Chapter 79

**Blue**


How do I keep ending up in these crazy situations?

“I can’t say the same given that you have me and my friend tied up.” I say back to man.

I’m trying to see if I recognize him but I can’t see anything that makes him seem familiar to me.

He laughs. “I guess it isn’t the best way to make a first impression, but necessary.”

Okay….I don’t like the vibes of this guy. He seems friendly but also looks so wound up that he could snap at any second.

“Right. So what are we doing here?” I ask because why not?

“You are here as incentive. Your husband has caused a lot of issues and angered a lot of people. If he wants you to be returned unharmed then he will have to meet several demands.” He says vaguely.

Right I guess this is kidnapping 101.

“Why did you take Abigail as well?”

He looks at her like she’s gum under his shoe. “That was a mistake. I guess my men were a little too zealous.”

Abigail cant see him because he’s standing behind her but that could actually be a good thing.

“Then there is no reason to keep her here. She hasn’t seen anyone’s faces so she can’t identify anyone, so just let her go. I’m all the collateral you need. She’s just my husband’s assistant.” I hate saying that but if it will minimize her importance to this guy then it’s for the best.
I look at Abigail and see tears rolling down her cheeks and so much fear in her eyes. She needs to get out of here.

“It would be too risky.” The man says. “It is probably best just to kill her.”

He steps forward and grabs a handful of Abigail’s hair and pulling it hard. She cries out and sobs which makes me want to stab this guy in the eye so badly. Except I need to keep my calm or he’ll use my worry for her as an excuse not to let her go.

I should be panicking and scared like her but I’m too focused on saving her to think about anything else. I can’t imagine seeing the pain on Alan’s face if he loses her. The guilt and lose would be too much for everyone and I can’t let that happen. Besides…it’s not the first time I’ve been tied up like this before. When I went through this before I would fall into a place in my mind where I couldn’t feel the bad things happening. Right now I need to stay aware but when this man’s attention turns to me I’ll have to find that place again. Or maybe think of the life waiting for me if I ever get out of here.

I’m not sure what this guy’s plan is but the fact that he’s let me see his face doesn’t mean anything good for me. If he wants something from Artemis, he’ll get it but I won’t be going home. I would be able to identify him. It would be stupid on his part to let me go. So I'm already screwed but Abigail isn’t!

“Come on. What good is she to you? She’s no one. Like you said, it was a mistake bringing her here. Wouldn’t it be worse if you keep her? It could even be a sign of good faith and isn’t that important in negotiations?” I’m talking out of my ass but whatever.

He watches me carefully, probably looking for any sign that I’m playing him. I hope to God that he believes me because I can’t watch Abigail get hurt because of me. It takes far too long before he let’s her go and smiles.

“Fine. We’ll let her go since she wasn’t part of the deal but don’t mistaken this as you having any control or say in this situation. You are a guest here, nothing more.” He looks off to the side and waves someone over.

Another man steps over and covers Abigail’s face with a cloth. She struggles for a second before her body goes limp. He unties her and throws her over his shoulder like a ragdoll and disappears. I’m left alone with my abductor who smiles at me once again.
“Tell me, how does a dirty foster kid bag a billionaire tech genius? You must have something special to lure a man like Artemis Rhodes in.” He stops in front of me and grabs my chin roughly so I am looking directly at him. “I’m going to enjoy figuring out how to get under his skin. Now smile.”

Before I can react he smacks me hard against the face and a flash of light is the last thing I see before it’s dark again.



**Artemis**


Alan and I storm into the meeting room where my family is waiting. I’m not surprised when I see my oldest brother and mother sitting at the table as well.

“Where are they?” I yell at my father.

“Who Artemis?” Rhea asks.

She looks around and gets to her feet when she realizes. “Dad? What have you done? What did you do with her?”

All eyes turn to my father who doesn’t have a hint of emotion on his face. In that moment I realize and hate how alike we are.

“Everyone sit down and we will talk rationally.” My father says calmly.

His calm demeanor is only making me more angry.

“Like fuck we are doing anything other than locking you up for orchestrating a kidnapping!” Alan snaps back.

My father doesn’t even look his way, no his attention is focused only on me.

“Remind your associate that he is not needed in these discussions.” My father says.

“You would be wrong about that since his wife was also taken. He has every right to be here and suggest police intervention if necessary.”

“On what grounds? I did not arrange for your wives to be taken and you can look all you want but won’t find proof that I have.”

I hate this man more now then I ever have. He’s all but admitting he was involved but not in a way that could implicate him. What is his plan here?

“Perhaps it was one of the many people who have been effected by you shutting this company down remotely. I will be forced to let them all go since they serve no purpose here. In fact the whole company will be scraped. I am disappointed son. Now sit down and we will have a discussion about what will happen next. Since all of my children seem to have a lot of opinions and complaints we should discuss them.”

I don’t move right away which finally makes my father’s cold armor crack for a split second. “Sit down.”

It would be so easy to refuse and walk out to go look for Blue, but something tells me that would get me nowhere. Still I have my people looking for her now and they will find her. I pull out a chair and sit next to Rhea.

“Lets talk.” I say.

Alan sits on my other side and I can sense his anger without having to look at him. He’s like Blue, they both wear their emotions on their face.

“First, what you all did downstairs was unacceptable. Because of it you will all be removed from your various positions and your earnings will be moved into the family trust. A monthly allowance will be given each of you to cover basic expenses but nothing more. Perhaps a break from the comfort of your lives will teach you not to embarrass the family in that way again.”

Rhea scoffs. “I don’t give a damn about the money dad. We don’t need it. This attempt at intimidating us won’t work.”

I feel a sense of pride hearing my sister take on my dad.

“We don’t need your money either.” Athena adds.

Tet laughs. “How is that? Everything is under our family name.”

Fucking idiot.

“Actually no. See grandma knew that we would need our own separate accounts when we married. She had set up trusts for all of us with contingencies put in place. I fullfilled my terms and Athena is on her way to fullfill hers as well. Artemis is well on his way.” Rhea says with a cocktail smirk.

“I’m aware of my mother’s…plans.” My father says.

“You think you do bur it was never up to you to decide when the funds would be made available . Grandma knew you too well. This means that we can buy ourselves out from under your control. Why do you think we weren’t afraid to speak to the press today? The money we have made on our own have gone into our separate accounts including what our partners make. So no, we don’t need your money.”

“What?” My mother sounds sincerely shocked. “That isn’t true right?” She asks my father.

“Be quiet.” He snaps at her. “ So the money coming in from each of you is what?”

“Pennies compared to what we really have. We planned on making a break eventually but now is as good a time as any. It’s over dad, you don’t have any power here anymore.”

There is a long silence before my father smiles. “I have more power than you think little girl and you are about to find out how much.”