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"Our king is not a 'king' anymore. He has become a dictator!" As soon as these words slipped from one of the Gladiolus men's mouths, a bullet was put in his head. The members present did not make a sound. They didn't nod or shake their head, they didn't even gasp. It was as if they weren't allowed to make a single noise.
They knew if they opened their mouths like the now dead man had before them, they too would be lying lifeless in a pool of their own blood.
"Beckham," Vexon's cold voice broke the silent environment.
"Yes, Boss?" Beckham responded.
"Send me the files of the deal with the Nivekles and call Newana. I need to talk about the Iris with her," he commanded and walked past the dead body, ignoring it and looking unbothered by the murder he had just committed.
The Iris was the Mafia Organization run by Newana's father, which was handed down to Newana two months prior. Since then, Newana and Vexon decided to form a partnership. Newana was also the advisor of the Gladiolus, in the absence of Cason, who was sent to the Italy base of the Gladiolus with his wife, away from Toronto.
___
Meanwhile, in the Bevine mansion, everything was silent. Until Everley Bevine, the daughter of Kace and Newana Bevine asked, "Momma, why don't you and Dad share the same room?"
Chuckling, Newana glanced at the pregnant Nafeesa. "Because your momma hates cheaters," she answered, which made Everley giggle at her response.
Who knew life would turn out like this? thought Newana.
Nafeesa was Everley's step-mother, and Everley was not afraid to show her hate for her. Newana had caught Kace and Nafeesa red-handed and, unfortunately, Nafeesa became pregnant with his child. Kace's only option was to marry her, and discord soon erupted within the family. Newana and Kace had already signed the divorce papers.
Newana's cell phone started ringing and she answered, saying, "I'll be there soon."
After a few minutes. She was already on her way out the door to go to work, but this call was far more important.
"Where are you going?" asked Kace, who was suffering from a terrible hangover and had the audacity to ask his ex-wife about her whereabouts.
Newana, being herself, did not even turn to face him as she sauntered towards the door. Soon, she reached the Gladiolus base, where Vexon and other important members were present.
"He did this?" Newana asked, examining the dead body. It was lying pale and cold on the floor, blood still surrounding it.
Mane hummed in response and sighed. "Boss is losing it."
She chuckled. "He lost it the day she was kidnapped."
"You're right," Mane agreed. "I still can't believe he didn't try to save her."
"Why exactly did you call me here?" she asked him, trying to get straight to the point of her visit. These few months didn't change her nature, she was blunt as usual.
Mane shrugged his shoulders. "You're the advisor. Advise me."
Smirking, Newana said finally, "There's only one solution."
"What?" Mane asked, afraid of her response.
She twitched her lips, before continuing, "We need the queen back."
Without giving time to Mane to say anything, Newana walked away. She stopped in front of Vexon's cabin.
"Vexon!" Newana shouted as she barged into Vexon's cabin. He just glanced at her and raised an eyebrow.
"The Nivekles won't sign the deal with us. They are only demanding one thing." She sat on the leather chair in front of him, making herself comfortable. Vexon kept quiet, waiting for her to continue. So, she spoke further, "They want both the ling and the queen to sign the deal."
Vexon gave a small, forced smile. "You and I, we both know that's not possible."
Newana arched an eyebrow. "And why not?"
"The queen has been kidnapped by the enemies and she is under their custody, remember?" Vexon reminded her, his chest stinging with every word that left from his mouth. He took a cigarette out from his pocket and placed it in between his lips, lighting it with the small lighter in his other hand.
Newana rolled her eyes. "Don't give me that crap. I didn't get this position by being ignorant, Vexon Bevine," she said in annoyance before getting up, pushing the chair with her leg in frustration, and closing the door with a bang.
"I'll find you, Queen. I swear," Newana mumbled under her breath as she pulled out her cell phone.
___
Whereas, somewhere in the country, there was something else going on.
"Love...something I never thought I would feel. Sometimes, people understand the real meaning of love when they are apart from the ones they care about. I, not only cared for him, I loved him," a woman said, tying her black wavy hair into a braid.
I loved Vexon and I still love him. My only regret? He never knew, she thought to herself.
"If only I would have taken our relationship seriously, we would've been able to trust each other. There would have been infinite possibilities. But unfortunately, I didn't realize the value in trust soon enough," she said to the old woman who was helping her hide from everyone.
