Taken

Chapter 8

Henry took a few steps forward and moved my hair from my face. I tried to pull away or do anything but Matt held me firmly against him.

"That was not a very nice thing to do Anna."

"What? And drugging me was?" I retorted. A small smirk formed over Henry's face as he stared at me and half nodded to the side.

"You okay Erik?" Henry said looking behind us to Max and Erik. I heard a chuckle then movement as they walked forward and stood with Henry facing me.
"I'm fine. Was like a bee sting." Erik said jokingly.

I grit my teeth and tried to pull forwards, but Matt stopped me.

"We drugged you because it gave us the opportunity to start this out without distractions or chaos. Look at you, can you imagine what you would have been like if we didn't do that?" Max asked sitting on the end of the table and looking to me.

I clenched my jaw at his words.
"Drugging someone is not how you gain their trust." I spat, spewing as much venom in my words as possible.

"I'm considering doing it again if I'm honest." Erik said crossing his arms over his chest and staring at me.

I felt my eyes go wide and my head snap back, whatever fight I had seeped out of my body. I could feel slight tremors take over my body and I knew tears were beginning to well in my eyes and that my bottom lip would be slightly trembling. Erik watched my reaction with a smirk on his face. Henry was also watching him then stepped forward.

"You have a point Anna. That isn't how you build trust. But like you so eloquently put it on the plane... Trust is a two way street." Henry said with a small smile.
"We will show you that we trust you, if you show us that you trust us."

"Trust isn't something that can just be given freely. It has to be earned. You of all people would know that." I bit back.

"Touché. But our situation is somewhat... unique, wouldn't you say?"

I lowered my head and looked at my bare feet on the marble floors. I slightly nodded. As soon as I did that, Matt's hands let go of mine and swept over to my waist before a small squeeze and he let me go.

"Shall we start this morning over?" Henry said waving to the kitchen. Wordlessly I followed him into the kitchen as he poured me a coffee. I watched his every move and paused when he gave it to me. Staring up at him with a blank look on my face.

"It's just coffee." He said, taking the mug from me and having a quick sip. "See?" He extended the coffee out to me again and I slowly took it.

"Thanks." I whispered, looking down to the mug in my hands. I heard a slight smirk of approval come from Henry as he stepped away and back to the table.
I could hear Max and Erik walk away and back to where they had been previously.

I took a deep breath and tried to blink away the tears in my eyes.
"Do you want some breakfast?" Matt asked, coming and standing next to me. I shook my head.

"No, thank you..." I paused. "I'm sorry I threw the brush at you." I whispered, fiddling with the mug. Matt laughed next to me and gently rubbed my shoulder.
"I've had worse. Good punch by the way." He joked, turning and facing Erik who told him to 'fuck off' from the other room while giving him the finger.
I allowed myself to breath out heavily at their antics, not willing to allow myself to laugh yet.

I put the coffee down and walked around the kitchen, looking out the big windows to the scenery below.

"How much did this set you back?" I asked casually running my fingers over the marble countertop, not really expecting a response but wanting to test how much they would tell me.