Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Chapter 10 So how was work?

My hands grip the steering wheel tightly as I ease my foot on the pedal ever so slightly. It's been two days since I've left to check the shipments, and I'm finally heading home. I had been informed that everything had run smoothly while I was gone, and I was relieved.

The Viper Gang is usually smarter than this. They are usually more elusive when they are put to tasks, but eventually they are bound to slip up, and unfortunately for them, they happened to slip up in my own home.

Which infuriates me.

Especially since they are after Dakota.

Why they want Dakota back is beyond me, all they did to her was beat her half to death.

But I guess they are prideful and greedy bastards who are about to meet their doom.

Relief floods my mind as I finally pull into the driveway of my mansion. It is around 8:30 AM, and the songs of the morning birds ring through the air, reminding me springtime is nearing.

My property is neatly landscaped; beautiful specialty trees of all types are placed at just the right places and water fountains feeding into large coy-ponds with large water lilies make the place I call home.

It is a serene place. But too bad but even in the midst of serenity, lies a hidden darkness.

I enter my home and find myself in the kitchen, expecting to see Katelin making her signature mac and cheese. But she's not there.

"Honey, I'm home!" I call out, and laugh to myself.

That will be the day. I think and roll my eyes.

But when nobody answers, I become suspicious.

It's quiet....too quiet.

Wait....is that snoring I hear?

And sure enough, the sound of faint snoring fills the house. My curiosity grows, and so I wander into the living-room. And then I see it.

I see the source of the snoring.

Because there on the floor, lies Drew and Jordan. Drew is sprawled out across the floor, with his foot nearly in Jordan's mouth. It was quite a ridiculous sight, really.

Jordan is going to flip when he wakes up. I think as I smirk.

Then my attention turns to Dakota, who is curled up on the couch. Her thumb is barely touching her lips, and one arm lazily flops over the side of the couch. Her legs are exposed, and I notice she has only one sock on one foot.

Where's Katelin?

At that moment, the floor creaks. I turn around and notice Katelin creeping out from the kitchen. Her gaze lands on me, and as soon as her eyes touch me, she engages herself in a silent sprint, and hugs me tightly.

"You're home!" She exclaims.

Katelin always worries about me, because she knows that once I walk out the door, there is a big chance I may never come back alive.

"Hey, good to see you too." I chuckle.

"I was just getting my camera." She tells me as she pulls out her small camera from her pocket.

"Uhm...why?" I question.

"Because look at this sight!" She exclaims as she points to the sleeping heaps on the floor and couch.

She then proceeds to snap pictures eagerly, all the while quietly laughing.

And by quietly, I mean she was hysterical.

"Huh...wut?" Dakota mumbles as she rubs the sleep from her eyes. Her face looks dazed, as if she is still half asleep.

"'Morning Sunshine." Katelin says, still taking pictures.

Dakota sits up, her hair sticking up everywhere and her makeup smudged. She narrows her eyes at Katelin, and it looks like she is processing what is all going on. Her eyes haven't landed on me yet, which I am thankful for. I don't want to startle her.

"W-why?" She questions Katelin.

"I thought I'd savor the moment, so I wanted to take pictures. Pictures last longer." Katelin replies with a simple shrug.

"DREWWW GET YOUR FOOT AWAY FROM ME!" Jordan suddenly yells in anger.

Dakota and Katelin jump back, obviously startled at the sudden outburst. I simply watch in amusement.

Drew frantically shoots to his feet, and runs to me. "Oh, hello Boss. I'd love to stay and talk, but Jordan is pissed at me!" He exclaims before booking it out of there.

Jordan groggily gets to his feet and walks to me. "Hey Boss. How did everything go?" He asks.

I nod and respond, "Meet me in my office in a few minutes, I have some stuff to go over with you."

Jordan nods, and then leaves to go get himself cleaned up.

"I take it that you both had a good time?" I ask Katelin and Dakota.

Dakota shyly smiles and nods while Katelin says, "Of course. So how was work?"

"Not too bad....there was just a misunderstanding so I had to clear things up. No confrontation or anything, it was straight to the point." I reply.

"Cool. Well I'm glad you came back safe." Katelin says.

"Me too, Katelin. Me too." I reply. "Well girls, I've got to go talk to Jordan in my office for a bit. I'll come spend time with you in a bit." I tell them.

"Okay, see you later." Katelin says.

"Bye." Dakota replies, quietly.

I smile at her small voice before turning away and leaving too take care of business.

Dakota's POV:

My gaze lingers on Ace for a little too long as he leaves, and Katelin notices.

