Chapter 4 Four

"So why am I getting special treatment if I'm just another target? I just tried to escape, if anyone remembers that" I trail out slowly, looking around the table to gauge their reactions. They all wear emotionless faces, not phased at all by what I said.

Lucas is the first to shrug his shoulders. "We like you; you seem cool."

Is he serious? I decide to leave the conversation as it is, right as my stomach starts to growl, telling me I am well overdue for the bacon that tempts in front of me. Without thinking about the men who surround me, I fill my plate with as much food as I can handle, and immediately dig in. I know I'm not a messy eater, I was obviously raised a lot better than that, but I'm still an odd girl who has a large appetite.

I try not to laugh through mouths full of food as they all stare at me with mild shock, a reaction I was expecting them to have. It seems they aren't used to seeing a girl devour so much food and remain somewhat ladylike.

"You either have a super-fast metabolism, or you work out like crazy," Charles mutters incredulously. "I haven't seen a girl eat that much food in less than an hour – or ever."

"I have a super-fast metabolism, always have, but still have a huge appetite as well. I never understood that, but never really complained about it either. It's a gift, what's there to be upset about?" I say, watching my plate as I re-fill it rather than paying attention to them as I speak.

"Impressive," he says. Lucas nods, his mouth hanging open slightly as he continues to watch me go for seconds, this time a little bit of a smaller plate. Ashton looks at me with narrowed eyes, as if he is trying to figure me out, either that or he isn't sure what to make of the scene in front of him, shocked like the rest of his bounty members.

"We're leaving after everyone is done eating, so pack quickly," Ashton finally says, taking his empty plate and disappearing into the kitchen. I continue to munch on my food quietly, taking smaller and slower bites this time, before I completely lose my appetite and push the food away.

"Guess that appetite does have a limit," Charles says and laughs lightly. He seems like an interesting person, but I'm unable to put my finger on him, or what he is going to do next. At first, he seemed kind of cold and ruthless, but now he seems at ease and almost boyish.

"Not really hungry anymore, I think I'll just wait until we leave."

"You can wait with me in the car," Ashton says, walking back out of the kitchen with the duffel bag. Lucas and Charles disappear down the halls, giving me no choice but to follow Ashton out the front door. He opens the back of the van for me, but quickly stops and spins me around before I can climb in. He grabs the rope from behind me and ties my hands up again, before pushing me into the back and slamming the door.

He hops into the passenger side and locks all the doors as soon as he gets in. For the next 10 minutes, we wait, until I hear the locks click, and the opposite side door opens to reveal Lucas, just as Charles climbs in. We speed off immediately, tearing through the slightly fallen forest and mud, not slowing down for anything. I try my best to keep myself against the side of the van, balanced on the ground, but it is almost impossible to avoid bouncing and hitting my head.

I'm thankful when it seems the road smooths out, and I can sit up right again on the side of the van. Like before, everyone remains quiet as we drive to the unknown; at least, unknown for me. Even Lucas keeps his eyes on the front window, not saying a word or looking in my direction. I wonder if it is because he is nervous, his eyes are shifting slightly, even though he can't see much from where we're sitting.

Who is this employer?

The longer it takes for me to meet them, the more I think of every bad thing that could happen when I do, and the way they have spoken of their employer, he or she doesn't seem like the greatest person. I hope they are at least a tiny bit as kind as Lucas is and are keeping me alive because they do only want the money, and I already have faith that my parents will pay them whatever they want for my life. I really hope to God they do.

The road is so smooth after a while, I wonder if we are on the freeway and if so, what direction we're heading. East, I have a few family members; west, I have never really been in that direction down the freeway. If that is where we are heading, I will have no idea where we could possibly end up, not even a small idea. That thought erases any last shred of hope I have of escaping again, though I know for the next day or two, however long they keep me hostage, I'm not going to be able to run on my ankle.

I hope that when we finally arrive at their destination, I can persuade Lucas to give me a packet of ice for my ankle and try my best to heal up as fast as I can. I know the police have at least been notified of my kidnapping, and if I can make it to the road, the best chance I have could be to signal a car and tell the person who I am. If we haven't travelled that far outside of Los Angeles, anyone who watches the news or still reads the paper will know I am missing. That has to be a large percentage of the city's population.

Right?

I chew my lip as I mull over the pressing thoughts in my head, unaware that we have come to a slow stop. This time, I am prepared for the door to swing open, and shuffle back before Ashton can exit the van. Like before, Lucas exits on one side and grabs the duffle bag, before Ashton comes around and opens the door next to me. He glares at me, and I can't understand why he suddenly looks so angry.

He reaches out and roughly grabs my arm to drag me out of the van, slamming the door shut with his other hand. He continues to drag me around the van, revealing a large, luxurious-looking mansion. I can't help when my mouth pops open this time. The manor is larger than my place, much larger, and nicer looking.

The front pillars and wide steps leading to the front door are made of cracked white and black marble, glistening and smooth to the touch, my Converse slipping slightly as I walked up. The doors are made of deep brown coloured wood, just as smooth as the marble, but feel more real as I run my fingers across it. Ashton gives me an odd look, lifting his hand to unlock the door.

"You have a key?"

He frowns at me as if I was asking an obvious question.

"Of course, I live here."

He lives with his employer? Or is this not his employer's house?

My mind continues to swirl with more pressing questions, still with missing answers. Ashton pushes open the doors and holds them open for Charles and Lucas right behind us. They split as soon as we entered the manor, going straight down a hallway off to the right of the foyer. There are two staircases on either side of the large foyer, covered in a darker coloured marble than the front, equally as sparkling. Ashton tightens his grip on my arm and pulls me up the left staircase to drag me down the hall.

We stop at the last door at the end of the hall. Ashton timidly knocks, standing back a bit afterwards. After a few seconds, a deep voice calls from the other side to come in. Ashton releases my arm and opens the door, walking in before me.

"We successfully kidnapped Anthony White's daughter, here as you requested," he says, before pushing me out from behind him. I gasp when I see the man in front of me, knowing exactly who he is. He grins at me, his white hair a little thinner than the mug shot I had last seen on TV, his eyes still the same menacing, bright blue.

It clicks then; they are a lot like Ashton's.

It isn't possible...

"Hello Ava, so wonderful to finally meet you," he says, clapping his hands together, the sound appearing much louder in the large, almost empty office room. "My name is Lucien Bradford, but by the look on your face, something tells me you might recognize me," he says, but he doesn't sound scared or upset about it.

He sounds giddy as if he is excited that I know he is a wanted criminal, recently released from jail. He is known for robbing multiple banks, killing dozens of people along the way, and is rumoured to be a part of drug smuggling and has ties to the mafia. I only know what I have read in the papers and seen on TV, but regardless of what is true, he is dangerous, and his presence alone terrifies me to the bone.

I look up towards Ashton, now standing next to me. I ask him silently with my eyes, what is going on. He frowns, hopefully understanding what I am trying to say.

"This is our employer, the man bargaining with your parents," he says quietly. A large lump forms in my throat and my heart plummets to the pit of my stomach, where it churns with the rest of the breakfast we had, making me feel sick.

I am going to be held hostage by this wanted criminal, for how long?

What will he do if he doesn't get his money? He has never been afraid to kill before.

I now understand why the guys had looked so nervous before bringing me here.

Even they are terrified of him, and they have every right.

I'm screwed.