“Luke. Not good, there’s a rag here, there’s some dried blood and I think it has chloroform on it.”
“Shit! You’re sure?”
“Almost positive. Any news?”
“No nothing. I don’t even know where to start looking man.” He sounded frantic.
“I do. She was dating this guy Garrett from Delaney.”
“What? She wasn’t dating anyone, I would have known. She’s been moping around about you for the last month.”
“She told me earlier. We had a fight about it. I basically professed my love for her, ended up breaking up with Riley. It’s a mess dude. Garrett’s big trouble man.”
“Alright so what do we do?”
I quickly formulated a plan.
“Let’s meet at the Quik Stop right outside Delaney on the I-5. I’ll ride with you since he knows my bike. I’m leaving now.”
“Alight I’m going to call my dad and he can have the cops go to the lake house. I’m leaving now too.”
I ran out of the house and left the front door unlocked. I put my helmet on and gunned my bike to life. I started to trip towards Delaney praying that she was okay; the thought of her scared and alone was almost too much to bare. I was going so fast everything was a blur, my life wasn’t important right now. I beat Luke to the Quik Stop. I was having a hard time waiting for him to get there, part of me just wanted to keep going but I knew it was best just to wait. After what seemed like and eternity Luke finally pulled up and I immediately hopped in the Range Rover.
“Any word?” I asked closing the door behind me.
“Not much. They want ten million cash in a two black duffle bags dropped off at Cherry and Mackerly by ten a.m. tomorrow. The police in Lake Winona aren’t capable of handling this investigation so the Sheriff’s department will be handling it and the FBI has been called in due to the ransom and my family’s profile.”
“I wish I knew that she was seeing Garrett sooner, maybe I could have done something to stop this from happening.”
“Don’t beat yourself up man, you know how stubborn she is. Now where should we start looking?”
“I think we should start with the obvious, Garrett’s house, then we’ll go from there. He drives a supped up black Chevy Tahoe so eyes peeled.”
He pulled out into traffic towards Delaney. I gave him directions towards Garrett’s house and we did a drive by but there was no one home so I told him to head over towards his best friend Eli’s house. Bingo! There was his truck like a sitting duck. If anything they were not genius’ they probably though that their plan was fool proof by avoiding Garrett’s. The main problem now was that Eli’s house was more like the White House in size almost the size of Fiona’s but not quite. His dad was ex-mafia from Brooklyn. I’d only been there once or twice and knew that it boasted 15 bedrooms and around twenty thousand square feet, so now the question was where would they be hiding Fiona.
“Shit man, this isn’t good.” I said.
“What’s the matter? We found her.”
“This kid Eli, his dad is ex-mob. The house is huge, I’m sure there’s even panic rooms and shit in there so we need to narrow down her location better and we won’t be able to just get in. We need to be smart about this. I say we come back after it get’s dark.” I could tell it was killing him. I was dying inside too but needed to keep my cool for now.
“I guess we don’t have any other option do we?” I shook my head. “How do you know this kid Cooper?”
“I promise I’ll explain everything later but now is not the time.” I didn’t want him to think differently of me once I told him but Luke was a good guy and I’m sure he’d understand at least I’d hoped.
I had an idea of how we could clear the house and I just had to hope that it worked.
“Are you okay with doing anything? If not I need to know right now because what I’m about to do is serious, like land our asses in jail serious and I’m going to do it with or without you.”
“Let’s hear it.” I could tell he was game.
“Eli’s family owns a factory downtown, it’s closed down for the night and it’s about to go up in flames. That will draw them out of the house then we will have our chance to sneak in and find Fiona. I need to make some stops first”
I got the supplies to make Molotov Cocktails and we headed to the factory. Luke and I snuck around the rear of the factory and I lined up a row of Molotov Cocktails for each of us. I handed him a lighter and got to work. We were done within three minutes. We headed back towards Eli’s house but not before phoning in an anonymous tip to police about the building being ablaze. We actually passed Eli and his father on the way back to the house, exactly what I was hoping for. The only car left in the driveway was Garrett’s and he was no match for me on a normal day, let alone when he had the love of my life holed up like some fucking prisoner.
“I’m going in. I need you to stay here incase he tries to escape with her. I’ll call you if I need backup.” He nodded though seemed reluctant. I hopped out of the car and tried to be as inconspicuous as possible making my way to the side door. I slowly turned the handle and it opened. Bingo. I was in the mudroom but at least I was inside the house. I slowly crept around a couple of the rooms in the downstairs knowing that the chance of her being in any of them was slim but better safe than sorry. I headed up the stairs and felt like I had a target on my back. I finally made it to the top and stopped outside each door on the way listening for any noise, none. I headed up to the third floor and did the same thing. Finally when I came to the end of the hallway I noticed a panel that looked like the rest of the wall but obviously when Eli left he didn’t put it back all the way, thankfully for me because I don’t think there’s anyway I would have found it otherwise. I knew I needed to be fast and use the element of surprise to my advantage. I pulled my phone out and sent a quick text to Luke that I thought I found her when I heard her start screaming, all inhibitions went to the wayside, I pulled the panel back and charged through the door. There he was with his pants around his ankles, Fiona was secured to a bedpost with rope screaming. He was so intent trying to rape her that he didn’t even notice me come in.
