Ryan's POV
My eyes squinted in annoyance at the most powerful female of the Thorn dynasty. She has always been one to say her mind with no regrets and I've met her in several business meetings.
"That's exactly why I didn't want you here, Maria. You always cause issues where you find yourself." Charles Thorn gritted his teeth in frustration and held his head in his palms.
She rolled her eyes at this and crossed her legs leaning back in her seat. "You're just mad that I'm not some kiss ass. So you want to sell your beautiful daughter to a monster?"
"First off, she is my child and I know what is best for her. Also, he is no monster, just misunderstood."
She gave him a look that clearly disagreed with him but said nothing else. Everyone else continued to eat though the tension was so thick on the dining table.
"I'd like to use the restroom." Elena said with a timid voice and stood up abruptly rushing towards the staircase.
Everyone else resumed eating, but it was over ten minutes and she wasn't back yet.
"Excuse me, Sir. I'd like to go use the restroom." I stood up from my seat and looked at Charles Thorn.
"Just go upstairs, it's the third door on your left."
I nodded and rushed upstairs, Elena's Aunt kept giving me the stink eye. Once I was up the staircase, I began to hear silent sobbing, which made me follow.
I saw the breathtaking Elena standing at the balcony and crying her eyes out. She was so distracted that she didn't seem to notice me there.
"You know you should grow up and act like a grown ass woman. We are getting married, and so what? Crying won't help you, the contract has already been signed. You're no longer a child." I growled in annoyance.
She whipped her head at me, her eyes darkened with hate. Normally, I'm very composed and in control but with this fiery woman, I lose all the composure.
"What the hell are you even doing here? I came here to be away from everyone else but you just had to follow."
"You're wasting everyone's time. Maybe yours isn't precious but mine is, and that of everyone else. We came for you, not anyone else."
"I don't care, stay the hell away from me. I'll never marry you, you're nothing but a cold blooded killer."
I was taken back by her words, hate sipping through each one.
"Too bad you're stuck with me, right?" I gave her a sinister look and stepped closer to her.
I tried intimidating her but it turned on me. The tears in her eyes and her puffy lips drew me in. I drank her form in and without thinking reached for her lips, she froze completely. Just as our lips were about to connect, someone cleared their throat behind us.
I pushed myself off her, she jumped back as if I were on fire. My mind was reeling fast and I didn't even notice her Aunt Maria was by the door. I hit her but held her so she wouldn't fall.
"Why are you even here? You said you wanted to use the restroom." Maria asked with a skeptical look on her face.
"I'm on my way there now, Ma'am." I answered briefly with a smile.
She kept silent and I walked away. I know I'm a bit harsh but the look on Elena's face softened my heart. Though her childishness irritates me to no end, I hate seeing her like this.
What is wrong with me? I can't even think straight when I'm around her.
I didn't want to use the restroom so I went downstairs and joined the rest. My sister gave me a look that made me realise that she knew what just happened.
"Where is your betrothed?" Charles asked out of the blues.
"She is upstairs. I think we might need to leave now, Sir."
"Already? Did something happen upstairs?"
"Not at all, we have been here for over an hour, work awaits me."
"That's okay, we look forward to having you soon."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Do I need to walk you to the door?"
"Not at all, Sir. We can walk ourselves out."
I gestured at Rosalyn, she nodded and followed after me.
"What happened upstairs?" She asked once we stepped out. My body guards walked not too far behind us both.
"Nothing important, so she is your friend?"
"Yep, you can hide whatever happened by now, I'll find out soon. Elena and I met in college, we clicked and were roommates. She is now my best friend."
My phone began to ring and I pulled it out of my pocket.
"Yes?"
"Sir, our warehouse was looted and they carted away with armory and guns." Tyrus, one of my top guards, spoke through the phone.
My heart twisted at this. "What? Where the hell were the guards?"
"They were poisoned with gas, all were dead before we got here. The lack of response made us all come to check it out."
"Keep the entire place in check, I'll be right there."
I then turned towards my sister. "You'd need to go home, I'm not coming along. Something came up and I need to take care of it."
"Are you okay, big brother?"
"I'm fine, just a little squirmish, nothing serious." I tried to smile in order to ease her up a bit.
"Okay, should I wait for you?"
"No not at all, you need to sleep for tomorrow."
"Fine," she walked up to me and wrapped her tiny arms around me. "I love you so much, be safe."
"Love you too." I picked her head and walked to my car. Defining away in minutes.
After about thirty minutes of driving in the woods I finally reached the secure warehouse.
Once I got to the gate, the guards pulled it open for me and after parking my car, I walked to the warehouse.
"Boss, I'm glad you're here." Tyrus stepped forward with his reg hair and green intelligent eyes.
"Report."
"We just successfully tapped into the secret cameras and one of our own, Damien, was the mole. There's evidence and he is on the run, the only one who survived."
"Find him, no one double crosses me and stays alive to tell the tale."
"Yes, Boss, but that's not everything."
"What else?"
"You'll need to see it."
"Lead the way."
He nodded and walked inside the warehouse, we soon reached an inner room where records were kept. What I saw made m
y eyes twitch.
There was writing in blood on the walls. It said, "The Viper is here to rule, this is just the beginning."