Stand for Love Ch. 16

"What did I do?" Adrian asked confidently. "I didn't do anything to you. You know Nicholas was the one who had... "

"Yes," Jake hissed. "But you caused him to do it because you couldn't watch him... "

"Look Jake if that is why you brought me here then you achieved nothing because Nicholas still loves me." Adrian said confidently, now grinning at Jake.

"You don't have the... "

"Enough," Todd yelled. "This is not where you come to discuss your silly issues. And you're wrong if you think we kidnapped you for that foolishness. Sure, you're gonna pay for causing pain to my son but this is more complicated than you think."

"Then what do want?" Adrian asked, looking at his uncle as if he was begging. "Is it money or what? My husband will give you that. Just let me go. We don't have to live as enemies. We can just forgive each other and... "

"You think we have time for that?" Victoria chuckled manically, rubbing her hand on her temple.

"Then why did you kidnap me?" Adrian quaked, trying to stifle the tears that were coming out of his eyes. "We can all live... "

"Well I can assure you that you are not going to get out of here alive." Todd chuckled. "And as for the driver, don't you worry about him. Just worry about yourself." Looking at him, he had an evil grin even while talking to Adrian. It showed his determination and anger.

Adrian was now shaking. The tears that he had managed to stifle came rushing down his cheeks, flooding his face. Hearing his uncle telling him that they were gonna kill him made his heart hurt. He had no idea why they wanted him dead or the reason that they hated him so much. This hatred was beyond what his father had told him because he could see it. His uncle, he could understand but Victoria, why did she hate him so much?

"What?" Adrian sniveled, tears rushing down his face.

"You heard right," Victoria said with an evil chuckle. "You're going to die. We'll make sure that you die before leaving this place. We'll kill your fucking heart and... " She paused and then came closer to his face. "... we'll feed your carcass to the birds."

Adrian moved his face as his chest tightened painfully. Then his heart's pain intensified and his breaths became really violent. What Victoria had told him was even more painful. Couldn't she have just said he was gonna die? Did she have to explain how she was gonna kill him and feed him to the animals. It hurt a lot especially when he thought about Nicholas.

Victoria on the other hand was ecstatic. She had waited too long for the moment that was happening. She loved how Adrian was crying out in pain. She loved him begging even when she knew he wasn't gonna survive any of it. She was gonna enjoy getting the very life out of his body. But most of all, she was gonna enjoy seeing him dead.

"Please," Adrian cried out in pain. "Please... "

"Is it too painful?" Jane teased, rubbing her hand on his face. "Oh poor baby," She chirped. "You should see your face some times. You look so, so... " She paused and then gave a deep sigh of irritation. "... pathetic,"

Adrian wanted to stop crying but he couldn't do it. Not after hearing what they had to say to him. People like them were capable of anything but he had no idea they'd kill him just because he was married to Nicholas. Why did they have to gang up on him and plot to kill him?

"Why?" Adrian cried in pain. "Why would you want to kill me?"

"For so many reasons," Victoria chuckled.

"I am married to your son." Adrian sobbed, trying to sound confident. He looked at Victoria and she was totally enjoying seeing him cry. "And... " He paused and looked at Jake and his family. "... I am your family. You're all my family here. Why do you have to kill me simply because I am married to Nicholas?"

"Nicholas!" Victoria chuckled, giving him a look of irritation. "You think this is about Nicholas?"

"What?" Adrian sniveled, trying to understand what the hell was going on. "If this is not... "

"This is about you poking your nose in matters that doesn't involve you." Todd leaned down and yelled in his face. "This is about you being nosy and stupid."

"But I thought... "

"Yes," Jake chirped. "Part of this is about revenge and you're gonna pay with your dear life. I don't care whether you are my cousin or not. All I know is that you're gonna die."

Adrian slightly closed his eyes as the pain was too much to hear. He would have closed his ears but his hands were tied and he couldn't make any move. And he had thought he had escaped that family but now he was back with them, in their hands.

"I haven't done anything else to you." Adrian sobbed as he stifled his tears. He couldn't cry anymore. Crying was useless to them because they had no hearts. He couldn't waste his tears because it was not worth it.

