Chapter 97 Chapter 97
Amelia
I woke up to the ache in my throat and an unsettling silence. The air conditioner hummed softly in the background, and my head pounded dully. It took me a moment to piece together the events that had led me to this moment.
As memories flooded back, I sat up quickly, feeling a wave of heaviness wash over me. It was like the weight of grief was pressing down on me, making my body feel sluggish. I reached up to touch my neck, my fingers tracing the swollen skin where Declan's fingers had dug in.
The pain was sharp, like a knife's edge, and I winced involuntarily. My neck felt like it was on fire, and I could feel the bruises forming.
I knew I couldn't stay in that room, surrounded by the memories of what had happened. I needed to get out, to move, to do something.
I stood up, my legs feeling a bit unsteady beneath me, and made my way downstairs. As I entered the living room, I was greeted by the sound of grime voices and Maxwell's sharp tone. He was pacing back and forth, phone pressed to his ear, his jaw clenched tight.
"I don't care how much it costs," he was saying. "Just track it. Every number that's come in and out since yesterday. I want something."
I stepped into the room quietly, taking in the scene before me. Maxwell's eyes flicked up to mine, and he ended the call abruptly. "I will call you back," he said, his voice firm.
His gaze lingered on mine, and I saw the exhaustion etched on his face. He looked like he hadn't slept at all. His face was swollen, and there were dark bags under his eyes.
I tried to speak, but my voice came out raspy and strained. "Did anyone call?" I managed to whisper, my throat aching with each word. "I mean... the kidnappers?"
Maxwell shook his head, his expression grim. “No one called.” He said.
I shook my head, feeling a surge of frustration and anger. "Fuck!!" I exclaimed, my voice barely above a croak.
His gaze flickered briefly to my throat, then back to my face, and I saw anger flash in his eyes, but it wasn’t directed at me. “You need to take care of that,” he said, pointing at my neck, his voice low and rough. “I will call the doctor.”
I tried to protest, but my voice came out strained and barely audible, the words scraping against my sore throat. “No... no need... just... kids...” I managed to whisper, waving him off, my hand trembling slightly.
His jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, his eyes flashing with frustration. “For fucks sake, listen to me,” he growled, and I flitched at the sound, my neck aching in response. “There's a clearly visible mark on your neck and it looks swollen, your voice... you are hurting. I don’t want this getting out of hand and people thinking I did this to you out of rage, especially your crazy friend. You are getting treatment,” he said in a tone that left no room for argument, his words clipped and sharp.
I nodded slowly, my heart racing with a mix of frustration and fear, my neck throbbing in pain. “Why... why would they...” I struggled to get the words out, my voice breaking, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. “...send that... not call?”
Maxwell exhaled slowly, his expression softening slightly, and he took another step closer, his voice gentler now. “They are playing psychological games, Amelia. Trying to get under our skin.”
My hands trembled as I spoke, my words tumbling out in a rush, “I... I don’t trust Declan... think he’s behind...” I forced the words out, my throat aching, my eyes locked on his. “What do you think?”
He stared at me, his expression hard, his eyes searching mine, before he finally spoke, his voice firm. “We are going to the hospital right now. You need to get checked out, and we need to get you some painkillers for this,” he said, gesturing to my neck, his jaw clenched tight.
I nodded again, my movements stiff, and he turned to leave, his voice dropping to a low growl. “Go get ready, I will be waiting for you in the car.”
After a thorough examination and treatment at the hospital, the doctor administered a few medications and said I would be fine, the pain in my neck and throat slowly starting to recede. Maxwell finally calmed down, his expression softening as he looked at me, his eyes lingering on the marks on my neck.
We drove back in silence, the tension between us palpable, until I finally broke it. "I need to visit my parents," I said, my voice still a bit rough from the strain on my throat.
Maxwell nodded and changed direction, taking me to my parents' place. As he pulled up in front of their building, he turned to me, his expression softening. "Call me when you are done, I will send the driver to come pick you up," he said, his eyes searching mine.
I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. "I was thinking, how about we go to the police station to lay a complaint again," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Ever since we met with the officers at my parents' place, Maxwell had refused to let us talk to the police, not wanting to complicate the issue.
He turned to me, his expression hardening. "I am getting scared by the minute, what if they do something more drastic this time?" I asked, my voice cracking.
Maxwell's jaw clenched. "I am meeting with those that have more intel and can track those bastards once I leave here," he said in a cold voice. "They will be apprehended soon." I knew he wasn’t going to agree to going to the police.
The truth is, I was actually going to meet my parents and ask that we meet the police again, but I didn’t want Maxwell to know since he insisted I shouldn’t involve the police. I wasn’t going to just sit and watch, not after they sent a finger.
He was about to drive off when a woman walked out of my parents' building. I looked at her closely and recognized her as Adrian's mom, and my eyes narrowed in confusion. What was she doing here at my parents' place?
She walked towards her car while my parents stood at the doorstep, their eyes fixed on her, their expressions tense and uneasy. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken words, and I could sense the weight of their emotions. My parents' faces were tight, their eyes clouded with worry, and I could tell they were relieved she was leaving.
"What is Mrs Cole doing in your parents' house?" Maxwell asked, looking at the scene with a shock on his face which mirrored mine too.
"You know her too?" I asked, then realized how stupid the question sounded. Of course, he would know her. She is his number one rival's mom.
Mrs Cole got into her car and drove off, barely noticing Maxwell and me, her face showing anger as she drove off.
He looked at me, "That's Rhea's mom, Adrian is Rhea's younger brother. I thought you knew," he said, and my eyes went wide in shock.
“You say what!!” I asked in shock.