THE TOXIC DEAL

9. FINAL STRIKE

" 'cause I... I cannot start to crumble

so come on and try 

try to shut me and cut me down

I won't be silenced

you can't keep me quiet

won't tremble when you try it

all I know is I won't go speechless"                           (Naomi Scott)

BRIA

My heart was racing faster than Usain Bolt and my mind was in frenzy. The only thought that was on mind was how to get out of this situation. Tear stained faces of kids and furious and worried Benji were the only pictures that pop up in my head. God, I am such an ignorant idiot bitch. If only I had listened to Benji and Cody. Oh no! Cody! He was going to die in the hands of Benji. And this all was only my fault. I am so sorry Cody. A fresh wave of tear started running down my cheeks.

A large hand grabbed my face again and I met furious blue eyes. Cameron tugged harshly and turned my head to the tinted window. My blurry eyes took a moment to adjust the vision, widening in fear as soon as they saw the scene outside.

The man in the black suit that was one of my kidnappers was talking to a little boy. I looked around in panic and soon realised that we were parked in the parking lot of SCHOOL. The same school where all kids study. Correction, where MY kids were studying. And that man was talking to a little boy with blonde hair and chubby cheeks, accompanied by twins. And that was none other than Jack. Shit. Shit. Shit!

I leaned towards the window trying to free myself from the vice grasp of Cameron, screaming loudly in hope that somehow any of them would hear my voice.

"now, now... Look there, Fire. Do you recognise those innocent faces?" his voice was dripping with evilness as he hissed in my ear, tightening his grip on me.

That man was talking to them something crouching down to their level as girls were looking at him with confusion. He put his hand in his suit pocket and my heart skipped a beat. Oh no! what was he doing? My mind swirled with all the possibilities, which were not any near to good at all. I released my breath that I was unaware of holding when he pulled out chocolates from his pocket, offering them to kids.

Jack's eyes twinkled with happiness at the sight of sugary goodness. But Lilly shook her head and whispered something in his ear making him deny the offer, unwillingly. I saw the girls shaking their head in denial and backing away from the man. But he was persistent and was not letting them go.

I searched around frantically for any help or elder kids but there was no one in my sight. I was so proud of Lilly because of her wise decision and equally angry at elder kids because they were not there to protect them even after I warned them to do so. My body was shaking in fear as I saw the face of man went red with anger and the change in his demeanour.

"Please, let them go. You are upset with me then let's settle it between us but please leave my kids out of this. They don't have anything to do with this." I was sobbing hysterically at this point. Angry at myself that I defied Benji's orders, frustrated that I was feeling helpless and weak, begging for mercy in front of these monsters, scared thinking if any of the kids got hurt.

"Only you can save them, Bria Maxwell. Sign the papers and we will let you and your kids go in one piece. Otherwise..." I didn't miss the dangerous glint in those blue eyes.

"How could you? How could you use innocent kids to get to me? they are just small kids for god's sake. You guys are no human. I am sure no one you have any kid of their own or otherwise you would have thought twice before doing something like this" I spat in disgust at these shitty excuse for human beings.