Chapter 24 24

Chapter 24 24

GEORGIA

"Why aren't you saying anything, Rhys? Emily said you vowed to protect her."

Rhys drew a long deep breath, then he looked away. His hand was still tightened around the gun, but his eyes were roving, bloodshot and uneasy. I'd already sensed that something was going on, but now I wondered how grave the circumstances were.

I had walked into that meeting at a pivotal moment. There was something about the way they scampered about to regain composure. But I didn't fail to see the guns pointed at Rhys. I was tempted to think it was some sort of underground ritual, but my curiosity would not be fed. What was the proceeding of that meeting, who were those invited, and what conclusion were they able to arrive at before my entrance?

"Rhys." I drew a long breath and tightened my grip. We were still in the elevator, and the ride back down was longer than the one that brought me up. "I know I am not a regular wife, or someone you would trust with a secret. But Emily is my friend. I'm concerned for her safety. The man who attacked her was quite determined to take her out. And Emily..."

"Some issues are out of bounds for you, Georgia. It is suddenly snapped. "As soon as we get down, you will head to your suilockked the door and go to sleep. You have already committed an offence disrupting the meeting between the made-men. Do you know what offence that is? No woman has ever dared what you did tonight." He stopped and stomped his foot angrily. "I mean, what kind of wife are you?"

"The one who was wedded forcefully." I spat. "Everything here, this compound, this life is in a cage! If I'm at least going to man, age I need to be assured of my safety. There is a criminal on the loose hunting innocent women like me and you ask me to shut up. No, I mean," I moved closer and poked my finger at his nose. "What kind of man are you? Emily is innocent, now she's at the point of death for something I don't understand!"

"This matter is beyond you, Ia," Rhys said calmly. "How many times do I have to tell you? You should know your place, and it is beside me."

"No!" My voice went over my head. "My place is behind the desk, typing articles and aiding investigations against criminals like you!"

"You will never return there." He grabbed my hand. "I care for your soul Eliza, don't you see?"

"I don't care, get your arms off me. What is going to happen to Emily?"

"Emily is going to be fine, and if she dies, she will get a befitting burial."

My haflewuew to the air, but Rhys caught it before it could land on his face.

"Peace now, dear wife," he said, "You don't want to awaken the beast now do you?'

"No, I want you, Dad," I screamed. "I want lying by the swimming pool, bleeding and writhing in pain. How could you have sex something like that? Does human life mean nothing to you?"

"You know this organised crime, and we've assembled tonight to find a solution. I can't do anything about this not without the support of the others."

At those words, I felt the urge to explode. I wanted to scream. Tell Rhys how I knew of Emily's twin sister and how some bastards had her moved from the mental asylum. I wanted to talk about the babies she's had, and the cruelty she'd been put through.

"Emily is my friend," I said instead, unable to suppress my emotions. "She is innocent, kind-hearted and loving. You promised to protect her but you failed."

"Well, it wasn't me. Calvin was also attacked and injured."

"Then who is it, tell me, Rhys. Who is after Emily's life and what does it have to do with you?"

I saw conflict on his face, but he shook it off.

"There is more to Emily but I don't know. But I want her to live, and I want to get justice."

"There can't be any form of justice Georgia. The underground life is not a fairy tale."

"Then who is behind all of this! Tell me! Now!"

"Fine! It's Vanya Delano!"

A bomb of silence exploded; at the same time, the elevator touched ground. Rhys was made to walk out, but I stepped in his path, blocking him.

"Tell me everything, don't keep any more secrets.

"I don't have anything more to say to you, Georgia. Get your hands out of this case and stay away from Emily. I'll make sure she's taken to a good hospital or gotten a private word here in the mansion but you are not to set foot there. This is a very complicated matter. There is no mercy underground and I don't want you lying 6 ft beneath it."

At those words, Rhys brushed past me and went out the stairway that led outside. The words took the breath out of my lungs but I couldn't stay and muse over them—not at this time. I followed behind Rhys discarding his order to return to my suite.

