Chapter 55

I just got kidnapped by robbers who came here to rob my father's bank. All of this went way too fast. A few minutes ago, I was still in my father's office, civilly having lunch with him. Then those men broke in and all hell broke lose! I still could remember Lizzy's tear-stained face when she called for help. Then, I found myself dragged away into one of their cars. Right now, the tall man who seemed to be the leader of the robbers gang was driving fast in the streets, closely followed by his henchmen. Having been roughly shoved inside the car, I was still laying on the leather back seat, my toffee brown hair falling into messy locks all over my face. Through my locks, I studied the back of the driver's neck. The man was still focused on the road, so maybe I had a chance to escape. Pretending to be unconscious or too shocked to do anything, I discreetly crawled toward the door. Just a little closer, just a little closer! The difficult part was to grab the handle without letting my captor notice that I was awake. If he found out what I was trying to do, I'd surely get in big troubles. Finally, I managed to close my hand onto the handle. A victorious smile crept across my lips, but immediately fell when I tried to pull it... Without success.

"Nice try, little sweetface!" Smirked the driver, looking at me in the review mirror with mocking brown eyes. "But that's not going to work. Sorry!"

   Wait, he knew what I was trying to do?! Glaring at him, I sat back on the backseat. He just kept smirking, apparently amused by my fuming look. He then focused back on the road while I was thinking of the best way to escape. Maybe I could distract him long enough to steal the keys? Or maybe I could force him to stop by pretending to be sick?

"Can you stop, please?" I asked, faking to feel a little weak.

"And why would I do that?" He asked me without slowing down, dead serious.

"Because I think I..." I began before to be interrupted by a repetitive noise.

   Turning around, I saw we were being chased by police cars. The loud repetitive noise being their siren, as I know understood. I hoped this man and his gang would get caught, so that I could return to my normal life as soon as possible.

"Order of the police department, Mr Carmicheal!" Yelled a policeman. "Pull over and let your hostage go!"

"Shit!" Cursed my captor under his breath.

   As I reached my hand out toward the police car, the criminal pulled brutally the wheel to the left, causing the car to turn in a noisy screech of wheels.

"Ah!" I gasped, falling back onto the backseat.

   Though, the speed and action caused a bit of adreline rush to course through my veins. I was maybe a good girl most of the time, but when I was under heavy pressured situations, I was able to react in ways which surprised even myself. We were now driving at an alarming speed in a narrow shady street, the police sirens still wailing behind us. Behind our car, I saw the robbers cars disperse themselves into several ways. In front of us was trashcans, empty boxes and many other random things on the way. At this speed, I was starting to fear we'd have an accident. Don't take me wrong, I didn't mind if this bastard of kidnapper had an accident. But I clearly didn't want to be in the same car as him when it would happen!

"Hold on tight, my lady!" He hissed between his gritted teeth, his face tensed in concentration.

   He moved the stirring wheel in several directions to make us avoid a few obstacles. This time, I placed my hands in front of me in order not to crash once more on the leathery backseat. Turning my head toward him, I was satisfied to find him heavily focused on the road. Now was maybe my chance to escape... Crawling closer, I suddenly launched myself forward between the front seats in a desperate attempt to grab the keys.

"Hey!" Protested the criminal, slapping my hand away. "What are you doing?!"

"Stop!" I shouted, clawing for the keys. "Let me go!"

"Go back behind!" Groaned the low-voice male, elbowing my ribs furiously to push me back.

   He eventually managed to send me back crashing against the leather, a painful point burning my ribs. Ugh! Bastard! Behind us, I still could hear the police sirens closing in. Then, I looked up in front of us, my eyes widening at the sight of a brick wall right in front of us.

"Watch out!" I yelled, pointing at it.

"Shit!" My captor cursed once again, brutally turning the wheel. 

   We took a violent virage in a loud screech of wheels. We dodged the wall from only a few inches. Behind us, the police cars were closing in. There was two of them, but sadly, once crashed against the brick wall we barely managed to avoid. The cops walked out, watching their ruined car crushed against the hard surface. Even though I was relieved that any of them got hurt, I felt disappointed to have lost one of our pursuivers.

"Oh..." I sadly whispered, looking at ghe tragic scene as we quickly drove away.

   I felt a bit of hope rebirth in my chest as I noticed the other police car was closing in. Maybe I had a chance of being set free! But my captor hardly slammed his foot on the accelerator, speeding up even more. At this rythm, I was actually terrified we might have a car crash, holding myself back from falling the best I could by sinking my nails into the leathery fabric of the seat.

"Slow down!" I almost begged, my back pressed against the back of the seat.

"Calm down." He affirmed, as serious and composed as always. "I've got the situation in hand, we won't have an accident."

"Well, I doubt it!" I shrieked. "We're going too fast!"

"I'm telling you that it's alright." Insisted the man, his low voice taking a threatening tone which clearly indicated me that I better shut up.

