Red String Of Fate

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

The trip was tense and people rushed back and forth following orders and equipment was set up everywhere. I swarm of men were tracking and analysing the video and another swarm was at Kyler's side, attaching his cell to a tracking system. I stared into the horizon as the cruiser ship sped back towards the nearest port. I gripped the railing tighter as the images of the video flashed in my mind. God, she looked terrified.

I crossed the deck and smiled faintly at every person who met my eye. As I approached Kyler's private office, I caught whiff of an argument.

"Damn, why did they take her? She's twenty one. They've had almost her entire life to make a move but they didn't."

"I think it's because they knew security around her would be weakened because they made it pretty clear they were going after Serenity." Devon paused, as if to consider whether to add something or not. "You're being too predictable. They're using that predictability against you." He admitted.

"In what way?" Kyler replied back.

"They snapped a picture of Serenity first. That was to alert you and make you worried. As they predicted, you made a move. You move her into your office so that all the guard would be guarding in one place.

But the thing is the picture itself spoke of the message we received back in the lobby. You allowed them to take advantage of the fact that both of you were in one place. They sent in a man with a gun. He wasn't paid a quarter million to send the message. He was paid a quarter million to be a threat and wave a gun around. They knew that you wouldn't allow the guy to just walk free, therefore arresting him. They had obviously planned that, so they could use it against you. They had clearly asked you to let the guy free but you didn't. That's what the message was for.

Now, everyone knows that the Thorne's own are wealthy. Everyone knows that you guys own a private island. They wanted to push you there, along with more than three-quarters of the security we have employed. No-one is stupid to attack a place they don't know very well. They weren't aiming for the island. They were aiming to have the security out of the city. Now that the guards were gone, they could kidnap her. The security on Sherey was too weak. We shouldn't have taken Lee off her. He's one of our best. Damn. They really took advantage of you this time. Sherey might have been their target all along."

I froze at the door. Lee? He ... he was the one guarding me wasn't he? Oh my god. I let go of the door and ran down the hallway, heading back outside to the deck. I heard the door open and Devon shouting my name in shock and surprise. Before I even made it round the corner, Kyler grabbed me and pulled me back into his chest. My back hit his chest and I didn't even dare to turn and look back at him.

"Serenity, it's not your fault." He reassured me.

"You don't have to say that. For god's sake, Lee was one of her guards. When she was kidnapped, he was guarding me." I felt tears stinging my eyes and I pulled out of his embrace and headed outside without looking back.

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-- Back In New York --

I didn't leave the office for the next few hours. I loved watching those crime shows on TV but to actually be in a kidnapping attempt wasn't so fun. I used to laugh when friends and family of the killed or kidnapped all looked the same distressed manner but really, that's all you can feel when it actually happens.

I hadn't seen Kyler for the past few hours either. Not that I could face him without breaking down at the moment. My cell rang and I sighed wearily, not wanting to deal with Mum or Hazel or Mish or Jayson at the moment. I unlocked it wearily and opened the email. I dropped my phone as soon as I read it.