Chapter 2

Tittle:The Bounty

Chapter two:New Reality

Ding Dong,Ding Dong.The door bell rang.

"Catherine dear,somones knocking at the door could you go check it out".Gabriella called from the kitchen.

"Yes mommy".Catherine said, standing up from the pile of toys she had been playing with and rushed over to the door,as soon as she opened it and saw the person standing in front of her,she screamed with joy as she jumped and gave him a big hug.It was none other Mason Bennett,the best friend of Jay Wislon and Catherine's godfather.

"Oh my gosh,Cathy darling it's been so many years since I last saw you, back then you were just a little girl and now,you are all grown up" Mason said to Catherine giving her a princess twirl.

"I've missed you too uncle Mason,I always asked my dad why you no longer came to visit us anymore, he always told me that you were busy working in the city and you would come to visit us soon,but you never showed up. I started to think that you no longer cared about us anymore ."Catherine replied with a sad look on her face.

" Oh no my angle,that isn't true okay.I am really sorry that I couldn't come and visit you or even call to hear your voice,but I promise that from now on,am going to try and make up for all the years that I couldn't spend you with".Mason said trying to cheer her up.

"You pinky promise". Catherine replied stretching her pinky finger.

" I pinky promise ".Mason said crossing pinky finger with hers.

"Alright then, but if you go back on your promise,the Grichtcy monster will come and haunt you when night falls". Catherine replied trying to sound scary.

"Grichtcy monster? what is exactly is that". Mason asked trying to figure out where Catherine had gotten that kind of idea from.

" Well,it's a huge and scary monster which comes at night to torment those who doesn't keep the promise they made".Catherine replied so sure about the existence of the monster.

"Cathy dear." Mason called raising one of his eye brown.

"Yes uncle". She replied.

"Have you been watching too much cartoons again". Mason asked as he was almost certain that it was the only way she could come up with something as hilarious as that.

"Uhm....no,not really". Catherine denied, rolling her eyes suspiciously.

" Catherine ".Mason called her name again.

" Alright, fine....yes I've been watching cartoons but only a little, but please don't tell mom and dad about it cause they might scold me if they find out ".Catherine pleaded.

"Alright then I won't tell them anything,but only on the condition that you will not let it affect your grades at school". Mason said after listening to Catherine's plea.

"Alright then,I promise".Catherine replied as her mood lightened up again.

"Catherine, who's at the door "Gabriella asked as she came out of the kitchen and entered into the living room.

" Hello there Gabriella ".Mason greeted Gabriella with a warm smile

"Mason,you're back, it's so good to see you again".Gabriella replied happly giving him a hug.

"I've really missed you all so much".Mason said as Gabriella ushered him to sit and Catherine left the room to inform Jay of Mason's arrival.

"It's been two years since you left El Paso,after that, we didn't hear a single word from you......No calls,no text,nothing at all.We began to wonder if anything bad might have happened to you".Gabriella replied as she still couldn't believe that Mason had returned after disappearing for years.

"Well I won't deny the fact that it has really been tough for me this past few years,since I returned to the city things haven't been easy,with the criminal record I have, it wasn't easy getting a job and even a roof over my head.No one wanted to associate with an ex convict.After struggling for a while,I was able to find a decent job and a good neighborhood to live in". Mason explained.

"Oh,mason,you know didn't have to do all this on your own,you could have always asked us for help, we would never have turned you down cause you are like family to us".Gabrielle said looking a little bit disappointed about Mason's decision.

"I know that Gabrielle,but you and Jay have done so much for me for so many years now,I remember when I first met jay,it was during the time I was serving my jail sentence for a crime that I didn't commit.The other inmates always took out their anger and frustrations on me.I was always beaten up and bullied,but that all changed when Jay arrived.He defended and protected me and taught me how to stand up for myself even though he didn't really know me.

After he finished his jail sentence,I spent two extra years in prison before I was finally released.I didn't have a home anymore,my parent disowned me and no one agreed to help me,but Jay offered me his home to stay at El Paso,and you were also very kind to me too not minding the fact that i was an ex convict you treated me with great genoristy,and after all the good deeds you've shown me,how could I possibly ask for more.I am forever indebted to your family and I promise that one day,I will repay your kindness".Mason replied filled with a lot of gratitude.

"Its our pleasure,am just glad we could help.Anyways,now that you've finally settled down and you've found a stable life,when do you plan on starting a family of your own".Gabriella asked changing the topic.

"Well for now I'd say am not ready yet to handle a family of my own,so i guess that observing you and Jays relationship will be more than enough for me for now".Mason teased and they both laughed.

"Mason Bennett".A familiar voice called from behind.

"Jay Wilson,its so good to see you again brother".Mason replied as we gave each other a brotherly handshake and hug.

"Well,i got to get back to the kitchen,i will see you both later".Gabriella said."Let's go Catherine".Gabriella called as Catherine happily followed her to the kitchen.

"After leaving El Paso you completely disappeared,we didn't hear a word from you,i thought you might have returned back to the crime world".I asked trying to understand Mason's sudden decision to leave years ago.

