What if we kill him?

JETHRO’S POV

I was upstairs when I heard the doorbell ring. A few seconds later, the sound of someone shouting echoed through the house.

“Jethro!” My jaw tightened. I recognized that voice immediately. “Jethro! Come out!”

I walked toward the staircase and looked down. Preston. He stood in the middle of my house, shouting my name like he had any right to be there.

One of the maids had probably opened the door for him before realizing who he was.

“Jethro!” he yelled again. “Where’s Melanie? Where did you keep her?” I stared down at him, my expression hard. He looked up and our eyes met. “Where’s Melanie?” he demanded again. I said nothing.

He dared to come into my home and demand my wife from me. “Melanie!” he shouted, turning around as if he expected her to appear suddenly.

I raised my hand. The guards immediately stepped forward and grabbed him. “Let me go!” Preston struggled against their hold. “I need to see Melanie!”

I watched him silently as they dragged him toward the door. He was still shouting her name. I didn’t move. I simply watched.

But inside me, anger was already boiling. He had crossed a line. A very dangerous one.

That night, Preston learned exactly what happened when someone crossed me. I took him to the dungeon myself.

He was on his knees in front of me, breathing heavily, but he still had that stubborn look on his face. I stared at him for several seconds before speaking.

“You tried to elope with my wife.” I brought the whip down hard. He screamed. “How dare you try to elope with my Melanie?” My voice was filled with rage as I raised the whip again. Another strike landed.

“Aaaaaaaaaah!” His scream echoed through the dungeon. I didn’t stop. Strike after strike. I wasn’t someone who punished people myself.

If I ever personally decided to punish someone, it meant they had crossed a limit no one should have dared to cross. And Preston had crossed mine. Fifty strokes later, sweat covered my body. Preston was barely conscious. He had already blacked out by the time I finally left the dungeon.

I looked at him one last time before walking away. He should consider himself lucky. Because if I had truly lost control that night, fifty strokes would have been the least of his problems.

***

MELANIE’S POV

I opened my eyes as the rays of the sun shone on my face. I found myself in an unfamiliar room. I stood up from the bed, walked to the door, and began knocking

“Is anyone there?” I kept asking but no one said anything. “Jethro, open the door” I shouted. Still no word.

Jethro was the one who could pull something like this. I walked to the window. The whole place looked deserted “Was I kidnapped?” Fear crept in

***

JETHRO’S POV

Looking out at the city through the glass wall of my skyscraper, I couldn’t sleep last night because the thought of Melanie being kept captive by Mr. Williams bothered me a lot. I stuck my hand into my pocket, brought out my phone, and dialed Mr. Williams’ number. It rang, but he didn’t pick up.

Brandon walked into my office, but I didn’t turn to see who it was. I alone know how hard I’m trying to compose myself. Different things have happened to me in the past, but none of them bothered me the way Melanie’s kidnapping has.

“Boss.” Although Brandon knew I was aware of his presence, he still called out to make sure he had my full attention before saying what he wanted to say.

“Where are they?”

“We couldn’t get Richard, but we got his wife.”

“That’s fine. His grandchildren mean more to him than his own children do.”

“What’s next, boss?”

“How’s Emma?”

“Not good. She’s traumatized.”

“That’s good. Send her back to her dad.”

“Okay, boss.” He nodded before walking out.

I began walking to my desk when my phone started to ring. I looked at it — it was Mr. Williams — and I picked up.

“Good day, Mr. Williams.”

“How dare you—” he began to yell, but I cut him off.

“Shhh. You wouldn’t want to get me angry.”

“What do you want?”

“You know exactly what I want.”

“How much money do you want?”

“I don’t need your money. You should know exactly what I want — sell your shares to me.”

“I won’t do that.”

“Then count your grandchildren dead.”

“Don’t forget I have your wife.”

“You can do whatever you want with her. But—” I paused. “A single scratch, and I’ll send their bodies to you in pieces.”

“Where’s Emma?”

“Be patient, Mr. Williams. Whatever I’ve had done to your daughter is a result of you kidnapping my wife.”

“What did you do to Emma?”

