HARLEY: Five Million

A dull ache worked its way up my spine, and I groaned, slowly blinking my eyes open. I bent my neck from side to side, trying to relive the ache, but that only made the pain worse, not to mention the rope binding me to the wooden chair.  

I looked around, and my gaze halted on the same man, blue undershirt, standing a bit far with his back turned to me. His gaze was fixed on his phone, and I didn't think he knew I'd woken up. Where am I? The room I was in held nothing but two chairs, a table and a boarded-up window. 

Why was no one combing to save me? Oh, my father didn't care about me, and as for that jerk of the Jones, I was sure he wouldn't care that his new wife just got kidnapped before she even made it to his home. He didn't like me one bit—not that I wanted him to.  

Every second that tickled by felt like forever while I tried to loosen the knot of the ropes. A phone suddenly rang aloud, and I looked at the man who was turning to check on me. 

I closed my eyes, pretending to still be knocked out, and I heard him let out a grunt of frustration before he answered. 

"You don't have to know who I am. But I'm sure the message got to you. I mean, you are calling me." 

A few seconds later.

"Oh, I do have your wife here with me, and no, I haven't killed her yet. Though I might if you don't start making payments soon."  

His laughter suddenly roared in the room. "Mr. Jones, your threats aren't going to do much. If you want your wife back, you pay us. Or, I am simply going to put a bullet through her head. And before I do it, I might just have a little fun with her. She's a pretty thing after all." 

Oh, I'll kill you.

My hands tightened into fists, and I breathed, waiting as he kept on with his call. 

"Five million, that's what we want." 

I choked on my saliva, blinking my eyes open immediately. Five million dollars? What made him think Sylus would pay that much for me? I wasn't his lover, for goodness sake! 

"That is my price. You pay it, or the bullet goes through her head. You choose, Mr. Sylus Jones." 

And he hung up, tossing the phone into the pocket of his suit. I was quick to fall back into a knocked-out state, listening in on his approaching footsteps. 

His hand wrapped around a good chunk of my hair, and he began speaking as if he knew I could hear him. "You better hope your new husband pays up the cash because I will kill you if he doesn't show up. Five million isn't to give you back to Mr. Sylus, but to keep you alive. You'll do for a lot of fun once I take you back to my boss." 

He let go roughly and stalked away, dropping into his seat. 

His boss? Why did it sound like he or she knew me? It would explain why this man knew my name. I was getting confused, no longer sure of what this situation could possibly be.  

I waited patiently, watching intently while untying myself as the man fell asleep. Once he was deeper into his nap, I tossed the rope away and stood up, taking careful steps toward him, my target, being the gun he had tossed on the table next to him. 

"Don't try anything stupid."  

I froze.  

The man abruptly rose from his seat, turning to stare at me with darkened eyes. "I knew you would try to escape. Boss properly warned me about you. Only an idiot would fall asleep around a skilled fighter like you." He stared at me, and I gazed back at him, refusing to look as if he intimidated me. He didn't. 

Both our eyes crossed over to the gun, and before he could pick it up, I ran, jumping onto him and knocking him to the floor. The gun fell off the table, and I hurried on all fours to grab it, but he snatched me by the waist, slamming me into the floor on my back. I felt the air knock out of my lungs and grunted deeply in pain. 

"You brat!" His right hand held me down to the floor by the throat, and he reached for the gun with the other. But I kicked it out of his grip, and bit into the hand that choked me. 

"Bitch!" he cursed at me, slapping me across the face with the back of his hand. I smiled at him with bloody lips and locked my legs around his neck, choking him. "I don't think your boss warned you enough of how tough I actually am. You see, I am not scared of death. But I also don't want to die, unless I have no choice."  

I flipped his large body over as he fought for air and sat on top of him, reaching for the gun he'd dropped. "You asked him for five million. That's daylight rubbery! I wouldn't even pay that much for myself."

"My boss's going to find you still!" He grunted at me. "He'll find you!! He has everything on you, he knows you like that back of his hand, including that gold digger of a father you have and he—"

"I don't care!" I slammed the pistol into his head a few more times until he was knocked out, but not dead, then I stood up, breathing heavily, my cheek aching where he'd hit me. 

"Dammit." 

The door burst open all too suddenly, and I turned my head, grimacing at the sight of Sylus, who looked like he'd run a thousand miles. Tousled dark hair, dilated pupils, and an unbuttoned suit. 

Someone would think he was scared to lose me. 

"You…" 

"Me what?" I asked, raising a brow at him. 

"You're alive." 

I chuckled in amusement. "Did you hope I died, husband? I bet you must be disappointed." Pain shot through my skull, and I shook my head, shaking off the dizziness. 

"What happened?" Sylus asked. "Who are these people and how—"

I hurriedly stalked right to him with blurry eyes and collapsed, falling into a pair of warm arms that held on tightly. 

"Doctor…" I breathed heavily. "Take me…to the hospital." 

"Hey! Wake up!" I heard, but the voice grew fainter and fainter. "…Wake up." 

"Harley!"