Taken

Chapter 12

The van rattled down the road. We had been driving for hours. I was leaning up against the side and would occasionally wince as a jolt of the car hurt. I looked down at my wrists, still in the cuffs. Bruised from my attempts at trying to get out of them, but also bloody and throbbing from punching him.

Before I knew it the van was slowing down and stopping. I sat up more and looked to the back of it. I could hear people talking. I quickly stood up, ready to either run or fight if I needed to.
"Where is she?" He calmly asked, my heart felt like it jumped when I recognised Henry's voice.
"Matt, give him the money."

Within seconds the van doors opened and Henry stood looking in. I gasped and ran into Henry's arms. He hugged me and gently lowered me out the van. I smiled up at him. Quickly admiring him in his navy blue suit. I looked over to the men standing in a circle, Matt, Max and Erik looked on edge, as did the other man. Henry gently pulled back and looked down at me, the smile on his face faded slightly when he noticed the bandaids on my forehead. I watched as his face hardened, his eyes glaze over, and the smile fully disappear from his face.

"I'll kill him." He whispered, beginning to turn around. I struggled to grab him, but when I did I pulled him so that he was looking at me.
"I'm fine. Please don't do anything. I just want to go." I could see the conflict in his face, of wanting to hurt the man who'd hurt me, but also of him wanting to listen and take me back home.
"Please." I whispered, gently taking his hand. He looked down at my hands. He closed his eyes and turned away. His jaw clenching.

I looked down to my hands and saw that they were badly bruised.
"Matt." I called out. I watched as Matt said something to Erik and Max and came running over. When he got to us he gently put his hand on the small of my back.
"Please can we go?" I whispered, gently tugging on Henry's hands. Matt looked to him then back at me. I watched as his face fell slightly when he too noticed the bandaids.
"Matt please. I just want to go back. I want to go home." I said, gradually fading so that I was whispering. I felt both Henry and Matt respond to my use of 'home'. It seemingly knocked them out of their trance.

Henry nodded and we walked over to the man.
"Frank, remove the cuffs." Henry lifted my hands and Frank quickly removed them, letting them drop to the floor. I looked up at him, and smiled slightly before Henry and Matt turned me away and walked to a car. Henry gently helped me into the car and sat in next to me. Matt climbed in on the other side. The car took off and I snuggled down into the seat. My head leaning on Henry's shoulder.

"Yeah, we'll need you at the Aspen lodgings. We will be there in about an hour. Possible broken wrist and hand. Yep. Okay. See you then." Matt pulled his phone away from his ear and looked to me.
"The doctor will meet us there and have a look at you." I nodded and looked down. "How long will we be staying there for?" I asked staring down at my hands.
Henry moved slightly behind me, before answering. "A couple of days. Now that the main threat has been dealt with we can use is as a little relax and retreat time. No work for us for the next few days."

I nodded, part of me was afraid to go back, but I felt somewhat better knowing that they would be there and not leaving for work at all.

I closed my eyes and snuggled down into Henry's shoulder. He put his arm over my shoulders and pulled me into him a little more. Matt gently put his hand on my thigh and gave it a small squeeze. I welcomed the darkness that greeted me.

***

I awoke to Henry gently waking me. I pulled away and looked back at him, slightly dazed and confused. The car was slowly coming to a stop in the carport.
"We're back home now. Come on and we'll get you looked at by the doctor." I stared blankly at him, still waking up. Henry chuckled slightly then climbed out the car. He reached in and gently pulled me into him and carried me back into the house. Matt opened the door and walked inside after us.

Henry carried me to the dining room and sat me down on a chair. I watched as the doctor came over and looked at my head. He gently put some more alcohol on it and put the proper strip bandaids on it. He then looked to my hand. I winced and cried out when he touched it. I heard Matt take a step forward from behind me. Henry slightly raised his hand, stopping Matt and looked down to me.

"The doc will fix you up. I'll make some dinner for us all and we can have a quiet night." I nodded, as he lent down and kissed the top of my head. I looked to the side slightly and watched Henry walk into the kitchen. I was somewhat relieved to see that Matt was walking over to the table. He gently put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. I lent my head back so that it was resting on his stomach behind me.

The doctor quickly finished his work.
"Your wrist is badly sprained. Keep it strapped up and avoid using it for the first few days. As you recover try doing exercises to strengthen it." He placed a pill container on the table. "Here are some pain killers, they are strong so take them sparingly. Do not drink alcohol while taking them. If there's nothing else?" The doctor said looking to Matt. He shook his head and waited until the doctor had gathered his things before walking him to the front door. I grabbed the pill bottle and removed 2 pills before I threw them in my mouth and swallowed them.

I waited a moment before standing up and walking to the kitchen. Henry was standing over the stove stirring something in a pot.

"Thank you for having the doctor check me over." I whispered, feeling exposed and uncomfortable. Henry glanced over at me and smiled.
"My pleasure. I trust you're feeling a bit better now?" He asked, taking another quick look at me then looking back to the pot.
I nodded, "yeah, he said my wrist is sprained and that I should start feeling better soon. He gave me some pain killers so I'm set."
"Good. That's good."
I watched as Henry dried his hands on the towel he had over his shoulder before he moved to a cupboard and pulled out 6 bowls. He began serving up the food as Matt walked back into the room. He gently gave my shoulder a squeeze before grabbing 3 of the bowls and walking towards the dining room.

"Come on." Henry said, grabbing the remaining 3 bowls and walking to the dining room. I followed and sat down between Matt and Henry, where I had been told was my spot. Henry sat at one head of the table. Max and Erik walked in and sat at the other end, Max and Henry stared at each other for a minute before eating some food.

I stared at the remaining bowl that sat next to Erik and in front of me.
"Why is there an extra bowl?" I asked, turning my head from the bowl to Henry. He swallowed his mouthful and glanced at Max for a second before meeting my gaze.
"Our advisor will be joining us. He's been away on business." I felt my eyes widen.
"Another. Another person?" I whispered, feeling my body begin to shake slightly.
"What if he's just like Erik?!" I whispered to Henry. He shook his head and gently held my hand. Beside me, Matt placed his hand on my thigh and squeezed it.

"Sorry I'm late. Traffic was terrible out of the airport." I didn't move, I stayed staring at Henry. He half smiled at me before turning his attention to the man who had just entered the room.