WHAT ARE YOU HIDING BRIA?

BRIA

The devil pushed my hand back as his pupils constricted in anger. "Lucky? Do you really think that these are anywhere near beautiful?" He asked, pointing at his eyes.

"Yes," I answered honestly.

The vein on his forehead was about to burst due to the pressure. "You are wrong, Miss Maxwell! They are not beautiful and I am not lucky to have them."

"Why?"

I half expected him to shut him like every other time, but he surprised me by beginning, "I have this condition, heterochromia. Complete heterochromia, where the colour of one eye is different from the other. I was born like this." His voice came strained.

I scooted more toward him, and he didn't back away.

"I have always been an introvert. I had no friends as everyone was scared of my... father. I was bullied in school for having different eyes. My classmates used to tease me saying that it was because of my father's sins. My father was a... strict man. He made me wear the goggles at a very young age to hide my identity from his enemies. After all, I was the successor of his legacy. From that day on those black goggles became my protective shield. But I also started using brown lenses for precaution."

This was the first time that I heard a hint of emotion in his voice. He sounded so humane, so vulnerable. I knew that there was more to his story, but he was holding himself back from me for some reason.

"Do anyone know about this? Nora, Cameron, Gabriel or anyone?" I inquired.

He lifted his face to look straight into my eyes, and my breath hitched hearing his answer. "No. You are the only one who knows as my lenses drained down the wash basin when I washed my face carelessly. Every person who knew this... my father made sure to not let them live and spread the word."

I gulped down nervously. "Why do you keep your identity secret from the world?"

"I was home tutored after that. All my connections with the world were cut to let me concentrate on my duties to run this empire successfully. People fear me because of my hidden identity. I can do anything, anytime and anywhere with anyone because people don't know how I look, or who I really am. They only know the name, King! And that's enough for them do die in fear than getting in my way."

Well, that made sense!

"You don't think that your eyes are beautiful? And I am asking about what you feel... not people or your father or anyone else."

Silence.

"Do you want to know what I feel?" I asked when he didn't answer.

"I don't care." He glared at me, turning his face away from me.

His actions didn't stop me from telling the truth. "I think they are the most beautiful thing that I could have ever witness in my life!"

His head snapped my way in shock, and I continued, "The right one reminds me of the ocean. Deep... calm yet dangerous. The blue symbolises loyalty, security, masculinity and intelligence. The green one reminds me of nature... luscious green grass. Breathtaking and soothing. The green symbolises freshness, growth and healing."

The devil observed my face, wordlessly. I continued, "I don't care what others think about your eyes or what you think about them. But for me, they are the god's one of the best creations. Be proud of them, Hayden. They are indistinct part of you... they are the part of your existence and no matter what, you can't change it. If you really wanted to change it then you would have gone through surgery with all that shit load money of yours. But you didn't. You don't dislike them. You just need to accept them wholeheartedly."

I could feel the air changing between us, and so did the dynamics of our relationship. We stared at each other with thousands of unsaid words yet heard all of them through our hearts as they beat on the same rhythm.

And before the topic progressed anymore, we slept peacefully beside each other.

*

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*

GABRIEL

I stormed inside my office at the base as anger bubbled inside me. Matthew's brother died!

No one had ever died before in our custody without our will. Kyle had no idea how it happened, and there was nothing that could tell the reason for his death. He was yet to spill the beans.

I sat in the chair, closing my eyes as my head ached. A new recruit, a young boy entered my office with a cup of hot coffee.

I needed it the most!

He placed the cup on the table, and I expected him to leave, but he lingered. I snapped my eyes open at his voice. "Sir- can I tell you something?" He asked hesitantly.

"Not now!" I dismissed him.

Though nervous, he was adamant about talking with me. "I want to tell you something important. Please listen to me once."

I sighed, wishing I was like Cameron. The man would have pointed his gun at the boy by now.

I signalled him to talk and leaned back in my chair.

He glanced outside the office room through the glass walls to make sure that no one was listening to our conversation. "Sir, the man that died. It's suspicious."

My interest perked up at his statement. "Why do you think so?"

"It was my first day here. I was told to bring food for him so I went to him with a plate of food. The man was totally arrogant and in a bad shape because of our beating. When I was about to leave he asked me if I was a new recruit and when I said yes, he called me near. He said he wanted to meet you or Cameron sir."

What?

"Did he said anything else?"

"No sir. He was only asking to meet you or Cameron sir. And-"

"And?" I leaned forward and put the mug on the table.

"He knew that King is out of state."

But How?

"Is there anything more?" I asked impatiently.

"Yes. I don't know the reason for that man's death but when I reached there he was taking his last breaths. And he was not holding his chest which usually people do when they get a cardiac arrest." With that said, he left the office after bowing again in respect.