"You think so?" Todd chortled, touching his head furiously. "You're more stupid than I thought." He snarled, reaching forward to grip Adrian's jaws. He had a firm grip on them and they hurt like hell. He wanted to scream but he couldn't do it. "Tell me, how did you find out about Equilinias? Who told you it existed and... "

"No one," Adrian said weakly as his uncle had his grip on his jaw.

"Well you're gonna regret ever finding out about that company." Todd yelled, furiously letting go of his jaw. It hurt really badly and Adrian winced. "What you had to do was just sit your ass down and not meddle in other people's affairs."

"But that used to be my grandfather's company." Adrian said confidently, slightly moving head forward.

"I did not do anything wrong by... "

"Whoever told you about that company or whatever... "

"No one did," Then Adrian realized why Todd was furious he had known about the company. "So what happened?" Adrian hollered, chuckling. "Why are you furious that I found out about the company? Is it because you did not inherit it?"

Todd was furious after hearing what Adrian had to say. He was more hurt when he realized that Adrian was hurting him emotionally by reminding him of his past. He was suddenly swept off his feet by intense anger. He wanted to kill the boy right there. He wanted to send him to hell.

"How dare you talk to me like that?" Todd yelled. Then he abruptly moved forward, fuming. Reaching Adrian, he raised his hand in the air and gave him a hot slap.

Feeling Todd's hand on his face, Adrian let out a wince. It was really painful and his cheek hurt a lot. He had no idea why Todd got angry but he didn't care at all. They were gonna kill him anyway. He had his face on the other side, wincing softly but he couldn't just stay like that.

"Why?" Adrian gave out a teasing chuckle. "Did I say something... "

"I don't care whether you said anything wrong." Todd snarled, pointing his finger angrily at Adrian. He was fuming and his mood was super lightning. Adrian could even feel the anger and hatred emanating from him. "I remained quiet when you went and seduced my son's fiancé but this time you're going to die. I'll not just sit and watch you destroy everything that I have worked for."

Adrian knew Todd was fuming but that isn't what bothered him. What bothered him was how Todd had spoken to him. It was like Todd was afraid of something, something that would destroy him and it made Adrian actually wonder.

What surprised him the most was the warmth that he suddenly felt in his body? He was really scared and he trembled from his uncle's powerful warning but he was suddenly curious about what it was that they were afraid of him.

"You're gonna regret ever stepping your feet on that company." Todd warned. "I'm gonna give you the greatest punishment of all... death."

Adrian's heart broke once again. He couldn't just hear the word 'death' and let it go. It scared him a whole awful lot when he actually thought of experiencing death at that age. Had it been a few months ago he would have gladly chosen death but now he had people, people that loved him and couldn't live without his love. He had his head dropped, looking straight on the dirty floor as he thought about his family.

"I know what you are thinking." Victoria snarled, chirping softly. "You are thinking about Nicholas but guess what... " She came closer to him as he raised his face. Then she breathed in violently and clenched her teeth. "... we'll live you alone to think about how much pain he'll be in."

Adrian knew Victoria was targeting his weakest point and at that time, Nicholas was his weakest point. Thinking about how Nicholas would be if he died made tears to form in his eyes. The pain of thinking about his husband vulnerable was worse that he could ever think. He wondered how Nicholas was gonna cope if at all he died.

Adrian's tears came rushing out, flooding his whole face. He had no idea how to get rid of the pain that they had just inflicted on him. Talking about death was a different thing but hurting his husband was another. He knew if he died, Nicholas would be lonely and in pain. That made him to cry even more.

"Gotcha," Victoria chirped. "I knew you would cry after hearing about Nicholas."

"Please," Adrian begged. "If not for me... do it for your son. He will be... "

"Do you think I care?" Victoria snapped, dropping her hands to her hips. "He disowned me. He didn't care that I was hurt or anything. He even had the guts to tell me about suing me."

"What about your grandson?" Adrian muttered as more tears flooded his face. "You know he has grown to love me. He can't... "

"You took my family away from me." Victoria yelled. Then she raised her hand and slapped him on the cheek hard. "You took my son from me. You deserve nothing but death. And now you want... "

"I didn't take anyone from you." Nicholas shouted in pain as more tears flooded his face. "You pushed all of them away from you because of your greed and your ego. All I wanted was for you to change and... "

"Who are you to preach to me about change?" Victoria yelled angrily. "Do you think you can defeat me? You might have won the battle but this war, I'll be victorious just like... my name." She chuckled, prodding on Adrian's chest.

