Winter Getaway - A Storm and Silence Fanfiction

chapter eleven

this chapter is dedicated to @lala65 who just finished her exams Monday and asked me to have the update as soon as I could!

Ambrose's POV

Lilly was raising her eyebrows at me but I was not quite sure what she wanted. Was she trying to ask a question? Either way it was too late. She was promptly dragged away from me to a far side of the camp while the man who called himself "Boss" took me to another side of the rather dirty camp.

I could plan for most things in my life but having a female secretary and getting kidnapped by a group of thieves that lived in the forest were two things I honestly never saw coming. Inside, there was a dusty wooden table in the center of the room with a few chairs surrounding it.

"Sit down," Boss said, kicking out a chair.

I sat down on the dusty chair compliantly, holding my tongue.

"Surprised we got you?" He asked, sitting down opposite of me.

"I must admit I was not expecting this. You wouldn't happen to be the thieves that tried to break into my office a year ago, would you?"

"Oh, no. We like to catch our victims unawares. Getting them on the side of the road is usually the most efficient way for us. We have been planning this job for a while though, you were not an easy target. "

"I can imagine."

"We had to have men getting information about your whereabouts."

"Well," I shifted in my seat and leaned slightly over the table, "I must say I am impressed. However, I am quite curious, what is your plan now? How will you get my money from the bank?"

"I think you may be a little confused as to what we want Mr Ambrose. Your money will not do us much good; we have money. We want our lives back."

"Your lives?" I was intrigued by his statement.

Gesturing around to the dusty room, he continued, "Living like this... is not preferable. We want homes in the city, new clothes, new lives. That is all we ask."

"And what is your threat?" I countered.

"Your life," His voice did not falter in the slightest, " If you cannot do this we will kill your body guard and keep you as a slave until you feel impelled to comply."

After I didn't reply for a few seconds, he leaned over farther and his face broke out in a huge grin.

"I almost forgot about the girl."

"Did you?" I asked indifferently.

"If you do not agree, then we won't keep the girl. We'll kill her. Something tells me her family would not appreciate that," He leaned even closer till he was just centimeters away from my face, "And something tells me you would not appreciate that either."

"But if I do comply, you're still going to keep her?"

"Well, that is completely up to Croonie. I believe she was hoping we would have a girl to help her with the little 'shows' she likes to put on."

"That doesn't make any sense," I scoffed.

His hand was quickly around my neck, "If you say no, you are ensuring the death of two people, and your own enslavement."

Matching his intense gaze I demanded, "Do you not think people will come looking for me? I am the most powerful financier in all of England."

"We'll keep you hidden very well, no need to worry."

I leaned back in my chair, maintaining eye contact with him the whole time, yet never saying a word.

"Oh, don't worry Mr. Ambrose. You don't have to come up with a plan yet. Take as long as you'd like. Weeks even."

"I won't need long. I'll have my answer to you by tomorrow," I stated grimly.

"Excellent," Boss smiled.

Lilly's POV

I tugged away from the uncomfortable fistful of hair Croonie had grabbed with her veiny hands. The men Boss had made grab me had left me alone in this small room with her. She sat in the corner of the room on a small cot that looked like it could barely hold the weight of a small child.

"Erm, yes, I do like to keep it a little shorter," I muttered painfully.

"I'm not sure how this will do! It's hard to charm men without long hair to drape over you grief stricken face."

I glanced again at her crow black hair that fell nearly at her hips and shuddered. Not only was her hair scary but she had the most wicked blue eyes and the largest smile I had ever seen.

Her eyes raked me as her hand fell from my hair to harshly tug on my cheek as she grinned widely.

"However this face... this face will get us what we want."

"And what exactly do we want again?" I inquired, pulling her out of her trance.

"Money my darling!" She threw her head back in soft laughter as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

If I had to be honest with her, I had no idea what she has been talking about for the last five minutes.

I shifted on my feet, getting tired of standing. "How will long hair and my face get me money?"

"Oh, my sweet! You are so innocent! So young! Nothing past twenty years of age I'm sure. I am a skilled woman. I have mastered the art of charm, deception, and manipulation. With my long hair and stunning looks I get every man in a carriage to stop and help me. All while the men here are waiting to ambush. Of course, I get a portion of the money, but it's hard to start a new life when no one will let your filthiness into a bank, let alone to buy a home. Boss said if we caught your Mr. Ambrose he would get us new clothes and new homes! We would have our lives again!"

"My Mr. Ambrose?" I blurted out without thinking.

"Is he not yours? I am actually still quite confused as to why you are wearing men's clothing? Is this something you and Mr. Ambrose do for fun?"

"Oh God no!" I practically yelled. Calming down I continued, "It is actually a long story. One that is not worth your time."

"Well if you love this man then it is in your best interests that he give Boss what he wants. What we all want."

"I do not love him so..."

"Either way," she snapped her fingers in my face, "You need him to do this."

"But tell me again, what do I have to do with Mr. Ambrose getting you and your friends new lives?"

"Oh muffin, I've been needing a girl! I'm the only one here! I need someone to help out. Steal is fun, precious! Even when we have our new homes and clothes we will still need to keep up our lives. Stealing off the roadside is acceptable but stealing in a big city London," a wicked glimmer formed in her eye, "now that would be the ultimate fun."

"So you want me to live with you in London and help you steal? I have a family! Mr. Ambrose would never allow it! I am his secretary!"

Oops.

Croonie stood up from the worn out cot she had been sitting on, her light eyes narrowing. "His secretary? But you are a woman."

"I didn't mean that. I meant- I meant-"

She held out a hand to hush me. Then she cupped my chin roughly and leaned towards me as if talking to a child, "Sunshine, you have just given me the exact leverage I needed!"

author's note: so for now i'm going to stick to updating whenever i get 100 votes on a chapter! this usually happens in 7-9 days so that seems like a good schedule for me! honestly how will Ambrose and Lilly get themselves out of this mess??