TWENTY-TWO

I dropped down from the window, slumping my head into the wall against it. Panic soared through me as my heart started thudding in my ears.

Panic. My eyes darted across the door. The panic button. I jumped up, nearly tripping over my own feet as I reached behind the toilet stool. And there it was.

I pressed on it. Several times. Harder each time.

"Come out little friend of mine. I want to meet your little puppet."

I jumped back at Benji's voice coming from the other side of the door. "I got told you put some stuff before the door. Clever little minx. Move them aside."

I glanced over at Joy and saw her staring at the door, hearing all of Benji's words. "Or," he drew out as I heard the sounds of his footsteps coming in closer. "I can shoot my way in, guns blazing." He threatened in a low voice, low enough so I could hear it.

I didn't even move an inch before a loud crack penetrated through the wall, the sound convulsing the floor, through my body. The foreign, ear-splitting sound of the gunshot sent my daughter into another screaming frenzy as I too let out a startled cry. My wide eyes fixated on the small hole the bullet had created.

"I don't see the door opening," Benji sang out before he shot again. I let out another scream as Joy covered her ears, hiding her head between her knees.

The sound rattled my bones.

Another hole appeared in the wall, this one closer towards the bath tub. "I can keep shooting until it hits something precious."

I raised a trembling hand and put it on the furniture. "Oriana." Benji continued to call out as though this was another typical fun day for him.

Another shot. This one going through the side of the bathtub. The shockwave was like a warm gust of air.

"I'm opening it!" I screeched back at him.

Just as fast as I pushed the furniture against the door, I cleared it all away, opening a path to get out. I opened the door and there he stood, a brittle smile on his face. His paper white hair was a stark contrast to his dark eyes and dark brows. He was wearing the same gloves with the fingers cut off as last time, although this time they were wrapped around a gun.

"Good evening, did you have a good day today?" He questioned.

"Benji, get out of this house." I replied, putting up a brave front. I erased my outward fear, holding it all in to end this charade.

He tutted, shaking his head at me. "Now, you can't kick out a friend. The disrespect."

I glanced at the gun. I kept my mouth shut, the sight of the gun just drowing me in fear I tried to mask. I wanted to look over my shoulder at Joy so bad but decided to draw attention to her was not the wisest move right now.

It was like he read my mind. "Introduce me to your little puppet."

I shook my head at him. "Please, no." I pleaded in a whisper.

Benji waved his hand at me. "Oh, don't be a pest. Joy! Come out. Or I'll come in."

I stretched my hand behind me, and Joy took the cue. I heard her come out the bathtub and then her cold fingers enterwined in mine. I slowly angled her so most of her body was covered behind mine, but there was enough for Benji to get a good look.

"Oh, doesn't she look like her dad, Link. I'm sure he was trilled when he saw her. Absolute beauty."

I pushed her further behind me just as Benji stretched out his empty hand. "I'm your uncle Benji," he introduced himself. "Has a nice ring to it right?" He said, his dark eyes trained on me. There was a lot of humour coming from him tonight but everything he was doing was downright scary.

"Where are my guns?" he asked, straightening his back.

"I don't know-" I started to say, crossing my eyes over to Joy. I didn't want her to hear any of this but I also couldn't risk her getting out of my sight.

Benji shook his head. "Not good enough. Someone told me you found them today."

How? "I swear I don't have them. Lucian took them." I told him.

"Lucian?" He repeated, his eyes taking a darker glint. It was clear he wasn't a fan of Lucian taking what was his. "That's too bad because I only want my guns. And now that you know about it, go and get them for me." He started pacing in front of me, twirling his gun between his fingers.

It all looked like some hilarious joke being played on me, almost so surreal that this could actually happen to me. How I had a normal life just a mere few weeks ago was hard to comprehend. The desperate need to go back to Brighton with my daughter was overwhelming.

"They're gone now." I repeated. I had no idea where Lucian had put it. "Please, let us leave."

A white strand of hair fell on his forehead. Under different circumstances, I could see the appeal he could have. It was like he was drawn to be perfect but an instant look in his dark, almost crazed eyes would have any girl running in the opposite direction.

