ENTANGLED STRINGS OF PAST

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Aiden Williamson

After a long day and a silent drive, we reached home. However, Hazel's words were still circling in my head, "Before you touch another woman without permission, remember how this whore almost killed you!" what on earth has happened? I should have never left her alone! I curse in my head.

I wanted to ask her everything but it did not seem like a good time, so I let my curiosity kill me. As we entered, Anna greeted us warmly but her expression took a 180-degree turn when she saw Hazel's face. "Oh my god! What happened dear?" she shouted. Before I could say something, "Nothing it's just a fight gone wrong" Hazel said lightly. "It doesn't seem a nothing, Come let me take a look," Anna said and took Hazel by her hand towards the kitchen while I was standing at the door like a statue. I walked towards my room.

After taking a cool shower, I went to the kitchen as I was hungry, and as expected, I found Hazel in a changed pair of clothes, and Anna serving her food at the dining table. I walked and sat on the table and she served me.

"Now Aiden will you tell me what happened? As Hazel is skipping the topic repeatedly," Anna said eyeing Hazel. "She fought with Danny today," I said while eating, "What!? With Danny" she exclaimed. "Yes, WITH DANNY. But don't worry about her," I said staring at Hazel eating quietly. "Why should I don't worry about her? aren't you looking at her face? Oh my child" she said in the motherly tone she used when Terry or I got hurt.

"Don't worry about her Anna! Because she slayed the fight rather you should worry about Danny!" Terry shouted while coming towards us with Mary laughing beside him. "She was a battle angle today," Mary said and hugged Anna. "Oh shut up! I don't believe you all" she said while smiling towards Hazel. "By the way when did you come back? She asked Mary. "I just landed today and saw the best fight of my life," she said cheering. "Ok! Now you both sit down and let me serve you some food," Anna said. After Anna served food to everyone, we all ate our food with Terry, Mary and Anna chatted about random stuff while Hazel listened to them but did not utter a word.

"I want to talk to you Hazel," I said when she was about to walk towards her room after finishing food. "In my office" I added.

"Okay," she said and followed me to my office.

"Will that be okay if I ask why you said those words to Danny?" I asked her lightly, not wanting to force her. After taking a few minutes, she spoke, "It's nothing particular to tell. He thought I was whore you brought to them and tried to force him on me, so I showed him what kind of whore I am" she said, and the anger grew inside me with the words he 'he forced himself on her'. Who the hell does he think he is that I brought a woman to him? None of my men ever disrespect a woman. My hold on the edge of the table grew stronger I could feel it digging into my skin.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked her. "There was nothing to tell you, I can handle my problems" she fired back. "No, you can't and you don't have to, If something happens like that you have to tell me! You are living in my house. You are my responsibility," I said trying not to sound angry but I was. "Yes, I can! I can handle myself and my problems, and I don't need to be your responsibility. STOP CONTROLING ME." She said strongly. "I'm not controlling you, I'm taking care of you!" I countered. "Ugh taking care of me by sending someone to play with my feelings! If you don't know then let me tell you, I know Mary isn't here only to train me! You sent her to play with my feelings only that you could extract information from me! But make that clear I'm not stupid!" she said sounding all frustrated, first time showing so much emotion and making me regret my decision to send Mary to her. "Mary is here to keep an eye on you so you don't land in any trouble," I said lowering my voice. "I'm not a baby to keep an eye on! I have taken care of myself till now and I can take care of myself in the future too!" she said, I could feel her voice breaking on the last line as if she was about to break but she kept a strong expression on her face hiding everything inside. "Aiden if you want anything to ask you can simply ask me and I'll answer it if I can!" she said and left me speechless. "I think there is nothing to talk about I should leave," she said and left the office. I stood frozen at my spot, "this could not end like this," I told myself. I was angry with Danny but shouted at Hazel I was feeling pathetic.

I called one of my men in the warehouse, "Bring Danny to the shed" I said and without any further question he said yes and I ended the call. then I called Terry, "gather all the boys training in the shed, it's important" "Okay," he said also without any question. I took the keys to my bike and drove towards the shed.

After parking my bike I entered the shed, Danny was sitting on the chair, looking like a mess.

"What is happening sir?" he asked but I remained silent. My anger was rising with every second.

After some time, gathered everyone in the shed and Terry stood near me, "Would you like to explain to Danny why are you being held here? Any idea?" I asked him controlling my anger.

"I don't know what is happening, sir" he tried to sound innocent which pissed me off more.

"Okay let me tell you, I walked up to him and grabbed the armrest of the chair. "You tried to hurt what's mine!" I whispered to him, "You broke the rules, Danny! You disrespected a woman and forced yourself on her" I shouted so that every boy under my training could hear and make it clear what happens when he breaks a rule. We have rules in my world if someone hurts an innocent or disrespects any woman, he gets punished, but in this case, he touched what's mine!

"you touched her without permission and called her a whore" I was telling rather than asking him. "I... sir ... I'm sorry" he tried to plead. "Which hand?" I asked him and he knew what I was asking for, "Sorry.. it will not happen again... sorry sir" he started pleading more, but I wasn't interested in his pleading, "Which hand of yours touched her!" I shouted frustrated by his words, "right" he said sacred. I nodded towards Terry and he brought me a blowtorch.

He shouted in pain when the flames of the blowtorch touched his skin. The whole shed echoed his shouts but it relived my anger. I burned his whole right hand! he stared whining like a child.

"I don't train boys, I train men who go by a particular code of conduct. I made it clear the day you all stepped inside this warehouse. If you try to break those rules then this will happen" I pulled out my gun and pulled the trigger, the bullet went straight into Danny's head, silencing his cries forever. "I hate repeating so I hope you all understood!" I said and everyone shouted 'Yes sir' in one voice. This was my world.

I nodded and everyone went to their respective places.

"he messed with Hazel," I told Terry answering his shocked expression. He didn't say anything, "Clear the things here, "I told him and walked out after he nodded.

I saw the moon and stars after coming out, it was late at night. I don't know what effect is hazel having on me but I'm afraid.

I revived the engine of my bike and went home.

I was not sure if she was still awake now but I took the chance.

I grabbed the thing I bought and walked straight to her room.