Fifty Two

Adonis

I wished to say a word or two to Ruby before she got down from my car, but I couldn't find anything to say.

Perhaps, I wished to tell her to hang on. Or to not worry about her father or  Maximus and his gang.

But we live in a world where things happen in strange ways. In the face of such situations, it is usually hard to make promises or give assurances.

So, I maintained my silence and watched while her footsteps led her away from me.

Maybe it's for the best... That we get to be apart for a while.

The things I intend to do henceforth might endanger her, so maybe we aren't being cruel to each other.

My hands took charge of the steering wheel again and I was ready to move when my phone rang. A look at the screen caused a smirk to find its way to my lips. The call was from the right person.

"Yes?"

'I'll text you his address. He is there,' the man responded and I ended the call.

'Yes, this is for the best,' I thought as I engaged the car's gear and stepped on the accelerator.

With my phone in one hand to set my directions, I took a glance at Ruby's house which I  soon sped past. But  I hoped that she would be fine and that her father wouldn't give her a hard time.

~

It was a shabby place...

The real abode of Bryan Lockwood.

The grass was unkempt, the wood structure looked a little crooked, the atmosphere was a little off,  and I just had to wonder what Bryan's real deal is since he basically lives a double life.

According to my research so far I noted that he was quick to change appearances. He was a snake. One minute, he is a righteous son to his aged parents, the next minute, he is a dubious fellow with a strange fetish for blood.

I got out of my car and saw that there was nothing much to the immediate environment. There were no neighbours, just short bushes that possibly led to a thick forest.

Taking a deep sigh, I closed the driver's door and walked toward the entrance via a barely visible cemented path.

Once in front of the wooden door that had dark spots here and there as though trying to tell a tale of when it suffered in the embrace of some fire, I took one more look at the still bushes ahead and hoped I wasn't going to regret my decision to trace Bryan's steps.

The next second, creaking sounds invaded my ears, and my eyes met an unexpected sight.

Bryan's parents.

Seated facing each other, hands laced together, a small smile planted on their faces, it was easy to tell the state of their existence.

I would guess and say it has been two months since they've been that way.

Bryan must be really skillful considering the fact that their bodies weren't decayed or giving a foul smell.

And it seemed his parents only had each other. With no friends occasionally visiting them, it makes sense that no one has found them in that state.

But why?

Why would Bryan do such a thing? What kind of weird thoughts are planted in his head that he would leave his parents' dead bodies out in the open as if they were museum artifacts?

I channelled my attention on the seated corpses and I soon realised that not only were the bodies well-groomed, but the entire room wore a look that might shame a cleaning machine. The room was devoid of any dirt, not even a speck of dust.

Trust me, I checked.

As I tried to wrap my head around the entire situation, I heard a giggle from the far end of the house.

Thankfully, the house was a bungalow, and that made things a lot easier. I won't have to climb squeaking stairs and give my presence away.

As my steps advanced, the sounds became clearer. With the giggle and a low voice reaching my ears, it was clear that Bryan Lockwood was not alone.

Once in front of the door that would lead me to Bryan, I paused my steps and recalled what I aim to achieve with my intrusion into Bryan's weird abode.

Once my intention was clear, my left foot did the announcement and it did a good job because the occupants of the room jumped out of their positions, fright on their faces.

It felt so good to see fear in Bryan's eyes, I just had to smirk.

"Oh," I exclaimed softly once my eyes darted to the other person in the room. "Mrs. Cook. I had a feeling I would see you here. What were you two up to?" I scanned their half-nakedness with false delight on my face. "Were you about to have sex? My bad. I'll be quick with what I have to say."

"Don't come closer. Don't. I'm warning you," a shirtless Bryan warned.

"What are you going to do?" I asked almost excitedly as my steps advanced into the room. "Torture me to death then dress me in your nicest cloth?"

"How did you find me?"

"The same way you found out who I am," I replied and grabbed a plastic chair close by. As I sat and crossed my legs, fear began to leave Bryan and he looked more confident.

That confidence was displayed in his voice as he asked, "Why are you here?"

"Hmm..." My eyes darted to Mrs. Cook who began to shake her head, it was as though she was begging me to not say anything about the other day. "I am here to confirm a thing or two."

"What?" Bryan harshly asked.

"I won't waste your time, I promise. Staying here for a long time isn't something I plan to do, trust me."

Lips squeezed to bite his nervousness away, Bryan took steps towards me, sat on the edge of the bed, and stared right into my eyes.

