More Chapter 21

     Now, as this news washed over them, suddenly Lexa burst into tears, feeling dizzy, unable to stand. Charles was shocked by her reaction as he watched her collapse back down on the settee with her face buried in her hands, uncontrollably weeping saying in a pleading tone "Please, no, no." Lexa let painful tears pour forth from out of the very depths of her soul. For she realized the care-free, jet-set, lifestyle of her and her, cherished, sister would be over now forever. She was correct, for Xation had the thought at this very moment of taking Leah as his bride and loving her and caring for her and their child all the days of his life. Lexa was well aware of this too, as she saw the look in Xation's eyes, she wept openly, and bitterly, filled with the reassured knowledge that this 'Argentine bastard' had managed to steal Leah away from her. The party was over for the Hale twins! Seeing her wretched reflection in one of the mirrors on the wall, Lexa gathered up the courage of her colonial, warrior fathers and took in a deep breath, saying nothing to Xation wiping away her tears, giving him a look as if to say 'I will come for you one day and make you pay.' With this sever caustic look Lexa arose from the sofa and walked out of the gatehouse, with Bengiman following close behind, to make sure no harm came Felina's way, whom was long gone.
     "And you are sure of this?" Xation asked Charles very worried, but happy to have Lexa out of his sight "I mean we were only together for..," Xation began thinking back, counting the days since they first met on the golf course on Lanai.
     "14 days." Charles helped him along in his thought process. "Oh and Xation, it only takes one time." Charles paused then he said as Xation's physician "I suppose you did not bother with condoms."
     Xation only shook his head and said "The heat of the moment, I..,"
     "You should always protect yourself Xation. Your a man of great wealth and power, don't be like Howard Hughes." Xation only deeply sighed when Charles told him "He fucked so many prostitutes and strippers he caught Syphilis, Gonehrea of the throat etc...  He ended up burning every mattress, or couch, or table, he ever banged those sluts on, and wound up with obsessive compulsive disorder, by the end of his madness he was wearing empty Kleenex boxes for shoes."
     "Alright, I get the picture! But I don't fuck whores, strippers or sluts! My women have class and style and grace, they are always strong and healthy." Xation defended his sexual partners, for women are always a reflection of the man they bed, and men are judged by other men, on whom they let give them head. "But I see your point.., and thank you for caring about my health and well being."
     "Well, isn't that what you pay me to do?" Charles laughed then he said "Well, you can go in and see her if you like, she is probably still sleeping, but why don't you go inside?"
     Xation, faster than the words coming out the good doctor's mouth, made a bee-line for the door, slowly he pushed it open and there he beheld, in the quiet stillness of the darkened room, by the pale light coming from behind the closed drapes Xation saw Leah. She was lying perfectly still with a little cast on her dainty wrist and a large white cast around her delicate ankle, she looked like a angel who had fallen asleep in the serene peace of her heaven. Xaton dared not wake her, wanting to kiss her cheek and stroke her hair and lay his hand on her tiny belly. Many emotions overcame him as he stood beside her bed, wanting to hold her right hand, he was in shock and dazed confusion, but then a deep abiding peace filled his entire being as he stared down at this woman he had let himself fall in love with. Xation knew he loved Leah when he knew he would gladly take a bullet for her, and he now understood he was doomed, 'they may as well shoot me now,' Xation thought 'becasue I can not live without her'. Then a wonderful romantic idea struck him, carefully, slowly he backed out of the room leaving Leah sleeping,  and he genlty closed the door telling Charles "I have to go to the house and get something for my sweetheart, I will be right back!"
     
  
    

Chapter 21 continues

     "Fuck you Xation! Your sister is insane and I want her arrested!" Lexa shouted down at Xation as he sat in the living room rocking chair, trying his best to bite his tongue and not give Lexa the satisfaction of giving into her anger and rage by speaking. "Bengiman! Why won't let me call the police?"
     Bengiman strode over to Lexa and he embraced her tightly whispering down in her ear in a calm, forceful tone, telling Lexa, as she stood with her arms pinned to her side, Bengiman said "I know how upset you are right now Lexa, but I need you to calm down for five minutes, so I can clear the students and instructors out of the house and Xation's pilot and co-pilot, I can not let them hear what you are about to say." then he gave her a little tight squeeze adding "I can not let that happen, I will not let that happen, and I can not let that happen." Bengiman let out a hot breath on her neck and said "Now be a good lass, and sit your ass down and behave, or you'll have me to answer to."
     Bengiman released the angry, now silent woman, from his python-like grip and she, indeed, went and sat down opposite Xation on the settee. Bengiman did as he said, going up upstairs making the 4 riding students, 2 instructors, and the 2 aviators leave, ushering them all out of the gate house, post haste, as not to allow for any stories, or gossip, to spread about Xation and his multi-dysfunctional family. When Bengiman returned, quietly closing the front door to the gate house, Lexa stood up pacing back and forth, starting back into her tirade. "If you think I am going to let Felina get away with this, you obviously do not know who you are dealing with!" Xation sat there rocking slowly, nervously waiting, thinking about Leah, he could care less about the words Lexa was presently spewing forth out of her mouth, but spew forth her words came like poison from a viper's fangs. Neither Bengiman, nor Xation, could blame her for the hateful, litigious, things she said, however, when Lexa realized she was being ignored; which is the worse thing a man can do to the female of the species, then her rant change to a threat of violence, when she said "I tell you what I will do!" Lexa shouted, her face and chest bright red with the flush of blood and indignation "Maybe, Xation, I can get your attention.., if I march right back into that house, and run up those steps, and toss Felina down the stairs on her head, and see how she likes it!" Lexa fumed with furious anger.
     Here Lexa made a move towards the foyer and Bengiman went to restrain her, but he was interrupted on his course when Charles came down the hall, out of the examination room, with a pissed off look on his face and he said harshly, directing his comment to Lexa "Hey!" he glared over at her "Keep it down out here for God's sake! I have a woman in distress in there and I don't need her further upset by all this yelling!"
     Lexa ran over to Charles throwing her arms around his neck weeping openly, speaking through sobs, saying "Oh they won't let me call the police! Felina needs to go to jail for what she has done."
     "There, there sweetheart, come sit down her beside me." Charles, realizing Lexa did not understand how things work in this family, changed his tone of voice and spoke to her now with a comfort and deep calmness, as if he were speaking to child, Charles sat with Lexa on the settee holding her hands while Xation stopped his nervous rocking waiting to hear word about his beloved American angel. "Lexa, you must understand, first off, this is not America, we do things differently here."
     Lexa felt her stomach turn as she gave a mortified look of confusion, as she realized even Charles her lover would not help her seek the judicial power of the local authorities. "We..?" she said confused "I thought you were an American like me?"
     Charles only shook his head and said "Not anymore." then he reached out and touched her cheek trying to be loving and kind with his presence and manner of speech. "But that doesn't matter anymore." Charles said with a sigh. "Our poor Felina has not been well, for a very long time." Charles confided to a tearful, distraught Lexa. Xation and Bengiman gave Charles a sever look, but Charles was there now in the capacity as Xation's hired physician so he said to Xation openly "I will speak to Felina's psychiatrist, and try to get her to go and check in with him. I think she needs to up her dose of Remeron, or switch to something stronger.{Remeron is a powerful anti-psychotic medication, used to treat extreme depression}
     "Let me get this straight. Felina has done this before?" Lexa asked but neither Charles, Bengiman, nor Xation would look at her and so she cried out "My Christ! Has she ever killed anyone?" Lexa gasped imagining the worst.
     Then came her answer, as all three of them, Xation, Bengiman, Charles said in unison, with the name and face of Humberto embedded in their brain, they all said softly "It was, an accident."
     "God damn..! I think I am going to be sick!" Lexa said as a harsh wave of uncertain, foreign danger, swept through her bloodstream like tidal wave, then she glared over at Xation screaming, enraged "You son of a prick! You brought my sister and me here, Charles warned me how jealous Felina was of all your girlfriends, but I can not believe you exposed her to this danger!" Lexa said, not realizing just how much Felina hated her as well. "Right! Fuck this! Charles how is she? Because you need to fire up that fucking jet, Xation! And fly me and my injured sister HOME!"
     "Doctor! Tell me now all of it! Tell me! Is Leah going to be okay?" Xation implored finally opening up his mouth shouting down Lexa, whose hatred and disdain he could do without.                        
      "Leah, is in stable condition. She snapped her right ankle and broke her left wrist in 2 places." Dr. Le Mesa sighed then added "Now, how she did not end up with a broken neck, is beyond me.., and please, do not think I am exaggerating, when I say, we came extremely close to calling a coroner out to the property today." Xation, Lexa and Bengiman let this soak into their hearts and minds with this realization, and a silence overcame them. Then Charles said, looking at Xation and Bengiman, telling them in no uncertain terms "I do not know, or care, if you believe in God or Miracles, but God damn it, somebody should thank him!" Silence "Now, unfortunately I was unable to perform any x-rays on her, and had to set the bones with great care, her casts will be dry soon. I will provide her with a wheel chair to use"
     "Why did you not take any x-rays Charles? Is the machine broken? I paid a lot of money to have it installed here." Xation inquired.
     "Oh no, Xation.., the machine is fine." Charles smiled about to break the news to Xation and the rest gathered together in the room.
     "Well..?" Xation asked as Lexa and Bengiman stared waiting for Charles to reply.
     "No, it would be medically unethical to expose a pregnant woman to radiation."
     This time it was Lexa, Xation and Bengiman who all spoke at once in unison, saying "WHAT?"

