Adonis

The fact that I was frequenting the gang's hideout a bit too much was starting to annoy me.

Grunting as I jumped off the last step of the ladder, I recalled how I decided to leave the Xylem gang. I made sure to drill it into my head that I wasn't going to step foot on their cursed grounds anymore but it seemed the future had other plans. The future mocked my then-present.

But it is fine.

Because I am not doing it because I want to take revenge or because I am helping Maximus and his boys force people to cough out gold. No, I am doing it because someone dear to me can get hurt.

It is a new thing for me, though... protecting someone with all my might.

All my life, I have never gotten protection, not even from my parents.

Ever since my father sold me to the Xylem gang, I learnt to safeguard my life by myself. I used crude methods to secure my safety. I made sure I was feared no matter what. I did anything to make sure I wasn't walked over by people.

So, it is strange that I am doing this.

But as my head played the earlier scene where Bryan placed his stinking hands on Ruby, I felt a surge in my emotions. Not only do I want to protect Ruby, but I will also get rid of that psycho no matter what.

Especially now that Bryan has refused to pay for his crimes and die, it is time for me to fully play a part and make sure he and the unknown forces after Ruby pay for the deadly thoughts in their head.

Thankfully, there was no dangerous sport going on in the hideout.

The quiet that welcomed me as my footsteps advanced toward my destination made my lips tug out a small smile.

After a few steps, I was in front of the room where Maximus was likely to be and on pushing the door open, I walked into a meeting among the big men of Xylem gang. They are the unseen forces that are responsible for some decisions in the gang and sometimes, in the country.

The dimly lit room also accommodated a woman who was doing her job of entertaining the men with her pole and soft background music.

I took a look at every person in the room before I took more steps forward and as I noted the faces, it occurred to me that I could use that opportunity to find out the forces trying to doom Ruby.

My eyes locked with Maximus whose right arm was wearing a cast signed by his uncle who supposedly has a hand in Ruby's issue.

"Isn't this the prodigal Adonis Klaus?" One of the silver-haired men in the room asked a bit too delightfully.

Another scoffed. "There is nothing prodigal about this one. I heard he has his ass whipped because of a high school student."

"Who knew he liked them pure and innocent?" the first man asked and the rest laughed apart from Maximus and a bald man who didn't look familiar to me.

"What is going on here?" I asked sternly. "Is this some meeting to decide someone's fate?"

"We always have these meetings to decide people's fate," Maximus's uncle finally spoke, his eyes twinkling with bad intent. I could see right through him and I couldn't help but smirk. "Don't tell me you have quickly forgotten those days we spent together deciding who needed to die or live."

I closed the door with a bang to make them flinch. While they tried to pretend that they didn't jump in reaction, I wore a smirk, grabbed a chair, placed it beside Maximus, and sat down.

Then, I replied to his question. "How can I forget those days? They haunt me to this very day."

"Are you back from your break? Or you are here for something else?" Matt Xylem asked.

"I am here to issue you a warning but it seems I might catch some fun before I do that." My head gestured towards the strange man in the gathering. "Who is he?"

"You mean you don't recognize him?" Maximus finally talked, his voice wearing surprise.

"Am I supposed to?" My sight drilled into the man who was seated as calmly as possible. "Have I met him before?"

"You don't remember?"

My head sharply darted in Maximus's direction. "Kill the suspense and just tell me who he is."

Matt chuckled from where he was and when our eyes met, his lips wore a bigger smile. A smile that was way too sinister for my liking. He said, "You don't need to know who he is, you will find out soon enough."

"Is he my replacement?"

"Why would you think that's the case?" he asked with a mocking voice and I scoffed. "Okay, since you want to know so bad, he is our key to getting Ruby Powers in our hold."

I folded my arms instantly as the urge to jump at him filled my soul. I didn't intend to ruin my chances of gaining information, so I kept myself in check.

"Why do you need Ruby Powers?"

"Why do you think we need Ruby Powers?" Matt began to test me. His eyes were now narrowed at me and I could read his challenge.

"I can think of two things." My back relaxed into the chair and my legs stretched to find more room. "One, you have a deal with Bryan Lockwood. Two, you want something from Ruby's father."Matt sneered. And I said, "I can tell that I am right."

