Chapter 79: Equal Reaction

***Addicus, It's time to use everything I've taught you to get what you want," His father, Marcus, said to young Addicus.***

***"I don't think I'm ready, father," Addicus said weakly.***

***A large hand came crashing hard on his little face in a violent slap and Addicus fell to the ground.***

***"How many times have I told you to never doubt yourself?" His father shouted and picked him up from the ground, "Does the lion doubt itself when it chases after the gazelle? It doesn't.***

***"You are ready to do anything, and more. You're a Worthington, you're my son and you can do anything. Don't ever doubt yourself again, boy. Do you understand me?"***

***"Yes, Father," Addicus said, weepingly.***

***"Now, wipe the tears from your eyes and quit your sobbing! Real men don't cry,"***

***Addicus obeyed.***

***They walked inside the building and Addicus opened his eyes, jolting up with a loud gasp.***

"Boss! Are you okay? Should I get the doctor? He's just in the other room," a guard who was the second in command after JJ asked.

Addicus struggled to get on his feet. He got down from his bed and stumbled around as he walked.

The guard tried to offer him a hand for support, but Addicus shoved him away and walked over to a mirror to stare at himself.

*He had always hated staring at the mirror after Sharon gave him his scar, but now, he wanted to see how bad his face had become after his beating. He hated what he saw. One of his eyes was swollen beyond recognition, his nose was broken and plastered, and his jaw seemed shifted.*

He picked up a gun from his bedstand and shot at the mirror a couple of times, screaming in anger. A lone shard of glass flew out of the mirror and landed right on his face.

The pain was sharp and stinging. Addicus yelled out, now angrier, and held his hurt face with a hand.

"Are you alright, Boss?"

"Do I look like I'm alright, you idiot?" Addicus screamed with a deadly, crazy look in his eyes. "Where are we right now?"

"In one of the safe houses in Navajo,"

"What about the girl?"

"She and the rest of her friends managed to escape."

"Get me JJ! I need to speak to him immediately," Addicus said, unaware of JJ's... **condition**.

"I'm sorry sir but, JJ is dead. He was killed during the escape."

Addicus was silent for a while. The news of JJ's death seemed to have struck a nerve in him, and he was trying to control himself. He didn't want his guard to think he was weak and sad just because one of his men was dead, so he put up an act.

"I always thought that JJ was the best hitman I ever met...but, it turns out that he was just an incompetent fool who couldn't do his job right. The idiot!" Addicus said, and looked at the guard.

"Your name's Will, right?"

"Yes sir,"

"Congratulations, Will! You're my new head of security. Assemble a few men and await my orders. As for now, I want to be alone."

"Of course, Sir. Thank you and I promise you that I will do a good job," Will said happily, and left Addicus alone in the room.

Addicus went back to bed and laid down on the mattress. He closed his eyes and slowly dozed off. He began having dreams about the memory of the day he met JJ who was just an orphaned teenager that tried to rob him.

He had been so impressed by JJ's courage and audacious personality that he took him in and had him trained to be his bodyguard. JJ was more than just an employee to him; ***he was more like family***. Addicus had been struck a very hard blow and while he slept, the one thing on his mind, aside from JJ, was his thoughts for revenge.

"This isn't over, Sharon! I will surely make you pay for this," he whispered to himself and closed his eyes.

.

.

.

Sharon woke up from her sleep and stared at the ceiling. She was restless because of the fact that she had the chance to kill Addicus but didn't take it.

Her mind was at war with her choice. ***Why would you leave him alive just because you wanted him to be awake when you killed him? Why delay the opportunity to finally be free of him? Why give him another chance to try to hurt you? You fool!***

She looked by her side and Peter was sleeping. He looked so calm and peaceful. She stroked his face and smiled at him, thankful that she had met him.

She got up from bed and went into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Chris had been moved to the couch so she checked on him, and he was sleeping as well.

Going into the bathroom, Sharon poured some water on her face and decided to try and get some sleep. She went back to bed and got under the covers.

Peter rolled towards her and kissed her on the cheek. She smiled and turned to face him.

"Addicus?" She asked in shock.

He gave her a wicked smile and got over her, using his hand to cover her mouth.

"You should have killed me when you had the chance," Addicus said with a deranged laugh.

He uncovered her mouth and she screamed out for help, but none was forthcoming.

"Scream all you want, my dear, but no one is coming to help you."

He took out his gun and aimed at her head.

**He fired!**

Sharon woke up screaming in fright and Peter woke up beside her and held her.

"My love, what is it?" Peter asked.

"Addicus! He was just about to kill me," Sharon said, her body shaking.

"It was just a dream. Addicus isn't here, and he won't ever hurt you again." Peter said, trying to calm her down.

"I should have just done it when I had the chance. I should have killed him and ended this nightmare of a life once and for all. Why didn't I do it?" She scolded herself, wondering why she didn't just finish it.

"Killing him with one single gunshot would have been mercy for someone like him. He deserves to die for what he's done to you, but he has to suffer first, and he will," Peter told her, trying to convince her that she made the right choice.

"Come on! Let's go back to sleep. We'll need to be fresh for tomorrow."

"We'll be okay Sharon! I promise."

******************

Morning finally arrived and Peter was up before Sharon was. He had gone downstairs and was making breakfast with Victoria's help. Hector was outside on the porch with a cup of coffee in his hand, still keeping watch.

The smell of the meal and the rumble of her tummy woke Sharon up. She went downstairs and quickly found her way to the kitchen.

"Buenos Diaz, Sharon," Victoria greeted her with a warm smile.

"Buenos Diaz, Vicky. I see the two of you are already at work. What is this delicacy I perceive?" Sharon asked with a smile.

"Nothing fancy, just regular breakfast," Peter replied modestly.

"Well, there's nothing regular about that aroma."

"Tell me about it! It smells like perfection on a Thanksgiving table," Chris said, standing right behind Sharon.

"Oh, my God! Chris! You're awake...and up on your feet. That's wonderful." Sharon said happily and hugged Chris.

"Ow, ow! Careful there. Still a bit sore from being shot, remember?" Chris said playfully.

"Of course, of course, I'm sorry."

"Peter told me that you were the one who got the bullet out and most likely saved my life. Thank you."

"I was only returning the favor. You risked your life to help me, so I did my best to help you," Sharon said.

"And your best was enough! I feel really good," Chris said with a broad smile.

"I'm glad to hear that. You must be starving, I know I am. Come, let's eat."

Chris found a stool and sat in the kitchen and helped himself to some food.

"Where's Hector?" Sharon asked, realizing that she hadn't seen him that morning.

"He's outside, still keeping watch. He really doesn't think we're safe here," Victoria replied.

"And he's right. Addicus knows about this place. He's already attacked us here once, and he's probably going to do so again. We just need to come up with a plan, and then we'll leave."

"So what do we do next?"

"I don't know, Vicky, but what I do know is that he's going to come for us. He always does," Sharon answered.