Kidnap Book One, Kidnapped By Mistake

Evidence

Alesia's Point Of View 

The restaurant was empty, and the air was thick with unspoken worry. Rico, Stephanie's date, was gone, leaving a trail of unanswered questions. "Where is she?" I demanded, my voice tight with fear. Rico shrugged, his eyes darting around. "She's not here," he uttered.

My mind raced. "She was supposed to..." I choked on the words, the image of Stephanie's smiling face flashing before me.

Rico, his own face etched with concern, offered a weak, "I really do like her. I hope I get the chance to meet her." But his words were lost in the growing storm of anxiety.

Joseph, ever the calm one, tried to soothe my frantic energy. "Baby, look at me. We'll figure this thing out! You have to trust me." But even his reassuring words couldn't silence the rising panic in my chest. 

We were about to leave the place when suddenly I heard a chime from a phone in the dark part of the alley. I grabbed Joseph's hand to check it. 

Then there was a faint ringing, like a siren in the night. A phone, glowing in the darkness. I swiftly took it, realising it was Stephanie's phone. My heart hammered against my ribs.

"It's her phone!" I cried out, my voice raw with fear.

Joseph, his face grim, took my hand. "We'll find her, baby. Let's go to the police and get this sorted out." His words were a lifeline, pulling me back from the edge of despair.

As we drove away, the city lights blurring into a kaleidoscope of uncertainty, I knew one thing for sure: Stephanie was in trouble, and I would do anything in my power to find my best friend.

Dimitri's Point Of View

The clock struck midnight as I pulled up to the mansion, the only sound being my car horn cutting through the eerie silence. I immediately honked the horn, which was heard by another one of our housekeepers, who quickly opened the gate for me. As the gate opened, I slowly drove my car into the garage and carefully parked it there. 

The air in the garage was thick with the scent of gasoline and unspoken tension. Outside, Dad's men huddled, their laughter and clinking glasses a stark contrast to the darkness.

They were armed, their weapons gleaming under the dim glow of the moon. Only their voices echoed in the depths of the night. I paid no attention to them, turned off the engine of my car, and hurriedly stepped out. I needed to see Dad to talk about Aunt Rosy's deception. 

I quickly made my way inside the house. I immediately looked for my dad, and I saw him in the living room, seated on a large wooden chair, smoking a cigarette. He also had a glass of wine in his hand and a cigarette smouldering between his fingers. He looked like a man lost in thought, his face etched with a quiet intensity. I noticed the elegance in Dad's demeanour in that state.

Without wasting any time, I quickly walked towards him, and upon reaching him, I took a deep breath and spoke. It seemed like he was surprised by my presence and just looked straight at me, furrowing his brow.

"What's happening to you? You look pale; are you okay, son?" he greeted me and then placed the cigarette he was holding on the ashtray on the table in front of him, as well as the glass of wine he was holding. He then focused his full attention on me.

"Dad," I uttered, my voice a mere whisper, "I need to talk to you. 

Where's Charlie?" I asked seriously, immediately glancing around and searching for my cousin Charlie, but I couldn't see him.

He furrowed his brow at what I did and also glanced around the entire kitchen before speaking again. He looked up, his eyes piercing. 

"He should be here by now," he tersely replied. His voice was a low rumble.

My breath hitched. I knew something was wrong. The mansion was a fortress, but tonight, it felt like a cage. I needed to find Charlie, and I needed to find out what was going on.

Anyway, what is wrong? It seems like you have something unpleasant to say. What troubles you this time? Were you rejected again by one of the women you're courting? "He quipped, he added, giggling, which annoyed me, his laughter grating on my nerves. I met his gaze with widened eyes before speaking again.

"Dad, this is not some sort of joke! This matter is grave! It concerns Aunt Rosy's clandestine allegiance to Antonio," I declared firmly, my countenance shifting to a solemn expression as I locked eyes with him. He just laughed at what I said as he spoke.

"Rosy has been an integral part of our organization for an extensive duration, and I can attest to her unwavering loyalty to me," he stated earnestly. I felt a pang of sadness, knowing that my dad's current suspicions were unfounded. Drawing in a deep breath, I continued.

"Do you have some sort of evidence here? Were you talking about convincing evidence, Son? Or is this just merely one of your misguided speculations?" His words were left hanging as I interjected without hesitation.

"I do, Dad," I responded cautiously, furrowing my brow as I held his gaze unwaveringly.

"You do?" he inquired briefly.

"I knew you very damn well, Dad. You are not one to accept mere words at face value. Am I correct? Thus, I procured a video capturing her conversation with Antonio. 

Here, Dad, watch for yourself and judge the validity of my suspicions," I elucidated, retrieving my phone from my pocket and handing the phone to my dad, who he  immediately took the incriminating footage that exposed Aunt Rosy's treachery.

Dad immediately took my cellphone from my hand, his expression contorted with rage and disappointment as he watched the damning evidence unfold before him.