Snow Bound

24

Whitney doesn't fight in any way. In reality she doesn't even notice what's going on, she's back in her memories of when her mother first sold her. The man has a tight grip around her wrist, far tighter than he needs so that she doesn't run away, but she just follows along.

The man is gritting his teeth. Some bidders like a docile female, but most like at least a little life in them. He needs her back to how she was when she was with the Leavingtons before the auction or she won't bring enough money to support his takeover attempt.

He chuckles to himself. Their girlfriend, at least one of them, will be sold to pay for their takeover. He had heard how terrifying this mafia was, but so far he hasn't seen it. He thinks that when the old man died that the kids just don't have the knowledge to deal with the life.

He has no idea that the area that he's set up shop had been found. He has no idea that the very girl he's salivating over will be the instrument of his demise. 

He most definitely had no idea that the boys he's mentally denigrating are in fact the reason their mafia was known to be so terrifying. That the father had made one of his son's into a robotic and emotionless killing machine and he was the one to kill his own father. 

If he had known that Snow was the one that killed the old mafia boss and he'd done it for the very girl that he had taken he would be scared. If he had known that Snow was the boyfriend of the girl he took out of his arms he would have ordered the men to shoot. It still wouldn't have been enough.

He smiles to himself believing that his underground lair won't be found. After all, it's a truth that people rarely look down and almost never do in abandoned buildings. 

The man escorts the girl to a basic room. Rather empty except for the bed with one blanket and one other door. "The bathroom is through that door." He tells the quiet girl before shoving her into the room and locking it.

Whitney goes over to the bed and curls up on it. She doesn't look at anything. The light is just enough to show her the empty room and the bathroom door. She ignores it all. She replays the last eight years of her life and just lays there.

The unknown male goes to his "office" and turns on his computer. He pulls up the security video of the girl and watches her. When she doesn't even move he gets angry.

To keep from losing his temper he starts working on plans for taking over the Leavington mafia. He figures that the girl will easily pull in a million for her beauty and docility. If she had any talents or abilities then he could get even more. But for all he's looked he can't find anything on her, not even a name.

After working for several hours he watches as food and water are delivered to the girl.

She doesn't move.

Then once she is sure that they won't be coming back she moves over to the items. The man is sure that she must be starving by now and will easily eat the food given. It might not be the best, like she most likely is used to, but it beats starving. He watches in chagrin as she completely ignores the food and only sparingly drinks the bottled water.

It's almost like she has done this before, but he would have known if she was sold. Someone like her would make waves in the underground world.

The man comes to a decision, he picks up his phone and calls, "Keep an eye on the Leavington's if the chance comes that we can snatch one of the boys up, do it."

It will be far easier for him to make the other boy capitulate if his brother is also held hostage. No matter how much they might care for the bitch they wouldn't give up their mafia for her. But they just might for their brother.

Once the call is made the man sits back and smiles wickedly. He thinks that soon he will have it all. He has no idea just what he's done and so he sits easy as he gloats.

It's been nearly twenty-four hours since Whitney disappeared with that bastard and Michael isn't sure that he'll be able to keep John calm for much longer. 

"John, you need to stop or you'll break your hands like you have the punching bag." Indeed there is now a hole in the punching bag where sand is escaping from it. It had been brand new before John started on it.

"If I don't do this I'll lose it, Michael. Would you rather me destroy this bag or kill our men?" John doesn't even bother looking at his brother when he says that and just keeps punching away.

Michael grabs one of his hands and inspects it. "Shit, Whitney won't like this, John. You need to pull it together for when we go and get her." Michael hauls a reluctant John over to where they keep the first aid kit.

Taking out antiseptic wipes Michael starts cleaning up the bruised and bleeding fists. John doesn't even wince, but Michael does every time he wipes over the torn flesh. 

As Michael bandages the abused hands John says rather bitterly, "When will we go get her, huh, Michael? How much longer will she have to be in their care, at their mercy?"

"Tomorrow morning we will go in for her. We are still gathering information or we'd go now. I know how much she means to you. She means a lot to me as well, John. I want her home just as much as you do and she will be, but if we go in there without as much information as possible then we could die before we have a chance to get her out. Then she will be at their mercy with no hope of rescue. We'll have lost, not just her, but everything. Is that what you want?"

John stands up furious. "Of course it isn't! If it meant having her back safe and sound I'd give them this whole fucking mafia."

"What about me? Would you give them me as well?" Michael asks softly more than a little afraid of the answer.

"What?" John asks incredulously.

"You said that you would give them the mafia for Whitney if they asked for a trade. I'm asking if you would give me to them as well."

John stares at Michael sickened at the words he's hearing. Then he thinks about what he said and he's even more sick. In order to give the bastard the mafia he'd have to give Michael to him as well. He can't give up his brother.

"No, never, Michael, I would never give you up. Might give up myself, but I would never give you up."

"Now that makes a whole lot of sense. To get Whitney back you'd give yourself up. You still wouldn't have her."

"No, but she would be safe from them."

"And my most trusted man and most deadly one would be gone when I needed him most. Work with me, John. I need your help, not you going off half crazy because Whitney is in their hands. I need you here to help me get her back."

John nods and kisses Michael hard.

Some time later they get dressed. "I'm too antsy, Michael. I need to run off some of this energy."

"It's too dangerous. They likely have eyes on us and will be waiting for a chance to take one of us if they can."

"I know, but I can't just sit around waiting right now. This has helped, but not enough. I need to be near her and I'm going crazy being unable to reach her at this time."

Michael thinks about it. "Very well, but take guards with you."

That's all John needed to hear. Heeding the fact that any one that goes with him could very easily be killed he chooses some of the men he doesn't much care for. He also knows that they are rather lazy and won't much care to go for the long run he has planned.

Within ten minutes they are out the door and running along the street. Soon a vehicle is pulling up to him and he hears gun shots and then he is in a fight himself. Another man comes behind him and tazes him but still he fights. Finally they take him down and he hides the smile that he wants to show. They are taking him to be nearer Whitney. One step closer to his love. Now he'll just have to figure out how to not just survive until his brother gets to them, but if possible escape and find Whitney.

With that thought he is knocked out and his arms are restrained behind him.