Twenty Seven

***Adonis***

The urge to punch through something, preferably a wall, was coursing through my veins. But I couldn't when Ruby was still very much around.

So, after a quick look at Ruby who was being dragged away by her dad who most probably already had doubtful thoughts about me, I knew I had to leave for somewhere where I would be able to punch as much as I wanted.

I actually had two places in mind.

One was just less dangerous than the other.

But, a quick look at the familiar card in my hand, I knew I had to let go of the thought of punching through things in the less dangerous place.

I had to go back there.

It was probably their plan anyway.
But the fact that they would do it in such a gruesome way angered me and my body soon figured I might be doing more of punching humans instead of the bags it was used to.

The fear in Ruby's eyes earlier flashed through my mind and I swore.

Why on earth would they think it is okay to drag the innocent girl into the whole goddamn drama?

"Fuck!" I screamed into the space and soon my legs were dragging angrily towards my car which would be surprised I was using it if it were a thing with feeling.

As soon the car tyres rolled smoothly against the tarred road, I began to scheme my entry. If I choose to take the exposed entry, I might not get to express my distaste at the leader's choice of communication.

And a direct entry, well, it might lead to one more of night where I get to have a taste of the life I left.

Gripping the steering wheel hard enough, I swore again and wondered when it really would be over.

If one leaves something bad, does it really have to come back to haunt someone?

Don't I get a chance to live a reasonable life before I get killed off by some blood thirsty, low thinking rival?

More questions stormed my mind and as I tried to find a response, her face kept popping up.

Ruby Powers.

As her frightened look played again, I felt a little shiver and with a simple playback, I realized I had shivered a bit back then.
As she asked me if she was the girl in the note, my breath seemed to hold for a second and my mouth became heavier.

I felt scared for a second. I didn't want to answer her question despite how true her deduction was. Something inside me wished for her to keep thinking things were all rose and shining and whatever happy things exist.

Sighing lightly, my hold on the wheel loosened a bit and as my mind finally became fully aware of my physical environment, I realized I was already closer to the highway that would lead me to the abode I hate so much.

And since there was no turning back, I stepped on the accelerator.

~

Nothing had changed. They still lived in very shady buildings and the air around the cold looking structure I was looking at smelt like a dangerous mix of the craziest kind of drugs and alcohol.

I sighed as it occured to me I was once inhaling that toxic air. Living inside it with no care at all.

A small scoff escaped me as my legs walked towards the back of the bungalow.

I thought I had a life back then. It took crazy things happening to reset myself.

Surprisingly, no one was inside the building. It was just a few broken furniture and the same old toxic air.
It was a good thing though. I wouldn't have to experience tough eyes undressing me without me getting to take meaningful steps.

But I was faced with a small problem.
Finding the entry to the underground ring.

Based on experience, it was usually controlled by a small button placed in the most inconspicuous place in the building but it didn't seem like there was anything inconspicuous about the chilled bungalow.

My legs were about to comply with my brain's suggestion of just checking random places when one of the broken furniture went flying all the way to the other side of the room.

Like a creepy predator, a messy haired head popped out from a opening, blinked weirdly at me and then said with the most lazy voice, "He is waiting for you."

A curt nod from me and the man already disappeared into the ominous space specifically built to accommodate one of the dirtiest realities of the cruel world we leave in.

As I began a journey down the ladder, I began to run the way I wanted the meeting to go. First, it would be short yet impactful. That was necessary. He has to know I do not intend to come back nor do I want him meddling in my life or Ruby's.
Second, while being impactful, it would be necessary to ask why Ruby's mother had to suffer a terrible fate.

When my feet touched the ground, I braced myself for the approaching insanity and then, I turned to face a very quiet corridor. Soon, I was walking through it.
But the more I walked, the less quiet it became. Deafening howls and chants filled my ears, scents from heavy sweating and careless substance use became thicker.

"Well, well..." As I got to the end of the corridor which formed a 'T' with two other corridors, a thin voice greeted me and I knew who it was without racking my brain.
"Look who we have here." The woman who was yet to give up her tradition of putting on skin tight leather clothes, stopped in front of me, her face wearing a sick smile.

"Hello Carmila," I said, my voice showing how displeased I was to see her.

Her hair which could really compete with a rainbow danced a bit as she assumed a pose she always thought was sexy. "I have missed you. I thought you said you were not coming back. So I-"

" This is a one time thing. Where is he?"
I didn't need a seer to tell me she was about to hit on me again.

Carmila scoffed distastefully before stretching her hand in a direction which was to my left.
"He is going to kill you," she shouted to my back as I walked away.
"He is going to make you pay!"

"Well, if that ain't some news," I muttered to myself as I braced myself for the drama ahead. The chants and howls I was hearing earlier converted to muffled party beats which hinted at the fact that they were most probably celebrating something.

Perhaps they discovered a new winner from the sick game they usually play.

As I moved closer, my steps seemed heavier and my eyes couldn't stop watching my fingers graze over a particular scar on my wrist which almost claimed my life.

I look at that scar these days and my vow to never make a brief stop at the Xylem gang's abode became stronger.

Little did I know something crazier would change that.

"No way!" A thick voice exclaimed. "Fucking Adonis Klaus! Freaking Adonis!"

" Hello Carlos," I greeted the tall, extremely built man who had a baby face to contrast his tough look.

