Ray

Vibrations, that’s what makes me awake from nightmares of my past. Vibrations that gets stronger sometimes, coming out of people’s mouth, their words, gazing, and intentions. Only her touch and her presence sooth my mind.

She is the core of all addiction! 

Like caffeine, Nicotine, and cocaine. 

I felt a sensation on my body that I cannot resist, I don’t want to resist. The weight of her body, her fragile cold fingers surfing through me. She is close to me, so close! The heat of her lips, I can feel it on the corners of my ear.

“Ray” she whispered and I pulled out my hands to hold her.

“What in the fucking world are you dreaming?” a bold manly voice broke through and I opened my eyes to see I am holding a half naked man’s hand. Well actually that’s my bodyguard, Liu Sheng. His gaze was deadly and so I immediately let go of his hand and tried to process how dangerous this woman was, even though her thought is making me go crazy. Like a mad man!

“What are you doing in my apartment sheng?” I said standing up and coming to my senses.

“Actually it is my apartment” he said in his not so clear English. I took a quick look around and it’s really not my apartment. “You were so drunk last night so I bring you here as it’s not safe to leave you alone like that”

“Good you did…” My migraine came back. 

“Sir your phone is ringing for hours” he informed me about those vibrations I was feeling in a distant dream and handed me my phone, but it stopped ringing 15 minutes ago I guess. Doorbell rang and we both looked at each other with the same questionable face. No one knows that I came back from Moscow then who could have come?

Sheng firmly took out the gun from the holster and gestured to me to step back. A minute of silence passed behind the door after sheng asked again who is it, and a low voice appeared.

“room service” the voice was rough and the accent was completely recognizable. We both let out the breath and sheng opened the door. As the creeks opened, Austin entered and closed the doors and removed all the disguise he came in.

“you ASSHOLE! I told you to meet me but instead you went to her just 5 minutes after landing” he marched on me in his Italian accent as always, and all I was urging to find is beer to calm this shitty migraine down. But all I could see in sheng’s fridge was ketchup, mayo and pickles.

“God Liu, what are you? Pregnant?” I said.

“Are you even listening to me?” again it was Austin. I exhaled and saved myself with water for now. 

“what?” I asked him, finally encountering him face to face. It's his annoying face I miss a lot but it gives me shivers all the time.

“I couldn’t resist when I found out she came to New York” I surrendered and he finally sat down quietly. 

“How was Moscow?” he asked while taking out some files from the bag.

“Peace for some time…uncle didn’t know I came to New York” I told him and added “well at least not for long, he has so many informers” I said and he finished taking out all the files, sheng sat down to look as well and i put my elbows countertop to look what he has. He slides a complaint file and a very old rare image of a woman, who seems to be Korean.

“Who is she?” I asked.

“Kim Ji Ho” he said and I looked up to him with a face of beyond belief.

“April's mother?” I asked and he nodded. “I found some old records and couldn't fetch the recordings and interview but, as far as I can tell” he paused and continued “directors of American intelligence agencies are hiding a big truth” he again began to explain everything about what I told him to find out. 

“see this” he slid a picture towards me “this was Harvard Johnson, a republican party leader. He died in target killing, sources said that he was working with CIA on exposing some government officials which he claimed was involved in money laundering.” He paused and looked at me as I remembered nothing about it, because my uncle had made me memorize the entire history of Crown organization but couldn’t follow what he just said. He never told me about this incident.

“As goes for miss ji ho, she got arrested for murdering Johnson but it can not be proved due to no evidence so there is no record of her killing him.” He finished and I scratched my head for a minute to process everything.  

“It's my uncle!” I said.

“Of course it’s your uncle because those launderers have to be the members of the Crown and so do…”

“April's mother” I completed his sentence. For seconds I became blank as this case seemed to be becoming a bitter pill that is hard to gulp down. Her mother can not be the member of Crown organization but if this turned out to be true then, 

“Ray “ Austin called me and I snapped out of my thoughts. “You need to stop investigating this case” he said and all i’m thinking about is that i have every tiny information about her but i'm lacking in knowing her Pain. i know everything about her parents and all i have found out is that her father was falcon meyers a fellow pharmaceutical chemist who worked at kingston and co laboratories, and her mother, who used to be friends with my uncle, my father and austin’s father, but she fell for falcon in university and get married to him. 

No no no…i'm missing something. What happened the night her parent’s murder? There has to be a clue, a piece that I'm missing but how should I find out about that night? My uncle doesn't leave any clue when he does something dirty, so it's something only a victim can tell. April wont tell me a word i know then…

“Ray” Austin snapped at me again and I looked up to him.

“I know someone we can talk to” I said and he exhaled with a rush on his face. I immediately grabbed my coat and shirt and stepped forward when Austin stopped me with his hand.  

