Business Arrangement

Part 29

CHAPTER 29: 

I figure the next time I wake would be at the barrel of Jackson's gun. Not to fresh kisses spreading down my hairline searching for the sweetest way to wake me, I guess in his own torn up way, Gabriel Morton had a romantic streak, "Here I thought you'd kill me in my sleep." I mumble, turning into the pillow to yawn.

"Oh, don't think I didn't try, but you're not the first to aim a gun in my face." Jackson's bored voice echoes by the wall while he pops a purple grape past his lips in the most nonchalant way possible.

I stare at his face for a long moment, "You can be as skeptical of me as you wish, but you've never been herded off to anyone before, unless you have something to share regarding that?" I wonder aloud. Gabriel slides his arms under my bandaged one and sinks into me.

Jackson lifts and squats on his knees, "We both now know you aren't in this to pawn us over on another damn chessboard. You're angry with me for questioning your motives, unless you orchestrated two attacks on your life already, then someone's out for Bee blood, specifically yours and we're your best chance at surviving it. Cal checked your ankle, you should be numb, but we'll be on the road in an hour. So, shower, get up and eat something." He insists, strutting out of the room.

"Because that's easier said than done." I mutter, leaning up to check my ankle first. I didn't know who was orchestrating these attacks because I didn't have contact with my community. Fraser hasn't sent a word using anyone else since I had the phone taken from me and Javier just blew up a storm now that some random source is suggesting.

"Are you alright over there?" Gabriel's velvety baritone snaps me from my thoughts after I shower and sit down in front of the men in a quiet, silent atmosphere that made me think they were just waiting for me to go crazy and slice Jackson's throat, or Gabriel's for that matter.

"I've been attacked twice, in less than four days, and I could trace these people so easily it would almost be so pointless for people to attack Bees. See, what we should be contemplating is what if it isn't me these people are after. I mean, breaking into a hotel, bombing the hospital we stayed in and that entire time, my Bee bot got all of it on camera. Only Stingers can run these bots." I mention slowly.

"You're what?" Jackson immediately questions.

I whistle a certain tune before hearing the buzzing of a robotic bee made of seriously advanced technology land in the middle of the table, "Buzzy, did you trace my attackers?" I ask it the way people ask Alexa now.

"Voice control confirmed. Accessing reports now, the individuals who attacked Lyra Stinger and associates belong to a division against Romando Ludlow, the attackers appear to have believed you were Jackson Ludlow's girlfriend based on the files hacked and eradicated by the Tauran Crew."

I stare at Jackson when his glossy silver fork drops with a resonating clank on his plate. I lean on my chin, "Trace those individuals please." I instruct as I eye Jackson with a bland, knowing look.

"Your enemies think I want your testicles." I say to him, shrugging as Gabriel rubs his face with a napkin and instead takes a sip of his black coffee. .

Chris chokes on his saliva, he coughs in frustration.

Jackson rubs a hand over his face while my Bee bot calibrates and analyses the individuals using satellite imaging, camera footage all across the city, I just lean back, "All this time you gave me shit about people being after us because of me, Gabriel risking his life because of me, and yet...my enemies are much more subtle and they take credit. See, I knew something was odd with these attacks. They act more like a terrorist attack and dragon style is not like that, neither are families from within the community. Perhaps it's best if we trace down the enemies of hired killers first before pointing fingers, you moron." I taunt, tilting my head at him.