Chapter 67: Crazy Demands

\[CASSIAN'S ROOM\]

The door closed behind him, blocking off all Lance's rant about the police.

The police have never been honest to him. They're mere lowly people that could be bribed with little sum. Always corrupt—

His grip tightened around Lalissa's phone, the conversation with Natasha ringing loud in his head.

He knows she has a hand in it. Only three people know about his fears. His fear of darkness. Dante, Mrs Nora, and Natasha. Lalissa is merely suspecting it which he didn't confirm.

So, it means—he twirled the phone in his hand, and reached his drawer.

Pulling it open, he got a burner phone. Tapping his finger on the drawer, he waited for the call to connect.

Natasha might know all his professional agents, but his hidden spies, he made sure not even Dante knows about it.

"Ziggy?"

"Boss."

"There's a job for you. Get your men ready."

"Clean or dirty?"

"Dirty if needed."

"What do you need?"

"I'll send her photo. I want her location traced at the earliest."

"Any mishaps?"

"Nothing. It's a clean job. She's still in this city. You and your men have to find her."

"Any suspect in mind?"

Cassian's mind flickered briefly to Natasha. "Two suspects. Personal."

"Okay boss, wait for my call."

"Two hours maximum."

"Alright boss. We'll get to work."

The burner phone beeped, and he tossed it on the bed.

Getting his laptop, he connected Lalissa's phone to it, and began going through her call history.

He had hacked her phone the other time, so he didn't need to input the password before unlocking it.

First, he went to her call history. The last person she spoke to was Sienna. That was few hours before the incident.

His finger punched the laptop keys, that breakdown at the party appearing in his head again.

If only his stupid fears didn't have to come in at that time. Natasha had once held him when the fear happened. Because of that same fear, he failed to save Lalissa. She was kidnapped right under his nose.

"Argh!" He pushed the laptop away. They shattered on the floor. It broke into half, the screen went into pieces. Luckily for Lalissa's phone, it fell on top of the laptop so it didn't break.

"To hell with the darkness!" He stood, and went to the light.

Without thinking twice, he switched off the bulb. Darkness crept in.

His whole body immediately stood rigid. His breath rose, and heart hammered. His head felt big as voices of twenty four years ago rang in his head.

His head banged, feeling like it was going to split open.

He took the first move, his shoes creaking under the broken glass. The voice got louder in his head.

Sweat appeared on his hairline. He crumbled on his knees, directly on the broken laptop.

The door slammed open.

"Shit!" Dante breathed, finding the switch.

Switching it on, their eyes widened immediately they saw Cassian's condition.

Mrs. Nora and Dante went to him while Sienna and Lance looked on, slightly confused.

"Cass!" Mrs. Nora yelled, eyes flashing with fear.

Cassian shook her hand away. "Don't touch me."

"Why would—" Dante paused, looking at both Sienna and Lance. "You both should wait outside."

Even if they didn't want to leave, they had no choice.

"Did you go triggering yourself?" Mrs. Nora asked slowly, her eyes fixed on his injured palm.

Dante sighed. "Mrs. Nora, this isn't the time. What he does shouldn't be our business. For the sake of fear, it's the reason Lalissa isn't with us right now."

"The doctor warned against it, Dante. Trying to force himself out—"

"The doctor can burn in hell for all I care!" Dante's voice rose. "If Cassian wants to fight it, let him. The doctor—"

Cassian's phone vibrated in his pants.

He shoved his body away, and took out his phone.

He answered without bothering the caller. He just knew. The mastermind.

"That was fast. Didn't expect it."

Cassian remained silent, his brain processing the familiar voice.

"Roman!" he said through clenched teeth. His forehead furrowed a bit, lines of raging veins stretching in them.

Mrs. Nora's body tensed. Dante remained relaxed, though his face didn't fully give the composure away.

Roman's ugly laughter sounded from the other side. The laugh of victory.

The way the laugh sounded, Cassian knew he was enjoying this whole shit. The bastard has what's his and dared to laugh. The scumbag would even take a picture if he's given the opportunity.

His fist tightened into a bloody, angry fist. One hour and he's going to get his hand on the bastard, and all involved, including Natasha.

"I'm surprised. Didn't know you've marked my voice. Impressive."

