Seventy One

***Adonis***

It was a Saturday evening.

That meant it was a busy evening in the den.

The wild party I walked into told me two things.
One, a certain part of the gang wasn’t aware of the plan that involved taking Ruby.
Secondly, the longer I stay in that environment, the more likely I was to attain an unforgivable height of anger.

The kind of anger that could make one turn into a complete beast, with all sides of the face drawn into ugly wrinkles, with a voice coarser than sand, and with an energy so negative, the world could turn to chaos.

I didn’t want to be that angry.

All I want to do is get the possible location of Mark Lumber or whoever the fuck kidnapped her. Then, I can spring into action.

So, I hurried my steps towards the executive lounge.

As usual, the executive lounge was where the real party was always happening. There is hardly any noise but you can tell each person is having fun, one way or the other.

As my eyes scanned through the entire span of the room, I noticed Maximus all cooped up in a corner, his eyes wearing the familiar look of dread.
As I walked towards him, I figured it was one of two things.
He was either really high or his uncle, Matt, had done something to break him.

The sound of a man coughing filled my ears as I squatted in front of Maximus who looked worse than I thought.

“Hey man,” I called as I shook his shoulders to snap him out of whatever he was on. “Come on, Max, talk to-” My hands which had traveled to a section of his waist felt something weird.
“Max?”

I heard him breathe, I was sure of it. But the next second after he let out that small air, his head landed lifelessly on my shoulder.
And I just knew.

He was dead.

With a tight grip in my chest, I laid the man onto the ground. That’s when the blood started rushing out. Like a stream, it flowed towards a lady’s feet. The woman who was more concentrated on giving the suited man in front of her amazing kisses didn’t notice the redness until she knelt down.

With bulged eyes, she let out a scream that instantly stopped the party. Everyone finally noticed Maximus who was on the verge of getting cold.

Those that ran outside did so. The ones that rushed towards Maximus and me were his men who pushed me aside as they tried to save the man. But it was too late.
Their CPR moves and improvised defibrillation did nothing.

He was gone.

As the men lamented and shared displeasure at the misfortune that had befallen the den, I got up. My troubles had been multiplied as of that moment.
I took one more look at the lifeless state of my longtime friend and the thought that Ruby had been dragged into the same drama that led to Maximus’s death scared the shit out of me.

If they didn’t hesitate to get rid of Maximus who is a huge part of the gang, what can one say about Ruby?

The fact that they wouldn’t think twice before getting rid of her was more reason for me to hasten my search. I had to think fast. I had to find Ruby before something terrible and irreversible happens to her.

But where do I start from? Where should I go to?

The man that could answer those questions has been dealt with. Matt Xylem must really have a full-proof plan.

My dragging footsteps which had unconsciously led me to the corridor which was bathed in uproar came to a halt.

Matt Xylem…

That’s the answer to my search.

Both Bryan and Mark Lumber are linked to that man. He certainly would be the one helping either of them.

Now…
I stood akimbo as my face wore my best thinking face.
… all I have to do is figure out which secretive building Matt Xylem could have given out to those men to carry out their nefarious activity.

There were so many we used when I was still with the gang. Some buildings we used for storing expensive goods. Some were torture chambers.

As the image of the torture chambers crept into my mind, I felt another chill run down my spine. Ruby wouldn’t survive that kind of situation. But I couldn’t help but feel that Matt wouldn’t be so daring to take such a step,

But where? Which building?

I needed some kind of sign, help, anything.

Time was running fast and the more it sped, the more my heart raced with fear.

As my entire being sank into more and more dilemmas, I soon realized that Ruby’s parents would have started to grow some worry. The night was closing in and fast and if they don’t see their daughter before the night becomes old, things can get way out of hand.

I didn’t want to get the cops involved with this particular issue. There is a high chance Matt Xylem has used his money to win some of them over, so I would never think of that.
But, Dominic Powers would reach for police support the moment he hears about what has happened to Ruby. That might be a good thing or a bad thing.

I was willing to take the risk at that point. I have to find a way to tell her parents. But how? I need to be on the road, searching for Ruby. Going back to her house would shorten the time I have.

My entire mind became a mess as my thoughts circled about a point. My head got buried in my hands as it suddenly felt hot around me. I didn’t even notice that my hand was stained with blood from Maximus’s body until a feminine voice kicked me out of my mind’s struggles.

