Caught In A Name

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

The gunshots cracked into the outside air as loud as thunder but without the raw power of a storm. It rendered the sound of the TV inside the library useless because everyone in the spacious room focused on the sounds coming from the gunfire. It wasn't what one would normally hear when watching a gunfight on TV. In comparison the sound was tiny and small, but it was unmistakable. Even if they could have been mistaken for the cracks of an oncoming squall or the backfiring of a car, the back and forth firing was too precise, too controlled. The back and forth shots weren't continuous. In fact, they were so spaced apart that one would think it was over until another gunshot could be heard again.

Nicomaine tensed yet adrenaline started pumping into her system. She appeared calm and collected on the outside but she was freaking out inside. Shit! They're having a gunfight out there. Oh God! Please make everything and everyone okay. She looked around her and for once started noticing that the other ladies might be as nervous as she was. And they, like her, were also trying not to freak out.

And Charmaine, God bless her little heart, seemed to be content in Angela's arms. Although she has woken up a few minutes ago, she wasn't making a sound. She was just staring at Angela who was also busy talking gibberish to the little one. Both girls appear to be taken with each other.

"Dios mio! Luciana, puedes traernos algo de beber [can you get us something to drink]" Elvira stated, breaking the tense silence inside.

"Por supuesto tía. ¿Qué te gustaría [Of course auntie. What would you like?]" Lucy readily answered as if she  was waiting for someone to tell her to do something.

Lucy was about to leave the library but Riz stopped her.

"Lucy. There are stuff to drink inside Kuya's mini fridge by his desk over there. Please get them from there. "Necesitamos permanecer juntos. Aquí [we need to stay together. In here]."

Rosalia had stood up a few minutes ago and is now busy pacing back and forth, sometimes visibly flinching when the sound of gunfire could be heard. With each step she takes, she appears to be getting more tense.

Nicomaine watched the Faulkerson matriarch as she quietly paced in front of her. She knew that the older lady was having a hard time trying to contain her emotions. And so when Rosalia finally asked the question that's been bothering her, she wasn't surprised at all. It was bound to happen. A mother will never keep quiet when she knows that her family could be in danger. Maternal instinct at its best. In fact, she would've questioned it if Rosalia didn't ask at all.

"Nicomaine. I don't want to overstep my bounds here but...WHAT IN THE NAME OF WHOEVER THAT IS HOLY IS HAPPENING?!? My son just got home and now he's in the middle of a gunfight out there. In his own home?! " Rosalia asked, her voice escalating at every word.

Elvira instantly stood up, took a bottle of water from the fridge and handed it to Rosalia.

"Tranquilízate hermana. Estoy seguro de que hay una explicación perfectamente buena por qué estas cosas están sucediendo [Calm down sister. I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation why these things are happening]" Elvira remarked while looking at Nicomaine, her eyes getting wider with every second that passed.

"You know Nic, I swear I don't stick my fingers in my brothers' business but I'm with my mom on this. Like she said, we just got our brother back. It was a surprise to all of us to find out that he came home with a wife. And then a more shocking, but pleasant surprise I might add, when you two announced your daughter's presence. These all happened in a span of 3 hours. But now? Now, my brothers and father are out there, exchanging gunfire with God knows who as well as one of my brother's minions being shot? You said earlier that he got shot because of you. What did you mean by that? A little explanation would be most welcome right about now" Riz remarked, probably giving the longest speech of her adult life.

"I'm right aren't I? Vous allez blesser Kuya RJ! Tout comme Elizabeth! Et vous allez prendre le bébé aussi [You're going to hurt Kuya RJ! Just like Elizabeth! And you're going to take the baby too]" Angela blurted, her lips quivering and her eyes brimming with tears.

"Oh no no no" Nicomaine blurted, bending down in front of Angela. "Mon amour. Je ne suis pas élizabeth. Si je devais prendre Charmaine, c'est pour une très bonne raison. Mais je ne le ferai jamais tant que je pourrai l'aider [My love. I am not Elizabeth. If I were to take Charmaine away, it is for a very good reason. But I will never do that as long as I can help it]" she added in earnest hoping that the child will understand. "God, how I hate this Elizabeth and I don't even know her!"

"Welcome to the club" Riz added.

Nicomaine, after giving a squeeze of reassurance to Angela, slowly stood up. She gave Riz a quick look of camaraderie and decided right there and then. She's done living a lie. She's done hiding. These people surrounding her are already in danger because she came into their midst. They might as well know what endangered their lives. For as much as she wants to protect them, she knows that they will do the same for Charmaine.

"First of all, I would like you all to know how grateful I am that you've all accepted me and my baby in your family, without any questions or any doubts. That means more to me than anything else. Si je devais mourir aujourd'hui, j'espère que vous revendez Charmaine comme votre propre. L'aimer comme elle mérite d'être aimée et l'élever comme l'un de vous [If I were to die today, I hope that you claim Charmaine as your own. Love her the way she deserves to be loved and raise her as one of you]."

"Nicomaine, hija. What are you talking about?" Rosalia asked nervously.

Nicomaine took a deep breath, closed her eyes and got herself physically ready to relive the past once more.

"This all started when my best friend and I...." she began. And as she retold her story once more, she found it easier the second time around. She was able to narrate everything without feeling the pressure in her chest, without hyperventilating, without breaking down. It still hurts when she reached the part of Hanna and Anton being killed, but it wasn't as agonizing as before. And when she finished her tale, she looked up to witness everyone in the room, all in a state of distress.

Rosalia and Elvira were the first to move. They came charging at Nicomaine like mother bears. They engulfed the younger woman in their arms and just cried. Nicomaine cried with them. For once, freely cried. Without any reservations. All three women slumped on the floor, Nicomaine hanging on, needing the motherly comfort she missed so much, letting it flow through her like a manna from heaven. Giving her the strength that she thought she had lost. Lighting up the courage in her that made her keep going when she thought she had enough. Just then, encircled in the warmth of motherly love, she knew. She knew that if not her, then Charmaine will be safe.

The group of ladies were so engrossed in Nicomaine's story that they didn't realize that the shooting outside has long been over. So they all jumped to their feet when they heard the rhythmic thumping on the door.

"That's Kuya RJ. He's asking to be let in" Riz announced.

"Well, let them in then!" Rosalia exclaimed!

Riz pushed a button located under Richard's library desk and the unlocking of the front door could be heard. Nicomaine signalled everyone to hide behind the couch as she did herself. The only difference was that she was pointing her gun right at the entrance of the library.

Silence descended before the audible footsteps could be heard. Then she heard Richard's voice coming from the foyer, right outside the library.

"Who sent you?" He asked, his voice full of threat and dripping with menace.

"Fuck you!" Was the response he got.

As soon as Nicomaine heard the second voice, she stiffened.

"This would be a lot easier if you answer my question" Richard stated, followed by the obvious sound of flesh hitting flesh could be heard.

"Fuck you!" Still the same answer, although a little grumbled.

However this time, Nicomaine ran straight to the foyer, her gun forgotten. As soon as she spotted the owner of the voice, being held up by Daniel and Richard Sr., she almost fainted. Richard was about to punch the guy again....

"STOP!!!" Nicomaine yelled. She went closer to the group and exclaimed...

"Kuya Nicho?!?"