At the sound of my voice, he grunted but did not do much else.
Worried that the servants would walk in on us, I reiterated my request. “Mr. Danny, would you…”
Suddenly, he flung his head up violently and stared at me.
My heart skipped a beat. “Mr. Danny…” I stammered.
“Don’t provoke Mr. Abe. He’s more frightening than you could imagine.” With that said, he turned and walked unsteadily away.
I stood rooted in surprise.
“I just wanted to visit them, are they alright?” I called to his departing back.
“They’re still alive.”
I sat down hopelessly on the floor. Is this how it will be?
What if I begged Abe to?
At this thought, I stood up and obtained a knife from the kitchen to slit my wrists.
I was very familiar with the process having done it countless times when I was mourning my dear child.
I passed out in the living room. My last memory was of the panicked servants rushing over to my limp body. With that in mind, I sighed in relief before losing consciousness.
I awoke in the hospital; being hardly surprised. As expected, Abe was by my bed.
“You’re up?” he asked without much emotion.
“Why did you want to kill yourself?” Dante asked with a frown.
I stole a glance at Danny in the corner; his expression was cold. I looked back at Abe and Dante, putting two and two together.
Danny did not inform Abe that I had set him up.
With a meaningful look at Abe, I said in a hoarse voice. “Mr. Abe, I am willing to exchange with my life!”
“Exchange for what?” Abe frowned.
“For their lives!”
“Ha!” Abe laughed coldly. “One life for four. You’re confident, aren’t you?”
“Aren’t you curious about my relationship with the Murphys?” I asked. My throat still hurt.
“Does this have anything to do with me?” he asked sharply.
I…
I was dumbstruck for several moments. Hastily composing myself, I continued. “The Murphys will be able to locate me, no matter where I am. Since you already have plans to send me back, why don’t you release my friends anyway? I’ll even owe you one.”
“Pah!” Dante spat. “Does this woman have rust in her brain or something? Talking about favors with Mr. Abe?”
I ignored him and looked straight at Abe.
He spoke again. “What is your relationship with the Murphys?”
“All you have to know is that my relationship with them goes deeper than you can imagine,” I said deliberately. I knew that they feared the Murphys. The closer they think I am to the Murphys, the more leverage I have on my side for negotiation.
He smiled. “The favor goes both ways,” he said after a moment’s pause.
“What do you want?” I asked sternly.
Before he could reply, the doctor entered to replenish my medication. Abe’s gaze followed the doctor and landed on my bandaged arm.
“How long more for her wound to heal?” he asked casually.
The doctor eyed him with suspicion. Dante conversed with him in their native Venrian.
The doctor spoke a few sentences and promptly left.
“See you in three days. Get well soon!” Abe said.
I wasn’t sure if he would hurt Nora and the rest within this timeframe. “What about my friends?” I asked.
“They will be unharmed.” With that said, Abe left.
Three days later.
The music was raucous and deafening in the Red-Light District. Spectators were screaming themselves mad at the strippers on stage.
I wasn’t used to this kind of a place and was visibly uneasy. Next to me, Abe was drinking without much regard for my comfort.
“Mr. Abe, what do you need to do?” I asked. He gave me three days to comply with his terms. I thought about it a lot but did not expect to be brought here upon my discharge.
The large private room was only occupied by me and Abe. The girls all around us kept casting glances as they passed.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out that they saw him as prey. After all, he looked wealthy and was handsome.
“Please remain silent!” Abe said, with a look at me.
I resumed my seat with some frustration.
It was difficult to remain silent in a place like this.
I noticed that Dante and Danny were gone.
Suddenly, Abe placed a device into his ear.
Turns out we’re not just here for drinks.
Suddenly, he stiffened and was staring at something across the room. I followed his gaze.
My heart stopped beating momentarily as I froze with an inexpressible surge of emotions.
I haven’t seen him for months and all of a sudden there he was in front of me before I knew how to react.
I watched as he entered the building and sat down amidst the noise and flashing lights. He was accompanied by Joseph who looked grave and stern, as though he was here on business and not for a good time.
Something stirred out of the corner of my eye. My heart skipped to my throat as I saw him reach out toward his waist.