"I guess I'll take what's yours then too." he said flatly.

"Don't you dare!" I shrieked, stepping back into the toilet and pushing Joy further back in. She let out a small yelp when I accidentally stood on her tiny feet.

Benji raised his gun up. A click. "Tut tut little girl. Didn't daddy ever teach you not to steal? And karma's a bitch."

I backed away from him, my eyes darting down to his hand and back to his face. "I don't have them! Lucian does!" It was like he couldn't hear me. Or couldn't accept the fact that Lucian had his precious guns and they were out of my hands.

It then dawned on me that he couldn't get it back from Lucian and was going to use me to get it back.

"Give me what I want or I'm taking what's yours." He said with a shrug. "And whilst you debate over that, have you given my job offer a thought? I have plenty of willing candidates."

How was he having a normal conversation with me whilst holding us hostage?

"I don't want your job. Mine is perfect for me." I spat out him. I instantly regretted it, unsure of how he would react if I infuriated him. There was nowhere to run since he blocked my only exit and I spotted not long ago, the man from earlier was prancing up and down the hallway, his gaze occasionally running to ours but then back on the look out.

Our last conversation only lasted five minutes and he told me he could be more than a criminal. When I heard a few cars coming outside and men shouting that's when I saw Benji's whole demeanour shift.

That instant, the man I had jumped on before came rushing into the bedroom. "They're closing in."

A few gunshots rang through the air, making Joy and I both jump. She moved closer into me, burying her head between my legs. Tears filled my eyes at having my Joy exposed to all of this. If this wouldn't scar her for the rest of her life, I don't know what will. "Please, my daughter is scared let us go." If I could get her away from here at least to safe her from having to relive all of this then I would.

But Benji was far from having a decent conversation. He nudged his head for the guy behind him. He came over, a scowl plastered all across his face. With one hard push he shoved me against the wall and away from Joy.

I screamed so loud when he grabbed her, tossing her over his shoulder like she was a ragdoll. She curled her hands into small fists and started banging against his hard chest, her screams equally deafenining.

I jumped up, racing towards him but Benji yanked me back effortlessly. I struggled in his arms but instantly stilled when I felt the cold pressure against my temple. His gun.

"Quiet." He warned.

I shoved my hands in my mouth, suppressing the need to let out sounds a mother only had to give when her child was taken from her. Tears stained my face, as a knot formed in my stomach.

My lungs rummaged and fought for oxygen, fighting my whole being to stay upright. I watched, helplessly as the man took Joy away from me. Her shrieks were so loud in my ears, even when she disappeared from the room and was taken down the stairs, I could still hear their echoes.

When Benji dropped his hold me, I collapsed on the floor in a disheveled heap. I began to cry with an uncontrollable force, torment searing through my insides constantly.

Over my ragged breaths, I could hear Lucian's voice from outside. "Benji. Stop now."

Benji grabbed me again, pulling me up by my waist. He hauled me over to the window and opened it up. Through my blurry vision, I could make out a few things. Lucian stood in front of a pile of men on the floor, some conscious and moving, some not moving at all. But they were all in handcuffs.

Link was there too, seething. And he was being held back by Mace and Errol. I looked at him, pain in my eyes as a sob escaped me. "They took Joy!" I screamed.

He stopped the struggle and froze at my words. I could see the second it registered in him that they took his daughter. A daughter he just found.

A bellowing growl came out of him and he punched Mace, then turned to shove Errol far back. He escaped their hold and ran towards the door.

But stilled as though an invisible wall was placed in front of him. I looked down and just about caught sight of the man with Joy in his arms standing just outside the door.

"Hold yourself back." He grunted, "I'm letting her go." Just as he said those words, he dropped his hold over Joy and gave her a slight push.

It was all she needed to run towards Link. Link dropped to his knee as he prepared himself for the clash of Joy's small body. She jumped on him, wrapping herself all around him, clinging onto him like her life depended on it.

Relief washed over me, the knot in my stomach loosening up at the sight of Joy being safe in Link's arm. I watched him as he backed away, sheltering Joy with his long arms.

