Chapter 130 LETTING IT OUT
Nelly walked back into the room while rubbing the necklace. The weight of his voice pressed down on her. She knew he was happy, and the gift was his way of expressing his sadness.
Her butt slowly landed on the edge of the bed as she recalled the first time they met. The first time she arrived in the city, after consoling Ixora, she decided to take a scroll, only for a jerk to splash muddy water on her. Instead of apologizing, he blew cigarette smoke all over her face and drove off before she could even say a thing.
Then, the second time, they met at their hideout. At the time, he took an interest in her truth. He invaded her every life, trying to uncover her like a book, and she hid it all from Ixora.
Then came the time he began seeking solace in her. She's studied him well enough to know that each time his eyes are red and his hair is messy, he's truly hurt.
She chuckled at the thought.
His actions have always been feral, possessive, and mad, just like his name.
Who on earth kisses someone like that to vent out their anger? Maddox.
She didn't realize when a tear slipped down her cheeks.
How could he give up on her like that? Couldn't he have read her eyes to know that she was trying to tell him something?
"Maybe he doesn't feel the same for you," his subconscious whispered.
She sniffled, telling the subconscious to shut up.
No man would risk his life countless times to save someone. No one would give up their freedom for somebody they don't care about.
She's aware that both he and his friends are pretending not to have a heart, but she knows they just need someone to bring it out.
That also applies to Drexton. He might have broken Ixora because of his revenge, but she can say with her full chest that he fell for her.
She's seen the type of worry in his eyes when Ixora is in danger.
"I can't do it," she dried her tears and went to the mirror.
"I can't go through with this wedding," she said, staring at her reflection. "What are you doing, Nelly? Why do you want to ruin your life? You were never this weak, or has love made you weak?" she asked herself, still rubbing the pendant.
Maddox might have given up on them already, but why should she care? It's her life that's at stake. If he's going to let Slade win over him, then so be it. She's not going to be anyone's puppet. Slade, J. K and Maddox.
She is Nashira. Wild. Reckless. She buried that part of herself and brought out her weak side.
Today, she doesn't care if she has to seek help from Nashira again to escape the stupid marriage.
"What do I do?" she said anxiously, looking around the room.
No matter what she does, she has to take the risk, even if it means giving up her life.
Her eyes went to the clock.
The beautician would be here any moment now.
She was about to lock the door when her eyes caught the knife in the fruit basket.
She heard voices coming towards the room.
They are here.
She curled her trembling fingers around the knife.
The door creaked open.
\[WEDDING ALTAR\]
J. K, arms linked with Nelly's, as he walked her down the aisle. Nelly had a point-blank expression as their shoes echoed softly across the altar.
In the aisle stood Slade, the black tuxedo clung to his skin like the devil he's made of. His hair was gelled backward, and his hands were tucked into his pockets. He was smirking as his eyes crossed with Nelly's. The smirk of victory.
In the center sat Maddox, dressed in the same tuxedo as Slade. Black. There wasn't much change to his dressing, expected for his hair, which was packed in a messy ponytail.
His eyes were fixed on the altar, but Nelly knew he wasn't looking at anything.
Feeling her gaze on him, he turned, and their eyes met. Despite the red and black lights, they could clearly see each other's faces and the need they were hiding.
She broke the intense stare and took notice of things about the altar. There were no guests, only members of the organization who looked like they were forced to be there. The maids and guards were also present.
The priest, standing beside Slade, wiped sweat off his forehead occasionally. He was shaking, and she instantly knew Slade and his father must have threatened him.
No normal priest would agree to come to a place like this.
A wedding, and the only guest present was Maddox. Other chairs were empty. The members all stood like they were waiting for things to go wrong so they could attack. J.K. still wears his mask, and despite the smirk on Slade's face, she could see the harsh, cold warning glance he threw at her.
"I'm handing my daughter over to you; treat her with care," J. K said as soon as they reached the altar.
Slade collected her hand. "Trust me on that." He kissed the back of her palm and took her to the altar.
She and Maddox's eyes met.
"I will gouge out the eyes of a man who looks at you," Slade whispered.
Nelly froze as one of the members stood behind Maddox with a gun in his hand.
She gulped hard and flashed Slade a nervous smile.
"Priest, you may begin."
The priest cleared his throat and opened his bible. The wedding procession began.
\--
Rings had been exchanged, vows had been recited, and now it was time to seal the marriage with a kiss.
It looked like a peaceful marriage, but Nelly knew everything was at the surface level.
