking towards us. I moved away from Zee and shook my head. "You two go rest. We'll stay here." Mlungisi nodded. I had my hand in Zee's "Call me if anything changes." I said and Baba gave me a look. I felt Zee slipping her hand out of mine. I looked at her but she looked away.

"Just go Xola. And keep us updated."

"Yes sir." We walked away. I tried holding Zee's hand but she just wrapped her arms around her body. We got to the car and began driving back to the compound. "You still love her." I looked at her.

"That's bullshit and you know it."

"Is it? Is it really Siyaxola?" She turned to me. "Yes it is!"

"Stop the car. Stop the car now!!" She screamed. I pulled over to the side. "Look at me." I faced her. "Tell me you don't love her." I cast my eyes from her. "She's my brother's wife."

"I didn't ask that. Xola," she took hold of my hands. "Look at me" her soft warm hand cups the side of my face. "Look at me please" at her soft voice I turn. "Please. Tell me you don't love her." Her eyes glossed over. "I-i...Zee-" she pulled her hands out of mine. "Please take me to my son."

"Zandile-" she opened the door. "What the hell are you doing!" I followed her. "Zandile get back in the car!" She began flagging for cars. "Zandile buyela emotweni!"

"Angifuni! (I don't want to!)"

"Stop being childish!" She turned to me. "Childish?! I'm not the one whose hung up on my baby brother's wife!"

"She was mine first!" A look of hurt settled on her face. "Zah-"

"We're done!" She entered the car and drove off. "Shit!"