My mind was in a whirlwind. The boy said he joined five days ago and went to give a meal to Matthew's brother. It meant Matthew's brother was already in our custody when I was informed about it only three days ago.

I ordered the postmortem examination of the dead body before leaving for the office. I finally got King's location with the help of a thing that nobody had ever thought of. But surprisingly it showed the location of a jewellery shop and was the same for the past two days.

Before I pondered much on it, I got a call that shook me completely. I asked Andrew to meet me and sent him the address of the location.

Reaching the location we realised that Benjamin Lachat and the kids left willingly with someone as there were no signs of resistance and the men I stationed for their security were found dead, piled up in a truck nearby.

Though an outsider, Andrew was the only one I could trust in that situation.

"Andrew, you told me about people looking for an old man and his daughter. Did you hear more from them?"

Andrew thought for a moment. "They were constantly in touch with me as they wanted me to search for the father and daughter urgently. But now that I think of it, it's strange that they didn't contact me from the last couple of days."

I didn't tell him that I was in touch with King because again, nobody could be trusted in our business, not even your own blood!

I spoke with him some more before getting ready to leave when he called me from behind, "Sir, wait!"

He jogged towards me, and after a thoughtful minute, he said, "I forgot to tell you something. The people who were looking for the father and daughter... they gave me this photo." He showed his mobile screen.

My eyes went wide in shock as my doubt get confirmed.

"They told me that this necklace belongs to the girl."

"What? Andrew, this is the same necklace." I recognised the sapphire-coloured stone necklace that I have seen many times.

"Yes... it is the same necklace. I am sorry that I didn't tell you this before. But King ordered me to not say anything about this to anyone. But now that things have taken a bad turn, I had no option than to tell you this."

"You mean-"

"Yes. King was aware of these people. I told him about it the night before he left for Europe."

"So that's why he decided to take Bria with him at the last moment," I concluded.

Something was not right! There was still something that I couldn't see yet, and to know that I needed to get to King.

"You have to help me, Andrew. King thinks that there is a rat among us. And that is proven many times recently. I don't trust anyone around me. You are an outsider and are aware of many confidential matters. Keep a close eye on every one of our family. I will always be in touch. But I have to leave for Europe as soon as possible."

Andrew was naturally hesitant, but I convinced him somehow before rushing out of there.

What is your complete story, Bria Maxwell?

*

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*

BRIA

The next morning, we got ready to leave the hotel in silence. When the oldie got that news, she whined to the devil and asked him to extend our stay some more.

I ignored their Italian conversation and focused on counting the money. I placed it on the counter when a middle-aged man came looking for Mr Hayden.

He was dressed in a shirt with stains of oil and grease with baggy pants, which were not cleaner than the shirt. He had a cigarette in his mouth and tattoos on his hands and neck.

"Sei qui per vedermi.(You are here to see me)"

The man looked over to the devil and then showed a key.

"You come outside after settling the payment." Devil told me and left after bidding goodbye to an oldie.

I settled the bill, and after bidding the oldie goodbye, I walked out of the hotel, repeating her last words for me.

-"He really loves you a lot, young lady. A man like him is not easy to find. Don't let him slip out easily!"-

If only she knew about our toxic deal!

As I stopped beside the devil, he ordered, "Give the money." I took out the bundle of money and handed it to the devil. He pulled out some cash and placed it in the man's hand.

The man left after making sure that he got paid correctly.

"Miss Maxwell"

"hmm?"

"You are blushing like a schoolgirl."

I ignored his comment, hiding the blush on my face. I turned to face the car that was quite old and nothing to the devil's taste. But it was our only hope for now.

We hit the road in no time, and I watched the hotel and the oldie falling back as we head forward.

"How far is this place of Paulo's?"

"Around five hours."

A brief moment of silence passed, and I was already getting bored.

After an hour of spectacular presentation of my singing talent and another hour of a good nap, I opened my eyes when the car came to stop. We were at the gas station to fill the tank because the man cheated us by handing the car with the tank only half filled.

The devil was about to start the car once done when a man knocked on his window. His hand instantly went for his gun that he tucked in the waistband of his pant while rolling down the window.

"Signore. C'è un incidente grave accaduto un po 'lontano da qui. La strada è bloccata per alcune ore. Devi prendere un altro percorso più lungo di questo." the man said.

"What's the matter?" I asked while sipping the water.

"The road is blocked because of a severe accident. Now we have to take a longer route." He said in a tense tone.

I sighed."Great! How long it will take us to reach there now?"

"We can't reach to Paulo's before the morning." He informed.

"Sweet monkeys!" I groaned, banging my head repeatedly on the headrest.

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