Betrayed by my own

Chapter 10 - Saviour

Ryder was sure he was losing his mind. It's surpassed two weeks with no contact. He didn't want to admit it but he knew there was a possibility that she was already dead; obviously he wasn't going to accept her death as the only possibility. She was alive, there was no way in hell that someone like her would just let death suppress her. No way in hell.

This is driving me beyond rationality. Sleep eludes me, her body lifeless in my arms as I rushed her to the hospital wing is stained in my mind like blood splatter on the wall. She's one hell of a woman (that's for sure) however she couldn't possibly escape from the mansion without someone noticing her...She wasn't even healed! I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't even focus on anything other than her. It's not like I know her. She's just a possession, an end to a debt, so why can't I focus on anything else? Somebody better find her soon or I'm going on a rampage!

"I know that look on your face Ryder," Danny silently entered the room during his long rant. "Your thinking about her again aren't you?" a grumble exited Ryder's mouth in response.

"What do you want Daniel?"

"Well not only do I have the whereabouts of Miss Hathaway but Lily is furious that your wasting away up here."He was dumbfounded by Ryder's ability to not listen to anything that came out of his mouth. Not that he understood the inner workings of the mafia leader but he sure knew that he wasn't the same man he was before she came. It's not like they spent much time together anyways.

"So she's in Assisi?"

"Indeed, with some man named Callum Morris," he frowned, "They seem to have a past, let me explain."

So basically their parents made an agreement that they would get married one day. They spent time together as kids. Now that Charlie's parents are dead, he thinks that she rightfully belongs to him. However, this marriage was words only, there's no formal, signed agreement to state this was to happen. All in all, he is delusional and he believes she belongs to him.

"I want you to call a meeting, bring all the heads of departments," he smirked, "It's time to put our plan into action."

Game. Set. Match.

The meeting was dead silent. Two weeks and nothing had changed, she was still gone and they all couldn't fathom how Danny had found her.

"Assisi?" Shelia questions as she skims over the file, "seems easy enough, countryside, small town, quiet".

"Sure it looks easy but he is a man of wealth." Jake frowns. "I've heard about him, he's definitely not good news..."

Everyone looked to Ryder for an answer to their silent questions. He looked a mess and they knew she was driving him insane. They may not know each other very well or at all in truth but she still plagued his mind.

"Where's Matthew?" Tom was always sceptical around Matthew he may be the leaders brother but he certainly wasn't loyal (whether anyone else knew that was another thing in itself) he never said anything for Ryder's sake but Tom knew better than to trust Matthew.

"We don't have time for him to mess around, if he's not here that's his problem." Rosalie scowled, she couldn't bare his attitude or him as a person. He may be a young adult but he's in the wrong family if he thinks he can just do as he pleases.

"He doesn't matter right now, what matters is getting Charlie back alive!" slamming his hands on the table, forcing heads to snap towards him. To say this never happened before was a lie, in the last two weeks its been nothing but shouting, slamming and breaking. Not even enemies dared to cross his path.

"Alright everyone, we don't have time for arguing."

"Danny's right, we need to get to her quickly and quietly." Veronica giggled to herself. She may just be their mother but she had her own tricks up her sleeve.

"I know a person who can help you get inside."

"You really do know everyone don't you mother?" Sheila laughs.

"Alright everyone here's the plan."

...

The next day

Charlie's dinner with Callum

It was quicker to fly from Sicily to Perugia then take the cars down into Assisi. Only problem they faced was trying to get around unnoticed by Callum and his men. Ryder was yet to find out who got her out of the house in the first place but he didn't have time for all of that.

He was way more distressed over her condition. Was she still alive? Of course she was. Has he hurt her? His head would be clean off if he found out he had hurt her. Better yet a slow, painful torture was more in need and then he could clean himself up and comfort her after all of the horror. That's better. Definitely better than just killing him straight away. He would make him feel every little spasm of pain Callum had forced upon Charlie in his absence.

Michelle was the one to 'accidentally' leave a door open for them to sneak in. Michelle and Veronica worked together back in the days when her husband was a mafia leader also. Veronica hadn't told Ryder that she had sent Michelle to watch over Charlie but that was best told another time.

Nobody wasted time to set up when they got there. Guns blazing was their best bet to get in and out quickly. That came easy with Glock 19's. Rapid and silent just the way they liked.

On the outskirts of the forest sat Callum's home. It was cute. Clearly a man with more wealth than common sense. It wasn't a mansion, well maybe it was. Nothing compared to theirs. But what is.

There were guards everywhere except for the door by the kitchen. That's where they got in. The place was empty. All except for the music coming from what Ryder presumed was where Charlie was at. Crashing open the door with Jake and Tom behind him in the shadows.

Holy shit. She looks gorgeous. Not the point right now! He's got his disgusting hands on her. They're way too close. He better not kiss her or I'll kill him!

"Get your hands of my woman!" screamed Ryder as he took another step in the room. Didn't take another second for Callum to haul her around his front and grab a knife from his pocket. Not even a breath later it was touching her stomach.

"He said you were coming, so sad that you didn't join us for dinner,"

"Hand her over Morris!"

"First of all she's going to be my wife, second of all take even another step closer and I'll make sure she doesn't see the light of day again!" he chuckled (ugh). Ryder's breath hitched as he quietly signalled for Tom and Jake to appear behind him.

"Can you two stop fighting like children. Get this fucking knife away from me before I stab you with it!"

"Shut your mouth princess, the men are talking."

Charlie had much better ideas than standing in the cross-hairs of two extremely dangerous men. Stamping straight onto Callum's foot she dropped to the floor. Not quick enough to stop the knife from moving and slashing through her upper abdomen. A gun clocked and fired at the same time, wounding Callum's arm. He ran promising to return for her one day.

The room began spinning as Charlie sunk deeper into the floor. Hovering her hand over the wound as Ryder slid over to her catching her head before it smashed into the floor rendering her unconscious.

"I looked really cool there right?"

"Charlie your bleeding, badly there's no time for jokes right now," Ryder panicked, "Tom grab the med kit, Jake call Nathan!" The boys ran out of the room before Charlie could take another breath.

"You have no idea-"

"Save your words, you need to breath, if there is anything you want to say then use actions."

Charlie leaned up slightly and kissed him on the cheek. Red flushed his face.

"I knew you'd come," she smiled before her breathing picked up.

"Sorry darling." Giggling filled his ears before he noticed her closing into him more.

"Charlie stay awake for me OK?". No response. "Charlie wake up!"