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The Return Of The God of War 31
She watches her mother's mouth move as she tries to get the words out, but it doesn't work. Her mother, still stammering, walks to the cooking pot and turns off the heat. Melody ignores her and continues to chop up her tomatoes, but this time around, she does them impetuously, in irregular sizes and when she is done, she dumps everything into a bowl and washes her hands in the sink. She turns to leave the kitchen, but her mother grabs her arm, stopping her. " Melody, what do you mean your debts were cleared?" Her voice is low, subdued. " How? When? By who? Duke?"Melody is so irritated that she shrugs her mother off and takes a step away from her. " You've said it already. Duke is a church rat and we don't have millions of dollars sitting in an account. " She fires. " Does it even matter? The thing is that I am not a debtor anymore and I am fucking happy about it. " " Who did it?" " The kind owner of Russell Bank, and he has become an investor who has invested twenty million do
The Return Of The God of War 32
When Melody gets home, Duke was not expecting to see her. Usually, it's till nightfall before she comes back when she goes to see her family. He has just made himself ramen and is in the kitchen when she walks into the house. "Hey, you are back so soon. " He stands up to walk to the front to hug her, but he notices the distant look in her eyes. He kisses the side of her face, but she doesn't even notice. She has her bag in her hand. " Hey, babe? Are you okay?" He holds her shoulder. She blinks and looks at him. " Logan Russell is a Mafia. " She tells him. Duke looks back at her. Of course, he knows, but he can't behave like he knows or she is going to freak out. This has to be news to him too. " Really?" He tilts his head like he doubts what he has said. " Who told you that?"" My grandfather. " She says. " He thinks that I am going to get in trouble."" No, you are going to be fine. " He waves off. " Duke?" She sighs. " Do you know what these Mafia guys do? They kill people,
The Return Of The God of War 33
33. Duke knows that she came here with some kind of trouble up her sleeves, but he didn't expect her to start with him being without a job. " Excuse me?" He asks. He is trying to cover his pain with a smile. " I demand to know why my daughter goes off every day, working hard, only to come back home to you – a full-grown man – who does absolutely nothing. " I'm trying so hard to get a job. " He defends himself. His voice is calm even though hers is threatening to pull out the roof. " Liar!!" She accuses him. " You are only here to drain my daughter of her wealth, I know this!!""That's not true. " He shakes his head. " Melody and I are trying our best to make this work for us. We are struggling now, but we are going to get better. "" When?" She laughs in annoyance. " When will things get better for you guys, Duke Xavier? Just when will my daughter stop feeding your lazy ass?!"He doesn't answer immediately because he tells his anger growing like a pot of soup that is boiling over.
The Return Of The God of War 34
The look in Duke's eyes is something that she has seen before. His eyes are dark and for the first time, she dares to say that she is scared of her husband. She reaches out and touches his face again. It still feels like Duke, but where did Duke go?"Duke, promise me that you are okay. " She begs. " What happened in here? What happened to you?"He sighs and looks down and then back at her. " I'm not fine, no." He says. " I'm in a really dark place. "" Can you tell me about it?"" Some other time, but not right now. " He shakes his head. " But I need you to do something for me. " She nods. Anything to help him, anything that will make him feel better. " What do you want me to do?" She asks. He is more occupied with taking off his jacket than answering her question. He dumps it on the ground and holds her hand. He takes he to the wall and then puts both of his hands on the sides of her head. His face is dangerously close and she has a clearer view of his eyes and what she sees se
The Return Of The God of War 35
" It's just going to be for a few days and I am going to be back. " He explains. She doesn't look pleased at all. Even if it's for a few hours, she doesn't want to be away from him. "But why?" She is very close to tears. " Why do you have to go?"" It's very urgent. " He doesn't say anything beyond that. She stops and bites her lips. " Is it your family?" She blinks. " I have told you before, I don't have any family members. " He pushes his hair back. " You are the only one who is my family. "Yes, he didn't tell her that his family was gruesomely murdered, he just told her that they don't exist. She stands up and puts on one of his shirts and wears it. It's bigger than her small frame and her hands are lost in the sleeves. " I'm coming with you. " She announces. " And don't even try to stop me. " " No, I'm not going to try to stop you. " He shakes his head. " But who the hell is going to run your business for you? Your investor has put a lot of money into it and I know that
The Return Of The God of War 36
Her mother stops with her hand going under her elbow, the cringe on her face shows that she has just found out that wasn't supposed to say that. The only reason that she said it in the first place was that she thought that maybe Duke mentioned it to Melody, but now she can see that she has put herself into trouble. The wild look in Melody's eyes pushes her so much that she wants to run out of the room. Melody stands up slowly and walks toward her with her eyes looking like they have settled on a prey. " Mum, what did you just say?" Melody asks. " Um, what?" She laughs, trying to hide her fear. " I didn't say anything. "Melody grabs her mother's arm so roughly that she yelps in pain. Melody's fingers dig into her skin. " Ouch, you are hurting me. " She winches and tries to snatch her hand back, but Melody has an iron grip. " You slapped Duke?" She demands to know. " Answer me, right now!" " Let go of me, you silly girl. " She yells at Melody. " Or have you forgotten that I am
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If Duke is being really honest with himself, Melody is the first girl that he has loved with his whole heart. Yes, their union wasn't just too long ago, but he can literally take a bullet for the girl. And there is Renee, she is the closest thing Duke had ever had to love. She was this fragile girl who came into the army even when she looked like she didn't have any business in the place. She aced the tests, but couldn't keep up with the physical demand and that made her to be mocked and resented by many. He took it upon himself to protect her and became her only Friend. She picked up and she has made a good name for herself in the army. Last he heard of her, she was a captain. She was a sweet girl and gave him stress-relieving sex when they were in the army, but his priority has changed. Melody is now his priority. " Duke?" She repeats as if she can't believe her eyes. Before he could find his tongue and say something to her, she got up and jumped into his arms. He wasn't exp
The Return Of The God of War 38
She hugs him very tightly and squeaks in delight. He gives her a little squeeze and calls her name. It brings back memories of when they sat alone in the garden on their own. After that terrible accident that left her with a burnt face, he was one of the people who still remained her friend. When she insisted on wearing a mask, he wore one too and that way, she didn't feel weird around him. His father had to move to Italy for work and Jace left with his family and that left her depressed for a long time. Now, she can't believe that he is in her arms now. How much she missed this old friend of hers. They let go of each other, but their hands are still entwined in each other. He is peering into her face, she holds her breath and waits for the usual question. " Melody, your eyes haven't changed. " He touches her face and at that instant, she lets go of her breath with a relieved smile. She thought he would say something about her hideous face gone and how he is more than glad, but