"Where is Lalissa?" Cassian thundered.

"Easy Cassian," he stretched mockingly. "Lalissa is here with me—sound, and," he paused, letting the weight of his words echo through the phone, or maybe Cassian letting him think his words is affecting him. "Safe for now."

"Listen to me, you fink! Not even a hair on her head should go missing. I want Lalissa back, the same way you took her. If even a scratch appears on her body—"

"You'll do nothing, Cassian," Roman cut him off, whistling twice before continuing. "What do you think? I'm a fool? That I didn't know all these before taking her hostage? I figured she's the perfect pawn to get you, and I'm right... I wish I could see your face right now. It will be so thrilling to watch."

Muffled sound sounded in the background.

"You can hear, your Lissa is calling out to her hero."

"What did you do to her?" Cassian breathed, his eyes going to the clock. To save Lalissa, he'll have to play the fool for some minutes.

"State your wants."

Roman laughed. "I like the page we're on. Turn on your video call. I'll like to show you something."

"Laptop," Cassian mouthed to Dante.

Dante got the laptop. Few seconds, the call was switched to a video call. On the screen, Roman stood, smiling demonically like he had won the biggest lottery.

"You're asking for death, Roman," Dante glared.

"Let that death come. But, before that, I have something Cassian badly wants to see."

He left the room, and took seven long steps before stopping at the front door of Lalissa's room.

"Don't act up too much," he nodded before creaking the door open.

Cassian's nose flared. His fist curled harder on his thighs. His body ached with the urge to waste the blood of this idiot.

"Now," Roman breathed victoriously. "That's the look I want to see."

Roman grabbed Lalissa's hair, his hold so painful that it drew out muffled screams from her throat.

"Roman!" Cassian jerked forward. "You'll pay with your life."

"Don't forget this is a camera! And keep your threats to yourself!" Roman yelled. "Want to see what I can do?"

His grip tightened around her hair, as he yanked her head backward.

Lalissa muffled painfully, her ear turning red in response to the excruciating pain.

"Roman, stop this. She did nothing to you," Mrs. Nora pleaded.

"Tell Cassian to shut the hell up, and comply or my next move won't go down so well!"

Cassian slammed his fist on the table. The laptop jerked. Every light disappeared from his eyes. Darkness eluded in them. "Name your price!"

"You stole my Dad's company! You stole my company too!"

Roman forcefully released her hair, stepping away from her. "The company—Reid's Global, I want it in my name. The twenty three branches spread across the American and European countries should also be in my name. The house you're staying in, and every other thing in it should be transferred to me. I want nothing in your possession, Cassian. I want you to feel the pain of losing something you worked hard for!"

"Is that all?"

"Don't tell me you're going to give in to his crazy demand!" Dante burst. "He's trying to rip you off! His demand are outrageous! He's using her to blackmail you!"

"This is my shit to handle. Keep out of it," Cassian warned Dante, eyes locked on the screen. "When do you want it?"

"The signing will happen at a location I'll send," Roman said, his eyes circling into darkness. "And a take away warning, don't try to play smart, else—"

He took out a gun from his pants, cocked the trigger, and pointed it straight at Lalissa's chest. "You'll meet her lifeless body the best time you see her."

"Nothing should happen to Lalissa. You'll get what you want."

The screen went blank.

"What the hell was that? You're going to let yourself fall into his trap! He's not releasing Lalissa!"

Cassian ignored him, and got the burner phone.

"Any news, Ziggy?"

"We have news," Ziggy said from the other end. "Her location has been found. Three hours drive away. Near north pole. Behind the mahuda river."

"Get your men ready, let's meet there." He ended the call.

"You aren't risking your life with that of Lalissa, right?" Mrs. Nora asked, but the only response he got was him walking past her.

He went to the bathroom.

Soon, he returned changed into a tactic gear. Their eyes followed him quietly until he got to the drawer.

Opening the third one, his eyes darkened as he picked up two black revolvers.

Tossing them around, he filled them up with bullets, and made to leave when Dante crossed his way.

"What the hell is going on in your head? Who's Ziggy?

"Out of my way." He pushed him out, pocketing the gun as he left the room.

"Cassian, there's no way you're risking both your lives! Wait up, I'm coming with you!"