Chapter 28: Basement
2516words
Before long, Liam appeared from the direction of the dock, walking quickly with a serious expression. "There are no reports today," Liam said as he approached Hunter.
Hunter turned his head slowly, exhaling his cigarette smoke towards Liam without saying much. Liam coughed, waving his hand to drive the smoke away. "Instead of just being smoked, eat those cigarettes once in a while so that you're full," he grumbles annoyed, showing his dislike for Hunter's habit of always smoking. Liam does hate the smell of cigarettes the most, but for some reason he is always around Hunter, even though he is often irritated.
Hunter raised his eyebrows, his lips curled into a cynical thin smile. "Are you trying to lie to me or are you protecting Nick?" he asked, his tone flat but stressful.
Liam frowned, not understanding the direction of the question. But, a bad premonition appeared in his mind. "What do you mean?" he asked in a cautious tone.
Hunter without saying much handed his phone to Liam. On the phone's screen, a video was played, showing Nick and Ramona holding hands affectionately in the lobby of the apartment. Liam sighed deeply, feeling defeated in the argument. "If you already have someone to watch over them, why are you still telling me to follow them?" he complained as he held the phone back to Hunter.
Hunter put his phone in his pants pocket without answering. His eyes looked back at his men who were busy packing things to send to China that night. His ship stood firmly in front of them, like a symbol of his unshakable power.
Liam, who was still standing beside him, finally dared to reveal something. "Nick invited Ramona to fit the dress," he said, giving the information he had heard earlier. His gaze was a little uneasy, waiting for Hunter's reaction.
Hunter didn't respond immediately. His eyes remained straight at their ship, while his hand slowly raised the cigarette to his lips to smoke again. After a few seconds, he said slowly but coldly, "We'll see how far they dare to play."
Liam took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind. From the corner of his eye, he observed Hunter standing tall beside him. Hunter's face remained as cold and calm as ever, although under that attitude, Liam was sure something was turbulent. Unable to hold back his curiosity any longer, Liam finally asked, "Why are you so calm? How do you actually feel about Ramona?"
The question made Hunter turn his head immediately, his expression instantly turning into dislike. His gaze was sharp, like a knife that stabbed directly into Liam's heart. "What do you mean asking like that?" muttered Hunter in a low but threatening tone. "There is no feeling whatsoever between me and Ramona. I'm just taking advantage of it."
Liam hissed and joked at Hunter, "Oh just taking advantage of it? So why are you so scared and anxious when Ramona is by Nick's side? This time with an alibi, what? Because Nick is cruel and a killer? Then what about you yourself who is a Mafia Leader whose job every day takes someone's life? Are you the safest for Ramona? You even take good care of your son, every day you take him to school, take care of him with sincerity without Ramona's knowledge, what is a mafia's way of taking advantage of his enemies?" asked Liam with a slight sneer.
Hunter stepped on his cigarette butt and looked at Liam, "You're talking once at this time. choose one, do you want your lips or tongue cut off by me?" Liam instantly closed his lips and took a few steps back from Hunter's reach.
"Please take good care of me, without me you will definitely have a hard time getting friends and understanding assistants. So, I'm the most meritorious person right now, I hope you can take care of me as you take care of Ramona and Esther," Hunter snapped annoyed, making Liam immediately flee to the ship.
Hunter controlled his breath and muttered, "Why do I feel that he is only adding to the burden of my mind?" Hunter reached for his phone to contact someone.
The phone finally connected, and the voice of the man from across rang out in a relaxed tone. "Mr. Hunter, how are you? Do you still remember having friends?"
Hunter was annoyed, the burden of his already heavy mind was now increasing again. He tidied up his jacket while staring at the harbor horizon. "I need you. Hurry back from Las Vegas," he said firmly, without further ado.
Someone on the other end of the phone chuckled slightly. "Do you miss me so much? It seems like Liam you can't rely on him to the point that you have to ask me to come. What about Brandon?" asked the man known as Jack, his tone full of seduction.
