Chapter 35
Chapter 35
A n hour later James and Elliott were on a private jet, destination Emure, Africa. Elliott could see James was wound up. He had to help him keep his mind in the right place. It seemed his friend, the cool calm, always collected James was about to lose it.
“Man, you are racing to another continent for a woman. There are a zillion women in the United States. What made you fall so hard for this one?”
“It was her eyes.” James responded without a second thought.
“It was halfway dark in that club. What do you mean her eyes? You couldn't even see her eyes.”
“Not only could I see her eyes, I could feel them bearing into my soul.”
“So, you believe that ZsaZsa is your mystical soulmate?”
“I think soulmate is a word that people throw around a little too much. What I can tell you is that she is a woman who has touched my soul,” he shrugged. “If that's what you call a soulmate, then so be it. But the moment I saw her, I knew she was that woman for me. You’ve been there, through our entire relationship. We became friends first. But I knew, just like she did. I let it be known to everyone around that ZsaZsa was it for me.”
“Man, all I remember is that you had a slew of girls coming at you during that time. Then all of a sudden everything was about ZsaZsa. How could it happen in just one night?”
“It wasn't right away. For a while there I was still seeing other people because I knew ZsaZsa was not ready for a sexual relationship. She was nineteen, in her sophomore year in college, she needed time to discover who she was and who she wanted to be. I gave her that space. Hell, I’m still giving her space and I was good with that until I got this call. I don’t know all that is happening, but I know she's in trouble.” James hesitated. “Remember the feeling we got on the journey the day we were attacked.”
“How can any of us forget that day?” Elliott exhaled. “I didn’t think we were going to survive. It was the one day I was glad we went through the training.”
“Same here,” James agreed. “That is the feeling I have right now.” He looked at Elliott. “Something is wrong, and I need to get to her.”
“I understand and I am right here with you. Whatever we have to do to make sure she's okay, you know I have your back.” Elliott assured him.
“The fact that you rented a plane to fly us to Emure lets me know you are with me. I wish we could have waited for Calvin and JC, but something is telling me time is of the essence here.”
“They will be right behind us. A second pilot and crew are waiting for them to get to the airport.” Elliott advised. “Did Gavin say anything other than she had been ordered home?”
“Only that she was not allowed to make any calls or communicate with anyone. And that his mother told him to call me while she tried to contact LaVeré.”
“Why would her King come to summon her?” Elliott asked. “Why not her parents?”
“According to LaVeré, King Aswan has overall authority. His ruling outweighs her parents’. I’m concerned that this is happening now. Is it possible the man who was following us was sent by the King? Could that be the reason he has summoned ZsaZsa home?”
“You should contact your father.” Elliott suggested. “We are going into another country with no idea what we are walking into. Maybe by the time we get to the palace, your father will have some answers from LaVeré.”
“I am sure he can, but I need the time to figure out how to deal with ZsaZsa’s family.”
“I think you are holding off because of what his reaction is going to be when he finds out you’ve left the country without telling him.”
“That too,” James smirked.
“Tell me something. I want to understand how you were able to give up being with other women for just this one.”
“Because she has everything that I could ever want or need in a woman. She has passion, intelligence, understanding and a heart full of gold. At the age of nineteen she was able to tell me all the intricate policies and rules of her country and her ideas for changing it to improve their quality of life. Yes, just like you, I had women coming from every corner of my life. But none of them captured my attention the way that ZsaZsa did and continues to do. I can't tell you how I know she is the one. I just know that she is.”
“Well, she better be because we are on a private jet flying all the way over to damn Africa to get her. I'm gonna give you just this one little bit of advice. When we get there, lock that shit down man. Claim that woman as your own so you will not have to go back through any questions from anybody ever again when it comes to her.” Elliott advised. “Let’s get some shut eye. There is no telling what is going to be waiting for us in Emure.”
James knew Elliott was right, but for the life of him he could not sleep. Every time he closed his eyes ZsaZsa’s face appeared. He knew she had to be scared. Yes, she was preparing to go home, but on her own terms. This was not the way she wanted it to be.
Once the plane landed at the Emure airport. James stood. “It took a sixteen-hour flight for us to get here. I am not leaving this country without ZsaZsa,” James grabbed his duffel bag and walked off the plane.
“I’m with you, my brother. Whatever it takes we're going to find her.” Elliott stated. “I called ahead to rent a car and a driver to get us to the palace. It should be waiting out front for us.”
The two followed the exit signs leading to the front of the airport. As they stepped outside, there was a man standing in front of a vehicle with the name Thompson on the card.
Elliott tapped James on the shoulder, “That's us.” The two hurried towards the man. “I’m Thompson Elliott,” he said responding in the way his name was written on the card. He shook the man's hand.
“I am Dak,” the man spoke in English with an accent similar to ZsaZsa’s. “Your destination is the royal palace of Ashro?”
“That is correct,” James answered. “How long before we get there?”
“The palace is only thirty minutes from here,” Dak replied as he closed the door behind them.
James and Elliott were in the back of the vehicle when Dak pushed a button on the dashboard. The glass partition between the front and the back of the vehicle came up and closed. The area was sealed tight as sleeping gas filled the back. Both James and Elliott were out before they left the airport grounds.