Taming the Ruthless

Eyes

Chapter 6: Eyes

Ezekiel and Cattleya were so happy to see me pick them up. Fun stories filled the car.

Ezekiel was still singing, and Cattleya was narrating about the five stars that were drawn on her hand and written very well.

"My teacher said, Mommy, I'm good at painting! We have Family Day. Can Cattleya and I ask you and Daddy to attend? You haven't been able to attend yet," she said hopefully.

I can't promise that. What if Gus says no? They will be even sadder then. I don't want to make a promise I can't keep. I don't want to break their trust in me and disappoint them.

"I'll try to tell that to your Daddy, okay? But if your Daddy doesn't agree, I hope you understand, okay? Mommy will just attend."

The ringtone rang on Lucas's phone. He looked at the caller and then handed it to me. I was wondering why he gave it to me, but I accepted it and looked at the screen. A smile immediately registered on my lips.

BOSS.

I smiled and quickly answered. I immediately missed his voice.

"Baby. Lucas told me that you had come to fetch the children. Please be careful, okay? And I have a surprise for you, but it's a secret for now. How was your day? Did you eat already? Aren't you bored? Just tell me anything you want, and I will try to give you all of that."

He knows a lot of ways to please me. Just coming home is enough for me, and I have nothing more to ask for. So I decided not to go anywhere first, because I wanted to travel with Gus to those places.

"I did my best to be careful. Do not worry. I would like to ask you something when you come home. Cattleya and Ezekiel also asked—"

I felt the speed of a staff grab my head to bend, at the same time as I heard a gunshot. I immediately hugged the two children. I don’t know why, but I suddenly trembled with fear.

"Miss! No matter what happens, just bend down so you don't get hit! Gael and Jio! Send some back-ups! We are on the bridge now! Hurry up!" Lucas shouted and quickly drove the car.

I looked for Lucas's cell phone, picked it up quickly, and put it to my ear.

"What the f*ck is happening, Lucas?! Speak up! F*ck! What's going on?! Why are there gunshots?! Damn! Lucas, I'll kill you if something bad happens to my family!" Gus shouted on the other line. I could feel him venting his anger. They continued shooting at us in the car. The children were crying.

"They're chasing us, Gus! They want to kill us! They are still shooting at the car," I cried as I complained to him.

I heard him swear at what I said.

"Where are you exactly now? Please, baby. Don't be afraid, okay? Don't be afraid, because everything I will do is to protect you and my children."

I looked around, and we were on a bridge surrounded by tall trees. This was not the way home. Perhaps Luke was trying to confuse those who were chasing us.

"Here, on the bridge. But we've just left. We're on a zigzag road up this mountain."

"Okay. Baby, please press the loudspeaker button. If I see even a scar or a small lump on one of them, you know what will happen, Lucas. Do you understand? Take care of them..."

"Clear. I understand, Boss," Lucas answered without emotion. I don’t know why, but I felt so sorry for Lucas. His life depended on the safety of one of us.

"f**k! Kierra, answer your f*****g phone!"

Suddenly, the speed of the car slowed down. I heard Lucas swearing, then he quickly made his palm a shield so my forehead wouldn’t hit the car window.

"Hurry up! They shot the car tire, so we're stuck! You two, lift Ezekiel and Cattleya. Miss Aisha, come down and we will run. Hopefully you don’t have asthma?"

I nodded quickly, ready to run, but we stopped at the same time. Lucas hid me behind him to protect me because we heard a series of gunshots and saw black cars cornering us.

"f**k! Kierra! I'm going to kill you by chance because of your negligence and failure in service!" I heard Lucas whisper.

I hugged Cattleya and Ezekiel, who were still in tears, as Lucas surrounded us for protection. They were alert and sharp. An annoying laugh and applause only added to the fear.

An old man appeared, choked with glittering gold jewelry, his ears full of earrings that also glowed. He was so *OA*. Syndicate? No—it was wrong. He looked more like a r****t than a syndicate leader.

"You still haven't faded, Lucas, my boy! You're still a thorny slave to that cowardly Dalton! Hahaha! Oooohhh, looks like I want to meet the beautiful queen behind you. What a stupid thing, that stupid Dalton didn't think of. To show the public his very beautiful queen? It's a huge mistake. Just tell me how much you need, just give me the lady behind you."

His teeth were still glistening, as if he brushed every minute.

He started walking, but Lucas’s gunshot stopped him before he could take another step.

"I'm not in the mood to joke or negotiate with you, Mr. Oliver. If you want to prolong your life, go away. And take your puppies with you—those weaklings who don’t even have enough strength or skill to fight me," Lucas grinned.

An awkward laugh followed from Oliver, though his voice betrayed fear.

