Pitch Black (Romantic Thriller, Completed)

Chapter 35

Luke sat beside Nick in a nondescript black SUV as they drove to the specified location. He rarely visited this part of London, and right now, he never wanted to set foot in the city again. If—when—he got Tia back, they could move somewhere far away from this life and its hellish complications. Their mother, Ash, a criminal who'd turned their lives upside down. Luke should have been on holiday in the Bahamas right now, sipping a beer with Ash lying next to him in a bikini, and the injustice of it all brought a pulse of anger that overrode his fear for a second.

But only for a second.

The bag containing the ransom jiggled up and down on his lap as he bounced his feet, trying to dissipate some of his nervous energy. A million pounds was a lifetime's work for most people, yet it all fitted in one small holdall.

Where had the cash even come from? Luke still didn't know, but Nick assured him it was genuine. At least Luke hadn't had to try and withdraw it from the bank. The manager had been as suspicious as hell about his tale of buying a second-hand Ferrari last time, and Luke doubted the man would have fallen for it if he showed up at the branch claiming he wanted to buy a Bugatti Veyron as well.

But the bundle of cash was of little comfort as the driver pulled up a short distance from the shopping centre with five minutes to spare. Luke would walk the last part alone with Nick as his shadow.

As he exited the car, he felt giddy, dazed almost, and he couldn't help thinking of the disaster in the woods. What would happen if he messed up this time? Would he receive Tia's hand? Her foot?

"Careful, buddy," Nick said, pressing down on Luke's head in time to stop him hitting it on top of the doorframe.

"Thanks," Luke muttered, preoccupied with thoughts of his sister. What if they couldn't get her back?

Outside the car, Nick patted Luke on the back. "Good luck."

He melted into the darkness before Luke had a chance to reply.

Luke walked slowly along the pavement, his eyes darting from side to side. Where was the kidnapper? A door slammed, and he jumped sideways, splashing dirty water up his legs as he landed in a puddle. Shit. Why had he agreed to this? Why did he turn down the offer of a decoy? Shabby homes gave way to derelict buildings, and his hand trembled as he gripped the handle of the bag tighter. Nick and his people may have been in the surrounding shadows, but Luke had never felt more alone in his life.

He'd always thought he could look after himself, but recent events had shaken him. First, his misjudgement of Ash, then his injury in the woods, and finally, his inability to get Tia back all left him racked with self-doubt.

What if he failed?

No, don't think like that.

At the appointed time, Luke stood beside the entrance to the shopping centre, desperately trying to look more in control than he felt. Nick had returned his phone to him in the car, fully charged, and at one minute past six, it vibrated with a message.

Unknown: Follow road to left of shopping centre two hundred metres. Self-storage unit on left. Key at desk in name of Johnson.

Luke relayed the instructions to Nick over the radio, keeping his voice to a whisper in case the kidnapper was nearby.

Nick's voice came back through his earpiece. "Copy. I'm right behind you, and I'll send a couple of teams ahead to the storage place."

Luke increased his pace as he walked, anxious to get the drop over with. A hundred yards to go, then fifty. Could Nick hear his heart hammering over the airwaves?