"Take a picture, it lasts longer." She says smugly.

My face turns red as I elbow her in the side. "Oh shut up." I tease.

I can't help that my eyes are drawn to.....attractive people. I'm just simply observing, that's all!

"Hey, I get it! I mean, he's my brother so....ew, but I understand why you two would go for each other. You're attractive, people say my brother's attractive, so why not? Plus I'd think you'd be perfect for him." Katelin sputters out.

"What are you-"

Katelin cuts me off.

"Don't even pull the 'I don't know what you're talking about' with me missy. I notice you two staring at each other every now an then." She tells me.

My face feels hot and I just know it's a lovely shade of ripe tomato right about now.

Katelin laughs upon seeing my uncomfortable state. "Relax, you look like the tomatoes in my kitchen right now. Don't worry, I won't tell him." She says and winks at me.

"Well, I've got to go take care of my cousin's cattle ranch. She's been pretty busy lately and needs some extra help. I love animals, so I thought, why not? I will be gone for maybe a week or so. I hope you don't mind me leaving?" Katelin says.

"Your cousin has a ranch?" I ask, my voice coated in awe.

Katelin smiles and nods. "Yes she does, she has a two-hundred acre cattle ranch up in the Northern Californian mountains. There's a ton of snow up there now, so she needs help repairing shelters for the cattle."

"That sounds fun." I respond.

"It's a lot of work, but I do find it enjoyable." Katelin says. "But I've got to catch my flight. I've got to leave, like right now."

She gives me a hug and tapes her cell phone number to the fridge. "There probably won't be that great of cell service there, but just in case." She says and smiles at me.

"Okay, have fun. Good luck, too." I tell her.

"Thanks. And remember, my brother is here to protect you. I know it's not easy to remember that but....trust me on this." She says, offering a small smile.

"I will try to trust him." I tell her quietly and look down while fumbling with my thumbs.

Katelin smiles at me, and bids her last goodbyes before heading out the door.

I am now alone, standing in the living room, wondering what to do now? I'm all by myself, as Ace is in his office, Katelin is gone, and Jordan and Drew are working.

Maybe I can go for a walk in the gardens. I think to myself.

After all, Ace's mansion has many beautiful gardens with vibrant flowers and beautiful trees. He even has some nice coy-ponds with huge, colorful coy fish.

So, I find my way out the back door and into the gardens. The air smells of blooming flowers, and the bird's songs of praise is heard. The gentle sunlight feels warm and relaxing against my skin, and the vibrant trees and shrubbery paint the landscape majestically.

I make my way further into the gardens, where huge, beautifully kept rose bushes are planted. The roses are pink and orange, and I carefully intertwine my fingers around the head of one large, pink rose. I bend down and smell the sweet, flowery scent the rose gives off.

I then lift my head to continue my journey into the garden, when suddenly just doesn't seem right.

The birds are no longer chirping. Everything is deadly silent.

Not a single sound rang through the garden. Even the wind that had been blowing the trees gently had stopped.

It was quiet.

Too quiet.

My mind screamed at me to run, because something was just not right.

A sudden, loud snap fills the quiet garden, and my heart jolts in my chest as I prepare to flee.

But just when I'm about to flee, a sharp pain explodes in the back of my neck, and I stumble forward.

What the?

I touch the spot of the pain, and I am surprised when my fingers pulls out a dart. I panic as I realize that it's a tranquilizer.

I start to run as quickly as I can back to the house, when I start to feel dizzy. I slow down and start to trip over my feet.

No no no! You can't sleep now!

The door comes in sight now, and I'm almost there, when suddenly a figure jumps out in front of me. I fall onto my knees, as the effects of the drugs take place.

"N-no!" I beg.

"Didn't think you could get away that easy, did you?" He questions as he squats down to my eye level.

I bring my eyes to meet his, and I immediately recognize him.

"Hawk, please d-don't do this!" I beg.

"Boss's orders." He whispers in my ear.

"Help!-"

I am silenced as he slaps his hand over my mouth and presses the cold barrel of a gun against my chest.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He whispers.

I fall to the ground on my stomach as I feel my body surrender to the drugs. My eyes feel heavy, and my mind feels foggy and dazed. I grip the grass beneath me tightly in an attempt to hold onto my consciousness.

"T-th-the cameras....he will k-know...."

"He won't know anything, dear. I caught you on a blind spot."

But I don't say anything else as I stumble into the pit of unconsciousness as I am quickly wrapped in darkness's embrace.

And I can only hope that I will be rescued once more.