More than the sum of my parts Chapter 3

"Okay, Alexis," Reese instructed, his voice decisive. "Sell the New York penthouse immediately, and also sell the tech startup shares. I want you to sell all other assets outside of Sasha Manor in the United States. Fire all the staff or transfer them if they are agreeable. Hell, if they make a good offer on the properties in the States, sell it to them."

He paused, considering the gravity of the situation. "Lex, I'm probably going to be staying in Sasha Manor permanently. You can imagine all the roads and railroads will either be clogged with refugees or suffer a complete breakdown of infrastructure. If there are any assets outside this property stateside, I don't want to keep them. The London townhouse, keep."

Alexis nodded, making notes as Reese laid out his plan. "Understood, Reese. I'll start the process immediately."

Reese felt a sense of relief, knowing that they were taking concrete steps to secure their future amidst the chaos.

Reese decided to focus on securing the international properties and transferring funds to Swiss bank accounts. "With the sale of the properties in the States," he instructed Alexis, "use the money to buy a normal-sized house in both New Zealand and Australia. If the world goes to shit, I doubt those two countries will be affected much. I want each of those properties to be worth between $1 million and $3 million."

Alexis nodded, taking diligent notes as Reese laid out his plan. Over the next two days, she worked tirelessly, selling all other assets and properties in the United States. She managed to secure favourable deals, transferring the funds to international accounts, ensuring that Reese and Elizabeth would have a safety net should things deteriorate further.

By the end of the second day, Alexis reported back to Reese with updates on the transactions and the status of their new properties.

"Alright, Alexis," Reese said, his tone serious. "I want a full report on all my losses. Out of the $10 billion, how much do I have left from the fire sale of all U.S. assets outside Sasha Manor? I want to know how big the losses were, including the loss of the five properties. So, how much dough do I have left, Lex?"

Alexis nodded, quickly jotting down his requests. "I'll compile everything into a detailed report for you, including the total losses from this crisis and the fire sale, as well as how much wealth you have remaining from the original $10 billion."

After a few moments, Alexis returned with a comprehensive list:

Total Losses from Fire Sale and Crisis: *

1. *New York Penthouse: *

- Estimated Worth: $50 million

- Sale Price: $45 million

- Loss: $5 million

2. *Tech Startup Shares: *

- Estimated Worth: $200 million

- Sale Price: $180 million

- Loss: $20 million

3. *Texas Ranch: *

- Estimated Worth: $15 million

- Sale Price: $12 million

- Loss: $3 million

4. *Florida Beach House: *

- Estimated Worth: $10 million

- Sale Price: $8 million

- Loss: $2 million

5. *Breakaway State Properties (2): *

- Estimated Worth: $45 million

- Sale Price: $0 (Lost)

- Loss: $45 million

6. *Midwest Factory: *

- Estimated Worth: $50 million

- Sale Price: $40 million

- Loss: $10 million

Total Losses: *

- *$85 million from the fire sale and lost properties.*

Remaining Wealth Calculation: *

- *Original Wealth: * $10 billion

- *Total Losses: * $85 million

- *Remaining Wealth: * $9,915,000,000

Reese looked over the report, processing the information. Despite the significant losses, he still had a substantial amount of wealth left, which provided a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.

The tranquillity of Sasha Manor was abruptly shattered when a group of young men, mostly teenage boys, ventured into the local area. Taking advantage of the chaos, they were on the lookout for a place to encamp, their intentions clear from the petty thefts they committed along the way. As they swaggered towards the manor, their eyes set on the solitary road leading to the island, they were unaware of the reception that awaited them.

Elizabeth, ever vigilant, was the first to spot them from the manor's vantage point. She raised the alarm, her voice ringing through the halls. Reese and Alexis quickly joined her, their expressions grim but determined. The manor, separated from the mainland by a lake, stood like a fortress, its defences ready.

Reese positioned himself on a hill overlooking the approach, an M4 in his hands and an MG42 machine gun mounted beside him. Alexis took her place with an AK-47, her eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of threat. Elizabeth, trained by Reese in the use of a sniper rifle, was poised and ready, her focus unwavering.

