"What's the point of all this?" questioned Zak as he walked into the mansion, the grandeur something he would have to get used to. Ever since Paige's funeral he had found it difficult to cope with everything, often times making it known he would rather be out in the open so Baron could finish what he started and end his family once and for all. Yet every time he did mention the idea, ECIII was quick to shut it down, at first the younger man had believed it was because of the father-son relationship they shared, yet he soon began to suspect otherwise. "What are you hiding anyway?" added the broken man, looking directly at his adoptive father, spotting others walking from room to room, the old mansion seemingly turned into something else entirely.
"Tell him" came the voice of Tommaso as she walked past, knowing the only way to help the grieving man through his troubles and depression was to hell him the truth. "He'll find out sooner or later. Plus unless he's found to be here, he's not leaving this mansion" added the bold man as she walked off up the stairs, heading to relive Aleister from his duties as protector. Seth having made a schedule in the weeks since the fake death, asking Paige for her input so she had a little control and knew her opinions still mattered despite the situation she found herself in. Zak could only turn to face ECIII once more, only this time with curiosity in his eyes, his mouth opening and closing again as if he was trying to form the words to ask what Tommaso was referring to.
The older curly haired man soon lead Zak to a room to the side of the grand entrance, taking a seat at the table there. The room clearly meant to be a some sort of meeting room. Made evident by the large table in the middle of the room surrounded by chairs, filing cabinets and other storage cupboards against the far wall. The walls painted neutral as if, it was meant to be comfortable for everyone who entered. Yet the moment Zak took a seat on one of the office chairs, he knew he had the gut feeling what he was about to be told, would change his current outlook on life. Yet he dared not hope for much, after all the last time he allowed himself to hope, it had caused him pain, especially when the hope died at Paige's funeral.
"Paige" whispered ECIII, seeing Zak turn his full attention to him the moment he spoke the name of his sister. "She's not dead. The funeral was a fake to ensure Baron and his goons would look for her." explained the older man, seeing the hope light up Zak's brown eyes almost like a Christmas tree. Yet curiosity was still there, the only question clear to see by Zak expression, was where was Paige now? "She's here, that's where Tommaso was heading. There is a shift swap for her every eight hours. She's got the entirety of the first floor where as you'll be above her" finished the curly haired man, explaining although she was there, the likelihood of them meeting was low, at least until the threat against the pair of them was eliminated. Everyone in the mansion was at least hopeful it would have a happy ending to it, just as all of them worked hard towards that scenario.
"She's alive" whispered Zak in almost disbelief. Yet he knew his reaction at the funeral had likely sold her death as truth to those watching who reported back to Baron and his goons. Just as he was sure her adoptive family had sold it also, in that very moment he was certain they had no idea she was still alive and thrust went on with the mourning process without hope of seeing her again. A hope he had found once again. Seth soon passed through the room, yet paid neither man any attention as he opened a filing cabinet looking for something. The ground floor of the mansion now serving as the base of operations for those hiding the raven haired woman. Those determined both siblings would live through it and go on to live full lives.
"Stephanie and Hunter know she's here. The offered up this place upon being told of the plan. It was also them who suggested you being brought here as well" spoke Seth, revealing Hunter and Stephanie were in on it, instead had put their acting skills to good use, even going as far as to help unknowing reunite the long lost siblings again. Even if one of them wasn't supposed to know the other was there. "The Black Heart Diamond is also here. Although incredible difficult to get hold of" added the man known to many as the Architect, being on of two to know the location of the diamond. Just as he knew Paige had put her trust in him, when she could have chosen any other roaming the large mansion.
"Baron has the Diamond" corrected Zak, being sure he would recognise that lump of rock anywhere. Just as he knew it would be stupid to keep both Paige and the diamond together. Yet he was momentarily distracted upon seeing Paige come down the stairs, a smile on her lips as she did so, looking back to every now and again to see if Tommaso was still following her only to see him nod when she turned. A joke still lingering on her lips. To Zak she was had grown in to a far more beautiful woman that he could have imagined, far different from how he had turned out. He knew she touched and helped a lot of people from what was said at her fake funeral. The club owners being especially thankful for her help.
"The one he has is a fake. A rather good replica a friend of mine did" uttered Seth in response, recalling how quickly it had been created, from the moment planning began to a week before the plan come to fruition. Unknown to all the diamond on display in the house was merely a decoy with the actual one being hidden away. "Another good friend sent the fake on to Baron, to throw him off the trail for a little while. With luck it will give the rest of us here a little time to create a game plan" added the Iowan, revealing the length they were willing to go through and how those at Shield were still doing the protection job behind closed doors.