"My days of being involved with illegal things ended a long time ago,i wanted to settle down first before i return back to El Paso".Mason said

"From what am seeing now,am sure you're really doing a good job at that".I said after observing how different Mason looked now compaired to before.

"Its really good to see you again.........,but am afraid that after so long,i don't bring bad news to tell you".Mason said as his mood changed all of a sudden from happiness to sadness.

"What has happened exactly".I said starting to get worried at Masons sudden change of mood.

"After your release from prison years ago,you told me that you will be retuning back to El Paso,you asked me to keep an eye on Vandel and keep you informed if anything happens and i did exactly as you asked,and through the help of my friend luwiz who was kept in Bellred prison,the same one Vandel was imprisoned in,he kept me informed about all of Vandel's activities .Two months ago,i received a message from him telling me that Vandel has been released from prison".Mason said.

"Wait.........what,how is that even possible.He's supposed to be serving a life sentence in prison,so how did he get out so easily".I asked already panicking.

"Calm down Jay,cause that's not even the worse part of it,After his release from prison two months ago,he spent time in the city, nobody knows what exactly he been up too this past few months,but two weeks ago, before I decided to return to El paso I heard a rumour that vandel was already back in town".Mason said finally breaking the bad news.

"No.......,this can't happen,he can't come back.He already knows I betrayed him,he's not going to spare my life,he's going to kill me,and you know what the worst part is, i have a family now and he's not going to spare them either".I said banging his hands on the table in anger and distress.

"Jay,is everything all right over there". Gabrielle called from the kitchen after hearing my sudden outburst".

"Yes, everything is fine".I replied trying to hide the fear in my voice.

"Jay,you just have to calm down,all this anger and Panic won't change anything".Mason said trying to keep me from getting worked up over the issue at hand.

"I know that,but what can I do,am worried that something bad might happen to my family most especially my little daughter,but you're right panicking won't solve anything I just have to calm down and think about what to do next". I replied finally trying to calm myself.

"Uncle mason,uncle mason". Catherine called as she rushed out of the kitchen and sat next to Mason.

"Yes my little angel".Mason said holding Catherine in his arms

"Tomorrow my birthday and mom and dad promised to throw me a party,are you going to come".Catherine asked excitedly.

"Yes,i will definitely attend your party,i wouldn't miss it for anything in the world,and you know what,am also going to get you a really special gift and am sure that you're going to love it a lot".Mason said which made Catherine very happy.

"Yeepy".Catherine replied as she happily jumped around the house.

"Breakfast is ready,are you guys hungry".Gabriella called from the kitchen.

"Am sorry Gabriella,but i wont be able to stay for breakfast today,i have somewhere important i need to be right now,but not to worry,i will definitely drop by tomorrow".Mason said after checking his wristwatch and standing up to leave.

"You all should stay safe,bye".Mason said as i excorted him out of the house.

After a few minutes,I returned home.I sat silently on the chair and sank into a very deep thought.

"Jay".Gabriella called but i couldn't hear her,i was too deep in thoughts to hear her call my name.

"Jay".she called again but this time more loudly which startled me.

"Am sorry,i didn't mean to startle you,but ever since Mason left,you've been really absent minded".Gabriella asked looking a bit worried about my sudden change of attitude

"No,its nothing,am fine,no need to worry".I said trying to give her a reassuring smile.

"Alright then,its time to eat".Gabriella said finally dropping the issue.

"Sure,let's go".I said standing up as we headed for the dining table".

Throughout the day,I wasn't myself anymore,now that vandel was back on the island,i wasn't ready to just sit around and wait for Vandel to come after me,so i started looking for ways to prevent the danger i sensed was going to befall my family soon.I tried reaching out to Ryan,my friend from the DEA,but the calls wasn't going through either.The last time i spoke to Ryan was years ago,and ever since then,we've never spoken again,could something bad have happened to him and if so,was it related to Vandel".I thought to myself again.

But that couldn't have happened and if it did,i would have already heard of it already.But I couldn't just sit here waiting for vandel to find me.Then i thought of an idea, what if i left El Paso for now,that wouldn't be a good idea either Catherine wouldn't be able to understand the sudden change of environment,she was born and spent basically all her life in El Paso and taking her away so suddenly from her home town wouldn't be a good idea,and how was i supposed to tell Gabriella that our lives were in great danger,it will surly cause her to Panic.Another big obstacle to this idea was that Vandel wasn't going to just sit back and allow me leave the island,probably by now,he already had men stationed at the every exit road to El Paso,so there was no escape for me,but i wasn't going to back down or let him have his way.

That night,when i went to bed,i had a very bad nightmare,in my dream,i was standing outside the door step of my house,when i opened the door and entered,i saw vandel sitting in one of the couch in my house.Gabriella and Catherine were lying in a pool of blood on the floor.As soon as i saw their dead bodies,i woke up immediately,i was sweating and shaking.I couldn't sleep after the nightmare so i left the bedroom to get some air.

{Thanks for reading this chapter.}