“What are you doing when Max is dead?” It was Carmila. “Why are you even here?”
She was trying hard not to break down, I saw that much as our eyes connected.
“You know, ever since you started your stupid back and forth trip to this gang, things started going haywire. Why didn’t you just stay put and pick a side?”

"Carmila..." Yes, she could help me, I just needed to play my cards right.

She still wore a mix of disgust and anger on her face. "Max is dead because of you."

"He is dead because of his uncle," I said with a low voice that resonated in the empty corridor. I watched as her fierce expression relaxed a bit. "You know that, don't you?"

"If-" She sighed heavily, shook her head slightly before she brought herself to complete her statement. "If you had not left us, Max wouldn't have ended up this way."

"Carmila..."

"The brotherhood you both shared aside, Maximus saw you as a means of survival. You were stronger than most of us, you carried an air of authority that his uncle feared and Maximus found safety behind that.
When you left, he-"

I watched, with a broken heart as the woman who I have watched torture the hell out of people without remorse, had tears filling her eyes.

A shaky breath released, she wiped off the tears that were falling down her cheeks.
"I know he hated you for a while concerning what happened to Ben but, it doesn't mean he hated you that much. A part of him kept wishing you would come back and be the shield he desperately needed."

My voice cracked as I said, "I had no idea. Maximus never-"

"I think you should leave."

I frowned. It was not yet time for me to leave. I was yet to get what I came to that place for.
"I need your help Carmila. I need to get Matt Xylem. He needs to pay for what he has done."

"I'll deal with him myself, you can leave."

"But I can't."

"Why?" Her head turned sideways as she bit into her lip to further hide the emotion that was riding her.

"He might have Ruby."

Carmila's eyes whipped in my direction with a certain speed. "What? He has your girlfriend?"

"Well, in the real sense, he is helping some people who want to hurt her."

Carmila scoffed. "Is she some kind of celebrity? Why is everyone after her?"

"Everyone?" Was there something else I wasn't aware of?

"You know, that psycho you brought the other day. Bryan? Is that his name?"

"Oh. Yes. Anyway, Carmila, do you have any idea where Matt Xylem could have been used for this situation?"

"He uses that building where we used to keep gold these days. Do you remember that big juice-making factory we funded when we were still in France? That's the one. It is empty now, so Matt goes there a lot."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. A hundred percent."

"Oh my God," I reached for her shoulders with temporary delight in my system, "thank you so much, Carmila."

"I hope your girlfriend will be fine though. These days, Matt acts like he's high on some crazy weed."

Well, I can be crazy as well. Nothing must happen to Ruby. That's all I know.
"I need to ask you a favour."

"Really?" She pouted. "I told you what you wanted to know."

"Please, okay?"

She rolled her eyes before she said, "What is it?"

"Can you please go over to Dominic Powers's house and let him know what has happened to Ruby?"

"Excuse me?"

"I don't want to keep him in the dark about this issue."

"So, you want me to go to his house and tell him that the uncle of my gang leader kidnapped his daughter? Are you forgetting how threatening that man looks? He might be a snack but-"

I had no time for her elongated talks. "Actually, it is Ruby's biological father that kidnapped her. Matt is just helping him."

"Wait what?" Her eyes screamed perplexity. "What kind of crazy story is this?"

"Can you please do this for me? You don't have to tell him to his face, just leave an anonymous note explaining the main issue. Dominic Powers will take it from there."

"Alright. You should actually get going before something happens to her. I can tell you won't feel good if things end up on a terrible note."

I managed a small smile. "I don't feel so good right now actually."

"She'll be fine. She has you. And you never run away from those you love. I know that much."

"I don't love a lot of people, Carmila," I replied as I proceeded towards the exit. I tapped her shoulder appreciatively as I walked past her.

"I know that Boss. I can't forget how you coldly rejected me. You can be so cruel."

"Goodbye Carmila." As I murmured that farewell to myself, I bade goodbye to Maximus. My brother and my friend who I won't be seeing in this world anymore.

He is one more reason that Matt Xylem won't be getting away with his plan.
So, as I envisioned how to go about things, I realized something that made me turn and walk towards the arsenal that was hidden in the far end of the underground building.

If I'll be facing the enemies that are waiting, I have to be well equipped.

And I must not take the chance and go to that place empty-handed. That would be an action that I would regret at the end of the day.

And... at this point, regrets are something I don't wish to have.