Chapter 164: You know the rules of these games, right?
"I was... worried, Lola. So, I’m making sure you were alright."
Lola smiled as she held the phone to her ear, listening to Amala’s sincere voice from the other end of the line. "Thank you, Amala, but you don’t need to worry about me."
"How can I not worry?" Amala responded. "It’s a subject you’re the most sensitive about."
Silence fell on the line as Lola didn’t answer Amala. It was true, after all. Lola’s pregnancy was a sensitive topic for her, especially regarding how she lost her child. It was why even now, Silo didn’t know about it, despite being one of Lola’s closest friends.
"All I’m saying... don’t do anything you’d regret," Amala spoke again after a moment of silence. "I trust you, Lola. It’s why I told you about it over the phone. I hope I won’t regret not being there with you. Otherwise, I’d blame myself for reporting about Hudson."
"Amala," Lola called with a slight smile. "I’m not like I used to be. I don’t lose my mind or even my cool anymore. I’m alright... surprisingly."
This time, Amala didn’t answer and simply gauged Lola’s tone.
"If anything, I feel... I feel okay," Lola continued, nodding even when the other person couldn’t see her. "So, trust me when I say I’m okay, because I really am."
"Do you promise?"
"Of course."
"That’s not what I’m saying, Lola," Amala hummed, her voice firmer. "You know exactly what I’m saying."
Lola pursed her lips before she pressed them together. "Of course," she said. "You’re not cleaning up anyone’s body once you arrive."
"Good then. If you don’t want Vito to get into your business, then don’t make him. You know him. He likes it when you make a mistake," Amala nagged gently. "It’s one thing that he’s helping you cover up whatever tracks you have left, but another, and he’s going to drag you back with him."
"I know that. Thanks, Amala."
Amala continued to nag Lola over and over again, which the latter listened to for the next few minutes. Everything she said was all for Lola’s good, and Lola knew that. Hence, she patiently waited until she finished.
Clack.
As soon as the call ended, Lola slowly pulled the phone away and gazed at it. A shallow breath escaped her, recalling some parts of what Amala said.
"That guy... is like a fishbone stuck in my throat that I couldn’t get rid of," she murmured, frowning. "Tch."
"Ugh..."
Just then, a man’s groan caressed her ears. Lola looked at the door just behind her.
"About time he wakes up," she murmured before she quietly walked inside the room.
The room was dark, and the only source of light was that little dim night lamp in the corner. All windows, curtains, and lights were closed. The second she walked inside, her eyes darted to the person lying on the bed.
"Ugh..." Hudson let out another groan, reaching for his head to hold it. However, just as he did, his hand stopped midair as the sound of the chain clanged in his ear.
Despite his throbbing head and still drunken state, his eyes popped open in a panic. All he saw was this warm little light in the darkness. The light was very faint, but it was enough for him to see the handcuff around his wrist.
"What the—" Panicked, he pulled his other hand and tried to get up. Only then did he realize it wasn’t just one wrist that was restrained. His body was strapped to the bed, his other hand also chained to the headboard. His legs were also tied, keeping him on the bed, powerless.
For a second, his mind went blank at his situation. He was too drunk earlier, drinking all day. Then, the bar staff had called for a taxi just because he couldn’t drive anymore. It was their protocol, which he was aware of.
Then, in the taxi, he felt dizzy. His memory was clouded, but he could remember the dread he felt at the driver.
The driver!
Hudson’s breath hitched, unable to remember the driver’s face. But he did remember the dread he felt. Before Hudson could gather his thoughts, he caught a figure from the corner of his eye.
His body stiffened on instinct, averting his shaky eyes to the approaching figure. When he fully turned his head, all he caught was a person wearing a large hoodie. The dim light was placed in the corner, several paces behind the person, making it impossible for him to see their face.
It was too dark!
But then, the figure dragged a chair and placed it near the bed. Hudson caught the large syringe the person took out from the hoodie, making him freeze.
What was that? He wondered, dread crawling into him as he paled. Forget about how big the syringe was—whatever was inside it was something he didn’t want to know.
"You—you," he stuttered, mustering his courage to speak. "What do you—what do you think you’re doing?!"
The person didn’t answer, which only elevated his panic.
"Who—who are you?" he tried again, his mind running so fast that his mouth lagged.
Hudson wasn’t the kindest person in the world. He used to be a pimp, handling women who offered their bodies for a moment of pleasure. And in that business, there were countless problems and countless people he had a beef with.
However, he left that world a long time ago! They couldn’t have sent someone to finish him off after all these years, right?
"Whatever you want—money? How much?" His panicked voice already came out before he could even think about it. "How much did they pay you? I’ll double it!"
Meanwhile, Lola played with the large syringe in her hand while watching the man slowly get consumed with paranoia. A shallow breath escaped her as she pulled up the face mask that had a small device attached inside to cover her mouth.
I know this is what Amala is worried about, she thought. That I’d end up hurting somebody.
Even though this guy didn’t really deserve mercy, if Lola had been only thinking of herself, she would’ve dealt with him the day before.
"I don’t want to hurt you," she said, and her voice came out sounding like a chipmunk. "And I mean it."
Hudson froze in place, wide-eyed. He watched the person, using a voice changer, slowly lean forward until their arms were resting on their legs. His pale lips opened and closed, but in the end, he gulped as he heard his abductor’s next words.
"So, don’t make me, Hudson," said Lola. "You know the rules of these games, right?"
Hudson gulped, holding his breath as he nodded profusely. "What do you want?"