bullets and bouquets

4

"Ugh, what the fuck?" Isla whispers. She tilts her head up, feeling pain in her neck from her head hanging down. She looks around, being tied to a chair in a room. There's a light bulb hanging above her and she can't see anything amidst the darkness, "hello? Let me out! Let me out!"

Two men walk into the room.

"Can you shut the fuck up for a little longer?" one says

"Let me go!" she shouts

"Can't do that, bosses' orders."

"I didn't even do anything! Let me go!" she yells, trying to break free

"Stop struggling," the other man says. The girl continues to wiggle in the chair. He walks up to her and places his hands on her shoulders, "Stop moving or—-ahhh!"

The brunette bites his wrist as hard as she can.

"Mother fucker! You little bitch!" he shouts. He backhands the girl across the face so hard, the chair falls over.

"Ahh!" she shouts as the chair hits the floor.

"What the fuck are you idiots doing?" a female voice says. Isla can't see who's entered the room.

"Ma'am, we were just—-"

"Get out of here," she orders.

"Yes Ma'am," the men answer. Both scurry out of the room, leaving Isla alone with the mysterious woman. The brunette hears heels click closer to her before she is tipped right-side up in the chair.

"Well, well, take a look at this," the woman steps around to face Isla. The girl furrows her eyebrows, not what she was expecting. Tall, with red hair, wearing suspenders and dark sunglasses.

"Let me go, I didn't do anything," Isla repeats. The redhead doesn't answer, just smirks, "I'm serious! I won't tell anyone, just let me go and I'll never bother you again."

She takes her glasses off and the two make eye contact. A sudden pit in Isla's stomach forms.

"Do you know who I am?" she asks her tone calm.

"No, no idea. Some boss? Those guys were afraid of you," Isla comments. She chuckles.

"Yes I am the boss and yes they are afraid of me. Because I run this bitch. And I always get what I want," she says, getting close to the girl's face, "and I... want you."

"Me?! For what?" she exclaims.

"I'm gonna offer you something," the redhead explains, "you stay here, with me, anything you want."

Isla raises her eyebrows, "What? What for?"

"You be my girlfriend," she says. The girl's eyes grow wide.

"Girlfriend?" she exclaims, "First you have your goons kidnap me, knock me out, tie me up, and then you just magically offer to let me go but I have to date you?"

"Well, when you put it that way—-"

"You're insane! And I'm not gay!" Isla shouts at her. She gives Isla a glare.

"We'll see how you feel after a nap," she smirks.

"What? What are you doing?" the brunette panics. The redhead walks around her and unties her, "What?"

"Have a nap. It's late," she offers, turning on a light. The rest of the room illuminates. It's a bedroom. No windows, but a nice, big bed and a dresser.

"I want to leave," Isla says, standing up.

"That door's locked," the redhead smirks, nodding to the only entry and exit.

"You're gonna sleep with me?" the girl questions

"Oh, no, my men will let me out," she backs up towards the door and pulls out a new .9mm gun, "You're gonna stay here. I'll check on you in the morning."

The door opens and the redhead disappears from the room. The door shuts and Isla can hear it lock. The girl sighs.

"Come on! What the fuck!" she yells out in frustration. She can't believe this. She's being kidnapped by some weird gang boss who is in love with the girl. She sits down on the bed, too exhausted to try and scream. Even if she did, it wouldn't help.

***

"Hi, my name is Gianna Vici, I was called in?" Gianna says to the secretary of the local police station.

"Yes, they are waiting for you, right this way," the secretary guides her. She is led to a conference room, where there are multiple officers waiting.

"Good afternoon, please sit," the head of the police says. Gianna complies and sits down at the long, round table, "I called you in for an update on your friend. I have the US Ambassador here on a video call with Isla's parents."

Gianna looks at the computer sitting on the table. She waves to them.

"A report was filed last night for the kidnapping of Isla Rhodes," he begins, "We went back and canvassed finding no other eyewitnesses. We did however check surveillance and found she was taken by a black SUV. We are running the plates, but we know the odds of who might have taken her."

Gianna's heart sinks. She knows what they mean, but Isla's parents don't.

"What? Who took my baby?" her mother asks, confused.

"We suspect it is one of the local gangs in Sicily," he says. Isla's mother gasps, horrified, "The motive right now is unknown. Would your daughter have been affiliated with gangs? In the US?"

"No! No! Never!" her mother exclaims

"International?"

"No! She is not a gang member," her father says offended.

"Okay... why did she want to come to Sicily again?" the officer asks

"She's always wanted to visit Italy. She's there for college, studying. She is not involved in that dangerous stuff," her mother explains, getting teary-eyed.

"Yes, in the few days, she was here, we were always together. At class or at the library, she never acted suspicious," Gianna adds. The room goes silent.

"Okay... We'll do a press conference tonight and continue our search. Keep your eyes out for ransom demands and get in touch with us if anything happens down in the US," the officer instructs.

"Will do," the US Ambassador answers. The video call ends and Gianna is sent home, with a protective detail until they find Isla.