Todos os capítulos de I Joined My Own Kidnapping: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 9

There were three of them, and now that they'd taken off their masks, I could finally see their faces.A middle-aged man. A guy about my age. And a young woman.In my head, I assigned them labels: Big Guy, Skinny Guy, and Girl.Big Guy dragged hard on his cigarette when he heard my question. "That bastard Sebastian Kessler's got a guilty conscience. Never shows his face in public. We haven't actually seen him."But the second he shows up, I'll know it's him!"I wasn't convinced. "You sure about that?""Positive! A rotten bastard who's done nothing but evil his whole life? Just watch. Whoever comes and goes from his company in the fanciest car, looking like the biggest villain alive? That's him."Skinny Guy nodded. "Agreed."Girl chimed in. "Agreed. Now that everyone's here, can we eat?"Was it just me, or was this the most slapdash kidnapping operation in history?The four of us found a little diner nearby. Under the lights, I got a better look at my new associates.Big Guy h

The moment our plan became real, everyone's excitement vanished.Big Guy drove, chain-smoking so fiercely the cab smelled like an ashtray."Marty, how much should we ask for? Think he'll actually pay?""He'll pay," I said. "A boss that big always keeps a safe. We find a way into it and take whatever's there. No online transfers."Skinny Guy twisted around. "And the people you contacted about getting us out of the country? They're reliable, right? If they don't show, we're all going to prison.""They're reliable. Do you think I'd gamble my future on someone I couldn't trust?"Girl coughed violently. "If the treatment doesn't work and I die, you can split my share. But will you promise me one thing?"I was about to answer when Big Guy slammed on the brakes.He got out without a word, walked over to a beggar sprawled on a wooden cart by the roadside, and sent him some money with his phone.I couldn't believe it."We're supposed to be doing something dangerous today, and you're s

A dull thud broke the silence.Tristan staggered but didn't fall. He clutched the back of his head and turned in bewilderment.Skinny Guy hit him again. Only then did Tristan go down.I rushed to help Big Guy and Skinny Guy move him into the van."I'll move his car somewhere out of sight," I said. "Follow me."We concealed the car and made for the abandoned factory.The other three didn't know that the factory had once belonged to my mother.After her death, the world moved on. What she built was left to rot.Now, looking at the collapsed entrance and weeds spreading across the deserted yard, I had to grit my teeth to keep from losing control.My companions were beginning to panic.As Skinny Guy tied Tristan to a metal chair, his hands trembled."They're not going to notice he's missing right away, are they? Guys like him have security. What if someone can track him? What if the cops show up before we even get the money?""You're overthinking it," I interrupted."He spends

Tristan's shaking grew worse."S-Sebastian..."Your mother died in a car accident. That's all! They caught the drunk driver. He's still in prison, isn't he?"I didn't believe him.In the second year of that driver's sentence, his entire family had moved overseas.I'd spent years following every lead, only to find each trail deliberately cut off.If the crash had really been an accident, why had the evidence disappeared so completely?I took out the knife and held it where he could see it."Tristan, do you know why I've stayed at the company all these years, letting you humiliate me?"Because I needed to keep an eye on you. I've spent seven years waiting for one chance to find out what happened to my mother."Seven years of insults. Seven years of pretending none of it mattered."I heard the strain in my own voice."I have nightmares every night. I've lived with the grief of my mother's senseless death, and it's twisted me. So go ahead and guess. Is this knife going to end u

Tristan finally understood.I had no intention of letting him walk away."Sebastian, have you lost your mind?" he screamed hoarsely. "Let me go! We can split Dad's fortune down the middle!"Kill me and your life is over. You think the police won't figure out who did it?"Of course they would.At that point, I no longer cared.Unlike Tristan, I knew there were things worth more than money.I was about to answer when Big Guy woke.He sat up groggily, took a moment to remember where he was, and scrambled away from me. Then he woke Skinny Guy and Girl.All three fixed me with furious, bloodshot eyes."Sebastian Kessler!" Big Guy spat. "You pretended to be Marty because you thought we were easy prey?"Even if we never get the money, even if we die, we're taking you down with us!"I smiled faintly.Then I unzipped the bag and showed them what I'd taken from Tristan's safe."I'm sorry. I lied to all of you."When you first approached me, I thought you were robbers. I pretended