"What? You fucker!" Rick yelled, snapping at Chris with his eyes almost bulging from their sockets.
Chris let out a small sigh, trying not to snap back at Rick. If he did, it would be his end.
"We have a problem." He said calmly, with a worried gaze.
Rick slowly realized something must be wrong. He waved his hand at Chris, while he turned to Nyx as an eerie smile spread on his face.
"Wait here, okay?" He clutched her chin with his fingers digging into her flesh and drawing blood.
The next second, he turned to leave however, not before stepping on her phone, making sure to mash it to the floor. As soon as the door closed, she crawled on the floor, straight to her phone.
It was broken, hardly coming on, but she tried desperately to get it on. She had to at least call someone again.
On the other hand, Rick met up with Chris and Gerald.
"This better be worthwhile..." He sat on the couch, glaring at them.
"It's about Nate…"
"Oh…" Rick let out a small expectant smile. "Has the police taken him? Come to think of it, we should have heard about his arrest."
The room turned silent, with no reply from either Chris or Gerald. Slowly, Rick stood up to his feet, his brows creasing.
"Don't tell me something went wrong…" He turned to Gerald, who had been told to keep watch over Nate's house.
"Why have you returned?"
"I…I left the vicinity earlier today, after making sure he was still at the house." Gerald hurriedly explained while he started to step away as Rick closed in on him.
"I expected the police to arrest him after giving them a tip. But…"
"But what?" Rick pressed, as his fists clenched.
"Nate appeared at school."
"What?" Rick gasped. "He attended the council meeting?"
"Yes…" Chris chipped in so Gerald wouldn't take the brunt of it all. "Right now, the school's forum, the students have turned against us."
"Daven has been calling non-stop, asking what to do since you reassured him you were going to take care of everything. Mason wants to push him out, and you know what that means for us."
As Chris finished explaining, the room turned silent with only Rick's heavy breathing echoing. The rage sipped through his veins like steam as he snapped his head toward Gerald.
"You again…" He pointed his finger. "It's all your fault…"
"No…" Gerald immediately went on his knees. "I made sure to keep watch! I don't know what happened."
"Shut it!" Rick immediately rushed at him, but Chris cut in quickly. He stood before Gerald, protecting him while he glared at Rick for the first time.
"How dare you…" He whispered. "How dare you look at me that way…"
"Get it together, Rick!" Chris snapped. "This is not the time to apportion blame. We did everything you asked us! Gerald even brought Nyx to you, and set everything up so you could get her!"
"He aided you in bashing Aria too, and yet, all you can think of is blaming him?"
"Are you blaming me then?" Rick snapped back. "How dare you!"
"I don't dare…" Chris let out another sigh, as he was incredibly tired of putting up with Rick. "But don't you think you should take a step back and think more clearly?"
"You claim your moves are calculated but don't you see the danger coming?"
"What danger?" Rick huffed as he rushed to sit on the couch. "Nothing is dangerous to me. I have the power to overcome anything."
"Alright…" Chris nodded his head continuously, but then asked. "Do you know where Aria's body is right now?"
"What?"
"From my estimation, she should be dead by now. Nate never called the police or an ambulance to help her, and yet, he appeared at school without a hitch."
"Can't you see how crazy that is?"
Rick slowly realized Chris was right. How the hell did that pauper dispose of Aria's body?
"It should be at his house, right?"
"Nothing was found…" Chris countered. "Not even a speck of blood."
"This should tell you that Nate is crazy. His sudden wealth and his ability to hide a body are insane. Your family's power and influence may be able to save you from going to jail, but until when?"
"I don't think Nate is going to back down! If he presses further and escalates the situation, we are all going down!"
Chris was not only afraid for Rick, but he was also afraid for himself and Gerald. Their families were not as powerful as Rick's family and in his heart, he vowed that if everything escalated, he would do anything to bring Rick down with him.
He wouldn't take the blame alone with Gerald.
Rick sat in silence for a few more minutes, piecing things together. As expected, Nate was a wild card and now, he didn't even know where this wild card was going to strike.
And his family? If a murder allegation was made against him, one he wasn't able to curb in time, he couldn't imagine what his father would do to him.
"No matter what…" He began. "Nate mustn't know that Nyx is here."
"Sure."
"Get through to Daven. We need to clear our names before the school, before going after Nate."
"But—"
"Quick! We have no time!" Rick snapped. "Bring Daven to me."
"And what are you going to do to him?" Chris probed, afraid Rick was going to make them do things again.
"What do you think I am going to do?" Rick's eyes widened slightly as he grinned. "Force him to take the blame of course."
"Now, go! I have tolerated you enough..."
Gerald quickly scrambled after Chris, before Rick would descend on him. The house fell into silence, as Rick walked back to the bedroom where Nyx was kept.
Since things had gotten bad, he needed to keep her locked up no matter what. There was no way he would let her out of his sight, especially not at this time.
He rushed into the room, ready to choke Nyx until she couldn't breathe at least.
But the next second…bang!
A thick metal rod was slammed in his face!