I rushed towards Shantel’s apartment and met the two of them sitting down in opposite directions. Marvin looked hurt and Shantel looked shaken. I walked towards Marvin and gave him a long kiss and then signaled to the bodyguards. They got my message and went to secure both exits.

I went to the back door and checked all the various exits. “I think you would be fine,” I said.

“Marvin! Is this not the cleaner or maid or your assistant?” Shantel asked, looking rather curious than afraid.

“She just saved our lives and, for your information, she is my personal security detail. You planned to get me killed. I guess you didn’t see this coming, huh?” Marvin said.

‘How could I, this has Ken written all over it,” said Shantel, “I was shot at too, Marvin,”

“She is right, Marvin, please you have to stay here. The police will be here any minute, and if it is Ken we will deal with him”, I said.

I took my guns and placed them in the bag, looked at Shantel, and said, “You did not see me here,” She nodded in the affirmative, but to make her understand, I turned to Marvin, “I am exposed. Should I kill her?”

Shantel stood up immediately, “I said I would not say a word about you,” she said, walking towards Marvin.

I told Marvin to apply pressure on the bullet wound, “You will be alright, it did not hit any of your vital organs”, I said. We could all hear the noise of the sirens from the police cars a few distances away. I left immediately.

I ensured I was not seen as I moved past the group of people gathering outside and looking at the dead gunmen.

When I got home, I told every guard to ensure that they were alert and be prepared for anything. I called Marvin and he told me he was with the police and would get back to me.

The night had been a harrowing ordeal, and as Marvin returned home, the tension was something else. I could see that his steps were heavy with the weight of the recent assassination attempt, and I couldn't help but worry about the questions that the police had posed to Marvin and Shantel when they arrived at the scene.

Marvin spoke first, his voice filled with frustration and concern. "Cass, it was a setup, no doubt about it. But I can't help but wonder who orchestrated it. It's as if they knew our every move."

I nodded in agreement, my own mind racing with the same questions. "Marvin, the police asked you and Shantel a lot of questions at the scene. What did they say?"

Marvin sighed his brow furrowing in thought. "They seemed suspicious at first and Shante could not hold her own, she almost messed things up. Given her involvement in Ken's manipulative scheme. I couldn't help but wonder about Shantel's role in all of this. She had been a pawn in Ken's game, but had her involvement extended beyond that? Could she have had any connection to the ambush?

"Did Shantel provide any information that could be hurtful?" I asked, as my curiosity spiked up.

Marvin shook his head. "Not much. She claimed to not have seen anything but almost gave up the idea of why we met at her place, and she couldn't provide any concrete alibi as to why she was not at work today. It's all very suspicious."

We fell into a contemplative silence, both of us grappling with the uncertainty of the situation. The ambush had left us with more questions than answers, and the identity of our assailants remained a mystery.

"I have a feeling this goes deeper than we realize," I said, my voice filled with determination. "We need to find out who's behind this and why they're so intent on harming you." Within me, I knew it could be the Contractor and if it was him I could be in a very dangerous situation for killing the men he sent to kill my target.

Marvin nodded, his gaze meeting mine with a mixture of gratitude and resolve. "You're right, Cass. We can't let this go unanswered. We need to uncover the truth, no matter where it leads us."

As we sat in the dimly lit living room, the weight of the night's events hung heavy in the air. The ambush had shaken us to our core, but it had also strengthened our determination to protect our love and uncover the hidden motives that threatened to tear us apart.

I was not sure I could face the consequences of defying my contract with the Contractor, but I was sure I would cherish the love I shared with Marvin for a long time.

"How are you feeling and was the bullet wound treated?" I asked.

"Yes, it was, Officer Page ensured that. I am sure this event would have triggered his curiosity." Marvin said.

"We need to get Shantel out of town, I don't think she has the guts to go through this," I said, thinking about how she would be pressured by Officer Page and would not even last a minute before spilling out unnecessary information.

"With what has happened today before me, I think that is the best option. I will text her right away to meet me in the office," Marvin said.