Chapter 21 begins

     "Leah.., can you hear me?" Charles asked as he bent over the examination table when seeing the light flutter of her eyelids.
     Leah just barely opened her eyes as she cried out in agony from the pain of her broken wrist and ankle. "What happened?" she whispered as she gazed up at the faces of her sister, Bengiman, Charles and Xation who were all staring down at her, beside themselves with grief at the sight of Leah's suffering.
     "Felina pushed you down the stairs." Lexa blurted out giving Xation a scowl as if he had himself brought harm to her sister. "She could have killed her!" Lexa said her blood boiling with a hurricane strength rage.
     "What..?" Leah said shocked by this information "I don't remember." a panic rising in her voice.
     Here Charles cleared the room making everyone wait out in the living room so he could check on his patient and make sure she did not have any brain injuries as well. He gave her an injection of Thorzine to help aliveate the pain and help her to calm down; of which she was most apprecative. Now Dr. Charles Le Mesa determined Leah had not hit her head or concussed, but he did need to get a few x-rays of her broken bones before setting them back into place with two 'plaster of paris' casts. Going through the standard procedure he informed Leah of the radiation generated by the machine as he slipped on his lead protective smock and he asked, as you would any woman about to undergo x-rays, if there was any chance she might be pregnant. Here there came a long pause as Leah stared up at Charles with an uncertain look on her face.
      "Well..," Leah said wide-eyed.
      "Well then.., with all the time you and Xation have been spending 'together' I am not surprised." Charles said with a little wink and a smile. "Right then my friend, it is a pregnancy test for you." 
      Meanwhile back at the main house Felina had gone into her bathroom and sat on the floor of the tub as hot steaming water cascaded down over her naked, trembling body, her knees drawn up to her chest with her arms wrapped tightly around her thighs, in almost a sitting embryonic position, as her mind raced and her heart ached for she knew the devastating results her actions would take. Felina still felt the sting of the pain, hatred and contempt in Xation's eyes, and she wished now that he actually had punched her in face, she could take the physical pain, but right now the emotional grief and turmoil was a burden in her heart she could not bear. As Felina sat there in the water weeping like a wounded animal, her faithful and loyal companion, Fuego, lay on the tile floor next to the tub listening to the sound of his master's tear filled voice echo off the walls. Now, if it is possible for an animal to share in the pain and misery of a human being, anyone who looked in could see a mournful look and a tear welling up in the Alsatian's brown eyes, as if the dog were laying beside his master's open grave.
     So Felina decided it was time for her to leave the Estate for a little while, so as not to have to suffer the wrath of Xation. She rose up out of the shower, dried herself off, combed her long black hair back into a pony tail, sitting at her vanity table she put on her make-up with Fuego sitting at her feet, not wanting to leave her side. This did Felina's heart good, to know no matter how evil of a woman she had become, her dog still loved her regardless. As she took out a suitcase from the closet Fuego kept pacing back and forth afraid she was going to leave him behind, he actually at one point went and hopped into the open suitcase as she tried to put in a her robes and slippers. "Perro Loco!" Felina laughed nuzzling up to the crazy dog as he licked her face making her laugh a little. "Ay Fuego! La Vida se ha vuelto muy dificil para mi aqui. Regresarmos a la ciudad." with that Felina put on a lovely little cotton summer dress as she grabbed her purse, sunglasses, keys to her Maserati, suitcase in hand, and of course Fuego walking right at her heels. As Felina made her way out of the house she could not bring herself to look over at the other staircase, nor the spot on the tile floor in the foyer where Leah's broken body had landed. Instead Felina and her faithful, loyal companion slipped quietly out of the grand house, going unnoticed as she drove off the property without giving her brother, Xation, any knowledge of her departure, nor did she call Serena, whom had left for her design studio in Buenos Aires after breakfast, to even let her know what had happened or that one of the twins had been injured. Carlo and Aphina would not receive a phone call from Xation in Spain for a few more hours, and this was the perfect time for Felina to escape and as she sped off, down the long country lane, Felina did not realize, just then, how long it would actually be before she, and her dog, ever returned  home again.
        

End Chapter 20

     Leah bounded up the staircase; which led up to the east wing of the grand house, as she neared the top of the landing Leah looked up startled to find Felina standing there, still in Xation's bathrobe, her long black hair disheveled, her dark eyes were bloodshot from crying. "Felina?" Leah said as she stopped just two steps below Felina bringing them eye level with one another. "Are you alright?" Leah asked with concern as a nervous energy filled her body with a quick, tight tension.
     "No." Felina said her hand on the railing not letting 'that woman' pass. "I am feeling worse than ever!" she said raising her voice a little, to this most unwelcome house guest. "And that reminds me.., when are you and your.., sister leaving?" she replied with a sneer, her eyes blacker than night with a glimmer of simmering rage.

     "Excuse me?" Leah said mortified by the little woman's rudeness. "Xation, your brother, has only just invited us, we have only been here for 2 days." Leah said not wanting to speak to this irritating lady any further, but Felina would still not move out of the way. "My God! Are we that annoying? Or is it something else all together..? I wonder?" Leah said then she peered into Felina's dark eyes searching for a sign, and in one brief look; which Leah recognized and understood, it all became as clear as crystal to her. With this new understanding Leah opened up her mouth and those next words she spoke would nearly cost Leah her life. "I mean it's not like we are in competition with each other." here Felina's face grew pale, ashen grey, as her eyes widened, and the audacious truth of Leah's words was like high voltage to Felina, she could not shake the shock and she was rendered utterly speechless. Now Leah gave a disgusted little smile of surprise and she said "And there it is..," Leah said thinking how sick and twisted Felina actually was, to be in love with her own brother. "Now I see right through you! The reason you are so pissed off is because you born Xation's sister.., and not his.., lover!" Now this struck at the very core of Felina, tearing at the last little bit of sanity she had managed to hang on to. Leah stood on the staircase laughing at Felina taunting her with her words saying "Yeah, that's what I fucking thought! Nothing to say, because you know I'm right." Leah then took a step up extending her arm out nudging Felina off to the side, out of her way, and just as she passed by, Felina stared down at the floor averting her eyes from Leah's accusatory gaze. Then all the bitterness and rage overcame Felina as she reached out, like a lightning bolt, with both hands in a flash, snatching back Leah by her long golden hair. With one strong pull Felina sent Leah off balance as she tumbled back down the stairs in a crash of her body against the hard marble, Leah screamed and Felina could hear her bones snapping with a few loud cracks as she crashed down the long marble staircase whereupon Leah suddenly found herself bashed, bruised and broken by the fall. There at the bottom of the staircase Leah lay motionless, unconscious on the cold hard floor.

     Felina felt the rush of blood and excitement fill her with a strange, morbid delight as she stared down with a little smug smile on her face, however this smile was quickly wiped away when she saw Lexa running over to her half-dead sister. "What did you do to my sister? You fucking cunt!" Lexa screamed up at Felina who took a few steps down the stairs saying it was an accident. "Fuck you! I saw everything! Charles! Xation! Bengiman! Someone help!" Lexa shouted out at the top of her lungs.

     Charles and Xation came running in as two of the maids along with the chef came down the hall to see what was the matter. Bengiman stirred in his bed getting his drunk ass up to investigate. Felina watched in horror as Xation ran over to his beloved fearing for her life as he yelled at Charles to make sure she was still alive. While Charles checked her vital signs Lexa told Xation "Your fucking crazy ass sister was arguing with Leah and then she grabbed her by the back of the hair and pushed her down the stairs!"

     "Felina!" Xation cried out enraged as he flew up the stairs half-crazed.

     Felina turned and tried to run back up the rest of the steps but as she reached the landing she slipped and fell on her back just as her brother leapt upon her straddling her body with a most violent look of vengeful hatred. He was so overcome by rage he did not know whether to choke the life out of Felina or punch her in the face. So with his left hand firmly grasping her throat, Xation drew back his right hand balling it up into a fist and just as he was about to release a mighty blow Bengiman came down the hall screaming "Xation! No!" Bengiman did not know what the fuck was going on but he had never witnessed a man attacking his own sister. "What the fuck!" Bengiman said as he grabbed Xation in a bear hug, pulling him off the terrified Felina who was shaking and trembling.

     "Look what she did now!" Xation exclaimed pointing down at Leah.

     "Oh my Christ! Not again." Bengiman shook his head giving Felina a devastated look then he quickly fled Felina's side the moment he realized Leah had been badly injured by Felina's psychotic intentions. As Bengiman ran down the stairs to help Charles and check on the beautiful foreign woman, Xation got up from the floor stepping over his sister. Felina reached out and grabbed hold of his leg as she began crying a river of bitter tears.

     "Xation! Please! I am so sorry!" Felina pleaded trying to keep her brother by her side as she groveled on the floor like a starving dog.