I stood there in shock for a split second as I searched my surroundings quickly to see any other possible entrances/exits before I went and punched Garrett right in the back of the head before he could see it coming. I hoped it would be enough to knock him out, it wasn’t.
Back when I lived in Delaney I would have maybe called him an acquaintance but not one that I was happy to have. It was around my sixteenth birthday when my mom found out she had breast cancer. Obviously I was very angry and scared. I was searching for an outlet, anything. One day I was leaving the mall when someone tried to jump me, it ended up being Eli and Garrett. I channeled all of my aggression and anger on them and managed to beat the shit out of both of them, apparently one of the goon’s that worked for Eli’s dad was watching, this was some sort of initiation for them. After the fight he ended up propositioning me to do some underground fight matches, he thought I had a lot of potential. I spent the next few months being trained by some of the top MMA (mixed-martial arts) fighters in the country and before too long I was competing in underground fights and winning, it was the outlet I was looking for, they didn’t care how old I was, what my problems were. Garrett and Eli trained beside me but they just didn’t have the passion and pent up aggression that I harbored. My mom was growing sicker and I was falling into a deeper depression knowing what the end outcome was going to be. Somehow she found out what I was doing and pleaded with me (her dying wish) to give it up, I agreed. Of course the goon’s were not happy to hear that I wanted out since I was one of the best they had but I spoke to Giovanni, Eli’s dad and he understood the circumstances and reluctantly agreed to let me out as long as I did one last fight. I did and I won making him a lot of money and we parted amicably. Funny how looking back I never saw any of that money, what a stupid sixteen year old I was!
I felt blood trickle down
my nose and realized that Garrett must’ve gotten a punch in.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” He yelled.
“Let her go!” I demanded. Looking at her naked tied up and bound like that was making me sick to my stomach. Focus!
“You have nothing to do with this.” He emphasized the word nothing.
“This has everything to do with me.” I spat.
“Really? How so? You’re out remember? You’re not getting a piece of this, this was my idea!”
“How could I forget I’m out! I’m here for her and you are not doing this, not now, not ever! And what the fuck are you talking about, piece of what?” I was trying to act like I had no idea about the ransom. I wanted nothing more than to untie her, wrap her in blanket and get her out of here. There was no way that was happening yet.
“She’s my ransom check. Isn’t that right puddin’ pop?” He sneered. I stepped towards him. “You’re going to try and stop me I assume?”
I was feeling my blood pressure pick up. I was getting to the point that I was going to have to show a lot of restraint not to kill him. He was waking up the devil inside me, when he gets out we’re one hell of a team. I took another step forward raising my left fist like I was about to punch him but really I just faked him out and landed my right hand right in between his sternum causing me to knock the wind out of him. I laughed to myself; I always did enjoy the element of surprise. I knew he was going to be disoriented so I landed a few more punches before grabbing a tie from a bathrobe that was lying on the floor. I rolled him on his stomach to hog-tie him securing his legs and hands together. As soon as I was done I gave him a swift kick to the ribs making him groan in pain. I ran over to Fiona who was shaking, I tried to calm her down as I tried as quickly as possible to undo the restraints.
“How did you find me?” She cried.
“Shhh. We’ll talk about it later, we need to go.” I wrapped her up in the robe that was on the floor and scooped her up in my arms. I was starting down the hallway when I walked right into Giovanni. Double Shit!
“What the hell are you doing here?” He demanded. Giovanni was a mean son of a bitch when he wanted to be. He was as broad as his was tall, his hair slicked back wearing a custom grey three piece suit.
“You’re son and his friend were holding her hostage.” I said hoping that he would just let us go chances are from what I’d heard so far he had no idea what was going on.
“What!?!” He roared. “ELI!” I heard footsteps and saw Eli come into view, his face went ghost white. “Why is she here?” Eli looked at his father, stupefied. “Well?” He walked over to him and lifted him up by his polo shirt to the wall and slapped him hard in the face. “I asked you a fucking question!” I was praying this would end in our favor.
“It was all Garrett’s idea.” Eli said.
“What was?” Giovanni said slapping him again.
“To kidnap her.”
“Why would you do such a thing you moron?”
“She’s Fiona Prescott.” I saw the look in his eyes change and I knew we were in trouble.
“The Fiona Prescott?” Eli just nodded. “Well that does change things. What’s the logistics?” Knowing that there was money involved I knew we were fucked.
“Ten-mil by ten tomorrow.”
“Interesting.” He said as he put Eli to his feet and rubbed his chin deep in thought. He put his fingers to his mouth and made a whistle. Next I knew there were five very large men blocking our path. “Take the girl, I need to have a conversation with Mr. Kinley.”
