11. Single Again.

Nicolette grunted as she felt something round her wrists.

A rope? Clothes?

She wasn't sure but for a moment, it made her freeze, paralyzed by fear.

She shifted and squinted to see if she could see anything underneath the blindfold, her ears strained to hear anything.

She had never been kidnapped before, but she knew that was how it happened in the movies.

She twisted her wrists, trying to break free, but she stiffened again when she heard an engine roar.

They were on the move. She could tell by the way the ground shifted beneath her, and of course by the loud engine.

Nicolette kept her breathing steady, listening, waiting. Every sound was important, she had to remember everything so she could tell the police when she got out!

Her heart fluttered with dread. Would she get out? When—or if?

She twisted her wrists again, but the vehicle jerked, causing her to shake and hit someone beside her.

Her stomach knotted with fear, and she tried to keep her voice steady. "Where are you taking me to?" she demanded.

She heard rustling from somewhere but she got no reply.

She tried again. "What the hell are we going? I will scream," she said, trying to frighten whoever it was. "I would tell everyone that—"

"Miss Voss, can you be quiet please," The same voice said.

"Or we'll bind your mouth like your wrists," Another voice added.

Nicolette swallowed as her chest tightened with fear. There was more than one person!

And that freaked her out, but beneath the fear was an unshakable curiosity. The man had called her name so knowingly, yet so formally.

Before her thoughts could sway, the vehicle stopped moving. Out of fear, she straightened up.

A moment later, she heard a door open and a hand held her shoulder.

"Let's go, ma'am." The order was direct and before she even had time to react, she was lifted off the ground and carried away.

"Put me down!" Nicolette shouted at the top of her voice, kicking her feet in the air.

As soon as she was set down, she paused, breathing heavily, terrified to her bones.

Nothing happened.

For a moment she heard nothing.

Nicolette spun around, facing nowhere in particular. "What's happening?" she asked, her voice frail and small.

"Hold on, dear. Let me cut this twine." A different voice; a thicker, calmer voice said.

Nicolette stiffened as her waists were freed. She twisted them to ease the tension before slowly taking off the blind fold.

A man was standing in front of her, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of admiration and delight.

He was breathtaking in his tailored suit. Then there was a golden wristwatch on his left hand, and a small gold ring on his pinkie.

Nicolette gasped, and it wasn't because of the handsome stranger in front of her, but because as she looked around, she realized she was in her father's backyard!

Although it looked different with the weird decorations, she could never not recognize the house she grew up in!

Anger surged through her, ready to launch, but the stranger held his hand.

"I know you're mad right now, but let me explain."

She turned her glare to him. "Explain what?"

"All that," he gestured wildly, took a step closer to her, but she stepped back and he sighed. "Fine I'm sorry, I thought you were avoiding me so I… had to do that," he said softly, his eyes landing on the twine that was once tied to her wrist.

Nicolette followed his eyes and her eyes widened. "You… you abducted me?"

"Not abduction, but—"

He was interrupted when Ronald walked up to them. He was dressed in one of his finest suits, and it made Nicolette wonder what he was celebrating.

Ronald chuckled, his eyes dancing with an unmissable delight. He turned to Nicolette and for a brief second, she caught the anger in his eyes before he broke into a smile. "I see you've met your future husband already."

Nicolette blinked. "What?" And then she looked the stranger over.

He smelled nice, his black hair was permed perfectly, the gold wristwatch, the gold ring.

Was that a gold nose ring she saw on him?

And then the shoes, everything about him spelt rich.

She narrowed her eyes as realization set in. It couldn't be…

"Lucian Crawford," she said, her heart dropped.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Voss," Lucian grinned with a bow. He reached for her hand, intending to give her a kiss, but she yanked her hand away.

"You abducted me!" she yelled, her voice breaking with emotion.

"Oh, get over yourself," Ronald said, waving his hand dismissively. "I told him where to find you, and I told him he needed to bundle you up, or we wouldn't be able to reach you." Ronald's voice was full of pride.

"You are despicable!" she spat.

Lucian stepped forward. "He's just being…"

She scowled at him, causing him to swallow his words. "You can't force me to do anything," she said firmly, then she turned. "I'm leaving."