"He means most of us have been working on the plans. This idiot being working on the escape plans should Baron or his moron followers happen to find this place" spoke Dean, appearing through the same archway as Seth had previously done. Taking hold of the file as he walked past the younger dark haired Iowan. A sad smile appearing on his lips upon seeing the pictures of Summer and Ruby, his determination reignited not to let Paige's story end the same way as theirs had. Instead each of them had found themselves hoping she would have a happy ending and a relatively normal life following it. "We made a promise, one we intend on keeping" finished Dean, knowing the promise was vague but one all of them were determined to see through, just as Aleister had made it clear he would lay down his life if it meant Paige lived.
"She'll go home Dean. We just can't promise if it will be a reunion or an actual funeral this time" responded Seth, thrust revealing what the promise was. Zak could only look away, knowing Paige had so much to live for, she had the dream life with her adoptive parents, a couple who had done all in their power to ensure she was loved and happy, as well as capable of standing on her own two feet and bring her dreams true. Where as his was different. He could remember when ECIII told him Paige had been adopted by another family, how his heart broke the moment the words were spoken, not only had he lost his parents and older brother but his little sister had been taken away as well. He promised himself then, he would find her and reunite with her once more. Although ECIII had kept him from going down the wrong path, they had lived with little money and in fear of what would happen if they gained to much wealth. Most of the time they hid away. Yet his life got a little better when his baby boy was born.
"Which of us is in more danger?" questioned Zak, deep down believing it to be himself. After all he was the oldest. The one who posed far more of a threat to Baron and his plans and the one most known of the pair. Yet in the moment since the words left his dry lips, he knew there was something he didn't know. Something that had been hidden from him. ECIII looking to the two Shield men as they both gave each other a knowing look. Where as ECIII just hung his head low and shook it as if trying to shake way cobwebs building there.
"Paige is in more danger. The Diamond is only passed down from mother to daughter. She also owns the house where the murders took place" voiced ECIII, finally admitting the younger of the siblings was in far more danger. "She has the diamond and Baron targetted her first. She's been his main priority since getting out of prison" added the older curly haired man. Revealing the truth on which Baron had been looking for since his freedom. Zak had merely been an after though to the self professed King. Almost forgotten about until he had turned up at ECIII front door and seen the pictures of the boy growing up. It was almost as if the photos had reminded him there was another of the Knight line he had yet to find and terminate in the most brutal way possible.
Elsewhere Baron roamed his hideout, a rare grin upon his features. It had been weeks since Paige's death had been announced and the diamond he had been aiming to get his hands on, ended up in his procession. All those he sent on to find any trace of the raven haired girl had come up empty handed, those who did get leads, only ended up at the tomb stone placed there. Thrust confirming she was gone and the female side of the Knight line had been destroyed. His focus soon turned on Zak, the final member of the family he had yet to get his hands on. Now all he had to do was tear the younger man limb from limb, ending his pitiful life so the burden he had been dealing with would finally be over and he could move on in peace.
Yet Jinder hadn't been so easily convinced Paige or Saraya was gone. He refused to take her photo of the wall, insisting his gut was telling him she still lived. Bobby often laughing about it, saying it was impossible for her to survive such injuries or an attack like that. Yet not one of the three men could recall finding her location after she moved from the penthouse apartment, not one of them could recall being informed of her whereabout or green lighting an attack to kill her. Thrust they had assumed it was another who hunted her for sport whom had taken her life. Yet still it didn't answer who had sent Baron the diamond he desired, whom else had known of it or his desire to have it in his procession.
"She's not dead. I refuse to believe it without proof" rambled Jinder as he walked down a corridor, Bobby and his most trusted men following behind him. Most of them rolling their eyes in boredom over the subject coming up again. Yet still they had no choice but to listen, knowing the taller man wouldn't drop the subject until he was completely satisfied with what was presented. Bobby could only look towards his trusted trio of men before jogging forward to ask about it. Knowing it was the only way to find out what was making the other man believe the raven haired woman still lived, despite signs pointing to her obvious death.
"What makes you think she's still alive?" asked Bobby, his three most trusted friends in Hurt Business turning off down another corridor, all seemingly with another assignment on their minds or to help him be rid of Lana once and for all. Jinder soon turned into the office he shared with both Baron and Bobby, the man once known as the Lone Wolf already in there looking over all the things they had concerning the raven haired woman's apparent death. His expression of doubt being a far cry from his rare smile and happiness over her demise he had over the prior weeks. "A funeral was held, there's a crime scene and photos of it. She hasn't been seen or heard from since said attack and we have the diamond. Nothing in there that says she's alive" uttered Bobby, noticing how Baron picked up the crime scene photos. An ire of suspicion in his eyes as he cast it towards the muscular man in response to his spoken words.
"Crime scene can be staged" uttered Baron, showing he too was beginning to believe the young woman was actually alive, yet he questioned where she could be and who could have made it this convincing. "Funeral could have been a fake, there is no record of an autopsy, her estate hasn't been settled and last but no least. It wasn't any of our men who got to her. Someone else did" listed the man formally known as the Lone Wolf. Showing his doubts had only grown since looking over the information they had. He knew not to believe everything he seen, yet with the raven haired woman he wanted to believe she was gone. If only so his burden of ending her line would come faster and he could end all of it once and for all.
