Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



The man was gasping for breath, terror etched across his face. Despite the chill of the season, he wore nothing but a pair of boxers, his body slick with sweat.

Sweat dripped into his eyes, stinging them, causing his eyelashes to tremble - a mix of discomfort and fear.Content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Tarquin lifted his hand and tore the duct tape from the man's mouth.

Immediately, the man begged for mercy. "Please, don't kill me! I'll tell you everything I know. No, wait - just kill me quickly, don't torture me, I... Ahhh!" His screams nearly blew the roof off the tin shack!

Outside, Axel and Lowell stood by the door, chatting casually as if oblivious to the horror unfolding inside.

Lowell asked, "How long has it been since Tarquin last visited?"

Axel paused, "Two years."

Lowell sighed, "Ms. Thorne was traumatized into unconsciousness. Tarquin's been beside himself with worry."

Axel, hands in his pockets, leaned against the door frame, gazing at the pitch-black ocean. He quietly listened to the howling wind and the screams from within, choosing not to respond.

Everyone has their limits, and ordinary folks' limits should never be tested, let alone Tarquin's.

It wasn't that he was heartless; some folks just had the misfortune of living in a cruel world. If you weren't ruthless, you'd end up prey.

After what felt like an eternity, the room fell silent, save for the man's whimpers and sobs. Then, even those faded away.

The metal door swung open, and Tarquin emerged, his hands covered in blood.

He walked to the shoreline, squatting to wash his hands in the sea.

Lowell quickly handed him a clean towel to dry off.

Axel glanced inside the room. The man was still tied to the bed, conscious but in too much pain to make a sound. The extent of his injuries was unclear.

Axel didn't care. He turned his attention back to Tarquin.

Tarquin, having cleaned his hands, took the towel from Lowell, wiped off, and lit a cigarette. He took a few puffs before saying coldly, "We have a mole."

This revelation shook Lowell and Axel!

Lowell eagerly asked, "Who?!"

Tarquin flicked the ash from his cigarette, "He didn't know."

Axel looked grave. He was responsible for Tarquin's inner circle. A mole among them meant he had failed in his duty.

"Any leads?"

Tarquin shook his head, "He only knew there was a mole. Someone got wind of the fact that I took Elysia to the grocery store today without any bodyguards and acted on it!"

Tarquin usually had plainclothes bodyguards with him, but today, feeling good, he'd given them the day off.

Lowell immediately asked, "Could it have been someone close to Ms. Thorne?"

Axel frowned, "Only our people would know Tarquin's bodyguard details!"

The mastermind might not be one of their own, but the leak certainly was.

In other words, there was a traitor among them!

After a brief silence, Axel said, "I'll handle the mole."

Tarquin didn't object, silently agreeing to the proposal.

Lowell asked, "Any idea who's behind this? Is it the same group responsible for the car fire last week? What's their motive? To kill you?" Tarquin's frown deepened.

Two major incidents in one week, each more dangerous than the last.

Yet, these events led him to a peculiar feeling: the mastermind didn't seem particularly keen on taking his life!

What then, was their goal?

To intimidate him? Or to frighten Elysia?

After all, she was present during both incidents...