“This girl will be your end, you need to stop looking into this case” he warned me again. 

I know he is afraid because he knows what I'm digging into, and what it will lead to.

“The slightest cut on that girl will lead to my End anyway” i said and added “i wont stop and you know it” he took a deep breath by surrendering when i told him.

“Fine! Who are we going to meet?” he asked me and I smirked at the thought because he is going to love her.

“The best friend, Mr Diego” I said and he seemed confused. 

As per her last update on instagram, Miss Ha Ri is in new york for new york fashion week, so,  We drove off to the Clarkson square where all the rehearsals must be held. I helped her in escaping from home years ago to pursue her modeling career. We broke off the engagement as soon as I succeeded the chair of Crown society and Wallace Groups. I learned to come into Power from my uncle, but I didn't learn to use it from him. We reached the destination and walked towards the stage. 

“Is she a model? “ Austin asked me. He didn't know much about her except the fact that she was once my fiance. 

“Yeah Arthur told me she is going to walk for Michael Kors so she will probably be here” I told him and he starts checking out the place, and a few models start coming out from backstage. Behind a third model, there was she. I tapped on Austin’s shoulder and he turned around to look.

“Meet Miss Shin Ha Ri” i introduced her to him and he looked at her as she walked on the runway. 

“How is she walking in those fucking big heels? “ He said I laughed at him for being Anti-social. As she walked back towards the backstage, we both reached her and the hall was full of girls, some of them were taller than Austin and he looked offended. I walked forward to her chair.

“Been a long time, Ri” I called her and she immediately turned back to look. 

“Ray?” she never looked happier seeing me. “What the fuck are you doing here?” she said, grinning her teeths. 

“What? Can’t I come see my fiance’s rehearsal?” I said in a little loud voice so the girls around her listened, and they did.

“Riri, when did you get engaged?” one of them came to ask her.

“EX… fiance, he said ex fiance” she explained with a fake smile and i suppressed my smile and how much i love to tease her. 

“Jerk! There will be scandals about me” she said, pushing me out “get out from here”

“I want to talk”

“I dont…im busy” she said and walked forward.

“Ha Ri” I stopped her immediately. “I want to talk to you about April,” I said and she got released from my grip.

“Not again Ray, I won't lay a word about her” she said “stop making a scene” she turned back again and i grint my teeths with anger. Women! Why dont they ever fucking Listen?

“Do you need my help?” It was Austin who came to me. I looked at him with confusion. He smiled evilly and held out his gun behind the back, raised upwards and pulled the trigger. The loud gunshot made everyone scream and panic immediately.

“FBI! Do not Move an inch” he said, pulling out his badge and showing it to everyone. “I want to talk to Miss Shin Ha Ri” he said and I tried hard not to laugh. Everyone scattered and parted at one side, exposing Ha Ri, who was bent, covering her ears with a loud gunshot sound. He walks towards her. 

“You have to come with me Miss” he said and I watched her speechless face, she looked in my direction and I tried very hard not to smile but I know she is going to murder me whenever she gets the chance. she walked quietly with him and sat in the car, when I heard Austin saying to her.

“I'm sorry to startle you mis…”

“Fuck off! I'm going to sue you both” she swore loudly and we both couldn’t hold back and laughed sarcastically. We sat down in a cafe and as the air settled down with her along with her coffee, she asked.

“What is it you want to talk about?” Her tone is filled with attitude.

“Did April ever share with you about the night her parents got murdered?” I asked.

“No,” she answered quickly. I know she is lying, I exhaled and surrendered to her.

“Please… its very important” 

“So were my rehearsals, which you and your…” she looked towards Austin “quirky friend busted down” she finished getting offen by him.

“It wouldn’t happen if you’d held your nasty attitude tight down your ass” he replied and I got shocked for a second on his nerves.

"I could hold it in, but then I'd be as bland and useless as you." she answered with rolling her eyes,  her answer surely lit a fire in Austin but before he could go on i interrupted.

“Ha Ri i assure you, there won't be a single news about what happened today and i'm just trying to protect your friend because…” I stopped to think maybe she didn’t know anything.

“Because what?” she asked, turning towards me. I sat back and took support with the chair , making myself prepared to tell her everything as soon as i about to, Austin’s phone rang and he attend, i watch his attention turning towards me and my heart raced. 

“Ray” he said as soon as he cut the call “its her, April, she is at Gesha’s Party meeting miller, Arthur told me” he informed me 

“That's impossible she…”

“She is on sick leave, she texted me last night” Ha Ri informed me and I left my chair almost flying and ran towards my car. I got in when Austin held my door.

“Ray let me come with you,” he said.

“No, they will find out I'm working with you, it's too dangerous. Take Ha Ri home" I told him and got in. even a minute is dangerous for her being there. How could she fucking not understand! That party is the market of drugs!