Vexon
I felt my whole life fading away when the nurse pulled the stretcher into the OR. I wasn't allowed to enter, but I couldn't think straight.
What if she doesn't make it? I thought. What if I lose her?
Ruby and Everley were the only ones I have left. Without my precious Gem, I was nothing. Only I knew how I have spent these past 6 months. It was fully filled with pain��only pain.
She stood in front of a bullet just to save me��just for me.
'From here on, I will sacrifice myself for anyone in danger. I don't care. Stranger or not. I will save that person even if it means hurting myself,' her words echoed in my mind.
Everything I have hidden away and refused to feel was flooding to me now. How do I make it stop?
I will die without you, Ruby.
"Boss? She will be okay," Mane said, putting a hand over my shoulder, "She's strong."
I pulled him into a hug. "She took a bullet for me, Mane. She..." I sobbed, my voice cracking with every word.
"She will be fine," he tried to assure me.
We broke apart from the hug, and I said, "Mane, handle everything. Any formalities, paperwork, whatever they ask about the shooting."
He nodded and stood up.
I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. I knew this Mafia life would put her in danger, but she never wanted to leave this life. Rather she stayed with me and became a queen. She never wanted to leave me.
I didn't care if Ruby ever said she loved me or not. All I knew was that I still loved her. The way she took a bullet for me, I wished it would've been me instead of her.
I would gladly have gotten shot if it meant saving her.
Feeling extremely sad, and scared at the thought of not seeing her again, I let my tears fall because I couldn't control them.
Why did you have to sacrifice yourself to save me, Gem? Why?
How could she even think for a moment that saving me and hurting herself would spare my pain?
"Why did you do this? Why?" I mumbled.
I rested my head against the wall, reminiscing the old times. A small smile made its way to my lips as I remembered the first time we spoke to one another.
'Excuse me? Are you lost? Can't you speak?' That day she wore a gorgeous gown. She already looked like a queen. 'Who talks? People. Those who talk, they talk, right? So talkless means those who can't talk. Simple.'
The logic Ruby used. She brought love into my heart that I never thought I would feel. She created those crazy emotions within ms, which I tried hard to control. But now, all I needed was Ruby. I would have killed myself if something happened to her.
The doctor appeared in the hallway of the waiting room. "Mr. Bevine?" I stood up to face him, waiting for him to speak, to which he sighed. "We were able to pull the bullet out. We are going to keep her in the ICU until she regains consciousness. Then we will move her to the VIP ward."
"Will she be okay?" I asked.
"We hope so. We gave her our best," the doctor replied.
I wiped my tears and nodded. After I watched the doctor go away, I said under my breath, "She will be fine. Ruby has to be alright."
After waiting for a long time, Mane reached out to me. I was sitting outside the ICU.
"Boss, it's Newana. She said it's urgent." Mane handed me the cellphone.
"Did Weena pick up Ev?" I asked him.
He replied, "Yes."
I walked away from Mane and placed the phone against my ear. "What is it Newana?"
"Vexon, I know it's not the right time, but I stole the bullet that was found in your mother."
I had given the bullet my mom was shot with to Cason. I didn't want anyone here to find it and use it as evidence against Ruby.
"What about it?" I inquired, sensing it was something very important now.
"Ruby didn't kill your mom," Newana breathed out.
My heartbeat quickened as I asked, "What do you mean?"
"The gun that this type of bullet is shot from��I hadn't taught Ruby how to use that gun yet. No way in hell she could've used it to shoot her."
"How is that possible, Newana? Only she was there when we heard the gunshot. Who would have shot her then? Why would Ruby lie?" Millions of questions flooded to my head, some of which I asked Newana.
"Vexon..." Newana hesitated before continuing, "I taught someone else to use this gun. Ruby lied to protect that person."
"Who...?" I whispered.
When she said the name, a gush of guilt washed over me. That day, Ruby took the blame to save that person. She was even ready to sacrifice her life, and I didn't trust her. I misunderstood her in every possible way.
I needed answers to my questions. I needed to know why Ruby didn't tell me the truth. She could've told me. Why did she take the blame?
"Mr. Bevine, Mrs. Bevine has regained consciousness. We are moving her to the VIP ward. You can see her now," the doctor informed me.
I nodded and handed the phone back to Mane. I needed answers. I needed to know what actually happened that day.
