Chapter 28 DISTURBING
\[IXORA'S HOUSE\]
The door creaked open, and Blake walked in. He rested his back on the door, a smile on his face as he watched Ixora still dancing crazily to the music.
This time, Ixora was no longer chanting about Drexton. Her arms were spread apart, while her hips swayed to the rhythm of the music. She had loosened her bun and was shaking her hair crazily.
Blake cleared his throat, announcing his presence.
Ixora spun around and saw him. "Oh," she muttered, pausing the music.
"You should have knocked," she said, uncorking the bottled water.
"I did. You were so engrossed that you didn't hear me," Blake sat beside her.
"Hmm," she muttered, gulping a large amount of water.
"And besides, I wouldn't have entered if you were naked. I'm a good boy," he said and winked at her.
Ixora rolled her eyes, placing the water on the table.
"So, tell me why you were so happy?"
Ixora's mind drifted to Drexton. "When you haven't seen your worst nightmare for two days, it's worth celebrating," she mumbled to Blake's hearing.
Blake raised his brow. "Nightmare?"
She palmed her forehead. "What am I saying? Why did you come?"
"Is it now a crime to visit?" Blake teased.
"Come on," Ixora punched his arm slightly.
"You have Skye."
"He went to the agency...got a crush on Bonnie, and Audrey went with him. Probably waiting for his heartbreak."
Ixora nodded, tracing her gaze downward. She remembered Bonnie's words and exhaled.
How was she going to say that Bonnie had a thing for Drexton? With the way she threatened her, she knew Skye had no chance with her.
How did Bonnie know Drexton?
An ex?
But Drexton had never dated. She knew a lot about him during those times she was stalking him.
Blake placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft, laced with concern.
She smiled though it didn't reach her cheeks.
Blake took her hand into his, his eyes going soft.
"I know something is bothering you, Xora. I promise not to pressure you to tell me about it. I want you to know that you can talk to me anytime of the day, and I will always support you," Blake spoke in a soft voice.
Ixora's eyes locked with his, her eyes turning misty. She wanted someone to talk to. She had a lot of things to say. She wanted to tell her about Drexton. Bonnie. The keytar. Everything. But something was holding her back. The words couldn't come out of her mouth. She hadn't found the right words to use. She had so much going on. She...
She circled her arm around his neck, engulfing him in a tight hug. Blake wrapped his arm around her back. His hand traced through her long hair.
She sniffled and slowly broke the hug.
"I will be in the bathroom," she said, and left before he could say a thing.
Blake sighed and gently lay on the bed.
He opened his palm and stared at the hairpin.
Something was troubling her. He could sense it. She doesn't want to open up to him. And there was he who had been in love with her, longer than he could remember.
Audrey says it's a one-sided love. He had no idea if she only sees him as a friend.
"Help me," he whispered to the hairpin.
\[HELL DEVILS' HIDEOUT\]
Maddox came downstairs and saw Jaxon's eyes fixed on the screen. His eyes haven't left the screen since Drexton told him about the death.
Jaxon felt his presence and shifted his eyes to him.
"The hospital?"
Maddox nodded.
"Vaughn's daughter was murdered before Drexton could get to her," Jaxon muttered.
"Somebody else wanted her dead," Maddox added.
"Drexton..."
A call came to Maddox's phone, interrupting Jaxon.
"Will be there," Maddox muttered.
He glanced at Jaxon before leaving the hideout.
\[CREED'S HOSPITAL\]
"What is the ward?" Maddox asked the first nurse he saw on his way in.
"S...sir," she stuttered.
Maddox's eyes turned dark. "Speak," he said, his tone low but firm.
"S...she's waiting at your of...fice."
She? He had no girl in his life. And someone had the guts to enter his office.
He left, heading straight to his office.
He forcefully pushed the door open, stepping into his office.
Truly, a lady was in. She had her back to him.
Maddox didn't talk. He fixed his eyes on the person whose back was still to him. He stared, and the more he stared, he began recalling something.
Stacy.
She was Stacy, Bonnie's bitchy friend. He and the guys knew everything about Bonnie by digging into her life. It doesn't matter. What mattered was that she made him come to this shithole of a hospital.
His eyes grew darker, his eyes still fixed on her back.
Stacy chose the time to turn. She flashed him a smile, which he didn't see.
Maddox walked to his chair and sat.
"I..."
Maddox cut her off.
"Emergency."
Stacy felt her throat run dry. "I...My head is aching a lot, and I chose to visit the hospital," she lied.
Maddox's eyes bore into her. For so long that she had goosebumps.
He tapped on a button.
A few minutes later, the receptionist walked in.
She was shaking. Trembling.
"Why did you let her in?"
"Sir...she threatened me and said I would lose my job if I didn't....
Bang.
A bullet was fired.
"Ahh!" A scream escaped her mouth.
Stacy flinched with a slack jaw and wide eyes as she saw the receptionist dropping dead to the ground.
She immediately took her eyes to Maddox and saw him blowing the smoke out of the rifle.
She gasped when he pointed the gun at her.
"Please don't kill me. I..." Tears began rolling down her cheeks.
Maddox released a cruel smirk. He stood and began walking towards her.
Stacy walked backward until her back reached the wall, and she became trapped.
Maddox got to her and pressed the gun onto her forehead. Hard.
Stacy closed her eyes. She was shaking visibly.
"You love me. You want me. You crave me," he muttered, cruelly pressing the gun hard on her forehead.
Stacy opened her mouth to talk. Maddox used that opportunity to push the gun into her mouth.
"Should I pull the trigger?" he asked, the cruel smirk still dancing on his lips.
Stacy shook her head, feeling choked by the gun that was hitting her throat. Her eyes had bulged out.
"Use your words," he ordered, pushing the gun further into her mouth.
She gagged.
"N...no," her words came out inaudibly.
A text notification chimed into Maddox's phone, interrupting his next words.
He groaned inwardly and removed the gun from her mouth.
Stacy began coughing loudly, tears still streaking down her cheeks.
"This is just a warning. The next time you try this, you will be pleading for your mercy. Clear the body," he warned in a cold voice.
He went inside the bathroom and walked out almost immediately.
The silencer was no longer with him. He walked past her and left the office as if he weren't the one who threatened Stacy with a gun.
Stacy stood straight and wiped her tears. How could he do this to her? She has feelings for him, and he... He wasn't what he portrayed himself as. He is not normal.
She got to the body and began thinking of ways to get rid of it before he would come back.
\[IXORA'S ROOM\]
Ixora threw on her nightie after drying her body. She climbed the bed and checked her phone for Drexton's text, but saw none.
She knew earlier she was celebrating because he hadn't tormented her for two days. She was scared. He had gone silent, and it was disturbing.
Has he finally decided to let her go, or is he? His silence was disturbing. She knew he was weird and creepy. A monster and a sadist.
She wouldn't have been worried if he had just left, but he left right after she made a deal with him.
She had promised to give him anything he asked in return for saving Hazel's life. So, literally—she owes him.
The devil does not go silent, and his was—DISTURBING.
She had no idea what was going on in his mind, and the fact that she owed him made it worse.
~Have a good night's sleep, pretty. Sweet dreams (sleep emoji).
She reads
James just sent her a goodnight text. She was not surprised. After their outing, he had been doing it. He was not that bad after all, at least he's better than Drexton.
She smiled and wanted to keep her phone when another text came in.
Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the sender.
Hazel.
~Let's meet at the bridge tomorrow. One last chance.
Ixora stared at the message. Stunned.