4

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?

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