Chapter 29:Crazy Richard

"Anthony what were you thinking!" Jerry asked and all Anthony could do was a seat with a casual demeanor. He didn't feel scared a bit. For all he cared, Richard could do whatever he wanted because he was done with the confraternity.

"I did what I had to do. He was going to kill that lady"

"Now he will kill you. How clever was it for you to come up with this?"

"He won't find out I snitched to Xavier"

"You think Richard is stupid. He will figure it out with a snap of the finger"

"I'm not scared of him" Anthony snapped angrily at Jerry and leaned back in his seat.

"Of course, you are not. Do you realize how crazy Richard can be? If he gets the slightest clue that you betrayed him, he will end you"

Anthony turned to look at Jerry in annoyance. "Whose side are you on?"

"Of course, I'm on your side"Jerry yelled.

"Then act like this. Richard is weak. He only barks but doesn't bite. If he wants to take me down, I won't without a fight" he spoke with a lot of determination in his voice.

Silence followed. Jerry settled beside Anthony. He brought out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and reached for a stick. He then placed it on Anthony's lips and ignited it with a lighter. As Anthony puffed out smoke from his mouth, Jerry spoke. "You are leaving?" He asked softly and Anthony nodded.

"But you said..."

"Forget what I said. I'm leaving. I don't care if Richard declares me as his enemy"

"You don't want to be boss again?"

"Things like that take a gradual process and I'm willing to follow that process"

*********

As she stared at the food, tears welled up in her eyes. She swallowed hard, feeling the salty taste at the back of her throat. Due to her constant crying, she was already used to that taste.

Richard ate nonchalantly, but when her tears irritated him, he banged his fist on the table, causing a cold shiver to run down her spine. She shuddered, looking up at him, beholding the look of terror his eyes held.

"Why aren't you eating?"

"I don't want to" why must he force her every time to eat? Didn't he realize that keeping her here would hinder her appetite? He did her good by bringing her out of that room today, but she wanted more. She wanted total liberation.

He snickered and took a mouthful of food. When he finished chewing, he opened his mouth to speak. "I guess you'll prefer I feed you with my own hands," he said. Her tears flowed down like a river and her heart stung.

"I can't get it past my throat," she said truthfully. It wasn't because of the way it looked or tasted. As a matter of fact, The steak looked sumptuous, compared to the last meal she had with him. The situation she was in deterred her from craving any food.

Richard was about to part his lips to speak again when one of his guards walked in on the two of them. With the look on Richard's face, it was easy to point out he was angry for being interrupted, but he didn't show it. h

He turned to look at the olive-skinned, brown-eyed man dressed in all black.

"What is it, Alfonso?" He snapped at the bodyguard.

"We need to talk boss, it's urgent" The guard's voice was in a state of urgency and Richard noticed it.

He hesitated for a while before getting up from his seat and leaving with his guard. The mistake he made was to leave his phone behind. Rachael didn't lose her chance. She grabbed the phone the moment he left.

Instead of calling the police, she dialed Xavier's number instead. it was a miracle she knew his number. She brought her shaky hands to her ear as she looked around the place while it rang.

As if he had been waiting for the call, it answered on the first ring. "Richard," he spat in anger at the other end of the phone.

"Xavier it's me" her gravelly voice came forth.

"Rachael?" He asked almost I'm disbelief"

"Xavier I'm scared, I don't know what he wants to do with me. He is crazy Xavier, very crazy"

"Do you know where you are?".

"How am I supposed to" she snapped at him. She was already feeling frustrated and the fact that Richard could barge into her any moment from now doubled her anxiety.

"The call will be tracked and I will get you, Rachael, I promise"

"Be quick...." She tried to complete her statement, but someone jacked her by her neck from behind and the phone slipped off her shaky hands

"You bitch!" Richard pushed her to the table with his hands still on her neck. He then brought the phone from the floor and placed It close to her.

Her hair was tugged forcefully by him, cursing her to cry out in pain. Xavier was still on the line, and she was sure he heard her cry. Richard didn't stop there. He shoved her face into his dish and smeared it around until he was satisfied.

"Hear that Collin" he shouted like a psycho. "Now you know how I felt" With that said, he took the phone and hurled it forcefully to the wall, ensuring it shattered.

"Please" Rachael begged when he looked at her. He was furious, she knew and she feared what he might do to her. She was still battling with the sauce on her face when he yanked her by her hair and pulled her upstairs. Her scalp hurt with the way he pulled, but he didn't care.

"Guess who's moving again bitch?" he yelled at her face when they got to her room door. He opened the door and threw her in. " I try my best, my best" he groaned in frustration. "Not to hurt you, but you still find a way of getting on my bad side." He said in a softer tone, but Rachael knew better than to relax. He was calm now but was surely going to flare up again.