Game is not over

Ricker burst opens the door and slammed on the glass table. Kol followed him and tried to grab Ricker but Ricker shrug him away. Ricker grabbed the chair and throw it away.

"Calm down, man. Just calm down" Kol said.

"I am going to kill him," Ricker said angrily. He was fuming with rage.

"You are angry," Kol said in calm.

"I am furious. He is going to pay. They all will" Ricker said to Kol.

"Man, I just don't get it. What happened there?" Kol asked.

"What were you doing there? Why were you there with Emma? How did Emma got hurt?" Kol bombarded Ricker with many questions.

"I didn't hurt her," Ricker said.

"I think you did," Kol said. Ricker looks at Kol angrily. He did not like what Kol said.

"You think I did that to her," Ricker said.

"No. I think you are saying the truth. She must have fallen and hit the table on her head but that doesn't mean you didn't hurt her. Why were you there?" Kol said.

"I needed to confront her," Ricker said.

"The room was locked from the inside," Kol said.

"I could not let her leave," Ricker said and look away. He knew what he did but he can't say that to Kol. Not when he was judging him.

"Did you traumatize her?" Kol asked. Ricker closed his eyes and remembered how he behaved with Emma.

"I did what she deserves," Ricker said.

"I don't like that sound, man. What did you do? You know what, don't tell me. I know for sure it must be awful and I don't think I should know what happened behind those closed doors" Kol said.

"You are accusing me. I don't believe it. You are my friend. Why are speaking my enemy language" Ricker asked?

"I am your friend, Ricker but hurting Emma is not right," Kol said.

"She betrayed me," Ricker said.

"You betrayed her first. Remember. You pushed her away from you and why are you behaving like this as if…" Kol said.

"As if what?" Ricker asked.

"As if you are hurt by Emma leaving you. You don't care and I am saying this because you said so. Remember when we talked about this, the consequences" Ricker said.

***** Flashback begins *****

Ricker was smirking at his phone when Kol saw him. Kol got curious and snatched Ricker's phone. "What are you looking at?" Kol asked.

"Give me my phone back" Ricker demanded.

Kol read the messages with a sly smile but his jaw dropped when he read the name. "Is this Emma White? What are these messages? Are you two a thing? Are you crazy?" Kol shouted in excitement and surprise.

"I am smart," Ricker said fixing his watch on his right arm. It belonged to his father.

"Smart? Don't, just don't. Are you using her? Are you using her against her father? This can be dangerous" Kol said.

"I am dangerous but Greg White is a tough nut to crack. I need to defeat him by any method suited" Ricker said.

"Not this method. It can go very wrong besides what if things go too far with her" Kol said.

"Things can go as far as I will let them. She is just an asset" Ricker said.

"So, you are pretending to be in love with her? It is low even for you" Kol said.

"Love is outdated, my friend. I am just having some fun" Ricker said.

"What if this fun gets serious?" Kol asked.

"Her loss," Ricker said.

"What if you get serious?" Kol asked.

"She is the daughter of my father's murderer. I am serious about her and what I want from her" Ricker said seriously.

"What do you want from her?" Kol questioned Ricker's intentions.

"I want to play a game," Ricker said.

"Alright, my friend. If I can't stop you, I must warn you. Don't lose" Kol said.

***** Flashback ends *****

***** At present *****

"I remember everything. But yes, I am hurt, my pride was challenged. I was challenged. How dare Theo grab my collar" Ricker said.

"It is not about Theo. I think you lost" Kol said.

"I am sorry…" Ricker said in disbelief.

"You lost the game you were playing with Emma and you just can't take it," Kol said.

"Wrong. Because the game is still on. It's just new players are added but it will be fun. Theo doesn't know what I have for him" Ricker said.

"Theo is not wrong when he grabbed your collar. You hurt his wife" Kol said.

"She is not his wife" Ricker barked at Kol.

"She is. You kidnapped his lawyer, tore the marriage registration papers, and tortured his lawyer for no good reason but you forgot one thing. There are many lawyers in this city. Soon after, another lawyer was brought, and papers were signed and submitted" Kol informed Ricker. Kol watched how Ricker was struggling to keep his emotions down. He tried to stop this marriage. But failed. Kol wondered what affected him the most, he failed or he lost Emma.

"That can't be…" Ricker said.