"I can't believe you are here man." He was one of the few people who supported my exit from the group.

Exhaling hard, I replied, "Me neither. But here I am. Do you know what he did to lure me here?"
Carlos shook his head and it was very easy to tell he was being truthful.
"He freaking killed an innocent."

"No. That's not how we do it man, what was he thinking?"

" That's what I am about to find out. He is in the VIP section right?" I nudged towards the closed double doors which were clearly made from expensive wood.

"Yes man. It is pretty bloody in there though," he warned and I got that he was telling me not to get into a fight no matter what.

"Thanks." I gave the side of his arm a light slap of appreciation and made to push the doors open.

"Wait," Carlos called me back.

"Yes?"

"How is it out there? It is better, isn't it?"

" Well..." My lips tugged into a short smile.
" It is a shit hole but a better one."
Carlos broke into a loud laughter which made me chuckle. His laughter was the contagious type.

After Carlos wished me good luck, I walked past the doors and I was led into a crowded room wearing low lights and by the time I took a step, a strong force hit the wall behind me.
After my head, which I ducked impulsively, came up and shifted to look behind me, I saw that it was a man who had been tossed fiercely.

I doubted his ability to move for a while as his situation was looking terrible.

The crowd had paused their noise for a while but they were soon back to screaming at something or someone.

I began to take advanced steps along the platform I was standing on and it appeared it was not a man to man fight.

It was a bull to man fight.
And it is always the nastiest.

Only insane people would want to do something like that. Or people who owe the boss money.

And the screaming folks didn't seem to mind how insane it was. In fact, they kept urging the next man to face the bull to not fear.
Thankfully, the man wasn't listening to those who wished him doom and for that, I prayed he would make it out with at most, two bones fractured.

"There you are." It was Carmila again.
"Let's go, he is waiting."

I followed the woman who seemed more hyper compared to earlier and as I did, I kept getting weird looks from some people who weren't too keen on watching a bull kick a man's ass.

"Adonis," Lucas, who was one of the few loyal dogs, Lucas who was burning me with his eyes, called as we stopped in front of a door.
Aware of the routine, I spread my arms and let him search me.
When he was done, his scarred face almost poked mine as he said, "You are going to freaking die Klaus."

I smiled gently and motioned towards the door, my fingers still rubbing through my own scar.

The air in this particular room was different. It was clean air yet it was dangerous. The few men who were seated on the exquisite couches, a wine glass in hand, were the ones giving off the dangerous vibes.

My eyes scanned the room for the person I was searching for and when I saw him at a corner, adjusting the zipper of his trouser, the anger rushed back in.

Luckily, there was an empty seat beside him. And since I was not keen on standing in front of him like I was still his errand boy, I dropped onto the seat loudly. Loud enough to kick the man out of his thoughts.

"Good to see you Adonis," he greeted me, his dark eyes falling upon a lady who was strutting towards him in a bikini and ridiculously high heels.
"It is nice to see you breaking your words barely months after saying them."

" It's all thanks to your scheme," I coldly returned as I watched the lady sit on his thick laps. With hunger in her eyes for the built man who looked like he still wasn't joking with his diet, the lady began to move her body sensually over his lower body causing a small smirk on the man's face.

"What can I do for you?" Maximus Xylem asked and when I pushed the card in my hand to his face, he finally looked my way.
"Hmm, that's our signature, I believe." One of his hands cupped a breast and soon, the little covering the woman had was gone.

Almost cringing, the urge to leave already burning through my skin, I said after turning the card, "Why are you after her?"

"Who?" The lady gasped as he played with her.

"Why did you kill that woman?" I asked further and he sighed, a sign he was done pretending.

"You know why Adonis," his voice croaked. "You owe me two things and you have to pay it back."
The corner of my eyes watched as he left the lady's tensed bosom and made his hand travel to her thighs.

"I owe you nothing Maximus. Your brother chose his way, I chose my way."

" Your way killed my brother. And your way doesn't work well with mine," he retorted and I just had to scoff at the fact that he was using his supposed intimidating voice with me.

It never works.

" I am not here to play games with you or watch you fuck someone, I am here to tell you to leave the girl alone. She has no business with this."

The lady moaned loudly as Maximus's fingers plunged into her. "Adonis," the man was acting like nothing special was going on.
" Thanks to your visit, I have confirmed something. That girl means something to you and I will be using that card to lure you."

I shook my head. " You'll die trying. I'll not let you touch her. I will make you regret killing that woman too. "

" Actually, that woman was killed because someone asked us to. When I found out her relationship with your beloved Ruby Powers... ugh." He flung out his manhood and I squinted my eyes in disgust. The lady who was wearing a smirk got off him and began to suck him.
"... when I found out, I knew it was an opportunity not to be missed."

I got up as I could not take the scene in front of me anymore. It was just weird.
"Don't try anything funny Maximus. I can't condone your foolishness ruining someone else's life."

Maximus held the back of the woman's head and forced the entirety of his length into the woman who gagged like crazy.
Locking eyes with me, he said, "I look forward to meeting you again Adonis. Tell your new girlfriend I said hi."

I scoffed at him and began to walk away.
But as I walked past the occupants of the room who were staring at me weirdly, it fully dawned on me that Ruby was really in danger and I can't avoid to slack when it comes to protecting her.

And that meant one thing, screwing up the boundary plan.