Chapter 160: We need his money
2089words
"Have you heard back from that Piper guy yet?" Lane asked as he sat beside me at the kitchen island. He had insisted on coming home with me, and said it wasn't safe right now.
Luis was in the living room watching Project Runway, yelling at the TV. I couldn't think straight and tried to call anyone I could that would be able to help. Aunt Rose didn't answer, and neither did Micky. That Piper guy had answered earlier and said he was on it, but I haven't heard a word since. I was going stir crazy not hearing a thing.
"No, not yet," I finally replied. "What do you have over there?" I peered at the laptop in front of him. He was looking up the extradition process and how to possibly stop it when he was only a minor during his first charges.
"Not much either. It's all a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo but I found an attorney who can help."
"Good, call him."
I slipped off my bar stool and went for the fridge. I knew I probably shouldn't be drinking right now but I couldn't help it. My nerves were a wreck and I needed something to help calm me down. Neither of the guys said anything about it. They probably didn't want to get screamed at.
When I sat back down, I checked my phone for the hundredth time in the last hour. No missed calls or texts from anyone. I think not having any answers was what drove me crazy the most. My man was locked up and I've never felt more helpless in my life.
"He's going to be home before you know it," Lane said as he rubbed my back. "He's a fighter, lynn."
I nodded. "When did you two meet?" I wanted to change the subject even for a moment. We were sitting duck's right now so a little outside conversation was welcomed.
Lane smiled. "We met when we were both nineteen years old. Both freshly into the industry. I think it was an awards ceremony. Anyway, we hit it off almost immediately. We were a force to be reckoned with. That was back when Drake shut his feelings out. We partied hard but he still wouldn't ever truly let loose. I think I had a woman every single night that week and he only had one one-night-stand.
Believe it or not, but I looked up to the guy. He seemed to have his shit together even back then."
I smiled with thoughts of what a younger Drake might be like. He may have some issues to deal with but I could see the control he carried every single day. I missed him. So much.
Lane laughed. "I think I might have a drink with you. It's been one hell of a day." He went to the fridge but groaned when he opened it. "Looks like we're out. I can make a run."
"No, there's more in the garage fridge. I just haven't grabbed it yet."
"Say no more." He winked before he left the kitchen to head to the garage door.
I sat there staring over at Lane's laptop as I heard Luis's silly giggles from the living room. He didn't do well with highly stressful situations so I didn't blame him for ignoring us right now, but I kind of wished he'd help us. Then again, what was there to help with?
I glanced back toward the garage door and wondered what was taking Lane so long. But before I could get up and investigate, my phone rang. I've never answered my phone so fast.
"Hello?!"
"Lynn," Aunt Rose sighed out, making me do the same.
"Aunt Rose, I'm sorry I've been calling you so much." I got off my stool and headed for the garage as I continued to speak. "Drake's been arrested and now they're sending him back to Chicago for some old charges." I opened the garage door and was greeted by darkness. What the hell?
"Lynn, run," Aunt Rose warned. "Don't go in there."
But between my crazed thoughts of Drake and wondering where Lane was, I only partly heard her voice. I flipped on the lights and dropped my phone, screaming as I tried to run back inside.
Diego ran up behind me and yanked me by my hair. I fell back into his body as the pain seemed through my skull. My cries echoed through the garage as he turned me around to see Lane lying unconscious on the floor with a small pool of blood permeating from his head.
"What h-have you d-done?" I stuttered out as I stared at Lane. My heart sank into my chest while I wondered what was next to come. Diego didn't come here for idle threats this time; Lane's pool of blood confirmed that. I shook to the core.
"What needed to be done," Diego snarled into my ear. "I didn't expect you to have company tonight. This wouldn't have happened if you were alone. I only want you, lynn." He slid his hands seductively up my side as I cringed, crying into the silent garage.
Luis. I pictured him sitting on the couch being a diva and my heart sank. As much as I loved my best friend, I knew he wouldn't be able to stand a chance against this psychopath.
"What do you want?"
He groaned into my neck as his hands continued to travel up my side. "Mmm, I think I'll have you first. My brother clearly sees something in you, and let's be honest, you can't be half bad in bed."
When his hands reached my breasts, I thrashed against him but he was far too strong. He chuckled into my ear and held me tighter to his chest.
"But before we have fun, I think we'll start with the reason I came here. Where is Drake's safe?"
My brows furrowed together as confusion swept over me. "What safe? I don't know about a-"
He cut me off when his arm wrapped tightly around my neck, choking me out.
"Don't fucking lie to me, lynn. Drake has a safe here. He always has a safe. Where is it?"
