Chapter 13 - RARE

{ S*x and Hate... }

THEME: I DARE YOU

By, Dammrare

CHAPTER 25🦋26

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{ 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝔸𝔾ℝ𝔼𝔼𝕄𝔼ℕ𝕋 }

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"I don't know but if he is able to betray them, why do you think he won't betray you either?"

"Because we both want the same thing, Rafferty. We both want the Italian and Russian Empire destroyed."

_______

< 𝚁𝚄𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙰𝙽 𝙴𝙼𝙿𝙸𝚁𝙴 >

Hugo stepped out of the house and met Jesse waiting for him beside a car.

As soon as he approached her, she scowled at him.

"I have been waiting for you out here," She whined.

"I'm so sorry, dear. I was dealing with something inside. Are you ready?"

She nodded her head and answered.

"Of course."

They both clambered into the car. Hugo started the ignition and drove out of the large compound, filled with bouncers, patrolling the residence.

It was silent in the car as neither one of them is willing to talk.

Hugo stole a glance at Jesse and found her watching a movie on her iPhone 14promax.

"Are you okay?" He asked, breaking the silence.

She looked up from the screen of her phone to his face and raised a questioning brow.

"What?"

"I am asking if you are okay," He repeated, focusing his attention once again on the road ahead.

"Yeah?" She sounded unsure and confused by his out-of-the-blue question. "Why are you asking me that question?"

"You don't look okay this morning." He replied.

"Well, I am okay. I guess." She whispered the last sentence, staring down at her phone.

"I heard what happened between you and Harry..." Hugo began and Jesse let out a groan, rolling her eyes. "Wanna talk about it?"

She vigorously shook her head.

"No, I don't want to."

"Are you sure?" He asked.

It was silent for a few minutes until she spoke up.

"You know what," She paused the movie she was watching and twisted her body so that she will be directly looking at Hugo. "I want to talk about it. I am so pissed off right now and I want to voice out my emotions."

"That's good. I'm more than excited to listen to what you have to say, Jesse."

"Good." She cleared up her throat. "I am completely pissed off at everyone. If you truly heard about what happened, that means you know the reason for my anger."

Hugo quietly nodded his head as a yes, rolling the car to a stop because of the traffic light that was in red.

"I am not mad at Harry because of how he spoke to me but rather because of how he reacted when he heard about our mother's sudden arrival. He showed no sign of excitement at all. It was as if he didn't like the fact that she returned home after all these years. I saw the hatred in his eyes, Hugo. Harry hates our mother and I can't seem to figure out why. Maybe it is because she left for this business trip and didn't return for such a long time until now. I get it. I was also pissed off but when I saw her that night, I felt..." Her voice trailed off and a smile appeared on her face. "Happy. I miss her so much and I've always craved the love of a mother. And with her finally back into my life...I was happy until Father came along and chased her away. And now I am wondering, why. Why would Father chase her away? Why will Harry claim that we don't have a mother? Why does he hate her so much? Father too, hates mother. Why? I am confused. It is as if I am the only one who misses her and wanted her back and you, I saw the surprise and anger in your eyes when you saw her that night. I don't understand, is there something I am missing in all of these? Why are you, Hudson, Father, and Harry keeping away from me? What is it that I should know about my mother that you all aren't letting out?" She said, spilling everything she had trapped in her mind and asking the question she has been battling with since last night after Harry yelled at her and kicked her out of their Father's office.

Hugo started driving again when the traffic light turned yellow color.

He turned to the right intersection and drove along the spacious road.

"There are some things you don't know yet, Jesse. And I'm sorry, but I am not in the right position to say anything to you."

"You didn't deny anything. That means everything I just said about everyone hating that my mother is back is all true and there is something you are all keeping away from me, right?" She questioned.

They finally arrived in front of Jesse's high school.

Hugo parked the car and turned to look at her.

"If you want answers to your question then give Harry a chance to apologize."

"No. Simply because I said I am not pissed off at him for yelling at me, I still am. He was cold and harsh towards me."

"Wait, aren't those two words redundant?"

"What word?"

"Cold and Harsh?"

"I don't bloody care! Just so you know, I'm also mad at you for not telling me what you know!!" She alighted the car and slammed the door shut in agitation

"Jesse_" Hugo tried speaking to her but she cut him off.

"DON'T TALK TO ME!" She huffed and walked away.

Hugo smirked, watching her go from inside the car.

"So cute... Oh f**k, what am I thinking?" He shook his head, pushing out whatever cute thought he has concerning Harry's little sister, and drove off.

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< 𝙼𝙰𝚈𝙽𝙰𝚁𝙳'𝚂 𝙾𝙵𝙵𝙸𝙲𝙴 >

Baron paced back and forth in his office, thinking about Justus's threat situation.

He wouldn't have been this worried if he knows exactly where the fool was hiding.

That animal threatened his empire and attempted to kill his only son, the underboss of the Russian Empire and that has never happened before.