     "Get off of me!" Xation said kicking at Felina screaming down at her humiliating her by saying "Now YOU be a good dog and FUCK OFF!" Xation turned his back on his sister then he raced down the stairs with much fear and concern for his beloved. Xation knelt down beside Leah, and it was clear she had broken her left wrist, and her right ankle was bent back at an impossible angle, but she was still breathing, however she was unresponsive and she would not open up her eyes. Felina pulled herself up and she looked down at the scene caused by the creation of the violence of her hands, she saw Lexa weeping over her sister's still body, Xation was loudly imploring and praying for the Lord to keep his sweetheart from Death's door, as Bengiman carefully picked Leah up in his arms to get her over to Gatehouse where Charles could take a few x-rays and make sure poor Leah was safe, out of harm's way and not suffering in any pain.

Chapter 20 continues

     Felina collapsed back down into her bed in a heap of bitter tears, as the words Charles said soaked into her jealous heart, Felina was completely beside herself with grief and overwhelming misery. So, all alone, with no one to show her any mercy, or pity, Felina crawled back under her covers and lay her head down to try to forget and go to sleep. She had just managed to drift off, as her tear-stained pillow began to dry, when suddenly she was awoken by the sounds of laughter and loud voices, with splashes in the pool, coming from just outside her window. Now Felina was outraged, still nursing a terrible hangover, when she bolted upright from her bed to throw open the french doors and scream down at the lot of them to shut up. However, when Felina went out on her balcony and she looked down at the pool she was stunned to see Xation looking so elated and perfectly happy, even with his black eye and bruised ribs. Felina sat down at the little table, going unnoticed, as she sat there up on the second story, staring down at the beautiful couples. For Charles was there with his whore, Lexa, whom Felina had grown to despise in such a very short time. All were laughing and chatting with one another, telling stories, drinking pitchers of ice cold Sangria. All the while Felina sat out under the noon day sun spying upon everyone, and the more she watched, and the longer she waited to leave, her jealous little heart began to seethe.
     She listened to the sound of her brother's rich and hearty laugh; which used to do her heart good to hear, but Felina had not had the pleasure of hearing such laughter from Xation, in such a very long time. She knew, in her tortured heart and soul, her brother was truly now the happiest she had seen him in an even longer amount of time. Felina had seen her brother with dozens, upon dozens, of girls by the family pool, from the time he was a teenager to now, a full grown man of 33, a captain of industry, but now sitting next to his 'green-eyed American Dream' as Xation called her, he appeared completely at ease and stress free. She had never witnessed Xation react this way to a woman and Felina felt sickened by the sweetness of their new found love and great affection for one another. The very thought of her brother being with 'that woman' made her nauseous. Unable to watch Xation and 'that woman' basking in the summer sun and the light of their love, Felina turned her attention to Charles, who was reclining on one of the lounge chairs rubbing coconut oil into his bronze skin, while Lexa swam lap after lap in the pool. He looked so good lying there, Felina thought to herself, admiring his long, lean, muscular body and rock hard abs, wearing a dark pair of sunglasses and a little pair of swim trunks, his full, moist lips were stained the color of blood from the wine. Felina gazed down upon the perfect, highly desirable body of the man she could have had forever, but Felina, out of her deep abiding love, and Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor for her brother Xation, she had abided by his wishes. Felina had her two weeks of fun with Charles and then she had let him go, set him free. Now with the extreme passion she, indeed, still harbored in her heart for Charles, Felina now questioned if she had done the right thing, because she still had such deep affection for Charles she called into question her own decision.
     So it was, Turmoil, Angst, Fear, Hatred and Jealously began to manifest their ugly faces in Felina's bitter heart and she could fell the caustic rage churning up inside her, just as it had early in December when she and Humberto, Serena's fiance went out riding that day. She was beginning to feel that same way again, her heart racing, palms sweating, throat and mouth dry, what felt like a nest of vipers curled and coiled up in her intestines, a sharp, stabbing pain in the middle of her black heart. Now, had Felina managed to get herself up from her chair, go back inside, lay back down and go to bed, what happened a few moments later would never have occurred. Also, if it were not for the fact that Charles happened to catch a glimpse of Felina up on her balcony eavesdropping in on them, then he would not have behaved the way he did, and had he known the affects his words would have on her fragile sanity, then Charles would have kept his fucking mouth shut! Alas, none of us can ever control the outcome of our actions, once done, it is done.
     Now Charles thought he would give Felina a little taste of her own medicine, so Charles got up from his lounge chair and went down to the deep end of the crystal blue pool, where he made a perfect swan dive off the diving board, splashing the refreshingly cold water all over Lexa, who only laughed as Charles swam up underneath her, then he grabbed her by the waist, picking her up in his arms, giving her a playful kiss as Felina sat there simmering in her intense, unexpressed anger. Then Charles went one step too far in his words, when he asked Lexa "So, what do you make of Xation and your sister Leah..?"
     Lexa glanced back at the pair as they sat out under the umbrella at the table engaged in a friendly game of chess. "Well, honestly, I don't know what to make of it, this little affair of theirs had caught me off guard, she has been acting strangely and she looks at him with such intense love.., it makes me a little uncomfortable.., I think I'm afraid Xation could steal her away from me." Lexa laughed nervously sharing the true fear of her heart.
     'Steal her away.' Lexa's words echoed through Felina's brain as she realized that Leah would steal Xation away from her and Lexa had already stolen Charles away from her bed and replaced her in his heart and mind. Every word Felina heard was like another little dagger in her back.
     Charles and Lexa swam over to the corner of the pool, closer to Felina, who hung on every word they spoke then Charles said, just loudly enough for Felina to hear. "Well.., Xation told me the other day, that he is absolutely in love with Leah.., Xation also said he knew this was the case, when he realized he would, willing, take a bullet in the head for her, just to keep her safe."
     Now these words startled Lexa, because she had never heard of anything so romantic, however, Felina's mind, and hateful nature, was filled with extremely painful desires, of a murderous nature, and these words that Charles spoke, in all truth and honesty, was like setting off a time bomb in her brain. It was at this very moment when Felina heard the voice of 'that woman' her brother had fallen in love with say "Hey, I left my mobile phone upstairs..," she said calling out to Lexa saying "I forgot to call mom and dad yesterday." she gave Xation a quick kiss as she went back in the quiet house and just as soon as Felina saw this, all her jealousy, anger and rage outweighed all her reason and logic as she quickly slipped back into her bedroom, putting on her brother's bathrobe, Felina crept out of her room to lay in wait for Leah at the top of the stairs.

