Chapter 45

Settling into the hotel 'room' which ended up being a suite that Daniello somehow upgraded for me on my behalf, I sigh wondering how he did it as I take out the papers Eugene had Ah Buo draw up for me on the orphanages Logans is operating his child trafficking menu through.

With my feet kicked up on the coffee table in front of the wide three-seater couch, my heart aches slightly at the long list on the paper before me. Deciding to finish all of this in two weeks so that I can move on to Italy, I take note of the major ones that need to be taken down as soon as possible.

For example, Sister Alberta's Home for Orphaned Children.

The old orphanage that sent me to live in a foster home from where I proceeded to be blindfolded, drugged and put in a van that took me to the airport and later on in the cargo hold of a plane to Taiwan where I was bought by a Japanese man who trained me to be who I am today.

Yeah, good memories.

Flicking on the television to fill the gaping silence in the suite, my head snaps up immediately from my list when a press conference held by Heaven and Holts Enterprise Inc. comes on and Alexander is on the podium.

"Mr Holt, is it true that your engagement has been called off? If so, who called it off?" One lady in pink shouts over the other reporters shooting questions to the emotionless-looking Alexander.

"What was your to-be bride's name? It was never released though there were pictures of her!" Another shouts frantically.

"Was it because of Lillian Lane's child who you have full custody over?" Someone else screams, the question making me stand up from my seat in anger.

Fucking vultures.

When I think my anger is about to boil over, Alexander speaks into the microphone, "Our engagement was never called off. We will still be marrying in three months. Her name is Janette Summers, she is the main editor of Bloomsburg Publishing. To make it clear, she loves my son more than his birth mother ever did. That is all the questions I will answer for today."

An uproar follows his words as he steps off of the stage to take what looks to be a crying Danny from Mr Ford, sitting down on the edge of the couch in shock. I watch silently as Alexander coos something into Danny's ear but whatever he says makes my baby cry even more.

"Oh, Danny..."I whisper into the air just before the screen changes to show something about the stock markets.

Hey, I think you're forgetting that he just told the press your name and occupation, my inner incubus huffs, placing her hand on her hip. Aren't we supposed to lay low?

Logans already knows my changed name, it makes no difference, I respond to her, picking up the remote to change the channel. Alexander's words will just rile Logans up since he did just reveal that we are still marrying in three months. It shows that whatever he did in Taiwan hasn't affected Alexander's affection for me.

But Danny? My subconscious asks me tentatively, peeking her head out from behind my inner incubus. Logans is already heading for Danny.

Why do you think I got in touch with the syndicates, I sigh exasperatedly shaking my head disappointedly. Were you even listening to our conversation in the car just now?

Alright...alright, but I can't help but feel Eugene was right, My inner incubus sighs, crossing her arms. We need to call Alexander and explain everything. Now, listen here, he just announced publicly that he still wants to marry you despite seeing you kill. He's waiting for you to explain it and it's the least we can do for him.

"Oh for god's sake," I say out loud, going to my duffle bag to get my unlisted phone irritated that not only has Eugene's words kept me up all night but even my subconscious mind is urging me to call him. "Why do I always do things that will most likely come back to haunt me later?"

Because you know it's the right thing to do even if it has a bad outcome for you. My subconscious giggles, hiding behind my inner incubus.

Dialling in his number from my blackberry, I hold the phone to my ear as it rings.

It rings...

And rings...

And rings...

Just when I am about to give up and hang up, he picks up.

"Alexander Holt, speak," He speaks monotonously down the line as Danny cries in the background.

My mouth opens and closes wordlessly at the sound of his voice, my mind runs through all the possible things I should say to him right now but none of them seems to be any good. The seconds drag through in the call and the only sound I hear on his end is Danny wailing.

"If you don't speak in the next three seconds, consider this call ended," Alexander threatens lowly, his voice harsh and cold.

So, the first thing that comes to mind slips out of my mouth, "Hi."

Silence Absolute silence follows my words which is unsettling so I add, "I saw your press conference just now. Don't you think you should have asked me for my opinion on whether or not the engagement is off?

"Do you want it to be off?" He asks hollowly.

"No," I respond softly, sitting on the edge of my bed. "So, I called to explain everything to you. Is your line secure?"

"As secure as yours," He replies instantly though I doubt he even knows what I mean.

Regardless, I take in a deep breath and begin, "My biological father shot my mother in the forehead when I was four. He left her body in our living room. It took the authorities three days to find us after I made the call. He was tried and sentenced to twenty years in prison. I was sent to an orphanage in Chicago. It didn't take more than a week before I was taken to a foster home, later sold and taken to a child auction in Taiwan. I was bought for 1.2 million dollars by the oyabun(leader) of a crime syndicate which is based in Japan. His name is Ootori Shino."

"He had me for about two years and he raised me as his own," I quiver, remembering my training. "There were others of course but I somehow became the best...probably because I was directly under his guidance. When I finished my training, he offered to let me go. As in be 'normal'. However, he didn't neglect to tell me that with my mind and skills, I'd be able to help thousands or millions of girls in worse-off positions than mine. He said I could protect them. So, I chose to stay and do exactly that."

"Janette," He breathes into the phone, his voice gentle and soft caressing my mind like a warm blanket. "Wha-"

"Just listen and don't speak," I murmur, closing my eyes as I picture him across me watching me carefully. "For five years, I worked and became friends with many leaders of many crime syndicates, making deals in exchange for the freedom of children. Most of the deals on my part were to either kill a traitor or traitors and work for them for the max of six months."

"There was this man when I was ten, he became obsessed with me and he tried to keep both the children and me by his side thereby breaking our deal. He didn't let me leave after six months and the girls were treated worse every time I tried to leave. With one call to another friend of mine, I escaped. Alone."

Pausing for a moment in my story to gather my emotions, a sad smile graces my lips when I hear Danny literally scream in the background, the sound pulls at my heart because he's crying so I continue to drown out the sound, "I was adopted by the Summers by the time I was twelve through one of the orphanages I made one of the leaders open for child trafficked girls and boys of all ages. I told my Dad my past and my brothers heard the modified version of it from him meaning they didn't hear that I killed and tortured, they only knew I was brought up around child trafficking."

"When I was sixteen, I found out all twelve of them at the time worked for a crime syndicate, which one they never told me but I left the house at eighteen and cut off all ties for four whole years and my Dad helped me with that. The rest you know. The man who set me up that night in Taiwan was the man who became obsessed with me. He's after me now and he'll do anything to get to me. He's already threatened me with you and Danny. I...can't...I just can't...put you or Danny in danger. In three months, you'll see me again but until then...please stay safe. I have people looking out for you just in case. I love you...I want you to know that in case something goes wrong...so...bye..."

Pressing the end call button before he can reply, my body shakes as I sob quietly into my hands at my full confession. There! I told him everything. If he isn't repulsed by me now then he is either mentally unsound or he's just...weird.