Game of Love

Game of Love Ch. 14

Comments, critiques, and tips are welcome!

***

Welcome to the 14

th

chapter of this captivating series. I love you guys a lot and I would love to thank you for your comments, ratings and for being on this journey with me. I am sorry for the late post. I have been caught up in so much school work that I don't even have any more time for myself. But I'll try to update you guys in the smallest possible time.

Don't forget to drop your comments and rate this chapter. I am definitely looking forward to your comments, whether negative or positive because they inspire me a lot. I love you once again.

Game of Love, feel the passion....

***

Giada felt shivers ran up and down her spine as she stared at her husband's corpse. Her heart raced at a tremendous rate, and her lungs shallowly rose and fell in time. She just remained there for what felt like hours but it was just mere minutes. She slowly started crawling, near her husband. Her trembling hand touched his chest to shake him but when she saw the blood that stained her whole hand, she quickly retreated.

"No!" She cried, shaking her head while trying her best to run the blood from her hands. "Brice... I... I didn't mean to. Please, get up! I... I am so sorry. Please, get up."

But he just lay there, his eyes on her like he wanted to burn her with them. She had never experienced grief that bad before. It sneaked up on her quietly and took her under its arms in an instant.

"Brice!" She wailed but not too loudly. "I... I didn't mean to."

There was nothing worse than what she had done, killing her husband, the man she loved more than anything on this earth. She was so scared. She knew it was dumb to be scared, but she couldn't help it.

"I didn't mean to!"

She felt like an invisible force was crushing her from every possible angle. As she looked at the corpse of her husband, sobbing softly and shaking like a leaf on a windy day, all she could think of was him.

Every memory of the time they'd shared played like a song in her head, repeating itself for what seemed like forever. She was lost mostly because she had lost a big part of her.

"Brice..." She gasped, her voice sounding shaky and scared. "...Brice! I... I... I... I didn't mean to."

Her heart was torturing her. She couldn't get that part of her back and she wanted it so bad as her life depended on it. But it was all gone, vanished in thin air. She remained seated there, hugging herself while sharp gasps escaped her. She knew nothing could get worse than what she had done.

But suddenly...

"Mommy, I was thinking that maybe we could..."

But Trevor trailed off when as soon as he entered the room, he saw his father's body near his feet. He was lying lifeless on the floor in a pool of his blood. Seeing that blood, Trevor felt adrenaline flood his system, pumping and beating like it was trying to escape. He thought his heart was gonna explode and his eyes became wide with fear.

His breaths sounded harsh and tears welled in his eyes. It was like he was frozen where he stood. He slowly but hesitantly moved his eyes only to find his mother near the corpse, staring at it in fear. There was a gun near her and Trevor didn't need to be a genius to know she had killed him.

He looked at the corpse again. His adrenaline surged so fast he almost vomited. He could taste the saliva thicken in his throat and beads of sweat trickling down his brow.

Giada robotically moved her eyes and saw her son in the doorway staring at his father's body with a tear rolling down his cheek. When their eyes met, she'd never seen the look that she saw at that time. He looked at her as if she was a monster.

"Trevor... Baby... I didn't mean to." She cried, shaking her head. She wanted to get up and hug him but she didn't have any strength left in her. "... he... I... didn't mean to kill him. I swear... I can never hurt him and you know."

"What have you done?" Trev's voice was barely above a whisper. He was taking steps backward. "You... you killed, daddy?"

"I... I didn't mean to!" She cried, shaking her head. "I swear. I didn't mean to kill him. I... I thought it was just gonna stop him and not... not kill him."

As Giada cried, her bottom lip quivered, the same as a baby pushed past endurance. Tears spilled from her helpless eyes onto the floor. She wanted her son to hug her, assure her that it was a dream and Brice was still there.

"You know I would never hurt him." She cried at the top of her voice, raising her weak hand towards her son. "Trev... please, get him up. I... I can't live without him, I swear. Tell... him I didn't mean to shoot him. I..."

"Why?" Trev felt like someone was pulling his heart. The grief came in waves and threatened to consume him entirely. "Why... why did you kill daddy?"

"I didn't mean to." She agonized. "I didn't even know he was back. He... He overheard my conversation on the phone. He heard our entire plan to kill Eric and torment, Kimberly. He... he threatened to expose us. He wanted to go and tell Eric the truth. He wanted to ruin our plans. He... He wanted to kill me. I... I wanted to stop him from exposing us and... and..."

