Chapter 4.

Laurel nodded like the obedient child she wasn't. "Okay. I won't try to escape. Can I call my best friend and my boss? I need to let them know that…"

"Know that you have been kidnapped? No darling. You are going to tell them exactly what I tell you." Boots man looked amused. What is amusing him?

She nodded, dialing Matteo's number. He picked up instantly and his high pitched voice filled the whole room.

Laurel spared a quick glance at Boots man's face but aside from his amused look, his eyes seemed cold. She cleared her throat again. "Matteo! I am on my way home."

"Yeah...I am so sorry for asking you to take my night shift, Laurel. I shouldn't have...are you okay?"  Matteo sounded worried.

"Yeah, she should be worried, bastard." Boots man whispered under his breath.

Laurel frowned as she turned to him. "Did you say something?"

Boots man shook his head. "Time up."

"Listen, Matteo. Don't go near the club or my apartment for now and do tell Mr. Malik that I am feeling extremely sore..."

There was shuffling in the background. "Are you there?" Laurel asked worried that something might have happened to him.

"I am here darling." Matteo replied from the other end of the phone. "Are you sure you are good?"

Laurel sighed. She glanced at Boots man seated beside her. He was watching her every movement like a hawk. "I am good. Just deliver the message for me. I'll take care of myself." She dropped the phone, glaring at Boots man. "Are happy now?"

'I am tired of this." He stood abruptly. "You need to eat and Oh, don't bother running, my men will shoot you at first sight." He casually said, making his way out of the room.

Laurel shut her eyes in deep thoughts. Who is this man? Not getting good any reply. He didn't even tell her his name.

He is a mafia lord. Laurel was sure. She wasn't stupid enough not to figure that out. He had this weird mystery around him and tried to play around every question she asked. Her stomach growled loudly. How pathetic can I be?

Although hungry, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her clutch her stomach and beg for food. She wasn't going to succumb to the pangs of hunger and gravel at his feet…

She'd rather go hungry than eat with a murderer.

Meanwhile, at Bounce…

"What is with the high pitched voice…And Matteo?" Diego asked amidst laughing.

Luis shook his head as he circled the boy scrubbing the walls. It has to be perfectly clean. "She is a clever girl you know. She'd never trust me again if I tell her my name.

I've been hitting on her for years now. But since she is close to the boss, I have to back off. I made a mistake yesterday. I hope Boss will be lenient with her." He added feeling regretful.

"You know the Boss. You should check up on her." Diego suggested.

Luis looked at him like he had grown 5 heads suddenly. "You know I can't do that." He tapped the boy, signaling him to stop adding excess bleach to the walls. It was getting suspicious.

"I have to protect…"

"Protect what? You are lucky she fainted before you came into view, man." Diego replied smugly.

"I guess." Luis replied. He didn't want to continue the conversation. He hoped his best friends were doing okay together. Laurel was feisty and Boss wasn't the opposite of feisty. That wasn't a very good combination.

He had tried to ask but Laurel wouldn't tell him anything. He knew deep down, she felt she was trying to keep him safe. How would she feel when she learns that he was associated with the one who kidnapped her against her will?

Luis chuckled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He couldn't wait to see how the drama would unfold.

At the same time….

Boots man slammed his hands on the table after waiting an hour for the woman. She is stubborn.  Boots man realized as he tried his best to hold his anger in but it boiled in his stomach and threatened to come out.

He beckoned on the guard close to him. He whispered an instruction to him and waited.

The guard didn't waste much time as he walked upstairs.

Boots man smiled knowingly as he heard the woman's angry protests echo downstairs.

"You can't be serious!" The woman screeched. He knew she was itching to slap him but the guard held her back without much effort.

Her face was morphed into one of anger. It didn't stop her from being less beautiful though. Boots man felt many places going hard at the thought of kissing those her luscious lips.

It was too early he knew, but his body had thoughts of their own.

"Seat her down. If she as much as screech again, gag her." Boots man whispered softly. But why did he sound like he was suggesting something else. He could tell from the redness at the tip of her ears.

The woman struggled out of the guards grip. 'Humph!"

Boots man raised his hands and the guard went back to his position. "Seat down and eat." He gestured towards the table filled with different dishes.

The woman gasped in surprise but tried to hide it with a cough. Unfortunately, her stomach growled loudly.

Boots man walked towards the table and expected her to follow him. She did.

Gazing at her from the corner of his eyes, he took in her appearance. Disheveled hair, red eyes probably from crying, growling stomach, the apron from yesterday night and the rest of her clothes was rumpled.

Boots man shook his head as he drew out a single chair. The woman looked puzzled. Then she connected the dots.

"If you think I am going to eat with you, you must be out of your mind." She spat bitterly.