Held For Ransom

s i x

With a specially concocted sob story of how we were actually going to get hitched in Vegas until the luggage lossage and how my parents don't approve which is why there was such secrecy, Clare is no longer offended for being left out.

"That's horrible! I can't believe your father would kick you out like that!" She sympathises, patting my arm.

"The things we do for the people we love," I sigh, looking up at Landon with a sad smile but mocking eyes.

He reaches down and squeezes my shoulder.

"Oh princess, how true that is." He replies. "Anyways, sad stories aside, we've got a shopping trip laid out now. So how about you hurry and get dressed." His calm voice has an impatient undertone and I look to Clare.

"Ah yes, I'll go grab something for you." She says, hopping up. "I'll be right back."

I smile at her and wait until the door closes behind her before releasing it.

"This is so painful," I groan, rubbing my temple. "Is it too late to be thrown in the trunk?"

Landon rolls his eyes. "It's not ideal for me either. Thank you, Boss, so much for this."

Boss wipes his shiny forehead with a napkin and checks his cellphone again as he has been periodically for the last hour.

"Landon this is no time for a bad attitude. You know how behind schedule this is going to make us? That ship leaves tonight and then if we can't make it..." Boss closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "If we don't make it, we are ALL in serious trouble."

I swallow hard at the nervous look on both of their faces.

Just then the door reopens and Clare comes in with a bundle.

"It'll be a little too big for you but I mean anything's an improvement over your current look right?" She laughs handing me the clothes. I pull a smile back to my face and laugh, taking the wad.

"Very true. Thank you so much Clare!" I gush and stand up to go change.

As I pass Landon I notice his face, looking distant. My proximity snaps him out of it and he steps back so I have space to walk through.

"Don't take too long," Landon calls.

I close the bathroom door behind me. "No promises." I tease. I take my time undressing and combing through my hair with my fingers.

I unwrap the fabric she had handed me, including some proper undergarments thankfully. Although the bra is slightly to big in the band it fits pretty well. I slide the black romper on over top and look in the mirror.

The romper is a little baggier than it should be but it's nothing noticeable. It has off the shoulder short sleeves and it clinches tighter in the middle, baggy again in the short legs. With the outfit she also gave me a pair of black sandals that I slide on.

With one last glance in the mirror, I exit.

"Oh wow! That looks so amazing on you!" Clare squeals.

I laugh and look around for the others reactions. Boss smiles and nods. Landon sits in the couch, tapping his fingers while watching tv.

"Landon? How's it look?" I ask. He glances at me, his eyes sweeping over me from head to foot before turning back to the tv.

"Yeah, it's great," he mumbles. I ignore his bad attitude and turn back to Clare.

"Well, are we ready to go now?" I ask her. She looks around the room, everyone looking at her.

"Yeah, looks like it. Let's head out and we'll meet at the mall." She decides.  Everyone stands and we head to the door. As I go out I pass Landon who touches my sleeve gently.

"Black's a good color on you." He states. I roll my eyes.

"No need to be nice now, your sisters out of range." I retort, stepping outside. Landon walks out too, pausing to lock the door.

"In that case," he looks over at his sister and Boss who are out of hearing range. "All that black makes you look like a vampire, a serious case of the walking dead." He sneers. I stick my tongue out at him and spin on my heel.

"Clare what do you say we hit up a restaurant on the way?" I call out. "Something fancy!" 

Clare grins and gives a thumbs up.

"Expensive is okay too. Landon loves to spoil me," I grin, looking to him. He pulls a very weak smile/sneer to his lips, gritting his teeth.

"Oh, I know a perfect place!" Clare calls back, getting into her vehicle. "Just follow behind me!"

I get into the back and, surprisingly, Landon slides in next to me. Boss sits at the drivers wheel and we take off behind Clare.

"I don't know what games you're playing here princess but I am getting pretty fed up." Landon growls next to me.

Boss seems to be oblivious to Landons hostility.

"I don't know if you understand the seriousness of the situation you're in right now. You seem to be taking it very lightly, so let me shed some reality here for you," he pauses, pulling something out of his waist band. It glints in the light, black and metallic.

A chill runs through me. I gulp and lean away from him. "Is that a real-"

"A real gun?" He interuppts. I can't take my eyes off it, sweat running down my back as the severity sets in.

He toys with it, unloading it for me to see.

"You tell me princess. You tell me." He loads the gun again and shoves it back into his waist band.

I don't respond.

"What? Got nothing smart to say now?" He sneers, crossing his arms. I tilt my chin up, swallowing my fear to speak.

"You wouldn't shoot me." I say, trying to sound confident but my voice warbles.

"No?" He asks, cocking his head to look at me. "Why do you think that?"

I stare into his eyes but I can't help as my eyes flicker to his waist band where he keeps the gun tucked.

"Because. If you kill me then you won't be paid. And what would you tell your sister when your fiancee suddenly disappears and her face appears in every news papers obituary?" As I speak I feel more sure.

He seems to hesitate for a split second before his snarky attitude returns. "Who said anything about killing you? I don't have to shoot to kill." With this he looks forwards, his eyes set ahead and his hand over his gun.

A chill runs through me and I look up at Boss, catching his eyes in the mirror. I send him a pleading look but his eyes simply dart to the road and I know he's no longer as worried about keeping me intact.

Landon keeps a cool face on, unreadable. Bosses expression mirrors his. For the first time since being kidnapped I start to feel worried for my safety.

As we pull in to a restaurant parking lot behind Clare, the smell of fresh Italian pasta wafts in through the windows. But as hungry as I was I've suddenly lost my appetite.