No empire aside from the Italians, of course, has ever challenged him.

This is all new and confusing for him.

Why would Justus want to kill Harry? What exactly would give him the courage or a reason to attack them?

"And if the Italian Empire was also threatened by him, does that mean there is a connection between the three of us Empires?" He thought aloud, standing behind his leather chair. "What am I missing here?"

He groaned lowly, ruffling his hair.

"Should I speak to Osvaldo about this? Who knows? Maybe there is something he can remember that I don't." He picked up his phone and after a lot of hesitation, he dialed Osvaldo's number and called him.

The line rang for a while until it was eventually answered.

"Hello?" Osvaldo replied from the other line.

"This is Maynard,"

"Yeah, I know."

"We need to talk."

"I was going to call you as well. But since you've beat me to it, I'm going to send you the location of where we should meet. Is that okay?"

"Sure."

The line got disconnected.

"I am only doing this because of the protection of my family and property. I can't put them at risk. Shit, I can't believe I arranged a meeting with that bastard named Osvaldo. Or should I call him back and tell him that I made a mistake and he wasn't the one I wanted to call? Nah, that sound so stupid." He hissed, groaning at the back of his throat as he heavily sank into the leather chair.

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< 𝙸𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙸𝙰𝙽 𝙴𝙼𝙿𝙸𝚁𝙴 >

"Where are you off to? Do you need me to accompany you?" Scarlett asked, tailing after her father.

"I have a meeting." He answered.

"A meeting? With who? I don't think I know about this meeting. Why didn't you tell me about it?" She asked all at once, watching him closely.

"Calm down with your countless questions, Scarlett. The meeting is not that important, that's why I didn't make mention of it to you." He said.

"If it is not important then you should have sent Gunner or even me. Why are you going by your_"

"Okay, stop asking questions." He cuts her off as he stopped walking. "I will be back soon. Just run the affair of the underground, okay?"

"Father, are you hiding something away from me?" Scarlett asked, giving him a questioning look.

"What? Why would you even ask me that?"

"Because you are acting suspicious right now. You wouldn't tell me where you are going to or who you are going to meet." She pointed out. "Why?"

"As I've said before, it is not important. See you when I return." He left before she would question him any further.

"Father wouldn't keep me in the dark. He wouldn't hide any damn thing away from me, right?" She asked herself, watching him from behind until he got inside his car and drove off with two of his personal bouncers.

Gunner approached her from behind.

"What are you looking at?" He asked, looking around.

"Nah, nothing." She shook her head, facing him. "Did my father tell you any of his plans that I might not know about?"

"What are you talking about?" Gunner was a little bit confused.

Scarlett hesitated before shaking her head, waving him off.

"Forget that I asked that. Let's go and handle some things in the underground."

"Sure."

••••

< 𝙿𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙾𝚁𝙸𝙰 𝙷𝙸𝙶𝙷 𝚂𝙲𝙷𝙾𝙾𝙻 >

"Jesse!" Myla, one of Jesse's best friends called out and ran down the hallway to meet her.

"Hey, Myla." Jesse gave out a small wave, shutting her locker and facing her best friend. "When did you arrive?"

"A few minutes ago. I was looking everywhere for you and Dina." She responded.

"Dina hasn't come to school yet?"

"I don't think she has. But hey, why should we be surprised? We all know who the latecomer is amongst us."

"Let me guess, me." Dina said, joining the girls.

"You know it." Jesse giggled.

"Ah, you are finally here. Thank God."

"Both of you are sick. Besides, what is the point of always coming early to school when I know for a fact that the first lecture is yet to start by the time I arrive?" She rolled her eyes.

"Is that an excuse or a reason?" Myla asked, chuckling.

"Get away from me."

"Oh, please." Myla slung her arm around Dina's shoulder and wiggled her brows. "You love me regardless."

"And I hate that I do."

"Ouch, that hurt." She feigned hurt.

Jesse burst out into fits of laughter as they started walking the distance to their classroom.

"The both of you are sick. How did I end up with friends like you two?" She asked in between laughter.

"You know, without us, you would have died of boredom." Dina commented.

"Do people die of boredom?" Jesse frowned.

"Don't mind Dina. This is the effect of coming late to school all the time. People don't die of boredom but of depression."

"Shut up." Dina scoffed.

Jesse let out a sad sigh and lowered her gaze.

"I was just joking when I said that, Jess. Don't take it too seriously." Dina said.

"I am not sad because of what you said, Dina." She muttered, biting her bottom lip.

"Then what is it?" Myla asked in all seriousness, going to stand on the right side of Jesse while Dina was on the left side.

"Did something happen? You can always talk to Myla and me, you know."

Jesse simply nodded her head, still hanging her head low.

"Did that handsome useless boy, what is his name again.... uhm... Nelson, did he look for your trouble again?" Myla asked.

"Ugh, I don't want to talk about that bastard. And why did you call him handsome?" Jesse frowned.

