Chapter 20 SILENT MOCKERY
\[HELL DEVIL’S HIDEOUT\]
“Where in the hell is the raisin?” Maddox asked, coming out of the kitchen with an apron tied to his waist.
“Chef Madd,” Jaxon teased when he saw Maddox with a glass bowl and a whisk in his hand.
The white lights were the ones that were turned on instead of the red lights.
“Don’t start,” Maddox warned, whisking as he took his eyes to Drexton, who was standing close to the freezer.
“The raisins?”
“You are the only one who uses the kitchen,” Drexton replied, uncorking the bottle of water.
“Right,” Jaxon took a bite from his apple as he climbed down from the top of the couch.
“Mad dicks,” Maddox cursed and wanted to go back inside the kitchen when...
“Right this way, sir,” a female voice said—a voice they would be able to recognize any time of the day.
Ixora.
She led the police officers in.
“Sir, these men here are the Hell Devils,” she said, and that was when she looked at the guys.
Drexton with a bottle of water in his hand—Maddox looking like a total chef—Jaxon quietly biting from his apple.
“What sort of joke is this?” Mrs. Vaughn asked, snapping Ixora back to reality.
“I just told you they are the Hell devils,” she said.
The police with Mrs. Vaughn exchanged meaningful glances.
“Listen to me, young girl, we don’t tolerate jokes,” Inspector Williams said.
Drexton spoke up.
“How may we help you?” his eyes were on Ixora. She needed no one to tell her that the question was directed at her.
Inspector Williams cleared his throat. “Sir, I’m sorry. She is trying to prank us.”
“This isn’t April fool,” Jaxon said, stepping closer.
“Prank?” She asked, “Look around, can’t you see the weird paintings on their walls?”
The inspector looked around, and truly, they found the place creepy, but—
It’s their choice to choose how the interior of their house will be.
“Listen to me, young Miss. You might be one of those girls who are crushing on public figures, but pulling this stunt to get their attention is so unacceptable, and we can choose to arrest you,” Williams said.
Ixora’s eyes widened, and her jaws went slack.
What was the inspector saying? She understood that she had a crush on Drexton, but lying to them just to get their attention was so...
She traced her gaze among them and saw the smirks on their faces.
No, Ixora, you have to do something.
“Ma’am, you want your husband’s killer to be brought to justice, and I am telling you that they are the hell Devils,” Ixora said, her voice sounded like desperate pleas.
“You wasted our time coming here and accusing them. Take a look at Mr. Drexton Blackthorn, owner of the biggest company in New York. You think he is a killer because he achieved his fame at a young age. Let’s not forget Maddox and Jaxon Creed. They are certified doctors. I am only letting you go for one reason; otherwise, I’d see to it that you spend a night in jail, and your parents would do nothing about it,” Mrs. Vaughn warned and walked out of the place.
“Inspector, I am telling the truth. They are the Hell Devils.”
“That’s enough! If you don’t stop, I will put you behind bars on the charges that you are falsely accusing a public figure,” the inspector warned before turning to the guys.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. She’s just some crazy fan.”
“Inspector...you don’t have to apologize on her behalf,” Drexton said, his voice calm but laced with subtle menace.
Maddox smirked, setting the whisk aside. “Why don’t you join us for dinner?” he offered, his invitation sounding more like a dare than hospitality.
Ixora could feel the sarcasm and mockery behind each word that came out of their mouths. Why couldn’t others see it?
“We would have loved to, but we have to head back to the station. We were working on a case before she brought in her fake news.”
Ixora shook her head.
“I am not lying,” she muttered, her voice trembling in disbelief. But it was as though the words were dissolved in the air. The cold, cruel sound of the room wrapped in their silent mocking swallowed her words.
The inspector ignored her.
“Inform the other constables that we are leaving,” he said, and turned to Drexton and his friends.
“Once again, we are sorry,” he apologized and left with his constables.
Ixora couldn’t do anything again but stare at the boys who were staring back at her with those cold eyes.
Run.
Her brain told her, but it seemed her legs were glued to the floor when she saw Drexton walking towards her. Each step, taken with mindful intent.
Her brain kept screaming for her to run, but her body couldn’t just process it...and she had no idea why.
