"Bullet..........head.........don't know..." "Never seen him before""They are searching........" Neal doesn't know what these people are talking about. But he continued his morning routine, jogging. Neal liked running since he was a child. It helped him to maintain a good lean body. But that's not the reason he liked run, he simply loves it. Neal stopped dead in his track when he noticed a group of people surrounding something in front of the medical shop near his clinic.There were police also, searching here and there and asking questions to Mr. Ford, the medical shop owner. Neal walked further to take in the scene before him. There was a expensive car which is now destroyed and its all glasses were shattered. What made him shocked was the man leaned towards the steering wheel. It wasn't a man resting from tiredness. It's a dead body! The man looked about 53, wearing a black suit which is now covered
"M―Mafia? Here?" Neal asked nervously. Arjun nodded, taking a tissue. He sneezed and coughed before turning to his friend again. "Yes. And not only them, there are more gangs but you can say Rendells are number one on the top five list. They are known for their cruel way of punishments actually. Do you know what they do to their preys?" Arjun asked leaning forward. Neal shook his head no. "Let me tell you, it is better to get killed on the spot than being just thirty minutes in their custody and getting tortured. They won't kill you easily. They will torture you until they get what they want from you." Arjun thought for a moment before continuing,"I once heard they burned a man alive. I don't know why. They pulled his all teeth and nails before pouring wax all over his body and tortured so many times before setting him on fire. And his―" "Okay that's enough. I think you are exaggerating." He shivered at the thought.
Neal stepped out of the bathroom in his boxers, rubbing his damped hair with a small towel. He went straight to his closet. He picked out his favorite navy blue t-shirt and white sweatpants.Hearing the notification, he walked towards the table beside his bed. It was a message from Reksha, Arjun's mother.Reksha : Please be safe on your way. See you afternoon guys. Take care of Arjun. I bet he didn't take the medicine. Just check under his pillow. Love you..Neal : I will. See you. Love you too.. :)Neal connected the charger to his phone. Leaving it on the table, he walked out of his room going straight to Arjun's bedroom. He walked to the bed and searched under the pillow. There it is!Just in time Arjun's sneeze came from the living room. Neal shook his head taking the medicines and exit the room.He went to kitchen to m
"How is Leo?" Kaiden asked Hunter as he entered his office. "Fine. Good." Hunter replied massaging his temples. Drake entered the room. His friends turned to him. "Did you find it?" Hunter asked his friend who is leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and one feet touching the wall, in a cold voice. "No." Drake breathed out. "For God's sake Drake, when are going to stop dropping your chain?" Hunter explode frustrated. Drake didn't answer and looked down. Kaiden looked between his friends. Before he could speak, his phone rang. Drake and Hunter turned towards him. Kaiden picked up the phone humming in answer to whoever was on the other side, and hang up. "Found it
"Dylan, I need you to do something for me." Neal said walking towards his desk. Dylan, who was pacing back and forth stopped when Neal entered. "What? What happened? Who is that dude?" "I will tell you later. I need to go now. It's urgent. I will tell you when I come back."IfI come back, Neal thought. "What is it boss? You are scaring me." Dylan asked in frustration. Whoever the man is, he looked so scary and Dylan didn't trust him at all. Neal give him a forced smile. "Don't worry. Look, I have to go to a place. So I'm leaving clinic to you. You already have a key, don't you?, " At Dylan's nod Neal continued, "Okay. When you close, go to my place and tell
Lub dub lub dub lub dubIt's all Neal can hear now. He felt like his heart is going to explode. Is this the feeling when a normal person meet a mob? He doesn't know. He was breathing hard. His nails dug into his palms as he fisted them.Hunter's cold eyes scanned Neal up and down and moved forward causing Neal to step back. The back of his thighs touched the armrest of the couch. Neal startled from the sudden contact, he let out a squeal before falling back. But before he fall Hunter caught his left arm and pulled Neal to his chest.Neal's eyes widened from the closeness. Their faces were inches apart. If he isn't wrong, the man's heart is beating like crazy just like his. He can feel it under his palm which rested on Hunter's left pec.Being this close, Neal started to notice every single thing on the man's face. Hunter's thick black brows knitted together, his slightly parted red lips and the very small mole on the left side of h