Hunter let out a deep sigh, trying to temper the irritation. "Brandon is still taking care of some of Nick's belongings that were sent to China. It is likely that he will be there longer, considering Nick's weaponry is illegal. That makes the job a lot more complicated."
Hearing that explanation, Jack was silent for a moment before finally laughing softly. "Is that cousin really unable to stop making trouble? We, single men, also need entertainment and blind dating. You're lucky to have Ramona, while I..." Jack let his sentence hang, expressing his grievances unabashedly.
Hunter sighed, his gaze shifting to Liam who was busy guiding the bodyguards to organize the items on his ship. "Are you tired of working with me?" he asked, his voice sounding more relaxed but still intimidating.
Jack chuckled across the street. "You know I'm drunk. If you talk like this, you like to rant. Just ignore what I said earlier," he said in a joking tone, trying to dilute the atmosphere.
Hunter remained unanswered, allowing silence to linger for a few seconds before Jack changed his tone to a more serious one. "What is my task this time?" he asked. Jack knew very well that if Hunter asked him to return to Malta, it meant that something big and important was happening.
Hunter stared at the sea with a keen gaze, as if searching for an answer behind the waves. "I'll explain everything when you arrive. Don't waste time."
On the other end of the phone, Jack could only smile faintly. "Yesterday I checked my balance so low, can you send half of your treasure?" he joked making Hunter smile discordantly.
"Okay, I'll give it to you after I come, but after I manage to break your arms and legs," Hunter pressed fearfully even though he was actually just joking.
Jack immediately chuckled and replied, "You don't need to send anything. Let me be a beggar on the street." The phone instantly died, making Hunter only smile faintly.
Shortly afterwards there was a message from his men asking him to follow Ramona.
Sir, you are doing a dress fitting with Nick, that's the message.
Hunter held his phone tightly, so tightly, Hunter could break his phone with both bare hands.
"He really didn't listen to me," muttered Hunter who looked so angry.
In a luxury boutique decorated with elegant décor, Nick sits on a plush sofa overlooking the dressing room. His hand was grasping a small glass filled with mineral water, but his mind couldn't calm down. For some reason, his heart was pounding, even for no apparent reason. Every second that passed while waiting for Ramona felt like forever.
Soon, the soft sound of the curtain distracted Nick. He looked up, and his gaze immediately fell on Ramona who stepped out of the dressing room. In a charming wedding dress, Ramona looked like a goddess descending from heaven. Every detail of her dress, from elegant embroidery to the soft sheen of jewels, adds a flawless impression to her look. Ramona stepped closer, a faint smile adorning her glowing face. "What about this dress?" she asked softly as she spun slowly, revealing every side of her dress.
Nick immediately stood up from the sofa, his eyes couldn't get rid of Ramona. His gaze was filled with admiration and emotion that he could hardly conceal. "You're perfect in this dress, Ra," she said in a low voice, as if the words came out unconsciously.
Nick swallowed, his gaze dropping slightly to the slightly open part of the dress on the upper side. "Are you comfortable with the slightly open sides of her dress?" she asked, assuring Ramona of comfort.
Ramona nodded slightly, her smile getting sweeter.
To her, Ramona not only looks beautiful, but also exudes an aura that makes it difficult for her to breathe. He really couldn't look away. His beat heart now felt stronger, and he realized, this moment will always be imprinted in his memory.
"So, you like this dress model?" Nick nodded making Ramona smile.
Ramona then returned to the dressing room to change her dress. As soon as Ramona unzips her dress, Nick suddenly comes inside, making Ramona a little surprised but she tries to cover up her surprise.
Nick cupped both of Ramona's cheeks and immediately patted her lips with such a passionate feeling.
Ramona without hesitation immediately replied to the scene more aggressively to show his interest so that Nick would not be suspicious of the play he was playing.
Nick led Ramona to lean against the wall with a wilder look this time. Ramona raised her head with her eyes open, staring at the ceiling of the dressing room letting Nick stroke her step neck. Occasionally Ramona throws her lips to trigger Nick if he enjoys the flirtation.