"But you'll lose your family." Adrian muttered.

"I'll eventually get them back after your death." Victoria laughed bitterly. "You are too small to defeat me, us."

"I'm not trying to defeat you." Adrian yelled. "What is there to fight for... "

"Uh," Victoria gasped. "You don't actually know why you are here? Well let me tell you." Victoria knelt between his legs, slowly rubbing his thighs. "You are here because you are too nosy. I don't care how you found out about the company but we will not allow you to bring us down. How dare you try to bring to the surface what has been buried?"

"What?" Adrian gasped, trying to catch his breath. "What... "

"Yes," Victoria nodded in agreement. "I'll not allow you to do that. Going to Equilinias was the biggest mistake of your life and I hope you'll learn to mind your business in your next life."

Adrian stared at Victoria in shock. Then he felt more tears building in his eyes, different kind of tears. Those tears he felt were like hot pepper, burning his eyes and making him cry a whole lot. He couldn't get a thing of what Victoria had said to him. Could it be that there was a huge secret that was hidden behind Equilinias, He wondered as he closed his eyes to let the tears that burned his eyes out?

"I never tried to bring anything to the surface." Adrian lamented, opening his eyes slowly. "All I wanted to find out was if what my mother had told me in the dream was true. I just wanted... "

"Your mistake," Jane sneered, blowing on her nails. "You should have just ignored that dream but being a nosy little bitch that you are, you got yourself in more trouble." She gave a bitter laugh. "And tell that bitch when you meet that she caused your death."

Upon hearing what Jane had to say, everyone laughed except for Adrian whose pain had just increased. He had a terrible headache and his whole body shuddered in pain. His heart was pounding, begging to be ripped out of the chest. The most painful thing of all was Jane calling his mother a bitch and he... couldn't do anything.

"But I... "

"You might have defeated us the last time but this time I'll not allow you to do it again. You are too little." Victoria looked as if she was a character from a horror movie. "We have kept this secret for so long and now you want to get it to the surface. I'll not allow that to happen."

"What are you talking about?" Adrian was more than shocked.

"Ha ha," Victoria laughed and then came closer to his face. "People that were stronger, richer, powerful and influential couldn't even defeat us. Who do you think you are?"

Adrian was still surprised, shocked and his head hurt a lot. He had no idea what Victoria was talking about and actually thinking about it made him even more scared. Victoria sounded dangerous and willing to do anything to keep whatever secret that she was hiding. Out of all this, Adrian had only one question,

"So I will not be your first victim?" Adrian's voice was trembling.

"No!" Victoria was enthusiastic seeing Adrian in the helpless mood that he was in. "Others tried and they all failed e.g... " She paused and then gave a bitter laugh which everyone else joined in. "... no, no, too much detail." Victoria's face turned into something that Adrian couldn't put his finger on. "I think that'll be solved later."

"And the secret?" Adrian sobbed in pain. "At least I need to know exactly what I am dying for."

Victoria chuckled bitterly. "Hmmm," She moved her head and then gave him a wicked look. "Maybe later. Right now I think you have a lot to think about. I am going to give you some time to... " She laughed bitterly. "... think about your family and remember how they'll be without you. Poor Nicholas will be devastated. Your death will bring a lot of sorrows to him and he'll probably lose his mind. I know that will be your greatest pain."

Adrian closed his eyes and warm tears flooded his face. He couldn't believe he was gonna die soon after being happy with his husband. He just got with him and now he was gonna die, leaving him devastated and in pain.

"Please, stop,"

"But you still have a lot of time between today and tomorrow night."

"What happens tomorrow night?" Adrian's voice was barely audible.

"You'll die tomorrow night." Todd's voice was of evil and merciless. Adrian couldn't help but tremble. "So enjoy the little time that you have to... think about Nicholas... think about him in pain and... " He paused and wrapped his arm around Jake. "... think about him marrying Jake... about him forgetting about you and think about your family... suffering without you."

They all got up, leaving Adrian tears.

"So we'll leave you to... think about all the pain that your death will cause." Todd chuckled. Then he called Drake who immediately came.