"If we didn't do it then there is no way to be sure she did die" added Bobby, picking up the report to go over it. Noticing quickly it had spoken of Aleister's questioning, his suspicion rising quickly. The Dutchman hadn't been seen or heard from since the supposed attack either, seemingly disappeared in to thin air. "Aleister. He hasn't been seen or heard from since the attack. Report says he survived and was questioned in regards to the events. Let go an hour or so later" added the muscular bold man, almost as if he was curious what happened to the normally illusive man. Yet he found it odd he never attended the funeral as others had done.
"Scouts say Zak disappeared again and the reappearance of Drew McIntyre" responded Baron, making it obvious he didn't believe any of this was a coincidence, at this point he refused to believe it was anything other than suspicious. Why would Drew McIntyre reappear after hiding for years, a week or so before Paige mysteriously "dies" and Aleister's sudden disappearance. Add that to Zak whom they had a close eye on had also seemingly vanished. Something just didn't add up to him. "Jinder call you old partner. See what he knows and where he is" ordered the King as he walked around the table and drew a large red circle around Saraya's photo. Almost as if the red circle represented the promotion back to top priority again. Baron's frustrated sign signalling he wanted this to end sooner rather than later.
"I'll go question her parents and the Shield boys" uttered Bobby, being sure to take his three most trusted men with him, knowing MVP, Cedric and Shelton could lend a useful hand in this case. Perhaps even a fresh set of eyes could even help them see something they had thrust far missed. Yet it was in that moment where he walked down the cold corridor, did he realisation hit him. The diamond they had was a fake, quickly whipping his phone out to send a message to Baron, hearing something shatter moments later from the part of the building where the so called King was located. A frustrated yell following the shattering noise.
"Drew its me" spoke Jinder calmly, cooped up in an abandoned office room. The people next door visible through the glass wall partition. Seemingly unaware he was even there or watching them. Instead they went about their jobs as if nothing was any different, each with a gun strapped to their hip and another hidden somewhere else. Each with a different assignment yet sure to be reassigned to help with Baron's near obsession. "I heard you were in the area, listen I could do with your expertise with something. I'm trying to find someone but I think they've gone into hiding or someone else is hiding her. Mind giving an old friend a hand" uttered the muscular man, his voice even yet hopeful his old partner would come to his aid. He hoped they could work together again, just like old times, before Heath left the business behind for his family. "Sure, I can meet you in an hour. Alright see you then" with that Jinder hung up the phone, pleased with himself and at least reassured for the time being his old partner had nothing to do with the sudden disappearance of Paige. If anything the Scotsman seemed completely oblivious to what was happening.
Baron soon began to shake with anger. How could he have been so foolish? How could he not have seen it. Nothing added up yet somehow he had been tricked into thinking a lie was the truth, he had allowed himself to believe it even when his instincts had told him in what as wicked joke on his behalf. The diamond a shattered fake, the little girl he hunted now AWOL as was her older less important brother and ECIII. Even the illusive Dutchman was pointing and laughing at him. His long dead rival in Finn was probably doing the same from beyond the grave. His way of haunting him despite his death and throwing a spanner into his plans.
Yet in that very moment he also began to make plans. Plans of what he would do to each of those who had made a fool of him. What he would do to force little Saraya to suffer far worse than she already had. He knew he couldn't go after the Helmsley's, the were rich and thrust the chances of being caught were far higher. But he could draw Zak out of hiding, the man had a son after all. The toddler being the perfect way of getting the older Knight to him and thrust getting the information he needed to find Saraya too. Surely the man would have the information he needed to find her, torment and eventually kill her. Taking the diamond and then ending the miserable line with Zak and the child's death.
With that a wicked smile returned to Baron's thin lips. The thought of finishing what he started twenty years prior and taking out those who had stood against him at the same time. He soon began to scribble down a list, ways he could torture little Saraya without actually touching her. His only rule was to never beat women. Despite his vile ways it had never changed, not even after his years in prison. That being the only reason he had never laid a hand on Jackie that night, instead shooting her without a second thought. He knew he had couldn't torment Saraya in the same way, she no children and knew little of her brother and nephew. Yet he knew he could use her to torment the others. The Dutchman had reappeared after years of being illusive, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano had made themselves known once more, becoming braver even and the Shield, seemingly normal men had gotten themselves tangled up in the mess. Surely all of them would do something to ensure her survival. Even oven their own well being.
"This is perfect" uttered Baron, doodling something else on the paper. A device he was sure would bring suffering to all those who were apart of it and would become among legendary by the time he was done with it. The house where it began would just be the start. This metal device would be the end of it. For all those he planned on putting inside. Maybe even his own men could learn a thing or two from this monstrosity.
A/N – Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Been doing other projects and dealing with personal issues. Thank you for the support and your patients. Happy Reading x