Taken

Chapter 55

I continued staring at the water, my mind somewhat lost in thought.
I heard a slight groan and looked to my side. David rolled the bottom of his pants and sat down next to me. He smiled and nodded at me but otherwise didn't speak as he lowered his feet into the water. He sighed then lent back on his elbows.

"Did they say anything about New York?" I asked following suit and leaning back on my elbows looking at David. He watched me briefly then reached up and grabbed a pillow from the sun lounge. Placing it under my back and head.

"Henry is insisting that you travel with him."
"Absolutely not." I replied calmly, looking from David back to the pool. I heard David smirk.
"That's exactly what Nico said. At worst, there would be you, Kevin and Nico, Henry and Max. Maybe another few, but I'm not sure." I scrunched my face at this.
"I don't know why he thinks that's even on the cards. After what he did to Nico? Pfft, he's delusional."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
"David, can you take me back to that room? Please?" I asked, turning and looking at him.
David's eyes flicked over my face before he nodded. He stood up and held my hands, pulling me to my feet.

I followed him as he walked me back to the room. I could hear some conversation and strained my ears to hear it. David looked at me and went to knock on the door but I grabbed his hands and held them tightly.

"He'll keep sending people after her. I've heard rumours who he is trying to recruit. I'm not going to lie, I'm scared." Nico said, his voice was somber.
"I know. We are too. I think the best thing to do at the moment would be to reach out to whoever we have alliances with and try and recruit them to our side." Henry replied. I looked to David who was watching me intently.
I moved my lips and whispered 'shhh' to him. David shook his head and shouldered the door. I stared at him, annoyed that he would do this.
"What the fuck David?!" I whisper shouted.

"Come in." Nico called out. I angrily dropped David's hands and opened the door, storming into the room. My eyes flicked to Sebastian who was standing beside Nico with Kevin on the other side.

"Who is he sending?" I asked looking at Nico. He didn't answer immediately, but his eyes flicked to Henry.
"I didn't ask Henry. You're a big boy, you can answer this without taking pointers from him." I said walking to his desk and resting my hands on it, staring at him.

Nico's eyes flicked to me. I could hear movement behind me and soon Henry was by my side, and David by my other. I felt Henry's hand run over my back. I pulled away and into David, who gently grabbed my left wrist and gently pulled me so that I was slightly leaning on him.

"He's trying to send whoever he can." Nico replied, standing up from his chair and moving to David and I.
I stared up at him as he approached me. His hands gently grabbing mine and holding them.
"Surely between the two of you you'd have some allies?" I asked, looking at Nico then to Henry.

"We are trying to rally them. But there needs to be a process behind it. We need to make sure they're on our side and not playing us." Henry replied leaning against the desk.

I exhaled loudly to try and regulate my breathing to hide the whimper that came from me.
"And New York?" I asked, looking back up to Nico. His face was soft but there was pain behind his eyes.
"We will leave in 3 days time to allow for any finishing touches to the apartments. I'm sending Sebastian to make sure security is complete. He will pick us up from the airport." Nico said, gently squeezing my hand.

I nodded and looked down.
"Kevin, can you take Anna to the movie theatre? David you can stay here."
I felt Kevin's hand on my waist and I looked to him. Nico moved forward slightly and kissed my forehead.

I moved away and to the door. Watching as Nico whispered to Kevin and they both watched me. I briefly looked to Max and Henry. Henry was watching me as well and did a half smile to me as a comforting gesture. I looked to the ground as Kevin approached me. He gently wrapped his arm around my waist and moved me into the hall, pulling the door closed behind him.