Giada couldn't finish her sentence before she burst into tears, staring at her husband's corpse. "Brice," She mourned, breathing like she was about to pass out. "... I didn't mean to kill him. But I felt helpless. You know what him telling Eric would have done. Brice! I am... I am so sorry."

Trevor's heart was pounding deep in his chest, threatening to come out. He looked at the corpse and his mother again.

"I am sorry..."

He quickly shut the door behind him and rushed to his mother. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her closer and tighter while rubbing on her back. Her cries just intensified. He could tell that she was very scared of the way her body shook.

"We need to get rid of the body!" He said in a louder voice, so evil that Giada stopped crying.

She slowly pulled from her son, staring at him as he'd just sprouted horns. She felt like her ears had betrayed her. Her son was staring into her eyes and he had tears in his eyes but the look that he gave her was something she hadn't seen before.

"What?" She groaned. "What are you..."

"We need to get rid of this body before anyone finds out." He nodded. "We're lucky no one is home right now but if we delay any longer, we might be implicated in this."

"What? I just killed him and..."

"You had no choice!" He assured, furiously rubbing his tears. "You were forced to do this. It was either he exposes us or..." He paused and took a deep breath. "You had no choice but to do it and I admire you for your bravery, mommy. I love you so much and this won't change a thing. We must get rid of this corpse before anyone finds out, mommy."

Giada glanced at the corpse and felt the emptiness in her heart, the numbness pounding her brain and the salty tears that flowed unchecked from her eyes. His skin was pale and he was still staring at her.

"Mommy!" Trevor shook her bringing her back to reality. "I know this is hard for you. It is even harder for me because he was my father. Look at me!" He shook her harshly making her gasp. "We need to do this. We need to be strong, otherwise, all this will be in vain."

"B-but..."

"Have you called him to tell him about this?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Giada shook abruptly. "I... I...."

"Call him right now. He's the only one that can help us."

Giada quickly rose and started rushing to where she had left her phone. She hesitantly opened it and quickly started calling him. It didn't take long and the phone started ringing.

'Giada, I hope this is important.' The man said harshly on the other end. 'I have something important to do. What is it?'

"I... I need help!" Giada sniveled, her voice sounding like there was a storm in her mouth. "I... I need your help I..."

But Trevor quickly grabbed the phone from her.

"Look, there's no time." He said abruptly. "You're the only that can help. If we don't do something then we're gonna get into trouble."

'What the hell are you talking about? What trouble?'

"She... she accidentally shot my father." He said confidently, gripping the phone harder. "His corpse is lying in our house as we speak. She's panicking and we need to get rid of the body right now."

'And what did I tell you two about staying out of trouble?'

"Would have rather he had exposed us to the only person strong enough to stop us?" He chuckled bitterly. "She just killed the man that she has only loved her entire life and it was to protect our secret. You can continue to lecture me or you can help us get rid of his corpse without being implicated."

There was silence on the other end of the line. Surely, the man was angry and Trevor could tell from his harsh breaths. But he didn't give a damn about it.

'You stay put. I'll send the best men to handle it.'

The phone cut and Trevor dropped it on the bed. He looked at his mother who was staring back at him. She was still trembling from fear.

"He' sending someone to come and get rid of it."

He held her in his arms and soothed her as she cried. She held her son tighter and just cried unlike before. The tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down her face. She felt the muscles on her chin tremble like a little child. Trevor was hurt but he didn't shed a tear. He just continued soothing her.

About half an hour later, two of the man's henchmen came dressed all in black with a body bag. They carefully put the corpse in the body bag, cleaned the floor so that there was no evidence of the murder and told Giada that their boss had sent the deepest condolences. Giada cried seeing her husband being taken away.

She dropped to the floor and heard her own sounds, like a dressed child, raw from the inside. Trevor knelt down and took her in his arms, rubbing on arms. She sobbed in his chest unceasingly, hands clutching at his shirt.

"Trev, your father.... Brice!" She wailed. "Brice, no!"

"Shhh..." He soothed, trying to make her calm. "Mommy, everything's gonna be alright. You shouldn't cry anymore. You should be strong now. You're a strong woman and I promise that I'll be with you forever."

