CHAPTER ELEVEN
*Like black and white*The fuming Drake paced the room in irritation. Blocking her line was a futile attempt. He groaned into the phone."Rachael? Really?! You don't know when to give up, do you?" He growled."And the best thing you thought to do was to block my line? What is the matter with you anyway? What have I done wrong this time? I thought by coming down to London you will be happy to see me. Apparently, I was a fool. Screw you and that rich bitch you've been shagging!!!" She screeched.The phone vibrated in his hand as her shrill voice travelled through it."Look I'm only in London to work. And my personal affairs is no fucking business of yours. Why don't run back home to Scotland and stop making a fuss over everything.""I'm not a child, Finn. For heaven's sake do I disgust you so much that you don't want to even see me? First, you returned to London without my knowledge and now that I'm in London you can't even see me because of some trull you've been banging! What's so special about her anyway? Is she good in bed than I am? Or is it because of the money?!" She asked fiercely."I'm not in the right frame of mind to answer your stupid questions!" He hissed"When can we ever see and talk like adults without you yelling at me every five seconds?!" She flared up.He inhaled to calm his breathing and stop himself from screaming at her again. He was frustrated. She's literally stalking him at this point.What they shared or had was nothing-merely high school teenagers' triviality. And after they graduated from Albyn school fifteen years ago, Racheal has been stuck to him like a leech. He had never truly loved her. In fact, the first girl he fell in love with was popular in the school and she despised him so much that one day she walked up to him and spat on his face."You imbecile!" She snapped. " Stop fooling around with me. You're not in my league and you can never be like your brother either" she had burst out laughing mockingly and brushed past him violently. He trembled with embarrassment and a sudden hatred for his brother burned in his chest; He hated him for getting the girl he loved while his brother was just messing with her.When he couldn't take it anymore, he had confronted his brother one night in his room with annoyance etched on his face. He barged into his room and pounced on him like an angry kitten.His brother, who was more powerful and athletic than he was, simply whacked him to the floor. He bumped his head on the bedpost. Thankfully, he didn't wear his glasses this time but he could still make out the satisfied smile curving at the corner of his brother's lips as he shot a frigid look in his direction. He held his head as it throbbed in pain."What did you do to Emily?!" He blurted. His hands were still on his face, caressing his head. By now, a little bump has formed on his head. He winced in pain."What's gotten into you? Are you a doper now so I can add you to the list?" He taunted. It's no news that his brother was steadily on hard drugs and a gang leader in school, feared by all. And of course, all the girls in Albyn high school were pining for his attention. He was distinctively more handsome than him. With the somewhat "Bad boy" vibes to it. In contrast, Drake had appeared to others like a nerd. He had bad sight growing up so he was using a pair of glasses strictly prescribed by their local optician at that time."You're the doper you bastard. What did you do to her?! I saw her crying in school today. Did you hurt her?!""And if I did, what are you gonna do about it uh?! You're just my pathetic brother -an absolute waste of sperm!" He scoffed at him.Sixteen-year-old Drake was visibly outraged at his brother's resentful words. His hands clenched into a fist as he reared back and pummeled blows on his brother's chest who was about four inches taller than him. In a swift motion, his brother grabbed his hands and shoved him to the bed. He landed on his back."Get over her! She never liked you in the first place and never will. Even if you try to play the hero all the damn time!" He said as he howled in laughter."You think I didn't know why you got close to her in the first place. It was all because of some stupid bet with your crazy friends wasn't it?!" Drake growled.His brother's brows arched."So? The world will be so boring without playing games every now and then sweet brother. That's why you're a pain in the arse! Besides, I was getting bored that's why I dumped Racheal for you. Aren't you two getting along? You should thank me you know." he beamed with a satisfying smile as his brother's face contorted in disgust and anger."you're a piece of shit!" He hissed.His brother's evil laughter rung in the room. Tears formed at the corner of his blue eyes as he stormed out of his brother's room in defeat."Finn?"The caller's voice jolted him back to the present. The resounding laughter of his brother still ringing in the recess of his head. It's been fifteen years and the memory is still as fresh as yesterday.Hearing Racheal calling him that name made him squick not just because of the mention of the name but more because it reminded him of his past... And what his brother said- Racheal was with him because his brother was so done with her. He was simply a dump site and this thought irritated him all the more."Do I have to spell it out to you every damn time Racheal?! Don't ever in your wildest dreams call me by that name ever again. You hear?!""Why? Are you hiding your real name from anyone in particular? What is your motive for returning to London? There are so many secrets you're keeping for me. I don't understand..." Her tone was faint in exhaustion."Do yourself a favour and stay the hell away from me!" With that words, he hung up.Damn it all! He never relished the idea of digging up his past. And never wants to cross paths with his brother anytime soon either. That's why he can't mess up now.Fuck! He's so famished to even think straight.His phone chimed: a text from Janice reads : * hey was wondering if you could join us for lunch. Bet you're famished! See you soon!