Dead Eyes

By Sonya Lee

The exciting conclusion to the Guardian Saga. Katrina Castillo is enjoying the minor reprieve of being hunted. She is getting things in order for her father's legacy and trying to prepare for what comes next. Strange things start to happen to Katrina and Giancarlo is no where to be found. Will the threat that has been looming over Katrina finally catch up with her or will she elude death once again. Allison is back in full swing with Katrina in trying to outwit the stalker who wants more than Katrina's blood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sonya Lee
• Release date: Oct 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301560028

Sonya Lee

Sonya Lee grew up in Chicago, IL. She lived on the south side of the city. She taught at many Chicago Public Elementary schools before relocating to the south. Ms. Lee wrote as a child but the demands of school and work stopped her from writing for many years. Ms. Lee began writing again in December of 2011. Since that point she has published several short stories and two novellas. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Mississippi and will continue to write books and teach.

Book preview

Dead Eyes

Sonya Lee

Published by Sonya Lee at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Sonya Lee

License Notes

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 1

The end of November

It was a cold, crisp and clear morning. The sun was shining brightly high above but it didn’t provide a lot of warmth for those completing their morning workouts. Several people were jogging along the walking trail while others meandered along at a cozy pace.

Among the early morning exercise enthusiast was a young man. He was extremely handsome by any woman’s standard with his clear blue eyes and jet black hair. He stood five feet eleven inches tall with a slender build. He ran with a grace that belied his muscular physique hidden beneath his black and white jogging suit.

The young man had been jogging for twenty minutes, constantly monitoring his surroundings, when he finally spotted the person he was looking for sitting on a bench. He had never met the young man sitting at the bench. But he knew this was the person he was supposed to meet because of the Chicago Now magazine the young man was holding up in the air pretending to read.

He slowed his pace until he reached the bench. He was still in surveillance mode. In his line of work hyper vigilance was an asset. When he reached the bench he used it as leverage as he began stretching his muscles. He took a mental picture and began a checklist of his contact. He was younger than he expected for such an endeavor but he knew that in his line of work, they came in all colors and ages.

He was a quarter through his stretching exercise when he heard the words that he had been waiting for, words that he had created which caused him pleasure when repeated by another human being. There weren't many things that caused him pleasure but hearing someone repeat words he had created was always a satisfying endeavor.

Do you find it more exhilarating to jog in the summer or winter months? asked the stranger.

The season matters not, it’s the destination that is more important, replied the young man reaching into his fanny pack for his water bottle. He noticed that the park was thinning out, most of the people heading back home from their morning exercise.

And where is your jogging leading you this morning? asked the stranger.

I’m not sure just yet, I’m hoping to learn my destination soon enough, he replied.

Morning runs are always the best. You can set your own pace and determine your own destination, said the stranger on the bench.

Well, I'd rather be given a destination, sometimes it's easier to follow than lead, he replied.

Since you're in a mood to follow, why don’t you take a look at this magazine, you might find a place worth visiting within, pay particular attention to page fifteen, replied the stranger as he handed the young man the magazine.

Thanks for the recommendation, said the young man taking the magazine from the stranger and flipping to page fifteen. He looked over the destination and the information provided on his target for several moments before responding to the offer. Chicago, it’s not my normal place to visit during this time of year, but traveling the world is what I do for a living so I’ll visit any place once. How long do you suggest I stay? asked the jogger.

I think a month is a good amount of time to visit and get the lay of the land. You never know you just might like what you find when you get there, replied the stranger.

Thanks for the information but I need to get back to my run. If I find that Chicago is a place I want to visit I’ll let you know. So far from what I’ve seen, I can say it’s about time I had a change of pace, said the jogger as he began jogging back in the direction he had come. The stranger stood and exited the park in the opposite direction.

A broad smile crossed the jogger’s face and his blood started pumping fast throughout his veins but it had nothing to do with his morning run. It had been a while since he had been in Chicago. It’s such a fun and exciting city with its’ shopping and tourist attractions he thought. The stranger on the bench had just hired him to do a job and he couldn’t wait. He didn’t want to seem too anxious, but this particular job was right up his alley. He loved it when his clients wanted him to play with his food before he had dessert. He would be the cat again and the little mouse that was his prey would be a coup de grace for his reputation.

*****

Chicago- mid December

Allison, Allison. Wake up sleepy head, called Katrina as she knocked on the door.

Go away! Don’t you believe in sleeping late anymore! yelled Allison from her bed.

