Chapter 58
DEREK P. O. V
Just as I braced myself for the bullet to hit my chest, Jaxon suddenly pushed me from behind, taking the bullet in his right arm near the elbow. Blood began to flow from the wound.
“Urgh…Fuck!” Jaxon groaned in pain, clutching his arm to try and stop the bleeding.
I quickly knelt beside him, cradling his head in my lap as he struggled to stifle his groans. “You didn’t have to do that, Jaxon,” I scolded, my voice filled with concern as I placed my hand over his to apply pressure to the wound.
I glanced back at Paulo and his men, still aiming their guns at us. Jaxon had taken the bullet for me, but I had been wearing a bulletproof vest. He shouldn’t have risked himself like that, especially when I had been prepared for a situation like this.
A painful chuckle escaped his throat as he raised his gaze to meet mine. “I pledged my life and loyalty to you, Mob. This is nothing,” he sputtered in a hoarse voice, trying to catch his breath.
My heart sank at his words. Jaxon was one of my men who was close to my heart, second only to Doven. All my men held a special place in my heart, despite my sometimes harsh treatment. Their loyalty was invaluable, something that couldn’t be bought with gold or money. They were willing to sacrifice their lives for me, bound by our oath.
“Seeing you unharmed is enough for me,” he said,
flashing a sad smile.
“I’ll call the doctor to check on you,” I said, feeling guilty for his current state. I quickly helped him up and led him to my car.
“Stop!” Paulo’s voice made me freeze, and I hesitated to turn around to see if he was approaching me or still standing there. “I’ll give you just 30 minutes to see her,” he declared loudly.
I turned slowly, unsure if I had heard him correctly, my brows furrowed in confusion.
“Leave him here, my men will call a doctor,” he instructed before turning and walking away.
As I watched him go, I wondered if it was a trap to lure me in. However, I had known Paulo for years, even before he started working for my father. He was always true to his word and never played games. That’s why he was hired by top Mafia bosses for clean jobs.
Paulo murmured something to his men, and they approached me, gently taking Jaxon from my arms. I stood there, contemplating my next move, and when I looked up at Paulo, he gestured for me to start moving. He pointed to his watch, indicating that my time had begun.
I hurriedly entered the dark building, feeling like a madman as I searched for any sign of light. I quickly used my phone’s flashlight to illuminate the surroundings, only to be hit with a strong, unpleasant odor that made me cover my nose. The building was in a terrible state, resembling a neglected forest with cobwebs, dust-covered windows, and insects scurrying around.
‘Is this the place where my mother has been held captive for 25 years?” I wondered silently, looking around. But I quickly dismissed the thought knowing my father wouldn’t subject her to such conditions. Despite my doubts, a faint moan in the distance caught my attention, slowly drawing me closer. It had been so long since I heard her voice, but I followed the sound to a heavy metal door to clear my curiosity.
Just as I was about to turn the doorknob, one of Paulo’s men appeared beside me and handed me a key, leaving me puzzled about how he had arrived so quickly.
Silently, I took the key and unlocked the door, entering cautiously and stepping carefully as I moved forward. Inside, I saw my Mother confined like an animal in a cage. Her legs and hands were shackled to a metal rod, and even her neck was restrained. Her body showed signs of aging, covered in bruises and scars.
My legs went weak at the heartbreaking sight before me. Tears flowed uncontrollably as I gazed at the woman who had given birth to me and cared for me for just 7 years before she was taken away.
“Mother,” I whispered, my voice trembling as I addressed her. Slowly, I approached her, my steps faltering.
Upon hearing my voice, she lifted her head towards me, her expression one of shock as she blinked rapidly, trying to confirm that I was really there before her.
After a long silence, my mother whispered, “My child,” tears streaming down her face as she weakly dropped her head and sobbed gently.
“Mother,” I ran to her with open arms. Despite her disheveled appearance and the unpleasant odor, I embraced her tightly.
We embraced each other, tears streaming down our faces. “Mother,” I cried, feeling like a child in her arms, burying my head on her shoulder.
“My dear child, my boy,” she said, lifting her head from my shoulder, a soft smile amidst her tears.
“Mom,” I whispered, tears welling up as I looked at my mother, once vibrant and now frail.
She tried to touch my face, but the chains restrained her hands, preventing her. Realization dawned on her, and she broke down in tears again.
“Mom, it’s okay don’t cry,” I said, gently lifting her chin to meet my gaze. “You want to touch me, don’t you? You want to hold me.”
She nodded eagerly, her eyes suddenly filled with confusion as she wondered how I could make it happen with her hands bound by chains.
I moved behind her, where her hands were tied, and knelt to rest my face on her bound hands.
“You can touch me now, Mother,” I said with a smile.
She gently ran her hands over my face and then tousled my hair. “You’ve grown into a handsome man,” she chuckled, her voice quivering.
I stepped back and faced her, noticing the concern in her eyes. “Y-ou sh-shouldn’t have come here,” she stammered, avoiding my gaze.
I chuckled sadly, “Is this how you welcome your son after 25 years?” I asked, holding back tears. “Mother…”
“What if…” she started.
“What if he finds out?” I cut her off, frustration was evident in my voice. “Look at what he’s done to you. A woman once full of life now looks like a walking corpse,” I shouted, as tears streamed down her face.
“Do you know how it feels to grow up without you all these years? Do you think I don’t know the loneliness of being confined here like a prisoner, never seeing the light of day?”
“I don’t understand,” she screamed. “But I feel like I brought this upon myself. If I hadn’t meddled in his business, I wouldn’t be here.” She said, trying to justify my father’s action.
“Regardless of the reasons, Mother, you shouldn’t be treated like this, like an animal. You are his wife and my mother,” I said, my voice filled with annoyance and frustration.
“I don’t think you would understand,” she whispered, tears glistening in her eyes.
I turned to her, puzzled. “What do you mean?” I asked.
She smiled softly. “I’ll explain how it all started and why I’m here,” she said.
I nodded, eager to listen. “I’m all ears,” I replied, about to sit down when Paulo’s voice interrupted us.
“Your time is up,” his voice boomed from behind the closed doors.