Vexon
I couldn��t believe that I lost the most important person in my life right in front of my eyes.
This was all my fault. I was the one who argued with her. I shouldn��t have let her go out alone, and all by herself in the first place. She was angry at me and she left the house just to go to her mother��s place, but now, she had left me forever. My wife, Ruby Bevine turned into ashes right in front of me.
A tear rolled down to my cheek, standing in the place where the bomb blast took place. Everything inside that white car had turned to nothing but ashes, only the metallic frame of the car was still burning from the explosion.
I lost my wife and my unborn baby, just in a matter of a few seconds.
��Boss, the bomb wasn��t set in the car. The bomb was thrown at the car,�� said Mane, even his voice was barely audible.
I didn��t know what to say or do anymore. It was like my whole world had come to a stop and it wouldn't move unless Ruby is there.
How could Ruby leave me alone? We promised to raise Everley, Allison, and our unborn baby together. She couldn��t break her promise.
��Boss,�� Mane started speaking and kept a hand on my shoulder, ��You should go home. I will keep you updated about what happened here. Please, boss, take care of yourself. I have already informed Maya to take care of Everley and Allison.��
��I have no home, Mane,�� I informed him, still shocked at what just happened.
��What?��
I nodded my head, another tear rolling down to my cheek. ��The Bevine mansion was my home because my wife was there. She was there to welcome me after a tiring day. But now that since she isn��t there anymore, it will never feel like a home again."
��Vexon,�� called out Mane, ��Just think about your daughters. They lost their mother. If you're like this, what will happen to them?" I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the sight of me. I didn't want to understand anything. "Get inside the car. The driver will drop you because you aren��t in a condition to drive at this point.�� He started pulling me by my hand.
I didn��t know where he was taking me because all I could imagine was the white car blasting into ashes��the car where my pregnant wife was present.
___
I was in my bedroom now. The driver dropped me at this mansion and took me to my room, which seemed utterly lonely without Ruby. Everything in that room had her touch and presence in it.
The best thing about having a tiring day was returning to our bedroom and feeling the warmth engulfing me. Each time I would get home from outside, Ruby would be sitting here, reading a book or watching television. When she would see me, she would make a sarcastic comment before welcoming me with a warm smile on her face.
��Look who��s here,�� this was what she would say when I would step inside the bedroom. Then Ruby would stand up and wrap her arms around me, mumbling, ��Welcome back.��
But she wasn��t there to do that now, or anymore. I have lost her. For good. Nothing will ever be the same for me.
A series of flashbacks ran into my mind. The way she smiled, argued with me, consoled me, confronted me, and comforted me��it was all priceless. She used to get worried even when I got a small wound or even got hurt just a little. She cared for me so much, and she was always there for me.
When I didn��t have the habit to eat breakfast, she was the one who made sure I always had breakfast every morning.
"Doesn't that make you sick or something? I mean, hungry tummy, angry mommy. Didn't that hit your head ever?" - this was what she had said when she learned for the first time that I didn��t have breakfast. I smiled bitterly, well aware that I would go back to skipping breakfast.
She promised me saying, "Vexon, I am there for you. Forever and always."
I missed her cute apologies, which she would say, "I'm sorry. I was so scared and confused." She would even order me to massage her legs, saying, "Massage it properly."
The last time when Everley got kidnapped, she had told me in anger, "What did I say wrong? Your work is all you care about. We don't matter anymore. You know what? I fucking don't care, either! Just get me back, my daughter. Then you can drown yourself in your work forever, I won't ever bother you!"
No, Ruby. I want you to bother me, to annoy me till no end. I am sorry for behaving rudely with you for the past few days.
How could I say that I didn't have the time to talk to her over the phone all day, and her calls irritate me in between my work? Even in a fit of anger, how could I say that to her?
She had said when Everley was kidnapped and we were fighting on whether I should agree to Liam��s condition or not. "Of course, you wouldn't even sacrifice your gang even if I was in Everley's position."
Her words echoed in my mind.
You mean a lot to me, Ruby. You don't know how much I'm willing to sacrifice just to get you back. So, please come back.
But now, sadly, there was no point in all this. She was no more. It was already too late for me to apologize.
Since she is not here anymore, what��s the point of living? She is my home and I should go back to her. She must be waiting for me.
��Yes, this sounds right,�� I mumbled to myself. I went to the closet room and desperately shuffled through the second drawer, throwing away everything else in the process. I finally found what I was looking for. I smiled looking at it with tears running down my cheeks. ��I should go to her. She is waiting.��
I put the muzzle of the gun on my head, my fingers on the trigger, waiting to press it.
I am coming to you, Ruby.
