The Return Of The God of War

8

After a very hectic day, Duke and Melody return to their car with bags of money. It's a lot of bags, but Duke insisted so that he would get to see the shock on her grandfather's face.

Melody and Duke enter the car and shut the door. Melody heaves and pushes her hair back.

" That's one hell of a day. " She confesses.

" Yeah?" He laughs. For someone who has been on a rollercoaster this whole time, he has been calm.

" You know, I went through so many emotions today. " She confesses. " I went from worrying that you won't get the loan to worrying that we would be going to jail. "

" Jail?" He laughs with genuine surprise.

The truth is that he wasn't even trying hard to stay out of trouble because if he has been taken to jail and is made to reveal his real identity, then the police will be the ones in trouble not him.

Melody looks at him and smiles. She pulls closer and kisses him on his lips. He wasn't expecting it, but he returns it, taking control of it and giving her lower lip a little tuck.

" When you go home. " She winks at him. " I will show you just how proud I am of you?"

"Oh, yeah? "He hums.

*****

In the coolness of the evening, Duke convinced Melody that they have to visit her grandfather and meet up with their appointment.

They have had a long day and they have just settled into bed after long intimate sex, but they still have to leave. Duke made them a crazy promise of bringing the money today and he is going to do that.

So they drive to her family's house in the evening with the booth heavy with all of the money that has been given to them.

They step out of the car and walk towards the front door, hand in hand.

When they get to the front door, Melody smiles at him and pushes the door open.

" You aren't a visitor here anymore. " She tells him. " We don't have to knock. "

Duke smiles but doesn't say anything. They enter the house and she shuts the door back.

Her grandfather is in the living room, talking to who seems to be a visitor.

" Taylor?!" Melody lets go of his hands and runs toward the man.

He stands up in surprise and Melody jumps into his arms and he turns her around and around.

Duke isn't happy about this, but he keeps his calm. He looks to the floor and squeezes his hands in loose fists.

"Oh my God, you look different. " Taylor can't stop looking at her face. " You are very beautiful. "

"Well, thanks. " She steps out of his hands and walks back to Duke's side.

" Um, Taylor. I would like you to meet my husband. " Melody smiles. " Duke? Taylor is a friend of mine and my family. "

Taylor gives Duke a look, but because of his modest way of dressing, he doesn't treat him with too much respect.

He walks towards him and offers Duke his hand for a shake. Duke is angry, but he takes his hand.

" Hi, I'm Taylor Hunter. " He introduces himself.

" Duke Xavier." He nods.

Now that Taylor is closer, he gets a very good look at Duke's face and Duke doesn't like it at all.

" Duke? What do you do?" Taylor doesn't let go of his hand just yet.

"Why do you ask?" Duke pretends to find it funny.

"No reason. " Taylor shrugs. " Just that you look very vaguely familiar. "

" You don't know me. " Duke takes his hand from him and drops it to his side.

Melody has gotten so close to Duke that she now knows when something isn't right with him and this is one of those times.

She takes his arm and he turns to her. She stands on her toes and kisses him on the top of his lips.

" Wow, that's cute. " Taylor smirks, but the pain in his voice can't be missed. " When did you guys get married?"

" It's not up to a week. "

"And it won't be that long. " Her grandfather murmurs loud enough for them to hear.

They all turn to him and Melody gasps.

"Papa! " She huffs.

Duke doesn't say a word, but on the inside, he feels like reaching out and squeezing the life out of this old man.

" Go upstairs." Her grandfather points to the stairs. " Your mother and sister are there. Let the men talk. "

Melody hates what her grandfather is trying to do and she holds on to Duke's hand more tightly.

" Go now!" He roars at her so much that she flinches.

Duke shields her with his body and kisses the top of her head, he can see the tears in her eyes and he so much wants to kill her grandfather for making her cry.

" Go, babe. " He tells her. " I will be fine. "

She reluctantly lets go of him and turns around to go upstairs. She goes slowly, wanting to hear what her grandfather wants to say, but he is clever to wait for her to completely leave.

She finds her mother and her sister reading books on the patio. Her sister Bella is engrossed but she gives her a tight hug when she finally notices her.

"Hi. " She says to her sister. " How is your husband?"

" He is good. He is out of town for some days. "

Melody hugs her mother who gives her a small kiss on her cheeks as she proceeds to sit with them. They close their books and drop them on the table.

Melody breathes out through her mouth and prepares herself because she knows that she is in for a lot of questioning.

" So how are you? " Her mother starts.

"Fine. " She smiles to prove it. " I came here with my husband. "

" Your husband?" Bella laughs. " Are you referring to that poor rat as your husband?"

Melody is offended and pissed at her sister for saying such a thing, but she keeps her calm. They are going to judge Duke when they don't even know him.

"Yes, he is my husband. " She stands her ground. " He helped me get my face back and we got married in court. "

"Come on, honey. " Her mother rolls her eyes. " You can do better than him, what's his name?"

"Duke?"She laughs, aren't they supposed to know this?

" More like the Duke of poverty. " Bella jokes and laughs with her mother.

"Stop it. " Melody rubs her hands on her Temple. " This is not funny. "

" Tell me, Melody. " Her mother tells her. " Is he very good in bed, is that what this is about?"

" He is fine in bed and I love him, okay?" She snaps at them. " When are you guys going to respect that?"

Her mother and Bella don't look at her. She is disappointed at them for talking about Duke like that.

" Well, he doesn't have the money grandfather asked him to give. " Belle clicks her tongue. " If you ask me, you guys are divorcing ASAP. "

" Oh, shut up, Bella. " Melody hiss. " Because it took your husband a month to come up with the money doesn't mean mine would. For your information, we have the money in full. "

*****

Duke feels the eyes of Melody's grandfather boring holes into him, but he keeps cool. They are trying to get him intimidated, but he is not going to let them.

" Duke, let me introduce Taylor Hunter to you. " Mister Jimmy clears his throat. " He owns one of the major oil companies in this city and he is the youngest person to have earned the millionaire title. "

" What has that got to do with me?" Duke looks at them.

" I'm a friend of Melody's and I'm very appreciative of what you have done for her. " Taylor smiles. " I mean her face. "

" If you are her friend, I haven't heard of you. " Duke shakes his head.

Taylor laughs as if Duke hasn't just insulted him.

" Well, that's understandable. "

" How much?" Mister Jimmy asks.

" What are you talking about?"

" How much do you want in exchange for your time and effort spent on Melody?" He inquires. " I'm sorry, but you are not the kind of man I want for my granddaughter. "

Duke thinks he is in a dream, because what the hell is this man saying? He looks at him and then at Taylor.

" Is this a joke?" Duke asks. " I'm not leaving Melody, ever. "

" Don't worry, call your price. " Taylor urges. " I will give it to you. "

" What the hell?" Duke turns to Mister Jimmy. " You asked me to bring you the money and I have done that so what's all of this?!"

" Yeah, you got the money because Melody made a call to Taylor to assist and he did. " Mister Jimmy says.

Duke feels like his ears popped in his head. Is this some kind of joke?