Chapter 358: His First Priority

"Seems simple enough…" Hayden mumbled.

Of course, he was worried about Malissa’s safety and nothing else. It would be enough for him if she would just make it out unharmed.

"Just do as I say, Doc. You’re a doctor and I’m the real gangster here. You just make sure that Malissa is safe, ok?" Ethan said after summarizing his plans.

"I will not thank you for this," Hayden snapped.

"I’m not doing this for you," Ethan said without a care.

…

Now that the appointment time was almost upon them, the three men exchanged a few words of alignment before preparing their teams to perform their duties as planned.

"Don’t die in there," Luka reminded Hayden sternly.

"I’ll get Malissa out," Hayden replied with certainty.

"I know that. I’m reminding you to get yourself out too," Luka reminded Hayden again.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Hayden just nodded his head a little, clearly his mind was focused on anything but his own safety. A frown formed on Luka’s brows before the older man reached out his hand and pulled on Hayden’s arm.

"Listen, it won’t make the little missy very happy if she makes it out, but you are harmed. You will do well to remember that you are not alone anymore," Luka warned as he stared into Hayden’s light blue eyes.

"Taking relationship advice from a single man is just…" Hayden teased with a dry laugh.

"Hayden…" Luka muttered scornfully.

"I hear you. If something happens, the boss will want to save me first but you know what I want you to do, right?" Hayden asked as he turned to face Luka straight on.

Luka couldn’t meet Hayden’s gaze. He knew that Hayden wanted to save Malissa first no matter the cost.

"Hayden…you’re the only one left…" Luka replied with desperation in his voice.

"Promise me that you will get her out. No matter what happens. Even if no one helps you, promise me that you will personally get her out," Hayden pressed without backing down.

"Fuck…I promise…but you better make sure that it doesn’t come down to that. She’s your girl, you save her yourself!" Luka was forced to agree.

"Thanks. Well, if I die you can take over…that would be perfect…" Hayden replied with a grin.

"Don’t joke around with me about that! Hayden!" Luka called loudly after Hayden.

Hayden did not turn back. The three men separated to deal with their own men. The preliminary negotiation was going to be essential to securing Malissa’s safety and Hayden wanted to focus on preparing for that.

…

Although the men mentioned something about the time approaching soon, it felt like forever had gone by while I was sitting anxiously on the chair. Having the tape over my mouth scared me more than anything. I couldn’t speak and the muffled sounds that I could make were incomprehensible.

After a while of making protesting sounds that no one including myself could understand, I decided to remain silent.

I turned my neck to look all around as my eyes darted to random places all around the very empty warehouse. The atmosphere was tense, and I could feel the tension in all the men that stood all around me. I closed my eyes and wished so hard that this was just a bad dream but the pain of the tape around my wrist and ankles told me that it was reality.

The men were completely silent and all I could hear was the loud beating of my own heart in my chest and the distant sound of a ticking clock.

"They’re here…" a man reported in a whisper.

Who’s here?

Don’t tell me…

My neck snapped in the direction that the men’s leader was standing next to the messenger who had just delivered the news. The two men were talking in low voices now and I couldn’t make out what they were saying from where I was seated; however, I knew that whoever they were expecting had already arrived.

Hayden…

Slowly, the door began sliding open and the tension in the warehouse skyrocketed. I couldn’t make a sound and I couldn’t breathe as I kept my eyes glued to the opening door. The men all around reacted swiftly by pulling out their guns. A large man approached me and spun my chair around with ease before he stood close to me to guard me. My face felt numb from fear and my body wouldn’t stop trembling.

Whatever was about to happen is about to happen…

When the door fully opened, around ten men dressed in black entered the room. A short moment later, a tall man dressed in a white suit entered and my breath caught in my throat.

Hayden! He’s here.

I wanted to scream but I couldn’t. I felt tears sting the back of my eyes and realized that I was about to cry. Relief flooded by body just at the sight of him. I hadn’t truly realized how terrified and hopeless I had been feeling until I saw him. If this wasn’t the feeling, that people referred to as salvation then it had to be something very close.

My eyes widened when I realized immediately that Hayden was also in danger. Why didn’t he bring more men?

"Wow. I have to say that I never thought that the next Torex boss would turn up himself," the leader said with a small laugh.

"You did request for me. Here’s the money that you asked for," Hayden replied flatly.

They requested for Hayden to bring the ransom money?

Hayden’s blue eyes shifted towards me, and for brief moment our eyes met. His eyes were as cold and as emotionless as ever but just feeling them on me gave me so much courage. Hayden, I am so sorry. Once again, I’ve brought him so much trouble.

"Men…" the leader said before gesturing with a nod of his head for his men to approach.

Two men slowly approached Hayden and his men to fetch the suitcase filled with cash. I was shocked at seeing that much money in cash. How are they supposed to go out with that?

"Hold on. The girl, first…" Hayden said sternly as he put up his hand to halt the approaching men.

--To be continued…