Chapter hundred and thirty five

Oliver

My head throbbed as thousands of memories crowded my brain. I couldn't see past the images of blood and the horrible tang of burnt flesh.

I couldn't feel anything except the women who kept touching me. I wanted to scream at them to stop, but I couldn't move my lips. I couldn't block out their moans either. Especially her voice.

“Oliver! Oliver!!”

I heard a familiar voice screaming my name. It didn't belong to neither of the females who are currently touching me inappropriately. It sounded like it was coming from faraway.

A hard tap on my shoulder jolted me out of my trance. Xavier was standing beside me, a horrified expression on his face.

Ethan heaved a sigh of relief before snatching my phone from my hand. I didn't even realize I was still holding it.

“Bitch, how the fuck are you alive?” Ethan yelled into the phone.

That was when I remembered who I was talking to. Mandy. She had called me with Tabitha's phone. Which meant she had Tabitha captive, or maybe killed.

I hoped it wasn't the latter. It would have meant I put her in trouble by asking her to get that memory card.

Ethan strolled to where he was sitting and began typing on his laptop. He put the phone on speaker.

“Aww, little Hart. I've missed you too. You have no idea how much restraint it took for me not to contact you guys for all these years.”

I was amazed by how fast he recovered from the shock of learning the person who was supposed to be dead for twenty years is actually alive. I was still reeling in the shock.

But there was no mistaking that voice. Not when it had haunted my nightmares for decades.

“Oh, I think I do. You've been quite busy trying to stay dead. I'm actually glad you didn't burn during that warehouse fire. Now I'll have a chance to kill you myself.” Ethan seethed, his typing became frantic.

I had no idea what he was doing but I couldn't bring myself to ask. Not when I could still her her voice. It's like there was invisible chains holding me to the ground.

I dragged my gaze away from Ethan and tried to block out the sound of her voice but I couldn't. I noticed how Xavier stood close to me.

I wanted to tell him I was fine and didn't need to be monitored. I wasn't fourteen anymore, I wasn't going to lose my mind just because I'm hearing her voice, but I couldn't say that either.

My eyes landed on Alberto's. His gaze softened almost as if he was pitying me. As if he didn't have something to do with all of this. But I knew everything. Or I had an idea what really went down two decades ago.

“Oh, that's really cute coming from you, Ethan. I'm getting turned on just listening to you. I've heard all about your adventures these past decades. Even the dick on the t-shirt.” She giggled, the sound grating my nerves even more.

“As much as I'm looking forward to seeing you, I need to talk to Ollie. Would you be a peach and hand over the phone back to him?”

Ethan just continued typing, cursing as his fingers moved against the keyboard. I finally moved from where I stood and picked up the phone.

“I'm sure you know that revealing yourself has automatically signed your death sentence. Should have stayed dead, Mandy.” I said. My voice was so cold that it sounded strange even to my own ears.

“I'm sure you won't think that if you hear what I have planned for you. I just hope your girlfriend likes it. I guess I'll find out when she wakes up.” She clicked her tongue.

Ethan's typing stopped at the same time as my whole body went stiff. Fear like I've never known coursed through my veins. I felt my lungs tightened in fear.

“What do you mean?” I managed to ask as my body went cold.

“I have your girlfriend here with me.” She said.

My legs suddenly felt weak and I wobbled. Dallas. She'd taken Dallas. She'd taken the one person that meant the world to me. My guts churned at the thought of Dallas being in her captivity. Hot rage slowly replaced the fear and I began pacing frantically.

“If you dare touch a hair on her body, I will burn you from the inside out and skin you alive. I will make sure you wish you've died that night, Amanda.”

She took a long pause. I knew my threat had settled in her. I just hope she wasn't stupid enough to call me bluff.

“Guess you'll have to catch me first.” She hung up.

A scream of frustration tore out of me and I threw the phone hard against the wall. It smashed into pieces on impact.

