Chapter 30 The Van
Anna's POV
The first thing I noticed was the camera. A small blinking red light in the corner of the van.
I froze for a second, staring at it. Of course.
Xavier was watching.
The question was—why? To make sure the plan worked? Or to watch me die?
A chill slid down my spine.
Before I could think further— Gunshots exploded outside.
My body jerked violently. Then another, and another.
The van swerved sharply. I was thrown sideways as the tires screeched against the road.
“They’ve hit the tire!” the driver shouted.
The van spun slightly, jerking left and right before finally grinding to a halt.
The gunshots didn't stop, and it got
Louder and closer.
The driver turned toward me through the small window separating us.
“We’ve been attacked,” he said quickly. “By Zack’s men. Stay calm. The plan is still in place. Do you—”
A gunshot rang out, cutting off his words instantly.
Blood splattered across the glass as the bullet tore through his head.
I flinched hard, my breath catching in my throat.
His body slumped forward, hitting the steering wheel.
The second man ducked low immediately. “Stay down!” he barked at me.
My heart slammed violently in my chest. I dropped lower instinctively.
But my eyes flicked back to the camera, not for long though.
I could hear male voices outside the van. They were laughing. “That was too easy—” one said.
“Xavier’s getting sloppy—” another added.
“Open the vans. Let’s see what he was transporting, hopefully it's something Zack would love to see."
The second man suddenly fired from inside the van, returning shots blindly.
Then he kicked the door open and bolted.
Gunfire erupted again. Then silence followed, dead silence.
I tried to move toward the front through the small window but it was too small. I couldn’t squeeze through.
My pulse spiked.
Then the van doors were yanked open. And sunlight flooded in, almost blinding me.
And there they were; Armed men wearing black, with dark shades, watching me, exchanging glances in confusion.
“One woman?” one of them muttered.
“Why the hell is Xavier transporting a woman like this?”
Their eyes snapped back to me. “Talk, what are you doing in the van?"
I shook my head instinctively. “I don’t know—”
The slap came fast. My head snapped to the side.
Pain exploded across my cheek.
For a split second— Instinct screamed at me to react, to break his arm.
But the camera stopped me. I swallowed the urge and lowered my gaze.
“I… I work for Xavier,” I said, my voice trembling just enough.
“Then why are you locked up?”
“I don’t know!” I said quickly. “He just… put me in here.”
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know!”
A gun was suddenly pressed against my forehead.
My breath hitched.
“Don’t lie,” the man growled.
“I’m not!” I said quickly, letting panic seep into my voice. “I swear—I don’t know anything!”
My heart pounded like it was trying to escape my chest.
Another man stepped forward, his eyes dragging slowly over me. He wore a different kind of predatory look.
“Why waste her? She has a banging body,” he said, smirking. “We can have some fun first, and take whatever remains of her to Zack."
My stomach dropped.
Another chuckled. “Yeah… boss didn’t say we couldn’t enjoy ourselves. Plus I don't think any of us have fucked in a while."
The one with the gun tilted his head slightly. Then gestured lazily. “Take off your clothes.”
For a split second— Everything inside me went cold.
I let my hands tremble slightly as I raised them.
My eyes flicked, just once to the camera. Then I shook my head slowly, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry… I can’t do that.”
For a second, there was silence.
Then they burst out laughing.
One of them wiped his eyes. “She talks like she has balls.”
Another smirked. “Maybe she does. We should check to be sure."
The one holding the gun didn’t laugh. His eyes stayed locked on mine, cold and impatient.
“I won’t say it a third time,” he said. “Take off your fucking clothes.”
I closed my eyes. Forced myself to breathe.
“Kill me instead,” I said quietly. “I won’t do it.”
A pause.
Then he scoffed. “Wrong decision.”
I braced for the gunshot— But it didn’t come.
“Wait,” one of the others said. “Let’s take her with us instead. There’s a camera in the van.”
My eyes snapped open.
The men turned, noticing it. The blinking red light.
The one with the gun smiled slowly. “No,” he said. “We do it here.”
A sick satisfaction crept into his voice. “So Xavier can watch us ruin his precious asset.”
Another man frowned. “That’s reckless. What if there’s a tracker on the van?”
The leader shrugged. “No, that's ruthless, and as for the tracker, scan the vans.”
One of them nodded and jogged off.
My heartbeat thundered in my ears.
The leader turned back to me. “Since you refused,” he said casually, “we won’t be gentle.”
My throat tightened.
He gestured at his men.
Two of them stepped forward instantly and grabbed my arms. Their grip was iron.
I reacted on instinct, twisting slightly, resisting, but not enough.
Not enough to reveal what I really was.
I could break them. Both of them in seconds.
But the camera— Blowing my cover was worse than death or whatever these dudes wanted to do with me.
I forced myself to struggle just enough to look real.
They slammed me down against the metal floor of the van.
Pain shot through my back. I clenched my jaw, refusing to cry out.
The leader stepped closer, unbuckling his belt slowly, a smirk playing on his lips. “Hold her,” he ordered.
The grip on my arms tightened. I stared at the ceiling of the van; at the camera.
My fingers curled slightly. Every muscle in my body screamed to snap, to fight and kill. But I held it back, barely.
“Rip her clothes off,” the man ordered lazily.