Closing my eyes, as I was about to press the trigger, a soft voice caught my attention.
��Dad, what are you doing?��
My eyes snapped open. I glanced at Everley, whose eyes were red with crying continuously. Her pale face made me drop the gun back in the drawer as I extended my hands. She ran to my arms and I picked her up.
��What��s wrong, Ev?�� I asked, caressing her back. I wiped my tears roughly so that she wouldn't see me falling weak. I had to put up a strong front for her.
��Dad, I am missing my mom,�� she answered, snuggling into my chest.
My heart clenched in pain, remembering Ruby as well. ��I miss her too.��
��Will you bring her back?�� she asked me, which I couldn��t reply to. ��Maya says that Mom is dead, but I don��t believe her. I will only believe it if you tell me. Is Mom dead?�� Tears sprinkled through her eyes as she questioned me while hiccupping badly. She was hoping for me to say no, which I wished I could. But she should know the truth. The sooner she accepted the fact, the sooner she would get over it.
I nodded my head, and I was about to open my mouth, but she placed her fingers over my lips, shushing me. ��You are lying. If she is dead, then where is her body?��
��It has turned into ashes, Ev,�� I replied to her, trying to hold back my tears. But I failed to do so as the images of her leaving and the car blasting flashed in front of my eyes.
Even though she was crying as well, she wiped my tears with her hands. ��You are dumb, Dad.�� I was taken aback at her comment, as she further spoke, ��If she was really dead, we would feel that pain. We are a family, connected by hearts. When I get hurt, Mom feels that pain. So if she is dead, how come we are not feeling more pain?"
��But, you are crying, so it means you feel the pain,�� I tried to reason out, but her next words made me dumbstruck.
��We are crying because of the fear of losing her. Besides, we have got plenty of bad people to harm us and they want our power. So, they won��t just kill Mom all of a sudden instead of kidnapping her, just like Liam did with me.�� She sighed and said, ��Put me down. I need to check on Allison until Mom comes back. I need to be a good elder sister.��
I placed her down and watched her run out of the room.
I was really dumb. First of all, how could I think of ending my life? How could I not think of these two angels, Everley and Allison? What would happen to them if I left them?
Thank God, Everley saw me at the right time. And honestly speaking, she had a point. No doubt, one of my enemies had done this, but that enemy wouldn��t take the risk of killing Ruby because he knew I would give that enemy the worst death possible after hunting him down.
Also, if Ruby was dead, I would have felt something, like immense pain in my chest. I probably would have already killed myself at the spot.
Ruby is alive. I am damn sure now and I have to find her at all costs.
I took my phone and dialed Mane��s number. Before he could greet me, I said to him, ��Meet me at Liam��s house.��
___
I knocked on the door of Liam for the third time, and as soon as he opened the door, I threw a punch in his face.
��Where is my wife?�� I asked him and he wiped his face, which was smeared with blood, just at one punch of mine. He was already bandaged up from my previous beating.
Liam arched an eyebrow. ��Are you drunk? How on earth will I know where your wife is?�� As if something struck him hard, he inquired, ��Wait, is Ruby not with you?��
Feeling steam coming out of my ears, I pulled him by his collar. ��I will ask you for the last time before I kill you. Where is Ruby?��
��Dude, I don��t know,�� as soon as he replied, I pushed him hard on the floor.
��For fuck��s sake, stop acting dumb!�� I hollered at him.
��Why will I harm my friend and that too Ruby? I am not this crazy. I care for my close people,�� Liam spoke and looked at Mane and my other Gladiolus men. Then he chuckled. ��So, you are the king of the Gladiolus. I wasn��t wrong.��
Rolling my eyes, I decided to deal with him later. So I was about to get out of his house, but he stopped me.
��Wait, Vexon!��
Stopping in my tracks, without even turning back to him, I grumbled, ��Go ahead. Expose me as the king of the Gladiolus. Do you want to record me confessing just to get your promotion?��
Nothing bothered me anymore. I was only tense about Ruby and my unborn baby now. Everything else could wait.
��No, I stopped you because I want to help you find Ruby,�� said Liam, which made me turn to him abruptly. He continued speaking, ��Our bickering is between us. Come what may, Ruby is my childhood friend, and she is pregnant. I took an oath to be there for my close people, and she is like my sister. I really want to help.��
I was confused about whether to take his help or not.
See, Ruby, this is what your absence does to me. I can��t think straight, and I can��t make a decision. I cannot live with you.
��Boss, he seems genuine,�� Mane whispered to me. He knew I was confused, and his opinion was trustworthy.
��Fine. Mane will tell you the details at first,�� I said to him and Liam nodded in agreement.
I will find you, Ruby. Just stay strong and wait for me.
