Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Halal narrowed her eyes at him. "Excuse me, what nonsense are you trying to imply?" Halal continued feigning innocence in the matter.

Honestly it was the only card she could play now but from the looks of it, Darrell wasn't buying it.

"I know you got that mail Halal, you knew of Eva's intention before she arrived" Darrell said his eyes not leaving her face.

Halal hissed "Well you don't have proof Darrell.  So when you're done playing the lie detector, shut the door behind you" she said furiously.

"I also know you have the streak of the devil in you and that devilish side of yours only surfaces when you're mad, when you're really angry or hurt" Darrell refused to drop the topic.

She hated him for knowing her so well.  "Darrell stop, I won't listen to a thing you have to say. Even if I hear you speak, it won't change anything. You knew all along that...that Eva was responsible for everything and you said nothing. How long have you known?" She asked him meeting his eyes this time.

Darrell sighed "For a while, I found some files belonging to late Doctor Femi. Before he was killed, that was what Femi was going to tell you. He suspected that someone in the hospital was responsible for it" Darrell said.

Halal gasped thinking about her gynaecologist who had been trying to help her.  "Eva found out and killed him?" Halal asked.

Darrell shook his head "Until yesterday we never knew Eva was involved. It was Janice who had been helping her out, Janice is in jail now for her crimes. Harvey too for covering up for a crime that happened in his hospital"  Darrell said.

Halal shook her head  "Harvey knew, who else knows?" Halal asked.

"Just Felicity, Daria and Victoria. I made Felicity and Daria promise not to tell you, Victoria found out by accident. Valentino too, since Victoria told him" Darrell said.

"William is Eva's half brother. Of course he knew, his sister planted him in my life. He just didn't know Eva would go as far as killing his own children. If there was anything he really wanted, it was children" Halal said bitterly.

Darrell nodded "Have you heard from him?" he asked.  "Yes" she replied knowing she couldn't actually fool Darrell with lies.

"You can't do this on your own, Eva has connections with different criminals. If they find out you're keeping her hostage, you're as good as dead.  Leave Eva's case to the law" Darrell warned.

"The law can be bought, bribed and manipulated. I on the other hand cannot, I'm not handing Eva over to the law.  She didn't offend the policemen,  she didn't kill their children, she killed mine. This is my revenge, stay out of it" Halal said.

"Halal listen to me..... If Jack and his partner finds out, You'll be charged and sent to jail. I love you H, I don't want to see you hurt. You need to forget about this revenge,  I know Eva has hurt you but leave her to the hands of the law.  You can't do this on your own" Darrell continued.

"I'm not on my own Darrell, you won't understand why I'm doing this. They weren't your children that's why you don't feel the same way. Go home" Halal said.

Darrell sighed, he knew how strong headed she could be.  He wondered how long it would take for him to convince Halal to drop it.

"Come home with me, come with me Halal. You're my home,  that place wouldn't be the same without you Halal" Darrell said.

Halal shook her head "Secrets and Lies Darrell,  I can't trust you anymore. I won't keep you away from your child but you can't have me anymore. I'm sorry, please go" Halal said.

Darrell's expression fell "I did it to protect you" he said.

"If you really wanted to protect me, you'd have told me.  Your secrets would have been the end of me had I been clueless of Eva's plans. Eva would have killed me and you wouldn't have been here to save me. Deborah is the reason I'm alive today, because she told me the truth. You should have told me" Halal maintained.

"I'm sorry...." he whispered. Halal hardened her expression.  "Don't make this harder Darrell, I won't forgive you. Please leave" Halal said and walked out of the living room.

Darrell stared after her retreating figure and continued staring at the same spot long after she'd gone. His good deed had backfired, he'd lost the woman he loved. Well, maybe not.

Darrell  walked into Jacques office despite his assistant's protest. "Sir you can't go in there without an appointment" she said following him into her office,  her face a mask of distress.

Jacques looked up from his paperwork and saw Darrell. "Darrell,  what do you want?" he asked.  He turned to his assistant "Dismiss" he said. She nodded and walked away.

"I want my woman back" Darrell said  sitting opposite Jacques. Jacques let out a small smile.  "You know where she is, go get her" he said.

Darrell shook her head "That's not Halal,  that's a very angry woman so consumed with revenge and anger that she's refused to do the right thing.  My Halal is sweet, loving, good hearted. She's nothing like that" Darrell said running his hand over his face.

"Darrell you need to understand that Halal is both an angel and a demon. If you want the woman, you have to take the entire package.  She's sweet, loving and kind but at the same time she's cold, hard hearted and ruthless no matter how she conceals it.  If you really love her, you have to accept both sides" Jacques said.

Darrell though about it, he knew that Halal's anger would always be a part of her.  He'd always managed to tame it, would he continue to do the same?

"I love her" he confessed. "I know Darrell and I don't want anyone else for my daughter except you" Jacques grinned.

Darrell shook his head "But Jacques I can't pretend or ignore the fact that what she's doing now will get her hurt" Darrell said.

"I know but you don't have to worry about it, she's a big girl. She can handle herself" Jacques said.

"That's what she wants you to think, she's hurting Jacques. She's trying to hide it with anger, how long till she breaks? I don't want Halal to continue in that path, you do realize it's only a matter of time before the police starts suspecting Halal's story. They'll investigate more and find out she's responsible for Eva's disappearance. I know she's hiding Eva at your house, how long till someone else puts two and two together? Eva also has criminal friends, how long till they find her?" Darrell asked.

Jacques sighed, he had to admit, Darrell was right. Halal's scheme and revenge would only put her in danger.

"Help me,  she doesn't have to know" Darrell said.

"If we hand Eva over to the police, Eva will tell everything to them and Halal will be caught in the middle. Not just Halal, William and I too" Jacques said.

Darrell sighed "Well what do you suggest?" Darrell asked.

"I know some people who will handle it" Jacques said. "What kind of people?" Darrell asked.

Jacques smirked "They are called 'the underground', they will handle Eva just fine. You have nothing to worry about, the police would never be able to trace it" Jacques said.

Darrell sighed "As long as she isn't in danger, as long as Halal wouldn't be in danger Jacques. Go ahead and get rid of Eva" Darrell said.

He knew Halal would only hate him more when she found out he was behind the whole idea but he was doing this to protect her. Even if she didn't want to be protected, he had to protect her.