This Game Called Life (Kingdom Book 4) (24 page)

Chapter 32

MacKenzie was
still visibly shaken by the whole incident. Unwilling to make matters worse,
Aviva said nothing about her suspicions. Instead, on the way back to the house,
she sent the longest text of her life.

Alighting from the
car, her attention was caught by the sound of screeching tyres as two vehicles
came to a sudden halt behind the car they exited.

“Are you okay,
Angel?”

“I’m fine, Jason.
It’s Kenzie I’m worried about.”

As they looked on,
Jason and Aviva heard Jake ask MacKenzie if she was sure that she and the baby
were fine.

Her assurance
didn’t seem to carry much weight with him; especially as for the first time
since the incident, MacKenzie burst into tears.

Taking the
suddenly crying baby from her mother, Jake held them both in a tight hug and
whispered words of comfort meant only for them.

**********

Jake had taken
MacKenzie and Noelle upstairs and hadn’t left until he was sure they were none
the worst for their encounter.

When he entered the
family room, the emotion he had held in check for MacKenzie’s sake was at an
end. “I’m going to kill her!” He raged.

“I’d say you would
have to get in line, brother.” Jason rumbled with a calm and deadly voice.

“Are MacKenzie and
the baby okay?” Aviva wanted to know.

“MacKenzie’s still
shaken, but they’ll both be fine given time,” Jake assured. “I want you to tell
me exactly what happened.”

Aviva went through
the whole incident with Jake stopping her to ask questions as the story
unfolded.

When she came to
an end, there was only one question on Jake’s mind. “Where was the guard when
all this was going on?”

“He was still
standing by the door.”

“Why was he
standing by the door, Aviva?”

“The poor man got
embarrassed because we were shopping for...” Aviva trailed off as she looked
over at Jackson. Blinking rapidly, she continued as though she hadn’t paused.
“Honestly Jake, it all happened so quickly. All our attention was on the
commotion taking place in the store but only for a moment. The whole tableau
was utterly surreal.

MacKenzie and I
were both standing right there, and we didn’t see Diana remove the baby...”
Aviva paused and shook her head as though to clear it, “It was like one of
those halls filled with mirrors. One minute she was there and the next she was
gone.”

“It’s okay, honey,
it wasn’t either of your fault,” Jake gave Aviva a smile he hoped reassured her
that his words were genuine. “Obviously Diana staged the whole incident. She no
doubt wanted to give us a warning that she could inflict damage right under our
noses.”

“She has gone too
far and I will not stand for it any longer!” Jackson raged.

Jake and his
brothers had been trying to get their father’s approval for the way they wanted
to deal with Diana. His objection had been noted, but they had proceeded with
their plan. They were prepared to admit it, even if their father wasn’t; Diana
was completely out of control. That she had pulled this stunt right under their
noses caused Jake to see red.

“Are you now
prepared to go along with our suggestion?” Jake asked his father. When their
gazes met, Jake’s eyes were unblinking. He respected his father, they all did,
but he knew if it were necessary, he and his brothers would move forward
without his participation.

“Very well. You
have my approval. We will do this your way.”

“Do what?” Aviva
wanted to know.

After a few
moments of silence where Jason looked at his wife in silent contemplation, he
detailed what they had planned. When he was finished, Aviva smiled, and Jake
couldn’t help but notice that the bearing of her teeth was reminiscent of one
of Jason’s expressions.

“Gentlemen, it
sounds like we have a plan,” Aviva said.

“Yes, my dear we
most certainly do. I’ll make that call now. All of you need to remain
completely quiet,” Jackson warned.

Withdrawing his
cell, he placed the call that would set everything in motion. “Hello, Diana.”

“Well, it took you
long enough to get back to me. I hope Noelle is none the worse for wear,” Diana
laughed mirthlessly.

“That was pretty
low, even for you.” Jackson intoned as he fought a valiant fight to keep his
tone modulated.

“It worked though,
didn’t it? Don’t ever take me for a fool, Jackson. What I did today didn’t even
take much planning. It was so very, very easy. Imagine what I could accomplish
if I had time to actually plan.”

“Your message has
been heard and understood, Diana hence this call. Everyone will be gone by 6:00
pm tomorrow. You will then be free to move back to the house any time after
that. I hope that meets with your approval?”

“Where will they
all be going?” She probed.

Anticipating the
question, Jackson was prepared to tell her what she wanted to know. “In the
first instance they will all be staying at the penthouse apartment. I’m sure
your spies will be watching to confirm the truth of what I say.”

“You know me,
darling, I leave nothing to chance. I’m glad you now see things my way, and I’m
looking forward to spending some quality time with you. You have a lot to make
up for; I haven’t forgotten the way I was treated the last time I was in that
house. That incident is going to cost you some very expensive diamonds,” Diana
purred.

By now the sound
of her voice was sending tendrils of loathing along Jackson’s spine. Knowing he
needed to get off the phone before he said something that could ruin their plans,
he ended the call as delicately as his revulsion for her would allow.

“Your turn,”
Jackson said with a nod in the direction of his youngest son.

Shortly after,
Josh too had completed his call. “Everything is good to go.”

**********

“Isn’t this plan a
little elaborate?” MacKenzie asked Aviva the next day.

“Honey, you heard
Jake’s story. You and I both know that was only a small part of what he and
Josh went through while they lived with their mother.”

“What makes
someone behave that way, Aviva?” MacKenzie asked, looking baffled by Diana’s
actions.

“I don’t know and
I don’t want to know. I just want her out of our lives for good, and you should
too. Would you ever be able to relax with Diana running around somewhere? Would
you feel safe... would you feel that Noelle was safe?”

“I guess not,”
MacKenzie agreed sounding tired. “Some of these rich people are as weird as
hell!”