Neal rubbed his cheeks with his palms. He is doing it since Hunter walked out of the room. Not only his face and ears are red as tomato but his whole body too. He felt so hot. A man kissed him. A man!Neal doesn't know what to feel. No one ever kissed him like that other than Erika. Neal wouldn't say he is straight because gender didn't matter to him. This is his first experience with a guy. It would be lie if he said he didn't felt tingly inside.Neal touched his lips thinking about Hunter's soft lips and sweet kiss he gave him. Although Neal feared the man, his presence and touch brought goosebumps all over his skin."This is what you need to do from now on. What did he meant by that? Should I kiss everyone in this house from now on? Isn't that sexual harassment?" Neal talked to himself.He looked at his watch, 6.15 pm."What the hell?" He is sitting there for hours and no one came to check upon him. He is hungry. He
16 months ago"Don't panic Hazel, stay calm. Please.." Hunter whispered as he squeezed his sister's hand as they neared to the labour room. Her face showed how much pain she is in. She gripped the edge of the stretcher with the other hand."Hunter..." She called out when the nurse said Hunter to wait outside. They stopped. Hunter leaned down to hear his sister whatever she is going to tell."If....If I don't make it, p-please give my child a normal life. I don't....i don't want my child to have a life we lived. I don't want these chaos in my baby's life, do you hear me?" She asked through pain but her voice was firm. Hunter's eyes welled up, but he blinked them back and nod with a hoarse 'yeah'."Promise me." She breathed out squeezing his hand."I promise. Don't worry." He said and squeezed her hand back. Hazel smiled at her little brother."Take care. I love you." She said with a smile."Lov
Arjun felt dizzy. Although the fever had subsided a little, fatigue took over his body from days of wandering and searching for his friend. He doesn’t know where he is going or where the hospital-like room he stayed since he arrived there. But one thing he is sure about is that… he is hurt by Ricky’s words. Why? He doesn’t know. Why would he let that get into his head when Ricky was nobody to him? Is it because Neal is his best friend now? Is it because he was realizing that he’s being left alone now that Neal somehow found his other half in Hunter? Or Is it because it's been years since he heard from someone that they don’t like him?Perhaps the old sayings were right. You can’t get away from deepest sorrows, whether you want to ignore them or act like that never ever happened. Once the memories get intruded, it comes back twice and eats you alive. And that’s how he is feeling right now. There are these voices in his mind… telling that he doesn’t belong here or anywhere. The same voi
“Why are you staring at him like that?” Ricky asked Neal with a smile. Neal was watching Leo who was sleeping on Hunter’s shoulder. They were sitting in the balcony in Ricky’s room, where they could get a better view of everyone outside. It’s been hours since August left and Neal could see the atmosphere changed a lot. Something big is going to happen. Everyone was on edge.Neal shrugged, “Nothing. Just….everything happened so suddenly..I don’t know what to say. How are you feeling? Does it hurt so much?” He asked, genuinely concerned about his friend.Ricky nodded his head, “I’m okay. Except your creepy friend who is staring at me. What are you looking at?” Ricky rolled his eyes at Arjun who was staring at Ricky since they sat there.Arjun was jealous to be honest. He was with Neal since childhood, through thick and thin. Has he already made a best friend these days? Nope. He is not giving that place to some new kid.“Just so you know, I’m his best friend.” Arjun said, glancing at Ne
“HOW DARE YOU!”August struggled to breathe. He doesn't know how he reached home because everything was blurred in his vision since he left Rendells’ household. The moment he stepped inside this house, he was thrown to the wall with a powerful hand strangling him.He clawed at Adriel’s hand desperately trying to take a breath. No one dared to stop Adriel who looked like a real psycho at that moment. They feared he would kill them if they tried to stop him.Leah called his name over and over yelling to calm down. But she knows nothing is going to stop him other than himself.“You ruined my plan. You know how many shadows I hired just to bring that damn child?” Adriel let go when he saw his brother's swelling face and bulging teary eyes. August coughed and slid down catching his breath. Adriel pulled him up by collar and looked straight at his brother.“Finally I succeeded in shaking Hunter and you just ruined it. You have made a mistake, August.” Adriel fisted his hand in August’s shirt
1 hour ago Ricky looked affectionately at the soundly asleep Leo who was sleeping after playing with him the whole day. He can't explain how happy he is to see everyone. Feels like he is really home. But the house brings so many memories that he tried to erase. Even the bed smells the same. Why does it gives comfort and distress at the same time? "Are you thinking about Hazel?" Allison entered the room with a cup of coffee in her hand. Allison resembled her brother so much. Their skin tone, fiery hair and long arms…even the height is no different. Her floral dress was moving with the breeze as she walked. The only female existing in Rendell family smiled sweetly at her friend. "Hmm...Why is he so unfortunate? I had at least Mom with me till I'm two. But, what about him? it must be painful when he grow up. If my brothers weren't with me, I'd have gone mad." Ricky sighed sadly. "You...do you still have nightmares?" Allison asked hesitantly and handed the coffee to Ricky before sitt