If I can be honest, Ramona didn't feel anything from the flirtation and the bang, she only felt obsession and lust.
Nick looked into Ramona's eyes with a heavy breath, "I really can't help myself, you're so beautiful today." Ramona smiled and kissed a glimpse of Nick's sexy lips.
"It looks like my love is reciprocated," Nick smiled and again crushed a glimpse of Ramona's lips.
"What if you stay at my mansion tonight?" offers Nick which is an opportunity for Ramona to get something that he can give Hunter later.
"Is it allowed?" Nick nodded steadily and full of determination.
Ramona tried to show her excitement and immediately hugged Nick happily.
Nick who got the spontaneous hug tried to digest it well, his heartbeat was racing like crazy at this time.
After a stunning dress fitting session, Nick invites Ramona to his office for a while. They talked about some important things, but in Ramona's mind, her mind was filled with the big goals she had set. He must find something in Nick's mansion for Hunter. That way, he will have a chance and a strong reason to keep his marriage to Nick, to make sure his plans go smoothly.
That night, they finally returned to Nick's mansion. Once inside the large and magnificent house, the atmosphere feels calm and quiet, with soft lighting that adds to the sense of elegance. Nick immediately directed him to his room. "This is my room, you can rest here," Nick said as he looked at the large neatly arranged bed.
Ramona looked around, her eyes focused on the wall dominated by black and white. The room feels very masculine, reflecting Nick's cold and organized personality. "With you?" asked Ramona, teasing in a slightly mischievous tone.
Nick was silent for a moment, surprised by the question. Then, he smiled a little, trying to hide his awkwardness, and turned his gaze away.
Ramona, who felt a little awkward, let go of the hand that was previously held on Nick's arm, and sat on the edge of the bed with a meaningful look. He looked at Nick intently, his eyes radiating curiosity. "Have you ever brought another woman besides me?" he asked, a light but sharp voice.
Nick shook his head with a faint smile, putting both of his hands in his pants pockets. "No," he replied briefly, but with an expression that was hard to read.
Ramona nodded slowly, realizing that Nick was not the type to be open about personal matters. "May I take a shower?" he asked, concluding that he could refresh himself after their long journey.
"Go ahead," Nick replied, inviting Ramona into the bathroom. As soon as Ramona disappeared into the bathroom, Nick stood for a moment, trying to calm his rapidly accelerating heartbeat.
Nick chooses to go outside and let Ramona take a shower.
After taking a shower, Ramona came out with only the bathrobe available in the bathroom. He did not find Nick's whereabouts there. Ramona used it to find something she could give to Hunter.
Whatever it is.
Ramona starts to walk in the closet, but she doesn't get anything. Ramona searched carefully, trying to observe carefully to find where Nick kept his important items.
Ramona looked up and looked at the bookshelf in the display case of Nick's clothes. Suddenly it occurred to me that there was a room behind this bookcase. Ramona tried to find clues so that she could open the bookcase.
Ramona inadvertently held one of the books until the bookshelf was shifted to the side, displaying a staircase that jutted down with so dimly lit.
Ramona went straight inside, checking what was inside the hidden room.
For a few moments, Ramona was silent frozen on the last step when she saw the contents of the room.
His legs were so limp, his entire body was completely limp at this moment, like his bones were missing out of nowhere when he saw some human heads hanging there.
Not only that, but the complete weapons are neatly stored on the wall arranged in various types and sizes.
There were several stacks of books on the table that were worn out and old, making Ramona brave to step closer to the table to check the contents of the book.
Ramona couldn't say anything more when she read the contents of the book. The book is full of detailed records from the date of the day to the time Nick killed his enemy.
There are even photos of the victims there. Ramona staggered a little when reading the contents, trying to hold tightly to the end of the table to maintain her balance.
Ramona tries to turn the next page to find her father's name Hunter. But Nick's call surprised him.
"Ramona!"