   Closing my mouth, I turned around only to watch the cop car being slowly distanced. Well, crap! A part of mr craved to jump on the front seat and rip the keys out of the criminal's hands, but on the other side the tone of his voice made me clearly understand that I better stay in place. That's just when I saw him make a mistake. His car bumped into a barrel of oil which poured itself on the road. Noticing this, he stopped. I thought that was now or never to escape, but two facts happened at the same time. The first thing was me lauching at the keys to open the doors. The second fact was him lighting up a lighter. I dived down just when he threw the lighter out the window, the flame barely missing my head. Then, I saw the lighter land in the pool of gasoline on the floor, lighting up a quick fire behind us. The police car was forced to stop, unable to keep chasing us any longer. Then, the robber's lare hand tightly wrapped around my wrist jusr as I was about to grab the keys. He didn't squeeze hard, but glared at me in an intimidating way which caused my heart to skip a beat.

"Go back behind." He calmly yet darkly commanded me  with so much authority that I felt forced to obey.

   I sat back on the backseat of the car, feeling too mortified anyway to even think of another plan to escape yet. That was disgusting! He haf two cop cars on his trail, but he nonetheless managed to escape them! Now, he was calmly driving again, as if nothing just happened. Eventually, we reached an empty parking lot on which several black cars pulled over. The hooded men walked out, greeting each other in relief not to have got caught. The tall leader walked out of our car after having parked it, immediately cheered by the members of his gang.

"Gret job, boss!"

"Well done, boss!" Exclaimed another one. "Your plan was amazing!"

"Yeah, great job Anton!" Added the one who threatened me and Lizzy in the office. "I don't know what we could've done without you."

   The said Anton only chuckled and shook a few hands, mosestly bowing his head here and there when one of his men praised him for having led the operation so well. I was about to take advantage of their distraction to leave discreetly when two of the men opened the door.

"What have we here?" Grinned one, pulling me out of the car. "Some fresh flesh!"

"Stop it!" I hissed, struggling as the two men were holding me back by my shoulders. "Let me go!"

"Well, well, well..." Chuckled the other one. "The lady's got a bad temper, I see!"

   The dragged me along in the middle of the group of men, all of them laughing at the exception of their leader.

"Well, what's wrong doll?" Asked one of them. "You're not happy to be with us?"

"Hand her over, Mike!" Requested another one, laughing. "I think I'd like a little fun!"

   I was pushed forward toward the man who asked for it, a mix of fear and rage burning violently my innards. The idiot grabbed onto my shoulders and forced me to look at him. All I did was glare. Maybe I was scared, but I refused to be treated like a piece of meat!

"Woah, the lady's in a bad mood!" Teased the man, reaching his hand out until his fingerd are a few inches away from the hem of my skirt. "Let's see if I can make her smile!"

"Don't you dare to touch me!" I protested, breaking free.

   Some of the men laughed. Others looked suddenly furious I dared to go against their will. They gathered around me and immediately grabbed my wrists, shoulders and sides before I can start running. Wriggling, I was trying to break free, but that only angered my captors even more.

"Let me go!" I hissed in a feline way.

"Aww, the kitten thinks she's got claws!" Mockingly cooed the man named Mike, making me blush in both fury and embarrassment. "What do you think you can do, doll?"

"Enough!" Interveined a sharp low voice, calm yet authoritary as hell. "Let her go. An hostage won't be mistreated in our presence!"

   All the heads, mine included, turned to look at the owner of the voice. The tall leader, leaning against the concrete wall of a building, was sternly looking at the scene with his arms crossed onto his muscular torso. Immediately, the men backed up from me. Despite the fact that my legs were killing me, I forced myself not to stumble on my high heels and stand straight.

"Of course." Muttered Mike, stepping back. "You're right, Anton!"

   Just at this moment, Anton, since that was his name, walked over me. The members of his gang stepped aside to clear his way, looking down as he passed them by. But they quickly looked back up in curiosity as soon as he was gone. On my side, I just looked straight in front of me, as proudly as I could to hide my nervosity. Anton stopped right in front of me.

"Please forgive the pitiful manners of my friends, Miss MacCarthy." Told me the criminal, planting his warm brown eyes into mine like he did in the bank. "We're not used to be around proper ladies like you."

"Release me now! Do you have a single idea of who I am?" I coldly replied, giving him a freezing gaze as I was trying to talk my way out. "I'm Robert MacCarthy's daughter! Police will come looking for me!"

"I don't doubt it, young lady." Admitted nonchalantly the tall male, apparently not impressed in the least. "But I'm afraid I can't set you free for now. Me and my friends have a little discussion to have with your father, and until he does what we want him to do, we're gonna keep you here. Don't worry, your stay shall not be uncomfortable."

   Though he said it with a reassuring smile, I wasn't buying it. Taking my chance, I punched him straight in the face and started running. Too bad I didn't even make it out of the parking lot before I was pinned to the floor by one of his fellows.

"Now, now, Miss MacCarthy!" Groaned Anton, standing back rubbing his cheek. "You and I need to talk a few things out. Boys, escort her in the basement. I'll go to see her a little later and tell her not to mess with the Carmichael Gang."

   Carmichael? I felt my stomach get painfully heavy when I heard this name. Anton Carmichael; The dangerous criminal who kept running around without ever getting caught by the cops. Not only I was kidnapped by a robber, but I also fell at the hand of one the cruelest lunatics of the century. What did I got myself into?