Chapter 12

Liam Maria called me earlier saying she and Laura would be coming to work late, I was surprised because Maria has been working with me for the past five years and she never told me that, even if she is sick, she would still come to work and I'm always the one sending her back to rest. Different thoughts were running through my head until my thoughts finally settled on Laura, it has been almost a week since she started working here and I'm quite convinced that she doesn't remember anything that happened that night. At first, I thought she was pretending so I made her do a lot of silly work hoping that would break her and make her talk but nothing happened, I've been waiting for any sign of her remembering what happened that night but I got nothing and I concluded that she didn't remember. It was past 2 in the afternoon when Maria came in, without Laura, she was looking tired and her eyes looked swollen from crying, I started panicking immediately, it took me all I had to sit and wait for her to get to where I was sitting. "Good afternoon sir," she said her voice sounding like it was half gone. "What's wrong?" I asked standing up and she burst into tears, it took a while to calm her down and get a reply from her. "We were attacked," "Attacked? Where is Laura? Is she fine?" I asked unable to control myself. "Oh Liam, they hurt her, she was trying to protect me and herself but they hurt her," she said bursting into tears again. "Listen, Maria, You have to stop crying and talk to me, okay?" I asked and she nodded. "Tell me what happened exactly," "We got home yesterday and we went to freshen up, I finished before Laura so I went to the kitchen to start making dinner, there was a knock on the door and when I opened it to check who it was, they forced their way inside," "They made me kneel and they were asking for money when Laura came out, the poor girl tried to protect me but they started touching her inappropriately, she fought against them and while she was struggling one of them cut her with a knife and they all fled, there was a lot of blood and she is still in shock," "Where is she?" I asked calmly but inside I was the complete opposite of calm, I felt like finding those guys and ripping their heads off their necks "The hospital," "Do me a favor, you'll take me to your place now," I said grabbing my car key "You are going to pack your things and bring them here, you are going to be staying here for the main time," I said answering the question that was written all over her face. She gave me their home address and I drove us to the modest-looking bungalow, she invited me inside then I waited in the living room while she went to pack their things. I looked around the modest place, the sitting room connecting to the dining, I noticed a red stain on the green carpet, that made my blood boil because I knew the blood stain was from Laura, it reminded me that Laura got hurt in the same house, I felt like springing into action immediately to find the blasted cowards that hurt her. Maria came out minutes later and then she gave me the hospital address. "Wait for a few minutes the doctor is attending to her," the nurse said when we got to Laura's ward, few minutes later the doctor came out. "Are you here for Miss Laura?" The doctor asked and I nodded. "Well she is fine the wound has been cleaned but she is yet to fully recover from the shock," he said and I nodded. "Can we see her now?" I asked and he confirmed that we could, heaven knew I almost ripped the door off the hinges while trying to enter. "Laura," I called when I saw her sitting on the bed looking and staring at her stitched wound, the wound was at least 4 inches long between her wrist and her elbow. It took a full minute before she raised her head and look at me slowly, it took another full minute for her eyes to widen in recognition and surprise. Maria rushed to her side to hold her hand but she didn't take her eyes off me, I moved closer slowly, then took my sit on the chair beside her bed. "Are you fine?" I asked and she nodded slowly. "Blast it, you are not fine!" I said firmly "You have to talk to me Laura, I need you to tell me something, okay?" I said and she nodded but she was still looking distant. "How many were those guys?" I asked and she slowly raised her hand showing her five fingers, I looked at Maria to confirm and she nodded. "Did you notice anything remarkable about them? Did you see their face?" I asked and she returned to staring at her hand, I thought she was not going to reply until she raised her he'd again. "Masks, skull, mask, all of them on black," she said and it clicked then, I knew the guys she was talking about. "The craniums," I muttered grinding my teeth. "Maria, watch over her, I'll need to go do something, I'll be back soon, okay?" I asked and she nodded. I left the hospital and I drove straight to Ethan's house, I knew he would be at home so I didn't bother calling. "Welcome, Mr. Miller," one of his security guards greeted me when I got out of the car. "Where is your boss?" I asked impatiently. "Last time I checked he was in the sitting room sir," he replied and I nodded. "Park the car," I said tossing him the car key then I went inside immediately. I met Ethan in the sitting room working on his laptop, he stopped when he saw me "Liam, what's up?" He asked closing his laptop. "A lot is up," I said sitting on the couch. "Tell me," "I found her," "The girl?" He asked surprised. "Yes, actually I found her the day that guy brought information about her, she came to my house for a housekeeping job," "What? And you didn't tell me about it?" "Yes, for reasons best known to me," "So, what did she say when she saw you? Did she tell you why she left the next morning without talking to you?" He asked looking excited. "She doesn't remember," "What? Wow! Did you tell her?" "No! I've done different things thinking she is pretending and that would get her to talk or show any sign of recognition but she didn't show even the littlest sign and I've not gotten around to telling get about what happened between us," "Ah! I see why you've not been coming to work now," "Let's leave that aside now, Laura is hurt," "What happened?" "The craniums attacked her and Maria," "What? Those cowardly low lives, why?" He asked looking disgusted. "They wanted to rob and rape her but she didn't allow them, one of the hurt her with a knife in the process," "Poor girl, I hope she is healing now," "She is at the hospital, leave that aside, I need your help to find their leader," "The craniums' leader, why?" "So I can break those guys' necks" "What? Why? She is just your employee, and her wound would heal with time, we both know you shouldn't be making enemies, it is not good for you or the company, it is not like this lady is your woman," "No, we should show them who is boss now or they would think they can do what they like and get away with it, robbing poor and harmless women, trying to rape helpless ladies is not the right attitude," I said and he sighed in resignation but I was not done. "And you are wrong Ethan, she is mine,"