Chapter 74

GRACIE

I ran blindly, my heart pounded frantically against my ribcage, my veins surged with adrenaline mixed with fear, I couldn't see each turn I made around the mansion, it was dark, where were the lights? , I needed to Hazel and get out of this place.

I couldn't imagine the trauma she must be in now if she was scared if right now she was crying for me or Hayden.

Hayden...

Oh god, I wondered if he has realized that we've been kidnapped, I've never needed him as I did right now. I should never have left, but it was already too late to regret that. Right now I have to fight for myself and Hazel, at the same time I would be fighting for him.

My feet slowed to a halt as I reached a dead end, I cried out my frustration.

It was too late to turn around. The footsteps were getting louder, it was only a matter of seconds before they get to me.

"Here we are, aren't we? "

I whirled around to be met face to face with the man I had seen just this morning, or maybe yesterday? For how long have I been unconscious?

Roberts. On his side was Melissa, her gaze was hard and blank, so unlike the girl who I had witnessed just a few minutes ago. There were also two other men along with him, waiting for his orders for whatever he plans on doing to me. I was scared, but I refused to allow myself to show it.

"Why am I here? What do you want from me! Where is my daughter! "

"Shut up! One more word, I won't hesitate to kill you! " He spat then turned towards Melissa.

"I trust you'll take good care of her, wouldn't you? " He patted her shoulder endearingly, but what I just witnessed him doing to her just now told me it was anything but not.

She made her way over to me, her fists making a harsh fist on my hair.

"Come along nicely and I won't have to hurt you " She hissed.

"Let go of me, damn you! " I clenched out, I was backhanded hard across my face, she was strong. I don't know why I was surprised. She shoving me in the hands of the other two men. I guess I had been wrong about her.

Roberts's gaze gleamed as if he was satisfied by what he had just witnessed.

"Take her back " She ordered.

That was the last I saw both of them as I was being dragged back roughly.

I sat on the hard floor, I was slowly having a mental breakdown. My lips were chapped, my tongue swollen and dried, I needed water. I wondered for how long I've sat tied up in this place. I cried I prayed for Hazel to be safe, and for Hayden to find us.

Who knows, I might never get the chance to ever see him ever again, the thought of that made me cry silently, but at the same time strengthened my resolve to survive, I regret ever saying those words to him in a state of grief. Now, I believe there was nowhere safe, but with him and in his arms.

I tensed up when the door slowly pushed opened with a slight rustling sound. It wasn't Roberts.

It was Melissa, I tried to straighten up but the binds held me in position. Why was she here?

She came to stand in front of me, a tray clasped in her hand.

"Please just tell me where my daughter is, what do you want from us?"

Her gaze flickered for a moment, it told me that she still has a soft spot covered by a mean look, if only I could manage to persuade.....

"He only wants you, she should be safe... For now "

I didn't miss the way she hesitated before the last sentence. My heart lurched against my throat.

"what do you mean by that? Where is she?I want to see her "

"She is safe for now but there are still several ways a kid could disappear, she could be sold or....." she trailed off, totally ignoring my last statement.

How could she sound so casual about it?

"Just let me go, I heard you earlier, you didn't want him to hurt us, just let us go! "

Her gaze hardened at my words, she dropped the tray carelessly and turned to leave.

"it doesn't matter what you saw or heard, I'll always have to do exactly as he tells me".

"He treats you like trash! You don't have to do what be says! " I knew it would be futile but I still wanted to try.

She spun around to face me, her gaze flaring up.

"You should understand me more than anyone else! Your family betrayed you but you still made sacrifices for them isn't i..." she paused, her eyes widened as if she shouldn't have spoken that aloud.

I stared at her in open shock.

"How do you know all that, did you run a check on me? " Even if she did, how would she have known precisely what happened years ago?

"Loyalties on people who don't care is a waste, I'll rather just survive instead, that's all I've been doing " I muttered in a low tone.

To my surprise, she fetched something from the back pocket of her jean.

It was a cell phone

"Be quick.. " she whispered, her gaze took a quick scan around the room, she looked...... Scared?

My fingers shook as I quickly input the numbers, it answered on the second ring, but at the same time, the door pushed open.

Robert stormed inside. His hair was wild in a flurry.

The men with him were more than three this time.

He stared from me to Melissa, I think I didn't hide the cellphone quickly enough, he saw everything. His face contorted with raw fury as he charged towards us.

"You fool! What did you do! "

HAYDEN

Damn. Damn. Damn.

It's been hours, twelve fucking hours since they went missing.

Hazel. She was so small, so innocent for all these, all these shits that came along with me.

The thought of her and Gracie being scared and alone, probably hurt or worse sent my blood roaring.

I would find them, whoever it was would surely beg for death and mercy, one I wouldn't give.

I didn't want to think of all the possibilities of everything that might have happened in this period.

My sanity was slowly slipping away.

We still couldn't get their location, when we got there, there had been a few dead bodies that belonged to our men. Whoever it was had been smart enough to remove every trace that could lead us towards them.

There had been no call for ransom, it made the whole situation even riskier.

But I would find them, and by god, they better be unhurt or.

My thoughts were interrupted when Dad and Sebastian walked inside. His expression was cold and angry, but I still saw the fear... It wasn't just him.

It was just like relieving mom and Jenny's death once again.

Gracie and my daughter were still in the hand of whoever that bastard was.

But I was the one who gave them the opportunity they had been waiting for if we hadn't had that fight then...

"Nothing from there, I think whoe... " Sebastian's words trailed off when my cellphone rang aloud.

It was from an unknown number, my whole body set in high alert as I clicked on the answer button.

No sound came, it sent my nerves even more tensed.

"Who is this! " I clenched out, but still I got no response.

After a moment I heard a loud voice.

"You fool! What did you do! " the sound was followed by a loud crashing sound accompanied by a loud terrifying scream.