“Where?” Jason asked Silas in a menacing tone.

Silas knew what he meant and his intentions. They have not been friends for years for nothing after all.

“No, buddy. Don’t even think of it. You didn’t just get out of prison for me to see you walk in again or worse. No, man. No woman is worthy of you getting yourself ruined for. You know the Fitzgeralds. And you know that pompous ass is the worst of the lot. No, Jay. Let’s just go eat something and figure out…”

Jason’s humourless laughter stopped him “Eat something you say? Damn it, man. My girl is about to marry that… that bastard and you think I will be able to swallow anything?” Jason paced in anger, his fist itched to punch someone. A particular someone.                                                                       

Silas sighed “I know this must be painful to you, Jay but that bitch is no longer yours. You have to let her go. Believe me, you don’t want to tangle with Matteo, that guy is a psycho”

A thought occurred to Jason and he stopped pacing as he faced Silas abruptly “The Company, Sy. She told me she was handling the company. Remember, I told you the last time? Now that I remember. You changed the conversation right before the warden asked you to leave” Jason’s blood chilled when he saw the way his friend looked away with a pained look.

Jason held Silas’ shoulder and forced him to face him “She did not do anything about the company, right?”

Silas snorted in derision “Oh, she did something all right. She stood by his side while he ploughed us under”

“He what?!” Jason thundered as he shook his friend lightly.

“Jay, man. I am so sorry. I tried but I couldn’t do much. Not many around here could stand against a Fitzgerald. I…” Silas run his hand through his hair in agitation and looked at Jason’s stony face.

“I just didn’t want to tell you when you were in there. You had enough to deal with without adding that to your plate again. I thought I could ward him off but I couldn’t. He bought off most of the guys. Those bastards. I thought we had each other’s backs but when you were no longer around…well” he shrugged apologetically.

So, not only did the bastard take his girl, he dared touched his years of sweat and hard work?  Well, a Fitzgerald or not. Someone was going to have to pay.

But first, Sonia. He needed to talk to Sonia. What if that bastard had coerced her? He could have used the opportunity that he was not around to threaten his sweet Sonia and make her accept him.

Jason reigned in his boiling temper enough to see that Silas was blaming himself “C’mon, man. This is not your fault. Tell me the venue and I will handle this”

“Or get yourself killed, more like. No, I am not telling you” he said adamantly, wishing that he had said nothing.

“Fine” Jason said as he removed his phone from his pocket.

It still felt strange to be able to do this at will. He thought as he speed-dialled the number. The person on the other end picked immediately “Sir”

“Sonia Pratchet and Matteo Fitzgerald are getting married today. I need the address immediately”

He ordered

“Yes, sir. Few seconds, sir”

Jason looked over at his friend and would have laughed out loud at the comical way Silas was gaping at him, but there was no room for mirth in the huge wave of fury steadily building in him. He would have to explain to Silas later.

“Sir, the wedding is ongoing already at the Fitzgerald Plantation. I am sending the address to you right now, sir” the man said.

“Good,” Jason said and disconnected.

The phone pinged immediately and he checked to see the address. He looked up at the displeased look on his friend’s face.

“The Fitzgerald Plantation. Are you coming?”

“Of course I know it is the damn plantation. I am still saying that you are about to ruin yourself with this decision of yours” Silas said in frustration as he realized that nothing was going to stop Jason.

“No, buddy. Matteo is the one who is in for a surprise. This is a different Jason from the one he imprisoned” he said with a chilling smile. His voice seemed to get calmer, the angrier he got.

Silas felt the urge to shiver at the smile on his friend’s face. He hadn’t seen it before but Jason had truly changed “Yes, I will come with you. Hop in,” he said as he sighed briefly hoping he was not about to drive them to their doom. His mother would never forgive him.

The Fitzgerald plantation had once been a centre for forced labour and enslavement back when slavery was still in fashion but over time it had been transformed into one of the most opulent places where the crème de la crème of Dengal lobby for months to get a reservation for their events.

The breathtaking sight of the transformed plantation that overlooked Mount Razo to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the left looked even more breathtaking with the decorations that had been put in place for the wedding.

The beauty of the venue was lost on Jason though as he saw a larger-than-life rollup banner of the happy couple as they approached the entrance. Smiling at the entitled bastard with an adoring look in her eyes was Sonia. His Sonia. There, was another one where the two were sharing a kiss. She sure looked like she enjoyed it. Not like someone that was been coerced. There, is another one with Sonia in…

Jason looked determinedly away from each banner they passed. More guests were pouring in. of course, no one would want to miss the wedding of a Fitzgerald. Especially since it was not an invitation-only wedding. Jason couldn’t see anyone asking for an invitation or turning people back.

“Jay, you have to calm down” Jason jerked his head towards his friend. He had no idea of how menacing he looked at the moment.

Silas could see some men in black at the perimeters and he was just about to tell Jason as he slowed to park when the latter jerked open the door and got out before the car fully stopped.

“Damn it, Jay. Do you want to get yourself killed before Matteo managed to get his hands on you? Shit” he said as he was talking to himself. His friend was striding off towards where the sounds of the organ could be heard.

“Just great,” he said when he saw another car slide into the spot he had intended to park “Just fucking great” Now, he had to look for another spot.

The exotic aisle elegantly decorated with thick Juliet rose petals and rows of black wrought iron chairs filled with people who seemed enthralled by the proceeding were lost on Jason.

His eyes were fixed on the couple standing under the whitewashed pergola at the European-inspired altar in front. His beautiful Sonia was about to exchange rings with his nemesis.

Jason looked to his side and saw a woman holding a gift basket that contained an expensive-looking wine and other items

“Good,” he thought as he swiftly removed the wine bottle. “They were about to be gifted indeed”

He threw the bottle straight at the couple without a second thought.

The outraged “Hey” of the wine owner got drowned under the explosive sound of the wine bottle.

It missed the couple but Sonia’s pearly white wedding gown with its mile-long train was not so lucky.

Just like a blood bride in a gothic movie. The woman who had promised to never leave him gaped at him when she became aware of his presence.

“What the hell?” Matteo yelled with a livid look that was unbecoming of a groom. “You again?” he got angrier when he saw that it was Jason. His look got darker when he looked down at his white Roberto shoe and trouser was not spared.

“Take this bastard down!” he yelled and men in black seemed to materialize from nowhere. Guest gasped and some of them shifted back from the scene. The men surrounded Jason, two of them holding him from each side as they waited for further instruction from Matteo.

“Since you are so stupid to come here after last time, I would teach you in a way you will never forget. Boy, you have to learn not to mess with your betters. Isn’t that right, honey?” he moved over to lay hand on Sonia’s shoulder.

Sonia, who had recovered from her initial shock, looked at the mess that had  been made of her gown and her beautiful face turned vicious as she moved closer to Matteo.

With her eyes on Jason, she replied “Yes, darling. This lowlife deserved to be taught the lesson of his life”