THE ULTIMATE REVENGE OF DON ROCH

HE'S GONE

"Tell me where they are. Where is the wedding?" Nik asked as he paced.

"There's no need to go there, Nik. You'll just get hurt even more if you see them." Anika said as she touched his arm but he shrugged her off.

"No. I need to see with my own two eyes."

"You're angry, Nik. You may do something that may send you back to jail for an even longer sentence. Is that what you want? You just got out." Tedros said.

Nik took deep breaths and tried to smile.

"I won't, I promise. I'll just congratulate the happy couple." Nik said. 

"No, Nik. I'm sorry, but you may have good intentions but you won't be able to stand seeing them. I know how much you love Uri, and Connor has been your best friend for years. I can't trust you to go there and not cause a scene that would get you arrested."

"Why do you care if I ruin the damn wedding, huh? Are you part of their plan too? Are there cameras here somewhere recording me while I lose my mind so you all can watch it later and laugh at me?" Nik said with a furious expression.

"I dont care about them, Nik. I care about what happens to you. You've been through enough already. You need to move on and get your life back together. If you get into more trouble, your future will be at stake. You can rebuild your empire, Anika and I will help you get back on your feet. Forget about Uriel and Connor." Tedros said to him and Anika hugged him.

Nik lifted her and hugged her tight, absorbing her warmth. It had been so long since he let himself be touched by someone. In prison, people were either trying to rape or kill him.

"Okay." Nik sighed.

"I won't go. " He kissed Anika's forehead and stepped back from her.

"But, at least show me. I need to show my mind that there is no hope anymore, that I can never get my old life back, so I can stop longing for what I've lost and move on."

"Their wedding is all over social media." Tedros said as he brought out his phone.

"I'll show you some videos, and then you'll take a bath, agreed?" Tedros asked.

"Do I really smell so bad that you want to force me to bathe?" Nik chuckled and Tedros nudged him with an elbow.

"I'm serious, Nik." Tedrod said and Nik sighed.

"Okay. Video then bath, agreed."

Tedros tapped on his phone for some seconds after Nik had acquiesced.

"Here." Tedros said as he gave Nik his phone.

"Don't lose your shit."

"No promises." Nik chuckled as he took the phone.

He looked like he was okay, but his heart was racing as he tapped play on the video in Tedros' phone. As it began to play, his heart pumped so hard that it felt like it was trying to move out of his chest.

Up until that moment, he had been hoping it was al a lie, a prank that his friends were trying to pull on him. He had still been hoping that Connor and Uri would pop out from somewhere in the house, laughing at him because he believed that they had betrayed him. Uri would have been hurt that he hadn't believed in their love, she would pout and he would kiss her and apologize over and over again. Connor would have just laughed and pat his back.

But instead, he saw videos from people outside the venue. The one he was currently watching showed Uriel walking into the venue wearing her wedding gown. Then the camera moved to show Connor waiting for her with a smile on his face. Nik's whole body shook with unbridled anger, and his vision went hazy with fury. He clenched his hand till Tedros' phone cracked.

"Whoa, man. You've gotten really strong." Tedros said and his voice was what made Nik snap out of it.

"Sorry, man. I'll get you a new one later." Nik chuckled as he gave the cracked phone to Tedros.

"Oh! I forgot. I dont have a dime. I'm broke now." Nik laughed.

Anika and Tedros chuckled nervously at his joke about himself.

"I'm really sorry that all this is happening to you, Nik. You really dont deserve it at all. And I wish there was more we could do for you, but our hands are tied." Anika said with a sad smile.

"Its not your fault. You both have done more than enough for me. Helping me and giving me a roof to stay in even though it must be inconveniencing. If not for the both of you, I would be lost. Don't worry, I'll be fine. Just show me to my room." Nik said.

"It's right this way. I'll take you while Anika makes something for you to eat." Tedros said as he led Nik down the hall.

"After your bath, just put on a robe and come join us at the dining table. We'll launder your dirty clothes so you can wear then when we go shopping later today."

"I don't need to go with you, just get me clothes that are my size, and I'll wear them." Nik said.

"No. You're coming with us so you can pick clothes that you like. This isn't a refugee camp where you have to take what you're given whether you like it or not. You also need something to get your mind off Uriel and Connor's wedding. Going shopping is the perfect distraction. When you're done picking clothes, we'll shop for groceries. With your current size, you probably eat twice more than we usually consume." Tedros said as he nudged Nik, and they both laughed.

"Thanks, Ted. I appreciate all you both are doing for me." Nik said as they got to the door of the guest bedroom.

"Stop thanking me, Nik. What are friends for? Hurry so you can meet the food while it's hot." Tedros said and returned back to Anika.

Almost an hour later, Nik still hadn't come out of the room, so Anika sent Tedros to get him thinking that he probably just feel asleep in the bath tub. But when Tedros went to the guest room, Nik wasn't there and the window was open. He rushed back to the kitchen.

"Anika, he's gone."

AUTHOR'S NOTE; If you were in Nik's shoes, would you go to the wedding to cause a scene and risk getting imprisoned again?