Strangely, Maddox still had his boring soul eyes on her, but once in a while, he'd look around the altar. The gun pointed behind him didn't move, clutching tightly in his hand as his thumb was at the verge of pulling the trigger. J. K looked calculating as usual.
Nelly focused on Slade, hand sliding at the other side of her gown.
"You may now kiss your bride," the priest said, and that was it.
Nelly took out the knife and lunged toward Slade.
He shifted, and the knife met the air.
Maddox elbowed the man behind him, and he released five bullets.
They all went for the bulb and shattered it into pieces.
Darkness clouded the place.
"Attack!" J. K announced, rising to his feet.
Maddox dropped one knee and shot the man in the chest.
Blood splashed on his face as he collected the gun.
According to his calculations, he fired a bullet directly at the chest of the members.
Nelly, seizing the opportunity, turned only to find Slade gone.
Using the knife, she tore the wedding gown from her mid-thigh around.
Gunshots filled the place.
The priest fainted.
Nelly jumped on each seat until she got to Maddox.
A bullet came towards her.
Maddox pulled her down to his cover.
"Stay behind," he instructed as more members dropped dead.
"Fuck," he cursed, tossing the gun aside when his bullet ran out.
"Slade and J. K has escaped," Nelly said. They used the chairs to take cover.
The gunshot grew louder.
Maddox peeked to see Slade's men still dropping dead.
"Someone came to our rescue," he said, and grabbed her hand.
"Where are we going?" Nelly asked.
"To find Slade," Maddox replied, and both of them ran out of the altar.
\--
"I can't see them anywhere!" Alexa pressed her back on Jaxon as they shot down the members.
"We aren't the only ones here. Somebody else is helping them," Jaxon said after observing.
Jaxon took off, and Alexa went after him.
"Miss, we're here," one of the men dressed in black said through his AirPod as their gunshot ran smoothly in the air.
\--
Slade punched the wall, breaking his knuckles.
"How dare they?" he muttered dangerously.
"Think with a calm head," J. K said, his voice smooth as if the chaos were happening in his organization.
They were at the upper part of the rooftop. A place not even the clan members knew.
"The wedding will be completed. Nelly is mine," he stormed near the wall.
A picture was carved on the wall. A snake that is spitting out venom. The VIPoison's mark.
Looking closely, the venom had a tiny red dot.
He pushed the button, and the wall split into two.
Wires came into view. Red, green and black. In the middle of the wires was something that glowed green. A ball. Medium-sized. A mini bomb.
Attached to a wall, near the ball, was a tiny helicopter.
"I'm pushing this button," he said, his voice laced with anger.
"What of Nelly?" J. K asked.
"The gun she's wearing is mixed with a powder. Everybody will explode except for her."
"You have my permission."
Just before his finger could touch the button, a bullet cut through the air.
He withdrew his hand as the bullet hit the button.
Turning behind, smoke from gunpowder cleared, and he saw Maddox and Nelly walking in.
Maddox had a smirk on his face as he blew the remnants out of the gun.
"Exactly as I expected, you aren't so smart." He threw the gun away.
Slade's chest tightened, brows coming together, face red like a hot chili pepper.
He drew out his gun and aimed at Maddox.
"I'm going to end you," he threatened.
"Be my guest," Maddox said dryly.
Slade's finger curled around the trigger.
Nelly held Maddox's hand, but he didn't bulge.
Slade pulled the trigger.
Someone kicked the gun, and the bullet went up into the sky.
"Mother fucker," Jaxon told Maddox.
"Bad timing," Maddox said, and they looked at each other before hugging themselves.
"Bastard," they said in unison, and hit their foreheads together.
Alexa stood beside Nelly, eyes fixed on them. Nelly wondered who she was, but knew it wasn't the right time for questions.
"What a reunion," Slade said, prompting them to break the hug.
Jaxon snapped his eyes at him and grabbed his collar.
He raised his fist to punch him, but Maddox held his hand.
"Let me handle this," he said and faced Slade. "Come with me." He led the way.
Slade raised his brow but followed regardless.
The four watched them walk away.
"What do you think will happen?" Alexa asked.
Nelly shrugged her shoulders, eyes dilating with worry.
J. K, who had been silent all along, followed them with his eyes that were slowly turning dark.
\--
They got to a quiet spot where no one could see them.
Maddox faced him and spread out his hands. "Take it out on me."
Slade gave him a questionable glare.
"Vent out your anger on me. I know you are angry at yourself and are taking it out on people."
"If you think this is child's play, then I'm going to end you," Slade warned.