"Brice..."

"Mommy, you know that no one should see you like this." He sighed. "We don't want anyone to become suspicious."

"How can I? How can I just remain like nothing happened? I killed him."

"Mommy?" Trevor yelled, ripping her from his chest. He cupped her face and stared into her eyes. "You need to stop, otherwise, all this will be in vain. If you truly love me then you'll stop crying."

"Trevor..."

"I am serious, mommy." He said in a threatening voice. "Besides, why are you even crying for him? You loved him but did he love you back? No! He didn't even think twice about exposing you to that bitch when he found out. Is that the man you think loves you, mommy?"

"I love him."

"I know." He smiled softly, rubbing her tears. "Okay, I will only allow you to mourn him tonight. I don't want to hear about him or see you cry for him starting tomorrow morning. Do you understand?"

Giada knew it was gonna be hard. But she nodded and her son smiled, holding her tightly. She continued crying softly. She didn't even see the grin that was on her son's face. He had tears in his eyes but what were they for?

'I am so sorry, daddy.' He thought as a tear went down his cheek. 'I love you but if it meant you had to go for our plans to be successful, then I have no regrets about your death. I will not let anything ruin my plan and even if it means killing everyone so I can have anything I want, I am ready to make that sacrifice.'

He slowly rubbed his tears.

'Goodbye!'

He closed his eyes and held her even tighter.

***

Kimberly was walking about the room, trying to clear her head but she couldn't do it. The thoughts that were there were threatening to drive her insane. She wanted to have a clear head to think about the calamity that was about to tear her family apart. Now it just wasn't about Eric trying to ruin her family but another invisible threat had emerged.

She hadn't slept properly at night. She had taken a shower early morning but it just wasn't doing her any good. She felt like the world was slowly disappearing in front of her. Or maybe it was just her that was fading away.

Suddenly, Kim heard her phone vibrate and she literally jumped. Her eyes widened when she saw the same private number that had called her the previous night. She felt her heart racing faster than a man running away from its predator. Sweat formed on her forehead and she took a deep breath as she grabbed the phone.

"What do you want from me?" She asked harshly. "Why the hell are you bothering me, huh? Tell me the amount of money you want and I'll gladly give it to you. Stop messing with my life."

The man laughed on the other end of the line, a voice that scared the shit out of Kim.

"I am really starting to enjoy this, Kim.' The man said in a distorted voice. 'You came straight to the point. Now listen to me... I want you to open the second drawer of your wardrobe. There's a small envelope. Take whatever is there and tell me when you've seen it.'

Kim frowned, wondering how the man had known how her room was. She quickly glanced around, trying to see if anyone was looking at her. But there was no one.

'I am becoming impatient!'

Kim rushed to her wardrobe and as instructed went to the second drawer, found the small envelope and took out what was there. Her heart hammered into her chest and she gave a sharp gasp as her eyes widened and her breaths became sharp. There was a small bottle filled with liquid and it was labeled, 'poison'. First of all, she didn't even bother about how that had reached there in the first place.

"po-poison?" She managed a word. "Are you trying to kill me now?"

'No, Kim! Why should I kill you when I want you to suffer? Get out of your room and go take a glance downstairs right now.'

Kim started running like the hounds of hell were after her. She reached the staircase leading downstairs but she stopped there. She saw Eric coming out of the kitchen with a tray of breakfast. Kim didn't understand what she had to see.

'Good, Kim! Now you listen to me...' He instructed. '.... go back to your room.'

Kim did as instructed.

"What do you want?"

'Kim, I want you to take the poison and mix it in your son's favorite morning pudding!'

Kim's body went limp and cold. Her whole body shook, bones rattling in the fear that loomed before her. Heart pounding so hard against her ribcage as her pulse pressed outward, jerking the veins within. She tried to breathe calmly, but the words she'd heard kept on ringing in her head. Slowly, the panic and anxiety attack intensified and her jaws began shaking.

"W-what?" She stammered. "What the hell... are you crazy? You expect me to poison my own son? I am not crazy and if you like, kill me right now. But I am not gonna hurt my son, you bastard!"

'Who said anything about your son?' The man chirped. 'You're gonna poison your son in law. He's gone to call his loving husband and this is the opportunity for you to poison the pudding. You're gonna stop your from taking it and you'll make your son in law take it instead."

