Kidnapped: Welcome 'home'

Chapter 30: For the Better

Things settled nicely and I guess we were like one family... nah, we weren't, we really weren't.

One day, as we were having breakfast, David was intensely watching me with a look of worry, concern, sadness, but determination; he looked as though he was trying to make a very difficult decision and it was very unnerving for me.

"Asmaa, a word with you please." David announced as I put the dishes away.

I had become quite accustomed to this kind of life, well, almost considering that I haven't been exposed to any violence in a while, yet David's voice scared me a little.

What could he possibly have to say?

Following him into the living room, I tried to stay calm, taking deep breaths and mentally consulting myself - something that's easier said than done.

"Sit." he instructed as he, too, sat down.

Steve, King and Pierre, who were already in the living room, got up to leave and give us some space. David motioned for them to remain. Agitation and confusion became evident in their faces.

"Lately, I've been thinking," he slowly began, "You haven't been acting yourself, Asmaa."

"What do you mean?" I laughed humorlessly.

"I mean what I said." he answered nonchalantly. "You've been really nice and have warmed up to us. You no longer fight us, nor try to escape. You haven't even tried to contact anyone in London."

"What? How- wha- you knew?" I spluttered, shocked.

I should have known! Of course he was going to know about all that.

"It's been bugging me this whole time." he continued ignoring me. "What I did was unfair and wrong. You don't deserve this. This whole time I've been doing things by force, thinking about myself and myself only. Not once have I really thought about you as I planned your kidnapping and that has proven to be dangerous. Not only have I forced you into a foreign lifestyle, surrounded by foreign people in a foreign land, I have thrown you into the mafia and that is the worst thing any parent can do - anything could happen. Yes, you have now practically become the heir of everything I own, but that is not worth risking your life and destroying your future."

David had a hard, determined look, but the last part he said obviously affected him as his voice broke and he held his head in his hands.

He rubbed his face as Steve cautiously asked: "What now, then?"

Taking a deep breath, David answered him simply. "We take her back."

"What?!" I yelled, breathing for the first time after I subconsciously held my breath.

"We'll return you to London safely, then you could continue with your life as though none of this has ever happened." he explained.

"But what about the mafia? They could then target whoever I know to get to you! I'd be even more vulnerable than I am now to one of their attacks. It's not safe!" I argued.

"Yes it is. You are not part of the mafia, not officially anyway. Only Rodriguez and a few of his men know of you, but they don't know much. You aren't officially part of the mafia yet and the longer you spend with us, the more official you'll make your place in the mafia." he snarled.

"Considering that you did a background check on me, surely they can do the same?" I pointed out, trying to get this man to see some sense.

"Background checks are not easy to do when you don't have a legitimate relation to the person." he explained.

"But-" I tried to argue against the idea, however, I didn't have many points to use in my argument. I was happy to go home; this is the moment I've been waiting for. Considering that all I've ever wanted was to get back home, why did all this feel wrong?