My Kidnapper's Mistake

Chapter 5: Shopping and a new House

Anya's P.O.V.

I didn't really know how I fit into this gang of misfits. Julian, who was obviously the leader had ordered me to handle the planning of their job, to aid in criminal activity. I was a law student, shouldn't I have reported this to the police? Shouldn't I have felt repulsed by what they were making me do? Strangely I felt a thrill run down my spine every time Julian looked at me or I when I stood over the maps, planning to rob a very rich gangster. I tried telling myself that it was fear and disgust crawling down my spine, but I couldn't seem to convince myself completely. I did have these episodes of fear and paranoia, thinking of how disposable I was.

Julian had given me a black credit card, I had almost fainted at the sight of it, telling me to go buy myself some clothes. He had also told me to pick two guys to accompany me. My choice had been fairly easy seeing as I was mortally afraid of the older giant of a person and the drop dead gorgeous guy, who's eyes hadn't wondered further north than my collar bone, made my skin crawl. The skinny guy avoided me like I was carrying a deadly disease or something, flinching every time I opened my mouth. The second in command looked like he really didn't trust me and wanted to just shoot me and get over with it. Naturally I had taken the passive goth guy and the one that seemed to have enough energy for the whole lot of them.

The car ride was silent except when introductions were made. The goth guy was Jason and the ball of energy was Kevin, yes like the minion, it fits him perfectly. Nobody spoke further. My mind was occupied with more important things than playing 20 questions with these two guys, things like what I would buy. I had the opportunity to start from scratch. To reinvent myself and nobody would think I had gone through a breakdown or something, they would only think that it was my style. I could buy anything I wanted. This was to much pressure. What will I be? Goth, like the guy driving the car? Bohemian chic? Casual? Should I just stick to my old sense of style of comfy elegant clothing? Definitely not! A voice in my head screamed. All I knew for sure was that I had to have as much pairs of platform heels as possible. Shoes are a girls world.

The mall was busy and we had to push past crowds of people to get to the stores. I hadn't yet made up my mind by the time we had stepped into the first store, but my mind was made up for me when I saw the most badass leather jacket on a display mannequin. Rocker. That was going to be my new style and I must have that jacket. I clutched the jacket tight to my chest, scared it might disappear. The rest of the clothes I bought I stuffed in the guys' arms. I checked off a list in my head. For the more hands on jobs I needed a pair of combat boots, black cargo pants(from the ladies department this time) and a few dark coloured tank tops. Sweatpants for those lazy days. Jeans varying from black to white wash, bootleg to skinny and full length to hot pants. A sleeveless black top with a skull, a Rolling Stones T-shirt and a white gypsy top. From a store a bit more normal than the first few I bought a red and white polka dot handkerchief skirt, even though I had decided on rocker, a girl should have at least one skirt in her possession. I bought a pair of stiletto platform boots with a gold chain hanging down the side and a pair with spikes on the back. As an after thought I grabbed a red plait shirt, an olive parka, black stockings and underwear, I had almost forgotten to buy underwear.

We sat down at a restaurant for lunch, the boys looked exhausted. The waitress took our order. I hadn't ever had a shopping spree in my life and I had to admitted I  loved it. I opened my mouth, finally ready to have a conversation, but Kevin's phone rang. He excused himself and walked off answering it. My thoughts for a conversation evaporated. I had to be honest, I had been counting on letting the ball of energy drive the conversation. I had no idea how I should start up with Jason. Thankfully he took initiative and spoke up first.
"You sure can  shop." He had a gruff voice. I blushed, feeling a bit ashamed at my behaviour.
"I haven't had this much clothes in a long time." I felt compelled to explain, counting the bags. Silence followed. Our drinks were served and still Kevin hadn't come back.
"Do you think we should go look for Kevin?"
"He'll be back." Jason said casually.