As Nicolette tried to take another step, she was suddenly blocked by two guards. "Hey out of my way!" she ordered, but the guards didn't even flinch.

"Nic," her father said casually—so casually it made her heart flip. "Join us for dinner."

It wasn't a request, she knew that. She could tell from the steel in his voice. But she wasn't going to give up easily.

She moved faster trying to elude the guards, but one snap of her father's fingers, the guards grabbed her arms and turned her toward the garden.

"Let go of me!" she protested.

"Take it easy!" Lucian warned.

"Don't fret, Lucian," Ronald said with a laugh. "She's a tough cookie. A tug here and there wouldn't hurt."

Nicolette struggled to free herself, but when she realized her strength was no match to the guards, she gave up and let them put her into a chair.

She sank in it, more in disbelief than anger. She couldn't believe she had been forced into this dinner.

"Call everyone," Ronald instructed a maid who immediately left, then he turned to Lucian, gesturing to the seat beside Nicolette. "Sit, sit. Get to know your wife."

Lucian nodded, sliding gently beside her. "Hey," he whispered.

Nicolette locked her jaw, giving him a glare and looking away. She was angry—but more hurt than angry.

She couldn't believe her father had agreed to have her kidnapped by a… weirdly good-looking stranger.

She stole a glance at Lucian who was looking lost in thoughts. She had to say, he wasn't what she was expecting.

He didn't fit the image she had in her head when Suzie told her who he was.

But then again, illegal arms dealers don't paste their illegal activities on their forehead.

Hillary and Beatrice walked in, both dressed in stunning gowns. Apparently everyone was in on it, all ready for this stupid dinner.

When she and Hillary's eyes met, she scowled at her too.

"I'm sorry," Hillary mouthed as she took a seat next to her mother.

"Well, Lucian," Ronald said, facing the table. "This is my small family. That's my lovely wife Beatrice, my beautiful daughter, Hillary and your wife, Nic."

Nicolette jaw locked and she clenched her fists under the table.

Her father looked at her, his eyes shining with indifference. "As you can see she got ready for the event—"

Nicolette snapped. "I wasn't dressed for this, I had a din—"

"—we all are," Ronald continued, giving her glare. He snapped his fingers, and a maid with a tray of an already filled glass of wine or—champagne—walked to him.

The maid distributed the drink, leaving one in front of Nicolette.

Ronald raised his glass. "To a new beginning, a new world between Crawford and Voss."

Everybody raised their glasses except Nicolette.

Anger surged through her as she watched as they made a toast to her misery.

Lucian turned to her, a kind smile on his lip. "Why are you not taking your drink?"

"You can have it since you're so thirsty," she snapped.

Lucian chuckled, almost choking on his drink.

"I can see you're getting along," Ronald said, his brows raised with a calculating look that made Nicolette even angry.

"Well, she's feisty, but I can handle her," Lucian chuckled again, "I like her already."

"Good," Ronald said as they clicked the tip of their glasses together.

Handle?

Did he just say that? And why the hell were they acting like they just signed a successful deal?

She was a human being for crying out loud and they were treating her like a commodity?!

Nicolette flared, anger racing in her heart as she stood up. "I have had enough of this bullshit! I am done," she said, turning to Lucian. "And Mr Crawford, sorry my father—" She glared at him. "—wasted your time. Nothing is going to happen here because I am already married!"

She flaunted the ring Alaric gave her, just so they knew she wasn't joking.

Beatrice gasped, and Hillary stood up too, her eyes wide with shock.

"Give me that!" Ronald shouted, reaching for the ring.

Nicolette clenched her fist, trying to prevent him from taking it, but he overpowered her, twisting her hand and making her scream.

"You're hurting me!"

But Ronald didn't stop, he twisted the finger until she finally allowed it. He pulled out the ring and threw it away, outside their garden, never to be seen again.

"There, you're single again," he said, his mouth contorted with anger. He turned to Lucian, wiping his sweaty forehead and plastering a smile.

"What do you say, Lucian? Get married to her tonight so you can take her home already, Huh?"