He got her into a car, leaning in whilst he strapped her in. My eyes filled with tears once again as he planted a tender kiss on her forehead, and wiped at her tears on her face. He muttered something to her, making her nod her head back at him before he unfolded out the car.

I shook my head furiously. Don't leave her! I wanted to scream. 

He slammed the door and gave the driver's side a tap. The black car sped away.

Link slowly turned around, presenting an angry glower on his face. If looks could kill, Link's look alone would have had Benji buried six feet under.

"We have to go, Sir. They have us surrounded." The same man from behind spoke from behind us.

Benji let out a deep chuckle. "Only cowards run."

He moved so he had the gun pressed against my temple once again. I hitched in my breath. "Hey guys!" He said to them, giving them a nod across all of them. And all of Lucian's men where here, training a gun on Benji and on the house. "I don't recall my friend throwing a party. So why the fuck all you guys all here?" He drawled out.

This benji. The cool and collected Benji that had me strapped down was far from gone. He promised to show a side of him that I now knew I wanted nothing to do with.

More cars came speeding down the road until they stopped behind the doors. More of Lucian's men came piling out, some I never saw before in my life.

"Benji. All you love and hold dear, they're dead. Fucking dead." Link said, his eyes trained on the gun against my temple.

"That's why I don't have anything I love or hold dear. If you went with me Link, that's the first thing I would have taught you."

He was toying with them. Using their fear and anger against them to take them as a joke. Because right now, he had the upper hand and wanted to rub it in their faces.

"Lucian, my old friend." Benji spoke out, addressing Lucian from behind Link. "Long time no see. Heard you started dabbling with the good side. Hope that endeavour sees you well."

Lucian straightened his back. I noticed he didn't have a gun with him. "You won't get those guns. So stop this bullshit now before I let loose this cannon and see you dead."

The way they spoke so easily about death sent shivers down the back of my spine. Is this the kind of men they were, not so easily fazed by the prospect of death?

"I don't like spending much time with this childish play." Benji statrted backing away from the window. I frowned at him.

The way he was moving, talking and all together his attitude was confusing. And then the call came through the man from the back. He grunted something back before he hung up.

"We got the guns."

I saw a devilish smile come over Benji's face. Realisation dawned on me.

Benji was just burning time. For Lucian to employ all his men to this rescue and have Benji's other men get the guns.

Benji dug in his pockets and pulled out one of his own phones. He dialed a number and waited for an answer, patiently tapping his boot into the door. "Come sailing."

I didn't understand what he meant by it until a loud commotion came from outside. "From the back!" I heard someone shout before a wave of gunshots rang through the air.

Benji looked at me in the eye. "Thanks for the hospitality," he said before he raised his gun upwards. I backed away, shaking my head at him.

He gave me a simple shrug then pulled the trigger.

At first I didn't feel anything until I felt a warm liquid spill out on my thigh. A numbness had overcome me, the ring of the gunshot still in my ear. Once that cleared, fire started crawling up my thigh until it was burning all over.

A whimper escaped from me.

I blinked a few times as black dots started appearing in my line of vision. I closed my eyes as I backed into a wall, using it as support to hold myself up. The fire started building up until I could feel it gnawing at me skin. I opened my eyes and saw that Benji had disappeared, leaving me alone in my own pile of blood.

I glanced down quickly only to have a wave of dizziness spring upon me. I closed my eyes again, seeking the relief it could give me. I can just imagine that the warm liquid I feel pouring out of me is water... I told myself.

"Orianna!" I heard Link shout from the midst of the commotion. I opened my mouth to yell back but couldn't find the energy as the pain started to increase.

I bit down my lip, suppressing my cry of frustration. A single tear dropped from my eye.

"I'm here Link." I whispered, my voice too low for him to hear.

////

> thank you all for the continued support on this book series, and if you're reading my other stories then thank you as well.
> I'm quite sad to see this book series end soon. It's been my baby for far too long and I'm afraid to let it go.
> let me know how you think it ends! And you never know, I might go with my usual non-cliche ending and give you guys a massive twist! Still debating on the ending so anything goes!!!