Chapter 20 begins

     Bright and early the next day Xation had made it down to the breakfast table feeling much better, not as sore, the swelling in his face had come down, but the left side of his face was still all the colors of a deep bruise. Leah, Lexa, Charles and Serena all greeted one another cheerfully as they sat sharing another meal together and all were well rested and in fine spirits. However, Bengiman and Felina were notably absent, the former stayed up drinking the rest of the bottle of claret on his balcony, hidden by the blossoming desert willow trees as he spied down on Lexa and Charles who were cavorting, naked, at the edge of the pool in a slippery embrace. As for the latter, Felina had gone to bed with two full bottles of red wine and when she awoke in the morning they were, of course, empty and her head felt as though it were stuffed with cotton.
     "Shall we wait a little longer before we start?" Xation asked.
     "No, Xation. Bengiman is still sleeping and Felina is in one of her moods again." Serena informed her brother who only shook his head.
     "Well, you all go ahead and I will go and check on my sister." Xation sighed knowing full and well of his sister's jealous attitude towards his female friends. So he went up to her side of the house entering her room; which was dark and cool, all the drapes drawn tightly closed against the bright morning light of the sun. "Felina?" Xation said as he went and sat next to his sister who lay there pretending to be asleep. It was only when Xation began to playfully tickle her stomach that she came to life, pushing his hand away from her body as she lay under her silk sheets.
     "Go away." she muttered rolling over turning her back to him.
     "Felina, you need to come down stairs and have something to eat." Xation tried to persuade her to no avail.
    "I am not feeling well." she said knowing the distress she was was feeling was due to the somber mood of her dark, little heart.
     "Well, my darling sister, that is probably because you did not eat dinner last night and will have no breakfast this morning.., and two bottles of wine for supper does not a supper make." Xation laughed as he looked over at the night table.
     "Leave me alone.., little brother, now be a good dog and go away! I do not feel well, as I have said." Felina snapped at Xation, who only smiled not giving into her foul mood.
     "Very well sister, then I shall send Charles up here to check on you." he said knowing she would not like this.
     Here Felina sat up in her bed with a defiant, mischievous look in her wild eyes she said "Yes! By all means Xation, send the good doctor up to my room!"
     Xation did not like the way she acted, and reacted to his suggestion but he dutifully went back down stairs and instructed Charles to go and have a look at Felina after he finished his breakfast, but Charles got up from the table at once and went up straight away to tend to Felina and see what was ailing her.
     Now Felina, in a rush, hurried to brush her teeth, and comb out her long black hair, spraying on a bit of french perfume, before slipping naked back into her bed in anticipation. When Charles knocked upon her bedroom door she told him to come in and when he stepped into the room Felina gave Charles a sultry look and said "Lock the door."
     Charles froze for just a moment not understanding her request, so she told him to lock the door one more time, and then Charles obeyed as a strange feeling rose up in his heart and mind. Charles walked slowly across the room as he gazed at the lovely woman's naked silhouette under the pale-blue silk sheets, her long raven tresses flowing down her supple shoulders as she sat back pulling the soft sheet down a little, exposing her firm naked breast. "Felina, I thought you were not feeling well?" Charles let out a sigh as the memories of her naked flesh and sweat and those lips and the penetrating warmth from within her body. Charles stood at the foot of her bed, not daring to come any closer.
     "Come to me Charles." she said sliding the covers all the way off her body.
     "No." Charles whispered in a voice as tense as wire.
     "Then I will come to you." Felina said as she faced him going down on all fours crawling over to the end of the bed on her hands and knees.
     As she moved closer Charles closed his eyes so he could not bare witness to her soft naked skin and her round firm bottom, that he desperately wanted to spank for she was being a very naughty girl! "Felina, no! Your brother would have me killed."
     "Oh don't be so dramatic!" Felina smiled as she rose up on her knees in front of him as she put her arms around his neck and gave him a slow, deep, wet, passionate kiss, and Charles let Felina kiss him and he kissed her back with equal measure of force and pleasure.
     But his reason outweighed his amorous intentions with Xation's sister and so he stopped and took his hands pushing her gently off  saying "No Felina..," he gave a sad smile telling her "I am sorry, but we can not go back to where we were before, that door has closed. Because I have too much Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor for this family to give into your little whim." Charles took one step back away from the bed and he said to her as she sat down on her knees casting her gaze away from him "I know the only reason you want me now after.., a year, is because of that woman downstairs. You just can not stand to see me with someone I actually may love!" Charles said without thinking and when he realized what he had said, and the statement he was proclaiming, Charles actually felt dizzy and faint of heart, it was if he suddenly had tunnel vision, he felt like he was going blind or having a partial stroke, one of the two.
     "You.., Love her?" Felina stammered in shock, for truly in her heart she only ever thought that she would always be the one Charles truly loved in his heart of hearts, but now Felina knew, and understood, she had deceived herself with this lie and now knowing this fact she only wanted to die.
     Charles stood there, his face was as pale as a bottle of milk and he looked like someone had just told him he had an inoperable tumor. Charles could not fathom loving only one woman but the idea had begun to grow in his heart like a cancer which had quickly spread to his brain. Just for a moment Charles stood there in silence, shocked by the foul and evil Love of which he spoke. Then he knew this moment was crucial so he regained his composure and he said to Felina "Yes, I just may very well have fallen in love with Lexa, and why wouldn't I Felina? She speaks to me as if I am the only man in her world, and she fills me with kind words of adulation and adoration, she makes me feel like I am the most powerful, and precious man in the world to her. In her eyes I am a god!" Charles confessed the truth of his heart openly and honestly. Serena did not know what to say and she was envious of this Lexa, for Felina lacked this special talent when caring for a man. To make a man feel so wonderful about himself and fill his heart with such loving devotion was a rare talent indeed. A talent the majority of women are sorely lacking in these days. Charles watched as a few tears began to well up in Felina's eyes and he knew this was the moment to strike out at her heart in a cruel and vindictive manner, but he only did so, so that he could make sure to get his point across. "Oh, and one more thing, Felina. Your brother Xation has fallen head over heels in Love with Leah, I was a witness to their unfolding love affair." Charles paused to let this information soak in to the buds of her mind. "So, if you are able, I, and your brother, would greatly appreciate if you can call up from your blood the noble and regal traits of your ansestors and demonstrate all the happiness and graciousness you can find to welcome these women into our lives." Charles watched and waited for Felina's reply but no words were forth coming so he said, before he turned to leave "I will take your silence as my answer. But I can not understand why it so fucking impossible for you to be happy for anyone else, but yourself." With that Charles exited the room as he slammed the door behind him, leaving Felina feeling shell-shocked, like a bomb just went off in her room.
    
    

End Chapter 19

     "Xation..," Leah said as she next to him on his bed shocked to find his 37 year old sister curled up in bed with him. "Wake up!" she said loudly shaking him vigorously.
     Xation arose from his Nembutal laced, lucid dreams as he opened his eyes and beheld the sweet face of his American Sweetheart. "Leah..," he inhaled deeply reaching up to touch her cheek running his fingers through her long, silken tresses "What is the matter my love?" he smiled softly telling her "Come get into my bed."
     "Well my darling, I would.., but you see there is no room for me." Leah sighed as she pointed over at Felina who was fast asleep.
     Back down stairs the sumptuous meal was over and much wine and fine champagne had been consumed by one and all, with Lexa taking more than her fair share. It was a nice dinner with good conversation the twins telling all about California and their many journeys across the World. Bengiman was fascinated in the company of the two Americans and he just loved their 'Yank Accent' as Bengiman refereed to it, but Lexa protested saying he was the one with the accent, and she guessed that he sounded like he was from South Shields, though she was wrong on that account. Everything was going smoothly, and Bengiman knew that was due to Felina's absence from the diner table, for he could see Felina's brown eyes turn green with envy, and jealousy, when she met the tall, ravishing, foreign women. Though it all seemed to go pear shaped for our poor Bengiman when Charles began regaling the group with little stories from their time together on the Hawaiian Islands. Serena would stare enraptured by the tales of romance and new love. Such as when Charles said to Lexa "Remember Lexa when I took you by the hand and we walked down through the park, through all the trees and down to the beach.?" Lexa smiled with a bright spark of delight in her eyes as Charles reached out for her hand as he continued "We walked along the windswept shore in the dark and found a cave.., I lit a huge fire and we drank that delicious bottle of Rose wine, and we shared all our hopes and dreams?" Charles let out a deep sigh of great satisfaction at his fond memory of that night together by the roar of the ocean.
     "Yes." Lexa cooed "And then came the rain." she smiled thinking of that night.
     "It sounds so lovely. I will have Hays take me there for a little romantic getaway." Serena smiled as she explained to Lexa and Leah about her new relationship with Xation's business partner and Vice President of his company.
     "When is Hays coming back down from the Texas office, in Dallas?" Bengiman asked wanting to see his old friend.
     "In a few days, he is coming to take over for Xation, until his face heals. His employees can not see Xation in that state, it is bad for the morale of his workers." Serena said and then as if knowing he was being spoken about Serena's mobile phone rang. "Well speak of the devil." she said flipping open her phone "Sweetheart! I was just talking about you!" Serena left the table in a fine mood hearing the voice of the man she loved, leaving Bengiman together with the Leah and Lexa, who only had eyes for Charles at this point in the evening, and now she treated Bengiman as if nothing happened between them at all, even while his semen was mixing with her dinner in her stomach as Lexa sat there stealing kisses from Charles. They looked so happy and in love it made Bengiman want to vomit all over the table, but he did not instead he kept drinking more wine. Leah had excused herself after dessert to go and check on Xation and that left him with Lexa and Charles to deal with, that is until Lexa told Charles she wanted to go outside and get some fresh air. So up they bolted from the table Charles chasing after Lexa who ran out of the dining room and out the french doors. Charles soon caught up with her, whereupon he picked up Lexa in his strong arms and in a fit of laughter and mischief he tossed her into the pool. She only surfaced with a tremendous smile upon her face as Charles dove in, fully clothed, after her.
     Bengiman sat there a moment listening to the sound of love and laughter and playful splashing coming from outside the windows as he sat there by himself as the maids cleared away the table. Everyone else had someone to be with, or talk to, but not our dear Bengiman, for he found himself, again, all on his own, and now he felt more alone than ever. So with a sad look of despondence on his face, Bengiman stood up from the table, taking the rest of the bottle of Claret with him up to his room. Slowly he walked through the enormous house, his heart full of black and his head full of blue. As he headed up stairs he heard the sound of Xation's bedroom door being slammed shut and he could hear the sound of Felina cursing under her breath in Spanish as she stormed down the hall towards him, her eyes filled with rage and indignity. Now Bengiman thought this would be a good chance to be there for Felina in her time of strife and anger, and perchance be allowed to slip back into her bed tonight. So he opened his arms up to her in the hopes of a warm embrace, but she only glared up at him with fire in her eyes and she shouted "Not now Bengiman!" so he shook his head as she passed in a flash and he slinked off to bed in disgrace. Now when he tried to lie down and close his eyes to rest, the noise from Charles and Lexa frolicking together downstairs in the pool kept him stirring in his bed.

