Twenty Seven

Adonis

The urge to punch through something, preferably a wall, was coursing through my veins. But I couldn't do that 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 was having doubtful thoughts about me, I knew I had to leave for somewhere where I would be able to punch as much as I wanted.

Two places actually came to mind.

One was just less dangerous than the other.

But, after 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 to that insane place.

It was probably part of their plan to lure me anyway.

But the fact that they would do it in such a gruesome way angered me and my fists soon figured they might be doing more of punching humans instead of the bags they were getting used to.

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

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 that I was using it more than often.

As soon as the car tyres were rolling 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 for the nonsense game the leader is playing.

And the discrete entry, well, it might lead to one more night of insanity.

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

If one leaves something bad, does it have to come back to haunt the person?

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

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

Ruby Powers.

Her frightened look came to mind again and I felt a little shiver. It was then I realised that I felt the same way when she confronted me. As she asked me if she was the girl in the note, my breath seized for a second and my mouth became heavier.

I became scared and 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. I managed to stop thinking about her and became fully aware of my physical environment. And I saw that I was moving closer to the highway that would lead to the abode I hate with passion.

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

~

Nothing had changed.

The gang was still based in very shady buildings and the air around the cold-looking structure I was staring at reeked of crazy drugs and alcohol.

When it occurred to me that I was once inhaling that toxic air on a daily basis, I sighed. I sure was living inside that hell with no care about my health.

My legs began to move toward the back of the bungalow and a scoff escaped me as I thought more about my past. I thought I had a reasonable life back then. If not for the crazy things that happened, I probably wouldn't have been able to reset my life.

No one was inside the building. It was just a few broken pieces of furniture and the same old toxic air.

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

Based on experience, the entry is usually controlled by a small button placed in the most inconspicuous place. But it didn't seem like there was anything inconspicuous in the chilly bungalow.

My legs were about to comply with my brain's suggestion of just checking random places when one of the broken pieces of furniture in the room suddenly flew to the other side of the room.

Like a creepy predator in IT, a messy-haired head popped out from an opening, blinked weirdly at me, and then said in the laziest voice, "He is waiting for you."

A curt nod from me and the man 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 picture the way I wanted the meeting to go. First, it would be short yet impactful. That was necessary.

The leader needs to know that 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 the very quiet corridor.  But the more I walked, the less quiet it became. Deafening howls and chants filled my ears, and 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 greeted, my voice showing how displeased I was to see her.

Her hair which could compete with a rainbow danced 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 Carmila was about to hit on me again.

Carmila scoffed distastefully before stretching her hand in a direction that 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 became heavier and my eyes couldn't stop watching as my fingers grazed over a particular scar on my wrist that 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 insane would change that vow.

"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 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 still 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 was led into a crowded room that was 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.

His ability to move became limited and after his bloodied body dragged down the wall, the man fell into deep unconsciousness.

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 that is always the nastiest.

Only insane people would want to do something like that. People who owe the boss money don't have a choice though. They have to face the bull either way.

And the screaming crowd never seem to mind how insane it was. In fact, they always urge more and more people to enter the ring and face the raging bull.

"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 walked, I noticed the weird looks I was getting 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 of the gang, called as we stopped in front of a door, his eyes burning my existence to the ground.

Aware of the security routine in that place, I ignored his annoying glare, 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 my scar.

The air in this particular room was different. It was clean air yet it was dangerous. The few men in the room were seated on exquisite couches, wine glasses in their hands, and they gave off highly dangerous vibes.

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

Luckily, there was an empty seat beside him. And since I was not keen on standing in front of him as if 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 lap.

With hunger in her eyes for the built man, the lady began to move sensually over his lower body until the man smirked and gave her butt cheeks a quick rub.

"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 clothing the woman had on was gone.

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

"Who? What are you talking about?" The lady gasped as Maximus 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 them 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 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 wanting hole.

"Adonis," the man was acting like nothing special was going on. "Thanks to your unexpected 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 about 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, got on her knees, and began to suck him. "... when I found out, I knew it was an opportunity not to be missed."

I quickly got up. "Don't try anything funny, Maximus. I can't condone your foolishness if it means you'll be 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 slacking when it comes to protecting her.

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