bullets and bouquets

58

"Problem? What kind of problem?" Jenna asks in the back of the SUV. They are on their way back to the Estate.

"Where's Sadie?" Bella asks.

"Sadie's still attending to business. Sabrina's been taken," Cinna answers.

"Oh shit," Jenna whispers.

"What do you know?" Talon asks.

"Not much. Dacre swept her mansion and she's gone. They left Eros alive... barely. He's requested to use the Estate as a safe house. Madame Sink accepted."

"We're en route to the Estate right now," he says.

"And Sadie's going to help?" Bella asks.

"No, Miss. She's still attending to other business. Natalia and Finn were called in for backup," Cinna explains, "Madame Sink requested all the partners stay at the Estate until Sabrina is found."

Jenna and Bella turn to each other, "Gianna."

***

Gianna sits in her apartment. She hasn't heard any updates from Jenna, so she assumes that no news is good news.

She's sitting on her couch when someone knocks on her door. She's confused.

"One second!" she calls. Just as she stands up, her phone buzzes.

Jenna: Do not leave your apartment.
Jenna: Don't answer the door.
Jenna: lock yourself in your room.
Jenna: Remember the color of the day.

The knocking continues. The brunette freezes. She's already made her presence known. Whoever is outside already knows she's inside.

She tiptoes to the door. She peers through the peephole. A hooded man stands outside her door. Her heart races as she tries to lock the deadbolt. Although the man hears from outside.

"Hey! Hey!" he shouts. She jumps back and runs to her room. She locks the door. She calls Jenna, putting the call on speaker.

"Gianna?"

"Jenna! There's someone outside my apartment!" the girl exclaims. Her voice shakes.

"Goddamnit," Jenna curses. She looks at the driver, "Faster! Now!"

"What do I do? I don't have any weapons!" Gianna cries.

"Where are you?"

"In my room."

"Push something against the door. Do you have a dresser or a shelf or something?"

"Yeah," Gianna walks up to the wall and begins to move the dresser. She can still hear the man outside her door.

"We're on our way, okay? Just hold tight," Jenna instructs.

"O-okay," the brunette breathes shakily. She has no idea what's going on. She's just thankful that Jenna texted her when she did. The SUV arrives at the back of Gianna's building.

Lyle and Vaughn exit the car. Jenna follows.

"Wait, where are you going?" Bella asks.

"Stay on the phone with her, I'm going to get her," Jenna instructs.

"You don't have a gun!" the brunette exclaims. Vaughn comes around the door. He hands her a spare from the trunk.

"Now she does. Sit tight, Miss. We'll be back with her shortly," he says. He turns to the driver, "Guard her with your fucking life."

"Yes, sir."

The three run off into the apartment building.

"Jenna?" Gianna's voice says.

"I'm here. She's coming to get you," Bella says.

"Okay... okay," she replies.

"Just take some deep breaths okay?" Bella suggests. She hears how shaky Gianna's breath is, "Deep breaths."

Inside, Vaughn and Lyle take the lead. They go up to Gianna's floor to her apartment. The door is still locked which is a good sign.

"Pick the lock and I'll sweep the area," Lyle instructs. Vaughn kneels down as Lyle begins to wander down the hallway. He opens the door and walks in with Jenna following.

"It's clear," Vaughn says to Jenna. She nods and knocks on the door.

"Color of the day?" Gianna shakily asks.

"Yellow," Jenna answers. There's movement before Gianna opens the door and jumps into the girl's arms. She wraps her arms around the former gang leader, shaking uncontrollably, "Let's get her out of here."

"Yes, Miss. Let me check with Lyle," he pulls his radio out, "Lyle, we clear?"

"We're clear. Go ahead and come back to the SUV," he answers.

"Copy that," Vaughn leads the two girls out of the apartment building. They safely get back into the SUV and now with the extra passenger, Vaughn has to sit in the trunk, "Step on it."

The driver reverses and speeds away.

"Cinna, this is Lyle. We have Miss Gianna," Lyle radios.

"Copy that. Robin and Briar have arrived at the Estate," he reports.

"We're en route to the Estate now."

"Copy that," Lyle puts the walkie away. Gianna is quiet.

"Are you okay?" Bella asks. Gianna's face is tear-stained and she's very much in shock.

"I... I don't even know what happened," she says softly. Bella puts her arm around the girl, "H-how... how did you guys know?"

Bella looks at Jenna. The former gang leader nods, deciding she should be the one to break the news, "This might be a lot, but you deserve to know... Sabrina's been taken."

Gianna's head whips to face Jenna. Then Bella. Tears well up in her eyes.

"T-taken?" her voice wavers, "Taken where?"

"We... we don't know," Bella answers, "But your suspicion was right. Dacre went out to check on her and found out that she was taken. Sadie told all of her friends to have their significant others stay at the Estate until we find her. Jenna and I figured you would be a target."

Gianna stays silent. She has no idea how to process all of this and it's justified. She's just barely met everyone and suddenly her lover is taken from her house. And they're trying to take her too.

"H-how... how are we going to find her?" Gianna asks.

"We're not going to do anything," Jenna points out, "Natalia, Finn, and Dacre will find her. Their girlfriends are already at the Estate."

"And Sadie?"

"She's out handling other business," Bella answers. Gianna sighs with tears rolling down her face, "They'll find her, Gianna. I promise."

"But what if she's not okay when they find her?"

"Sabrina's taken more than one bullet before," Jenna says, "She's one tough bitch."

"Hey, now," Gianna jokes. The other two chuckle.

"She can handle herself," Bella adds, "if anything, whoever took her should fear for their lives when Sabrina finds out they tried to take you."

"You really think so?"

"I know so."

"Lyle?" Cinna's voice asks.

"Go ahead," the man answers.

"I'm going to need you to stray away from the route," he states. Lyle motions for the driver to turn away from the Estate. The girls all look at each other in confusion.

"Why?"

"You've got a follower."