Chapter 53

Melissa couldn't contain her surprise and anger. Even if she wanted to go after Williams that had left about two minutes ago, she should at least obey his rules that asked her to stay there till he get back.

   "Michael is gone?" She repeated.

  For the first few seconds, she didn't get the statement well or understand what the person meant. She slapped her hand over her forehead so hard that she might get it red.

   Although she still has a strong hatred for Michael deep down, she never wished for him to die too soon. 

   "Poor Williams" she gasped.

  Ignoring Williams's simple warning of not leaving the room, she walked out the door hoping to meet Williams maybe in grief over the death of his brother.

   "Thanks" she whispered to the maid the opened the last iron door for her.

   "Call me Rose" the girl smiled.

  "Like Rosie?" Melissa wiggled her brows.

  "Just Rose mam," the girl said, bowed slightly, and walked away.

  Normally, it would have been strange for a man to find himself in such a room. But for a grieving man like Williams Hughes, the coldest and darkest place might be his only hope.

  "He left us a phone sir" she overheard someone whisper and footsteps heading in the opposite direction towards Williams. His face became clear and she noticed he was the same man that came to the room minutes ago. Standing beside Williams was another young handsome-looking man.

   'Seems Williams deals with only handsome young men' Melissa thought.

   Her main motive was to hug Williams and tell him death happens for a reason but the murderous look on his face could tell more than enough evil and pain.

   "Go get me Luciano, J.j" Williams ordered immediately he took the phone from J.j.

   He turned the phone around, examining the body if he could see anything dangerous.

   "I have checked and it happens that it belongs to someone close to you" the second man continued then gave Williams the phone "Rosie Dio Federico"

   For a moment, Williams went stuff like ice, his breath hastened and his gaze furious. He unlocked the phone with his shaking hands to meet the message his brother had left him.

   "Wait for sir," the man said "We have cracked the panel and we notice it's a one-time message".

   "what do you mean?" Williams's voice became hostile "What do you fucking mean?"

  "The device will self-destruct after the video" the man answered.

   While Williams wait for the man to finish what he was doing to connect a laptop and the phone, he stared blankly in Melissa's direction.

   Melissa's heart skipped a beat and nearly exploded. She wasn't scared that she was there, but she was scared of Williams. If he had the mind to act angry over his brother's death, something might as well be wrong.

    She shifted uncomfortably and moved, hoping to present herself to Williams but froze.

   "What the fuck is keeping you, Kia" Williams yelled causing the man to flinch "I paid you. I pay your fucking ass to watch over a single man and you failed"

   Kia didn't say a word, he just trembled and gestures to Williams. He pointed at the phone then the laptop.

    "Are you sure it won't blow the laptop too?" Williams intoned "Since you can never do anything right"

   "I assure you, sir," Kia said, "But there is something th-"

   Before Kia could finish, Williams harshly raised his left hand, ordering Kia to keep shut which the man did without any more words. The whole room becomes quiet, followed by a burst of familiar laughter.

    "Hello Brother," Michael said from the phone.

   From where Melissa stood, she could see William's jaw move and the anger in his eyes became raw. She now no longer fear only Michael, she fears Williams too.

    "I bet you are not surprised to see this" Michael continued "I don't have much time as you can see, I have your personal assistant, Rosie working with me" Michael paused and began to laugh.

   Melissa flinched as Williams yelled, his body shook as he obviously tried not to crush the phone with his strong hands. He gave the phone to Kia as he walked to the other dark end of the room, with his hands on his head.

   He walked back to the laptop that had been placed on a table and angled it to himself, unfortunately, Melissa could see it too.

   "Let me assume" Michael continued "You are so mad that I escaped from your hell, Williams" there was silence for a while before the camera turned to show a man in a pool of blood "Poor Luciano" Michael smirked.

   Fear gripped Melissa as she braced herself to the wall, trying to breathe. She covered her mouth and began to sob.