The old woman smiled. "Ruby, it's okay. Maybe someday everything will be alright."
Ruby finished tying her hair and sat beside her. Even in her sixties, she looked so beautiful with her red hair that had greyed over time.
"Mrs. Nivekle, I wonder if it will ever be alright," Ruby said quietly. "That night is still fresh in my mind. It feels as if it was just yesterday. Even these six months weren't enough to bury that memory. So many lives were ruined."
Mrs. Nivekle patted her shoulder. She was taking care of Ruby, while her son, Tyran Nivekle, the ruler of the Mafia Blemish, one of the most dangerous gangs in the world, was also helping her at the request of his mother. When he and his wife, Weena, met Ruby, they instantly became good friends.
"It's okay, dear. Everyone struggles with pain in their lives. Yours is greater than most, but you are strong."
Ruby nodded, her mind wandering to what Vexon might be doing then. When her alarm buzzed, she got up and opened up her laptop. Mrs. Nivekle took this as her cue to leave.
Ruby had taken to cyber hacking. It was the only source of income she could come by while being trapped inside. If she tried to leave, the Gladiolus would spot her. She couldn't be seen.
Isn't it strange? Ruby thought. The queen is hiding from her own members.
Everyone thought she had been kidnapped by an enemy of Gladiolus. That was just a cover story. She was hiding away in the house of Mrs. Nivekle. She decided that she would take no visitors��she would have no contact with anyone��nothing. The house was completely isolated with no neighbors for miles. There were several farmhouses around, but most were empty.
Ruby got busy typing and clicking away at her computer. After being rescued, she learned all the dangerous things on her own. Mrs. Nivekle supported her every step of the way, as her son was in the Mafia, which was dangerous in its own way.
All it took was one night to change everything.
"I am going to buy groceries," announced Mrs. Nivekle.
Ruby nodded her head, not removing her eyes from the screen. As it was Sunday, she already knew it was the day Mrs. Nivekle took her weekly trip to the grocery store.
Ruby got up and locked the door firmly before continuing her work. After a few minutes, she heard the doorbell. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Maybe Mrs. Nivekle forgot something," she mumbled to herself. Ruby went to open the door. Once she turned the knob, she was met with darkness.
___
"Are you sure the boss lady is here?" Mane asked. "Why would the enemies keep her here?"
Newana rolled her eyes. "How did you even become Vexon's right-hand man? I discovered this location by talking with Weena Nivekle and I am sure she is here. She wasn't kidnapped. That's why I didn't bring any backup."
Mane seemed quite unsure. What did Newana mean by 'she wasn't kidnapped?' he thought.
He followed Newana inside the house. Both of them exchanged a glance when the door was opened. There had definitely been a struggle. The queen had been kidnapped, and this time it wasn't a rouse.
___
Vexon was in the Bevines' Armament Company now. He was in an important meeting.
"So this��" one of the employees started but was interrupted when Newana barged into the meeting room.
"Vexon, come with me. Now," she commanded.
"What the hell, Newana? Why would I��" but she didn't let him complete his sentence. She grabbed his hand, forcing him to go with her.
"What is wrong with you?" Vexon asked, his voice lingering with annoyance. They were in his cabin. "I was in the middle of a meeting."
"Vexon, Ruby has been kidnapped."
Trying to keep a blank look on his face, he cleared his throat, "What do you mean? I already know she has been kidnapped by an enemy of Gladiolus. Do you not remember?"
Newana let out a frustrated sigh. "No. I went to the address where she was hiding. I found everything broken and scattered. No one was there and it was a total mess."
Vexon's heartbeat started to quicken. He could feel it but he didn't show it, or he at least tried not to.
"So? What should I do?" he snapped at her. He took a seat on the couch.
Newana gasped. "What do you mean what should you do? She's really in danger this time!"
Vexon put his legs on the tea table, resting gently. "She was already in danger for six months. This is nothing new," he said.
"Vexon!" she let out. Do I look dumb? she thought.
He poured the wine from the drawer beneath the table into his glass and started drinking it.
Newana let out a sigh. "Fine. Do whatever you want."
She left the cabin, closing the door with a bang.
Vexon filled the glass again. He couldn't get Ruby's perfect image out of his mind.
He was still feeling the painful sensation he felt when thinking of her, which he was trying to avoid. Was she really okay? Only God knew.
