Zack's POV:
"Isabella?" I called out over the phone.
"Zack? How are you doing, my son?" She sweetly asked.
"I am not fine, Bella." I slowly answered.
"Why? What happened? Is everything alright, Zack?" I could sense her becoming worried.
"Bella....Jennifer.. She's.." I could not complete the sentence. Just the thought of Jennifer being held as a captive is aching my heart.
"Yes? Jennifer what, Zack?"
"She's kidnapped, Bella!" I blurted out.
"WHAT?! HOW? WHEN?"
I explained everything to her and she quietly listened.
"Please get her back, Bella." I pleaded. I have no clue about who has taken Jennifer and what their purpose is.
I don't even know if she's fine. Has she even eaten anything?
I promised her that I won't let anything happen to her but I failed to keep my promise.
"Don't worry, Son. Jennifer is a strong girl. She'll be fine. And I will make sure that we find her soon. For now, I want all of you to come here."
"But why?" I asked, being genuinely confused.
"So that we can discuss about this in person. I will make the whole mafia work day and night to find Jennifer. All our equipments and hacking systems are set up in the mansion. We need all of you here so that it's easier for us to work." She explained.
That made sense.
"But I can't come there knowing that Jennifer is somewhere here. I won't leave her, Bella."
"Zack, son, listen to me. I know this is very hard for you but you have to stay strong for Jennifer."
I didn't say anything. How can I leave this place when Jennifer is trapped somewhere around?
"We will find her, Zack." Isabella's voice was filled with optimism and it gave me immense hope.
I know we'll find her. We have to.
"Okay, Bella. We'll be there." I said and we hung up.
Everyone was looking at me when I cut the call with Isabella.
"She asked us to come there."
*****
I had borrowed Alexander's car as one of our own cars, was god knows where. The one Charlotte and Jennifer had taken to the mall.
Jennifer. I just can't stop worrying about her. I just want her here, in my arms, cuddling with me. Laughing with me. Smiling at me. I just want her to be safe.
I am now convinced that what I feel for Jennifer is not just attraction.
I don't just like her, I feel like.. I love her. It's just getting hard for me to deny that.
I don't know why, but this girl brought out a side of me that I never knew I had.
I found her to be so annoying in the start. I just couldn't tolerate her voice and her confused face... But look at me now, I am dying to hear her, I am desperate to see her again.
Oh Jennifer, what have you done to me?
Jennifer's POV:
I winced as soon as I opened my eyes. Every cell of my body was in pain.
I was still lying on the cold floor, in a really messed up state and tied up in chains.
Wait.
Chains?!
Holy mother of fishes I was tied up in chains! No, this is not real, this can't be.
Like.. Am I dead? And went to hell?
No. That can't be either.
You really are tied up in chains. Just like those nightmares.
But.. Nightmares aren't supposed to come true.
Who said that?
I did.
And who are you?
....
There's literally no mercy in these ugly roaches. I could see my dried up blood on the floor near me from last night and this room still smells horrible.
I am so hungry and thirsty and so immensely in pain. Well, they didn't tape my mouth this time, so that's good.
My wrists and ankles were locked with chains tied from the foot of the bed that was in the corner of the room.
I was still wearing Zack's hoodie but his scent was gone from it.
My eyes filled up with tears when Zack's face appeared in my mind. How would he be right now?
The metal door opened and the ugly roach walked in.
"Missed me?" Gage smirked and kept a tray on the floor in front of me.
There were two pieces of bread and a half glass filled with water in it.
"Here, some food and water for the lovely guest." He rolled his eyes.
"You call two pieces of bread, food? And atleast you could have filled this full glass with water." I rolled my eyes at him too.
"So good that I won't have to deal with your annoying ass after this." He muttered to himself.
"Why? Are you going for a trip to hell to see what your home would be like when you die?" I said and drank the half glass of water.
My throat was so dry.
And it still is.
"Why aren't you scared? You are literally kidnapped by a powerful mafia and almost beaten to death last night and still, here you are, speaking to me like that."
I choked on the piece of bread I had stuffed inside my mouth. "A powerful what?!"
"Mafia."
"Please... No." I continued eating the second piece of bread.
"You still don't look scared and it's annoying me." Gage gave me a blank look while I continued chewing the bread.
I was so hungry.
And I still am.
"Well, you probably won't believe this but I am a mafia heir myself."
The room was silent for a good 9 seconds.
Yeah, I counted.
"That kinda explains why you're here." Gage nodded to himself.
"You aren't surprised?"
"Just like you aren't scared." He grabbed the tray and started walking to the door.
"Hey! Gage! Wait!"
He turned around and gave me the most annoyed look ever. "What?"
"What did you mean when you said that you won't have to deal with me anymore? Are they going to kill me?!" I asked with widened eyes.
"I wish.. But no. Someone else is given the duty to torture you for now."
"Why? Where are you going?"
