Riley Ross-Chapter 185: What Happened There

"T-that’s not true! I’ve never even met that man before! It... it’s fake! Bernard Ross did this!"

Governor Denisia’s pleas fell on deaf ears. She tried to resist the officers who were grabbing her, but their grips weren’t soft at all. She looked at their faces and couldn’t help but notice the cold look in their eyes.

"Please!" Denisia continued to plead, her bountiful afro hair shaking as she looked around for help. "You have to believe me! That video’s edited! Please! It—" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Before Denisia could finish her words, everyone watched as the officers pushed her inside the station. Luckily for her, she didn’t have to get dragged for long in front of the cameras since they were literally in front of a police station.

Unluckily for her, they were literally in front of a police station.

The chief of the Cambridge police department ordered all of his men to remove all the reporters and media, as they no longer had permits since the governor’s surprise press conference was over.

But of course, none of them actually left. Like vultures, they were now planning on how to get inside the station.

As for the star of the show, Riley was now being escorted to their car along with his parents. Bernard, however, stopped before getting inside the car.

"The two of you rest up, okay?" he said, holding the door open as he leaned down to look at his wife and son. "I’m sure you’re really tired."

"Not at all, Father." Riley shook his head. "I am used to being in front of the public now due to..."

Riley suddenly stopped talking, and this was immediately caught by Diana and Bernard. How could it not, when the times they’ve witnessed their son pause during a conversation were... zero.

Diana was about to ask what was wrong, but Riley continued his words.

"Due to acting in front of a lot of people," he said.

And hearing that, both Diana and Bernard shrugged.

"Speaking of..." Diana hummed, placing a finger on her chin as a smile crept on her face. "...when was the first episode of that airing again? My friends at the country club are already asking for it. It—"

"I’ll leave you guys to it." Bernard chuckled, interrupting Diana as he waved at the two. "I just have some business I need to finish here."

"Oh?" Diana blinked. "Well, just text or call. Okay?"

"Take care, Father."

"I will," Bernard smiled as he closed the door. And as soon as the car drove away, the smile just as soon disappeared. Several reporters started approaching him and trying to snap some videos and photos, only to find none of their devices were working properly, or working at all, for that matter.

Bernard didn’t even bother to give a glance at them and marched his way back to the station. And as soon as I stepped inside, the entire station became quiet.

The chief, who was trying to do his best to manage the situation, gulped upon seeing him.

"All of you, take a break!" He roared. Everyone was confused at first, but none of them really questioned their chief as they all exited the station one by one. All of them, trying their best not to make eye contact with Bernard, even though he was smiling at them.

"Good work today. Good job," he said as they passed by. But once again, once everyone was gone and the only one left was the chief, the smile on his face faded away.

Barnes, the director of MSP’s Superhuman affairs, also quietly ordered his people to leave, only giving Bernard a glance before leaving the station.

Bernard looked around the now-empty station and stepped forward, and when he did so, all the lights turned on and the cameras shut down. The chief saw that, but he kept quiet and just watched as Bernard passed by him.

Bernard didn’t even tell him anything and just proceeded to head to the holding cells. The chief contemplated on whether or not to follow him, but in the end, he was still the chief and knew that he had to.

They arrived at the holding cells, and Bernard scanned the other people being held by the station. Then, with a click of his fingers, all of their cells opened up.

The chief gasped at this, but before he could say anything, Bernard gave the other suspects and criminals a warning.

"Come back here after an hour," he said to all of them. "If not, all of you will be missing forever."

Everyone knew who Bernard was, of course, and they all knew this wasn’t an empty threat at all. In fact, the group didn’t leave the building at all and just chose to wait in one of the other rooms.

And now, the only one who was left inside her cell was Governor Denisia. Well, former governor.

"You really think you’re above the law?!" Denisia stood there, glaring at Bernard from the middle of her cell. "And do you think that people who know me would really believe that I’m colluding with the Russians? For what?"

Denisia was a lot calmer now that she had gathered her thoughts.

"Anyone who knows me would know the video is fake. Chief, you have to—"

"It is fake," Bernard casually interrupted her. He then glanced at the chief, looking into his eyes before repeating his words.