"Too obvious, boy. You’re scared! I’m giving you a chance to save your life. It’s a waste of talent, Lucas, if you die here! You’re already in a losing position, yet you still brag?"

He signaled to his men, and they quickly moved toward us, aiming their guns at Lucas. Just as Lucas was about to act, a scream pierced the chaos—Cattleya’s scream. My blood ran cold. A gun was pointed directly at her forehead.

"Mommy!"

"Freeze!" I shouted. "You don’t know how to fight fair, Oliver! Take that gun away from her or I’ll put a bullet through your skull, you bastard!"

Oliver smirked. "Fight fair? That’s gone. If I fought you fairly, I’d lose! I must take what I want! Bring me the woman—that’ll be our ace against Dalton!"

Lucas was caught off guard when Oliver’s men swarmed him with punches and kicks. He fought back, but they outnumbered him. Before I could react, rough hands yanked me by the hair, dragging me toward that grinning, ugly man. Pain shot through my scalp, and I squeezed my eyes shut. My children’s cries echoed in my ears.

"I’ll use you to tame your stubborn husband," Oliver sneered. "I know you’re the only one who can calm that demon, Dalton." His grip tightened around my jaw, forcing me to look into his gleaming eyes. "Beautiful," he whispered, smiling like he was planning something vile. "Especially those radiant eyes."

He pulled harder on my hair and started dragging me toward a car—but then, an explosion shattered the air. Everyone froze. Flames devoured one car, then another, until all ten vehicles erupted in a chain of fire.

"What are you staring at?! Find out who dared to interfere! Bring them to me—I’ll kill them myself! And you, woman—don’t expect to be saved. You’ll never escape my hands!"

A harsh slap cracked across my face, sending me crashing to the ground. My head spun, but before I could recover, he grabbed my hair again, dragging me closer to his remaining men. His eyes were filled with fear now, though he tried to mask it with rage.

"What are you looking at?! Aren’t you afraid after I slapped you, b***h?!"

"Stop pretending," I spat, biting my lip against the pain. "It’s obvious—you’re trembling in fear."

He yanked harder on my hair. "I’m not afraid! Why should I be?! Dalton’s stupid wife is in Greece. He can’t reach you, he can’t even breathe near you anymore. Why should I be afraid of a man who isn’t here? And you—" his lips twisted, "—you can’t scare me either. You’re just a burden in his life. Pathetic. Weak. You think Dalton will save you? Nice try, woman. Nice try." His whisper dripped venom in my ear.

I turned my eyes to Lucas, who was battered and bloody, barely holding himself up. My heart ached. Then I looked for Ezekiel and Cattleya—they were clutching each other, trembling, while two men shielded them alongside Lucas. Desperate, I tried to break free of Oliver’s grip to reach them, but he was too strong.

"Tita Kierra!" Ezekiel shouted. My head snapped toward him. Oliver and I turned at the same time.

Kierra was surrounded, but she fought back with furious precision. Dozens of men swarmed her, but her strikes were sharp, her movements fast and deadly. My heart stopped as I realized—I underestimated her. Not a single sign of fatigue showed on her. She was relentless.

Oliver, however, wasn’t angry. He was smiling—admiring her. His eyes glowed with something dark.

"Lucas, you’re weak! Always needing to be saved! Maybe your arrogance has blinded you again!" Kierra spat.

I almost smiled at her words—until I saw it. Oliver’s gun, aimed directly at her. My stomach dropped. His grin widened.

"It’s a pity you’re on the wrong side," he said with mock regret. "If not, I would’ve dragged you to the altar myself. Maybe in my next life, huh?"

Disgust crawled over my skin. I wanted to scream, but before I could—two gunshots cracked through the air.

My body went cold. I whipped around toward Kierra—only to see another body falling.

Lucas.

Even with his wounds, he had thrown himself in front of her. He became her shield, taking the bullets meant for her. My breath caught. Kierra’s eyes went wide as she dropped to her knees beside him, shock and rage twisting her face.

Before I could move, Oliver shoved me into a car. His men forced me inside.

"She’s all I need!" Oliver barked. "We’re leaving before Dalton’s men arrive! Lucky me—I knocked down one of his best and most loyal dogs!"

The car roared to life. Oliver whistled, far too pleased with himself. Pulling out his phone, he called someone.

"When I take action, I don’t get enough recognition. Today I’ve got Dalton’s queen—and I didn’t even have to try. Easy. Bonus? I killed Lucas. What a waste of loyalty. Dalton feeds his men something fierce, because none of them dare betray him. But no matter. We’ll break him another way. Physical pain is useless on Dalton, but emotional suffering? That’s the key. Imagine his face when he sees the lifeless body of his queen lying outside his house. Hah! Perfect. He’s in Greece now anyway, far from saving her. Everything is going according to plan."

