"Will you tell me where you are coming from at this time of the night before I scatter your head with a slap,"

Ethan Smith's hard baritone could be heard resonating in the entire house.

He looked sternly at the little woman who stood terrified beside the door with a small coat in her hands.

His male presence dominating the entire room scared the hell out of the petite lady who stood by the door.

"From our women's reunion. Have you forgotten I told you I would be going there tod..."

The girl didn't have the chance to complete her sentence because the slap that cut across the upper section of her face makes her burst into tears.

Ethan Smith, a twenty-nine-year-old lunatic, drunkard, and good for nothing young wreck. Tall, slim with an average pot belly of a rich man but with an ugly stinking breathe, not to talk of his stinking breathe filled with tobacco. His dirty blonde hair cut across his nape as he shuffled his hair ruefully with his hands.

Putting his hand in his jean pockets as he paced the floor.

To him, Ruby Whitney is entitled to him, to respect and submit himself although they aren't legally married.

His sweatshirt reeked of sweat as he bothered less to bathe himself out of the disgusting smell.

Ruby clutching her hands over her face wept out in pain over the hard blow she just received. It is a sad sad thing that although she wasn't bound to this beast in any way, the fear of her leaving him even stroke frightened her the more.

She is Ethan's doll, his captive, and is indebted to him. The only thing that Ruby has ever done perfectly to Ethan is that she has sealed her mouth from revealing his atrocious secrets, and served as a punching bag where he releases his anger.

Grabbing her chin fiercely, Ethan pulled it u to match his hard blue eyes which were mixed with anger and detest.

"You little rascal, how many times have I warned you to stop attending silly meetings? or should I break your legs for another month before the lesson is definitely understood? look at me, you wimp," he commanded forcing her to look at his eyes.

Ruby trembled, all the blood had now left her skin as she felt like crying. She doesn't know why Ethan had chosen to punish her this way.

The last time she went out I grasp some air because the house was too hot, she had spent too much time unaware that her housemate Ethan had returned from work earlier than expected.

It was a blow to her when she had returned because Ethan had not only beaten common sense into her head but had also remove the notion of leaving the house without him. She had spent a month or so nursing her broken calf to be amended. The pains had made her swear never to leave again.

At twenty-two, Ruby Whitney Helen looked like forty, jet black hair, brown eyes, dirty baked skin, and as pale as a carved wooden stick.

She became bound to this beast when she was nineteen after a tragic scene that happened back then.

Ethan is the leader of the most feared Mafia groups in town; the "Red feathers" their motto being, 'Kill and leave no survivor'

When Ethan was sent to murder Mr. Michael at his lounge that faithful evening, Ruby was the hotel girl on duty that day. After hearing the sound of a gunshot and leaving the restroom, she was faced with a gun on her head.

Ruby had witnessed it and lucky her, Ethan had spared a bullet for her. Her beauty and innocence had saved her, but for how long will it be able to sustain her?

In order to save her life, she begged and decided to be Ethan's slave. Two years had gone now, and she couldn't even breathe a word to anyone.

She was allowed to keep a small circle of friends who were very discreet, he had threatened to kill her if he ever leaks out the secret.

'What is more of life when you can't enjoy it?' so she asked herself whenever he torments her.

Raising her head to stare at his red eyes, Ethan clutched her neck trying to test her strength for survival. As expected, Ruby kicked punch and yanked about struggling to breathe. Laughing hard, he released the pressure from her neck staring at her as if he wanted to devour her entire body.

The tears Ruby had vowed not to release flowed drown her pale cheek as she choked gasping for help.

She knew Ethan will definitely kill her, but this was not the perfect manner in which she wanted to die, she had always envisioned dying in her seventies after seeing her grandchildren, but with Ethan around, death was lurking around her, she could feel it every time he slashed her body with his belt, each time he cut across her flesh with a blade, struggling to always strangle the life out of her. With these moves, life is always sure to be short and uncertain.

When Ethan Smith was certain that he had his culprit's attention, he whispered in wildly to her face,

"I hate it when you attend silly meetings, that's where they inculcate notions of you disobeying me. The next time you disobey the rules I've clearly established for us to live without crossing one another's paths, I wouldn't warn you, but I'll show you that I am made of stuffed materials. Ethan makes the rules and Ruby lives by them," he blurted out locking a thick portion of her hair in his fingers.

Ruby trembled in shock knowing well that Ethan isn't bluffing, that's the last thing he would do. Yes, she lives by the rules placed for her by him, failure to do so only meant that she wanted trouble for herself, and she wasn't ready for any sort of drama with him.

Ruby hanged her clothe on the stick beside the door, Although it was warm here, being around Ethan always made her feel cool. Ethan had allowed her for a second but the look on his face showed that he had not completely forgiven her.

