Third person's pov
[Warning- curse words]
Elijah stepped inside the warehouse, in controlled and calculated strides. Like a predator ready to strike at prey. His eyes, sharp and fierce like a hawk, searched the area for a single glance of his dearest. Standing in the middle of the hall, he waited. He knew the two damned fuckers had cameras installed in every corner and are watching his every move. With hands in his pockets, he relaxed his posture. Silently, he observed the surrounding. Two windows on each wall, a stairway, one camera in between two walls, a door to the basement, and lastly the entrance he came from. Little hindrance along with several weak points can benefit either side, offenders or victims. With one glance at the floor, he saw how muddy and filled with dirt it was. Which gave way to footprints. And the majority of which led to the door to the basement. His doe and princess were in there. His composure broke slightly when his jaw clenched in anger ready to break out from beneath the skin. His body was aching to run in there and break the door to free his beloveds. But he refrained himself. It has to wait for the accurate time. Closing his eyes, he calmed the raging lion inside.
"Aren't you going to shout and search for your wife and sister Mr. Elijah Mancini?"
Mark mocked descending the stairs along with Angelina. The smirk which adorned his face vanished the second his eyes met with Elijah's smoldering ones. Unconsciously he gulped. He has seen Elijah angry before but nothing can compare to how infuriating he looked. Frightened. That's what he felt. Chills ran down his body the moment Elijah's eyes fell on his body. And the way Angelina was tightening her hold around his arm, he knew she felt the same. He can't show his fears though. He has come a long way to see this day. He won't let his plan and hard work go in vain because of his mere fear. Adrenaline rushed into his veins when he thought of the success of his plan. And hence, smirking back he stopped in front of Elijah feeling less scared and more confident.
"The mighty has fallen today, isn't he baby? "
Kissing Angelina's cheek, Mark waited for Elijah to react. But nothing. Elijah stood still, watching. It unknowingly irritated Mark. The man who put him through hell was calm instead of begging. He didn't like it. And he painfully wanted to see Elijah plead with him.
"Not even gonna ask how's your wife doing? "
Detaching himself from Angelina, Mark stood chest to chest with Elijah. Leaning in, he mockingly whispered,
"Have to say she is beautiful that I almost tasted her"
Next second, a fierce force tightened around his neck, choking him. Mark gasped in pain and suffocation, clawing at Elijah's hand wrapped tightly on his neck. The more he clawed, the tighter Elijah held closing his windpipe. He felt that the force would break his neck. Black dots clouded his visions along with his lungs and neck screaming in pain.
"Don't you dare utter a word about my doe! "
Elijah pulled Mark closer to his face contorted in rage. Eyes blazing in fire watching Mark's face turning red in suffocation. Nothing could satisfy the lava boiling in his blood, not even choking the fucker who dared speak of his doe. His doe is only his. His alone!
"Elijah leave him! "
Angelina stood pointing a gun at Elijah. Elijah didn't remove his eyes away from a gasping Mark. Angelina was scared to death for her boyfriend. One second he was beside her and the next was getting choked to death. Panicking, she took out the gun to save the life of her love. She didn't know if she will succeed. Nonetheless, she would do anything for Mark to escape from the clasp of the devil incarnate.
"I said leave him or I will shoot you! "
Seeing no reaction from Elijah, panic surged in her veins. Helpless and desperate she shot the bullet at the basement door. Fearful screams rang in the air which momentarily stopped Elijah in his choking rampage. She saw Elijah unceremoniously throw Mark on the floor who thrashed around for air. Relief washed over her and she almost ran to Mark's side if not for Elijah murderously glaring at her. Stumbling back in fear, she choked in the air when Elijah took a step toward her.
"That were screams of my doe and princess"
His deathly voice aroused fear in her like never before. She trembled, walking backward. Her hold tightened around the gun in hand.
"You are going to die for firing that gun at them"
"N-no, yo-you can't do shit! "
She didn't wait for Elijah and broke into a sprint inside the basement room. She heard footsteps behind making her heart beat faster in fear. Barely containing herself, she pulled out another gun inside her leather jacket and pointed each at Evelyn and Meera threatening Elijah who stopped by the door.
