*Bruno*
I furrowed my brows when I saw his message. This bastard, my grip around the phone tightened. “What does he want?” Rave asked, stepping close to me to take a look at the text. I extended the phone, giving him a better view but not leaving it completely. “What? He wants to talk over a video call. The nerve of him,” said Rave, his voice a little bit over the top. I dropped my hands to the side.
“Let’s give him what he wants,” said Jason, standing at the side. It’s just a video call; it shouldn’t change much.” He sounded sure that there would be changes or that the call would lead us somewhere. The curtains by the window on the other side danced in the air.
“Do you even know what you are saying? You want us to agree with his terms, no. We are not going to make him feel superior. He won’t tell us what to do,” said Rave at the same time. He was facing Jason, who didn’t seem to want to stop. “So you say we ignore his message and keep searching for Lucia ourselves?” Rave raised a brow before walking past him to his seat on the chair which had a table in front of it.
“Are you even listening to yourself?” Jason moved to where he was, “you think ignoring his message would make things easy? You think he would bring her to our footsteps saying, ‘Here, I kidnapped her, and now I’m bringing her back?’ He is no fool and shouldn’t be underestimated,” said Jason, one hand on his tie as he loosened it and I wondered why he was still wearing a tie.
“No,” said Rave. He paused, his hands quickly grabbing the neck of the bottle of alcohol on the table, and he took three gulps. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, “you shouldn’t underestimate us. Steve is no match for us,” he said and Jason wriggled his nose at the smell of alcohol which must be oozing out of Rave’s mouth.
“I can’t believe you are in any mood to drink,” Rave looked at him and turned away like he never said anything. “Bruno, don’t listen to him. I know Steve may look harmless, but he could be more,” Jason said. Did he just say Steve, who kidnapped my woman, looks harmless? “Bruno knows who he will listen to,’ Rave said.
“I am not…”
“Enough,” I cut him short. I was tired of listening to them bicker back and forth. I massage my temples. I took a deep breath placing both hands on my table. Rave had a point. I had raised him and he knew how much I cared about my dignity and hated being told what to do. He wanted to protect Lucia, but at the same time, he didn’t want to compromise my dignity.
And there was Jason, who only cares about Lucia. He doesn’t mind throwing anything away to save her. This is no time to care about dignity. What matters most right now is what I care about. And that is Lucia. I want nothing more than to save her. She must be feeling scared. There was no need to think about it too much. I turned around.
“Lucia is mine,” I said.
“But…” Rave began.
“No buts,” I said, shutting him up before he began. “We will do whatever he asks as long as Lucia is safe. I’ll lay my life if I have to,” I said. “Message him right away,” I said to Rave, throwing my phone to him, which he caught with ease. Jason breathed a sigh of relief.
“Then what next? We need a plan,” he says.
“Rave and other men would try to trace the number. I believe we can find something,” I said walking to the side. I wasn’t a fool, this is a good opportunity to track him and I don’t think he would use a burner phone.
In less than twenty minutes. I sent the first message to him.
Steve: it took you long enough to reply to me.
I missed his message. I wanted to burst with anger, but I kept holding myself back and reminding myself that I shouldn’t. If I allow my anger to get the best part of me, I’ll probably do things that I’ll regret.
Bruno: Where is Lucia?
I typed. I had no time for his nonsense and would love to go straight to the point.
Seen but he wasn’t typing. I kept wondering what he was doing. I didn’t need to wonder for long as my phone started vibrating. He was finally calling.
“I thought it would be better to see her for yourself,” he said. I felt a strange emotion run through me. I wanted to see her at the same time I didn’t want to see her cause I had failed her. I couldn’t protect her and she was in this mess because of me. I met the gaze of Jason and Rave who were silently watching me. Some of my men were at the back typing on laptops that are in front of them.
My heart beat faster as I stared at the screen hoping to see Lucia but I wasn’t seeing her. I hate the fact that I kept seeing his face. “Show me, Lucia,” I said trying to sound calm but it didn’t quite come out well, as I ended up growling at him. If I could I’d have dealt with him through the phone.
“You don’t tell me what to do. You’ll see Lucia, but only if you are calm.” He said.
I clenched my fist. Digging my nails deep into my palm. He held the knife. He called the shot. He held Lucia with him. I wanted to act with caution. Who knows what he was capable of? I heard whimper sounds and didn’t need anyone to tell me that it was Lucia.
“She seems to miss you too. She has been dying to speak to you. I’ll put her on the line soon.”