Chapter 19 continues

     Now at the appointed time Charles made his way out poolside where he found Lexa, Bengiman, Leah and Serena sitting, sipping their cocktails waiting for him. Charles was so happy to be home, far away from all the trouble back in Hawaii, and he gave the girls all a kiss on the cheek, and he even was pleased to see Bengiman.
     "Xation is fast asleep Charles." Leah informed him, then she asked if he might be able to provide her with a sleeping pill, or two, after dinner saying "All I want to do, after I eat, is curl up in bed with Xation for the next 12 hours!" they all laughed. Charles said he would see what he could do. Now they all sat and talked, the twins giving Serena a little information on them and their family. Leah and Lexa found Serena to be a delightful, fun loving, interesting person and the three took to each other right away. Serena herself was so delighted both her brother, and Charles, had happened upon the lovely creatures and she too felt enraptured by their very presence. Now this made Charles very happy, then his mood suddenly shifted when he noticed how close Bengiman was sitting next to Leah at the table, how he would lean in and whisper something in her ear from time to time; which only served to make her smile. In fact, Charles felt as though she were paying more attention to Bengiman than him. Though Charles tried to dissuade his suspicion for he knew Lexa had only been alone for one hour, how much trouble could she have possibly gotten into?
     Well, our poor, stupid Charles hadn't a clue what to sexually-avaricious, highly-charged people can do. For it was about ten minutes after smoking the sweet little spliff together when Lexa invited Bengiman to take a nice hot shower with her. So to oblige the sexy lady Bengiman did all he could to get her nice and clean in the soapy water, before the stunning blond got down on her knees trying to take him all in her mouth. So she sat there next to Charles, smiling with the pink, soft lips she used to suck Bengiman's dick. Now if Charles had known this he would have drove off in his Bugatti and headed back to the city, never to see the whore Lexa again. But as we know our poor, stupid Charles hadn't a clue.
     "Well, I am absolutely starving!" Serena said and here Charles took notice now of her rapid weight loss since the last time he saw her. "I feel like I have not had a thing to eat all week!" she said without exaggeration, and Bengiman laughed. "Let me go in and check on dinner." Serena said as she got up from the table, glass of chilled rose in hand. When she went into the house she saw her sister Felina come through the front door, dressed in full riding gear, her boot heels clicking on the marble tiled floor as she walked towards her. "Felina, come out here for moment I want you to meet Xation's new friends.., our house guests." Serena informed her sister who did not looked pleased, for her brother was frequently bringing home random girls to meet the family, and each and everyone of them Xation would soon grow tired of, or he could not be bothered to devote the time a man needs, to just one lady. So Felina did not see the importance of meeting them, but she dutifully followed her little sister, who seemed to be enamoured with the women herself, for that is how highly she spoke of their beauty and wit. Now when Felina came outside she was shocked to find the American green-eyed, gorgeous women, with their perfect skin, long golden hair, glowing smiles, and when Lexa and Leah stood to greet her they towered over Felina and her little sister. Now Felina did not like this one bit, for she thought, and felt, like she was being out shined.
     "Well.., it is very nice to meet you both..," Felina lied, as she paused with a look as tense as wire. "where is my brother?" she said turning a severe gaze on Charles.
     "Oh, yes." Charles said remembering the lie "There was a bit of a car accident, his face and ribs hit the steering wheel. He's in his bed asleep." no sooner could he finish Felina gave a shocked and worried look running back into the house as soon as she heard the news. Felina flew up the stairs as fast as her little legs could run as she went down the hall to Xation's room. She threw open the door where she found her injured brother quietly sleeping in his darkened room, the only sound was the cool air blowing through the vent.
     "Xation." Felina whispered as she next to him on the bed holding his hand, stroking his hair. As she stared down at her beloved brother Felina remembered all the terrible trouble her brother had found himself in, and how she always managed to help Xation out, and care for him, with whatever it was he needed.
     "Felina?" Xation whispered as he woke up and saw his sister sitting on his bed, holding his hand, stroking his hair. "Ugh, " he said sniffing the air "Felina go and change out of your riding gear, you smell like the stables!"
     "Well I am glad your little car accident did not affect your sense of smell." she laughed "Go back to sleep and I'll have a shower." she smiled giving him a peck on the lips as Xation rolled over with a little laugh. Felina sat back and slipped off her riding boots before she stood up removing an article of clothing as she went into her brother's bathroom, leaving a trail of clothes on the floor, before she slipped into a steaming shower, cleansing her body of the sweat and grime from her hours long rides in the Argentine sun. Now when she felt nice and clean Felina wrapped her naked body up in her brothers bathrobe. Then she crept silently back into Xation's room where she crawled up under the covers with her brother as he slept.

Chapter 19 begins

     "Oh my God! Xation what on Earth happened to you?" Bengiman heard Serena exclaim from inside the house as he lay out on his lounge chair a short while later. He did not like hearing this at all so he highed himself into the house, down the hallway to the foyer, where he noticed Charles and two women, but it was as if he had tunnel vision and all Bengiman could focus on was his friend, Xation's, face.
     "You got into a fight?" Bengiman exclaimed as he stood there in just his swim trunks and flip flops and Lexa, nor her sister, could not help but notice the giant of a man, tanned, naked skin, with the hard muscular body of a Spartan King. As the twins stood next to Serena who clung to her brother in a tight embrace so concerned was she for her beloved brother and his pain.
     "It was a traffic accident!" Xation exclaimed, knowing good and well Bengiman knew he was lying to him.
     "Oh God! Are you going to be alright?" Serena gasped afraid for her brother's well being.
     "He's fine!" Charles interrupted "He just needs some time to rest."
     "Well.., Xation, can we get you anything?" Serena asked trying to care for her brother, as all good sister's should.
     "No..," Xation paused as he put his arm around his beloved, Leah, giving her a squeeze and he said "I have everything I need.., right here!" as he gave Leah a peck on the cheek Serena, as well as Bengiman Pruce, now took notice of the two stunning blond twins all the way from America standing in their presence.
     "Oh my Christ!" Bengiman said as he beheld the tall, green eyed, exquisite beauties, whom were identical in every way, except for the little pink and blue sundresses they were wearing, with such long, well toned and tanned legs, tiny waists, well round breasts, thin necks and eyes that were the brightest and most dazzling color of Emeralds.
     "Well, hello! Welcome to our home!" Serena said with a gasp as if she was in the presence of two lost Angels. "Look at you how beautiful you both are and identical twins! I am in a word.., Amazed!" Serena said fawning over them a bit, for she was glad to see her bother and Charles in the company of such two divine creatures. So Serena introduced herself along with Bengiman. Now when Lexa reached out to shake Mr.Pruce's hand, and introduce herself and her sister to him, Lexa felt a burst of electricity pass between them as she felt his large, strong hand in hers as she gazed in his black eyes. Now she was over 6 feet tall, in her high heels, but this handsome, Englishman, whom she found very mysterious and intriguing, towered over her, he was so sexy and engaging, Lexa felt her palms begin to sweat as her pulse began to quicken.
     "So very nice to meet you." Bengiman said as he pulled her hand closer to him as he bent forward kissing her on the back of the hand, as gentlemen used to do.
     Charles could not help but notice the chemistry between these two, but he thought nothing of it, because he believed Lexa only had eyes for him, but then Serena made this remark to the twins "You look so much alike, is there anyway to tell you two apart?"
     Here Leah replied "Well.., we have different taste in music."
     "And men." Lexa added, however, she did not look at Charles when she said this. No. Charles found her gazing up at Bengiman's face with a devilish smile.
     "Xation." Charles said directing his injured friend up the grand staircase. "You are heavily medicated and you need to rest."
     "Yeah!" Bengiman said turning his full attention back on his injured friend. So Xation, Leah and Bengiman, who carried up their suitcases went up to Xation's master suite, and while Leah went to freshen up in the bathroom, Xation sat on the edge of his massive bed and Bengiman said "Come on mate, what the fuck happened?"
     "It was a traffic accident." Xation continued with the lie.
     "Listen, it's me your talkin' to, I've been in hundreds of fights, and know what those sort of injuries look like." Bengiman persisted in his questioning.
     Xation was angered by this, but Bengiman was his best friend and it was only out of his deep concern, and loyalty, that Bengiman was going on like this. So Xation let out a heavy sigh as he looked up, saying in a calm, rational voice "Listen, mate, I appreciate your concern, but as I said.., it was just a traffic accident from this morning, nothing to worry about.., now drop it." Xation said giving Bengiman a stern look of warning.
     "Fine." Bengiman said as he turned to exit Xation's bedroom "Oh, and by the way.., I'm feeling much better.., thanks." he added, for he was still angry he did not get to go to Hawaii, that he was not there to protect his friend during what ever shit went down. He was also disheartened by the fact that Charles had first met up with Lexa, his blond, green-eyed, American dream. So Bengiman went back downstairs to settle back down on his lounge chair soaking up the last few rays of sunshine for that day, drinking down another Pims and lemonade. 
     Back down stairs Serena led Charles and Lexa to his room, but when he entered in he found all his belongings, clothes, etc.. were gone. Now, before Charles could protest, Serena informed him with a mischievous smile about her surprise she had been working on all week for him. "Come out to the pool house let me show you what I have created for you." So it was Serena led Charles and Lexa out through the french doors past the pool, through the back yard, and Serena took great delight in showing Charles into his new little home. And he was absolutely amazed, astounded, and deeply touched by all her hard work just to make him feel more at home. Then she said "Oh Charles you are apart of this family now and we only want for you to be happy." As the two embraced giving each other little kisses upon the cheek.           
     Lexa glanced out the window where she saw Mr.Pruce all oiled up out by the pool, so Lexa took this moment to excuse herself, saying she wanted to go and unpack and have a bath. "You go on with the tour, I think you have done a fabulous job Serena, you should come to La Jolla and re-decorate our family's house."
     "It would be my pleasure! I just love California.., Now why don't we all meet for cocktails before dinner.., in say an hour." Serena said as she looked down at her watch.
     Lexa gave Charles a kiss on the cheek as she stepped out of the pool house and walked towards Bengiman, who was watching her like a hawk. Now when she came nearer he said to her "It's too bad."
     "What's too bad?" Lexa replied as she took a seat next to him.
     "Well.., I was supposed to be on that trip with Xation." he paused slipping off his sunglasses giving her his best 'come fuck me' look.
     Lexa gave a sly smile then said "And..,"
     "Well..," he paused moving a little closer to her "It's just.., I could have gotten to you before Charles."
     "Hmm..," she laughed seductively saying "Why Mr.Pruce, what makes you think you're not getting to me right now?" then she placed her hand on his knee giving him a little squeeze, and he instinctively covered his lap with his towel for he was becoming aroused, then she said "Would you like to smoke a joint with me? I brought back some lovely weed from Hawaii."
     "Well, that's just my game." he smiled his heart and mind filling with this fresh new delight.
     "Well.., that's the rumor." Lexa smiled with a radiant look of desire in her sparkling eyes and she told him "Come with me."
  

