chapter 17: His Own Kidnapping

Ian
The thought of not seeing Autumn again was eating me alive. Every inch of me was shattering.
How could I let that happen? How could I become so careless?
I will kill that fucktard, I swear. If he ever lays a hand on Autumn, I will make sure he received tremendous torture.
The thought of that person hurting Autumn��crap it!
Please stay strong, Autumn. I will do whatever it takes to save you from his clutches.
I took the nearby flower vase and threw it at the mirror, out of anger. I muttered under my breath, "I will save you, Autumn. Nothing will happen to you as long as Ian Beckett is alive."
Steven placed a hand on my shoulder. He spoke, "We will save her, Ian. Try to chill out. Just, stay strong."
"Just do your work," I ordered. I was so angry and pissed off. My emotions were all over the place. I didn't know where I wanted to focus.
Lia cried, "It's all my fault! I��I am so sorry. Ian, I��"
I closed my eyes, controlling my anger. "Go to your room, Lia."
"But��"
"It's an order."
She quietly hurried to her room.
Isabel was finding out who bought that bomb. Steven was trying to locate Autumn, whereas Aubree evacuated the bases of the Silver and the Shadow.
I tried to chase Autumn, but she had the skill to drive. She could easily tackle me. When I got back, they didn't even let me do any work. All they were saying was to rest.
How can I rest when my wife is held hostage?
Why would you do something like that, Autumn? Why do you think emotionally? Why can't you ever use your brain, you dimwit?
I punched the wall harder.
"It's useless doing that," Steven pointed out. "Go to your room. We will bring the information there. Just go."
Heaving a sigh, I went into our bedroom. Everything reminded me of her. The room was covered with her vanilla scent, which I started to smell right after she settled here. She knew I hated the chocolate-flavored smell.
I looked at her night lamp, for which she removed my two precious lamps. I looked at Autumn's cuddle buddy, that emoticon pillow. It was staring at me, probably yelling at me for not being able to save Autumn.
The unusual feeling I got every time when she was around was gone too.
That woman drove me crazy, in every possible way and I failed to save her. I couldn't protect her.
"Sir." Maya knocked on the door and got in after I nodded my head. She placed the tray on the table and removed the cover. "This is your red velvet pastries. Ma��am said if she forgot to give you before midnight, I had to hand it to you. She also kept this note, in case she fell asleep."
I looked at the beautiful pastries which Maya bought. A yellow note was attached to the tray. I took the yellow note.
My dear husband,
Look. I made your red-velvet pastries and it's not 12 AM yet. So, I am giving you these before the new year. Now, please release Spencer. Please:(
Besides, I made it in the way you love. So happy eating!
��Your wifey. XD
I could imagine her smile while she wrote that letter. Her cute smile, which she always had on her face. How could someone never get turned on with that?
"Sir?" Maya's voice brought me out of the reverie.
"Huh?"
"Don't forget to release Spencer and eat one of these, before you go to rescue her." Maya gave a small smile and let out, "I still remember how crazy Boss got when Boss Lady was kidnapped. He took the whole mansion over his head. He didn't even eat anything. So, please eat something before going to save her."
Maya got out of the room. I looked at the note and then back at the pastries.
Dad loved Mom, thus he went crazy. Why will I go crazy? I don't love her. I just love annoying her.
I took a pastry in my hand.
"How can I eat without her? Who knows what that stupid kidnapper is doing to her?" I kept it on the plate along with the note. "I must save her," I mumbled.
What if I never see her again? Fuck! Where are you, Autumn? Dang it!
I uttered, "There has to be some way out to find her. Whoever did it, I swear, that person will not live long."
I felt my heart numb. As if it has no reason to function. She's not here with me. I couldn't save her. I couldn't freaking save her!
Please help me reach her, God. Please.
"What if she's getting tortured?" I shook my head at my own thoughts. "She... he will hurt her."
I freak out when I see a tiny wound on her. That day, when she tried to cut herself, I felt my heart getting ripped out of my chest. And now, the thought of her getting bruised was making me see everything red.
Again, I punched the wall near the closet. This is all my fault!
"Ian! Stop doing that." Isabel barged in. "Look, I found who bought that bomb. But... you might not like this."
I looked at the file and a name was printed nicely on it. Lennox Gibian.
That stupid Lennox Gibian! My stupid trainer!
I should've guessed it. When Autumn asked me to choose another trainer, I didn't listen to her on purpose. It was because I thought she was just uncomfortable with Lennox. But who knew he would kidnap my girl?
Lennox even tried to talk to Autumn in person after getting here. I made sure to stay near her each time Lennox was around because he made her nervous. I thought Autumn was uncomfortable because of the amount of pressure Lennox used to put on us during training. But no! There was more to it.
"Bro, I found her location," Steven said, running towards me. He handed me the iPad. I checked the location. It was exactly a forty-five-minute drive from here.
I took my Rubix cube and handed it to Isabel, saying, "Shuffle it."
She and Steven stared at me for a while before she shuffled the cube and returned it to me. I started solving it.
"What do you want to do, Ian?" Steven asked.
I told Steven, "Release Spencer."
He let out a frustrated sigh. "That I will. But first, tell me. Should we appoint out men and invade, Ian?"
I shook my head in denial.
"Then what?" inquired Isabel.
While solving the Rubix cube, Autumn's face popped in my head. Her happy smile fading away due to the torture which Lennox might be pulling. It was exactly two hours after she left the house and handed herself over to him. I didn't know how I was still alive. All I knew was my heart felt void. Everything within me was hurting me as if someone was beating me nonstop with a whip.
This pain was unbearable, but I tried to control myself. This was nothing with the pain Autumn was getting.
Be strong, wifey. I will be there with you in no time and I mean it.
A married couple promises to go through all ups and downs together. Similarly, I promised the same thing to Autumn on the day we signed the marriage papers.
"Isabel, bring five tracking devices. Now," I ordered.
"Okay," she uttered before I heard her footsteps fading away.
I was still playing my Rubix cube. My eyes fell on my wedding ring. Autumn had put it on me, due to her jealousy towards Alana. I told her I wouldn't wear it unless she put it on me, and that day came when she couldn't control herself anymore. My cute wifey.
"What's going in your mind, Ian?" Steven questioned after a few minutes of silence.
I chuckled. "I miss my wifey. Lennox took the wife but forgot her husband. So, let him have both."
Steven's eyes narrowed at me. "Please, don't tell me you're going to��"
I interrupted him, saying, "Yes, Steven. I want to see her first at midnight. I want to celebrate our New Year as a couple by staying with each other, the whole time. And for that, I will do whatever it takes." I continued as Steven listened silently, "I am going to get myself kidnapped by Lennox and have a romantic date with Autumn."