Maddox brought his hands down. "Do I look like one who'd play like a child?" he asked rhetorically, and stepped close, leaving little space between them.
"You are not happy with how you are; that's why you turned into a sadist."
"You know nothing about me," Slade said.
"Your father forced you to witness the death of your mother. Says it's part of your training. Your mother was also a painter, but J. K called her weak."
"Don't mention my mother."
Maddox ignored him and continued. "After she died, you met Nelly at the age of twelve, and both of you became best friends. Best friends turned lovers. She became what you hated. A gangster."
Slade grabbed his collar. "I'm warning you, stop saying that," his voice came out slowly but dangerously.
Still, Maddox continued talking, not trying to free himself from his grip. "Out of anger, you ended your relationship with her the day you found out. Unfortunately, you were shot, and everyone thought you had died. Your father saved your life and turned you into the very man he wanted you to be."
And that was it, the first strike came, on his chin.
"Stop talking!"
Maddox staggered, but held himself from falling.
"Before I forget, your love for Nelly died the day you were shot. You were given a second chance, and you used it to claim ownership of her. You want to own her because, to you, she's the reason why you are the person you hate the most."
Slade walked and grabbed his shoulder, landing his fist on Maddox's lips.
"I warned you, didn't I?" Slade punched him again, on the lips.
Maddox smiled darkly and wiped the blood off his lips.
Folding his fist, he returned the punch to Slade's cheek.
And like that, they began throwing punches at each other. Each was taking out their built-in frustrations.
\--
After searching for almost thirty minutes, they finally found them.
Nelly rushed to Maddox, who had bruises all over his face.
"What happened to you?" she asked in a concerned tone.
"I've settled the issue," he simply replied, and went to stand beside Jaxon.
They landed their gaze on Slade.
He was sitting down with his back to him and his face between his legs.
Nelly stalked towards him.
"Slade," she whispered, crouching down to his height.
Maddox patted Jaxon and Alexa's backs. The three stepped away, turning their backs on them as they gave them privacy.
"I'm sorry," Slade said and raised his face to look at hers.
His eyes were red. It seemed like he cried a lot.
"I let my anger get the best of me. I threw away our beautiful moments together. I'm a jerk, and..."
"Shush." She placed her index finger on his lips. "Everything that happened is fate's doing. Maybe we weren't meant to be together. We were meant to be friends for life, and that's why you were sent back to me," she murmured and wrapped her arm around his neck.
He hugged her back as they cried on each other's shoulders.
"Don't let Maddox take away that place in your life," he teased, breaking the hug.
She sniffled, cheeks turning red. "I won't."
They smiled at each other as they helped each other up.
"Mad dog," Slade said, referring to Maddox.
The three faced them.
"It is sometimes useful," Maddox replied.
Slade walked up to him. "I'm handing Nelly over to you. If you ever break her heart..."
"You will cut my dick, and use it to fertilize a dog. That way, you will have a dog that is indeed mad," Maddox said, glancing at Nelly.
Everybody raised their brow, clueless about what they were talking about.
"Take care of her," Slade said meaningfully.
"I've always had," Maddox replied, taking his gaze off Nelly.
Slade smiled.
"Let me get this straight, all the long hours of flight and the fight were all a waste. We should have stayed back if we knew it wouldn't end in bloodshed. I came prepared for nothing," she hissed jokingly, and took out the mini-strap bag tied to her waist.
She turned it upside down, and the weapons fell out. Scalpers, knives, needles.
"You were going to use all that on me?" Slade asked dramatically.
"Yup," she replied, as if it's not somebody's life they are talking about.
"My gosh," Nelly held her chest, pretending to be shocked.
They laughed, but it was for a few seconds before a voice interrupted them, one they'd recognized as J. K's.
"I can't sit back and watch my son become sweet again. If Nelly is the reason for his old self, then she should be gone." They all turned to see J. K, without his mask, eyes locked on Nelly, and a gun in his hand aimed at her.
He pulled the trigger.
"Nelly!"
Smoke cleared from the air only for them to see J. K crumbling to his knees. Guns fell from him as he fell with a thud and closed his eyes.
As Slade stared at his father, he felt relief rolling over him. For a change, he didn't feel one bit emotional.
They heard somebody walking in dressed in a black suit, gun held in his hand.
"We were sent to rescue Nelly alive and safe. Whoever comes in our way ends up like him," his voice rimmed smoothly in the air.
Their brows thinned, confusion clearly written in their eyes. They all knew someone else helped them kill the VIPoison men.
"Who sent you?"