Raine wanted to call out and speak out, but all of her verbal and motor skills were paralyzed.  She was drugged with Ketamine, she could be hallucinating, but the scent of someone was not something anyone could change.  

You don’t have to do this.  Raine wanted to cry out. I finally found you.  You’re the only person whom I’m willing to be with.  We can finally be together. You are the soul I’ve been looking for all along.  You will always be the soul that I yearn for.

“I’m sorry I had to do this to you. Know that I never mean you any harm.”  Silver said as she pulled back from their kiss. “But, there is something I have to do to protect my family and your family.”

Silver kissed Addison’s lips again, then pulled the chair around so it would be next to Addison.  With her left hand, she held Addison’s bound hand that rested on her lap, with her right hand, she pulled out a gun and held it in her lap.  

“This will be our last play.”  Silver told Addison. “It would either be our beginning or our end.”

Whatever you’re doing, you don’t have to do it. Rain wanted to shout.  We can handle the situation together.

“Here he comes, my love.  Here comes the rat who sold my family to the police to save his own family.”  Silver said as they both watched Craig walk up to them as calmly as he could.

“I’m here alone, like you wanted.  Now let her go.” Craig said as he stopped six feet away from them. “She has nothing to do with us.”  

“But she has everything to do with us.”  

“Let her go!”  Craig shouted. “She’s innocent!”  

“But you’re the one who involved her in our mess.”  Silver said calmly. “Had you kept your eyes and lewd thoughts about Addy to yourself, she wouldn’t be here today.”  

“How much more do I have to tell you that I don’t love you?!?  I don’t want to be with you?!? Do I have to be a total asshole for you to understand that what is between you and me is through?  We are finished! Done! Even our friendship is not worth saving! After all of this, I never want to see you again!”

“You’re right.  You don’t love me, you don’t want to be with me and there is no friendship between us.  You’ll never see me again because you’re a rat for the FBI.”

“What?”  Craig said as he took a small step back.  A look of surprise flashed through his features.  

“There is no love lost between you and I.  I don’t love you either and I really don’t want to be with you.  What little friendship we did have was sold off by you to the FBI, in hopes to save yourself.”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”  

“Really!?!  Want to play dumb now that I’ve revealed your true face in front of your intended future wife?”  Silver sneered. “Look Addy. Look at the vermin who we called friend since we were young.  Look how he quickly sold us off to the FBI so he could keep on living.”

“I didn’t say anything to the FBI about Addison and her family.”  

“So you only ratted my family out?  How magnanimous of you to only do it to one person.”

“Shut up!”  

“What? Did you think that I was so obsessed with you that I couldn’t do anything except follow you around like a jealous harlot?  I followed you around so I could find out about your movements. Every step you made, every word you said, every deal you brokered. I knew. I know everything you said and did to save yourself, you selfish prick.  You also thought that once me and my family was out of the way, you could woo Addison and marry her. Have children with her? Build a life together? Ha! What a joke!  So naive.”

“Since you know the truth and revealed everything out in the open.  Let Addison go. She’s the only innocent person between us.” Craig said as his hands became fists.  He was trapped. He also needed to save Addison. Silver was too thorough with her plans. He had no backup.  No weapon. No sliver of hope to survive.

“Since you like deals so much, I’ll make you a deal.”  Silver said as she lifted her gun up. “I’ll let Addison go, if you call your FBI contact and throw away the deal you have with them.  Tell the contact that your family did just as much bad deeds as mine, confess to your family’s sins, and tell him that you want both Starnett and Leafheart family to pay for all the bad things we did.  Give your FBI contact all of the evidence they need to put your family in prison as well.”

“You’re crazy.”  Craig said as he shook his head no.  

“See Addison, hypocritical vermin like him only care about himself.  See how selfish he is. He’ll do anything to live. Anything to get what he wants.  He’ll even let the FBI fuck him in the ass, just to survive. The only reason why he wants to marry you, is because in his deal. He promised that his family mafia would be disbanded and all of their current running businesses would be sold. He wanted to marry you so he could take over Evermore Corporation and wash his image as heir to the Leafheart Mafia into an upright, law abiding CEO of Evermore Corp.  Just like vermin, he would beg, barter and steal to keep on living.”

“Shut up, Silver.  You know nothing.”

“You didn’t choose, Vermin.  Addison’s innocent life for our imprisonment.  Which one do you choose?”

Craig opened his mouth, but nothing came out.  He was in a dilemma. He wanted his freedom as well as Addison.  Just when he was going to answer there was an announcement from outside.  

“This is the FBI.  We have you surrounded.  Come out with your hands up.”

Craig felt a mountain of weight lifted off of his shoulders.  He was finally safe. He still had options.

“Do the right thing, Silver.  Let us both go. You’re surrounded.  The only good outcome is you letting us go and surrendering.”  Craig pleaded, however his eyes were glowing with glee.

Silver turned towards Addison and looked longingly and regrettably at her.  

“I guess my calculations were wrong.  I thought I had everything under control.  I’m sorry things had to end this way. But I can’t let anyone have you.  You belong to me as much as I belong to you. There is no me without you and there is no you without me.  The next time we meet, I hope it’s under better circumstances. I’ll promise to treat you better next time.  I promise that we’ll grow old with each other. Don’t forget me, my love.”

No!  Don’t!  Raine shouted, however nothing came out of her mouth.  

Silver raised the gun towards Craig and pulled the trigger.  Bang! Bang! Bang! The warehouse echoed repeatedly.

Bang!  The gunshot ran one last time before the police and the FBI broke through the warehouse door and in an orderly line cleared the room before walking up to the crime scene.  

[On a cold day in November 23, the Starnett Mafia declared war on Leafheart Mafia, killing the Leafheart central power in a planned and systematic killing spree.  All of Leafheart’s businesses were burned down at the same time. In retaliation, what was left of the Leafheart Mafia, fought back with what little power they still have.  

President and CEO of Evermore Corporation, Monroe Evermore along with 10 of his bodyguards were caught in the crossfires between the Leafheart Mafia and Starnett Mafia.  Monroe Evermore died upon arrival at the hospital, at the age of 70, and all of Evermore's bodyguards died at the scene of the crime.

Vice President Phillip Clarence was nominated and will take over Evermore Company as President and CEO of Evermore Corporation. 

As for Addison Evermore, she was victim to a murder suicide between Silver Starnett and Craig Leafheart.  Police reports indicate that Starnett, kidnapped Evermore to lure Leafheart to the empty warehouse. Starnett then bound Evermore to a chair where a lover's confrontation ensued between Leafheart.  Starnett shot and killed Leafheart, then proceeded to commit suicide. The bullet Starnett used to kill herself, entered her temple and exited the other side of Starnett’s head. It was also the bullet that entered Evermore’s head, killing her instantly.

With the tragic end to the Evermore family… ]

“Stop.”  Raine said as she laid on her bed.  “Stop. I don’t want to know anymore.”  

[ ‘Last Wish Request’ for Addison Evermore was not completed.  No Soul Force Points earned. No Hidden Side Quest completed. No Hidden Side Quest Points earned.  

Host failed to protect Monroe Evermore and Evermore Corporation. -10,000 Soul Points]

"Fuck."  Raine said softly.  How did things get out of hand so fast?  And how did Valentin's soul find her through her transmigration?

TBC

*****A/N:  Thanks for your support and patience.  I hope you enjoyed this arc.  xoxo -ptd*********