Held For Ransom

Chapter 24

You know that feeling when someone just delivers some big news to you, and you just don't quite take it in at first? Like, if your father has just told you your mother was pregnant, and all the clues come together, from her strange doctor appointments, to her morning sickness, yet you still don't quite believe it?

Well, that's exactly how I feel right about now. My father's irregular meetings all the time, his harsh beatings, everything. It all came together and made so much sense, yet I just couldn't absorb it. My father, the leader of a cruel, brutal army? I mean, sure he beat me, but I'd always believed he still loved me. Somewhere deep inside him.

Ha. Apparently not.

"You're not lying, are you?" I whisper, fighting tears. I need to stay strong; I can't let this bother me so much.

"Would I lie about this?" Ryland points out, and I glare at him.

"I don't know anything about you anymore, uncle," I retort, venom dripping in my voice.

He flinches and sets his gaze downward. Serves him right, he should be ashamed. Very ashamed, I think to myself, still feeling hurt from his betrayal.

"Is there anything else you haven't told us yet?" Cole asks, stepping in, for which I'm thankful for.

"You're probably going to kill me anyways afterwards, aren't you?" Ryland sighs, looking back up at us.

Cole shrugs, "Depends. If you tell us what we need to know and help us defeat your so-called army, we may decide to let you go."

A look of relief flashes across his face, before he quickly masks it with one of seriousness.

"I'll tell you everything you need to know."

~

"Hannah, wait. Please," Ryland pleads, running after me.

After questioning Ryland and getting all our needed information, I decided to go get something to eat. And now he's following me.

"What do you want?" I ask sharply, whirling around to face him.

"I'm so sorry..I really am. I never wanted to join your father's army and help him. What he does is disgusting and cruel and I never wanted anything to do with it. I had a very good reason for it though."

Confusion and anger surge through my being, and I clench my fists. "A good reason? And what would that be?"

"Your father threatened me. If I didn't join his army, he'd kill you and your mother," he rushes out, so fast I can barely understand him.

My breath hitches in my throat and I stare at him. "He...kill me...my mom..?" I stutter, unable to form a complete sentence.

I knew he'd hated me. But my mom? I thought he loved her, so why would he threaten to kill her?

"Your father has secrets not even I know, Hannah. He's unpredictable and dangerous, the best actor in the world of criminals and treachery," Ryland tells me, looking sympathetic.

"It seems that way nowadays," I say softly, before turning and walking away.

I think he understands I need some alone time, for I don't hear him following me. Heading in the general direction of the kitchen, I take the time to myself to mull over what I've learned.

I know it's not that surprising that my father would do this; anyone that lived with him as I did would know that.

So why am I so shocked?

I don't know. I really don't. And that's what's bothering me.

Also, what are all my father's secrets that not even his brother knows? I find it hard to believe that even after everything I've learned, he still has more secrets.