Chapter 30: chapter 30

Rodas's POV [Present]-------------------------------The dimly light wine cellar is humiliating. It's mocking and reminding me of the cowardly thing I've just done."Why did you let him go?" Z says beside me, his voice dripping with concern. I pour myself a glass of scotch and gulp down the liquid, it's like a fire scorching through my dry throat yet it's relaxing.I put the glass down, trying to find an answer to give to Z as my finger follow the round edge of the glass.I don't know. I don't know why-"I just couldn't bring myself to shoot him," I reply remembering the scene that happened inside the basement. The bullets that were supposed to be penetrating through Rei's skull went wasted on the floor. "Remember, not to show me your face ever again... You know what would happen if you do,"I said that to Rei. Was that just an excuse to get away from killing the person who once used to be like my brother? Or did I become weak after hearing him say about the sin I did? "You have to stop blaming yourself now... You didn't do anything" Z says, putting his hand over my shoulder. Those words don't assure me anymore. "You can go, I'm staying here for a while," I say raising my glass at him.Z sighs and refuses to move."Go!!" I push him away from my side."Don't overdrink" he warns me before making his way out of the cellar.I chuckle, waving my hand at him.Even if I drink myself to lose consciousness, the pain wouldn't go. They would come and haunt me in my dream.There isn't really a place where I can be in peace. I worked my way up to be one of the favourite sons of Father. The old man who owned the world's largest organisation "Red Thorns".There were few chosen ones, who had the largest share of Father's organisation. Most of the overseas businesses were handled by them. Father trusted them more than anyone else. The rapidly growing trust of Father in me was like poison flowing in their veins. They didn't like the idea of an outsider gaining access to the organisation in such a short time. When I turned twenty. Father gave me half of his share and I was declared one of his most trusted sons. Then it started.One month later, two of the trusted sons were assassinated followed by an inside war. No one knew who started it but shortly the organisation was in chaos. I lost count of the number of assassins who tried to kill me. It became hard to tell who was supporting whom. Father's health wasn't good. So, he called for an immediate meeting. That too ended up being a mess and Father was murdered right in front of everyone's eyes by a man named Mason, the closest son. Turned out he was the major cause of the inside war. He got the outside force involved and was doing many illegal businesses behind Father's back. He tried to negotiate with other sons to form a different organisation against Father and me. Those who didn't agree, he got them killed. The "Red Thorns" organisation got broken into two parts. Mason Turner's and mine. Mason Turner surpassed me in power in those days. I couldn't do much.So, he ended up taking more than half of the organisation's wealth. Named his organisation "Eagle" and I carried out Father's legacy. "Eagle" and "Red thorns" became sworn enemies. Our sole purpose was to destroy each other. It didn't take me long to strengthen my organisation and since Mason failed over and over to destroy me, he went for a nasty trick. He tried to kill Elora because he knew how much she meant to me. He knew, her death would weaken me. Unlucky for him. Now I not only want to destroy him but I will give him the most painful death ever.Elora. I don't want to think about her reaction when she remembers everything again. She might walk away from me and maybe that's the best way to save herself from a monster like me.But then again, how will I live? If only, I had listened to her and stayed with her that day, Mason wouldn't dare to harm her. I would be cradling our baby in my arms right now. I do everything perfectly but when it comes to her, I just mess up everything. I gulp down the remaining liquid before pulling myself away from the stool and walking out of the wine cellar. I head straight to my room. I need sleep.But as soon as I step into my room, I immediately notice that something isn't right. The familiar scent of my room is tainted by a foreign presence.  I'm not alone right now.People sneaking into my room to have my life isn't something new to me though it will surely be something new if at least one of them succeeds in their mission. I casually walk to the table and take off my watch, wallet and phone before putting them on the table. Then I proceed to take off my shirt.Here it comes.The intruder comes from behind but I'm faster, I whirl around, and my reflexes hone to perfection. In a flash, I grab their wrist and pull them forward before throwing them on the floor and pressing my arm against their neck but once I see the face, My whole being soften immediately."Elora!" The name escapes my lips with a sound full of guilt. Taking advantage of my vulnerability, she pushes me down and set herself on top of me. I surrender as her fingers wrap around my neck though she isn't putting any pressure on it. She let out a painful whimper as tears dripped from her eyes and fall over my face. I dare not move or say anything.I'm ready to let her do anything to me at this moment. Those small whimpers turn into small sobs and then into loud cries. I slowly raise my hands and hold her cheeks. Her cries become louder."Y-You...." She says in between her cry. "Rodas, you cruel thing!" Aren't I?