Mr. Lawson's Assistant

Chapter 37

Shoving the screw through the last little strand of plastic, I grinned and pulled my right hand up, still grasping the screw. My left hand was still trapped under the weight of myself and the chair, but with the use of my right hand, I was able to free it quickly.
Pushing my chair upright again, I reached down to my legs, and began working on those zip ties.
After minutes of sawing madly, one of my legs was freed. In a matter of minutes, I jumped up from the chair and sprinted over to the door. Stumbling, I had to pause and collect my legs, before I arrived at the door. Not having food for two days, and sitting down for such a long period of time had messed with my movement abilities.
Reaching the door, I fumbled with the handle, grabbing it and jerking back as hard as I could.
Locked.
I pulled again, slamming my foot into the door, and grunting. It wouldn't budge. My chest vibrated, as I slammed into the door a second time, and I suddenly remembered my phone. Dropping to my knees, I grabbed my phone and clicked the center button. My battery was on one percent and I had over twenty missed calls from David.
I unlocked the screen, and hastily opened up the keypad, dialing David. As it rang, my phone beeped saying I had less than a minute.
"Oana-" David's frantic voice came over the line. I cut him off, knowing I didn't have much time.
"David, I'm in a warehouse! Tell Damon that Pedro-"
The phone buzzed, shutting down. I gripped the now useless phone and lay my head against the door.
Dear God help them find me before it's too late!
*
Damon's POV
*
I stood in the living room of Oana's apartment, my phone to my ear, as Greyson recounted what he'd done so far.
"That's fine. Yes, tell him the address of Malia's penthouse. Yes. Bye." I dropped my phone onto the couch, turning to where Oana's brother and step-father were sitting on the other couch.
"Anything?" Tony, Oana's step dad asked, rubbing his chin stubble.
"No."
I glanced down at David's phone as it lit up. Oana's picture flashed across the screen, and I tensed.
"Oana-" David picked up the phone, but he immediately fell silent when her frantic voice came over the line. I leaned forward on the couch, gripping the wooden backing under the soft material.
"Hello? Oana, can you hear me?!" David said into the phone, pulling back as the phone shut off the call. He immediately called her again, but the call went straight to voicemail.
"Where is she?" I asked David, as he dropped the phone into his lap.
"She said something about a warehouse...and she said to tell you something," He stopped, running a hand over his face.
"What?" I pressed.
"It sounded like a name, I don't know, Paleo...?" Her brother glanced up at me, and I clenched my jaw.
"Pedro."
Moving away from the couch, I grabbed my phone and dialed Greyson. Midway through dialing, Greyson called me, and I answered.
"Greyson, Oana said-"
"Pedro wants two million for her."
I stopped.
Everything around me blurred, and I gripped the phone tighter.
"Damon?"
"I'm here." I answered, taking in a breath, and trying to ignore the stares I was getting from David and Tony. "When?"
"Friday."
I cursed under my breath.
"There's no way-"
"I know."
"Then what are we supposed to do?" I was quickly losing my control, and Greyson knew it.
"We either find her before Friday, or we come up with two million." His voice had taken on an emotionless tone. He knew I rarely got jostled; but he also knew exactly what was tearing me apart. He'd known it the day he introduced me to her in his office.
Focus.
"I'll find her."
"Damon?"
"What?"
"If you see him," there was a split second pause, "kill him." Greyson's voice was steady and sure as always, but I knew the amount of emotion that carried through his statement.
"I will."
Hanging up, I turned to David and Tony.
"We have to find her before Friday." I said, moving over to the kitchen counter to pick up a pen. Scribbling on the spare paper that was scattered across the surface, I worked my jaw.
"Why Friday?" Tony asked quickly.
I turned to them with a grim expression. "Remember the Mafia I told you about? Pedro Santurez is head of the group, and he's the man Oana told you to tell me about." I explained, watching David's eyes darken in rage. I knew exactly how he felt. "I made a list of every warehouse-"
A knock on the door cut me off, and I glanced to David, raising my brows. He shook his head, and I grabbed my gun from my back where I'd tucked it in my belt. Moving to the door, I checked the glass peep-hole, and immediately lowered my weapon.
I threw open the door, "Kenya?"
"I was there when they took her! I've been trying to call you all day. I woke up in the hospital this morning, and I've been trying to get a hold of you and Greyson since!" She burst, waving her arms, and shoving her hair out of her face. I stepped aside to let her into the room.
David jumped up from the couch.
"You know where my sister is?" He asked her, and she shook her head.
"But I know what color the car that took her was, and which way they went." Kenya glanced to me. Her eyes were wide and filled with tears. She was scared out of her mind. I forced myself to cut off the mental timer Greyson had set off in my head.
"What happened?" I said quietly, motioning to the couches. Kenya inhaled and took a seat on the couch across from Tony and David.
"Oana and I left the party at the same time. We walked to the parking lot together, and split ways. I was at my car when I heard her scream. I wasn't sure I'd heard right, but I started towards her car just in case. When I rounded the curb in the lot, this big Spanish guy had her in a choke-hold against her car. I tried to get to her, but she wasn't conscious-" Kenya paused, brushing away a tear. "He grabbed her and jumped into a waiting black van, and by the time I got there he was gone." She said, her voice wavering.
"What happened after that?" David prompted.
"The van went north on the interstate, but as I pulled out my phone to call 911, something hit me in the back of the head."
I stared at Kenya, glancing down at the hospital bracelet on her wrist.
"I woke up in the hospital this morning with a concussion, and took a cab here." She finished, clasping her hands in front of her.
"David," I stood up, grabbing my phone, "send me directions to the old factory on Gilmer." I said, grabbing my bag from the front door, and throwing on my suit coat.
David nodded, and opened his own laptop again, to start typing.
"Shouldn't we let the police-" Tony started, but I cut him off.
"Kenya-"
"I'm calling them now." Kenya pulled out her phone and glanced up at me. "Be careful, Damon."