Katrina opened the door and stuck her head into the room. How much sleep do you plan on getting? It’s already 11:30.

What! Are you kidding me? said Allison jumping out of bed. I’m supposed to pick my mother up at 12:30 from the airport. Why did you let me sleep so late? she said in exasperation.

Oh, calm down, you’ve gotten your days mixed up. You don’t have to pick your mother up from the airport until next week. Don't you remember she changed her flight plans last week?

Are you sure? asked Allison pushing the hair out of her face.

Yes, I’m sure. Today is the thirteenth of December and you are supposed to pick her up on the twentieth of December. God, what did you do last night that’s got you so screwed up today? asked Katrina.

I went bar hopping with Aisha, Saadat and Marco. We ended up at the new Warehouse on Halsted.

A club was open on a Tuesday night?

Yeah, it’s this new promotion they have going. The Warehouse is throwing parties for recent college graduates. Every night is for a different group of graduates, last night was for engineers and physicists.

So how did you get hooked into partying with engineers and physicists, I can only imagine how dry that party must have been, said Katrina.

Hey don’t knock the engineers and physicists, that party was great. Saadat’s cousin just graduated from the University of Chicago. Sadaat and Aisha were going to celebrate with him. Since you’ve been so busy, I didn’t have anything to do and decided to hang out with them. Marco wanted us to be seen together to solidify this image of us as a couple and these four walls were driving me crazy. So my little outing accomplished two things. It provided a cover for Marco and it provided me with a night of entertainment.

I’m sorry I’ve been so busy, but the executors of my father’s estate have been waiting on someone to allow them to put some things in place for the tribe for a long time. They had done a lot of work to set things up for the village without much success because my relatives kept disappearing and there was so much in fighting. With no one to take the lead, they’ve just been twiddling their thumbs and investing the money for the future. Things are finally getting back to normal. By this time next month everything will be in place and operating fine, said Katrina as she walked out of the room and into the kitchen with Allison close on her heels.

So, you’re almost done?

Yeah, the money is just sitting there collecting interest and making more money. They have made some great investments. My father’s people will be able to get everything they need now. The only thing I have to do is sign the papers next week, said Katrina.

That’s great. Have you decided when you will go to visit your father’s tribe?

No, I don’t know when I’ll go but it won’t be before my twenty-fifth birthday, said Katrina taking out pots and pans to begin cooking breakfast.

Yeah, I kind of figured that since I read the letter from Mr. Castillo. Is your grandmother coming for your birthday?

No, we’re going to Spain to see her for Christmas. I’ll be twenty five by then and safe from the control of my father’s tribe. We've decided to limit my travel until we know everything is set up and I won't have to worry about being forced to marry someone I don't want to marry. I respect other people's belief's, but I'm glad my mom asked my father to allow me to grow up away from the tribe. I can't imagine not being able to make up my own mind.

Do you really think it would have been that bad? asked Allison.

I'm not sure but my mother asked this of my father before they got married, so he must have told her something. What are you doing for Christmas?

My mom will be here but her and my dad haven’t decided if we’ll be staying here in Chicago or going back home. She’ll probably let me know when she gets here.

Allison, you said you’ve been bored, what’s going on with you and Rodger? Why haven’t you two been going out?

You’ve been so busy, I forgot to tell you. The university sent him to some remote part of Brazil for six months to assist in setting up a new school. Besides I don’t know if I could keep up the pretense of dating two guys and Rodger might have had a problem with it himself. This way I can provide a cover for Marco and not have to worry about what’s going on with Rodger and me.

Have you been going out with Marco a lot?

Yeah, he's been keeping a close watch. Most days when we return, you're already sleep and he's gone before you wake up.

What do you think of Marco since you've been hanging out with him?

I can see why Giancarlo wanted him to be around. He's really good at observing and analyzing a situation.

I wonder why Giancarlo didn't want him to pretend to be my boyfriend that makes more sense to me.

The next time you talk to Giancarlo, you should ask him that, replied Allison.

So, where does that leave you and Rodger right now? With him gone and you spending time with Marco, do you think anything will change? Are you guys on hold or what?

We didn’t really get a chance to talk about it, I guess we’ll see. As for me hanging out with Marco, it's only a pretense until we catch whoever is trying to harm you. It won't have any bearing on my relationship with Rodger, said Allison snagging a piece of bacon from the skillet.

Hey, I don’t remember inviting you to my breakfast, said Katrina jokingly.

Then why did you wake me up so early?

"I woke you up because I want you to