   "Poor Melissa," Michael said "Even her father hates her" Rosie walked into view and kissed Michael "Sweet Rosie" Michael smirked "As sweet as Melissa"

   Strangely, Rosie turned to Michael disappointedly then made to walk away but Michael got hold of her wrist. He brought out a dagger from nowhere and stabbed her.

   "What were you expecting?" He asked the surprised woman.

   Rosie blinked back tears, she staggered a few steps backward then pull out the knife and fresh tears flowed.

   "Don't act so surprised" Michael said to her "If you can betray the people that want nothing but good to you, why wouldn't you want to kill me too?"

    He looked down at the knife and smiled, his gaze locked with hers and he shook his head as she tried to pick it.

    "If I were you I would just sit and due slowly" he turned back to the camera, totally ignoring Rosie and grinned "The knife is poisoned" he stated "If she tries to move it hurts her fas-"

   From behind him, Rosie fell on Luciano, breathing heavily. She pressed her hands on the wound and began to scream, rolling over another man's blood.

   "My bad, I never knew it works faster" he turned to the camera with a serious face "Ignore them, Williams, they are not good to fight for" his gaze narrowed as if trying to find something in the camera "I bet Melissa would be around you"

   Williams sharply turned towards Melissa's direction and froze. 

   He had never expected she would follow him or even find her way. His heart melted as she fully reviewed herself from where she hid and had a fake smile on her scared face. Her cheeks were wet and her eyes red.

   "Come here," Williams said. 

   It sounded more like an order but Melissa did go to him anyway. She carefully accepted his palm and shook slightly as his large arms automatically wrapped around her body.

   "Well" Michael shrugged "even if she is getting group hugs from her friends I hope you will tell her you locked your brother in a dark ceil with no food, water, or light just because he raped her"

   Melissa and Williams's exchange looks before she slowly moved away from his grip.

    "I know you won't kill me, just as you lied about it years ago," Michael said "You can have her now and make sure you protect her for I will return and I will make sure I have her "

   The camera turned to Rosie, who seems to be unconscious on the floor. 

   "You will find them in their rooms," Michael said "Same as anyone that tries to come in my path. Kia might be free for today because my mother asked me to keep him alive for a reason well known to her. But till we meet again in Spain. Michael"

   The three stood confused staring at themselves in terror. Melissa kept moving back if Williams tried to touch her but Kia would not move an inch.

   "I have no idea what he is talking about, sir" Kia went on his knees.

   He dropped the phone and crawled towards him, shedding tears. He was about hugging Williams's legs when something distracted them.

   The phone had suddenly exploded, luckily, no one was hurt.

   "Go to your room, Kia" Williams simply ordered.

   He faced the walked, his back against Melissa as he heard Kia walk away.

   "I lied Melissa" Williams blurted out, he stopped, placed his left palm on his face and the right one on the wall, and went gravely silent.

   "Williams, I don't hate you," Melissa said "At least not yet until know what you lied about"

   "I lied about not seeing the killer's face " his shoulder shook and Melissa could hear him sob.

   "What are you talking about?" Melissa moved closer to him slowly, calculating if she should run or stay close for him "Talk to me Williams"

    "I lied about the fact that I was there, tied to a chair when Michael raped and killed my mother" he turned back to see Melissa as white as death.

  She moved closer quickly and hugged him.

   "I was scared, Melissa," He said "He said he will kill my father if I tell anyone and I love them both"

   "Why didn't you tell anyone you trust?" Melissa tightens her grip as she stroked her palm over his broad back.

    "It was too late and the video showed only me" Williams pulled away and looked at her face "He didn't let his face show, just his back, my mum then mine. Even if I had talked, no one would believe because the gun was shot from another angle"

     Melissa couldn't say anything or move. She just stood still, their gaze locked as they stared at themselves intimately.

     "It's not your fault, Williams. You were just a scared child" Melissa tried to console him.

   "But that doesn't change the fact that I lied"