Chapter 37 CRY AGAIN
"Wait, what?" Audrey asked.
She and Skye exchanged meaningful glances.
"I'm looking for the guy who hugged Ixora," Blake replied, his eyes still glued to the system.
"This is crazy," Skye muttered.
Audrey climbed down. "Let me get this straight, you are looking for a guy who hugged Ixora and has the scent of obsidian veil. How are you even sure he smells like that?"
"Because I perceived the scent from Ixora after the man had left..." he stopped and faced Audrey. "At the bridge."
"Okay, this is madness. You are going mad. How are you even sure he has something to do with Ixora?"
"Ixora doesn't hide anything from me. Then, tell me why she didn't tell me about the man. I saw them hugging at the bridge, and when I asked her, I could see she was hesitant," Blake replied.
"Yunno what, both of you have gone insane. How are you even sure she sees you as more than a friend? You are getting obsessed with her," Audrey said, her voice low with concern.
"As long as she is the one I'm obsessing over, then I don't mind. We have a thing that connects us, and I'm not ready to let her go, never," Blake muttered, shutting down the system when he couldn't find what he was searching for.
Audrey shut her eyelids and opened them, exhaling softly.
"I am not ready to lose you, Blake. I can't afford to lose another important person in my life," Audrey muttered and walked out of the room.
Blake's eyes met Skye's. "I will check up on her," Skye said and left.
Blake ran his hand through his hair, sighing softly.
\--
"Audrey," Skye called. She was about to leave the house.
Audrey halted in her strides and rubbed her palm on her eyes before turning to him.
Skye narrowed his brow upon seeing the trace of tears in her eyes. He walked closer to her.
"Did you cry?" he cupped her cheek.
Audrey shook her head. "Cry? Me? Impossible. Something flew into my eyes," she said, smiling softly.
Skye sighed. He knew she was lying, and the smile didn't even reach her eyes. He could see right through her.
"No need to lie to me. You should be happy that your brother has found someone he wants to be with. Someone he likes genuinely aside from you," Skye mumbled, cupping Audrey's face and locking his gaze on hers.
"Not when I can see him getting hurt. Ixora only sees him as a friend, and it would remain that way. He's not ready to see it. Blake and I only have each other. I can't stand seeing him get hurt. It will break my heart, and that includes the person who caused his pain... I won't even spare the person, not one bit," Audrey's voice was low and etched with lots of emotion.
She blinked, her eyes meeting Skye's own.
"Nobody is going to hurt me," Blake said, climbing down the stairs.
Skye let go of her face.
Blake got to them and gave a warning glare to Skye before facing Audrey.
"We both love each other a lot and I won't let it ever change. You are my younger sister, and I must protect you, not the other way round. Nobody will hurt me, okay? And if Ixora does not feel the same way about me, then I will let her go," Blake smiled.
Audrey smiled and wrapped her arm around him. Blake hugged her back.
"Crybaby," Blake muttered.
"Jerk." Audrey's fist met his elbow.
"Ouch," Blake broke the hug and held his arm.
"Is that a girl's hand or a metal?"
"Whatever," Audrey said and walked out of the place.
Skye placed his hand on Blake's shoulder.
"She isn't Audrey for nothing."
Blake grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back.
"What the fuck, dude!"
"What was that scene I saw earlier on? How dare you get so close to her?" he asked, twisting it harder.
"Come on, I was only trying to console her," Skye said, wincing slightly.
"Don't you ever try anything with her, I'd personally end you," Blake threatened, releasing his hand.
Skye groaned. "I am not interested in her. You know Bonnie is the one I like."
"It was just a warning," Blake said, sliding onto the couch.
Skye jumped beside him.
"That reminds me, sorry for losing your parents at a very young age. Growing up must have been hard for both of you," Skye said, seriously.
Blake looked at him. "Only my dad is late," he muttered.
"And your mum?" Skye asked curiously.
"She is only a coward who ran away."
\[HELL DEVIL HIDEOUT\]
The cameras connected to Ixora's room were displayed on Drexton's phone. His eyes were glued to the screen, more like Ixora, who was crying in her room.
Earlier, he had sent her to come to the cemetery for Aunt Maria's burial.
He was the one who came into the house that day and took her body before Hazel could come back.
He wanted to know if Hazel would drop her plan after finding out the body was missing. He knew she was going to pour the acid, and taking the body was a test she failed. More reason why he shot her at the bridge.
And she intended to destroy Ixora's face. She had no right to do it, nor touch a strand of her hair. Ixora was meant to be hurt by him and only him.
Then there are Joanna's words, 'She might be the key to getting back your lost senses. Stop trying to destroy her; rather, get close to her'.
Getting close to his enemy's daughter is something he'd never do. As for his senses, he does not need them back.
If he didn't have tactile hypoesthesia, he would have been dead years ago. The day he met Caius, he had nowhere to call home. He was a helpless beggar.
\[FLASHBACK, AGE 13\]
"Aunt, please give me something to eat," Drexton begged the grocery woman.
The woman glared at him from head to toe. He wore dirty clothes and looked so tattered.
"Get out of my shop," the woman said, squeezing the rag she was using to clean the showcase.
"Please, auntie," Dreton pleaded.
The woman kept the rag aside, carried the dirty water and poured the whole content on Drexton's body.
Tears rolled down Drexton's cheeks as he dragged his feet out of the shop.
He saw a man standing beside his car, and he was on his cell phone. Drexton was about to go to him when his eyes caught a masked person walking towards the man, his hand behind him.
Drexton's eyes caught the object behind the person's hand.
A knife.
"Mr!!!" Drexton shouted and ran to the man.
He covered the man with his body.
The person accidentally drove the knife deep into Drexton's chest.
The man's phone fell from his hand. He immediately drew out his gun and shot the masked person.
Drexton's blood trailed down his chest while he stood tall. Not getting dizzy. Not slumping to the ground.
The man rushed to Drexton, who was staring down at the knife in his chest.
Surprised, the man rushed Drexton to the hospital, where they found out his condition.
\[REALITY\]
The creaking of the door reeled Drexton back to reality. His eyes fell on his phone again. Ixora was no longer crying, but sniffling.
His eyes darkened, and he typed.
Cry again.
He clicked send before pocketing his phone.
Maddox threw himself on the chair beside Drexton, dragging his pipe before puffing it out.
"Jaxon?" Drexton asked.
"Had something to do. Couldn't come," Maddox replied.
He had just gotten back from the hospital.
Drexton pushed the laptop to Maddox.
A number was on the display.
"The killers were in contact with this number before they killed Vaughn's daughter."
Maddox took a glance at it.
"The owner of the number is the one responsible for her death."
Drexton nodded.
"And the number might belong to whom?"
"Vaughn," Drexton replied.
"Crazy. She killed her daughter?"
"That is what I'm trying to find out," Drexton replied, turning the laptop back to himself.
"Black men are so dumb," Maddox said, mockery evident in his voice.
"Hazel's body wasn't found even when we went to look for it ourselves. You think she's dead?" Maddox asked.
Drexton shifted his gaze to him.