I holster my gun once more and make my way back to the school making sure there was no blood on me as I notice Taylor and Henderson nearing the office.
âEverything sorted?â Henderson says as I nod.
âTonight will be interestingâ Taylor sighs as we sit down.
âWe need to carry on pretending that you know nothing but what Lizzy has told you.â Henderson says.
âHeâs coming after meâ¦Why is it always me?â I sigh, my head in my hands.
âYouâre a powerful girl. Youâll always have someone wanting whatâs yours. But there are people behind you. You just need to be careful in who you trustâ Henderson says.
âAnd I thought I could trust Hayden, look where that got meâ¦â I sigh.
âItâs not easy, I understand but that is why you have people like myself, your other grandfather, Beck and your men by your side. They will protect you as you will protect themâ He adds.
âI have to wipe Hayden outâ¦Do you think Lizzy knows?â I face Taylor.
âI donât knowâ¦She could easily be manipulatedâ¦But the look in her eyes, she doesnât want to hurt you Sammyâ¦â Taylor says.
âShitâ¦We get Hayden, take him out. Take Craig out too while weâre at it. Weâll hold Lizzy, see how she isâ¦If sheâs being manipulatedâ¦I canâtâ¦I know what sheâs been through Taylorâ¦â I cry.
âWeâll deal with it. Iâll keep an eye on her.â Taylor nods.
âI taught your mother, you know. Youâre like her a lot Samantha. Sheâd be proudâ Henderson says as I smile with a tear in my eye.
âThank you. I need to call my boys. Taylorâ¦If this goes wrong, you get out, head home and protect my childâ I say as he looks at me with pain in his eyes before sighing and nodding.
âNothing is going to happen to you Sam, not on my watchâ He says as I hug him before taking out my phone and heading outside.
I ring Jayden.
âHey baby, I didnât expect a call so early. Everything ok?â He asks, the worry clear in his voice.
âJust a little nervous about tonight. I wanted to hear your voicesâ I said.
âYouâll be fine Sam. Hey buddy, do you want to talk to mummy?â Jayden says and I smile when Cody comes to the phone.
âMummy!â Hey giggles happily.
âHi baby boy, how are you? Are you having fun with daddy and the others?â I ask.
âYeah! But Uncle Shaun and Uncle Luka not homeâ¦they busyâ He says sadly.
âBusy doing what?â I ask.
âI dunno, stuff. Uncle Bwian gone tooâ he cries.
âIâm sure they will be back soonâ I say.
âI miss you mummy, when you come home?â He asks.
âSoon baby, soonâ I answer trying not to cry.
âDaddy want to talk. Love you mummyâ He says.
âLove you too baby boyâ I answer.
âSo, uhh, the boysâ¦I have no idea where they areâ¦â Jayden says coming back to the phone.
âWhat do you mean you donât know where they are?! Youâre all supposed to be protecting Cody!â I cry angrily.
âThere are plenty of people still hereâ He says.
âI need you to be careful, Hayden is not with usâ I say quietly.
âWHAT?â he exclaims.
âHenderson has been protecting me for years for my mother. Hayden wants me and my mafia. He was friends with my grandfather. Tonight Iâve got to take him and Craig downâ I sigh.
âNoâ¦Come home, right nowâ He says sternly.
âI canât just leave now! What about Henderson? What about Beck? What about all of us?! With Hayden still around we are all in danger! I need you to contact the others and warn them. Anything could happen when I take down Haydenâ I snap back.
âYouâll die! Weâll run weâll go somewhere new. Just donât do this Sam!â He cries out.
âI have no choice. This has to end, or he will keep coming after me. So many people have been under him from the beginning, Vern, Gregory and my Uncle Karlos being a few. This has to end to keep our family safe! I have Taylor, Henderson and Beck, Iâll be okâ I say.
âPlease kitten, Iâm begging you, come homeâ He cries.
âI canât. Iâm sorry Jayden. I love you and Cody so much, remember that. Keep him safe, Iâll be home soonâ I say.
âI love you Kitten, come home to us. We love youâ He whispers sadly.
âIâll see you soon. Stay safe. Give Cody lots of hugs for meâ I say.
âI willâ He answers.
âLove you, Iâll call you when itâs overâ I said.
âYou better kitten. Tell Taylor heâll be in trouble if you have a single hair out of placeâ He says, and I laugh.
âI will. Bye babyâ I say as he says goodbye and we hang up.
I sigh and back up onto a tree as I sob a little.
âGet yourself together Samanthaâ I say to myself as I wipe my eyes and go back indoors.
The bells had gone, and kids flooded the corridors, I watched the hustle and bustle, remembering when I was younger and was a student here. The noises, the smells, it brought so many memories back. I missed the simpler times, but I wouldnât take anything back. I loved my family and would do anything I could to keep them safe.
âTaylor has gone to the car heâs waiting for you there. Iâve set up a room for you both to get ready in the east wing, Taylor knows where to go. Iâll see you tonight Samanthaâ Henderson makes me jump, creeping up beside me as he used to do as I laugh nervously.
âThank youâ¦For everythingâ I say as I lay my hand on his arm and head back outside.
âI donât think Damien is very happy with our situation right now Sammyâ Taylor looks upset.
âNeither is Jayden. He said you better make sure I donât come home with even a hair out of place or youâre in deep troubleâ I smirk nervously.
âDamien said a similar thing but that neither of us are to come home hurtâ He hugs me tightly.
âWeâll get through thisâ I say hugging him back.
âOf course we will. We always doâ