I honestly didn't know a thing about a safe or where it could be. Instead, I kept my mouth shut and shook my head. I couldn't exactly speak with his arm around my throat anyway. Diego pulled me toward the house door as panic consumed me. Luis was in there and I didn't want him to get hurt.
"It's, um, in his office." My voice cracked as I spoke out. I knew his office was the safest place for us to be, luis wouldn't hear or see us going there. I wouldn't let my best friend get hurt tonight.
"Very good," Diego growled into my ear as he pulled me along.
Once we entered the house, my heart sank. The TV had gone silent and Luis's laughs and scoffs had stopped. Had he heard the scuffle in the garage? Was he calling the cops? Where was he? My eyes moved wildly about the kitchen before Diego led me into Drake's office.
He released me with a shove before he pulled a gun from behind his back and pointed it right at me. I shivered nearly out of my skin as I stared at the barrel, wondering if he'd actually shoot me or not. My eyes darted to the door behind him, still wondering where luis was.
Diego laughed, cocking his head at me. "If you're wondering about your fairy friend out there, don't be. He's fine."
The blood ran cold in my face as tears blurred my vision. "What have you done to him?" I whispered.
He shrugged. "I haven't done anything to him, but I can't say the same about my mother dearest. She has a real anger problem."
A small sob escaped my lips as I shook to the core. Luis better be okay or I'd lose my mind.
"The safe, lynn, where is it?"
"I honestly don't know! Drake never told me about a safe!"
Diego took a deep breath as if to calm himself before he stormed at me, shoved the barrel into my mouth, and yanked my head back. "Where is it?!" He screamed. "Tell me now or I fucking kill every one of you fucks in this house!"
I whimpered as my body physically shook. Tears streamed down my face as the cold barrel pressed hard against my tongue. The taste of metal filled my mouth as I slowly closed my eyes and tried to accept that this might be the moment I died.
But then Diego moved me backwards, pressing me hard against the wall as he knocked a photo to the floor. I stole a glance and saw the in-wall safe staring back at me. I honestly had no idea that it was there.
"I'm going to guess that you don't know the code either." I shook my head at his statement. "Well, Drake has always been a sappy prick... When's your birthday?"
I swallowed with a dry throat and croaked out my birthday. He typed it in but the light flashed red.
"Hmm, didn't work. When did you two first meet?"
"In August," I whispered.
He tapped my forehead with the gun. "Exact date, lynn."
I flinched as the thud of the barrel hurt. "08/12."
Diego typed the numbers in before the light turned green and a loud thunk echoed around us. He smiled victoriously as he opened the safe. I peered in, genuinely curious what he had in there. A small stack of hundreds sat on the black velvet lining with a few small boxes. Diego pocketed the cash before he rummaged through the boxes, cursing beneath his breath.
"Where is all the cash?!" He screamed, turning the gun back at me as he stepped back.
I vigorously shook my head. "I don't know! I didn't even know that safe existed until now!"
He slammed me against the wall and shoved the barrel back into my mouth. I cried against the metal as I stared deep into his gaze. They resembled Drake's eyes so much, but I knew in my heart that they were completely opposite in every sense of the word.
"Well, Ms. Tuffin, you're going to get me the cash I need then. Your bank account is probably better than Drake's anyways. You're going to get me ten million dollars in cash by tomorrow at midnight. Or," he paused to pull his phone out of his pocket, flashing me a photo of Dakota, "She dies."
My eyes wildly searched the screen as I saw Dakota strapped to an old stained up mattress, curled up in a fetal position and filthy as a dog.
"If you touch her, I'll-"
He cut me off when he pistol whipped me. Stars twinkled in my gaze as I slumped down toward the floor, but Diego lifted me back up and held me by my throat.
"I'll do whatever the fuck I want. Get the cash or she dies. And don't think I'll stop with just her, lynn. That little fairy you call a best friend is coming with us to make sure that you actually follow through."
"No!" I cried out, thrashing in his arms as panic consumed me. "Please!!" I begged as tears streamed down my face.
Diego slowly stepped away from me but continued to point the gun in my direction. He backed out of the office very slowly before he disappeared out of my sight. I ran forward, not about to let them take luis, but I barely made it into the living room before I was knocked flat on my back.
I coughed out as I rolled to my side, glancing up to find Diego standing above me with a victorious grin on his lips. Everything hurt after he clotheslined me. I pulled my gaze from him in time to see luis gagged and tied, held captive by the mother. Luis's eyes were wild as he glared at me and I outstretched my arm toward him.
Diego kicked me hard in the stomach, making me cough and sputter again as I rolled to my back. Then he towered over me as he gripped my shirt and held me up.
"Ten million. Tomorrow by midnight. Don't fuck up or they both fucking die." He pulled his gun wielding hand back and punched square in the face before everything went dark.
