A Ruin Of Roses (Used to be: My Mysterious Husband)

THIRTY-ONE

𝙻𝚘𝚜 𝙰𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚜, 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚊, 𝟷𝟷:𝟻𝟽 𝙰.𝙼 𝙹𝚄𝙻𝚈 𝟼𝚝𝚑 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾
[𝙿.𝙾.𝚅 𝚄𝙽𝙺𝙽𝙾𝚆𝙽]

Jim winces in pain as he shakes his hand vigorously, cursing under his breath. "That little bitch is a biter," he shouts in frustration, his hand throbbing.

"Calm down, Jim," I sigh, looking at him with a sense of weary authority. He meets my gaze, his anger still simmering beneath the surface.

"Can't we just kill them and get this over with? Even her little bastard of a son is fighting against us," he growls, his impatience evident.

"No," I reply firmly. "We wait until she has that baby. Jaxon will crumble when he sees that child, his child." I speak with a calculated confidence that seems to placate Jim. He manages a grim smile.

"I understand, boss," he says, and I nod in acknowledgment.

"Go get cleaned up. Emily is upstairs waiting for you," I instruct, and Jim exits the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I contemplate the situation and realize it's time I meet this enigmatic woman who has somehow managed to make Jaxon vulnerable. I push the door open, and the lights in the room gradually come to life. She's on the floor, her knees drawn up to her chest, and there's blood on her head from a previous struggle.

"If you're here to question me about Jaxon, you might as well kill me or leave," she says, her voice weak but defiant.

"Why protect him?" I inquire, genuine curiosity in my voice.

"I love him," she whispers, her determination unwavering. "I'll die before I let you kill him," she snaps, her gaze steady and unyielding.

"You're a strong little thing, aren't you?" I remark, a hint of admiration in my voice, as I reach down to touch her. She slaps my hand away and glares at me with defiance.

"Get away from me," she snaps, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and fury. I pull my hand back, not wanting her to bite me as well, and she retreats further into her corner.

"I'll have a nurse check on you later. We need to make sure that baby of yours is healthy," I declare with a mixture of hatred and detachment. I turn and walk out of the room, slamming and locking the door behind me.

As I leave the room, I can't help but wonder about the dynamics at play and the depth of the love and loyalty this woman holds for Jaxon.

𝙲𝚘𝚛𝚔, 𝙸𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝟹:𝟹𝟸 𝙿.𝙼 𝙹𝚄𝙻𝚈 𝟸𝟼𝚝𝚑 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾
[𝙿.𝙾.𝚅 𝙹𝙰𝚇𝙾𝙽]

"Tell me you got something," I sigh, the weight of the situation pressing down on me.

"Yeah," Colby replies, his expression serious. "Apparently, some of the gangs are going to the airport, more importantly, Los Angeles."

I nod, absorbing the information. "Good, I want you to set up a flight for me and your group. I want the rest of you here in case this is another setup. I'm not taking any chances this time," I say firmly, emphasizing the need for caution.

Colby understands the gravity of the situation and nods before leaving the room. As he walks out of the house, I can't help but feel a deep sense of nostalgia and longing for the life I once had here. This house was my home, and it still carries traces of her presence. I can almost smell her perfume lingering in the air, a painful reminder of what I lost.

I take a long, deep breath, savoring the bittersweet memories that flood my mind. I cast my gaze around the room once more, as if hoping to find some solace in the familiar surroundings.

On the table nearby, I notice a small drive, and my curiosity gets the best of me. I quickly gather it and place it in my laptop. A video feed pops up on the screen, and I click it, my heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

The video starts with a slight fuzziness before gradually coming into full focus. The room's colors become more distinct as Rose steps in front of a large, antique mirror hanging on the wall. The walls are painted in a soft shade of pale lavender, giving the room a calm and soothing ambiance. The natural light filters in from a nearby window, casting a gentle, warm glow on the scene, indicating that it's daytime. A soft hum of distant traffic can be heard, suggesting that She's at Her apartment.

"Today, I'm eleven weeks pregnant," Rose says with a faint smile, though there's a hint of pain in her eyes. She places a hand on her slightly rounded belly, her fingers tracing the subtle curve. "I'm already starting to show a little," she adds, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and vulnerability.

Her eyes well up with tears as she continues, "My doctor said I might feel better documenting the pregnancy so I can show the baby when they're older." She turns the camera to face herself, revealing the faint traces of worry etched across her face. "It wouldn't be so hard if Jaxon was here to live this out with me. I think he would actually be happy to have a baby."

As Rose speaks, her vulnerability becomes even more apparent, and she sits down on the edge of the bed. The bedspread is a soft shade of pale blue, and a stuffed bear rests on top of it, a reminder of happier times. "Jayden is still upset with me. I told him he couldn't see Jaxon last night, and he freaked out," she says, her voice quivering. "It hurts me in the same way it does him, but the danger..."

She pauses, the unspoken fear hanging in the air, her words left incomplete. Her room is filled with framed photographs, a testament to the happy moments. A soft, soothing melody plays softly in the background, a delicate piano piece that underscores the emotional depth of the moment.

As I watch the video, I take a moment to scan her room, searching for any clues or insights. Behind her, in a small vent on the wall, I notice what appears to be a tiny wire or camera. It's an unsettling discovery, a stark reminder that someone was watching her every move, invading her privacy. A surge of anger courses through me at the thought of someone violating her space in such a sinister way. I can't help but wonder what kind of person would stoop so low.

The video feed captures a deeply personal and vulnerable moment in Rose's life, but it also reveals a disturbing invasion of her privacy. I close my laptop with a resounding thud, my resolve hardening to confront the person responsible for this violation. This individual had better hope I don't find them before they can escape my reach because, this time, I won't show them any mercy.