Laughing, he ended the call, then turned toward me. His eyes were cruel, and his grip on my wrist burned as he tied me down.

"Just behave so that you don't die right away. It's a pity you're beautiful when I can't control my slap. I can't blame Dalton for being weak to someone like you. That beauty is too aggressive and debilitating. Why can't you just work with us to overthrow your husband? I won't kill you and you'll still make money. Just think logically. What can that coward give you? I bet you haven't seen his face yet, especially his eyes, because he's too cowardly and mad to hide in a mask. That doesn't dare, Mrs. Dalton. It's funny to think that."

"Do you think you can escape with him? Because even the smallest trace of you, he is able to follow and find. All right, have fun—or let's say have fun now—because you don't know what will happen next," I said in a cold tone. Looks like I learned something early, Gus. You were right. Not everyone with a twisted mind can be changed. They are too thirsty for blood and war.

He laughed and shook me, then quickly choked me and looked at me with glowing eyes filled with anger. His hand would definitely leave a scratch on my neck.

"You and your husband are the same! Everyone is under threat, even if you are in the opposite situation. How can he find me if I don't leave a trace? I will kill you in the cleanest way I know that never teaches me as a culprit. And if he finds out? We'll play hide-and-seek for the rest of our lives."

I coughed suddenly and inhaled the air as he loosened his grip on my neck, then slapped me. I tasted blood on my lips.

Deafening laughter filled the car. I immediately banged my head on the front seat when his driver suddenly braked. I closed my eyes in pain.

"Fck! What nonsense is this?! Why did you stop suddenly?! Do you want me to kill you?! Why did you stop?! What if Dalton's men catch up with us?!" he shouted furiously, then looked to the front—and at me—when he saw a motorcycle parked in the middle of the road. Its driver, still wearing a helmet and looking like a model, was sitting behind us.

"And who's that i***t sitting in front of that motorbike and stopping in the middle of the road?!"

The person next to me immediately got down to look at that man and aimed a gun, but before he could pull the trigger, that man struck first. I couldn't tell who it was because he was still wearing a helmet. But my heart was beating so fast—it seemed like I already knew.

"Damn! Drive fast! Don't stare!" His driver immediately obeyed. I looked around the corner to catch a glimpse of the man, but my face sank again as the car suddenly stopped—its tire exploded.

"And who is this punk to interfere again?!" He grabbed my hair and dragged me out of the car. He locked me against him with his arm and pressed a knife to my neck. He was surrounded by his four remaining men.

The man on the motorcycle turned his back. But I felt the weight of his presence—it added to the cold breeze. I knew these people were trembling with fear now, especially Oliver, because his forehead was dripping with sweat and his hands were cold.

"Who are you, i***t, to interfere?! You shouldn't have joined here, boy! If you're racing, don't interfere with us! I let you park in the middle of the road, even if you could be run over by my car, but fck—you shot my tire!" Oliver shouted like a madman. His lips trembled.

The man walked slowly, removing his helmet bit by bit. His demonic grin was remarkable. Until he pulled it off. H-he was wearing a mask.

He slowly opened his eyes. They were as blue and deep as the ocean, screaming with emotions. Sharp, piercing. Eyes that could drown me. Wide, furious, overflowing with rage. His slow, confident stride even surpassed a model’s ramp walk. His face screamed perfection, even hidden behind a mask. His sharp nose, but most utterly breathtaking were his eyes.

"Augustus..." I whispered.

"That's my name, Baby. My name. I know I'm a little late, and my hand is itching to break your neck, Oliver."

I could see the panic on their faces.

"It can't be! You're in Greece! It's impossible for you to get here right away!"

"You managed to lure me there, but when I found out it was just your ploy, I hurried home. I’m the surprise I told you about earlier, Baby. And if possible, remove that knife pointed at my wife, Oliver. If not, the knife you’re holding will sink into the center of your forehead."

Oliver laughed out loud, but his voice trembled.

"I won't be afraid—"

"Because you're scared on purpose, even if I'm just throwing words at you."

They were about to shoot Gus when he struck first. Just a flicker—and they were all down. Only Oliver was left. Gus continued stepping forward.

"Stop it, Dalton! Say stop or I'll stab this woman of yours!"

"Close your eyes, Baby. I'll just speed up killing him. You know it's not in my vocabulary to torture someone like him. Even if I wanted him to repay, I’d rather hug you. Now close your eyes and try not to move."

I obeyed his command and tried not to move. The next thing I knew, I felt blood splattering on my cheek and a steady hand catching my back as I almost collapsed.

"Forgive me for being late, Baby. Even though I want to hurt myself for my negligence—for letting them hurt you and smear your beautiful face. I fcking love you to the depths of hell, Baby."

I felt the soft thing that landed on my lips, and the warm liquid that fell on my cheek... then I was swallowed by the darkness.