*Prelude – 12 years ago*

The two boys had grown older now, they looked about 6 years old.

"And then what happened?" Xavier asked, he and his best friend were sitting in Xavier's personal cinema theater, they had a table in front of them with popcorn, every pastry you could imagine, juice jars of every flavor and a variety of pizza's.

"I dunno...I can't really remember very well...." Zach said, his face squinting as though trying to remember something "but He cut off Mommy's hair...all of it....whoosh...just like that" he said , making strange cutting movements in the air "and now mommy's hair is all gone..." he finished.

"Does she look funny?" Xavier asked

"Yep...she looks like a boy..." Zach said, digging into the pizza "Mommy said I shouldn't make him angry anymore....she says I act stupid sometimes and that's why he gets angry"

"Hey that's not nice . How do you make him angry? You're my best friend and the most coolest person I know! I mean you even knew how to lock the room where we threw teacher Lucia in ! That's very smart....." Xavier said, patting his best friend on his back, and all of a sudden his friend started crying

"ow...what's wrong zacky?"

"I don't wanna stay there anymore Xavi....he hurt me again ...look....." Zacky said, rolling up his sleeves

Xavier looked at his best friends hand gasping, it had dark blue and black stains all over it.

"Well you can come stay here ! I own this place Zacky, all 54 rooms !"

"Huh...?" Zach said turning around looking at Xavi "What...what happened...?"

"Hey...we were just talking about you moving here..." Xavi said turning to look at him strange

Zacky raised his eyebrows "When?"

"Just now !" Xavi replied, looking suspiciously at Zacky...."are you pretending again...?" he asked

Zacky stared at him confused, scrunching up his face...

"You don't remember...?" Xavi asked again bewildered

"Naw...let's get some more pizza Xavi ...your cook is good..." Zacky said shrugging his shoulders and walking over to get some snacks

****

Night after night, Leila would find her husband had similar nightmares, sometimes he would say things that were incoherent, and other times he would plea and beg the same way saying the same things she experienced the first time she saw it....It occurred strange to Leila because Princess was adamant that Xavier never grew up with his parents, they died when he was very young. It was also very strange to Leila that he didn't seem to remember his dreams.

Leila didn't want to bring it up either, she wasn't sure if it was something he wanted to talk about.....

"Princess can I ask you something?" Leila asked cautiously, they were seated in front of one of the swimming pools on the eastern wing of the Mansion. It had a beautiful patio together with crème shaded umbrellas. Leila and Princess were sitting there, Princess was taking Leila's blood pressure once again...

"Sure honey bubu.."

"What ...exactly happened between Xavier and Zach......?" Leila asked, she remembered walking through the Williams mansion, they were photos upon photos of Zach and Xavier since they were toddlers, clearly they meant a lot to each other and were very close at one point....

Princess smiled sadly at Leila "My dear....even Princess doesn't know the answer to that question....but I'm adamant that they still think of each other as brothers....but maybe we will never know...All I can tell you is that if need be Xavier would give up his life for Zach...."

"What do you mean...?"

"Let me give you one example...........have you seen Cut Throat's back...?"

"Yes, its severely scarred..."

"He had to do something ..........very ............difficult................and ...........he suffered .....alot.....but he didn't think twice about doing it..........because it might mean a chance to protect Zach....?" Princess said, Leila could see he was getting emotional

He grabbed tissues "You know I haven't actually shared this with anyone....but it was really really hard to watch...Mrs. Leila....." Leila gently patted his back, "I still have nightmares about it.....and trust me I am more than capable.....but that day ...that day.......it was very dif-difficult..." Princess finished sniffing and wiping back his tears

Leila could feel Princess' pain, a strange sense of guilt rose through her stomach, she felt a small twitch in her mind...and for a moment Leila wondered if she had misjudged her Husband....

****

Leila heard a siren ring loud ...too loud. She was immersed deep in sleep, and wondered if she was imagining it...but it was just so loud. Slowly and reluctantly, she opened her eyes, turning to the side and Cut Throat was already on his feet, he pressed his fingers to her mouth as though she should remain quiet, Leila nodded her head telling him, she understood. Adrenaline suddenly rushing through her veins, Leila was wide awake now.

Cut Throat pressed something in his wall, and Leila gasped, the wall behind them automatically started moving showing an impressive display of a collection of weapons, Cut Throat took two small guns into his hands, and a small knife which he shoved into the back pocket of his trouser...

He stretched his hand out for her and Leila instinctively grabbed it, they both walked out of their room, Cut Throat turning around looking from his left to right there was no sign of anyone.

He took out his phone out, and Leila could see on his screen there was CCTV footage of the entire mansion.

Cut Throat sighed, rolling his eyes, He turned to his wife apologetically "ow...come on..."

Leila stared at him puzzled, he shook his head, still holding her hand, and they both walked into the elevator.

