Rafael had a crappy night and was awake the next morning, looking like a walking dead, he should have known Leonard would pull a stunt like this, he should have seen it coming but he hadn’t thought Leonard would pull the stunt on him, why didn’t he think of that knowing that Leonard had a grudge against him for being the main reason his evil deeds were found out, now Nicole would suffer the consequences of his actions, not just her but her sister too, he was going to meet up with their parents this morning again and he still didn’t know how to face them, he had spent the whole of yesterday finding any possible means of knowing their whereabouts but nothing, there was no call from the kidnaper either, it was just quiet everywhere yet so loud, the police were on it, but still no lead, the prime suspect still remind Leonard but no one knew where he was, his wife and family members all swore they haven’t seen him since he supposedly ran off from prison, Rafael didn’t trust them at all and had them watched, they tried to defend him when he exposed him so why would he believe them.
His phone started ringing as he got out of his room, he and Aron have been together since the whole thing started and yesterday they did everything together, he currently laid on the chair in the living room and looked up at him when he walked in holding his phone.
“I think this is it,”
Rafael said placing the phone on the table and putting it on loudspeaker, He watched as Aron quickly got out his own phone and started recording, the guy was smart.
“Hello, hello, Salvador, long time no see,”
Leonard’s voice echoed over the phone, Rafael clenched his hand into a fist, it was really Leonard behind this, it wasn’t just a play.
“Leonard,”
“Glad you know who is talking so you must know already,”
“Where are my wife and her sister?”
He asked.
“Somewhere, so how are you doing my man?”
“Shut the fuck up, I am not your man, why do you have my family?”
He yelled.
“Always with the temper, better don’t yell on me, I am the one in charge here and if you yell at me, I might take it out on your loved ones, you want to get them back in one piece right? If you don’t, I can do a lot of harm,”
He threatened.
“Don’t you dare lay a finger on any one of them,”
Rafael warned.
“Then don’t challenge me,”
“Fine, so what do you want from me? Why are you after my loved ones?”
“It’s simple, I want money, a lot of money,”
Leonard’s voice echoed over the phone, Money? that’s what all these were about? Rafael couldn’t believe Leonard had done all these just to get money, it wasn’t even about a grudge, he just needed an easy pass and money was that pass.
“So it’s about the money? How much do you want Leonard? Go straight to the point,”
He urged.
“Be nice to me Salvador, I have the woman you love and an extra, I am sure you won’t want me to do anything to them, whatever you do will reflect on how they are treated,”
Leonard threatened, Rafael wanted to scream at him to go fuck himself but he had the upper hand, he didn’t want Nicole and Natalie to suffer because of him, they were already going through so much by being held against their will and he didn’t want to add more pain.
“I am sorry,”
He apologized even though that was the last thing he wanted to do.
“Ah, he apologized, love does change people, anyway, get me two billion dollars and get the girls back, you have forty-eight hours to do so or I might not be held accountable for what will happen, I know two billion dollars is nothing to you so the faster you get it here, the better for you, and you better not involve the police,”
“Is that all you want Leonard? Is that why you took my family? Money?”
“Hey, calmly, yes, I want money and this was the only way to get it since you ruined my life, I need money to get back at those idiots who betrayed me and they all betrayed me because of you so it is only right that I get the money from you,”
“Fine, you get what you want, can I speak with them at least?”
“Sure, hold on for a moment,”
He said and the line went silent for a moment, only his footstep could be heard as he walked, he opened a door, Rafael held his breath.
“Okay, you have thirty seconds, don’t do anything stupid because whatever you do, you might not meet them alive, here rudey, your husband wanna talk to you,”
“Rafael,”
He heard Nicole’s voice and his heart dropped, she had so much fear in her voice.
“Hey, baby, you are okay, right? They didn’t do anything to you, and Natalie too she okay right?”
“Yes, we are okay, please get us out of here,”
She pleaded.
“Yes, baby, I will do that, you stay strong for me okay, I love you so much,”
“Okay, she is no longer hearing you, your thirty seconds is up and you can tell her the last part when you pay the money to get her back,”
Leonard said.
“Fine, where do you want me to bring the money?”
“About that, I will call you back, let’s say in the next one hour,”
He said and the call ended, Rafael looked at Aron who had an angry expression too.
“Let’s go, man, we need to see the girls’ parents,”
Aron said.
“No, I need to get the money ready so that when he calls I can go give it to him and bring the girls home to their parents,”
Rafael responded.
“You are out of your mind? You want to take that bastard’s words for it? We are not taking any money to him alone,”
“What’s going on here?”
Lance asked as he came back from what looked like a morning walk, Rafael forgot he let him stay the night.
“The guy, Leonard, the one we suspected called and Rafael here wants to go give him two billion dollars himself,”
Aron disclosed.
“That’s not cool, this man is a wanted man, the police has to be involved, what do you think will happen? He will hand you the money and you are good? It doesn’t happen that way, he might not give the women back even if he gets the money or he might play dirty, you know he has a lot of grudges against you, he might kill you, I will go talk to the police chief and get them on board,”
Lance said and left to the room he used the night before, Rafael stood there not knowing what to say or do, he felt if he go on it might or might not end up the way Lance has said but still.
When the police were informed, they were at his house a few minutes later, one moment the house was just the three of them and the next the place was filled with men, he was glad he decided to use this house instead of the penthouse, that place had been drawing too much attention to him and he didn’t want the media involved, it will only make matters worst, staying here didn’t bring much attention as not many people live here yet and the houses were scattered about in the huge estate.
He called Nicole’s parents to keep them informed, they were taking the whole thing better than he thought they will.
“I will call once the girls are safe,”
He said to their mom.
“Thank you, please let them out today, they have to be back safely if they stay too long, it won’t be good for them especially Nicole, the baby, God, I am so scared for the baby,”
She said and he wondered what baby she was talking about.