Ruby
"No! I hate carrots," Everley whined, running around the living room in a circle, while I was chasing her with the freshly chopped carrots on a plate.
"I cut them up, Eve. They are so small. When you will eat these, you won't even realize these are carrots," I told her, hearing which, Everley paused.
She thought something for a while before plopping on the couch at last. I sat next to Everley and started feeding her the carrots one by one.
Once again, my heartbeat fastened, the bad feeling which I was having since today morning didn't fade away yet. Suddenly, the power went out.
"Mom!" Everley instantly jumped on my lap, snaking her arms around me while I caressed her back.
"Maya, what's wrong with the lights?" I asked Maya, knowing she was nearby changing the flowers of the vase.
"Let me call Willie and ask. This never happened ever," she answered and I heard her footsteps drifting away.
"The deal will be signed tomorrow. Yes, I even have the queen's signature, Mr. Nivekle. And��what's wrong with the lights?" Vexon asked all of a sudden, as he walked into the living room, a cellphone in hand.
I realized that I could use my cellphone's flashlight. So I tapped the flashlight button on and handed it to Everley, saying sternly to her, "Sit here." I stood up and answered Vexon's question, saying, "Maya is calling Willie. He will let us know."
"Okay," Vexon replied and then continued talking into his phone as he went upstairs.
"Boss lady, it's going to take some time to fix the electrical problem," Maya informed me.
"Then open the curtains. Let the sunlight in. It is day time after all," I said to her as I sat back on the couch next to Everley and continued feeding her carrots. After Maya finished opening the curtains, there was enough light to see.
"Mom, I think he wants to say something to you," Everley whispered to me after a few minutes.
I asked her, "Who?"
She pointed her tiny index finger behind me. I turned around to see two men, standing menacingly in the hallway. I gasped when I saw the uniform they were wearing��it was not of the Gladiolus. They also had guns in their hands.
Instantly, I put a hand on Everley's mouth and picked her up in my arms. I kicked one of the man's legs and threw the empty plate on the other one before running upstairs, clutching Everley in my arms.
"Eve, don't talk," I murmured to her as she hugged me tighter.
While running towards the study, I saw another man wearing the same dress entering the study. I hid behind the same pillar that I had hidden behind the night before.
Vexon was inside the study.
Shortly, I heard a click sound. When I bent to let Everley down, I saw that there was a small door on the pillar. Opening it, I found two Ruger LCR 357 guns.
Perks of living with the Mafia.
I knew how to use those guns so I took the two of the guns and shot the man. The training Mrs. Nivekle had gifted me came handy. I rushed towards the study, holding Everley's hand.
"Ruby? Is that you?" I heard Vexon's voice call.
"Yes. Vexon, we are under attack!" I exclaimed in fear.
"I know," he said and took something out from a drawer in his desk. "All the guards are dead. I saw from the window a few seconds ago. There is a secret room beneath the table. Go and hide with Ev."
He was about to go away, but I stopped him and spoke up, "No, Vexon. I won't leave you alone. Eve will stay there."
Vexon let out a frustrated sigh. "Ruby, go and hide."
I crossed my arms against my chest and said sternly, "It's either you take me with you, or I go alone after you leave anyway."
"Gem."
I felt goosebumps hearing this nickname after a long time. I nearly had tears in my eyes.
It's either fight or die. I won't let him go alone.
"You have no options here," I breathed out, leaving no place to argue. I opened the secret room's door and turned to Everley, saying, "Eve, stay there. Don't come out before I or Dad personally come to get you."
"Ev, there's food and water inside. We are locking it from outside so don't try to push the door," Vexon explained.
Everley hugged both of us, crying profusely. She sobbed, "Don't leave me like my other parents! Come and get me soon."
Vexon and I shared a look, before nodding our heads and kissed her cheeks. She went inside as we locked the door.
"I am going to text Mrs. Weena Nivekle where this hiding spot is. If we don't survive, she will locate Ev and retrieve her," Vexon informed me.
I hummed in response. I secured one of the pistols on the ankle holster, and the other in my hands.
Vexon entwined our hands and mumbled, "Stay with me. I don't want to lose you."
I took a deep breath and we walked cautiously out of the study.
___
The whole house became a shooting zone. Other Gladiolus members had shown up to join the fight.
I was behind a pillar, shooting the attackers, just like Vexon, Mane, Beckham, Mysa and some others were doing. Vexon stole glances from me, checking if I was okay.
Suddenly, someone pointed a gun in my face. "Your game is over, la��"
I kicked him in the groin before he could finish and his gun fell to the floor. I picked it up and shot him in the head.
I noticed that Vexon had left his position from where he was firing. I tried to continue to hold off our assailants while I began to move towards the electrical breaker box and turned all the lights back on. I was glad it worked because it wasn't easy to aim in the dark.
I pulled the gun out from my holster. Someone was about to shoot Mane when I yelled, "Mane, down!"
Instantly, he obeyed, resulting in the person to miss his head. I shot that person in the head.
I just hope Everley is okay.
We had almost won since the lights had been turned on. There were Gladiolus men everywhere. The enemies were lying in pools of their own blood.
I turned, only to find Blossom Cowell, that bald Mafia king, a few inches away from Vexon. Blossom was hiding behind another pillar, pointing his gun at Vexon. So it was him, the King of the Aconites. He wanted revenge for killing his son, Carter Cowell.
Without a second thought, I ran towards Vexon.
"Vexon!" I hollered and flung my arms around him. That was when I felt the raging stinging sensation on my back.
The bullet had hit me.
I turned towards Blossom, aimed for his heart, and pulled the trigger of my gun.
"Gem?" Vexon asked slowly.
I looked at his handsome face stricken with worry. Tears sprinkled through my eyes as I hissed in pain.
I heard Mane's voice from behind Vexon. "Boss, we won! Blossom has been shot and the boss lady did that. Now we can take the Aconites and make it the Gladiolus," he said, approaching us, "And��Fuck! Boss lady?"
I couldn't maintain my balance anymore. I was about to fall, but Vexon caught me in his arms.
"Ruby? Mane, go and get the car!" Vexon hollered.
I smiled, hearing the panic in his voice. Maybe this was my punishment for everything.
If I survive, then will Vexon forgive me?
"Do you��" I started, coughing, "��forgive me?"
I winced in pain. My back was aching as it bled onto the floor. I felt the blood draining from my wound fast.
"What? Of course, I do. Nothing will happen to you, Gem. I will save you. I��" Beckham interrupted Vexon.
"We can't take her to hospital, boss. They will question us and��"
"I don't fucking care!" Vexon shouted, picking me up bridal style, "I need to save her!"
A smile took over my place, thinking, he forgave me. Vexon forgave me and I didn't need anything else from my life.
I couldn't take the pain of the bullet anymore.
"Take care of Eve...I..." before I could complete my sentence, darkness took over me.