As the boys approached the ferry, their swagger faltered at the sight of the armed trio. Reese's voice boomed across the water; a warning laced with authority. "Run, little cunts," he shouted, his words carrying an unmistakable threat.

The boys hesitated, their bravado crumbling in the face of overwhelming firepower. The sight of Reese, Alexis, and Elizabeth, armed and ready to defend their home, was enough to send them scrambling back the way they came.

"That's it, that's too close," Reese muttered, shaking his head. "I mean, Liz doesn't know how to use a sniper rifle, and Lex, you haven't even fired that gun yet, or any gun that I know of. We're lucky they bought the bluff."

Elizabeth ran up to Reese, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. "Did I do good against the poopy heads?" she asked, her eyes wide and earnest.

Reese smiled down at her, ruffling her hair affectionately. "You did very good, Liz. But we need to train here now. That was the wake-up call we needed."

He turned to Alexis; his expression serious. "Lex, you will train too. The accounts can wait. Our foreign properties won't matter if they steal all our shit here. Agreed?"

Alexis nodded, determination in her eyes. "Agreed. We need to be ready."

Reese continued, his mind racing with the urgency of their situation. "Also, Lex, we can't protect the manor with just one young woman, me being a 16-year-old, and a 10-year-old girl. We need manpower. We need Francis out of jail now."

Francis should be out in a few hours," Alexis said, a note of relief in her voice.

"Good. I will ring him as soon as he gets out. But for now, let's train." Reese led them to the Armory, eager to show them the vast collection of weaponry.

As they entered, Alexis's eyes widened in awe at the sight before her. Thousands of guns lined the walls, a mix of WW2-era firearms, muskets, and dozens of swords from throughout history. Piles of ammunition—50 million rounds—were stacked neatly in designated areas.

"See, Lex?" Reese said, a hint of pride in his voice. "This is why I didn't want to run. Let's just say Sasha loved her guns, and her being Russian was no stranger to revolution. Hell, her ancestors ran from Russia because of a civil war. But unlike her family, I will not run with this much ammo. And with us being on a freak in' island, we couldn't find a better place to hold our ground. I will not abandon Sasha's home."

Alexis nodded, her expression shifting from awe to determination. "I understand now. We have everything we need to defend this place."

Reese felt a surge of confidence. Together, they would train and prepare for whatever challenges lay ahead.

The teenage boys who had fled from the lake finally caught their breath, their expressions a mix of terror and disbelief. They couldn't stop talking about the formidable trio they had encountered—Reese, Liz, and Alexis—and the impressive arsenal they had seen at the manor. The sight of the weapons and the determination in the eyes of those defending the manor had shaken them to their core.

As they recounted their story, they were intercepted by a larger group of teenage boys, a motley crew who had been waiting for an opportunity like this for years. These were boys who relished the chaos, eager to embrace a life of hoodlum behaviour now that they believed they could get away with it. Arrogant and ignorant, they listened to the tale with a mix of scepticism and bravado.

"You're telling me some kid and a couple of chicks scared you off?" one of the older boys sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You lot are pathetic."

The others laughed, their arrogance blinding them to the reality of the danger they faced. They dismissed the story as exaggerated, convinced that the manor and its occupants were no match for their numbers and audacity.

But the fear in the eyes of the boys who had witnessed the scene firsthand was real, and a seed of doubt began to take root among the group. As they debated their next move, the tension in the air was palpable, a harbinger of the conflict that loomed on the horizon.

As Reese and the girls continued their training, Elizabeth looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Uncle Reese, do I really have to hurt people, even if they are poopy heads? Can't we just tell them to go away, like you did with the giant poopy head headmaster when you made him look like a doo-doo head?"

Reese smirked at her description, but the weight of her question made him sigh. He exchanged a glance with Alexis, who nodded in understanding. "I can't lie to her," Reese said softly. "I must tell her the truth about what those boys will do if they come here, if they get their hands on you or all these weapons."

He knelt down to Elizabeth's level, his expression serious but gentle. "Liz, this arsenal of weapons is both a blessing and a curse. It's here to protect us, but it also makes us a target. If those boys find out we have 50 million rounds of ammo, they won't just go away. They might try to take it from us, and that could put us all in danger."