Tears welled in her eyes and she didn't even realize it.

"What? You want me to kill Eric?"

'Genius!' The man laughed manically. 'You're gonna get rid of your son in law, forever!'

"N-n-no!" She stuttered as a tear made its way down her cheek. "I am not gonna do that. Have you lost your mind?"

'Why's that, Kim? You don't like your son in law. You've always wanted him to leave your son's life. You should be thanking me for helping you find a permanent solution.'

"No!" She couldn't breathe. Everything was spinning and it felt as if the ground was melting under her feet. "I know I hate Eric so much but I have never wished him dead. I am not gonna kill my son's husband, his happiness. He'll never forgive me for this."

'I don't need...'

"Do your worst, you son of a bitch!" She roared. "But I am not gonna kill him. Do what you want to me but..."

'Perhaps you need some motivation, Kim!' She heard a sinister laugh that sent shivers down her spine. 'Check the media message that I have sent you. Perhaps, that will motivate you.'

Kim quickly looked at her phone and found the message. She opened it and felt her entire strength leave her. She collapsed onto her knees, her breathing shallow and quick.

It was a video of her daughter on her daily morning run in the park nearby. She had headsets on her and she seemed happy. Kim could also see a pistol on the screen and it was held by whoever was taking that video.

"If you hurt my daughter then..."

'You won't do anything, Kim!' The man laughed at the top of his voice. 'But the decision is yours. You can either save your lovely young daughter or your ungrateful son in law. He's already gone back to call his husband. And you've got 10 seconds to go and do it or you lose your daughter.'

With those words, the phone cut and Kim dropped it to the floor. She was in tears. She was in a dilemma but she was also running out of time. She quickly rose from the floor, furiously rubbing her tears.

"I am so sorry, Sergio, but I am just a helpless mother."

She rushed downstairs to save her daughter. She went straight to the dining and didn't find anyone there. She was nervous, scared and sweaty. She looked at the dining table, her son's favourite pudding. What she was about to do was wrong but what choice did she have?

"Please forgive me!" She muttered as she hesitantly took out the bottle of poison from her pocket.

She opened it and emptied it in the pudding. She took the spoon, mixed it and then carefully covered it. A tear went down her cheek and she sobbed softly feeling like her strength was leaving her. But she heard her son and Eric's voices and she ran away from there.

Meanwhile, Sergio and Eric reached the dining room and they were kissing like they didn't care. Eric had his arms wrapped around his husband while Sergio had his arms carefully locked around Eric's waist while he planted kisses all over his face.

Sergio was ready for an important meeting that morning. He was dressed in a pitch-black designer's suit with a red shirt inside. He was so excited and he just wanted to continue kissing his husband. He didn't mind who saw him showering his love on his baby.

"Hmmm... why do I have to get tempted each morning like this?" Sergio moaned as he slowly kissed Eric's nose. "You're tempting me to just cancel that meeting and stay with you the entire day."

"And you know I won't allow you to do that." Eric smiled, winking at him. "And the food is getting cold. You need to eat and then leave. When you come back, I'll be all yours."

"Promise?"

"And hope to die!" Eric crossed his heart, kissing his husband's tender lips.

Sergio felt like a man on the moon. He sat on the chair but he couldn't let go of Eric's hand. Eric uncovered his husband's pudding and chuckled excitedly when Sergio sniffed the air, moaning like a little kid.

"Wow! Something smells delicious." He rubbed his hands together. "Two of my favourite things all at once."

"And what are those?" Eric raised an eyebrow.

"My dear sweet, sweet husband and my favourite pudding."

"Hmmm... are you saying that you love me just as much as you love this pudding?" He pretended to be sad. "I thought you loved me more."

"Of course, sweetie. I love my pudding but nothing can ever compare to you." Eric smiled at his husband's sweet words. "And do you know what would make this morning even more magical? If you feed me this pudding with your lovely hands. Please!"

"Sure!"

Eric smiled and then took a spoonful of the pudding to feed his husband. But before he even gave it to him.... The spoon went flying from his hands to the floor. He quickly looked past his shoulder and found Kim standing there, staring at him like she wanted to snap his neck off. To say he was surprised would be an understatement.