“I honestly don’t
think it has anything to do with her being rich. Diana is crazy, and I’m using
the word literally. She may look completely normal, but if you knew all the
things she’s done...” Aviva trailed off with a faraway look in her eyes.

“What else did she
do, Vee?”

“It’s not my story
to tell, but I’m going to be a very happy woman when she’s no longer a part of
our lives!”

Accepting her
unwillingness to elaborate, MacKenzie changed the subject. “Are you packed?

“Yes, you?

MacKenzie nodded.
“Packed and ready to go, but I gotta tell ya, all this waiting around is
getting to me.”

**********

At precisely 6:00 pm,
everyone minus Jackson made a big show of leaving the property. Two hours
later, Diana swept in loaded down with very expensive luggage. Jackson stood in
the hallway as Ronson opened the door.

“Oh, good grief,
don’t tell me you’re still here!” Diana shot over her shoulder as she passed
Ronson.

“Welcome, witch,”
Ronson mumbled under his breath.

Spinning around,
Diana scowled at the butler. “What did you just say to me?”

“I said, welcome
Miss.”

Diana gave Ronson
a dirty look, and Jackson only just managed to smother his laughter behind a
cough. Seeing that Diana was about to respond to the butler, Jackson
intervened. “Ronson, why don’t you organize Miss Diana’s bags.” Without waiting
for a reply, Jackson moved towards Diana.

“Good idea, put
them in Jackson’s room,” Diana said giving Ronson and Jackson a meaningful look
that said she hoped her words would wipe the smiles off their faces.

“Thank you,
Ronson, you know what to do,” Jackson said by way of dismissal. “Diana, this
way, please.” He indicated with a sweep of his arm.

“Jackson I know
the way. I have to say, since I am going to be living here, this place needs a
complete remodel. All at your expense of course.” Try as she might, Diana was
unable to wipe the smile off Jackson’s face, which angered her.

Then it hit her,
and Diana was unsure why it hadn’t occurred to her before, Jackson was pleased
to see her. He looked happy; she had thought that by insisting his sons left,
he would be angry with her. Not that she would have been concerned if that were
the case. She was a master at getting what she wanted, and she intended for it
to continue for as long as she desired. That Jackson looked so relaxed made her
happy.

About to shrug off
her fur coat, Diana thought better of it. She had decided to wear the coat
because this momentous occasion called for grandeur. The fur, in her opinion,
was such a gesture. Pushing open the door to the room of her past humiliation;
Diana came to an abrupt halt. Her smile of triumph wiped from her face.

Scattered around
the room in various poses of relaxation were the rest of the Kingdom family.
Even those women Jackson’s sons had taken up with were present, and they were
all looking at her. Diana’s smile faltered and died.

“Hello Diana,”
Jake was the first to greet her.

Unprepared to give
up her hard-won battle, she completely ignored him and turned to look over her
shoulder at Jackson. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Don’t be foolish,
Diana. I would say
this
as you so inarticulately put it, is entirely
obvious. We have decided that we no longer want you to retain the ability to
poison this family with your particular brand of venom,” Jackson replied with
his usual calm.

Unfazed by his
words, Diana opened her purse and withdrew her cell and speed dialed a number.
It was obvious they were still disbelieving of the lengths she was prepared to
go to get her way. As she waited for the call to be answered, she thought it
best to give them a less than subtle reminder of who was calling the shots.

“I see that
adorable child in nowhere in sight,” she drawled.

“That’s right she
isn’t,” MacKenzie answered although Diana hadn’t asked a question. “She’s
taking a nap. You see it’s vital that she doesn’t come into contact with any
noxious substances.”

Diana didn’t
respond to the knowing smile MacKenzie had written all over her face. Her
display of calm worried Diana, but not as much as the unanswered phone she held
to her ear.

“For goodness sake
woman, how long are you going to stand there with that phone plastered against
your face. I would think it obvious that your henchman is otherwise engaged,”
Jackson finished on a chuckle that carried no amusement.

Jason rose to his
feet in a leisurely fashion. From the moment she had entered the room, his had
been the eyes she had most avoided. Although she would never admit it, there
was something about him that scared her. When she met his eyes, it was as
though all the wrong she had ever perpetrated was reflected there, and he
wanted an accounting.

“I’m done with
this fiasco. Let’s do this,” Jason said without inflection.

“Do what,” Diana
enquired, her hand that was still holding the phone falling to her side.

“Get rid of you of
course,” Jason disclosed with expressionless eyes.

Diana shivered at
his coldness and took a step back, Jason followed her. Diana took another step
backwards, then another as Jason stalked her every move.

Floods of dread
washed over her. He was going to kill her. Intent on getting away, Diana turned
and only just managed to avoid running into a solid wall of chest. When had
this one moved, he had been standing in front of her only moments before.

“Were you thinking
of going somewhere, Diana,” Josh asked.

Refusing to show
fear, she internally regrouped. “Get out of my way!” She demanded. The quiver
in her voice shocked her. These huge men en masse were terrifying.

With a grand show
of bravado, she turned to Jackson. Surely he wouldn’t allow these Neanderthals
to treat her in this way. She might be unsure of the younger men, but of one
thing she had no doubt, Jackson would not allow them to hurt her. He loved her.
He had always loved her, he would always love her, how could he do anything
else. With her unbalanced reasoning, Diana’s calm was restored. “Call them off
Jackson!” She commanded.

“I’m afraid I
can’t do that. I have given you the benefit of the doubt for the last time. As
the mother of my children, I have always hoped that you possessed at least one
redeeming quality. I have been proven incorrect for the last time. Even through
all the wrongs you have done; if you had left us in peace, we would have done
the same.