“Go to the hospital. Richard has already been informed. Within eight hours, if I don’t get Melanie back, Rose will suffer the same fate as Emma, and her children — along with Mr. Williams’ body — will be found in pieces at your gate.”

“If anything happens to Emma, you’ll regret it.”

“I should be the one saying that. Like I said, Mr. Williams — a single scratch on my wife, and you’ll see the result.”

***

NARRATOR

Richard had been called by the hospital reception two hours ago, after an unknown man brought her in and gave his number to the receptionist. When he got there, Emma was in a terrible condition — she had a lot of scars and injuries around her body and face.

Her eyes were open, but she couldn’t say a word when she was carried away by the doctors.

Richard stood outside, dumbfounded and dazed, not knowing what to say or do. Jethro had done this, and he knew it perfectly. He sat on the chair in front of the room she’d been taken into and covered his face with both his hands.

“Richard,” Mr. Williams called as he approached where Richard sat. Richard stood up at the sound of his voice.

“Dad.”

“Where’s Emma?” he asked worriedly. He knew what Jethro was capable of doing.

“She’s inside with the doctor.” Mr. Williams walked to the door and looked in through the observation glass, before he turned and began walking restlessly.

“She was in a terrible condition,” Richard muttered.

In a few minutes, the doctor came out and pulled down his face mask. Richard and Mr. Williams hurried over to talk to him.

“How’s she doing?” Richard asked.

“Sorry to say, she was sexually assaulted,” Dr. Josh said.

“Assaulted sexually?” Mr. Williams sputtered.

“She’s traumatized and in deep shock. We’ll try our best,” the doctor said before leaving.

Richard was already boiling with anger and immediately left the place.

“Richard!” Mr. Williams called, following behind him. He knew exactly what Richard could do to Melanie as soon as he got there, and with Jethro’s threat, he couldn’t bear to see any of his family members harmed in any way.

Before he could get outside, Richard had already driven off from the hospital, heading for the warehouse.

***

He entered the compound, avoiding me swiftly. I had been sitting there all day and was already getting bored.

I had tried opening the door and had been shouting, but to no avail. Who could have kidnapped me, and what did he want from me?

“Richard,” I mouthed as the tall, angry-looking man walked angrily into the building.

We had met at a business meeting once before. I knew he was the sole heir to Williams Group of Companies.

I was still trying to figure out why Richard had captured me when the door banged open, and there he was, looking at me with lust, anger, and hatred.

I looked at him as he walked toward me slowly. I didn’t know whether to be happy, sad, or scared. By the look on his face, I began to quiver.

“Rich—” A slap landed on my cheek, and I groaned in pain and placed my hand on the other side as another landed on the bed beside me.

“You’re the reason my sister’s in that state,” he yelled, tears already flowing wildly down his cheeks. “You’ll pass through what my sister had to.”

He knelt with one knee on the bed as he tore at my shirt, leaving marks on my body.

“Please, don’t do this,” I pleaded, trying to struggle, but he pinned me to the bed with both hands.

“My sister must have pleaded, but your husband never listened. He sent his men to assault her,” he said as he began kissing me roughly.

“Richard!” a voice came from behind as he pulled him off me.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Mr. Williams asked.

“Trying to get revenge for what they did to Emma,” he half yelled.

“You’re making things worse.”

“You can’t stop me today,” he said and moved forward, but was held back.

“Do you want your wife to pass through the same fate as Emma?” He looked at him, muddled.

“Rose?”

“Emma’s in that situation because of you, Richard. If you hadn’t kidnapped Melanie, they wouldn’t have ordered them to rape her,” he paused. “Jethro called and asked for her to be released within eight hours.”

“I ain’t gonna let her go.”

“Think about your mother, your wife, and your kids.” He paused and looked at me — I was only wearing my black lacy bra with a pair of jeans. “Look at what you’ve done, Richard,” he pointed. “Jethro threatened to send their body in pieces if he were to find a scar on her body. He isn’t gonna spare you.”

“What if we kill him?” Mr. Williams looked up at Richard.

“Let’s talk outside,” he said, and walked out, as Richard took a quick glance at me before heading out.