Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 52: Rat-astrophe

I pounded the floor with the half empty water bottle, hoping the violent noise kept the rats far away. Except the little guy whose life had ended early. He wasn’t a threat.

I considered moving away from what I just knew was a dead body, but this corner was my territory. It felt important to keep it, to show them I’m capable of holding my own even if they ganged up on me.

Maybe the dead body would also feed their fear, and they would stay away. I didn’t think so, though, because less and less time passed between my pounding the floor and when the scurrying sounded closer.

And it was time again. I beat the floor with the bottle, the sound reverberating through the room, until my arms ached. Soon, I would have to change tactics.

My stomach growled. It gave me an idea. The next time the rats came closer, I unwrapped a granola bar. I ate a bite and threw a bite across the room for my roommates to share. Another bite for me and one for them.

The rats fought over their bites. They must have been hungry. Hopefully not hungry enough to eat me.

When I worked my way down to the last bite, I left it in the wrapper to weigh it. I threw it as far as I could. Rats ate paper. Maybe they’d eat the wrapper too—or choke on it. I was good either way.

Greedy bastards almost immediately headed my way. After all, the food came from my direction. No one told me rats were smart. Now I knew.

Back to pounding and praying. Praying and pounding. Quick drink, and I tossed the empty bottle into the void. One done and one to go before I had to go feeling around for another bottle. There would be rat poop and beasts with tiny sharp teeth out there now. So I wasn’t looking forward to it.

Please let Jake be on his way. All I wanted was a hot shower, six pairs of warm socks, my fluffy pjs, and to never sleep in the dark again.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Crash. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Even the rats stopped scurrying at the noise from outside.

I stared in the direction of the door, willing it open.

Something, or I should say someone, struck the door hard and cried out in pain. Rinse and repeat twice more as I forced my aching body to stand. Modest be damned. I wanted to face what was coming next upright and unashamed because I had nothing to be ashamed of. I did nothing wrong.

One of the rats were less concerned for my dignity than I was. One of those brave creatures ran over my feet. Its fur was warm and ticklish against my icy skin. I squealed and danced away. Unfortunately, I danced straight onto the body of the dead rodent.

I screamed and backed into the corner where the brave soul was after my granola stash. My foot brushed his body, and he took it personally. He bit me. I screamed like a silly little girl and ran with my hands outstretched. All sense of direction was lost as soon as I left the security of my corner and the solid walls.

Two heavy bangs at the door and it flew inward, the light streaming over me as I tried to determine if the reason the door was open was that the good guys had arrived or the bad guys were there to add to my despair.

I didn’t have to wait long. Someone rushed forward and slipped a too large jacket around my naked body.

"I’ve got you, Teela. You’re okay. Everything will be okay now. Sh. Take it easy."

Jake. My Jake was here. Someone up there had listened to my prayers.

I melted into him with my hands around his neck. "Get me out of here. Rats. They put rats in the room. One is dead. One bit me. I tried to hold them back, Jake. I really did."

I was babbling. I couldn’t stop the word diarrhea flowing out.

"Hang on, Teela. I’m going to pick you up now and take you to Stiff."

"Stiff is here?"

"Yeah, he insisted."

I shook my head, biting back more babble. Jake lifted me. I buried my head in his neck, the glare from the light burned my eyes. If I didn’t have permanent damage, I’d be surprised.

"How long was I gone? What time, what day is it?"

"Less than it probably felt like for you. Let me get you to safety. My guys need me. I’ll fill in all the blanks once the building is secure."

It was then that I heard the startled cries of children. I wiped at my watering eyes and looked around. We were in a brightly lit hallway. Down the hall, two large men herded several colorful splotches that I interpreted as children toward us.

A third man approached from the opposite direction.

"Is she alright?"

It was Min dressed all in black like a ninja.

Jake said, "Yeah, I’m taking her to Stiff. Handle this for a minute, okay?"

Min grunted his agreement.

Jake said to me, "Hang on. I’m going to take you out of here ASAP."

He jogged down the hall and out of the building. We crossed a mostly deserted parking lot toward a white van. It was so much easier to see in the gloomy night even with the few streetlights setting off the glare-o-meter vision problems.

Stiff paced outside the van until he saw us approach. He raced toward us, but he stopped short when four men led by Daniel stepped out of the shadows.

"Hold up," Daniel said. "Where do you think you’re going, Teela?"

"Home."

"I don’t think so. Mom’s not done with you yet."

Jake said, "I think she is, and so are you."

Daniel smiled, but it wasn’t a happy smile. More like the sadistic smile of someone used to getting his way. "Do you think you and the pipsqueak here are big enough to take her from us? Fine, go ahead and try. My boys haven’t had a good workout all day."

It was official. Daniel had spoken more in the last two minutes than he normally spoke in a whole day at the estate.

Jake tapped an earbud. "The heat is on. Parking lot."

"What? Do you have more boys inside? Invite them out, or are they busy with my boys inside?"

Daniel’s guys chuckled.

Min walked out of the building twirling a staff slowly. He took his time as he walked toward us as if he knew Daniel would wait for him.

Jake said, "No, we took out your thugs inside in less than ten minutes. My men are busy rescuing all those kids you’ve locked up in there."

"You can’t do that. Those kids are orphans. They don’t have anywhere to go."

Min stopped beside us. "Like I was an orphan?"

"Min, what are you doing here?" Daniel asked. "Does King know you’re off your leash?"

"Does he know his big brother is into human trafficking?"

"Is that what you think this is? You’re way off the mark, boy."

Stiff, who everyone appeared to have forgotten, said, "Then you won’t mind telling the cops. They should be here any minute now." He waved his phone at them.

Daniel said, "You’re shitting me. I own this property. I’ve got every right to be here. You guys are trespassing."

Stiff said, "I’ve never been arrested before. Trespassing sounds like a great first offense. What do you think, Jake?"

"Compared to kidnapping and human trafficking, yeah, I’ll do thirty minutes for trespassing."

Daniel said, "Do you know who I am, boy?"

Jake set me on my feet and motioned for me to go to Stiff. Then he stepped into Daniel’s personal space. "Yeah, I know who and what you are. So cut the boy crap before I show you exactly what I think of you and the way you earn your dirty money."

Min stepped forward. "This one is mine, Jake. He owes me from way back."

Daniel said, "Owe you?" What? Did King forget to pay you this week?"

"No, King is good to me. Think back to a little Korean boy who lived with his parents over a noodle restaurant. Ring a bell?"

"No, man," Daniel said, but the smart-ass smile left his face.

Min took a step forward. Jake gave way. Sirens screamed in the distance.

"The little boy that you tortured every day for months before setting fire to his home. Well, that boy is me. I’d gladly do time for fifteen minutes in the ring with you."

Daniel pointed his finger at Min, "Yeah, I remember you now. You’re that snot-nosed kid who had his nose so far up King’s ass that it’s a miracle you could breathe. You annoyed the hell out of me. King was my best friend, and then you came along. He spent all his time leading you around by the hand."

"Is that what it was all about? You were jealous of my relationship with King?"

"Oh no, I didn’t want you turning my brother to be like you, you crazy ass fa—"