Chapter 6 The available option

MELISSA’S APARTMENT, DOWNTOWN, NEW YORK.

Taking a deep breath, Melissa rushed to the kitchen to grab a glass of water almost bumping into one of her sons. She tried to calm herself down, before heading back to sit. "What is it with this family? What do they want with you?" She inquired in a shaky voice. "Why does he want Cindy after all of this years? They practically left you all alone to look after her. Not caring that she was a premature baby with no mother to look after her and just a grieving father. It's almost as if they thought she wouldn't survive. Why would they come to claim her all of a sudden?"

Raphael wished he could answer all of his sister's questions, he is just as perplexed as her. His wife's family after performing a lot of drama at the hospital the day Diamond died, accusing him of killing their only daughter, they left with her dead body and he never saw them. Raphael tried to reach them after Cindy was discharged from the hospital hale and hearty but no one responded to him, putting it in mind that she has no other family except him. He never contacted them again. And aside seeing Oliver in the news, today was the first time Raphael would be setting his eyes on him after seven years.

"I don't know, Mel. These people are just so unpredictable. I guess they have been keeping an eye on me for a long while. I'm just glad I didn't expose Cindy too much to the public. I don't doubt Oliver making a fuss of her presence to the media." He replied.

Melissa sniffed, "well, I doubt if they have any means of getting such custody. They abandoned her for seven years. You have a strong case against them, that is if they are shameful enough to take the matter to court." Raphael exchanged a look with Maverick, the both of them chuckling at Melissa's naivety. She raised a brow. "Did I say something funny?"

"Not at all, Melissa. It's just that these kind of people will never lose a case like this. They have claims and can buy over witnesses that would serve as evidence against Raphael's adequacy and efficiency. They have money and power, even though Raphael possesses both to an extent, it's still not up to what Oliver Wright has. Also, don't forget they still keep insisting he killed Diamond." Maverick explained.

Clenching her fist tightly, Melissa banged the table a little hard to avoid scaring the playing kids. She has the same anger like her brother. Melissa had been suspicious of the Wright family and their late daughter from the beginning. Diamond was like able no doubt, however her family's quick acceptance of Raphael had worried her. But she couldn't object too much seeing how in love Raphael was. He has never been so smitten by anyone in his life.

Despite how handsome he looked, Raphael didn't let it sway him from remaining focused. He rarely had time to play around, running between jobs during and after college to pay off his student loans while also helping her out too. The both of them had come a long way and she feels her brother didn't deserve the kind of woman he got subjected by fate to marry.

A lone tear trickled down her face. "If this is the case what then do we have to do to protect Cindy?"

None of them had the answer as they all stayed quiet looking solemn. Raphael's mind wandered again, to protect his daughter he would have to sacrifice his entire life. And that might include going far away to where Oliver and his people would never be able to reach.

"I will leave New York with Cindy." He blurted out of nowhere. Maverick and Melissa stared at him like he had grown two heads.

"Where do you intend to go? How about your business and everything else you have worked for?" Melissa asked.

Raphael exhaled, "Cindy and her future are way important than all of that. And thankfully the world we live in is digitalized, of course I can always control my business from wherever I am."

"This would be hard, Raphael. You know how connected this people are, it would take them no time to find you. And for wherever it is you are going you would transact and make payments. Not to forget your car plate number, in no time you would be traced and that's all. Don't you think we should find another way out?" Maverick said, almost out of breath.

Melissa looked awed. “You are really a lawyer. I don't need to ask how you were able to think of all the disadvantages in a minute."

Raphael shook his head, "how about I move with no track at all. How about that, all I have to do is have a disguise to leave New York and probably go to Australia or something."

They fell quiet again, each person rummaging their thinking sacks on any valid idea to work on. Melissa snapped her fingers. “Yes, I think I know who can help us with this."

"Who?" Raphael asked.

"Charles." She said thinning her lips.

Raphael looked livid, "Charles who?"

"Ain't that deadbeat ex of yours?" Maverick scoffed.

"Really now?" Melissa folded her hands, raising a stern brow at the both of them. "Until when will you two accept the truth that, Charles isn't a bad person. Our relationship just didn't work out and we had to end it. What has that got to do with who he is?"

"He didn't try to keep the relationship and it's not like he treated you any better." Said Raphael.

Melissa rubbed at her forehead, "we already talked it out and the both of us are on good terms now. Can you just have a forgiving spirit please."

"Whatever, let's leave that till another day. How would he be able to help us?" Maverick questioned.

She scratched the back of her neck. “Well, it's not like really something to be proud of. And before you two crucify me, it's his choice and I have no right to tell him what is right or not. Charles helps people who don't want to be found to disappear without traces."

"What!" Raphael exclaimed. "Like human trafficking?"

Melissa snorted, "no, he just has a way of moving people around the state without anyone knowing. And mind you it's not like he locks them up in a trunk, he just changes things like the plate numbers and does transactions on the person's behalf with an entirely different name. Which means you don't even have to change your identity."

Thinking for a long while, Raphael thought of the other options he might have. This was all out of the blues, it's not like he has a place in mind. He has never been out of New York before, despite how viral his app is.

"Call Charles, I will be needing his service." Raphael said.

"Raphael!" Maverick called out.

"I know, Maverick. But there is no other way out." Raphael sounded desperate, but he doesn't care as long as he is able to get his daughter away from the clutches of Oliver.

Melissa patted her brother’s hand. “Trust me, you are in safe hands." She assured.

Raphael nodded trusting his sister's option, which appears to be the best and only way out.