2

Saturday is the only day I allow myself to sleep in.

Since I don't have classes, there is no reason to drag myself out of bed before sunrise. My shift at the restaurant doesn't start until noon, so for once, I can enjoy a few extra hours of sleep without feeling guilty.

After taking a shower and getting ready for the day, I slip into a pair of blue jeans and a black T-shirt before pulling my hair into a high ponytail.

I give myself one last glance in the mirror, grab my phone from the bedside table, and head downstairs.

Halfway down the staircase, I start hearing voices and none of them belong to my parents.

"...When are you going to give the fucking money?"

The deep voice echoes through the house, making my stomach tighten.

What is going on?

My pace quickens and soon as I reach the living room, the sight before me stops me in my tracks.

My mother is on her knees, tears streaming down her face as she clutches the arm of a man standing in front of her.

"Please..." she sobs. "We'll pay you. Just don't hurt us."

My heart lurches. "Mum?"

She turns sharply at the sound of my voice.

"No!" she cries, her face draining of color. "Lauren, go back upstairs!"

I ignore her and walk into the scene. Only then do I notice the men scattered around our small living room.

There are five of them.

Every one of them looks like they belong in prison. One is bald with heavily tattooed arms.

Another has blond hair and a scar running across his jaw. The others stand silently, watching my parents as though they are waiting for a single command.

And then...

My eyes land on the man sitting comfortably on our couch. Unlike the others, he isn't standing.

He simply sits there with one leg crossed over the other, as if he owns the house. His dark hair is neatly brushed back, and he wears a perfectly tailored black suit that looks far too expensive for our tiny living room.

Slowly, he lifts his eyes and they meet mine.

A chill crawls down my spine. There is something unsettling about the way he looks at me.

Without realizing it, I look away first.

"I know exactly what you're capable of, Ryder," the man says.

His voice isn't loud, I don’t think he needs to shout either. Every word carries enough authority to silence the entire room.

"And I believe you know what I'm capable of."

My father lets out a dry laugh. "Hunter..." he says, his voice filled with contempt. "You can't scare me."

Hunter.

So that is his name.

Hunter stands and he is no doubt the tallest man in the room. He adjusts the cuff of his sleeve before taking a slow step forward.

"I wasn't trying to."

His gaze shifts toward me and a faint smile appears on his lips.

"But...I've found something that interests me."

Every instinct in my body screams that whatever he is about to say, I'm not going to like it.

His eyes never leave mine as he speaks again "You have until I get my money. Until then...Your daughter comes with me."

The room falls silent.

For a moment, I think I've heard him wrong.

Then my mother's heartbreaking scream shatters the silence.

"No!"

She throws herself at Hunter's feet.

"Please! Don't take my daughter! She has nothing to do with this! Please... she's innocent!"

I rush to her side and wrap my arms around her trembling shoulders.

"Mum..."

She clings to me desperately.

"No, Lauren. You have to run. Do you hear me? Run!"

Fear settles heavily in my chest.

I look at Hunter, who is just watching us. Expressionless, like my mother's tears mean absolutely nothing to him.

"Please, don't do this," she begs through her tears. "My daughter has done nothing to you. If it's money you want, we'll find a way to pay you. Just... please don't take her."

Seeing my mother on her knees breaks something inside me. I hurry to her side and hold her by the shoulders, trying to help her up.

"Mum, please stand up," I whisper. "Stop begging him."

She shakes her head frantically and holds on to me as if letting go means losing me forever.

"No, Lauren," she cries. "You don't understand. These people are dangerous. You have to leave. Run while you still can."

Leave?

Run?

I look from my crying mother to the strangers filling our living room, my mind struggling to catch up with everything happening around me. I still don't understand what any of this has to do with me.

Before I can ask another question, my father speaks.

A bitter laugh escapes him as he looks straight at Hunter.

"You think taking her is going to hurt me?" he says with a mocking smile. "I don't care what you do with her. You can keep her in place of the money I owe you for all I care. At least that gets you off my back."

