The Grand Viper

6. Commence

In fear, I grabbed his white shirt taunting it with red. He didn't glance at me even when I called his name. His eyes were only on those perpetrators. Somehow he didn't feel like his usual self.

"So, this bitch called her boyfriend to save her?" A guy laughed, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Do you know who we are?" A guy commanded. The drizzle soon turned into heavy rain.

Theodore didn't bother with their talk, he opened his coat and placed it on my shoulder. He leaned in close to my ear and said, "Go to your apartment."

"What about you?" I said, clutching his shirt tighter, "you don't even have your guard."

"I said. Go." He looked right into my eyes. His eyes had darkened to black like it was emotionless. Even when the streetlights were dim, I could see faint tattoos through his wet white shirt. Those tattoos were drawn across his chest, maybe even his torso but before I could analyze it, I started running to my apartment.

As I was ascending the stairs, I could hear a faint noise. But since it was raining so hard, I couldn't make out what they were saying. I ran upstairs.

"He is a fucking clan member-" someone screamed. I stopped in my tracks right before reaching my floor.

Clan member?

Right then, the world around me started spinning and my vision started getting blurry. Before I could take another step, I collapsed on the stairs. As I tried reaching another stair with my hand, there was one thing in my head.

I need to... survive.

***

The rain poured heavily dismantling his gelled hair making it barely reach his shoulders. The white shirt did not cover up his built frame and the rain didn't help much. His tattoos spreading from his chest to his back were exposed under the dim light.

"You motherfuckers went too far." He hissed under his breath.

"Eh? We haven't even gone to that part yet." A guy chuckled.

Just then, his friend's eyes widened with fear when he noticed something on Theodore's chest. He grabbed his friend's hand and pulled him back.

"Run assholes!" He said and ran away with fear in his eyes.

His friend looked confused and looked at his friend running away with a questioning brow. But before he could turn to look at Theodore, a hard surface hit him hard, right in my jaw making him cough up blood. He placed his hand on his knees and winced his eyes to look at the person.

There, Theodore stood emotionless. A muscle in his jaw clenched. "You were not supposed to cross the line."

The guy with a swollen jaw stood up to his full stance, glaring at Theodore. The heavy rain had washed the blood off his face.

"He is a fucking clan member!" The guy with the golden teeth screamed and ran away. After hearing that the only one remaining also ran away frantically.

Just then Theodore's phone rang in his pocket. He held the phone to his ear and said "Boss, what should we do about those goons we hired?"

"Kill them." He hung up the phone.

He fished out another phone from his pocket. The screen was fairly broken but it still could be opened. A sly smile spread across his lips.

***

The door slowly creaked open as Reece pushed it a little. One of his brows raised when he saw an empty desk with no person in sight.

"So, does my secretary want to be fired?" He put his hands in his pocket and turned over to the person sitting at the small reception desk, right outside his office.

"Sir..." she hesitantly said, "she has been hospitalized."

His brows squeezed as he looked at her with utter confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I was informed that she had been hospitalized in Grand city hospital. I'm afraid I don't know about the details." His eyes widened and he could feel a prick of guilt and disappointment in himself as he heard that.

Did I put her in that place? Was it because of me?

As soon as he heard that his hands voluntarily fished out the phone from his pocket and dialed a number. "Make the car ready. We have to see someone."

After about fifteen minutes, Reece reached the hospital. His head was constantly thinking about one person; Ruby. Even as a seemingly ruthless person, he was getting anxious thinking about all the worst possible scenarios.

As soon as the car came to a stop, he got out of the car and rushed into the hospital. As his footsteps echoed in the busy hospital, a familiar voice held him in place.

"Well if it isn't Mr. Reece Bloomfield here," Theodore spoke, putting his hands in his pocket. A muscle in his jaw worked as he looked at Theodore.

"It's a surprise to see you here."

"I came here to fetch you as soon as your receptionist called."

"I see. Where is she?"

"This way," Theodore said, leading the way to the hospital room.

As he stood right outside the door. She lay in bed with her eyes closed. Her body was provided with saline water through the small needle attached to the back of her hand. Her face was pale and her lips were slightly blue. Her body looked fragile. Despite everything that had happened between them, Reece couldn't help but feel a strong sense of guilt rising in his chest.

"The doctor said to not visit her for some time." Theodore said, looking at her through the glass of the door, "She woke up an hour ago and she's resting after eating well."

"That's good to hear," Reece said, his eyes still on her through the glass. "I appreciate your help but what are you doing here, Theo?" Reece asked. A muscle in his jaw worked but he didn't shift his gaze away from her.

"I was told to run some errands for your father on the same street she lived in and I happened to bump into her."

"What exactly happened is what I'm asking."

"She was chased around by a group of guys late at night when she was alone. I think she had seemingly thrown lots of shopping bags right beside the street. She must've gone out shopping. Poor girl. "

His stomach clenched as he visualized it all in his head. The guilt only seemed to weigh him down the more he learned. At the same time, anger was building up inside. The desire to tear their flesh apart and feed it to the dogs.

"What did they do to her?" Reece gritted his teeth.

"I'm afraid you won't like to hear it," Theodore said. Reece closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

After a few minutes, Reece finally spoke, "Find her a safe place to stay. Our company will sponsor her."

"I understand your situation but I'm not sure that's possible."

"What do you mean it is not possible?!"

"That's against our company's policy. She needs to be an employee for at least six months-"

"Stop with that bullshit!"

"I'm sorry sir but your father will not allow you to go against the company's policy-"

Reece asked, "Do you know where she lives?"

Theodore stopped in his tracks."Yes." A sly smile formed on his lips.

"Pack her belongings and send them to my place. I'll stay with her till then."

"Yes sir." He said turning around.

Reece slowly approached Theodore. He straightened Theodore's collar and said "Make sure those fuckers don't see the next sunrise." Reece smiled.

"Already taken care of, Mr. Bloomfield."

***