Chapter 9 - The Last Enemy
Six months later, Nakia and Elias were engaged.
No newspaper knew.
No criminal organization knew.
No one cared.
Their life was surprisingly ordinary.
They argued about groceries.
They watched bad television.
They fought over thermostat settings.
Elias learned to make coffee.
Nakia learned to drive his absurdly expensive car.
He still hated it.
One evening, Marcus arrived at their house.
"She's back."
Elias's expression hardened.
"Evelyn."
Marcus nodded.
"She found the remaining accounts."
Nakia stood.
"We need to finish this."
Elias shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I promised you I wouldn't go back."
"Going back isn't the same as protecting yourself."
She took his hand.
"You don't have to become the man you were."
Elias stared at her.
Then nodded.
They met Evelyn in an empty church.
She looked older.
Tired.
Defeated.
But still dangerous.
"You have what I want."
Elias shook his head.
"No."
"You have the final account key."
"No."
"You do."
Nakia stepped forward.
"I destroyed it."
Evelyn looked shocked.
"You couldn't."
"I did."
The money was gone.
The leverage was gone.
The club had nothing left.
Evelyn's power disappeared in an instant.
But she still reached for the gun hidden beneath her coat.
Nakia saw it.
She moved before Elias could.
The gun fired.
Nakia fell.
Everything stopped.
Elias caught her.
Blood spread across her dress.
"Nakia."
She looked at him.
"I'm okay."
He shook his head.
"You're not."
The bullet had grazed her shoulder.
Nothing fatal.
Elias almost collapsed from relief.
Police entered.
Evelyn was arrested.
As she was led away, she looked at Nakia.
"You destroyed everything."
Nakia smiled.
"No."
She looked at Elias.
"We built something better."
One year later, they were married.
The ceremony was small.
Family.
A few friends.
No guards.
No guns.
Just sunlight.
Afterward, Elias and Nakia danced under string lights in the garden.
"You know," Nakia whispered, "you were very jealous of Brendan."
"I still don't like him."
She laughed.
"He's married."
"Good."
"You still can't believe I said I had a date that night."
"I thought someone was trying to steal you."
"They were."
Elias smiled.
"Did it work?"
"No."
"Why?"
She looked into his eyes.
"Because I was never meant to belong to anyone."
He kissed her.
"I know."
Later that night, Nakia found something waiting on their kitchen table.
A small brass key.
She frowned.
"Elias."
"I didn't put that there."
They stared at it.
A note sat beneath the key.
One sentence.
SOME SECRETS SHOULD STAY BURIED.
Nakia looked at him.
Elias looked back.
Then they opened the door together.
Nothing waited outside.
Only rain.
Only Chicago.
Only the life they had chosen.
But neither of them saw the black car parked across the street.
Inside sat a man watching their house.
He smiled.
Then he made a phone call.
"The Mercers don't know yet."
May you like
A voice answered.
"Then make sure they never do."
