Vexon
"Do you really have to come along?" I asked my three-month pregnant wife for the umpteenth time. I really didn��t want her to come and take a risk.
"Yes," Ruby replied firmly and sat inside the car.
I sighed. I just couldn't shake off the bad feeling about what's going to happen. I was sure that we could rescue Everley. However, there was something else that was bothering me. It was about Ruby, though I didn't know what. What if she landed up in a danger?
Deciding to be extra careful of Ruby, I drove off for the location. I was really worried. At first, thinking about Everley was already painful for me, and now, I was feeling Ruby might be in danger too. I wished I didn��t have to take her.
"Vexon, what's your plan?" Ruby asked after much anticipation. She was continuously tapping her foot and chewing on her bottom lip.
"I don't have one," I said, which made Ruby widen her eyes.
"You're not joking, are you?" she asked in a careful tone.
"Do you think I would joke in a situation like this?" I answered irritably.
It was silent for a few moments before Ruby let out, "Stop the car, Vexon."
I immediately pressed the brakes and turned to face her.
"We are going in there with no plan in mind?" she asked again, challenging me to say 'yes' with those glaring eyes of her. "You intend to surrender without even a plan?" she continued before I could even open my mouth to reply. Pregnancy really did get her more emotional. "What will happen to me after that? Do you think I can live with you in jail?"
I chuckled lightly. I rubbed my thumb over her cheek, wiping the tears that managed to escape her eyes. "There's no way I would let that happen. Just trust me."
"How can I? You don't even have a plan," she rebuked and sighed as if she wanted to rip out her and my hair.
I placed my hand on her, which made her look at me in the eye. "It's not that I don't have a plan at all. I just don't have the cards yet, but I trust my men to give me all the information that I need before we confront Liam."
"Promise me that all of us will get back home safe." Ruby forwarded her pinky finger towards me.
I smiled and entangled my pinky finger with hers. "Promise," I said and started driving again.
No matter how much under pressure I felt, even if it was Ruby pressuring me, being with her always made me feel better. I couldn't admit but as much as having Ruby here with me made me anxious, it gave me strength as well.
If she wasn't here with me right now, I would probably be slamming the steering wheel continuously before I reached the location. Still, I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep my cool when I saw Liam. That bastard kidnapped my daughter. It's because of him that Ruby was crying so much.
To be honest, I wasn't as sure about my decision to save Everley in exchange for my confession as I was at this moment. I was having doubts just when I saw Ruby crying silently in the hallway. The way she was pressing her hand on her mouth to stop the sobs, the tears gushing out of her eyes, the way her shoulders were shaking, and her legs were wobbly, it pained my heart so much. I immediately felt the urge to comfort her, but knowing her, she would have pushed me away in that situation. She didn't need me at that moment, she needed Everley, and I was going to return her daughter to her, at any cost.
Surely, my gang should have been my first priority, and I shouldn't be putting it at risk like what I was doing right now, but along the time, my family became the thing that mattered the most to me. Even if Ruby might say I don't give her enough time, which was true, I tried my hardest to make time for them by working extra harder. I was also sacrificing my sleep almost every night only because I wanted to spend the day playing and smiling with my family.
Now, someone was trying to snatch the happy family from me that I was working so hard to maintain. Just the thought was infuriating. I had always been so careful about my mafia work. There was always a backup plan in my head. But this time, there was a loophole in my backup plan too. I didn't consider the possibility of an honest police officer if my drugs were to get caught due to Michael. Also, that officer just had to be my wife's childhood friend. Luck totally wasn't on my side on this one.
All I hoped was that luck would remain on my side just for a few hours, starting now.
I stopped the car right in front of the abandoned mill. I took out the extra gun I brought along with me and handed it over to Ruby and told her, "Keep it with you, just in case."
Ruby nodded her head and started examining the gun, probably trying to remember its functions. Looking at her right now really made my heart waver. I felt like running away with her, leaving everything else behind.
"Stay safe," I said and kissed her forehead once last time.
"You too," she replied and flashed me an assuring smile.
"I have my men surrounding the whole area. If something were to go wrong, take Everley and run away without me," I told her.