"That's none of your business but since it might be the last time I see you, I could tell you. Well, I am being transferred to another city to look after the drugs shipment for the mafia."
"Good luck."
"Thanks."
"So.. Who will torture me now?"
"Don't know." He said and left.
Great.
A mafia kidnapped me.
Why? According to Gage that's because I am a heir to my dad's mafia that's why.
But I don't think that's the reason.
Yeah, smart ass, I know. The threatening messages to snatch everything from my life won't explain this theory.
Wow. Since when are you so smart?
Charlotte's POV:
We reached the mansion an hour ago. And it seemed like the whole mafia was gathered here before Ben ordered his men to track Jennifer's phone and hack the CCTVs of the area around the mall and a couple other things which I didn't really understand.
Everyone was so angry and worried about Jennifer.
Especially Tristan.
He seemed like he lost his mind when he found out that she's kidnapped.
"You shouldn't have let her go alone! She's not an ordinary girl now! She's the daughter of a very successful late businessman and mafia leader! Her and Kyle have earned a lot of enemies!" He yelled at Zack who just looked down in shame.
"And aren't you also her boyfriend now?! You weren't even able to protect her! She deserves the best and you clearly aren't that!" Tristan continued.
Zack didn't even look up to see him, he just looked so defeated.
"You failed her Zack! You did." Tristan said with disgust.
"Tristan. Enough!" Max yelled. "You won't speak to my friend like that!"
"But he's right, Max. I always knew I didn't deserve her. He's right." Zack said quietly and walked out.
"You should watch your mouth before speaking to my friends like that." Max warned Tristan.
"Your job, is to find my sister. So just do that." Max grabbed Tristan's collar.
"I will." Tristan said with as much a fiery look as Max.
Jennifer's POV:
It's been two days.
And all I got to eat and drink in these two days were that half glass of water and two pieces of bread. Some one had also taken me to use the restroom a few hours back.
At least they had the decency to acknowledge basic body functions.
My wrists were bruised because of these chains. My ankles being tied up is giving me ptsd because of that past incident in that water park all those years ago.
I was sitting on the floor, hugging my knees while silently crying.
The door opened and someone walked in.
It was a guy with blonde hair and green eyes. He looked like a decent human being.
Good. I was expecting some ugly muscular dude.
Me too.
You are me.
No, you are me.
"Hey." He said in a monotone voice.
"Hey." I imitated him.
"I am Casper." He introduced.
"The friendly ghost?"
Why did you have to say that?!
Casper chuckled.
"Oh I am anything but a friendly ghost." He smirked.
"You are Gage's replacement to torture me?" I asked.
He nodded.
"You don't seem like a person who talks much." I said.
"Right."
He came near me and bent down, staring dead into my eyes.
"So, you'll beat me too?" I asked and looked down.
He didn't say anything but I could feel him staring at me.
"I don't have a choice." He said after a moment of silence. I looked up to see him again.
His green eyes reminded me of Damien's green eyes. And Damien reminded me of all the others.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing."
"Tell me, Casper."
He just stared at me.
"If you don't tell me then I'll call you 'Ghostie'" I smirked.
He grabbed my arm and made me stand up, in which I struggled to do. He raised his hand and I flinched and shut my eyes.
But he didn't hit me. He just kept his hand on my cheek and wiped it.
"There was dirt on your cheek." He said and moved his hand away.
"I never hit a girl before. And I don't ever plan to." He stated with a stern expression.
"But.. Isn't this you job?" I asked.
"You want me to hit you?" Casper tilted his head.
"Of course not." I scoffed. "Just curious. Won't you like.. Have to face consequences if your boss finds out that you aren't doing your task?"
"Why are you worried about me?"
"I am.. Not? I am just... Curious."
"I don't give a shit about him." He said in a monotone voice again.
"Oh...Nice.. I guess." I shrugged.
Just then we heard the rats squeak as they ran to us.
"Rats!" I screamed and tugged on Casper's sleeves.
I tried to run away as one of them came near me but tripped due to the restriction by the chains. Luckily Casper caught me before I could fall and break my nose again.
"I'll get these away." He said and padded out of the room.
He came back sooner with a cage and was running after the rats to catch them.
"Try baiting them." I suggested.
"How?"
"Like Tom does to trap Jerry.... Cheese!" I grinned.
Casper gave me a small, almost unnoticeable smile. "They're just cartoon characters." Casper said and continued chasing after the nasty creatures.
"But they're famous. And everyone loves them." I proudly stated.
"Sure."
After a few struggling minutes of chasing and running, Casper caught all three of the rats.
"Woah. Thanks Ghostie." I gave him a thumbs up.
"Welcome." He smiled and started to leave.
"You aren't going to do anything to me?" I asked.
Casper sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't even know your name. And.. Why are you even here?"
"Jennifer is the name....and the second question... I wish I knew the answer." I gave him a sad smile.
"Jennifer." He smiled. "Don't worry." He turned around and left.