Elizabeth's eyes widened, the gravity of the situation beginning to sink in. "But Uncle Reese, I don't want anyone to get hurt."

Reese hugged her tightly, his heart aching at the thought of her innocence being shattered by the harsh realities of their world. "I know, sweetheart. I don't want anyone to get hurt either. But sometimes, to protect the ones we love, we have to be ready to defend ourselves."

Alexis stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "We're all in this together, Liz. We'll do everything we can to keep you safe."

Reese hugged Elizabeth tightly, feeling the warmth of her small frame against him. "I love you, Uncle Reese. Don't let the poopy heads take you away. Promise?"

He smiled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "I promise, Liz. And to help with that promise, I have to teach you to make the poopy heads go away. Deal?"

Elizabeth nodded; her determination clear. "Deal."

A few hours later, after a rigorous firearms training session with the girls, Reese's phone buzzed. He answered it, hearing his brother Francis on the other end. Before Francis could say a word, Reese cut him off. "Before you say anything, I'm not coming to get you, no matter what. And before you yell and scream, I have Liz to take care of. Leaving a 10-year-old girl in a giant manor when there are roaming gangs around is just inviting looters to pillage the place. Even you have to agree that's a dumb thing to do."

Francis was silent for a moment, the weight of Reese's words sinking in. Reese knew his brother understood, even if he didn't like it. They had to prioritize Elizabeth's safety above all else.

Francis's voice crackled over the phone, a mix of surprise and curiosity evident. "I know family is important, Francis, but you know about the wealth I inherited," Reese began, trying to keep the conversation focused. "Yes, I know money doesn't mean shit when the economy has gone to shit. I had to have that discussion with my lawyer, who is now also my PA and my accountant."

"Wait, you didn't tell me about this before," Francis interrupted, sounding intrigued.

"Well, it was recent. Like a few days ago recent," Reese explained. "You know I wasn't on speaking terms with most of the family."

Francis chuckled, a hint of mischief in his tone. "Oh, is this new assistant of yours cute?"

"Francis, focus. This is serious," Reese replied, exasperation creeping into his voice. "I'm not fleeing, Francis. This manor is my home, my friend's legacy, and also it's on a freaking island—easy to defend."

Francis paused, the gravity of Reese's situation finally sinking in. "Alright, I get it. Just be careful, okay?"

Reese nodded, even though his brother couldn't see him. "I will. You too."

"Francis, another reason why I'm not leaving is because my friend left me guns—like a lot of guns. Enough ammo to equip a freaking army. I won't tell you the exact amount until you see for yourself, but it's more than a few million rounds. Yes, Francis, I am dead serious," Reese said, the urgency in his voice clear. "Let's just say my dead Russian friend Sasha loved guns and swords—a lot of swords."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "But Francis, we had a gang of teenagers come by—looters, probably. I have a young woman in her 20s and a 10-year-old girl. I can't defend a fucking island with just that. I need you, Francis. You were a hoodlum once; you can imagine how tempting that much ammo and guns would be."

Francis was silent for a moment, processing the gravity of the situation. Reese knew his brother understood the stakes, and the importance of having someone he could trust by his side.

Francis listened intently, the seriousness of Reese's words sinking in. "I don't care about our issues in the past," Reese continued, his voice filled with determination. "We are family. If you can get Mum out, or if I can get Lexi to bail them out, I will freaking do it. I would even put up with Mum's nagging if it means you guys are okay."

Reese paused, considering the logistics. "How do you think you will get here? I wish I could help, but just—if you can get the others out, do it. I need every hand with a gun I can get, but only make sure it's family. I don't want you to bring friends. Remember, Francis, Liz comes first. Only family. And before you say it, I trust Lexi."

Francis took a deep breath, understanding the gravity of Reese's plea. "Alright, I'll do what I can. I'll get there, and I'll bring whoever I can from the family. We'll make it work."

Reese felt a sense of relief, knowing that his brother was on board and that they would face whatever came next together.