“Not happening.” I said tightening my grip on Fiona. Mob or not I wasn’t letting them have her; they’d have to kill me first. He seemed to be considering.
“Fine. Bring her too.” Giovanni said.
One of the guys I didn’t recognize tried to take her from me and I just looked at him daring him to take one more step towards me. Giovanni just waved his hand for us to proceed. I followed him downstairs and the other’s followed behind us until we got to his office. I’d been in here before.
“Please take a seat.” He gestured towards one of the leather seats in front of his desk. I sat, keeping Fiona firmly attached to me.
“Okay, where do we begin?” He looked at Eli.
“I already said it was all Garrett’s idea. I just went along with it.” He said again.
“Yes we’ve already determined that. Where is Garrett? And how did this plan come about?”
“I don’t know where he is, he was with Fiona. We met her a month ago, we didn’t know who she was at the time but then he put two and two together then Garrett saw it as a perfect opportunity to pull some weight for the ‘family’.”
“I see. Why wasn’t I made aware?”
“We just wanted to do it on our own.” Eli looked like he was going to have to change his underwear. Giovanni had that menacing presence about him.
“How does Cooper come into this? You brought him in to help?”
“No. I don’t know why he’s here.”
“Well then why are you here Cooper?”
“As you know we moved after my mom died. We moved to Prescott. Fiona and I are friends.”
“Friends?” He seemed to be toying with the word. “I don’t think a friend would go to such lengths to save another friend.” I inwardly rolled my eyes at his assumption.
“I love her.” I said as if it weren’t already blatantly obvious.
“I see and what are you willing to do to keep her safe?” He purred. I didn’t like where this was headed.
“Anything.” I said holding her closer to my chest. I looked down at her face; she looked terrified. I saw her robe had opened slightly when I sat so I pulled it a little tighter around her, she met my eyes and I tried to keep my calm.
“Would you happen to have anything to do with the fire down at my factory?”
“Maybe.” I said.
“Why would you do that?” At least he was smiling.
“I never said I did.” I retorted.
“Well let’s say in a hypothetical situation why would you do it?”
“To empty the house.”
“Well I have to give you credit, it worked didn’t it?” I gave a slight nod. He turned to speak to one of his goon’s. When I looked to see who it was I saw it was Carl. He was a couple years older than me. We always got on well with each other he used to work a lot of the same fights that I did.
“We need to have a discussion please take Mr. Kinley and Ms. Prescott to the sitting room.” He motioned for me to stand. I stood and followed.
Once we were in the sitting room I sat and brushed the hair out of Fiona’s face.
“Are you okay?” I whispered. She shook her head no.
“Did Garrett, you know?” I didn’t think he had the opportunity but if he did I was going to kill him with my bare hands. Again, she shook her head no and I felt a slight wave of relief wash over me.
“I love you.” I said. She tightened her arms around my neck pulling my face to hers and gave me a quick kiss.
“Cooper, I love you too you know.” She managed to say, tears starting to stream down her beautiful face.
“It’s going to be okay. I promise.” I vowed to do whatever I had to keep her safe.
“Pst…” Carl said grabbing my attention.
“Hey Carl.”
“Listen Coop this shit ain’t right. The fights, everything else…well they ain’t really right either but kidnapping this is a whole new low even for Giovanni.”
“Not much we can do about it now is there.”
“Nah not really but I’ll make sure you’re safe while you’re here. ‘Kay kid.”
“Thanks Carl.”
I was wondering if he was baiting me but he was always the one that had my back while I was here so I doubted it.
We waited for what seemed like an eternity, I was wondering what was taking so long and growing more anxious as each moment passed.
Finally we were summoned back to the office.
“We’ve reached a decision.” He looked around the room. “I’ll let you stay with your little girlfriend but you’re going to fight for me Cooper. Tonight.”
A lump formed in my throat. I didn’t want to leave Fiona alone not even for five minutes and a fight would leave her vulnerable for at least ten. I hadn’t been training for months not that my skills were that rusty since I’ve gotten in three fistfights since I’ve met Fiona. There was Hunter, the asshole from the bar and Garrett. But depending on the opponent it could be big trouble. But right now I was so angry right now I think I could take out the whole house in the blink of an eye.
“Do we have a deal?”
I looked at Fiona who looked horrified. She didn’t know this part of my past and I’d hoped that I’d be able to shelter her from it except for the bare basics. She knew that I used to get into a lot of fights but not that I did it for the mafia in their underground ring. I didn’t see what other choice I had but to agree. I couldn’t say no if I meant I could stay with her. Reluctantly I nodded.
“But only on one condition.” I hated what I was about to do and hoped that my intuition was right.
“Name it.” Giovanni said.
“Fiona stays with Carl during the fight.” I said firmly.
“Done. We’re going to hold the both of you until we receive the ransom. Until then you’re staying here. I think it would be best if Ms. Prescott calls her father to light a fire under his ass and let him know who he’s messing with here.” He handed me his cell phone and I dialed the number that Fiona gave me. She held the phone to her ear.
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