*He sighed. The only option that persisted was going to the Jordan's house to eat at the table with them-their enemy.And the thought that he will see Janice made his gut churn with anticipation.*To forever and beyond…*The day of the trial had arrived, and it felt as though the world held its breath. The courtroom was filled with journalists, spectators, and photographers positioned on all corners of the courtroom doors waiting. They were all here for the same purpose: the moment the world would witness as justice decided the fate of Mr. Jordan. In other words, the downfall of the Jordans.The courtroom was so unnervingly quiet that you could hear a pin drop as every creak of a bench and every rustle of paper lingered in the tense air.Janice Jordan sat at the front with Finn beside her. Her uncle came with some family members and they sat behind the pew. Janice’s hands trembled in her lap, fingers clasped so tightly together that her knuckles turned white. She glanced at Finn beside her, his jaw set, gaze fixed on the judge as if nothing else existed. This was heavy for him especially but at last he would witness the final judgment and hopefully get the justice his late f
*He had to bear the consequences of his actions.*Janice sat in an uneasy silence, staring out the window as the news sank in, each word settling into her mind like stones dropped into water.She could hardly believe her ears. Her father has been arrested?! This was the first time such news would reach her ears. The mighty Jordan was arrested?!"Janice? This isn't the time to space out!" Finn's voice yanked her out of her reverie. She blinked repeatedly as her brain was still processing this whole unexpected turn out of events. She gulped. "What's going to happen to him, I-I don't even know what to say. He's the only family I've got, Finn," her words barely squeak out of her lips."Unfortunately, it may be nothing good, Janice. This is the moment of truth, and justice must not only be done but it must be seen to be done." A cold shiver pricked against her skin like goosebumps. As much as she tried to ignore it, it was the hard truth. Her father had done horrible things in the pa
*Was this the end of the line for the mighty Jordan family?* "Janice, I'm so sorry you had to go through this alone, " Finn said, pulling her towards him for a long hug as he stroked her hair. Janice broke into tears, sobbing as her body shook with the weight of losing a child, a part of her that she wasn't fortunate to bring into the world. She sniffed and muffled against his chest, "I didn't mean to hide this from you, Finn. This is shocking news to me as well." "It's alright, sweetheart." He said gently as he continued to stroke her hair. Then he broke the embrace and cradled her wet face in his hand, forcing her to look at him. "Look at me, Janice," he wiped her tears with his thumb. His heart tightened seeing her like this. "I promise I will wipe the tears off your face. We can always make another one." She momentarily stopped crying and looked at him wide-eyed. "You didn't even ask if that child is yours, Finn." He chuckled and shook his head. "I didn't
Chapter Three Hundred and Thirty*The unexpected and Sad Revelation*Finn's (once Drake but will be called his real name henceforth)hammered as he paced the narrow room with the burner phone clutched tightly in his right hand and his left hand frantically raking through his sandy brown hair.Every creak of the floor, every rustle outside the window, seemed like it could be Fergus’s men clawing closer.They were running out of time.With the government closing in and Fergus’s rage nearly tangible, Finn knew their only chance was to reach out to someone who could help them disappear. His father’s old friend, Yamato—a man, both feared and revered, a former militant from Japan who had once pledged his loyalty to the family.Yamato listened in silence, his deep breaths echoing through the line. Then, without a word of question or reprimand, he simply said, “Be ready. I will take care of the arrangements.”A wave of relief coursed through Finn's body at once. His father had been right af
Chapter Three Hundred Twenty-Nine*My real name is Finn Orwells and not Drake Hughen.*He knew of one place Fergus wouldn't dare to look.The drive to his special hideout was unbearable, long, and tedious. It was a rocky path in the thick of the forest but close to a river bank. He usually came here when he needed some privacy from the Jordans and planned his next revenge move. But right now, the reverse was the case. How ironic did things turn out to be? He was literally bringing his arch enemy's daughter to his secret hideout, away from the hawk eyes of his evil brother-the person he was supposed to be working alongside.Well, things had changed. Maybe he had changed, too.But right now... he had a purpose.He glanced at the passenger's seat, where Janice was sitting quietly. Apparently, she was still shaken by everything that had unfolded. Poor woman... He had to protect her even from his own family.I'm so sorry, Mother....but I think I broke the rule.He gulped. I had fallen
*At any rate, he must save Janice.*The heel of his boots pounding in her stomach sent her to the floor, retching and wheezing with her heart in her throat, threatening to explode. A crushing pain seared through her chest. She sprawled on the ground, with her eyes shut tight, gasping for air desperately. The blindfold was restricting her vision, so she couldn't see who it was, but she could feel the extreme coldness exuding from his presence. "Let's try again, shall we, darling. And this time I won't go easy on you. I suggest you answer my questions if you want to leave here in one piece and see your asshole of a father!" the menacing raspy voice roared across the empty room. The man cocked his head to the two huge guys in black and at once they heaved her roughly to the chair and tied her hands and legs to the chair. The sound of the cocked gun jolted a shiver down her spine. He took long strides towards her and trailed the gun around her exposed chest, her buttons had come undon