"I know this because I checked. I heard it at the party when you were with Emma. I am sure, the marriage is registered. They are married" Kol said.

"It doesn't matter," Ricker said looking away.

"It does. Things were crazy by now but don't make them any more twisted. The game has changed and so should you. You must forget Emma" Kol warned Ricker.

"I am not done with her," Ricker said.

"She is married for God's sake. Leave her alone" Kol said.

"You are worried about her" Ricker asked.

"I am worried about you. You are losing your mind and I can see it. Even if you don't admit it, I know the truth. You made a plan. No, you were playing a game and then you forgot it was a game. You forgot the rules. You don't get attached to the game because it will end one day. It will not matter one day and maybe things didn't go as planned but the game is ended. It is over. Emma is no longer your toy to play with and if you continue to do this, you will get hurt" Kol tried to make Ricker understand.

"I am playing to hurt others. Why will I get hurt?" Ricker said.

"Can't you realize it? You love her Ricker and I know one thing; you don't hurt the people you love" Kol said.

"Good lesson, my friend but no. I will not get hurt because I hate her. I hate her father and I hate that bloody nincompoop (Theo). The game is not over" Ricker said.

**********

Emma opened her eyes. "You woke up. How are you feeling now?" Sophia asked.

"My head hurts," Emma said.

"Lie down. You need rest" Sophia said.

"Shall I bring some medicine?" Emma said.

"Yeah," Sophia said.

"My arm hurts" Emma complained.

"Doctor took your blood sample. It must be due to that. What happen to you?" Sophia asked.

Emma remembered. "I went dizzy and hurt myself"

"It was not Ricker?" Sophia asked.

"Ricker?" Emma panicked.

"Yes, we all thought Ricker did something to you," Sophia said.

"NO… No, he did not do anything to me. I hurt myself" Emma said.

"Good. Take some medicine and I will bring you some food. You will feel better" Sophia said.

Emma took the medicine but felt weird. Something was not right. She ran towards the bathroom and start throwing up. Sophia helped her and put her back to bed.

"You are sick. You must go to the doctor" Sophia suggested.

"I don't feel like doing anything. I just need rest" Emma said.

"I am outside if you need something," Sophia said.

"Thanks, Sophia," Emma said.

Sophia left. Emma closed laid down and close her eyes. She received a message and her phone rang. Emma read the message-

"I found something. We should meet in three hours. I will text you the address. Be on time"

Emma exhaled loudly and murmured, "What could it be?"

**********

Emma enters a café. She saw the man in a black hoodie. She came to meet him. She took a seat beside him.

"You are making it obvious with your glasses and hoodie," Emma said.

"I can't take risks. I don't have the wish to die" The hoodie man said.

"You knew what you were getting at. I warned you and you accepted the job" Emma said.

"Because you pay me well," The hoodie man said.

"I do pay you very well. Now, tell me what did you find" Emma said.

"I found the case file of Robert Davidson," The hoodie man said.

"Ricker's father? But these are two" Emma said.

"There is a surprise for you in the other one," The hoodie man said.

"Ella Davidson? Isn't she Ricker's mother? Why are there two different files?" Emma asked.

"Because they died differently," The hoodie man said.

"I thought they both died in a car accident," Emma said.

"Robert Davidson did," The hoodie man said.

"And Ella Davidon?" Emma asked.

"Read the file," The hoodie man said.

"Suicide? She committed suicide???" Emma asked in shock.

"There is much more to this. You will be shocked to know who was blamed for her suicide" The hoodie man said.

"My father? Everyone says Robert Davidson's died because of my father so maybe they blamed Ella Davison's death on my father too" Emma said.

"No, it was Robert Davidson," The hoodie man said.

"I don't get it," Emma said.

"Neither do I. she wrote a suicide letter and she blamed her husband but…" The hoodie man said.

"But what?" Emma asked.

"Something is fishy. I don't think it was a suicide" The hoodie man said.

"Murder? Another murder? I am scared now. I told you to find my father. Did you learn something, anything about him?" Emma asked.

"I am trying but no. I have something else for you. You asked for a package" The hoodie man said.

The hoodie man gave Emma a package which she quickly grabbed and put in her bag. She took a bundle of cash and have it to the hoodie man.

"I will contact you again soon. Meanwhile, take care of yourself" The hoodie man said.

"You too," Emma said. The hoodie man left Emma in the café. A waiter came to take Emma's order.