"Take another step and they will die! "
"Eli!! "
Elijah glanced at his doe and princess tied to chairs like animals which erupted a new wave of boiling rage in his body. Seeing in their fearful eyes, he clenched his fists, seething.
"Remove the guns from their head. Now"
"No! Not a chance! "
"Don't test my patience, Angelina. So God help me, I will break your every bone"
Angelina's hand shook in fear. Gulping she saw Elijah buzzing with barely contained anger. He looked murderous. Dangerous. Vicious. A devil gnawing its fangs. And she was the prey. But before she could comply with the spell of fear, Mark entered the room kicking Elijah from behind.
"You motherfucker!"
"Mark! "
"Eli, no! "
Elijah who stumbled forward first looked at his doe and sister then turned around to face Mark.
"Trying to choke me to death, huh? Test me again and I will kill those bitches!"
"I will claw your throat out with bare hands dare you to curse my wife and sister again! "
"Mark, stop! Please don't provoke him again"
Mark gritted his teeth when he acknowledged what Angelina said. He bit his tongue barely keeping himself from cursing. If not for their plan and his aching lungs and throat, he would kill Elijah for how angry he felt. Nodding his head in contempt, Mark walked to Angelina and took papers from her. Throwing that at Elijah, he said,
"Sign them"
Elijah picked up the papers from the floor. With every word he read, the veins on his forehead popped in anger.
Meera saw how with each passing second her Eli was getting angrier like a mad bull. She feared the worst. With the gun pointed at her head, she could do nothing except feel scared. Just a while ago when she saw the bullet pierce through the door, her heart leaped out the chest. Her heart ached in fear for the safety of her parents, Evelyn and her Eli. She has seen how far and low Mark and Angelina can go for their gain. And killing any of them was nothing for these snakes. Of course, she felt relieved when her Eli came to save them but she never wants him to get injured or worst killed. He is her everything.
"Eli, don't sign them! Don't accept any of their conditions. Please"
Their eyes met when Elijah looked up from the papers. His gaze softened. She can see the pain in his green orbs overwhelming her with guilt and heartache. Shaking her head, she sobbed. Her Eli. God, her Eli is in pain because of her. She wants to beat herself up for that.
"It's fine, my doe"
"No! Nothing is fine Eli. Nothing! "
Meera bit her quivering lips when her Eli smiled in assurance as if saying don't worry. Words failed her seeing his love for her. And she felt like the worst despicable person for betraying and hurting her Eli.
"Cut your nonsense"
Mark interrupted them rudely. Facing Meera he smiled sinisterly which meant one thing for Meera. It was nothing good.
"Wouldn't you want to tell 'your Eli' about your involvement with us, Meera?"
Meera's heart stopped in fear at his insinuation. Her eyes nervously darted to Elijah who glared at Mark then to Evelyn who shared the same look as her.
"Don't speak my doe's name from your filthy mouth!"
"Elijah Mancini you are a big fool! "
Angelina laughed shaking her head. The look on Elijah was worth everything they have gone through.
"I pity you, Elijah. Not only us, strangers, but your own people betrayed you. Seriously, so pitiful"
Elijah kept his gaze on Mark ignoring whatever Angelina said. Mark smugly walked up to Meera. Caressing her hair, he saw Elijah gritting his teeth.
"Uh, uh, uh! Elijah, don't get riled up. Let me explain what Angelina meant"
"Remove your dirty hands from my doe before I break them"
"Eli"
Meera quivered out in a small voice knowing well that Mark is going to spell the whole truth before she could tell Elijah herself. Her gut clenched in sorrow knowing what's coming.
"This 'doe' of yours has very enthusiastically taken part in our plan dear Elijah. She has been our partner since you married her. Isn't it great, mate? "
"Mark! Stop your nonsense! "
Evelyn shouted seeing how his brother was looking at Meera. His eyes still held love and faith but she doesn't know for how long Elijah will believe her because whatever Mark said unfortunately is true. Elijah will eventually know but now is not the time.