For a moment, I forget how to breathe.

The words echo in my ears, each one sinking deeper than the last.

I slowly turn to look at him, hoping—praying—that he will laugh and tell me it is a joke.

Instead, he looks completely serious.

"Dad?" My voice comes out as nothing more than a whisper.

He doesn't even look at me.

It feels as though someone has reached into my chest and squeezed my heart with their bare hand.

"You evil monster!" Mum cries, grabbing the front of his shirt. "How can you say that? She's your daughter!"

Dad pushes her hand away without the slightest bit of sympathy. "I've made my decision."

Those four words hurt more than anything else he could have said.

Hunter watches the exchange quietly, his expression giving nothing away. When the room finally falls silent, he glances at the two men standing closest to him.

"Take her."

The two men walk toward me without hesitation. Before I can react, one grabs my right arm while the other holds my left.

"Hey!" I struggle against their grip. "Let me go!"

Neither of them answers. They simply tighten their hold and begin dragging me toward the door.

"Mum!"

My mother throws herself toward us, but one of the other men steps in front of her, stopping her before she can reach me.

She breaks down in tears again "Lauren!"

"I'm okay, Mum!" I shout, even though I am terrified. "I'll be fine!"

"Calm down, Princess," Hunter says as he walks past me. "You're only making this harder for your mother."

His voice is as calm as ever, but somehow that only makes me angrier.

I glare at his back. "You arrogant piece of trash!" I yell. "Who do you think you are? Let me go! I'll call the police on every one of you!"

One of the men holding me chuckles.

"The girl's got a mouth," he mutters.

"You haven't heard half of it," I snap, struggling even harder. "You're all nothing but a bunch of kidnappers! Heartless idiots! Waste of space!"

The blond man rubs a hand over his forehead as though I am giving him a headache.

Hunter, however, doesn't even bother turning around.

"Put her in the trunk."

I stare at him in disbelief.

"The trunk?" I repeat. "Are you out of your mind? Am I luggage now?"

He keeps walking toward the car as though he hasn't heard a single word I've said.

I continue shouting all the way outside while the two men practically carry me across the compound.

"Mum!" I call over my shoulder.

She stands at the doorway crying uncontrollably.

"Don't worry! I'll come back! Just... don't cry."

The last thing I see before they shut the trunk is my mother collapsing into tears as the front door slowly disappears from view.

"What is wrong with you people?" I yell, pounding my fists against the metal. "Do I look like a sack of potatoes to you? Kidnapping people is one thing, but stuffing them inside a trunk? That's a whole new level of stupidity!"

No one answers.

I scoff and kick the metal wall in front of me.

"Open this thing! You hear me? Open it!"

Still nothing.

I let out a frustrated groan and rest my head against the side of the trunk as the car speeds away.

Just this morning, my biggest concern was getting enough rest before my shift. Now I am lying in the trunk of a stranger's car because my father owes some dangerous man money.

A bitter laugh escapes my lips.

Could this day get any worse?

The car hits a bump, making me roll awkwardly to one side.

"Ouch!" I hiss, rubbing my elbow. "Can't you people drive like normal human beings?"

Again, I am answered with silence. I doubt they can even hear me.

I sigh, trying to catch my breath. As I shift to make myself more comfortable, my hand brushes against the edge of the trunk.

Something feels...Odd.

I frown and push against it carefully. To my surprise, it moves slightly and my eyes widen.

They haven't locked it properly.

A grin slowly spreads across my face.

Well...

Look at that.

Maybe I am not as unlucky as I thought.

I carefully push it open just enough to peek outside.

The car is still moving and jumping now will probably leave me with broken bones... or worse.

I bit my lower lip.

Should I risk it?

Anything was better than letting those idiots take me wherever they were going.

I took a deep breath and slowly pushed the trunk open a little wider.

Three...

Two...

One...