She did the thing her body could do at that moment, and that was moving backward.
He was coming closer, and she was shifting back until her legs chose to betray her.
She fell on her butt and began crawling with her butt.
“No!” she yelped when Drexton got to her and roughly grabbed her arm.
He crouched down beside her, the atmosphere between them thick with threat.
“You wanted to hand me over to the police,” he said, leaning closer.
“Don’t come near me, you will regret it. Stay back.” She hurried her words, searching for anything she could use to free herself...there was none.
“Do you think calling the police was going to stop me?” he started, his lips a few inches away from her ear.
“You were born for me. You waited for me. The moment you came into this world, you cried for me, and you will keep crying for me until your very last breath, Ixora,” he whispered, his breath brushing over her neck, his words sending shivers down Ixora’s spine.
“You can’t run away from me—my wrath—my ruination. Like I said...I’m just getting started. Seek me.” As soon as he said that, the lights went off.
Ixora let out a startled gasp as she felt her arm free, meaning he was no longer holding her.
She stood up and quickly fumbled for her phone in her purse. Thankfully, the battery was still on. She turned on the flashlights.
He was no longer there, including his friends, but their presence remained strong in the air. She traced the light to the door and found no sign of them either.
The door was open, so she then did the very first thing her brain had told her.
She ran away.
Immediately, she ran, the lights came back on, and they were in the sitting room, smirking to themselves.
They were in the living room when the lights went off. The only difference was that they stood separately, and she dared to run away.
“Still scared,” Maddox said, staring at the door as if he could still see her. All of them were.
“She’s our pet, and pets are meant to be scared of their owners,” Jaxon replied.
Drexton just went up to his room without saying anything.
\[BLAKE’S HOUSE\]
Blake was in the living room with Skye. They were playing a video game, and Blake had been winning ever since.
“Dude, I can’t compete with you in this,” Skye groaned and threw the controller away.
“Loser,” Blake chuckled.
“What’s up, brother!” Audrey said loudly, coming into the room.
“Ugh, who called this pest in here?” Skye groaned, and Audrey frowned.
“Uhm, if I remember clearly, this is my brother’s house. What’s your relationship?” Audrey smirked, resting her chin in her palm.
“He’s my best friend,” Skye replied.
“And he’s my brother,” Audrey snapped.
Blake facepalmed, releasing a loud sigh as their endless bickering echoed around the room.
“Okay, Blake, choose between me, Audrey, and Ixora,” Skye smirked.
“Ixora,” Blake replied almost immediately.
Audrey frowned and sat down beside Blake.
“And about your crush, Ixora, have you kissed her yet?” Skye grinned.
“Bro, come on,” Blake smiled in return.
“Look at that, you’re even blushing,” Skye poked his shoulder.
“Don’t you have a shoot you should prepare for?” Blake asked.
Skye was a model and had been his best friend for ages.
“The shoot is in three days, I’ll be more than ready by then,” he shrugged his shoulders.
“You’re shooting with Stacy?”
“Yes, and there I’ll get to see Bonnie,” Skye placed his hand on his chest to feel his beating heart.
“Bonnie?” Blake asked.
“The bitch he has a crush on,” Audrey replied.
“Don’t say that,” Skye said, his tone almost like a warning.
“But I’m not wrong. I can bet on it that she will never love you.”
“It should have been Bone instead. I wonder how she became a model in the first place,” she added.
“It’s my crush you’re talking about,” Skye frowned.
“And I’m still wondering what you like about that girl. I won’t be surprised if she breaks your heart,” Audrey scoffed.
“And how are you sure Ixora won’t break your brother’s heart?” Skye asked.
“I won’t be surprised either. Besides, I warned you both,” Audrey clicked her tongue.
Blake was silent.
“Dude, we’re on the same side of different coins. I want to sleep.” Skye lay on the bed and hugged the pillow to himself.
Audrey gave him a weird look.
“I’m off,” she said and ran out of the room.
Blake ignored her, then glanced at Skye, who was still smiling with his eyes closed.
“He’s gone,” he thought with a smile.
The smile deepened when he remembered Ixora, but dropped when he remembered how stressed she looked.
“Something is bothering her,” he muttered.