Chapter Thirty Eight

Chapter Thirty Eight
Zen’s POV
After I got dressed, I decided to check out the security cameras again. My paranoia was becoming damn near impossible to control. It had been two whole months. I knew there was no way in hell Danny had just let all of that shit go.
“Zen, baby. This is the third time you’ve checked those dang cameras today. Why don’t you just relax for a minute?”
“I did relax, Princess. That’s what the hot sex was for.” I retorted, reclining onto the leather sofa and picking up the controller. She laughed adorably, shaking her head.
“Okay, whatever you say. I’m going to start supper.” I nodded in response and she disappeared into the kitchen. Something wasn’t right, I could feel it. I knew she thought I was losing my mind, but I couldn’t shake my fears. I selected the recording from last night starting at 2 am. I sped up the recording ever so slightly, searching it for any hint of life. That’s when I saw it. It was a brief flicker, but I could see it. Someone was watching us. I caught a brief glimpse of their foot in the right hand corner. They were trying to keep out of view, but they fucked up.
“Son-of-a-bitch.” I whispered under my breath, quickly pulling my cell phone from my front pocket.
“Tom, I spotted someone on the cameras. Last night, 2:42 am, someone’s foot top right.”
“Alright, Warren, give me a second to pull it up.” I could hear the faint clicking of a keyboard from over the phone. “Fuck, you’re right. What’s the plan?” Shit. What am I going to do?
“I want you up here tonight. Tomorrow there’s a party at a neighbor’s house that Princess and I will be attending. I imagine they will choose then to strike. I need you to guard her while I sneak away and find the motherfucker. I’ll find out who sent him and then take him out.”
“You’re going to kill him? I don’t think Liz will like that very much.”
“Yea, well I don’t give a fuck. This is about her safety. If someone is watching us, it isn’t for good reason. I couldn’t see his face in the recording so we’ll be going in blind as hell tomorrow. I want you here ASAP.”
“Shit. Okay, I’ll be on my way in ten.”
“Hey, Tom? Don’t mention it to Princess. I don’t want her to panic.” I could hear him sigh. Finally he cleared his throat and answered.
“Sure, Warren.” Then he hung up.
About thirty minutes of me stressing the hell out later, Princess called me for dinner. She had made us pan seared steak and vegies to celebrate her successful sparring match with me. It tasted like heaven, as her cooking usually did. I finished it quickly, sitting back and patting my stomach in contentment.
“It was delicious, baby. I love your cooking.” I reached over, placing my hand over hers. I got distracted by our white gold bands and the diamond shining on her finger. Every time I saw it, it made me smile. I knew it was fake, but I liked pretending every now and then that we were a perfectly normal couple who shared a home, loving each other to the end of time. She squeezed my hand in return, meeting my eyes with striking ones.
“Thank you, Zen. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow! I probably shouldn’t have made so much food. I have to make sure I still fit in my dress, after all.” She giggled, showing off her bright white smile.
“Yea, me too… Hey, sweetie, about the party. I have Tom coming over tonight so that he can accompany us.” Her eyes immediately showed her annoyance.
“Are you serious, Zen? Don’t you think that’s a little much?”
“No, baby, I don’t. There’s going to be a lot of strangers there, and I might not be able to stand by you all the time. It’s just a safety precaution.” I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it.
“Zen… Something didn’t happen, did it?” Damn her for being so fucking observant. I shook my head, already cringing at the idea of lying to her.
“No, Elizabeth. Please, don’t fight me on this. Please.” After giving her a pleading look, she sighed.
“Okay, fine. I guess I am a little excited to see Tom again. It feels like it’s been ages.” She gave me a soft smile and a gentle squeeze. I relaxed my shoulders glad to have her cooperation.
I didn’t sleep a wink that night. Tom arrived around 1am, and after getting himself situated in the guest room down the hall, I went down to the gym to get some training in. After about an hour on the bag, I went back upstairs to shower, and then crawl in next to Princess.
But things didn’t go according to plan.
As soon as I entered the room, I noticed a Manilla folder sitting on the bench by the window. My heart stopped when I saw the familiar seal in the top left corner. I glanced over at Princess, but she was fast asleep, a soft snore escaping her lips. Fucking damn it! They broke through the window and planted the folder. But why? Why not kill Elizabeth while they were here? They’re after me.
I padded over to the folder, taking my leather gloves from on top of the nearby dresser. I opened it slowly, worried about what I would find. My stomach churned when I took in the contents. Holy shit. Dozens of 8x10 photographs of Princess and I at various stores, some dating as early as our second day here. The parking lot at the grocery store. Damn it! They’re fucking with us. They knew where we were from the very fucking beginning. After the last photo, a message was typed out on an index card that read, “Meet me in your back yard during the party if you want her to live. –Danny Boy” I dropped the folder back onto the bench, burying my head in my hands.
I had no other fucking options. He had the upper hand. All I could do was comply.