Hunter waited patiently for the other guy to move. Neal fidgeted in his spot. All the courage he gathered to come here was slowly slipping away.He had plenty of time to think about this meet after Ricky left that morning. He never felt so lonely in his life. He didn't even see Kaiden or Brad whole day.Neal took a deep breath and moved forward, slowly. Hunter observed his every move. The doctor walked around the table and stopped beside Hunter. Hunter turned in his chair and stood up with raised brows. What the other did in the next moment really surprised him.Neal took Hunter's right hand ever so slowly and placed it on his left cheek holding it there for a few moments.It was warm.Hunter's body stiffened. He thought Neal was ready to have a conversation with him. But he didn't expect this. He remembers how Neal backed away from his touch other day. Is this his way of apologizing?They stared at each other without uttering a single word. Neal felt uncomfortable under Hunter's gaze
"What is it? Is it about Arjun?" Neal asked, panicked. Ricky was silent since they walked out, and now they are in garden. The doctor's silence made the vet tense."Do you like Hunter?"Neal was surprised at the question and he frowned as soon as the name left Ricky's lips. He didn't say anything."Why are you treating him like this all of sudden?" Ricky kept talking. It was Neal's time to be silent."I know we held you hostage and you hate us.""I don't hate you! Or anyone!" Neal squeaked."So you like him?" Ricky pressed.Neal sighed, "I didn't say that. I don't know how your world works Derrick, because I'm an ordinary person. I'm―""So what do you imply we are? Monsters?" Ricky raised his brows, there wasn't any amusement in his face anymore."We didn't chose this life, Neal. Trust me, if I had a choice, I wouldn't be a part of this world." Ricky breathed out.Neal saw a flash of sadness in the other's eyes. Now he's feeling bad. He made his only friend there sad."Do you know who
"THAT BASTARD! I WILL KILL HIM!" Hunter roared as he paced back and forth in his study.Kaiden closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "Will you calm down for a second?" He asked calmly.Hunter stopped his pacing and looked at his right hand man incredulously."How can I be calm Kai? And..and why are YOU so calm? They could have killed your dad!" He shout throwing his hands up.Kaiden was still calm when he replied, "I know. But what matters, he is okay now. He's not dead. Also, don't forget what he taught us, nothing good will come out of anger, Hunter. Don't forget it." He said with a straight face and gave his boss a pointed look."Says the one who scarred Jayce." The raven haired muttered with a scoff.Hunter breathe through his nose and tried to calm himself. The door burst open revealing a panting Ricky. He just got to know the news that Kaiden's father was attacked in their estate in Vegas. Ricky was training the new guards with his knife skills, and as soon as he heard the new
"I told you I want to be alone Ric―" Neal stopped when he saw who entered his room. Hunter. Not in his earlier blood drenched shirt though.He is wearing a light blue button up and black dress pants now. Hunter ran a hand through his damped locks, a gesture he does whenever he is tense. Neal unconsciously breathed in the fresh scent of body wash that hit his nose.Neal was standing beside the window with folded arms. He was silent since the incident happened downstairs. Ricky tried to make conversations hoping some words out of Neal's mouth. But the guy courteously asked the young one to leave him alone for a while. After some whining and pouting Ricky granted his wish and left him alone.He was looking out through the window at nothing in particular. Beau is asleep again in his own little bed.Neal bolted towards the bathroom, wanting nothing to talk with the raven haired guy. But the other one grabbed his arm instantly stopping him. Neal snatched his hand from Hunter as if the touch
"No. He is not." Hunter shook his head and clasped his hands on the table. His friends raised brows for an explanation for his statement."I hired him Kai. I know him. He is upset for days because of his father." Hunter said."That drunkard? What's he want now?" Kaiden asked irritably."Allison's custody.""Hell no! He will probably sell her to someone." Drake growled."No one is taking her. I will handle him later. Right now we have a bigger problem. We should find him sooner. I have a feeling something is going to happen." Hunter sighed, massaging his temples.Silence fell between them, each thinking about the scenarios they have to face in future."How is it going with him?" Kaiden asked with a smirk, breaking the silence.Hunter got what he is asking. He thought for a while. Honestly, he doesn't know what to say about his relationship with the doctor. He closed his eyes and leaned back sighing, "I can't figure him out. It's like...he have mixed feelings." He stated staring at the