A year passed by in a blur. As an athlete major, I was supposed to be dedicated to my sport, but my work commitments made it impossible. I rarely attended practice or matches, and my college campus felt like a distant memory. The smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of cheering crowds were replaced with the hum of conference rooms and the stench of stale coffee.
But despite the chaos, I found solace in Ryan, the son of our family doctor. His calm demeanor and reassurances were a balm to my frazzled nerves. And then there was Betty, the girl I had placed in Wu's care. I couldn't see her, but the memory of sound of her laughter and the thought of her bright smile made every day worth living.
When I finally decided to bring her closer to me, I made Wu suggest the idea of getting a GED and attending my college. To my surprise, she took to the idea like a fish to water. She studied hard and passed the GED on her own merit. I was impressed and relieved. I then pulled strings to ensure she received a scholarship to attend my college.
She started attending my college, and I thought it would be easier to see her. But my father had other plans. He suddenly had a slew of work commitments and business trips that required my presence. The sound of his voice, always calm and collected, sent a shiver down my spine. I knew he was watching me, waiting for me to slip up.
As the months went by, I managed to one day catch a glimpse of her as she was leaving the science lab building. The warm sunlight danced across her face, illuminating her determined expression. Her eyes sparkled with a fierce intensity, and her shoulders were back, exuding confidence. My heart skipped a beat as I watched her walk away, her long strides devouring the distance. I longed to follow her, to be near her, but I knew I couldn't. Not yet.
The distance between us felt like an eternity, and I wondered if I would ever be able to bridge the gap. Betty deserved better than a life of secrets, lies, manipulation and violence, and I knew I had to find a way to give it to her. But for now, I was trapped in a world of my father's making, forced to play a role that was suffocating me.
The day I felt totally trapped was when Wu called me a few weeks ago, his voice cracking with urgency as I sat in a stifling business meeting with my father and his partners. Phone calls were strictly forbidden during these meetings, but when I saw Wu's name flash on the screen, I couldn't ignore it. I excused myself, my heart racing with a sense of foreboding. My father's gaze followed me, his eyes narrowing slightly as I stepped out into the cool, crisp air of the hallway.
I answered the call, my voice low. "Wu, what's wrong?"
"Wu...Betty's been kidnapped," he wheezed, his words sending my world crashing down around me. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, all the air knocked out of me.
I lost all rationale, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. I called Pete, the man I had trusted to watch over Betty whenever she was away from Wu's watchful gaze and protection. "Find her," I growled, my voice barely above a whisper. "Find her now."
Fury coursed through my veins as I stormed back into the meeting room. My father's calm demeanor only fueled my anger. I knew him, knew the way he operated. And I suspected he had a hand in Betty's disappearance.
"You're behind this, aren't you?" I accused, my voice trembling with rage. "You're the one who took her."
My father's expression remained serene, but a flicker of surprise danced in his eyes. "What are you talking about, son?" he asked, his voice dripping with innocence.
But I knew better. I knew the way he manipulated people, the way he crushed anyone who stood in his way. And I knew he'd stop at nothing to keep me in line.
"You're going to pay for this," I snarled, my fists clenched at my sides. "I'll make sure you pay."
I turned to walk out of the meeting room, but my father's grip held me back. He stood up from his chair, his fist clenched, and punched me in the abdomen. I doubled over, gasping for air.
He then spoke, his voice low and menacing. "You dare talk to me like that, boy?" he thundered.
The room emptied quickly as he barked at the partners to leave. I struggled to my feet, my fists clenched, but my father was too quick. He dodged my blow with ease and landed another crushing punch to my face. I stumbled backwards, my vision blurring.
My father sneered at me. "That girl has made you weak," he spat.
I seethed with anger. "So you took her," I snarled, my blood boiling.
My father chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Me? Oh no, I did no such thing," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
He took a step closer, his eyes locked on mine. "But if I did, what are you going to do about it?" he taunted, his voice low and menacing.
I lunged at my father, determined to land another blow, but he was too powerful. He caught my hand mid-air and pushed me with ease, sending me stumbling onto the hard floor.
"Weakling," he spat, his voice dripping with disdain as he turned to leave the room.
I seethed with anger and frustration, but my priority was finding Betty. I pulled out my phone and dialed Pete's number, my anger boiling over.
"What were you doing, Pete?" I yelled into the phone. "Watching over Betty was your one job! Where were you when she was taken?"
Pete remained silent on the other end of the line, enduring my rant as I took out my frustrations on him.
As I regained control of my emotions, I offered Pete a swift apology. "Sorry, Pete. I know you're doing your best."
I paused, collecting my thoughts before asking, "What have you uncovered about Betty's disappearance?"
Pete's hesitation was palpable before he revealed, "I spoke with Wu. He mentioned that Betty's mother owes them a substantial debt."
I processed this new information swiftly, my mind racing with possibilities. "Continue searching for Betty," I instructed Pete firmly. "I'll dispatch another team to track down her mother and get to the bottom of this."
Thanks to my father's vast network and influence, we managed to track down Betty's mother within a remarkably short span of two days. She was hiding out in a small, rundown motel in rural New Mexico, a state known for its vast desert landscapes and sparse population - the perfect place to lay low.
Those two days dragged on like an eternity, each passing hour feeling like a slow-burning torture as we remained in the dark about Betty's whereabouts. The only solace was the breakthrough in finding her mother, but even that offered little comfort as the silence on Betty's fate grew thicker and more oppressive.
Betty's mother, her eyes sunken with fear, confessed that she had stolen from a powerful man. "He's been looking for me ever since," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But I know where he might be holding Betty. He has a hideout in Red Rock, a town I used to frequent."
She grasped my arm, her grip desperate. "Please, you have to promise me you'll protect me. He'll kill me if he finds out I told you." Her eyes pleaded with me, and I felt a surge of irritation as I ordered my men to keep her until I got back.
I arrived in Red Rock that same afternoon, the scorching sun beating down relentlessly, but I pressed on, driven by my determination to find Betty. Pete's voice crackled through my earpiece, guiding me to the location where Betty was being held. My exhaustion was palpable, the two sleepless nights catching up with me, but I pushed through the fatigue.
As I approached the location, two men stepped out and I demanded to see who was in charge, their eyes narrowing as they informed me they'd call their boss. I maintained my composure, my heart racing with anticipation, as they verified that Betty was indeed in the next room.
With a deep breath, I entered the house alone, but I knew I had backup – my men had discreetly surrounded the house. The leader, a burly man with a scruffy beard, sauntered in, his eyes locking onto mine. Suddenly, his demeanor shifted, and he dropped to his knees, his voice trembling as he instructed the two men to follow suit.
"Please, spare my life," he begged, his eyes wide with fear. "I didn't know she was your...I didn't know."
The two men whispered among themselves, their voices hushed and indistinct, as I rose to my feet. The man in charge, still cowering, yelled at the two men to fetch me refreshments. I felt a surge of irritation and yelled back, my patience wearing thin. "I don't need refreshments! Take me to Betty, now!"
The man scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting nervously between me and his men. He hastened to guide me to a room at the far end of the hall, the air thick with the scent of stagnation. The room was dimly lit, the only light seeping through a small, grimy window. I stepped inside, my eyes adjusting slowly to the darkness as I took in my surroundings.