Chapter 647 Don't Be Impulsive
The van sped along. Ava had no idea where they were going as her eyes remained blindfolded.
After a long journey, she was dragged out, led by someone along a rough and uneven path.
She didn't know where she was, only hearing the gusts of wind around her. Eventually, she was shoved into a place with a distinct damp odor, then thrown to the ground.
"Make sure someone's always keeping an eye on her. Don't let her escape or die, or we won't get the money."
"Mr. Lopez, will her family call the police?"
"If they call the police, I'll kill her!"
"But..." Leonard thought for a moment. "Just in case, come here."
After his underling approached, Leonard whispered something in his ear. His voice was so low that Ava couldn't hear it. The underling quickly nodded and said, "Got it, I'll take care of it right away."
Immediately following, Ava heard footsteps as Leonard approached her.
Terrified, she cowered in the corner. The hood over her head was removed.
Ava was enveloped in darkness until a flashlight beam illuminated her face, piercing her eyes with its brightness. She instinctively turned away, her eyes stinging.
"Bitch, listen up, behave yourself! If you try any tricks, you'll regret it!"
Ava nodded eagerly. "I understand."
Leonard walked out and gave some instructions to his underlings.
"Mr. Lopez, this chick is really pretty. How about we have some fun with her first? You can go first."
"If she dies, who will pay us?" Leonard snapped, "She's worth five billion dollars!"
"We're just going to have sex with her, not kill her. It should be fine, right?"
Leonard slapped him on the head. "Idiot, is your pleasure more important than my five billion dollars? What if her family refuses to pay up after you force her? If you mess up my five billion dollars, you can't handle it!"
"Yes, sir, I got it!"
"Come on, man, think beyond the momentary thrill! Once we get the money, you can have any woman you want. But if you screw this up and cost me the money, I'll cripple you all!"
Ava curled up in the damp corner, hugging herself tightly. Hearing the commotion outside, she felt a bit of relief.
For the sake of the money, they probably wouldn't harm her for now. But with such maniacs, everything was uncertain.
Looking around, Ava spotted a sharp-edged rock. She immediately moved over and began rubbing the rope on her arms against its rough surface.
...
At 4:30 in the morning, the sky was still dark.
Brandon and William had stayed up all night and finally the kidnappers' call came in.
A team of professionals was listening in.
After leaving the address, the kidnapper warned, "Listen, my crew's keeping an eye out. If I find out you call the police or if more than two people show up, I'll make her suffer. Drop the cash where I said, then leave immediately, got it?"
William's eyes were almost ablaze with fury, but just as he was about to speak, Brandon grabbed his wrist, stopping him from acting impulsively.
For Ava's safety, William had to remain silent.
Brandon spoke, "Got it, we're on our way."
"Alright. But listen, no sneaky stuff with bugs or trackers in the car. We'll check with detectors. If we spot anything fishy, Ava's toast, got it?"
"Got it, we won't make any moves. You better not either. Is Ava okay now? Let me hear her voice."
"She's fine, don't worry."
"How do I know I can trust you guys? I need to hear her voice. Do you want the money or not? It's five billion dollars, more than you can spend in a lifetime."
"Fine, hold on!"
Ava was sleeping soundly when she was suddenly yanked up. "Your family wants to talk to you. Tell them you're okay."
Leonard put the phone to her ear, and William couldn't hold back any longer. "Ava, are you alright?"
"William? I'm fine, don't worry. I'll be back soon."
"William? Damn it, what's going on? Wasn't that your uncle before? Why did his voice change?" The kidnapper sensed something wrong.
Fearing for Ava's safety, Brandon jumped in, "We're all family. But don't worry, no one called the police. We just want Ava back safe and sound."
"Alright, but remember, if I find out you're playing tricks, I'll have all my men rape this woman and then dismember her!"
William was about to roar in anger, but Brandon shot him a glance to keep quiet.
William, realizing his impulsiveness and the potential danger it posed, gritted his teeth and forced himself to calm down.
"Take the money to that address," the man said before hanging up.
William slammed the table hard. "These scumbags, I'll tear them to pieces when I catch them!"
Brandon said, "William, you need to stay calm."
"Of course, you can stay calm!" William roared, "She means nothing to you, but she's the love of my life. How can I stay calm?"
Brandon's face turned cold, saying, "Fine, call the kidnappers now, curse them out, and tell them you'll tear them to pieces. Then, they'll take it out on Ava because of you. Go ahead, call them!"
William's breathing came in ragged gasps, his chest heaving up and down. After calming down, he lowered his head. "I apologize for my outburst," he murmured.
Ava's safety was the top priority; nothing else mattered.
"William, I understand your concern for Ava. I swear, I'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even if it's just for your sake."
William nodded, looking like he was about to collapse. "Uncle, she can't get hurt. I can't accept it."
Brandon hugged William tightly, giving him a reassuring pat on the back with a resolute look. "I promise, she will be okay. She's our family."