"Keep an eye on him alright?"

"With pleasure," Drake chirped, stretching his arms.

Then they all left laughing out loud, leaving him with Drake.

Seated on the chair, tied and in emotional pain, Adrian cried out softly, letting the tears to just flow. He didn't care whether Drake would say something or provoke him. All he did was cry. They had just targeted his weakest point and now he had nothing to do but just cry.

His mind was settled on Nicholas, thinking about the good times that they had together and all the beautiful things that he had said to him. He also thought about Gabriel, reading him bed times stories and kissing him goodnight. Nicholas, oh Nicholas, Adrian cried out softly. If only he had known that this was what was going to happen to him, he would have said his last goodbyes to Nicholas.

The most painful thing was actually thinking about how Nicholas was gonna be after his death. The guy was so attached to him that even a minute was like forever to him. But now he had to live his life in pain and anguish. For the first time since being with Nicholas, Adrian wished he hadn't met him. It wasn't because he does not love him, but had they not met, Nicholas wouldn't have gotten to experience the pain that he will experience after Adrian died.

With a painful sob, Adrian raised his flooded face and stared into the face of the man who had once been his friend. He gave him an evil grin and then laughed out manically. Adrian moved his face away and began crying.

Adrian was definitely not happy. He wondered what Nicholas was doing.

***

"Don't worry," The inspector said, assuring the people in the house with a smile. "We'll do everything that we can to find your husband Mr. Miller."

At least Nicholas was more than happy that the whole police force would be looking for Adrian. He just wanted to find him, hold him, kiss him and never let him go. But he was not gonna rest until he finds out where his Adrian was. He had spent the last two hours talking with the police inspector and after those two hours they were ready to start the search for Adrian.

"Thank you so much," Noah's voice was more than sad. He couldn't believe that something like that had happened when they were only starting to live peaceful lives. Just what curse had befallen their family, Noah thought as he nodded his head sadly. He was praying nothing had happened to Adrian but after what had happened, he was suspecting that Adrian had probably been kidnapped.

"I'm really sorry to ask this but do you think this might be a case of... " The inspector paused and gave them all a look of worry. "... kidnap or something,"

Nicholas had suspected it long ago but he still didn't want to believe that his Adrian had been kidnapped but there was a high possibility of him being kidnapped.

"Yes," Nicholas hollered, clenching on his fists when he thought about his mother. "I had suspected that."

"Do you have any suspects or... "

"Yes," Nicholas said in a hoarse voice. "I have more than one suspect."

"Care to tell us so that we can keep an eye on them?" The inspector asked.

"Yes," Nicholas answered. "Keep an eye on Todd Wilson's residence. I suspect that they are involved in it too. Please, do something because I don't want anything to happen to Adrian."

"We might not be certain but... I'll send some men to watch over them." The inspector said. "If they are involved then we can't do anything to endanger the life of your husband. If it is a kidnap, we'll follow them and they'll lead us to where they are keeping him."

"Thank you." Nicholas said.

"We'll start the search now." The inspector said. "Don't worry I am going to turn the city upside down just to find him."

The inspector left and then all the people in the house remained quiet. No one could utter a word because they had no idea what would come out of them. It could be a cry or even something worse.

Nicholas on the other hand sat on the couch with his arms crossed, thinking about the possibility of kidnap. His mind had been occupied but now that he was back and thinking about Adrian, he thought about it very much.

First, if Todd couldn't get his hands on that company, then he had enough reason just to make sure that Adrian never got his hands on that company as well. Then there was his mother and Jake. Adrian had humiliated them and exposed them and they had both literally vowed to make him pay. And then Jake had used that word before he left,

"If I don't have you then no one else will have you."

In fact, the whole evidence was there. Nicholas had it all figured out but he wasn't sure because he could be wrong as well. His Adrian could be anywhere and the last thing he wanted on this earth was to endanger his life. He needed to take things easy but being seated like that wasn't helping things for him. He was just getting more worried and he was starting to panic. He could feel the blood rushing throughout his body, leaving nothing but coldness in him. He couldn't be like that anymore. He had had it up to his neck and he felt he might go insane if something wasn't done. Sure, the inspector was doing his job but he couldn't just sit his ass down and depend on others when it involved his Adrian's life and his happiness as well.