 

End Chapter 18

     Meanwhile, back in Argentina, Bengiman Pruce had spent most of the afternoon on a lounge chair, covered in coconut oil, beside the large shimmering swimming pool at the Estate. He had been feeling much better, now the ear infections were cleared up, Bengiman was doing his best to soak up the hot rays of the Argentine sun, it was a sweltering 95 degrees, of pure heat, and he had to be careful when cooling off in the pool not to get any water into his ear canals. He let out a deep sigh taking a sip off his Pims and lemonade, a favorite of his from back home. Bengiman was bored out of his mind. Carlo and Aphina were back in Spain with their parents, Felina was busy giving riding lessons at the stables, the maids were busy with their cleaning and Serena was off on a decorating tangent. There was no one for Bengiman to have a chat with, nor anyone to play a nice game of chess with. Bengiman's well tanned, muscular body glistened in the sun as he watched from behind his black aviator sunglasses as Serena and here workman buzzed about the pool house like busy bees in a hive. For while Charles was away she had come up with the grand idea to turn the pool house into a little home for Charles so he could have more privacy and feel like he was at home in America. Now, unbeknownst to Serena, this angered Bengiman for he wondered why no one in the family had done that for him. Though of course he was forgetting Felina had opened up the Cock and Bull, an English pub in the city, for him to feel like he was back at home in England, before he was even brought over to Buenos Aires. This was the very same pub Felina closed, after having been brutally raped in the kitchen of , and that is where Charles, that fucking bastard, had come into their lives. Now Bengiman did not hate anyone, but he did loathe and despise Charles with every fiber of his being. Bengiman could not stand the sight of Charles, for well he knew Felina still had strong feelings for the 'good doctor', and that they had a brief, torrid, sexual affair before Charles began working for Xation, and that was over a year ago, but Bengiman still could not let it go. Probably because Bengiman had been in love with Felina since he first met her outside his shop, that New Year's eve, back in Soho, so long ago. Now this current display of love affection for Charles disturbed Bengiman to his core, for he did not want praise being heaped upon Charles anymore. It was very annoying to have Serena going to all this trouble to take care of Felina's sweet, and cherished, American savior.
     "You better hurry Serena they are due back any time now!" Bengiman shouted then he noticed, when Serena bent over, just how much weight Serena had lost over the last 7 days. Now it so happened when Felina confiscated his cocaine and marijuana from him, per doctor's orders, she gave the 8 ball of Peruvian marching powder, and the ounce of Afghani Queen to Serena, whom was supposed to return it to Bengiman. However, Serena needed to lose some of the holiday weight she had gained before she flew back to Texas next week, for she could not let Haze see her overweight. This was crucial in her mind. So in lieu of food she snorted up all the cocaine over seven days, and to calm herself she would smoke a nice joint or two out on her balcony over looking the pool house. Now through the powerful creative effects on her mind from the cannabis the grandiose idea came to her to redecorate and re-purpose the pool house, to make a nice little home for Charles whom the Diaz family worshipped and adored for the brave and clever American had gained a 'god-like' status among the Diaz clan. Saving the life of one of them usually will accomplish that.
     "Bengiman come and look we are finally finished!" Serena said as she flitted about like a humming bird looking for it's nectar, as she hurriedly arranged a few of the potted palms by the front door of the 1200 sq. ft. Spanish colonial style building, with it's rose granite columns and long expanses of windows.
     "I'm sure it's fine." Bengiman grumbled, unable to hid the jealous tone in his voice.
     "Bengiman, sweetheart please, I have worked very hard, and now I need your praise.., come on just a little, it will do my heart good." Serena smiled as she stood there in her blue jean shorts and her little white t-shirt and sneakers.
     "Grr..," Bengiman bemoaned setting his drink down, forcing himself up, out of his comfortable place in the sun.
     So he went over, going in and Serena had done an amazing job, any bachelor would have loved it, with it's grey walls, hardwood floors, black napa leather sofas and recliners gathered around a massive big screen t.v., and all the newest and latest technology from B+O stereo equipment that 1992 had to offer. There were colorful Chagall, real masterpieces, hanging on the freshly painted walls, a tiny little kitchen with a fully stocked bar, filled with the finest liquors, and Waterford crystal glass and stem ware. The bedroom had a California King size bed with an ornately carved Italian headboard from the 18th century and the more Bengiman saw of the little house, he began to have the overwhelming urge to set it all on fire. But he loved and respected Serena, more than he loathed Charles, so Mr.Pruce told her how lovely it all was and what a fine job she had done, and Serena was very talented. This was all true and Serena was glad to hear his words, so she gave him a little hug and a kiss, as he towered over her in the door way. As they stepped outside Serena wondered when her brother and Charles would return, but before she could ask this of Bengiman, they heard the familiar roar of Xation's Lear jet soaring above their heads as it streaked across the sky coming in for a landing.
     "Here they come!" Serena shouted out with great excitement.
     Mr.Pruce suddenly felt sick to his stomach, so saying not a word he went back over and laid himself back down on his lounge chair, like giant brown bear basking in the sun, having no idea of the excitement to come.

Chapter 18 continues

     "What happened to you Xation?!" Leah exclaimed as she boarded the private jet with her sister and Charles, who escorted them up off the tarmac from their limousine.
     "We had an.., accident." Charles went on to relay their story/lie to the girls and Leah was beside herself with grief at seeing her loving man injured so. Now Xation and Charles recalled their supposed account of this 'traffic accident' and the two women believed every word they said, for as we all know Xation and his co-horts could put the 'lie' in believe. For it was their belief that if you can get some one to believe a lie, than it can become the truth. But that is just a lie they told themselves, oh, the folly of man.
     After taking off from Lanai City, and well on their way back to Argentina with the twins, Charles and Xation grew less agitated and antsy, and Charles was never more happy to be on an airplane in his life. His terror of flying was surpassed by his fear of prosecution and incarceration. Charles looked out the little window down at the lush, verdant islands of Lanai, Molokai, and Maui disappear like emeralds in the vast blue Pacific Ocean as the Lear jet flew off up in the cloudless sky, and he vowed never to return to the Hawaiian Islands ever again. Now Xation was still in a great deal of discomfort, so when they were cruising along at 20,000 feet, Xation stretched out on the bench in the tail section of the plane resting his head on Leah's lap. She held an ice pack on his swollen eye using her free hand to stroke his hair, singing softly to him a sweet tune trying to help him to relax and feel at ease. These efforts were helped on by the second dose of vicodan Charles gave Xation before take-off so he soon drifted off somewhere over the Pacific as the foursome settled down for the 6 hour flight. Charles and Lexa sat next to one another having a bit of conversation along with a glass of Grey Goose vodka over ice, as Leah and Xation grew closer to one another in his moment of pain.
     "So," Lexa said as she crossed her long, tan legs adjusting her little pink cotton dress, which matched her panties. "Tell me more about where we are headed.., who will I meet, what should I expect?"
     Charles smiled and thought now would be a good time to talk about Xation and his family. "Well, Xation and his family have an enormous horse ranch, with a riding school, polo fields, an amazing house, endless gardens, an Olympic size pool. I have an office and an examination room in the gate house and am always on call. There are several student riders who come from all over to be trained by Felina and her staff at her riding academy" Charles paused then went on to describe his former lover, whom he still worshipped and adored. "Felina is Xation's oldest sister, she is around 37, she is an expert rider and like her horses, can be very high strung and she is extremely protective of her brother, so good luck to your sister with that one." Charles said in all honesty. "Xation's other sister is younger, her name is Serena, and is about 30, she's an interior designer who is in high demand all over the world by five star hotels, movie stars, heads of state to decorate their homes, hotels and buildings. She is a sweetheart and loves her brother and her family so much. She is probably the most loyal person I have ever known."
     "Loyalty.., that is something you don't find very much of, any more these days." Lexa said re-filling her glass.
     "His parents are kind, and most gracious, they have taken me in and treated me as their own son. I would do anything for Aphina and Carlo and my loyalty to that dear couple can never be called in to question." Charles smiled and whispered in Lexa's ear "You know I think I like the parents company more than their children.., but you didn't hear that from me." Charles laughed as he continued "And then..," he paused not wanting to tell her the rest of the story, but he knew, for her own safety, it was imperative she be warned. "there is Mr.Pruce." Charles said as he poured out a larger glass of vodka for himself. "Bengiman, is Xation's best friend, and in charge of Xation, and his family's, personal security."
     "And..?" Lexa said a bit intrigued, for from the tone in his voice it did not sound as though Charles held  this character, Bengiman Pruce, in any high regard.
    "Well, I don't know much about his past , except Xation and him were friends when Xation was in college at Cambridge and the London School of Economics. Some how Bengiman ended up coming over from England and working for Xation, about two years ago."
     "How long have you worked for Xation and his family?"
     "A little over a year, but that is a different story." Charles said picking up the thread of his conversation.
     "Now you should know, Bengiman will try to steal you away from me." Charles said giving her a wink taking a long cool sip of vodka.
     Lexa gave Charles a look as if to say 'excuse me' "Steal me away from you, why would he try to do that?"
     "Because, Bengiman loves a beautiful woman, and unless a woman is married.., any girl is his game. Oh, he can be very charming.., but, he has a devil inside, though he is handsome.., well not as good looking as me, but he does very well with the ladies. You know, he's tall, big shoulders, shaves his head, solid wall of muscle, loves to fight, used to play rugby, but.., he also drinks too much, and has a penchant for high grade marijuana and cocaine." he paused as Lexa thought to herself why that was just her game! Charles continued "Oh! And beautiful women, yes, he will absolutely adore you! Of that I am certain!" Charles said suddenly stopping his talk of Mr.Pruce because..,  it was all starting to sound like praise.
      Now Lexa felt her pulse quicken and her panties moisten at all his talk about this mysterious, Mr.Pruce, this handsome Englishman, she was yet to meet. With every word Charles spoke about this handsome, enigmatic, dangerous man, Lexa became very aroused. Now she sat up, turned her head to the back of the jet and saw her sister curled up beside Xation on the long bench, both fast asleep then Lexa looked back, with a gleam in her green eyes, at Charles and said "Give me your drink." he handed over his glass as she tilted back hers and then finished off his. Setting them down on the floor beside her she reclined her seat all the way back, she lifted her dress took his hand, slipping it down into the warmth and wetness of her panties. Charles was extremely pleased by this erotic turn of events, as he gave a cunning smile, leaning over as Lexa wrapped her arms around him, as they kissed deeply, taking in the sweetness of each other's mouth.
    
