Chapter 77: Chapter 77

“I’ve got a call,” he announced to everyone else. We all gathered together, forming a small circle. He waited until everyone was there before picking the call. The phone wasn’t on loudspeaker but I strained my ears to hear what Carol had to say. Of course, she demanded money and made the request I knew she was going to make. Give me Andre Rios.

When Anton dropped the phone from his ear he sighed.

“Well?” Cole asked impatiently.

“She will let Bianca go for a price and in exchange for Andre.”

Four pairs of eyes turned to me, three of them curious to know why Carol would make such a specific request.

It was Cole who voiced the question. “Why does she want you?” he demanded. “What do you have to do with this?”

I started to answer truthfully but Anton interrupted me. “He has nothing to do with it but we will give her the money she wants and negotiate for him,” he pointed at me.

Cole wasn’t convinced with his answer but the look in Anton’s eyes was one that demanded respect for his decision so he said nothing and simply nodded.

“I am guessing we will be bringing the cops with us to the exchange location?”

“No, she wants us to come alone. No cops. If we can promise that she will hand Bianca over and if we don’t, she will kill her.”

The coldness of those words chilled me to my bones. Would Carol really do something like that?

**

“Get up Davies, you’re leaving. Damn, you are so lucky, Hayes will pay whatever it takes to get you back. Are you sure you don’t to thank that thoughtful old man in a ‘special’ way?”

I gave her a droll stare and she laughed.

“Chill out Bianca, don’t you know how to take a joke? Now get up and let’s get you cleaned up.”

“My legs are tied.”

“Ah sorry about that.” She came closer and untied my legs. “Now don’t even think about running. I am going to show you a bathroom and you will shower and get dressed alright?”

I don’t think I would have been able to run if I wanted to. My legs hurt so bad it was a pain trying to walk but I made it, walking behind her as she led the way to the bathroom downstairs. We passed a living room where the rest of the gang was, so I am guessing they are going to be our escort or something in case Mr. Hayes brings the cops.

I felt a shiver through my spine as I walked into the bathroom. Carol left the door slightly open as if she was worried I would climb over a wall and run off. I took my gown off gingerly and tears filled my eyes. Sad to see that the peach gown I had so happily worn in Andre’s presence for the after-party, hoping for a night of sleeping with his warm hands around me was now soiled and I couldn’t even look at it without crying.

I threw the gown to a corner and wiped my eyes.

You are going home today. You are going home today. That’s all that matters.

Finally, after 24 hours of faking bravery for my life’s worth, I would get to see my mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, and…Siobhan…I didn’t hurt so much now that I realized just how close to death I was. If I wasn’t abducted I most likely would have not talked to her throughout the test of the term. But life is too short to keep a grudge however much it hurts. I want to move on from this and this is the only way I know how.

Even Aaron. I guess I can forgive him…I just don’t understand how hard it is to make a choice. And that was his problem, indecision.

And Andre…my heart clenched. He has a lot of explaining to do…

“Bianca?”

I whirred around at the male voice, holding my breasts to hide them.

“Who…Andre?”

Was it?

The gray eyes, raven black hair, and facial features…no this wasn’t Andre. There was a lot more maturity to his face but he looked just as gorgeous. This is Alex, the mastermind behind the kidnapping.

“What do you want?” I asked, my chest heaving with fear. What if he decides he wants to rape me before letting me go. And the way he was looking at me, it was so much like Andre’s gray eyes seeing me naked for the first time but I flinched under Alex’s gaze and tried to cover myself.

He chuckled and came into the bathroom.

“Stay away from me!” I screamed.

“Hey, you don’t have to hide yourself from me. I have seen a lot of naked girls in my life.”

I grabbed the shower head ready to use it as a weapon when he grabbed it and put it out of my reach.

“Relax,” he whispered fiercely, holding a hand to my mouth. His eyes darted to the door and he closed it with his leg. I wanted to faint. What if I couldn’t fight him if he decides to rape me? I started to cry again.

But Alex didn’t make any move to touch me like I thought he would. Instead, he asked, “How is my brother?”

His voice cracked when he asked the question and the look in his eye was one of a broken heart and love. It took the fight out of me.

“How is he? Does he love it there in Hudson? Is he playing basketball?”

He began to cry. I didn’t know what to do at the sight of his tears. I watched, dazed and confused.

“Does he talk about me?”

“Wha…huh…he doesn’t. I actually never…I never asked questions about him and he never spoke about his family.”

“I see. I guess I deserve it after forcing him to do this.”

“Force him? But Carol said he was part of the gang and the aim was to…to kidnap Siobhan for money.”

For a second I thought that was anger in Alex’s eyes but it soon faded and once again he looked like a broken-down adult version of Andre. He leaned against the wall. I don’t think he remembers I am naked.

“He never wanted to go ahead with the plan. I saw in his eyes that leaving Mainland was some sort of freedom for him. I wish I hadn’t forced him to do it.” He was crying again. “I even beat up my own baby brother. What kind of a monster am I?” he sniffed. “I should have protected him, I should have kept him safe after our mom died. I failed as a brother. I failed.”

I watched him slide down the floor to the wet bathroom floor and felt sorry for him. Ignoring my naked state I bent to touch his shoulder.

“Do you think he hates me?” he asked.

“I don’t know what sort of relationship you both had before your father’s company crashed…but I do know Andre might be incapable of hating you.”

“He must hate me! I kicked him! I beat him up like an animal, I wish I hadn’t done that but Carol swooped him and corrupted him.”

I don’t know much about Carol corrupting him but I do know that he tried to warn me when the men showed up to kidnap me from school. Surely, he was able to resist Carol’s machinations to go ahead with the plan.

Alex raised his eyes to my face and he smiled sadly. “He is in love with you, you know? I don’t think I ever saw him talk happily with a girl the way he talked with you at the beach. He was always too serious with his school work and basketball and I thought Carol was going to hold on to him forever. I don’t think any girl could have turned his head the way you turned his. I was worried about his relationship with Carol, she was using him but you…you seem like a nice person. Do you love him?”

Tears dropped down my cheeks. “I thought I did,” I cried. “I did love him and yes I tried to hide it from myself, from him but nothing could change how I felt about him but after everything that has happened I don’t know what to think anymore…”

Alex suddenly gripped my shoulders and forced me to stop talking. “You have to love him, keep loving him I beg you, Bianca. He is not a bad kid, he is a good boy. I just happen to be a terrible older brother but I will make it up to him if I had the chance.”

“How?” I sobbed. “Carol would only give me back if she has Andre and the money.”

“No, I have a plan and if goes well Carol will have neither Andre nor the money.”

My eyes widened. “What do you have in mind?”

“Just – just leave the plan to me but I must beg one thing of you.”

“What is it?”

“Show Andre the love I couldn’t. He is a broken kid and I caused that but you can mend him, I beg you.”

Fresh tears filled my eyes again. Alex pulled me in for a hug and squeezed me tight. We both cried for the poor boy caught up in all this messy drama.

“I will try,” I promised. “I will.”