Page 77 of Iblis' Affliction
“I say it because I won’t keep him against his will. I prefer him to stay for a month, but I won’t keep him tied to the bed if he wants to leave sooner.”
“Got it. I’ll think of something by that time. See you later, Doc.”
“Talha,” Miraç’s voice drubbed in his phone. “Take it easy, and don’t forget your medication.”
“Thanks, Doc…” Pushing the phone in his back pocket, he pressed his hands against the sink, Miraç‘s words circling in his mind.‘He called for you … pulled the endotracheal tube out … attempted to stab a nurse with a pen…’
Talha snorted, hiding the stupid smile in his shoulder.Damn, I’m fucked… What do I do with him?
Pushing a long breath out, he shook off the merriment and strained his facial muscles into dark, serious determination. His jaw clenched adding an angry cast to his features. Tearing the top buttons of his shirt, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing the brownish, chafed skin around his wrists the rope caused. For a few breaths, he stared at his reflection, then sucked in a deep breath.It’s time…
“THANK YOU FOR COMING.”Standing at the head of the ?-shaped table, Talha looked over the crowd. Dressed in black, men and women kept silent, drilling him with their eyes. He instantly divided the crowd into jackals and lambs: those who were eating his every expression with hungry, curious gazes and those who kept looking around rubbing their shoulders with shaky palms. There were also some who kept themselves hostile. He needed to win them over the most. “I’ll be brief.”
Black, heavy curtains framed the windows; the same black decorated the corners of Camilla’s portrait that stood on his left. Her serious eyes fixed on the crowd. The portraits of the people who had died that night hung all over the wall, behind him.
Dinçer is fucking good,Talha appreciated the effort, wondering why he hadn’t thought about it himself. Dozens of serious, accusing eyes must have made the people standing in front of him uneasy.
Ejder and Dinçer, standing on his either side, scanned the crowd with strained, cautious gazes, as Güvenç’s soldiers bracketed the crowd from behind.
That’s it… Tell them what Slater did. That he was recruited by the Kiliç group and betrayed you. That he will be publicly executed. It’s this easy. Everything will be solved.
The words scraping his vocal cords, he croaked, “A few days ago the Kiliç group stormed my house and slaughtered my people and those from the Hale Family. Not only have they taken their lives, they…” Talha had to stop to clear his throat, as his voice became unrecognizable. “…mutilated their bodies and disgraced them in death, creating a bloody display for their amusement.”
He filled his chest with air and pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes burning. Someone asked something, but he shook his head, never understanding the question.
“Reis is not going to answer your questions at the moment, as he has a serious medical condition that affected his hearing. It’s only going to be a statement, so please, keep quiet,” Dinçer butted in, and Talha gave him a nod of appreciation.
“About Iblis…” Talha cleared his throat again. His statement was getting out of hand with every second. Not only did it not sound smooth and confident, it was choppy and rough. Yet, he still didn’t say the most important part. Filling his lungs, he proceeded, determined to finish this all in one go, “The rumors you heard about Iblis. They are false.”
Ejder’s glare burned his temple, but he chose to ignore it.
“Threatening my staff, the Kiliç group framed my ripper, forgetting that Iblis doesn’t leave witnesses and never forgives those who wronged him.” The words gained confidence, as his voice empowered. He didn’t know where his words were coming from, but he didn’t care anymore as speaking became easier. “Me and my consultant, Slater, who the Kiliç group mistakenly took for Iblis, were held hostage and tortured. Musa Kiliç tried to convert him. Realizing his mistake, he decided to kill him. At this moment, Slater is in the hospital in the intensive care unit, fighting for his life.”
The mumble ran across the hall, and Talha raised his palm, demanding silence.
“Not knowing what happened, my brother, Ejder, assumed that Slater betrayed me, so he put a contract on his head. When I escaped, the contract was canceled. Right now, Slater is receiving the best medical attention possible. His condition is stable.”
“What about Iblis?”
Talha nodded his understanding.
“At the moment of the attack, Iblis wasn’t present in the country. But he is now, and he’s not happy. It didn’t take him long to track me down and release us. If not for him, Slater and I would be dead. He is waiting for my command to track down those who disgraced me.” He turned to Camilla’s portrait, giving her a long, sad look. “Today in front of the dead, I swear that their lives would be avenged even at the cost of my own. The Kiliç group will pay for insulting me, robbing me of my future and the woman I intended to marry.”
With a short bow of his head, he finished, “That’s it for today. Now, excuse me.” With a lift of his chin, he pointed out of the window, and toward a motorcade of military jeeps, “Güvenç, let’s go. The Hale Family is welcome to join us.”
“HOW DID I DO?”Talha asked when the car pulled out of the gates and onto the driveway. The morning sun, breaking through the foliage of horse chestnuts growing on either side of the road, created an unpleasant flickering that jerked Talha’s every nerve. Shielding his eyes from the light, he looked away.
“Brilliant,” Dinçer’s smiling voice reached him from the driver seat. “I almost believed you.”
“You will burn in hell,” Ejder ground out from the seat next to him. His face wore a grim expression as he fiddled with his M4 Carbine. “I can’t believe you said it…”
“Thank you, Kardesim.” Talha grinned. “Do you think they bought it?”
“If no, they’ll be persuaded once we raid the warehouse. They are following us.” Lifting his hand, Dinçer corrected the rearview mirror.
The sunbeam, glinting off Dinçer’s platinum watch, clawed at Talha’s sensitive eyes. Scrunching his face, he hid his eyes in his palms. With every minute, he felt nausea crawling into his body. The headache spread from his temples to his nape, setting his brain on fire.
“Perfect…” He rubbed his eyes, wondering what to do next. Taking the suspicion off Slater, he left an empty spot that now demanded to be patched. “Dinçer, I’m going to make a deal with Savas…”
