Aurelia coughed out, feeling a burning sensation on her wrists.
Her eyes cracked open, gauging her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was getting a taxi and then….
Aurelia gasped, her heart thundering against her chest. She was kidnapped. Dread filled her body, the revelation sending shivers down her spine.
She tried to get up, but a rope bound her hand and legs. Her back was pressed against the cold floor, and she looked up at the ceiling that seemed too far, she wondered how she got into this situation.
For what reason would anyone have to kidnap her? Aurelia felt tears sting her eyes, but instead of crying, she tried to sit up.
The room was dark, the only source of light coming from the holes in the ceiling. It was still daytime, she noted, her gaze bouncing around the room.
Old boxes littered the grounds, and huge machines gathered dust in the corner of the room. This was an old warehouse, an abandoned one, judging from its shabby state. This made it serve as the perfect location for an abduction.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Aurelia quickly resumed her former position, pretending to be asleep. Her heart rate picked up as she heard an array of footsteps approach her.
A group? Her brows crinkled, and she mentally prayed they didn’t notice her pretense. She cracked one eye open discreetly, catching sight of the three men who towered over her.
“She’s a fine one.” One of them whistled, tucking his hands in his pockets as his lustful gaze skimmed her body.
Aurelia stiffened on hearing his remark, the hairs on her neck spiking up. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to calm down.
This was no time to panic.
“Keep your hands to yourself, Will, unless you want me to chop them off. You know you can’t fondle with her.” Another countered, causing Will to click his tongue in annoyance.
“Whatever you say, Dan. You’re the boss after all.” Will bowed, his tone mocking.
Dan narrowed his eyes at him. “Horny asshole.”
“Finger-sized prick.” Will grinned.
“Enough!” A new voice entered the scene, this one more menacing than the others. The men fell silent immediately, and even Aurelia found it hard to breathe properly.
“Are you sure she’s the one? Luke Graham’s lover?”
Aurelia’s breath hitched. Was that the reason she was kidnapped? To be used as leverage against Luke? But it still didn’t make sense, what would they possibly want from him? Money?
“Yeah, she’s the one,” Will answered. “Intel caught him going in and out of her apartment after he got jumped in the last raid.”
Did the CEO get jumped? Raid? Now this made her even more confused, but then she remembered the time Luke showed up at her doorstep bloody and bartered. Her mind worked to connect the dots, and the results only made her anxious.
There must be a connection between Luke and these men, and she doubts it was anything good.
“Good.” The man crouched down to observe Aurelia, his eyes narrowed. “Oh?” He smirked, “You’re awake.”
Aurelia froze. Shit.
“Ah!” She winced and he grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her into a sitting position. “Let me go!”
Will burst into laughter. “What a sneaky bitch, she was eavesdropping on us.”
Dan rolled his eyes. “What’s so funny about that you moron.”
Aurelia quivered as she looked up at them, the tears she’d been holding back now flowed down her cheeks. “I’m not the one you’re looking for!”
Slap!
Her head snapped to the side, her eyes wide from the impact of the slap. The man tightened his grip on her hair, his face twisted with pure hatred.
“Listen here missy, I don’t appreciate liars.” He seethed, roughly taking her jaw so she could see him. The first thing she noted was the deep scar that ran from his left brow, crossing his eye and nose to his left cheek.
His jaw was set tight in a snarl, his intact eyes darkening.
“You see this scar, this disgusting thing on my face.” he started, his cocaine breath stinging her nostrils. Aurelia writhed in his grasp, but he was too strong.
She was nothing but a work who wriggled in the beak of a bird, its efforts useless.
“Your beloved Luke did this to me. So if you don’t want us to match, then you better behave.”
He pushed her back against the floor, Aurelia yelped at the impact, her hair falling over her face.
The man turned to his subordinates. “Send the ransom notice to that bloody Graham. If he isn’t here in six hours, I’m killing this bitch.”
Aurelia swallowed her spit. Six hours. She glanced at her stomach, paralyzed by fear. In Six hours…. she could die.
