Imperatrix

chapter 13

Dressed in a black suit and black fedora with white stripes, Jack walked over to the window and stared out. The media had taken up residence outside the gates ever since they had learned of Dominic’s death. It was hot news; the demise of her father was all over the papers and news channels. The media didn’t know the details of his death yet, but it was exciting for them. If they wanted excitement, she would give them the excitement they craved.

Walking briskly out of the house, she headed for the back where the doghouse was. Sugar was chewing on a ball while Pablo was napping. He heard her approach and glanced up to look at her, Sugar’s tail already wagging. Jack clicked her tongue and they both came running. She crouched down as she scratched their ears sadly. Her heart was heavy. They seemed to know how she was feeling because Pablo nudged her with his nose and Sugar whined a little.

“My loves,” she said softly. “Wanna play?”

Pablo barked and she smiled. She got up and walked to the gate, the dogs trotting slowly behind her. The guard opened the side gate as she approached, she could already hear the voices of the paparazzi. Good thing they couldn’t see through the gate. She wouldn’t be surprised if some had climbed the nearby trees to get a glimpse of Lucas. He was the one they wanted to see, the surviving heir of the Cabrera fortune. As she reached the gate, she stood beside it and opened it wider.

“They wanna play, chase them a little. Perhaps give a few nips and licks, but don’t eat them Pablo.”

She had barely finished her statement when Pablo shot out. A loud scream was heard followed by the dogs barking loudly and running footsteps. Another scream, then another. Pablo had obviously done more than chase and nip. She should probably stop him now, but hell, let a dog have its fun. And it served them right, going to someone’s house and camping in front just because you wanted a photo. She heard a cloth rip and someone yell.

The dogs came back after some minutes breathing hard. All that running must have excited them.

She gave them a small smile, “Good dogs.”

She walked back into the house and plopped down on a sofa in the living room and closed her eyes wearily. They were scheduled to leave in a few minutes for the burial, and anything could go wrong, especially now that she had killed Andrea.

The door opened and a woman walked in with Lucas. Jack recognised her from a photo she had found in her father’s office. It was their Aunt Marion.

“Who is this?” Marion asked curiously. She was dressed in a loose black gown and her face was devoid of any makeup. She looked like she'd been crying. Her light blond hair was packed in a chignon and she had kind baby blue eyes. She was beautiful.

“This is Jacqueline, my sister. Jacqui, this is Aunt Marion, our aunt. Fathers younger sister.”

Jack got up and stretched out her hand for a handshake, “Nice to meet you, aunty.”

Aunt Marion grabbed her hand and pulled her into a hug, “Oh dear, Dominic never told me about you. Why haven’t I heard of you before, you are so pretty.” She pulled back and stared into Jack’s dark eyes, “I’m sorry we had to meet in this circumstance,” she said softly.

Just then the door opened again, and a lady walked in with a man behind her. She recognised the guy as Alejandro, her cousin. She had never met any of the people in the room, and they didn’t know her either.

“Lucas darling, how have you been?” the lady asked in a British accent walking towards them.

“Oh God,” Jack heard Lucas mutter under his breath.