"The video is fake, I forged it in less than a minute," he said without batting an eye. "Governor Denisia here is clean, very much so."

"Did you hear that?!" Denisia smiled and gasped. "He—"

"Until now, that is." Bernard interrupted her again. "You went against the law. My son was already being acquitted of all responsibilities and suspicion—and yet you saw it fit to make an example out of him? Are you trying to play god, Governor?"

"Wh—"

"Tut." Bernard raised a finger, not letting Denisia speak at all. "I looked into who was backing you, since someone as young as you would really only have backbone when there’s someone pulling the strings."

"I’m not some puppet!"

"But you are." Bernard sighed. "The Secretary of Defense. It would make sense that you’re this brave. But are you aware that the Secretary of Defense is secretly selling weapons to multiple settlements in the Danger Zones? Not just here, but in other countries."

"W-what?"

"Yes, that makes you an accessory to treason. So, either way, you’re guilty of treason with or without the video I forged."

"That’s not—"

"He wants me gone. You don’t need to know the reason why because it’s boring." Bernard placed his hands behind his back. "I’m just not bothering myself with him since they’re not really worth my time. You people could play your silly little games as much as you want; I allow it."

Bernard started looking at the bars of the cell.

"It’s the only thing you people can do, after all," he said, sighing once again.

"But I already complied with all of your little silly laws. My son did too, and yet you had to drag it on and publicly humiliate him more than necessary. I don’t think I appreciate that at all."

"Wh—"

"A billion dollars, cash." Bernard still didn’t let Denisia speak. He looked into her eyes, stepping closer and placing his hand on one of the bars. "I will give you a billion dollars and your freedom, as long as you promise not to bother my son again. I’ll give you a new identity, too. A fresh start."

"A fresh... start?" Denisia’s lips twitched. "I’m not a criminal. You think you can bribe—Huh?"

"F... Fuck!"

The chief, who was just nervously watching everything unfold, couldn’t help but jump back as he suddenly saw a pencil fly straight through Denisia’s left eye, with the rubber eraser being the only thing left exposed.

He slowly looked at Bernard, only to see him casually lowering his hand. The cell then opened, and Bernard casually walked inside and went behind Denisia.

Denisia was confused. That was the only thing she could be with a pencil stabbed through her brain, after all. But not for long, as Bernard grabbed her head and twisted her neck like it was nothing.

He then lifted her up and carried her over his shoulders, not even saying a word to the chief as he passed by him. The only thing the chief could do was once again follow behind Bernard—but when he walked toward the back exit of the station, he watched as Bernard disappeared in front of him.

Some sort of cloaking device, from how the space was distorting if he looked hard enough.

And just like that, Bernard left, leaving the chief dazed and confused.

He knew Bernard was Whiteking, of course—it was information that was given to him as soon as he was promoted. But that wasn’t the only piece of information that was sharedwitho him by his predecessor.

He was also told not to get in Bernard’s way, as much as he possibly could.

And now, he knew why.

Bernard Ross wasn’t above the law, no.

He wasn’t even included in it.

***

"A mole in the Academy, Dark Millennium, and now the Russians targeting our newest member? Just how many moles are there inside that school?"

Somewhere dark, Hannah and the Baby Crew were gathered at a large table, all of them with serious expressions on their faces.

"The adults clearly aren’t doing anything," Hannah said, her hands clasped together on her chin as she looked at the Baby Crew in the eyes. "So, like we’ve already discussed before, it’s time for us to do something. All in favor?"

The members of the Baby Crew all raised their hands. Even Silvie, who had no idea what they’d discussed before, also raised her hand.

"First, Silvie would need a uniform. She—Ack!"

And before Hannah could finish her words, she and the rest of the Baby Crew all squinted and covered their eyes as the light suddenly turned on.

"Why is it so dark in here?" All of them turned their heads at the voice, only to see Diana with her eyebrows raised.

Yes, the Baby Crew was just in the living room of the Ross penthouse.

"Ah!" Hannah quickly stood up as soon as she saw Riley behind Diana. She rushed toward him, and the rest of the Baby Crew followed. Unknown to them, however, someone else was there with them.

Anastasia, hiding behind one of the condiments in the kitchen.