"Oh! How can I forget you my Eve baby? My bad, forgive me"
Mark said approaching Evelyn. He saw Evelyn scowling at him in disgust. Funny, how she always looked at him with adoration. It humored him, hence he laughed. Bending down he pecked her lips. He felt Evelyn turning her face away in disgust. Pulling back smirking, he looked at Elijah who angrily strode towards them when Angelina stopped him by hitting Meera with the back of the gun.
"You filthy shit! Get away from my princess"
"Stop there Elijah or I will make her cry in pain"
Elijah halted immediately seeing Meera biting her lips in pain. Elijah gritted his teeth along with clenching his jaw and fists. He barely controlled himself from lashing out. A little bit longer and he will make these fuckers pay for every pain his doe and sister have gone through.
"So where was I? Yeah. Your princess herself was the mastermind of our plan. From bailing me out from jail to giving me a place to stay or hiding Angelina from you to planning along with Meera, she was a significant person in all our plans"
"She was the one who introduced us to Meera and suggested to include her with us, Elijah"
"And the best part is that they both were very eager to destroy you, Elijah"
Evelyn bowed her head avoiding looking at her brother feeling awful for doing everything Mark said. She was a fool to not believe her own brother and now Karma was at her throat choking with tears.
Mark waited for Elijah's outburst and rain of emotions filled with agony. But nothing. Elijah was staring at Meera emotionlessly giving away nothing. He looked so passive that Mark or anybody couldn't tell what he was feeling.
"Is this true, Meera? "
Everyone except Elijah turned to the right hearing the new voice. Meera's eyes widened at first then she cried out in relief.
"Baba! Thank god you woke up! "
"Answer him, Meera"
Meera then glanced at her mother who was glaring at her with uncertainty in the eyes. She was taken aback by being asked about her wrongdoings. Feeling her throat suddenly dry, she could only gawk miserably at her parents.
"Enough! "
Elijah spoke bringing everyone's attention to himself. His voice was void of every emotion and filled with power to command and did he order.
"Give me a pen"
"Finally the main thing! "
Saying so Mark gave Elijah a pen who took it and was ready to sign when Meera interrupted him barely mustering to get the words out,
"What's in it?"
"Shut up! "
"No Angelina, don't stop her. Let me tell her and our baby Eve what we are asking in exchange for their lives"
"Everything that belongs to Elijah Mancini is going to be ours. Those papers state everything he owns and has will be ours"
Mark looked at the shocked faces of Meera and Evelyn and how flabbergasted they looked. It soothed his ego. He loved their reaction.
"No, Eli. Don't sign it. I beg you don't please! "
"Yes Eli, you know better"
Both Meera and Evelyn pleaded with him desperately. Evelyn has seen how hard her brother worked for becoming the powerful man he is today but because of her stupidity, he is on the verge of losing it all. She can't describe how terribly sorry she was for dragging her brother down. Meera can't stop the tears flowing from her eyes. She knows how prideful her Eli is about his achievement. She was to curse herself for doing him wrong. Her heart was crying out for him.
Elijah heard everything and still said nothing. Keeping his eyes on his doe who was begging him, he signed the documents making her eyes widen in disbelief and agony.
"Take the papers and leave"
Elijah ordered, not asked with eyes still on his doe. Mark and Angelina were taken aback by the heaviness of his voice overflowing with power. Of course, they will leave as their plan has succeeded. They expected Elijah to at least fight them. Alas, he is madly in love with Meera and can do anything for his sister. It's their good.
"No! Don't let them go, Eli! "
Meera shouted to stop Elijah desperately but all in vain. She thrashed her hands to break free when Angelina and Mark were tying Elijah to a chair. She felt helpless. She can't see her Eli defeated. She is the cause of everything.
"Please Eli, I beg you. Please don't let them go. Stop them please"
Evelyn saw everything silently. She has long lost hope in convincing Elijah to stop her ex-lovers. With tears streaming down her face she cried about how her brother gave away everything he had for her and her sister-in-law. She never felt this miserable with heart constantly aching in agony.
"It feels good to see you down Elijah Mancini. This is the best feeling, revenge at its best. You took away my everything now you will know how it feels"
Mark said grinning in victory holding Angelina's hand.
