Chapter 33: Jerry's betrayal

"You sounded urgent over the phone," Richard said to Jerry who was seated in front of him.

"Yes boss

"Spill" he instructed, lighting the cigarette stick on his lips.

"Anthony is planning on taking over this confraternity. He wants to kill you " he blurted out.

Richard chortled, puffing out the excess smoke from his lips. "How is he going to do that?"

"I don't know, but that's what he told me"

Richard leaned forward to get closer to Jerry. "Now why would he tell you this?"

"Because he is in love with me"

Richard leaned back on his seat "Gay lovers in my confraternity, how absurd" he chuckled at his words.

"I'm telling you this because of how loyal I am to you and this confraternity"

"That's smart of you. You will be rewarded. So where is this lover boy now?"

"He plans on leaving Chicago tomorrow. You can stop him before then"

"How do I know this isn't one of your skims to get me killed"

"It's not"

"Well then. Since he trusts you, you will be the one to kill him. Then your reward will be twice as much"

Jerry hesitated for a while but finally agreed. "Yes boss"

"Now leave," He mumbled and Jerry stood up to leave.

Of course, Richard knew of Anthony's plan. He had always been the rebellious one. Although he was the consigliere of the confraternity, that wouldn't stop him from taking him out.

*****

"Your man loves you" Richard watched Rachael as she ate her meal.

She looked up at him puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean Xavier. He is willing to offer me his warehouse in Italy as a ransom for you"

"I had no idea" Rachael shrugged. Although she was amazed, she didn't act accordingly because, for all she knew, he might be lying just to have her hopes up and probably tell her the truth to crush her. He was just very good at playing with other people's emotions.

"So when are you releasing me?"

He sighed, taking a drink from his glass of water. "As much as I don't want to, I can't turn down a thing as good as that. You are not worth turning it down"

"Yet my man offered you that just to get me away from you" she bragged even though she wasn't sure of his sincerity.

"That's him, not me," he shrugged.

"Of course. All you ever do to women is treat them like scum, just to be feared when deep down you are just a scared little dog"

Richard angrily banged his fist on the table. She knew she overstepped her boundaries, but she couldn't help it.

He pointed his finger at her as his eyes became more intense. "Don't speak to me like that. I still haven't accepted Xavier's request, so you are not free yet" he looked back at his food. "Even if Xavier rescues you now, can he save you forever?" he shot her his deadly gaze and watched her shudder.

"Now eat quietly bitch" he said. Rachael found herself nodding. He succeeded in making her scared.

When Rachael was done eating, she thought Richard was going to take her back to the hell room, but he didn't.

He told her to follow him and she did. They got outside. In a split second, both of them were surrounded by guards, Richard's guards.

He instructed her to get inside the car. Although she was confused and scared, she got in. She sat at the back with him, while two of his guards stayed at the front.

At their back was another car filled with guards. Rachael then became scared.

"What do you want to do with me?" she asked. The only thing she could think of was being led to a quiet place and shot dead.

"Keep quiet" he ordered.

"Xavier already offered you a ransom, what do you still want to do with me?"

Richard got angry and brought out the gun tucked in his pocket. He pointed it at her. "If you don't shut that mouth, I'll be forced to run a bullet through it" he warned with deadly eyes. Rachael swallowed hard as tears trickled down her cheeks

"Good," he said, lowering his gun.

*******

"Here," Jerry handed Anthony a glass of water. "When are you leaving?" he asked as he watched him gulp the content

"It tastes like mint" Anthony squinted his eyes and handed the empty glass back.

"Mint water is good, more refreshing," he said looking intently at Anthony who only shrugged.

"So when are you leaving?" He asked as he walked back to the kitchen to drop the cup.

"Tomorrow"

"When are you coming back?" he was back now and was seated opposite Anthony.

"I don't know. When I'm ready. I just need to get as far away from Richard as possible"

"You haven't told him you are leaving the confraternity?"

"And get killed? no. I'll just go until he forgets about me"

"Then what?"

"Will you..... " He paused, adjusting the first button of his shirt. It was getting harder for him to breathe. "Will you come with me? "

"Of course" Jerry grinned as he watched Anthony struggle while he sweated

"That's good... You know..."He couldn't bear it anymore. "It's too hot in here Jerry"

"Is it? I don't think so. This is just the perfect temperature" he said looking at Anthony with expectation.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"How"

"Like... Like" he stood up. At this point, he was getting little air. His airway was choked up and he was sweating profusely which was strange because this had never happened before.

He gasped for breath. "Jerry, I can't breathe" he managed to utter as he fell to his knees. He expected Jerry to rush to his aid, but Jerry just stood there.

"Jerry... Je...."

"Save it, Anthony, let the Poison do its work"

Anthony's eyes widened as his eyes turned red. It was the water. He wanted to ask Jerry why he did it, but his lips couldn't produce words. He fell to the floor, gasping. Something metallic was felt in his mouth; blood. At that point, he realized he was going to die

Anthony never thought he would be betrayed like this. Even when he looked at Jerry, searching for a little bit of guilt, he found none. Just a man who had disdain for his face.

Jerry hated him all this while