When we got outside, I was surprised to find the entire swimming pool crowded. All the guests were outside, surrounding the crime scene. The paramedics I invited had begun to attend to Emily, there was something utterly shocking on the other side. Camilla was standing there, her face buried in her palms, loud sobs bursting out of her throat. I remembered asking her to watch the attacker, but he wasn't there.

The attacker, the masked man who had tried to strangle Emily was no longer on the floor of the swimming pool. He was gone.

I didn't wait to think, I lifted my gown and dashed towards her.

"Camilla," I called out. "What has happened? Where is your gun?"

"My wife will no longer talk to you." I looked up to find a young man walking towards me. "The entire world knows you to be recalcitrant and disrespectful. But I won't allow you to pollute my wife with your bad manners."

"But José."

"Not a word from you Camilla. This woman will cause you to lack respect for your husband and put him to shame. She has already put you in trouble with that man you shot. You are going to pay for that dearly."

"That man was a kidnapper!

A loud gasp filled the air and all eyes turned on me immediately. Those women already portrayed hatred towards me, but the looks in their eyes were worse.

"That man would have killed Emily if I and Camilla hadn't done something."

"My wife takes orders from me and she obeys them. Unlike you, who has never been anything but trouble."

"Where is the man?" I gestured to the spot I left him at. "I am handing him over to the police for questioning. Who asked him to leave?"

"Yeah, that's it. The rebellious wife is embarrassing my brother again."

I heard Lilith's voice and the other women chattering insults at me, and I went stiff with rage.

"Camilla" I charged towards her. "You saw what that man did. You heard everything the innocent girl said. You couldn't have let that man escape. Tell me where he is right now."

"That is enough, Georgia, you should be inside now."

Rhys finished talking with the paramedics and was approaching me his hand stretched out. "Don't forget what I told you, you need to rest your back. You've been through too much stress for you and the baby."

The crowd gasped again and I felt my eyes popping in their socket.

"She's pregnant?" The women's chattering increased.

"First, he married a disrespectful, troublesome and less honourable woman. And now he's gotten her pregnant? What ridiculousness!"

"Georgia? Come inside. It's been a long night." He took my hand and tried to drag me away, but I stopped him.

"What is that supposed to mean!" I shouted. "Camilla knows what happens with Emily but you are letting her husband shit her up."

"Yes, the same way you should also keep your mouth shut! Didn't I already warn you?"

"I want to go with the paramedics." I insisted.

"You can't do that." He snapped.

"I want to stay in the hospital with her. I don't trust those doctors, I don't trust anyone here."

"We'll discuss this inside Eliza." He signalled to one of his guards and the man bent down and carried me off the ground. I let out a scream, kicking and punching.

"Put me down! You can't be doing this."

"Make sure the maids give my love a warm bath. Her feet also need a massage. She's been really stressed."

"No! Put me down!"

The guard was stronger than I expected; my punches, pinches and kicks felt like balloon jabs to him. He continued walking, ignoring me.

Before he entered the mansion, I threw one last glance at Camilla. She was smitten, her face deathly white, her chest falling up and down with her laboured breathing. She held my gaze for some seconds, tears rolling down her face before finally looking away. I'd gotten her in trouble. I got her involved in this message and to think about how irritating her husband is.

I had to tell Tiana about this. We had to uncover the truth about Vanya Delano and his involvement with the Collins twins. The guard made sure to lock me in the room, but I was less bothered now. I sent a text to Tiana, telling her to appear at Emily's hospital as her relative. I don't trust those people.

I refused the stupid bath and massage Rhys ordered the maids to give me. He'd just told the world I was pregnant, lied actually. And for what reason? That word wasn't even on my list!

Suddenly, the door burst open, the maids scurried out of the room, but I didn't turn around to look.

"You really embarrassed me today Georgia. You were terrible."

"Because I stopped a murder and a potential kidnapping attempt? Well then, I'll embarrass you again, Rhys, over and over."

"That man was one of Vanya's aides. Vanya took him away before the police could be involved."