We had finished our lunch by the time Kevin plopped down onto his abandoned chair. He put a tan saddlebag down on the table and pushed it toward me.
"I thought you might need some more stuff." He barely finished the sentence before digging into his cold meal.
I pulled the bag closer, there seemed to be no stuffing inside, which meant he must have taken it out and put something inside.
"Julian called. We have a new address." Kevin said between bites.
I zipped open the bag and started unpacking the contents. A pair of expensive sunglasses, like those the detectives wear on crime shows. A bundle of straps. I unfurled them. What was this? Jason picked up on my confusion and answered my unasked question.
"A gun holster."
"Thought those might go well with that leather jacket." Kevin muttered through bites.
I put the items back, adding my phone and wallet. I must admit the holster had scared me bit. Did they expect me to kill people? I don't think that I'm up for that.
"You'll be surprised what you're willing to do in a tight situation." Did I say that last thought out loud, because Jason just answered it. Unless he could read minds.

I didn't know what I had been expecting, maybe another warehouse, even an unused garage, but I hadn't expected a normal sized house in a nice neighborhood with a white picket fence and cute curtains. This was part of the American dream, yet I was not living it despite what others might think. I didn't yet have my law degree, a loving husband and two well adjusted children. No, I was the hostage of seven men working for a criminal organization. I looked down the driveway, right and left at the houses next door and stepped into the house with Kevin and Jason trailing behind carrying my bags. I wondered in honor of the Dursley's: what would the neighbors think? One girl, seven men. My mind immediately went to the wrong conclusion and I hoped, even though I didn't know any of the neighbors, that theirs wouldn't.

"Great now that everyone is here, room decisions." Julian popped up out of nowhere.
"I call one upstairs!" Kevin thrust his hand in the air like he was still in school.
"No. Dexter, Anya, Brian and I will be taking the three bedrooms upstairs." The rest joined us in the foyer
"But why?" Kevin pouted.
"Because Dexter is the eldest. Anya is the only girl, I'm the leader and Brian is the second in command. "
"But there is only two other rooms down here." Tristan pointed out.
"Yes and one in the attic. So two must share and one can get their own room." Julian left. He just left them to figure this out by them selves. Worst of all he left me, cut off from the exits, amongst this group of guys about to fight about sleeping arrangements.
"I'm not sharing, nor am I sleeping in the attic." Tristan ended the stare off and started the argument.
"Nobody would want to share with you and whoever you come back with." Jason snorted.
"I'll take the attic!" Kevin shouted and barreled off in the direction of what I guess were the stairs, dropping all my bags he had been carrying.
"That leaves me and you to share a room." Jason told Stuart, he put my bags down gently and walked off. I struggled to carry all my bags, but there was no way that I was making a second trip. Who knew what could happen to my new stuff when I leave it alone for only a second. I have no reason to trust any of these guys.

The room was neat, with a single poster bed pushed up against a wall, a large window opposite it and a dresser pushed up against another wall. It wasn't big, but it could be my space for a while, unlike at the warehouse. That might be the main reason I hadn't really felt threatened, the lack of isolation. I hadn't been locked up in a room with only Julian checking up on me after putting on a threatening façade. No, I had seen all of them in their comfort zone, when they slept and ate.

A soft knock drew me out of my thoughts. Julian was leaning against the door, ankles and arms crossed.
"Have you ever had any martial arts or boxing classes?"
"I've done a few defense classes." I answered feebly.
"Firearms?"
"Went hunting with a friend once."
"Well since you'll be participating in this job, you'll need to know how to take care of yourself. The gym is in the basement meet me there tomorrow morning at seven and then every morning at five." Julian instructed pushing off of the door.
I didn't really know what to say and just nodded, I didn't know how to feel about this. Excited? Nervous? I didn't know what to expect. Maybe this was a good thing. He was making an effort, that could mean that I was not as disposable as I thought. What if I suck? Then they would definitely not keep me alive, I'd be a liability. I paced back and forth, my new clothes completely forgotten.
"Stop pacing you'll wear out the carpet and stop over thinking." Kevin shouted at me when he passed at his faster than normal pace.
I managed a small smile. If someone had told me three days ago that I'd be kidnapped, I would probably have believed them, but if they had told me that I would not be terrified and would actually help them steal a lot of money. I would have sent them to the nearest nuthouse. Yet here I was, did this mean I was losing my mind?