"Don't come to the office because I will run my company smoothly. I don't want to see your infuriating face again"
"Also your mansion, don't come there or any other property. Okay? "
"Farewell to all! "
With that being said, Mark and Angelina left the room not before locking it from outside. Silence fell in the room with the sound of Meera crying. Sunita and Rahul Goenka sadly looked at each other, disappointed in their daughter. They didn't need her to admit the things she did. From her look alone, they knew the truth. Evelyn was silently crying with her head down, hanging low in defeat.
Meera was crying terribly looking at Elijah who was emotionlessly staring at her. Today, because of her, her love lost his everything. She brought him down. She is the worst person in the world. She felt like fainting from the agonizing ache in her heart caused by guilt, pain, and remorse.
Suddenly, the door burst opens startling everyone except Elijah who remained calm. In came bustling down, John, Eros, and Xavier along with the security men and bodyguards who immediately went to untie everyone.
"Evelyn! Oh god! Are you okay? "
Eros asked Evelyn who engulfed him in a tight hug crying. Eros comforted her silently watching Xavier taking care of Meera's parents. And lastly, his eyes landed on his best friend who was as expected looking aloof standing beside John who untied him. They have heard and seen everything that happened in this room, thanks to the hackers working for Elijah. Every second his body was screaming at him to run inside but Elijah clearly told them to not come inside before Angelina and Mark leave. Of course, Elijah knew what they were capable of and their plan.
Elijah walked towards Meera who sat on the chair untied. Bending down he gently wiped the blood marring her soft lips. Caressing her swollen red cheeks, Elijah took in her condition saying nothing.
Meera didn't dare to say anything to Elijah or stop him. She was scared of what will he do or specifically his reaction. Her dark secret was out. She was feeling miserable and scared. Hopelessly awaiting her doom, she gazed at her Eli. The next second she felt herself being carried bridal style by Elijah who took her out of the warehouse in the awaiting car. Circling her hands around his neck, she kept her eyes on his stone-cold face.
............
"Sir, we have caught them"
John informed Elijah who came down after putting his doe in the bed. Eros, Evelyn, Xavier, his parents, and Meera's parents were waiting for him in the hall. They all expected his anger but instead, he looked as emotionless as one can be. And it scared them more than his anger.
"I-I should st-stay with Meera"
Sunita Goenka managed to say after a tense silence. Rahul Goenka nodded his head silently agreeing and ready to accompany his wife. After being checked by the doctors, they patiently waited for Elijah so that after him Meera could see them.
"Nobody can see or meet her"
Everyone was shocked at what he said but couldn't dare to deny him because they knew Meera was in the wrong. Her own parents were ashamed and hence couldn't agree more with him. After knowing the truth everyone felt bad for Elijah and could only sympathies with him.
"E-Eli, please I am sorry. Don't punish Meera it's my fault that I dragged her into the plan. Lis--"
"John, inform the deputy chief Mr. Marcus that I will send the fuckers after a special treatment"
"Yes sir"
Elijah cut off Evelyn not even acknowledging her. It broke her heart but could she be upset? She brought it up upon herself. Sitting alone on the couch, she saw how Eros and her family didn't even look at her since coming to Elijah's mansion, ignoring her existence. It pains her but she understands where they are coming from. She saw Elijah going out of the mansion along with John. Mustering her courage, she apologized,
"I- I am s-sorry. I know I did you all and especially Eli wrong. If possible please find it in your heart to forgive me"
"Shut up Evelyn!"
Startled with the loud voice of Eros made her jump in fright. Scared, she looked up at him and then at everyone having disappointed and angry expressions. She bit her quivering lips to hide the ache caused by Eros's anger and distance. Before now she never noticed how important he is to her and how special he always made her feel. She misses badly the old times.
"You of all people know how much Eli has suffered to do such awful things to him. I didn't expect this from you that I never want to see your face! "
"No! Eros, I am sorr--"
Eros ignoring Evelyn stormed out of the mansion angrily leaving a broken mess of her behind. She saw her parents and Xavier giving a disappointed look in her way before leaving after Eros with the words.
"Don't show us your face! "
Crying miserably, she broke down. She lost everything because of her stupidity. Love, family, and friendship. She has nothing left.