"Don't worry. I will never leave you behind, Vexon," she said and got out of the car. It was things like that which made me fall for her harder.
Checking my weapons one more time, I also got out of the car. "Follow behind me," I said to Ruby and started walking towards the entrance of the mill.
The area was completely dark, but working at night times really got my night vision to be better. Yet, I was cautious of my every step.
When we reached the inside of the mill, the lights were turned on. I blinked a few times to adjust my vision until it landed on the little girl tied up to the chair with chains. My face probably turned red in anger when I saw the cut on her lips and the red mark on her cheek. Her beautiful green eyes were filled with tears as she let out, "Mom. Dad."
Ruby let out a choked cry and pressed her hands on her mouth, letting out in a taut voice, "Eve."
Rage took over me as I shouted, "You asshole! How dare you hurt my daughter!"
We were about to rush towards Everley when a voice echoed throughout the place, "Not a step further."
We halted in our tracks and looked around, searching for the source of the sound, until Liam walked in from the communicator's room. The smug smirk on his face made me want to rip his whole body to shreds.
"Welcome, Mr. Vexon and Ruby Bevine," Liam said cheekily. "How have you been feeling, Ruby? You're not taking too much stress, are you?" he asked her, motioning towards her almost unnoticeable baby bump.
I stood in front of Ruby, blocking his view of her. "That's a funny question to ask her after you have kidnapped her daughter," I said to Liam.
"Really? I'm sorry, Ruby. I really didn't intend on hurting you in any way��" I cut him off with all the nonsensical crap.
"Lay off the drama and get to the point." I took out my gun and pointed towards him.
"Woah, woah, put that thing down," he said, reaching out for something behind his back. "Otherwise, I will put a bullet in your daughter's head." He placed the muzzle on the side of her head.
Everley squeaked and cried out, "Mom, Dad, save me." She struggled against the ropes, desperately trying to loosen them so that she could run up to us.
"Don't worry, sweetie. Everything will be alright," Ruby assured her.
"Mr. Bevine, put that gun down immediately, would you?" Liam repeated in a much more impatient voice.
"Okay, okay." I dropped my gun on the floor.
"The other one too," he added.
I hissed under my breath and took out my other gun. How did he guess I was carrying another gun?
Liam surely wasn't doing it for the first time. I wonder why someone who didn't take any bribes from anyone would go that far to catch me. If only I had some more Intel on him, something to use against him.
C'mon, guys, hurry. I need some dirt against this uncorrupted inspector. We don't have much time.
"There's no use praying, the King of Gladiolus," Liam snickered. "Let's cut to the chase."
I needed to buy some time. "Won't money really work? You can demand as much as you want," I offered as a last resort.
Liam chuckled humorlessly. "I'm not the type that takes bribes from a criminal. I have plenty of wealth that I inherited from my family. Therefore, money can't buy me."
"So, what is it that can buy you?" I asked.
Liam smirked and said, "Your confession."
This bastard, I swear I'm going to give him the worst death.
Just as I was thinking about it, the earpiece in my left ear went off and Mane started speaking, "Boss, are you hearing me?"
Finally.
I had never been happier to hear Mane's voice before. It was just what I had been waiting for for so long. I tapped my foot twice, which was a signal for him to continue.
"Boss, I have got plenty of evidence against Liam Jackson. This bastard isn't what he pretends to be at all," Mane let out. "He's a scary person to deal with."
"Okay, I will give you that. But promise me that you won't harm Ruby, Everley, or anyone from my family," I continued talking to Liam, so he wouldn't get suspicious of me.
"Sure. I'll make sure they are safe," Liam said.
Ruby glanced at me, aware of the voice in my earpiece. She came out and stood beside me. "Liam, can you please let go of this case? Vexon is my husband. Can't you do me a favor and ignore his crimes this time?" she spoke up in order to distract Liam.
"Too bad, Ruby. If only your husband wasn't the worst mafia gang leader, I would have definitely helped you," Liam replied.
On the other hand, I tapped my foot twice again impatiently, urging Mane to continue. Every second in this place was risky. One bullet from Liam's gun was game over for my happy family.
Mane took a deep breath and let out, "Liam Jackson is actually the worst officer there."
