Pieces of Your Love

21- The Truth

It was already eventide when Darren decided to take a rest in The Summers. It's just a modest inn with less furnitures in it but Darren will have to do it for the night without complaining. The innkeeper, Mrs Hampton was able to recognize who he was without asking. "Ah, the Marquess of Salisbury! How may I help you?" She asked while playing her rings on her fat fingers.

"Get for me a room to stay for a night. I'll be off tomorrow." He said without giving a second thought on whether there is a room for him and head straight to the nearest chair.

"I'm afraid to say that all the rooms are fully booked....But I have some surprise for you." She gave him a sly grin and three men appear out of the shabby looking red curtain. The sinister looking men were all armed and ready to pull the trigger. They look intimidating but Darren wasn't afraid to face them when he slowly turned his head to face them. " Is this a special treatment reserved for me?" He queried lightly but there is a slight hint of warning there. Now, he was looking straight at the fat woman donned in tight shocking pink dress.

"I guess you can say that again." She laughed. " I'm sorry for that as there is someone who wants you dead. I'm guessing you know who that person is without questioning."

Darren didn't waste any moment as he doesn't like people delaying his plans. He wants to find Emily now but the journey will take another day. Thus, he quickly took out his gun and shot the only source light in the inn. The light bulb was out by then and the glass shatters. The gunmen grew panic and start shooting at the initial place Darren was standing. The last seventh bullet was release and they realise they were out of ammunition. They didn't bring extra as they underestimate his abilities.

"Di-did you get him?" Mrs Hampton ask while wiping the beads of sweat on her forehead. She was getting alarmed of Darren's disappearance. A gunshot was heard and one of the gunmen screamed of pain and the woman screeched hysterically.

"Come out from where you are coward!" The tall burly man shouted but no sound was heard. It was too quiet and dark that they can even see the sillouette of him.

"Chanse, are you okay?" The tall man asked and moved to his injure friend . "Are you an idiot?! Of course not! I got shot at my right leg."

The second shot came without any warning and hit right into Chanse head and he died instantly. "Chanse!" The man bawled at his dead friend and the next thing he knew the third came and killed his another partner. The man fell on the floor and the smell of copper blood was everywhere. He was beginning to get feel the apprehension for staying at the same position for a long time.

"Mrs Hampton!" He called out. "Are you still there?"

There was no answer and he quickly walked towards the place she was standing just before the light went off. "Mrs Hampton." He started to touch the air trying to find her like a blind man and he felt her silky dress. She didn't move and by then he realised she's dead too being stabbed at the stomach. Blood was oozing out from her and he moved away. He was panic stricken and start to make a run to the door. But before he was able rescue himself, his ankle was being shot.

"You do have the gut to challenge me I see." Darren spoke with such a spine-chilling tone until the poor man have no choice but to buckle under the fear he was feeling. He kneeled down and began begging for his mercy.

"Please, spare my life. I have a family to take care of. I promise you'll never have to see me again." he clasped his hands while waiting for his answer.

Darren said nothing but took out his gun. "Tell me, is it the Marquess of Pembroke asking for my head?"

"Yes!" The man answered quickly.