    

Chapter 18 begins

     Now time was of the essence for Xation and Charles to flee the ghastly scene, leaving Charles no time to admire the horrifically violent work of his hands, only catching a red flash of gore, broken and bashed, bits of crushed bones, smashed teeth and brain matter, seeped and streaked with deep scarlet blood, that only a moment ago was once a human face, the victim lay dying an agonizing, miserably slow death, choking on his crushed larynx, lungs slowly filling up with blood, drowning in a torturous, gruesome death.
      Quickly helping the wounded Xation into the passengers seat, Charles pulled off Xation's green silk shirt; which was covered in the blood dripping from his nose, as his left eye began to swell shut, he was having trouble hearing, as if Charles was speaking to him from underwater. "Here, take this." he said balling the shirt up and handing it to his bloodied friend. "Keep pressure on your nose!"  Charles glanced into the little gas station and did not see the shop keep, whom was in back putting on a pot of coffee and saw nothing. Now picking up his trusty, and bloody, Nine Iron, Charles rushed over to the small water filled box with it's squeegee, for cleaning windshields, however, Charles used it for a different purpose, sliding the head of his golf club in the soapy water, to rid it of any bits of bones, blood and brains. Xation yelled at him to hurry as Charles grabbed a few of the blue towels from the dispenser drying his Nine Iron before slipping it back into his golf bag behind Xation, who was in an excruciating amount of pain and Charles was worried for his friend and Charles was worried for himself as well.
     "I'll have you back at the hotel in 10 minutes." Charles said sliding behind the wheel speeding off down the deserted, two lane road. Charles did not speak for a few minutes as he tried to catch his breath and calm his heart and mind with a moment of silent contemplation, as the realization of what he had just done sank in, though Charles knew his surging fit of unbridled rage, and destruction, was only to protect his friend, in his mind Charles was safe and secure in the knowledge he had really done nothing wrong; which is the same logic he used to quiet his conscience after he nearly decapitated Felina's rapist, only last year. Now putting any thoughts about himself, or his violent actions aside, he turned all his care and attention to Xation asking him "Xation? Are you having any trouble breathing mate?"
     "No, but fuck my ribs hurt! Feel like I have been kicked by a mule!" he moaned in pain.
     "On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst, rate your pain." Charles said driving along at the speed limit concerned for his friend's well being.
     "At least a 10! I think they broke my ribs!" Xation shouted as they drove on, getting closer to Kapalua.
     "No! They didn't break your ribs" Charles smiled a little.
     "Well, how the fuck do you know?! You haven't even taken a look at me yet!" Xation shouted as the sharp, stabbing, ache settled down deep into his flesh and face.
     "Because, if you had any broken ribs you would have said 15, and you can breath, and are apparently having no trouble screaming at me! Now just take it easy, lean back,  try to calm down we are almost there." Charles tried to reassure him, but due to the shear shock and horror Xation had just witnessed, a numbing sense of the vicious scene replayed in his head, but it was not what Xation had just seen moments ago, but the memory of one dark day, back in England, with Bengiman, and what Bengiman Pruce had done to poor Teddy McDowell, that Sunday summer's evening, way back in 1978. Xation closed his eyes and tried to wipe each of these haunting memories away, both old and new.
     Back at the hotel Charles did not valet the car, instead they parked on the side of the hotel and staggered back in a side door, through a long hall, down to the elevator's. Luckily the profuse flow of blood from Xation's nasal cavity had stopped, and on the ride up Charles determined his nose was not broken, nor did he loose any teeth, or even cut his lips, though the left eye was now completely swollen shut, the deep-blue-purple color of a massive bruise, his face was a red, ripe mess, looking like he had just got out of a losing match with Rocky Marciano. Helping Xation back to their suite, Charles hurried to find his little black doctor's bag; which he always kept with him, as the Diaz family's private physician this was crucial. He checked him for signs of concussion, none. Charles listened to his lungs, they were clear of any fluid, and his heart rate and pulse had returned to normal. Charles taped up Xation's ribs to help ease the pain and then handed him two small blue pills "Here, this is vicodan, it will help with your pain." Charles said as he too swallowed down a couple of the pills.
     Xation gave him a strange look asking him "Well, if I am the patient.., why are you taking them?"
     "I take them for my mental pain and anguish." Charles said in all honesty, then he realized Xation had never know about his vicodan addiction, so he quickly changed the subject. "I need to order you a steak."
     Xation gave him a strange look and he said with a confused expression "Well.., I am not even hungry."
     "No, a raw piece of meat for your EYE, to take the swelling and bruising away."
     This statement sent Xation's mind reeling back to England, the night  Mr.Pruce had saved him from that fight, behind the Tiger!Tiger!, in Piccadilly Circus, he remembered how Bengiman's mum had made him rest on her sofa, after the bout, putting a piece of raw steak on his face for the same reason back then. Xation let out a sigh of loving memory for old Gertrude Pierce, whom he had not thought of in a very long time, God rest her sweet soul. The memories of the dear woman flooded Xation's mind, for she had been like a mother to him,  a warm spot of joy welled up in his heart at the long lost thoughts of that special lady, whom Xation had cared for all those years while Bengiman toiled in Her Majesties Prisons.
     Charles looked over at Xation who had a far off, melancholy look on his face of fond memories from long forgotten days. "Xation are you alright?"
     Xation did not reply, he only turned his gaze completely and utterly on Charles, who stood before him, the tall, handsome American, but now his face had changed, he did not look like the bright eyed, charming, smiling fellow, Xation had known and taken into his family. His face was without any expression, or emotions, or remorse, he had become like a blank, stone wall. Xation could not see the light of life, or spark in his eyes, or cheer to his voice anymore. A cold chill ran up and down the length of his spine and every fiber in his being became as tense as wire as Xation realized he was looking at a ghost in it's shell.
     "Xation? Can you hear me?" Charles said getting his pen light out checking his pupils again.
     Xation swatted his hands away from his face saying "What are we going to tell the girls? I can not let Leah see me this way."
     "You still want to go and get them?" Charles asked fearing this was not a very good idea after what had transpired and Charles wanted off this fucking island now!
     "Oh yes! I want to see Leah right now, more than ever." Xation said and that was the truth.
     "Well, we will have to make up a story." Charles sighed and then he said "We will say you were driving, without a seat belt, and we got into an accident and you busted your face and ribs on the steering wheel. I was in the passenger seat, wearing my seat belt, and was unharmed."
     Xation thought this plausible, fictitious story was an excellent cover, and lie, so the two agreed this would be the tale they would tell, to whomever it was that asked, the girls, his sisters, his parents, Mr.Pruce.., or even the police, if need be. Charles ordered up an odd request from room service, one raw sirloin strip, a bucket of ice and three large Ziploc bags, being this was a five star hotel the staff would have sent almost anything their wealthy guests requested. Now as Charles hung up the phone Xation leaned back on the sofa with his feet up as Charles hurried to change his blood splattered clothes, washing his face and hands before rushing to pack up all of their belongings. Xation held a cold, wet washcloth up to his face as Charles had instructed him while he waited for the bags of ice for his bruised and swollen face. Xation rested his free hand on his lap and he felt something down in his pocket, so he reached into his jeans. Then with a little laugh he called over to Charles saying "Oi, Charles! Here's your pack of gum!" Xation said tossing the little yellow pack of juicy fruit over to him.
    