"What's going on? Is that the house alarm?' She asked Cut Throat as he was busy pressing something on his phone

"We ....have an unexpected guest...?" he said, as suddenly the siren had switched off,

They got out of the elevator, and Cut Throat led them to one of the dining areas,

There sitting with his feet up on the table, was Zach, equipped with a bottle and a gun in his hands,

"What are you doing here....at this hour?" Cut Throat asked, Leila could hear the worry in his voice, but Zach had eyes for no one but Leila, and she could see he was clearly drunk

"Ex-bestie......You haven't been answering my texts.....so I thought ....i would just come to see for myself..."

"I have been distracted as of late....." Cut Throat said, giving a sideways glance to Leila, "I'm sure you can understand..."

"How has married life been treating the two of you...?" Zach asked taking a long swig from the bottle

Just then Princess, Skinner , Nico , and Taylor entered the dining room. Princess dressed in pink from head to toe, carrying a wooden bat with him, looking around at the scene puzzled.

"Woops...ow damn....sorry..." Nico said awkwardly staring at Zach , Xavier and Leila "We thought we heard something"

"Nico ! Nico ! Why don't you take a seat eh?" zach said, as he aggressively kicked the seat out next to him, He looked so self-destructive ...Leila felt bad seeing her friend that way "Zach-" she said, she wanted to approach him, but she looked down as Cut Throat held her hand shaking his head towards Leila

"Leila .........Cut Throat.....you know ...........today........I realized I never gave my favourite newlywed couple their wedding present ......." Zach said with a small laugh, except it made him look all the more dangerous "why don't you join us PRINCESS !" Zach shouted the last words, making princess shudder,

"And you Skinner ...my fellow comrade ........Taylor? Let's have a mini reunion....I have story for all of you.......today......"

"Don't" Cut Throat whispered softly to KO , but there was something desperate in his voice...it was almost as if he were pleading with KO

Princess and Leila stared at Cut Throat...

"Don't do this KO......come on ......let's talk about th-"

"WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS NOW ! DO YOU KNOW I HAVE NEVER SHOT A – " he didn't finish, he looked slightly deranged, Leila stared at his strange behavior, it was almost as though she were watching a wounded animal, anguishing in his own pain..

"She is okay now.......You don't have to feel guilty KO .....Let's leave this conversation when you have calmed do-"

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN. !" bellowed Zach

"TODAY ! I SWEAR TODAY CUT THROAT TODAY !" he said , urging closer to Cut Throat, till there was barely any space left in between them

Leila turned to stare at the rest of the people ....everyone seemed to be just as confused,

"Princess...................are you ready for MY Power Move eh? I promise you.......It is really ........really good .....!" KO said wickedly as though he were laughing at his own personal joke, drunkenly, he swayed still laughing, he took another sip from the bottle

".........dare I say ........even you wouldn't have seen it coming.........." He said, still laughing at his personal joke

Princess stared at him in confusion, looking from his Boss whose face was again expressionless to Zach who was full with emotion...

"And you ..............how could you come into the firing range of him...........?" Zach said, finally staring at Leila, his voice dramatically changing to a soft gentle tone

"I would do it for either one of you.........." Leila said softly

Zach stared at her, his eyes glistening, as though he were getting sentimental

"Okay...........Okay................" He said, turning around and wiping his eyes, as though he had reached some kind of conclusion

"How about I ask you this then........do you know who you have married ...?"

Leila nodded her head slightly, confused by the question, as the answer was so obvious...

"Of course I do ...." She said slowly a little bit unsure what joke she was missing...

Zach laughed "really? Really ........ARE YOU SURE ?"

"And you Princess..........do you know who your boss is .........? Do you really know who you're boss is........?" he said energetically, laughing again.....

"DON'T KO......... I SAID DON'T !" Cut Throat yelled

"Why..........is this power move too much for you?" Zach said spitefully, "Let your wife know eh? At least let your wife know who the hell she married !" Zach said angrily, his face just inches away from Cut Throat

Leila got in between them, she put her hands onto Cut Throat's bare chest, "Don't hurt him..." she said softly

" Zach.... .........what are you doing ?" Leila said gently, he stared at her, ".... You know you shouldn't drink, you're a violent drunk..." she whispered, touching his chest, pushing him away from Cut Throat with gentle pressure...

But responding to her touch, Zach grabbed her hand roughly

"I asked you Leila WHO DID YOU MARRY !" he was rough.....very rough, Leila's wrist hurt with his aggressive grip

"Zach ......let go .........you're hurting me..." she said softly,

"KO STOP !!!! YOU ARE HURTING HER"

Cut Throat reached out to Zach trying to tackle him, Zach released Leila's hand immediately,

He pushed Cut Throat back with force, both of them panting, Zach was bent down with his hands on his knees.

"What do you say ex-bestie...?.......I'm guessing ...........you're beautiful wife thinks she's married Xavier Johnston.........but .......maybe you should correct her...eh .....Zacky?" He said, with a wicked smile on his face.

Leila, Princess, Skinner, Nico and Taylor all stared in shock at the two of them......

**********END OF BOOK 1*************************AN88888888