“Luke.” she sobbed quietly, realizing the fate of her and her child rests in his hands. “Please save me.”
****
Meanwhile…..
“The fuck are you doing here?”
Luke was more annoyed than shocked to find Ezekiel in his house.
“Calm your tits.” Ezekiel rolled his eyes, fishing into his coat for a document. “I’m not here to fight.” he handed the document to Luke, and Luke eyed it like it would come alive and bite him.
“What is that?” he didn’t take the file, so Ezekiel dropped it on the table between them.
“Check for yourself.” Ezekiel straightened up, keeping a neutral expression.
Luke hesitated for a moment. He knew Ezekiel would not come to his home without a freaking good reason, so he couldn’t deny that it piqued his interest.
“Would you stop being a fucking drama queen and just opened it already.” Ezekiel clicked his tongue in annoyance, causing Luke to shoot him a sharp glare. But as always, Ezekiel was unaffected.
Luke said nothing as he picked up the file, going through its contents with his brows furrowed. Soon his eyes widened in realization, his lips parting in disbelief.
“This is….”
Ezekiel nodded. “Aurelia rejected me. So I’m here to fulfill my end of the challenge.”
Luke regained his composure, signaling for his butler to get the file. He regarded Ezekiel in silence, but it didn’t matter how long he knew the actor, Luke never seemed to grasp what went through Ezekiel’s mind.
“What’s the catch?” He asked him and Ezekiel chuckled.
“Catch? Let’s see.” Ezekiel thoughtfully stroked his chin.
“How about you grow some balls and confess to Aurelia.”
Luke’s scowl deepened. But Ezekiel continued either way.
“You have no competition now, she chose you over me, even when you’re an asshole in denial.”
Annoyance began to bubble in Ezekiel’s chest, but he took a deep breath to calm down.
“I’ll be on my way.” He turned to leave, but his steps faltered as Luke spoke.
“I appreciate you for keeping to your word but do not make any foolish assumptions. Aurelia is no more than an employee to me.”
Ezekiel merely glanced over his shoulder, “You sure about that?”
He didn’t wait for Luke’s reply and left the building. If Luke wanted to be the weapon of his ruin then so be it, but he wouldn’t allow him to drag Aurelia down with him.
Once Ezekiel was gone Luke slumped against his couch. He combed his hands through his hair, a groan rumbling in his chest.
“I’m afraid I have to agree with Mr. Sterling sir.” His butler entered the room with a glass of whiskey and bent to set it before him.
“Oh really.” Luke snatched the cup, swirled the liquid, and downed it one gulp. “You also think I’m in denial.”
The butler heaved a sigh. “Unfortunately so.”
“Well…” he stood to his feet and glanced at his watch. “Then it’s a good thing I don’t value the opinion of others.”
Just then his phone beeped in his pocket. Luke lazily retrieved it, but what he saw next made his blood run cold, his grip on the device tightening and his gaze darkened.
It was a picture, a picture of Aurelia held captive. Along with a short message that read;
‘If you want this bitch breathing and alive, then come save her.
You have six hours.’
“Shit.” Luke cursed under his breath. He turned to the butler, his expression grave. “Ready the car, we’re heading out.”
Robert nodded. “Where to?”
Luke fell silent for a moment, and with a heavy heart, he said;
“Graham Mansion.”
Robert hoped he had misheard his boss, his eyes as wide as saucers. “That place?”
“Yes.” Luke glanced at his phone, his jaw ticking. “That place.”
*****
“Well well well. Who do we have here?”
In the lavish living room of the Graham Mansion, two handsome men sat with their legs crossed over each other.
One had a mocking smile on his face, while the other was impassive.
“The prodigal son returns.”
Luke squeezed his eyes shut, mentally bracing himself for what he was about to do.
He fell to his knees, shocking the men before him.
“Please…” The words felt foreign on his tongue but he had no other choice. “Please help me….. brothers.”