"There are other reasons you didn't figure out. But I'll give it to you, you are still as smart as always. Too bad you decided to run away from your fate."

"And I have to point out..." I quickly spoke. I refused to let his disdain-filled words get cold. "You still don't listen to advice. You still haven't realised how terrible having tattoos on your skin is. You still look like an evil bag of rice."

Matt's laughter filled the room. And since I had no care for what he found humourous, I continued.

'Why did you let Bryan go? He killed your nephew."

"Bryan is an important person to me, he is more important than my nephew." His reply had most of the men sharing looks.

From the corner of my eyes, I watched Maximus's jaws clench hard and I finally understood how Bryan was able to escape.

"Matt Xylem..." I got off my seat and slowly approached the man. My action must have been so intimidating that the music died immediately.

"How dare you call me by my name?" Matt asked sternly but there was so much fear in his eyes, it made my job easy.

On getting to his seat, I caged him with my hands holding onto each side of the couch. "Matt Xylem..." His back could have dissolved and mixed with the dark hue of the couch if it could. "What secret of yours does Bryan know? What is he using against you?"

"Wh-what are you babbling about? I don't have any secrets!"

"Really?" I glanced in Maximus's direction for some seconds. "Are you certain? You don't have anything to tell Maximus?"

As I watched Maximus frown, I faced the visibly frightened man. Oof... so much for being high and mighty.

"What do you think you are saying? I don't have any secrets!"

"Alright then! I'll keep that in mind when I begin to check for facts."

"What do you plan to do?" he asked while I walked back to my seat.

"Don't be stupid, Matt. You know what I'm going to do."

"You won't find anything," he claimed, his confidence re-surfacing.

"I hope I don't. Because if I do, I'll make sure you have no choice but to leave Ruby alone." My eyes locked with his and I put a more decisive punctuation to my statement. "I promise you."

"You won't find anything."

"Oh, trust me, I will. I might not be part of the gang but I still remember how things work. So, I am going to trace my way to the truth you are hiding, Matt Xylem."

"This is bullshit!" The man leapt to his feet got. "This is absolute crap! You can't come inside here and run your mouth like you run this place. Gentlemen, let's leave this place and have our conversation in a sane place."

I chuckled heartily because I could read devastation all over the man. I got to him well and I was going to use his fear to my advantage.

"What was that about?" Maximus whispered to me once the men rushed out of the room.

I glanced at his arm. "What happened to your arm? Bryan?"

"That boy is a beast. He needs to be put down. But..." His eyes flew toward the door. "He has too many powerful men behind him. So, what's the deal with my uncle? I knew something was off when he commanded me to release Bryan even though I was close to getting that bastard."

"I have a feeling that Bryan wasn't the only one involved in your brother's death."

Maximus frowned as he processed my words. "Why would my uncle murder my brother?"

"To create a rift. If you recall clearly, I left the gang after Ben's death. While that have might not been part of Matt's plan, it worked in his favour."

Maximus nodded. "You have a point. He has been eyeing the throne even before my grandfather died. It makes sense that he wished to create a rift."

"You should keep an eye on him. I might hate what the gang is up to these days but I don't wish for it to crash when you are still the leader. I know how much it means to you.'

"You sound so weird. Almost like you have become a softie, but I know that gangster blood is still inside you."

"Please..." I chuckled.

"You should be careful. Bryan really does have a lot of powerful men behind him and he uses them to his advantage."

"I know." I sighed. "But I am more concerned about Ruby. She doesn't deserve any of this drama."

Maximus assured me with me a simple pat on my shoulder. "I know you will do a good job of protecting her. You always do a good job when it comes to things you like and this Ruby won't be an exception."

I nodded as his words assured me that I will do a good job. A few seconds later, I got up. "I should leave. I have to get up early tomorrow."

"You and I know that you will never be punctual to that school."

I smiled. "You are right about that."

"How's the job as a teacher going?"

"Oh, you know, sometimes it is nice, sometimes it is tiring. But it is fun with her around."

"Just don't do things that would put Ruby Powers in trouble," he said as he walked me to the door. "As you said, she doesn't deserve to face ridiculous drama."

"I wouldn't dare to dream about that," I responded and he could tell that I meant it.

I could tell it too.