Mandy had Dallas. She had Dallas. She had Dallas.

Those were the only words constantly echoing in my head. I picked up the car key and began walking to the exit.

“Where are you going?” Xavier asked, catching up with me.

“To find her!” I yelled.

I knew my tone was harsh but I didn't care. I couldn't think about anything except the thousands of emotions currently swirling in me.

“I can help.”

I stopped in my track at Alberto's voice. I whirled towards him. He still had that pity look in his eyes.

“I'll tell you everything I know. I only ask for one thing in return, protection for me and my son.” He said.

“You'll be lucky if I don't kill you right now for even suggesting that. You almost tarnished my company's image and was actively involved in one of my employees death. Not to talk of possibly being involved with Mandy.”

“I didn't do all of the things you just accused me of. And if I was involved with Mandy, do you think I'll be here right now?” He asked.

“Well, you did made references to her many times.” I heard Ethan mumbled but I didn't tear my gaze away from Alberto.

“Because I was the only one who knew what really went down twenty years ago, but I couldn't tell anyone.” He basically screamed.

“Why?” Xavier was the one who asked this time.

“Because he would kill me.” He whispered.

I walked back towards him and stood in front of him.

“Start talking.” I ordered.

“Henry, Ron, and I met in college. Henry and Ron had been friends before I joined them. They were the only one who knew about my Korean heritage…”

“No time for stories. Get to the fucking point.” I snapped.

I couldn't listen to him remisnice old memories when Dallas was in danger. I wondered what Mandy must be doing to her right now.

“After college, the both of them started a pharmaceutical company together. I remembered them having a disagreement when Ron wanted to do something illegal but Henry was against it. I didn't know the exact details because I had moved back to New York to take over my father's company. I don't think even their wives knew about the disagreement.

The disagreement led to their fallout and Henry decided to start his own company. He informed me he was moving to New York with his family. He started Kang Chemicals in New York and soon extended it to D.C.

I remembered Ron coming here and asking Henry for his shares of Henry's company. He felt he was entitled to it because they started the first company together. Henry refused and it led to another fight.

Ron had you kidnapped and wanted to force Henry to give up Kang Chemicals. Mandy was working with Ron all those times. Their plan backfired when the warehouse exploded, but it made it easier to fake Mandy's death so they could get the police off her back.

Ron still couldn't get his hands on the company even after Henry's death. Henry had transferred everything to your name when he first suspected what Ron was up to. So everything automatically went to Regina.

I had to watch from the background all those years because I was scared he would come after my family too. He had ties with some very dangerous people in the underworld. That was why no one suspected him.

I managed not to attract his attention until Ronan Russo showed up in New York. I knew Ronan, but I didn't know he had planned with Ron to frame Kang Chemicals.

I suspect it was to distract you why he works to attain the company, although I have no idea how. I went into hiding when I learned he was framing me for it. And also because, Ronan died not long after he left New York.” Alberto drew a long exchange after he was done with his narration.

I was still pacing up and down the room, trying to process what I had just heard. Everything start to make sense now.

Why Dad and Ron weren't friends anymore even though mum claimed they had been friends forever. The ominous feeling I get about someone watching him each time I go out. And Mandy being alive.

I didn't ponder on the ‘how’. Ron was surely influential enough to make it seem like she died that night. And maybe she wasn't on US soil all these years.

“But why Kang Chemicals? There are other establishments that are way more successful.” Xavier said.

It was true. Kang Chemicals might have been the start of Kang empire, but I have since created more establishment since I took over.

“I have no idea.” Alberto said.

“Uh, Oliver, come check this out.” Ethan said.

I rushed towards Ethan, hardly able to get a breath down.

“I tracked Mandy's location during the phone call. And this is what I got.” He motioned to the screen of his laptop.

I scanned the lines immediately, a pit of dread settling in me as I read the address.

It was the warehouse I was held captive twenty years ago.