He had anger issues, and when heightened especially with the people he deals with at the club and contracts too, he resigns home to lay that anger on Ruby.

Tonight, Ruby was dressed in a purple satin gown that arrived below her knew exposing part of the slender straight legs. She got confused on what to do now especially as Ethan had returned to the couch sitting there as if he expected a visitor. She had not noticed that she had stood at the center of the room glaring at him.

Although Ethan had truncated her life and existence from the world, she hadn't mind. After she had been abducted from her hometown, Ethan had brought her to Douala which is a two days journey from her home.

No one had ever put up an advert looking for her, no one ever even cares about her in Buea, she hated that fact so much. But she didn't mind nonetheless, she had no family to care for back at Buea apart from herself, moving to Douala, therefore, was meaningless to her.

Here, she cooked for Ethan, washed his clothes, pressed them on the iron, and always made sure that he was on point for his meeting. What did she get from all this? a roof over her head and her life. So far, she enjoyed it and resigned to living her life with this beast.

She had been captured in her mind staring at Ethan cluelessly till his harsh baritone penetrated her eardrums.

"Ruby, I'll advise you to live that place and go to the kitchen, where you belong, I am damn hungry and unless you've forgotten, I'll serve you as diner if I don't have an appropriate meal," he blurted out scaring her.

Flinching in fright, she was scared of facing Ethan's wrath once more.

"I am sorry, what will you like for breakfast?" she asked wanting to ease him.

Ethan did not have her time, rather, as a response, he sent his hand in the pocket of his denim jacket, brought out a packet of cigarettes, picked out one from the five sticks remaining in it. Scrubbing the lighter to ignite flames, he lit his cigarette.

Ruby stood there wanting to repeat her question but sort it wise to keep her mouth shut especially as she didn't want to suffer more pains from this brute.

Ethan had a long draw from his addiction, removed the stock from his mouth then puffed out the huge air towards Ruby as if they were bullets aimed to stroke her heart.

Starting at her with disgust, he let out, "It seems like common sense has left your head and it has constantly been replaced with stupidity. If you want to know what I will have for diner, then I'll tell you. Ruby, serve me anything that is not you and edible. You have half an hour to do so, let a second not add on the set time,"

The temerity of his words made Ruby scurry off into the room, as she made way to have her master's meal done.

In the living room, Ethan walked towards the corner of the large room where his wine bar stood with over hundreds of alcoholic drinks rested, waiting for him to taste them.

Choosing a rare brand of whiskey__Jack Daniels, he added three ice blocks in the glass before pouring himself a thin layer of the liquid in the glass. Sipping the liquid, he shook his head from left I right willing himself that is okay to have that kind of reaction.

The only word that breathes in his mind was "Money" he always needed more money, although he was rich, owned a mansion at Bonanjo the briskest place in Douala where only his kind lived.

So far, he could be proud of being part of the most deadly and dangerous Mafia group in town.

The red feathers are made up of three gang leaders, the highest being Mr. Oscar Williams. He owns them all, and they all do his dirty jobs. Rich, powerful, deadly, and aims at retaining his position as the head.

Ethan was the second in command, and lastly, there was Abel Scott, in charge of raising men to do the jobs for the team.

The most reason why Ethan was called "The missile," is because he is always on point. He clears every trace of being a suspect and once he shoots, it's clear, there is no turning point for the culprit, it is either he dies or he dies. They always die so there is no option for a second thought or a compromise.

Heaving a sigh, he scratched the scalp of his head while waiting for Ruby to serve his meal.

Even though Ethan was evil and considered heartless, he always has the urge to restrain himself from killing Ruby, this is the only lady he has succeeded in protecting for two years. Unlike her, Ethan had wiped off any traces of his previous affairs with ladies especially does who had helped him attain his goal. They always ended up being discovered in water faraway in a distant place after all the signs of murder are cleared up, or buried in the forest miles away from the town.

Ethan has never given anyone any reason to suspect him, he plans on exterminating Ruby's life is always truncated whenever he returns and finds out how useful she had been to him. A warm meal and some bed sports every night were enough to keep his mind away from putting a bullet in her skull.

Ethan wondered about everything yet nothing as he thought about how frightened he had been when he had returned and not found Ruby at home. He had inflicted so much pain and fear in her life so much that trying to escape is tantamount to death.

Something she hasn't planned for.

Ruby Whitney Helen swayed her way struggling to the dining room after maintaining her stability between walking and fumbling with her steps. She had a porcelain bowl in her hands filled with baked potatoes and salmon sauce. The appetizing aroma from the bowl was amazing, and as she walked towards the table, she struggled to maintain her balance.

Setting the table was an easy touch for her, as she wanted to remain the good girl to keep her life safe for a long while. Deep in her, she knew Ethan Smith was going to kill her when he is probably done chasing cats with her, it is evident, so she better makes it last while she still has the ability to do so.