End Chapter 17

     So it was, around 2:00 in the a.m., when it was decided, and announced, about the new travel plans for the group together, by Xation and Leah, to Lexa and Charles, who both thought this was a capital idea to spend more time together, so a plan was set into action. Xation and Charles needed to get up in four hours to catch the ferry on time to get back over to Maui, they would check out of their suite, drive to the airport, return the corvette, meet up with his pilot and take-off in the jet, to pick up their good ladies around noon at the Lanai City airport. This was a good plan and was carried out to it's fullest. However, before the half-drunk, sleep deprived, handsome duo could get back to their hotel in Kapalua, an unforeseeable, horrific act of violence would transpire, and one man would lose his life and the other would be forever blind, leaving our Xation and murderous Charles needing to leave the island post haste.
     Now before their day, and lives, would be changed forever, Xation and Charles awoke, uncurling themselves from the warmth of their sweet ladies beds, Xation told Leah "Now, remember while I am away,  on your best behavior, or you'll have Me, to answer to." with a kiss and a laugh, promising to return, Xation and Charles bid the Hale twins farewell as they grabbed their overnight bags along with their sets of golf clubs, walking out sleepily across the great lawn, beside the still pond, in the pale blue early morning light. After tossing their bags behind the passenger seat Charles climbed behind the wheel while Xation slipped on his shades, managing to take a little cat nap while sitting in his seat, as Charles headed down the long switch back roads, driving through the cool mountain air, in the ancient forests of trees. After parking on the, nearly, empty ferry, just as dawn was breaking, Charles and Xation staggered to their rest up on deck as the vessel sailed slowly, steadily across the waves. Then the sun arose, in a robe of golden splendor, far off on the horizon, over the mystical island of Maui. Xation and Charles sat themselves down the fresh, harsh, salt-winds lashing about their faces, dulling their hearing with it's roar, like a far off jet's engine. Xation stared out across the vast dark ocean, with a sudden look of sadness mixed with confusion.
     "Xation..," Charles shouted over to him on the long bench on the bow of the ferry. "Is something wrong?"
     "Wrong?" Xation replied looking as if he did not understand the language Charles was speaking.
     "Well.., you look," he paused and said to Xation "well...,in a word.., Troubled."
     Here a strange change came to Xation's eyes as if he had just discovered some terrible secret of the universe and it's impending doom, but there was also a gleam of madness in his expression, Charles could tell, but he was not prepared for what Xation would divulge to him in that very moment. So Xation opened up his mouth and his words and feelings came pouring out, as he shivered in the cold, early morning, wind as he shared his secret with his friend. "I am not sure how this happened Charles, and it only occurred to me early with her, down on the beach..," Xation paused as his expression changed and he had a terribly sad look on his face, as if someone had just run over his dog, then he continued. "I have been taken in by Leah and all her charming beautiful ways, and I know what it is, but I still do not understand, and now I am.., terrified."
     Xation paused for a long while staring out over the churning ocean waters "Terrified.., no, not you my friend, that is like finding a virgin on prom night.., Impossible!" Charles laughed trying to lighten the mood, but by the look on his friends face he could tell Xation was not amused. "Come on mate what is bothering you?"
     "I have discovered, deep down in my heart I know, if any thing went down, I would take a bullet in the head for that woman. GOD DAMN IT!!" Xation said then a look of disgrace and dishonor filled his eyes as he confessed to Charles "I wouldn't even do that for one of my own sisters!" Xation said on the verge of what could only be described as a 'ten minute nervous break down'.
     Now Charles was shocked by all this information, then he knew at once the love he had seen flourish between Xation and Leah, that grew so strong and vibrant, there in that tropic paradise, was a True and Honorable thing which Charles had witnessed. This did his jaded heart good, knowing his friend had found an exquisite, wonderful woman who was rarer and more spectacular than the island paradise they had all met in. She treated Xation with the utmost respect and always spoke highly of him, and she was sweet, loving and kind. However when Charles learned, from the words of Xation's own mouth, that he would not protect and keep Felina and Serena safe in this same fashion, as all good brother's should, Charles was shocked, and saddened, but he did not care, so he said to his friend "Listen, Xation, don't you worry about your sisters, 'cause I'd take a bullet for those girls any day of the week!" Charles looked over and gave Xation a supportive smile and a wink and said "God Damn it Xation, Hell, you Latin Bastard! I'd take a bullet for you too..," Charles laughed giving his friend a hard slap on the knee, then Charles smiled and said "But not a shot to the face..., that's how I makes me living!"
     Xation gave it up for Charles and his attempt at humor,  with a momentary laugh, though Xation was suddenly no longer filled with that jovial, elated, enchanted spirit which had been possessed him just an hour before. Xation knew Charles was only trying to diffuse the tense moment with laughter, but Xation continued to address the situation and explain what he had said, and to the extent of what it meant."Now, I love my sisters and I would put a bullet in someones head for them.., but the rest."
     Now Charles paused for a moment, because with Xation and his family, and their back ground, he was not sure if Xation was just making a figure of speech, or if he really would put a bullet in someones head for Felina and Serena, then Charles began to wonder if maybe he already had.., "Xation, you have to face facts man, you fell in love with her, you poor, stupid bastard! But, fuck it, at the end of the day, who could blame you! These women are amazing, fucking beautiful and brilliant, what man could ask for more? I think.., I am.., falling for Lexa, myself!" Charles said the troubled look washing over his face now as he gave Xation a worried glance, asking  "What the fuck has happened? God! Lord help us!" Charles felt now too his once jovial mood, and light hearted nature, seemed to evaporate into a numbing wave, sweeping over his body like the cold chill creeping out of a grave. Now with just the mere thought of Love crawling down into his heart made Charles want to vomit.
     Not many words were exchanged between the two as they made their way off the ferry back on Maui, they stopped at one of the last gas stations on the outskirts of the little fishing village, for it was the only one open so early on a Sunday morning. Charles parked the convertible, setting the top down as the sun rose higher in the ever-brightening blue sky, a nice warm wind blowing off the ocean. "I'll put in twenty for gas." these were the last words Charles remembered Xation speaking as he asked Xation to grab him a pack of juicy fruit gum. Charles stood at the gasoline pump filling the tank as he observed Xation go in and exit the store, then he watched as Xation went over to a narrow grey door of the bathroom, going in to have a piss. Charles thought nothing of this standing in the cool of a quiet morning no cars on the road just the sound of the trees coming alive with the sounds of tropic birds greeting the dawn like a chorus. When suddenly Charles heard a loud commotion coming from behind the door; which burst open, as Xation screamed "Get the fuck off me!" as two men were attacking him without warning, two local crack heads [Crack/Ice had begun to spread like poison in a well, many had come and would succumb to the drugs seduction and destruction, lives and homes shattered and forever broken}, had sought their shelter from the night on the dirty floor of the filthy restroom, in the old gas station, in which to hide in the darkness like two, infected spiders sharing the same web.. They were trying to rob Xation of his expensive watch and wallet, savagely beating him, with quick, short, sharp jabs, a few hairline fractures to Xation's ribs, lightning fast blows to the side of his head, with all the pain and power of a thunderbolt, Xation fell to his knees, down on all fours, and though Xation was tall, and strong,, with a hard, lean, muscular body of a Spartan warrior, from these two drug-addled, vipers Xation could not summon the strength to rid himself of on his own. Oh yes, they would have nearly killed our Xation Day, but Charles could not let that happen, he would not let that happen, and he COULD NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!!!!!!!  This was the message being sent from his brain at the speed of light through his body as Charles instinctively,with out a second thought, and with lightning speed Charles reached down into the golf bag pulling out a Nine Iron; which of all the fourteen clubs in his bag was the heaviest and most deadly club/weapon in the set, and Charles knew this, and he knew this when he ran over and violently smashed the first victim in the back of his head, Charles knew this would disable the man's visual cortex at the back of the brain, resulting in temporary blindness and unconsciousness. Result! With a thud and a loud crack, the fucked-upped, drug addict collapsed to the ground in a heap of skin and bones, he would later survive, and would, forever, go through life blind, having no memory, or recollection of what happened that day. However, for the next man that stood in Xation's way of safety and protection, would not be so fortunate, as Charles using the Nine Iron, took a giant, deadly, swing, using the full force and momentum of his body to open up the club face and crush the forged steel head, deep and savagely into the man's skull, shattering the right ocipital bone, exposing the brain and blood splatter all Charles knew to do was just 'Swing Away' Charles heard the voice in his head as he began to see red, a furious rage and anger spewing forth from out of him like lava from a volcano, with blow after blow, after bone-crushing, life-ending blow. "So kneel down to Death and Dread! God damn crack head!" Charles shouted like a mad man as Xation struggled in pain to get to his feet and away from the blood, brains and carnage of the horrific, early morning bloody crime scene and for the first time, first hand, he realized what a vicious killer Charles could really be.