“I want to speak to her now,” I commanded. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Well, you don’t call the shots,” he said. He kept the phone somewhere and walked out of the camera. “You know she is in my possession, what if I do something to her?” He walked back into the video but didn’t pick up the phone.
“If you dare touch her hair, I’ll kill you. I’ll rip you apart limb by limb, and I’m sure you know I am capable of doing that,” I said.
“Oh… I’m so scared. You can do that?” He hugged himself with both hands like he was truly afraid. I have never had any conversation with him; there has been no need to. But I never thought he’d be so… I couldn’t think of a word to tell him.
I lowered the phone before placing it on the table. The ceiling was in view instead of me. “I am warning you, Steve, don’t think I can’t find you. If you hurt Lucia, you will only make the way you die worse,” I said, my voice low, but he knew I was serious. It took all I had within me to not blow up right now.
“Let’s see what you got,” he said. I’ll let you have a look. At least you need something for motivation,” he said. I picked up the phone, raising it to my face. He had a smirk on his face. He wasn’t moving. He switched the camera from selfie to back, and I saw her.
Lucia.
There she was, tied in a chair, still in her white gown. Her makeup was smeared on her face and gown. When she raised her head, some strands of hair covered her face, and her hair was filled with dirt. Steve made sure I could see all the tiny things. She looked weak.
My chest tightened as I saw her in that state. I was filled with guilt. She shook her head as I saw her face. I wondered what she was trying to say. “I love you. And I promise I’ll get you out safely.” I said. She kept shaking her head.
Steve moved the phone away from her face, “we will be waiting for you. I hope that you don’t know where we are right now. Beats me how you think you are going to find a place that you don’t know.” He said.
Seeing Lucia broke my heart. I couldn’t concentrate properly; my heart broke. I vowed within me to give Steve the worst death. I’ll first cut off both his hands. I’ll slice him bit by bit when he is still alive. I’ll make him go through so much pain that he would hate the day he was born into this world.
I heard his words, he was smiling. He must think I can’t find him. I have the entire world in my palm, and if I have to shake it to find her I will. If I have to destroy it to save her, I’ll gladly do so. She was someone I didn’t deserve, but she loved me regardless of how I was. I’m in her debt, selfishly in love with her, to let Steve continue to be in the lead.
“You did your job and hid well. Let me do the finding,” I said to him and ended the call. I don’t need him. I would look for Lucia alone, and I was confident I’d find her.
“This bastard, I’ll rip him apart beat by beat,” Rave said.
Jason punched the door. He ran his hand through his hair. “Let’s find this prick.” He said.
I nodded. We would find him. It’s one against three. And even if it were him against me, he would never have won.
“So what’s the plan?” Jason asked.
I turned to the men who were at the side. ” Were you able to find him?” I asked them.
“We weren’t,” one of them said.
“Well, if the technological method doesn’t work, something else will,” I said, sending the men out with a wave. It’s funny how many men I allowed into my study tonight. “I want you to search every nook and colony in the city. Steve would be in the most unexpected place. Somewhere close but also a place where we may not be able to guess quickly.”
“And where could that place be?” Jason asked.
“A place where we won’t suspect even if it’s close,” Jason said, walking to the side with one of his hands on his jaw. “There is only one place like that,” he said.
I paused on my thoughts, standing straight. I squinted my eyes, looking at him, and he nodded. “I am sure of it,” he said.
“No way,”
“His house. Did you send men to check?” I asked Rave.
“No. I didn’t think he would hide there.” He said. That was indeed the most unexpected place. “Have men search through it tonight. They should be discreet. Steve may have prepared in case we come. There is no way he didn’t know we could figure this out in time. Rave nods.
He stared towards the door, “Rave,” I called and he paused and then turned. “Be discreet,” I said.
The last thing I wanted was for us to raise any alarm. “I’ll go by myself with one man. You don’t have to worry,” he said.
“Code black if he is there. I’ll arrange the men. Code red if he isn’t,” I said, “and I’ll keep searching too,”
Rave lett.
For the first time, I was thankful that he was my cousin. That he was my blood because even though I had no one to trust, I could trust him completely.
Jason and I organized the men. For some reason, I was sure he would find him. He knew his way around the house and lamented when he realized that it would have been better if he had followed them out.
An hour passed before I heard a knock on the door. It was late but no one was sleeping or resting, none was allowed until we find Lucia.
“Code black,” the burly man said immediately as he entered the study. Jason and I stood up quickly.
It was time. Hold on a little, Lucia. We’re coming to save you.