CHAPTER 44.
RYDER
The bust of activities at home was enough to keep you on an edge. Reporters from prominent media houses were swamping in, it was a damn frenzy.
On my arrival, I got snatched from their questions by the warlords and Jason.
“Save it for the press conference,” They repeatedly told the reporters, keeping them off me.
They were distressed and bothered, but not as much as I was.
With Jay and a few trainees left back at Hara's apartment to keep watch, I had just Darius and Giveon at my side as we headed to the main hall where the press conference should commence any minute from now.
Jason was behind us, checking his phone. “Jesus, this keeps getting worse. The main video has over a million views, and it's got over a hundred thousand shares. Does Ciara have this much influence over the people or is this some kind of glitch?“
“Ciara's an icon, no doubts about that. But this is much more than just her fanbase.“ I countered, fastening my strides. Couldn't wait to get into the main hall and straighten this shit out.
“Yeah, it's the victims. Lives were lost, and properties were destroyed. The people need someone to take the fall for the tragedy. Everyone's in their feelings and Ciara took that as leverage to manipulate them into believing Hara is behind it all,“ Darius elaborated further, and I shook my head in agreement.
“What if she is–“ Giveon began and I flashed him a glare, waiting to knock his teeth out when he finished that sentence. “–not?“ he added with a pacifying grin. “What if she's not but still gets punished by the people?“
I rolled my eyes at him, ignoring his question and the uneasiness in his eyes. It was no surprise he was having mixed feelings about Hara. I mean, they had no clue she existed until today. Although Darius knew there was another woman in my life, he never knew what she looked like until this scandal. And he seems okay with Hara, unlike Giveon who keeps hinting at his disapproval; Jay who grouchily stayed back at Hara's apartment, and Fredrick who has been calling to get a logical explanation. They probably think I'm nuts and have lost my mind. I have no plans trying to justify my actions before them. At the end of the day, it's my life, my rules, my shit. Every other person will have to back off at some point.
I got to the main hall and the soldiers outside the door stepped aside, turned the doorknob and the huge iron door opened.
“Ryder,“ Jason held my arm. I gave him quick scrutiny. He sighed, biting his lower lips and hesitating.
“What is it?“ I asked impatiently. It's not rocket science that we both had stuff to iron out between us. But right now was not the time.
“I wanna talk to you. Like now, before the press conference,“
“We're gonna talk, Jason, but I get to choose when and where.“ I replied sternly, pushing his hand off my arm. “You best stick around,“
“Sure, I will,“ He said in a breathy tone, stuffing his hands into his pocket. He stepped back, just as the warlords did. It's just me against the press.
I glanced at them, gave a curt nod, and was gonna step into the hall but Father's voice halted me.
“Ryder!“ He was dressed rather too formally, guess it had to do with the invasion of the press into our house. Got to look presentable even though he seems pretty raged.
“Father,“
“What is this fiasco?!“ He whisper-yelled, avoiding attracting the million prying eyes around. He knew too well than creating a scene. The media would pick it up, tweak it and print out the story of his life.
“Tell me something, Father. Did you by any chance renege?“
“How dare you use that word on me?! That's taboo. No true Alpha reneges!“
“Yeah, I thought so too. I mean, we had a fucking deal. I leave with the elders and in return, you don't lay a finger on Hara,“
“I haven't done anything to her…“
“No, not directly. But you might have manipulated Ciara into doing what she did. “
“I will not have you insult me in front of your men!“ His voice was past being in a whisper now. It was echoing in the hallway.
”Do you have a hand in what Ciara did? Yes or no? That's about all the answer I need,“
“ As much as I feel disgusted by your attraction to that she-wolf, I haven't done a thing to her. So you better stop with the accusations!“
“I hope so, Father.“ Looking over his shoulder, Ciara was heading towards us. Fuck me!
She barely got to us, barely got the words out of her mouth before I silenced her with a hard slap.
The gasps in the hallway were in order. No one would have imagined I'd ever go physical with her, not even in their wildest dreams. And as much as I lived my life, trying to be a gentleman, not a pussy who hits women, Ciara crossed all the lines. Slapping her isn't enough to make her pay for the damage she caused. Forcing her to turn rogue would be taking pity on her. Even slitting her throat right here, right now was an easy way out. That's just how far she went.
“Did you just slap me?“ She gasped, holding the side of her face that got the brutality. “Because of that slut?“
“Lock her up in my room. Make sure she's very uncomfortable!“ I ordered, and the warlords quickly grabbed her.
“Ryder! This is outrageous! Ciara is royalty, she's been with us all her life. You can not treat her like some commoner!“
Father jumped right into her defense. Not that I was expecting any less from him. Ciara was, after all, the apple of his eye. Favoring her all these years has been the reason she was left untamed, indulging all her crazy whims. Not anymore.
”Get your hands off me!“ She was squirming like crazy, making it rather messy for the guys to drag her out.
“Ryder, son, what you're doing right now is irrational…“
“Irrational is ganging up on Hara and telling the whole world she was the reason behind the flood. That's irrational, Father!“ I retorted in rage.
“But it's Ciara, son. You can not treat her like some ordinary offender. What she has done can be sorted out without all this madness!“
”Oh, I'm gonna sort it out, alright? But I can't guarantee you that you're gonna love how I intend to go about it,“
“I won't let you intimidate her any further!“ Threat laced in his words rather fueled my rage.
“Go ahead, Father. Try making this easy for Ciara. You'll leave me with no choice but to drag us both to ruins. I'm a few steps away from the press. One wrong word to them and we both go down, this pack with us.“
“Are you threatening me, Son?“
“No, Father. That's a promise. You interfere in my plans for Ciara, I'm gonna act the psycho and ruin everything we both built over the past decades.“
Father huffed, his fist clenched and his jaw twitching, his brows creased in anger. Muffling his rage but saying no more words was enough sign that I won.
”Take her out of here!“ I ordered and they continued dragging her. She was screaming her head out, Darius went as far as covering her mouth with a piece of clothing.
Father looked like he was gonna tear up from watching Ciara being dragged. I left him in his melancholic state and headed into the hall, bracing myself for what awaited me.