Chapter 25 Kavita Ridley
Kavita Ridley
Central Park was beautiful that morning.
Not because of the birds chirping or the kids frolicking in the cool weather, but because of Franklin.
He’d been by Kavita’s side ever since Lucky’s men had targeted her.
She only felt at ease going out during the day.
The Mob wouldn’t be so bold as to come for her in broad daylight, she hoped.
Franklin convinced her to leave their little picnic spot for an adventure.
He hailed a cab so Kavita wouldn’t get tired.
She loved how he knew how she was with her heels.
She stubbornly refused to take them off.
He then led her down some wobbly path in a busy alley.
They continued to walk until they made it all the way to West Forty-Sixth Street.
The lively, loud markets and workers started to fade away.
Franklin stood in front of an empty redbrick building that looked like it needed some love.
He walked to the large oak door and lightly tapped on it with the weathered brass knocker.
“Is anyone home? I must have scared them away.” He laughed as he tapped once more.
He motioned her in after he unlocked the door, which led to a staircase. Kavita looked around to see if anyone had noticed her entering. She had feelings of peace when she was with him, but she knew how her sister Amelia would react if she saw her in a predicament like this.
He smiled, noticing her deep in thought.
“You are the first person I have brought here. Ever since I got into real estate and became a broker, this was my first goal. So here is my first property. I hope to have tenants here by the end of the year.”
Kavita looked around and saw the charm of the place. Even with the peeling dark-burgundy floral wallpaper, dirty cracked windows, and stale air lingering in every corner, she could see that it had potential.
Franklin watched her taking it all in, feeling slightly embarrassed, as he knew she was used to finer things.
“I know it’s not much, but it has character, and this area will be booming in a few years. I mean, look how close it is to everything. Some people laughed at me, but I feel it. I also hope to smooth things out with Lucky, in a way. He’s just so hard to speak with.”
Kavita looked up at him, saddened that he saw her only as someone who was used to a life of luxury and that she and her family were the cause of the problems with his old boss.
“Franklin, I think it will be lovely, truly. About Lucky . . . I will talk to my dad about it. I didn’t tell him what happened that night in fear that he wouldn’t let me leave the house or see you again.
” She cleared her throat to get rid of the settled dust. “But I want to clarify that, when I was young, a place like this would have seemed like a palace to me. I once slept on dirt, only being fed breaths of air. So don’t think I feel like this place isn’t worthy.
Anyone would be lucky to live here one day. ”
Franklin clasped his hands together, smiling, then looked away in deep thought that made his smile slowly fade away.
“Lucky wasn’t just some old boss to me, Kavita. Before we get married, I want to be completely honest with you. Lucky is . . .”
Oh God, she thought. If this man had been lying to her this whole time, her heart wouldn’t be able to take it. If he was still doing business with Lucky and was putting her and her family in danger, she had to go no matter how much love there was between them.
“He is my uncle, Kavita. My father was murdered many years ago. As time went by, I was slowly welcomed into his world, and I began to see Lucky for who he really is . . . a murderer. I believe he is the one who killed my father after he felt betrayed. I think that night you were shot at was because he thought I was with you.” Franklin was visibly struck by sadness.
“I fear we should leave, Kavita. Your father can handle this, but Lucky is a man of vengeance. We can start somewhere new—in Paris maybe, or wherever you want to go. I can have my brother look after my properties. We can start a new life,” he said hopefully.
So much was happening that Kavita couldn’t keep up.
She sat on the steps of the staircase, looking up at him.
She was tired of running and escaping from things that could ruin her happiness.
Kavita had thought for once she had it right in agreeing to marry Franklin.
She’d had her wild, carefree phase, going to every mansion party in New York, where everyone assumed she was happy.
In the quiet moments, she knew she went to parties to cover her deep sorrow.
She had been trying to fill a void she didn’t know how to fill.
“Why can’t I just be happy again?”
Franklin knew she was right. He swooped her up as the bride-to-be she was.
“Let me take my beautiful future wife out for a day on the town. I am sorry. I just don’t like hiding anything from you, Kavi,” he said, then gently kissed her on the lips.
She kissed him back harder, holding on to him.
He moved her dress up ever so slightly as he gripped the long locks that fell down her back.
Franklin closed the curtains and threw a blanket over the floor before coming back to her.
Her heart started to thump a little louder, and in the early-morning hours, it seemed to echo throughout the house.
She slipped off his jacket, which fell to the floor.
Franklin traced the lines of her chin with his large thumb, going down from her neck to her belly button. He gripped the sides of her waist before the room seemed to fade into euphoria for them both.
The front door slammed open. Men armed with guns, knives, and rope.
Kavita let out a scream, throwing her bag at them.
Franklin yelled and cursed at them, saying they were family.
An older man pistol-whipped him in the head, making him black out.
As two men grabbed Kavita by the legs and arms, carrying her, she fought back as hard as she could.
A wet cloth was placed over her nose, and she soon saw the darkness she’d tried so hard to escape.