Taken

Secret Santa

Holidays was upon them like a frozen road. Whatever that means, Richie heard Mickey say it once and he's been confused ever sense.

"Okay, it's time for some ice breakers!" Quinn smiles as she puts ripped up pieces of paper into a hat. "It's nearly been a year since we've all came together. So, as our first Christmas together, me and Amber decided to do a little secret Santa" "Oh god" Mickey rolls his eyes seeing Quinn shake around the hat. "This is a cult, not a company" "One would say they're one and the same" Charlie says as he sips his beer. "Here he go" Jill sighs, she hated him so much.

"Okay, I'm going to go to each and every one of you! Remember those sheets I gave you guys last night to fill out?" Everyone had moved the pieces of papers on the glass coffee table, Richie thought the prompts were stupid. What do he like? What's his favorite candy? He felt like he was in high school. "Okay, I'll pick first. Remember, it's a Secret! So no one can know until the day of the gift exchange...which will be..." Quinn looks at the white calendar board. "The twentieth. You all have ten days!"

"Christ almighty" Mickey stood up and dipped his hand into the hat, pulling out a piece of paper. He stares at it for a bit before giving an eye roll.

Stu.

"Okay who's next!" Roman walked up to the hat, everyone was a bit anxious around him lately. He's been just exploding out on everyone, maybe this will help. He looks at the paper then back at Quinn before silently taking a seat.

Quinn.

"Ooh! Me me!" Stu immediately stood up and dipped his hand into the hat, swishing it around before pulling out a name. He had a raised eyebrow before smiling. "Interesting."

Amber.

"Cmon Richie" Quinn swishes around the hat again, "It's fun, come on!" Richie begrudgingly stood up and just took the first paper he saw. He sits back down and crosses his arms. "Aren't you gonna open it?" Richie sighs as he unfolds the crumpled up piece of paper.

Roman.

Roman?? Richie side eyes his leader, he had a bored stationary face on as he watched as Ethan went up next to the hat. What the hell was he supposed to get that guy? Roman is pretty much an open book, everyone knows what he likes and doesn't like. There's only two people that Roman likes, and it would be damn near impossible to get one.

Richie pauses, a smile appearing on his face as the light bulb began to flicker on. What if he...no, he can't. He shouldn't! It sounds like a super bad idea, what if it goes wrong?

But what if it goes right?

The gears started to turn in his head as he stares at the name in his hand. "Hey" Richie snaps out of his thoughts feeling Mickey nudge his shoulder. "Who'd ya get?" Richie didn't realize the drawings were over and that the sheets of paper that once littered the table were gone, all except one. "Roman" He mumbled as he grabs the paper. "Really? Good fucking luck" Mickey chuckled. "What? You're gonna gift him nightlight? Tough break"

Richie smiled as he stood up, he had some planning to do.
~
Richie spent the rest of his day planning this operation. Three separate ideas, one only made the cut. Taking her in a populated area? As risky and fun that may be, her brother is always steps behind. The more he thinks on it, Jaden Wayne is always with someone in public. Rather it's with her brothers, her twin, Ali, or even some friends or exes! She's never alone.

"Very smart girl..." he mutters. He types in the search bar, turning on his VPN. It's only night time when he does shady things, but has to get to the shady side of the internet. On one of his desk tops, was surveillance footage of all of Jade's normal routines. Brunch, shoots, hanging with friends. Her routine in the past month has been the same. "Why has no one picked up on this?" He scoffed, maybe she wasn't as smart as he thought she was.