It was clear what he wanted to achieve by doing that. And it seems he had been misinformed by his source of information.

Not even Maximus keeps a locked gaze with me for a long time. My lingering gaze always tickles him in a bad way, so he used to say.

As the sound of me clearing my throat filled the room, I adjusted my posture, placed my hand underneath my chin, and waited for Bryan to break his unnecessary contact.

Barely seconds passed when he took a deep sigh and said, "Just say what you are here for."

"What do you want from Ruby?"

"I don't want her to be with you," Bryan replied without hesitation and that almost caused a frown on my forehead.

"So..." I stole another glance at Mrs. Cook who looked like she was regretting her life decision. "... do you want to be with her?"

He shrugged. "Maybe. I've always fantasised about choking her with my dick, so maybe."

I scoffed inwardly while a small smirk remained on my face. "You have a foul mouth."

"You shouldn't be with her. You are just trying to ruin her."

"And you aren't?"

"I am not."

"Hmm." The next second, my line of sight shifted to my hands which were slowly rubbing against each other. "I know you plan to punish her for 'getting into Caitlin's head', right?"

"What Caitlin and I do is none of her business. So Ruby needs to be taught how to mind her business."

"And how do you plan to do that, when you fully know that I am very much capable of snapping you into half at any chance I'm given?" I asked, the tone of my voice a little intimidating. To add some spice to my words, I shifted forward and glared at him till his fear come back.

"I-"

"During my time as a gangster, I dealt with people worse than you, and trust me, I always made sure to take away their ability to talk back." I felt some kind of thrill. I enjoy how I intimidated him with just the look in my eyes.

"D-did you cut off people's tongues?" he stuttered

"No. Not at all."

"Then..."

"Their dicks. Sometimes the balls. Sometimes both," I said with a carefree tone.

"Oh." That fright was finally back. It then became clear that Bryan was not all he claimed to be.

"Yes. So, you had better think twice before you touch Ruby because I am sure your penis is special to you," I said while I glanced at his groin area.

"Is that all?"

"Why did you send that woman to my door?"

"Her?" Bryan pointed in Mrs. Cook's direction. "I was trying to have some fun with you but it seems you are not easy to break."

"Why do you keep acting as if you can get on my nerves? You are just a little boy, there's nothing you can do to me."

"You think so? How about if I finally get Ruby on her knees? How about I make you helpless then have you watch her suck my thick cock?"

I didn't mean to, but a chuckle escaped my lips. It then graduated to a burst of loud laughter. "Seriously..." I saw the frown on Bryan's face and I just had to laugh some more. "You sure talk a lot. And you sure talk a lot of nonsense. Thick cock? Please."

"What is so funny?"

"You."

"I mean it, I'll have Ruby kidnapped and-"

"Shut up," I growled at him. Once his mouth clamped shut, I relaxed my made-up stern face and I began to laugh again at how easy it was to scare him.

"I don't know what is so funny. You had better not get on my nerves," he warned again and I noted how cute he looked

"Hmm..." I commented once my laughter reduced.

"Why are you even here?"

"Why are you keeping a leash on your teacher?" I asked one of the questions I have been curious about.

"She deserves it. She said something she wasn't supposed to say beside me. Do you want to know what that is?" My brows raised slightly in response. "Your name. She said your name."

My smirk grew bigger. "Does Adonis Klaus bother you that much?"

"Yes. And sometimes, I dream of getting rid of you." I wished to pity Bryan because the hatred in his eyes made it clear that he had his sanity. But, in all trutuffulney, he is not someone that deserves pity. He doesn't deserve a pinch of pity.

"Good luck with that, Bryan Lockwood. Now, to my real reason for being here..."

"I thought you were done."

"Oh no..." I got up slowly. "I am afraid, this is just the beginning."

"Can you just leave me alone?"

"No." I moved like a predator slowly aiming for his very delicious prey. "I can't leave you alone."

"Why?" His back hit the bed and I swiftly leaned closer, my thighs spread to cage him.

"Ben Xylem..." His pupils dilated sharply and I knew that I was on track. "... you know him, don't you?"

"Why?" The confidence in his voice was fully gone.

"What kind of question is that? Do I need to remind you?"

"How did you-"

I pinned his arms with my hands to prevent him from escaping. After all I have gone through to fish him out, he must not escape.

So, with a glint of darkness in my tone, I asked, "Do I need to remind you that you are the one that killed Ben Xylem? Or have you forgotten so fast?"