"I called him useless too. Why didn't you pick that part instead?"

"Because he is useless but handsome? Nah, I'm going to oppose that."

"Come on, let's be honest with ourselves, Nelson is handsome." Myla stated. "What do you think Dina?"

"He definitely is."

"Are you both blind? How would you call someone like that jerk handsome? What then are you going to say about Hugo?"

"Your boyfriend." Myla and Dina said in synch, laughing.

"Hugo is not ng boyfriend. He is like a brother to me. By the way, shouldn't you be concerned about my reason for being sad?" She asked, looking between the both of them.

"Yeah, that's right. We are sorry." Dina apologized.

Jesse cleared her throat, hesitating for a few seconds.

"My mother returned."

Both girls squealed excitedly, jumping up and down and smiling widely.

"That is good news. After all these years." Myla commented.

"I can't imagine how excited you must have felt when you saw her. Wait, you are excited, right?"

"I am... I was. Until my Father kicked her out of the house." She said.

The smiles on the two girls' faces quickly varnished.

"Your father kicked your mother out of the house?" Dina repeated, confused.

"Yes."

"Why?" Myla asked.

"I don't know."

"And what did your handsome and sexy brother do?" Myla questioned.

"Is every guy in your eyes handsome?" Jesse huffed.

"There is no denying that your brother is handsome and sexy. I once masturbated with his face." Dina confessed.

"Ewww,"

"Well, I daydream about him f**king me all the time." Myla smirked.

"Double Ewww." Jesse scrunched up her face in disgust. "Keep my brother out of your crazy fantasies. He would never f**k any one of you."

"Exactly why we will keep fantasying about him. Deal with it!" The girls said.

"Anyway, back to the matter at hand, Harry was very pissed off about my mother's sudden arrival. I don't know why but for the first time he was cold and rude to me. He even told me that we don't have a mother."

"That's... weird." Myla mumbled.

"Right? I find it weird as well." Jesse sighed. "It's as if something happened in the past that I don't know about."

"But have you ever thought of the reason why your mother left you and your family for so many years?" Dina asked.

"My father told me that she left for a business trip."

"A business trip that took her years to return? Isn't that strange?" Dina frowned.

Jesse stayed mute.

"You know, Dina is right. I think you should ask your Father and brother some questions. I'm sure there is a secret about your mother that they haven't told you yet."

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< 𝙵𝙸𝚅𝙴-𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁 𝚁𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚄𝚁𝙰𝙽𝚃 >

Osvaldo and Maynard arrived at the restaurant at the same time.

They both came down from their cars and approached each other.

"You are here," Osvaldo stated, eyeing him from head to toe.

"Yes, I am." Maynard plainly replied, eyeing him back. "Let's go inside."

"Sure."

••••

They sat down at a booth beside the window.

Osvaldo ordered a cup of hot chocolate while Maynard ordered a cup of black coffee.

The waitress walked away to get their orders.

It was silent for a moment until Maynard decided to break the silence, clearing his throat.

"My son told me about your daughter's involvement when he chased after Justus." He stated.

"So did my daughter tell me about your son's involvement." Osvaldo added. "Why do you want Justus dead?"

"Maybe it's the same reason why you want him dead." Maynard replied with a slight shrug.

The waitress returned with their orders and placed them in front of them before walking away to attend to another customer.

"He was the one who threatened your empire," It wasn't a question but a confirmation.

Maynard nodded his head, clasping the cup of black coffee and taking a sip of it.

"The bastard had the nerve to send an assassin to kill my son. Such a despicable bastard." He grunted.

"He also sent an assassin to kill my daughter." Osvaldo informed, gritting his teeth. "But though I'm confused. What would make Justus come after our Empires?"

"I have thought about it also but nothing seems to be adding up. He can't just wake up one morning and decide to come after our children. Something must have made him do it. And I called for this meeting because I thought you would know what it is."

"I don't. However, something tells me that he isn't working alone. Someone must be helping him out."

Maynard slowly nodded his head in agreement.

"I think you are right. Because I don't think he would suddenly have the courage to fight against two powerful Empires. There is definitely someone backing him up behind the closed curtains."

Both of them stared at each other for a moment, not saying anything.

"You know, I hate to say this," Osvaldo began. "But it's best that we work together."

Maynard slowly nodded his head. "You are right. We don't know who is supporting Justus to fight us. It can be anyone."

"And that is why we need to back each other up on this. You help me and I help you too."

"This is for our family and property, right?"

"Of course. This doesn't make us friends. By the time we take care of that bastard, we go back into hating each other." Osvaldo said.

"What about my son and your daughter? Do they know about this new plan of ours?"

"What kind of a question is that? Did you tell your son anything about this meeting?"

"No."

"Neither did I. However, we have to tell them. Because as of now, we are temporary partners."

"Temporary partners." Maynard repeated and they both shook hands, sealing their agreement.

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