Walking towards the bar, she went to announce to him that food was served.

When Ruby stepped on the tiled floor, her crystal slippers crashed the floor making Ethan tilt his head in a swift movement as he was very alert.

As a thief and gang leader, Ethan always makes use of his ears to detect sounds, to make sure he is always safe, and when his eyes locked with Ruby's own, it spat daggers at her showing that he is already pissed off.

Ethan had his phone in his ears, and since it was on the other hand, she had not noticed it.

"Food is served, Ethan," she said.

Her statement pissed him off since he was busy talking to Mr. Oscar William, his boss.

Holding the receiver so that his voice would not be overheard, he said in suppressed fury,

"Get your filthy self out of here, can't you see I am on the phone?" he let out furiously.

He asked restraining his voice making sure that Mr. Oscar doesn't hear his voice.

Ruby noticing for the first time that he is on the call, jumped in fright wondering if everything was going to be alright with her.

Hurrying off, she left the place allowing him to make his call.

Mr. Oscar had a plan for Ethan, it was to annihilate wealthy Billionaire Xavier Barley of Bessadi.

To Oscar, Xavier is a stepping block to power especially as he is about to be inaugurated as the Governor of Littoral. If he becomes one and succeeds to mount power, life will be made difficult and deals shattered for him to cooperate with other Mafia bosses of the town. This is a no and therefore has to be wiped out of that position.

Although Ethan has been the one doing the dirty job for Mr. Oscar, he finds this extreme especially as the security is going to be tight on the evening of the party and the least mistake is tantamount to having him arrested by the Gendarmes and police forces that will be present.

"Sir. William, I do not think I can do this job, besides, the inauguration will be inaccessible for me, the least mistake will lead me to instant jail and the red feathers will be tracked down in a blink of an eye," he said trying to reason out the damages this might cause to the brotherhood.

It is obvious he had a point but then, Mr. Oscar's voice was hard and filled with repulsion as he tried to place some common sense into her head.

"I do not believe it is the missile that is talking like a wimp, a common doormat that will let a nobody person like Xavier mount the Governor's office, there is no way at all. Think about the money involved, the fifth million francs, and a puppet whom we can manipulate to our favor. Isn't that enough reason to fight? tell me, Ethan Smith, unless you aren't the missile, then I'll look for someone worth the job and I can boldly kick you aside," he said threatening him.

Ethan knew he had to take up the job, there is no doubt, but then, details of the work were uncovered, he wasn't even interested, but considering the money, the luxurious life he would continue swimming in if he places only one bullet in Xavier Barley's thick skull.

In all ways, it is either a win and loss situation, Oscar had made his intentions clear and had ended the call allow him to reason it out himself.

When the votes were cast, we all planned for Louis Chatham to win, he was supposed to win because he is part of us, corrupt, a bloody dumbass politician who wants a position at all cost. He loses the election over Xavier, who had votes from the people was transparent, a governor the people would want to bring change to the society, unlike every leader, he had the Red feathers to deal with, he blocked the way to their dubious practices.

All these thoughts made Ethan gulp all the content from his glass as the rum tightened his throat. The harder the liquid the cooler his lungs. He needed something to pull him away from his thoughts, Oscar wouldn't possibly exile him from the squad just because he refused to accomplish this one mission.

Bringing the baton of cigarettes towards his mouth, he took a long hard sniff from it, stayed a minute before puffing it out.

A thick smoke clouded the air as he sniffed some of the air making him high.

Grinding the baton on the cigarette bowl which had visible ashes in it, he stepped down from the tall chair now straightening his full length.

His stomach grumbled taxing him for a meal which he was ready to offer at the expense of forgetting the entire discussion with Oscar William.

The moment Ethan finished the last stairs that led to the upper section of the room which he used for dining, he saw the tray of food laying on the table.

Walking towards it, he opened it and what he saw displeased him like hell.

'Two slices of potatoes, a small slice of salmon fish, and a watery soup. What the hell is this?' he wondered anger rising in him.

"Ruby! get your dumbass brain here," he screamed gelling at her

Rushing to the scene in fright, anger bubbled in Ethan's blood that she didn't wait for her to balance herself before him as he plastered his large arm across her face drawing blood from her nostrils.

As she gave out a loud scream, she fell to the ground crying, wondering what her offense is.

"You bloody scum, you better explain what this dog feed is before I use you as a full meal now," he blurted out scaring the hell out of her.

Ethan knew his reaction was as a result of the news she just had, it didn't favor him so he was indirectly transferring aggression at her.

Poor thing, even if she would have done the right thing, it wouldn't have saved her from his wrath. She was just a culprit for him to release his anger open.