Kidnapped

The day had dawned, and the sun started to cast a glistening glow on the horizon. Cassie started to pack her things for a two-day trip to Vince, aka Violet's newly opened resort. 

She was supposed not to come, but Rona and Violet insisted. How come she will decline when the two already threaten her?

"You can't say no, Cici. We're given a three-day off." That's exactly what Rona said. She was prompted to agree and also needed to breathe fresh air in new surroundings.

"Are you sure you're not missing Theo?" Rona walked closer to her and handed her the cup of brewed coffee. 

They're on the terrace of her condo while waiting for Violet, who went to the bathroom.

"Why would I miss—"

Violet opened the slide door toward the terrace and started to sing. "Sex, baby, let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about all—"

Cassie arched her brow and glared at him. "Can you stop it? You just sang once, but it's out of tune," she said and stood up, making Rona and Violet laugh.

She closed her eyes for a while when she heard the laughter of her friends. She was about to take a few steps when her daughter suddenly called her, "Mimi," said Camila. She then turned to her, and Camila spread her arms, approaching her.

Rona then went closer to them and touched Camila's head. Cassie felt annoyed when Rona let out a meaningful smirk on her face.

Cassie just raised an eyebrow, took the child, and walked inside the house.

They invited her to take a walk at Violet's new resort in Liberty all of a sudden.

Cassie takes Glenda with her so that Camila still has someone with her; even if her friends and she were there, it would be different when Glenda was the child's assigned personal nanny.

Glenda has only been working with her for a week; she is still twenty-three years old and came from New Jersey. Because of poverty, she went to New York and took chances in applying for jobs. She was patient and kind while she was with her daughter—a hardworking girl, and she thinks she can be trusted. 

Cassie needed someone to look after her daughter while working, and she chose Glenda among the applications.

She's been comfortable with her even if they only stayed together for a few days—they already get along. But she noticed something with the girl the other day; it seemed like something is bothering her. Sometimes, she heard her crying while talking on the telephone. 

Yesterday, Glenda didn't even utter a word, which surprised her because she was naturally talkative and optimistic.

But Cassie just ignored it. It may be just a family problem or something.

"Glenda, everything all right?" she asked as she spoke about their things.

"Yes, Ma'am," Glenda replied.

It's a forty-three to forty-five-minute drive, so she brought some snacks. Her friends told her to stop over and eat inside a restaurant, but she disagreed. It would just be a waste of time if they do a stopover.

After giving her child milk, she then put her to sleep. She was about to reach for the fallen bag when Violet suddenly spoke, "Where are we going? This is not the right way!"

Cassie frowned. "W-what do you mean?"

"This isn't the way to my—" Violet didn't finish what he was saying when someone pulled a gun and aimed it at them.

"One wrong move, I pull the trigger and shot your friend."

Cassie's chest quivered as the muzzle of the gun was pointed at her.

"G-Glenda, what… what's the meaning of this?" she managed to ask.

Glenda didn't reply and just smiled. Apparently, it was not the same Glenda she used to know a few days ago.

"Poor Theodore, he doesn't expect his gem to be banished."

'That voice,' Cassie pondered. She was startled when she recognized its owner. "Drake," she whispered.

"Hi there, Cassie," he said, looking at her from the rearview mirror. He lowered his sunglasses and grinned.

"What—What's happening?!" said Rona and Violet in unison.

Cassie just cried because of the realization that they had been kidnapped.

"DUDE, what's the rush?"

Theo opened the door of his car and got in. Before closing the door, he said, "I have a bad feeling about this," he raised his phone, and Kurt saw it. "We need to go back to my house," he said, closing the door.

He drives the car swiftly. He took his phone and dialed Cassie's number, but it couldn't be reached. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and tried to dial Rona's number, but it was still the same—couldn't be reached.

"Damn it!" he cursed as he looked at his phone. Cassie's tracker vanished, and he found it suspicious. He knew Cassie's schedule and even knew about the trip to Violet's resort, but the tracker stopped in the middle of the forest.

He called Ambrose.

"Where did they go, Ambrose?"

"Gone out, Sir—"

"Damn it! Why did you let them go and haven't checked the location?!" he shouted and ended the call.

When he was near his mansion, the gate opened, and he entered. He stopped in front of the big wooden door and quickly climbed down.

He was ignited with anger when he approached Ambrose. Because of rage, he threw a punch to the guy's face.

"Fuck it, Ambrose! Fuck it!" he cussed. He was going to throw more punches when Kurt pulled him away. "I told you to follow them at all times!"

"What the hell, dude? If you kill Ambrose now, will Cassie show up? Damn it! Calm down and think!" said Kurt.

Silence prevailed, and all he could hear was his heavy breathing. And the silence was crashed when his phone rang.

An unknown number flashed on the screen.

"How are you, Smith?" asked the voice on the other line.

"Fuck you, Carter! Where's Cassie and my daughter!"

The man on the other line laughed. "What are you talking about?"

Theo's nails sunk into his palm because of his tight grip. "Don't you ever lay a finger on them, Carter?"

"My, my, my… Come on, Smith, feel my wrath. I'll give you until seven o'clock to find us if you want to see your beautiful wife-to-be and lovely daughter—"

"Don't touch my daughter!" said a woman's voice on the other line.

"Chill, baby. I won't hurt her… if you allow me to touch you—"

"Fuck it, Carter! Don't touch what is mine!" Theo growled. His breathing became heavy.

The man on the other line laughed demonically.

"Follow what I've just said, Smith. 7 pm sharp. Don't ever try to report this to the police. You might not be able to find your woman and your daughter alive," said Drake and laughed again.

Loud cries can be heard on the other line.

"Where can I find you?" 

Drake snorted. "Show me how smart you are, lover boy. Track us, Smith. If you don't arrive at exactly seven o'clock… the whole building will explode. And, Smith, each of them has a bomb, hugging their bodies—even your daughter. So, quick and track as down… if you can," said Drake.

"End it now, Drake, they will track you," It was Mira's voice before the line ended.

Theo fell to his knees because of frustration. He feels like he's a useless jerk. He didn't see it coming. He was so at ease that he could protect Cassie and their daughter from afar.

Kurt picked up Theo's cell phone that had fallen from his grip and handed it to Ambrose.

They tried to find the caller's location, but they found nothing. The number no longer existed.

Theo stood up and went outside. He climbed upstairs and entered the room beside his office.

He was welcomed by different types of guns. The room is a man cave. A luxurious gun room man cave. It is equipped with expensive and high-end items. There are wooden cabinets, sofas, wall décor, chandeliers, floor mats, decorations, pictures, shot glasses, liquor dispensers, and pool tables. His man cave is full of tactical guns, rifles, knives, explosives, and many more to mention.

He is always ready for a battle. He was born for it. But things became different when he started to fall in love again. He's a human, too, and even if his heart is hard like metal, there's still someone who can melt it and make him feel like he is the luckiest man alive.

That's why he's not letting the chance he can do to achieve the happiness he dreamt of. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. Trying to calm himself. If he acted rashly, he might not be able to save them. So, he better need to calm himself and think.