Chapter 73: Kidnapped - Part 2

"They had my phone tapped, Sofia. Apparently it turned out that he never believed that I would go on and stab my own family at their backs."

A sigh.

"I had no idea about it. One little carelessness and they heard my phone conversation with Max. We didn't discuss anything about our plan over the phone ever, but I was really nervous that day. They wanted the envelope which had Dad's gang members' all information from me after Jenna couldn't give it to them. But of course, we couldn't hand them over the real one. So Robert changed the envelope with a fake one which only had Dad's former men and spies' data. We had to do it to gain their trust and buy us some more time so that I could acquire as much information about Monet as possible. But I feared that they would find out about it. So I had to talk to Max regarding it. I… I got scared for a moment. And that one moment became our doom."

"Jenna couldn't give it to them because Robert took it from her before she could deliver it to them?"

"Yes, he found out what Janna was up to. So he handled the matter. But he didn't tell Dad anything about it because he knew after Jenna's failure, Monet would need someone else to take those papers for him. And that person could be me."

Oh, so that was what actually happened. And here I thought Robert was threatening Jenna to work for him.

"Max told me that you saw Robert and Janna together and doubted that Robert was the betrayer in the house. Trust me, we wanted to tell you everything. But we knew you very well. If we told you everything, you would want to help us in the plan. And we couldn't get you involved in anything that contained risks."

"I understand. But if Monet knew everything then why did Zion and Milton behave so normal with you that day as if you were still someone who was helping them to gain what they wanted?" I asked, recalling the day when I eavesdropped on his and Zion's conversation.

He shrugged. "They were just playing along I guess, wanting to turn the tables and make a fool out of me. Which I actually was. And then they caught you." Moving from his place, he settled beside me and leaned against the wall as well. "When I was about to leave not knowing you were there, two of their guards came and took my phone away before taking me to the other location they kept you. And when I left that room after our confrontation, they grabbed me and put me into a room just like they did to you."

Pausing for a second, he started again.

"Maybe they thought they didn't need to play along anymore as they got you? After all this was what they wanted. Using you, Monet and Marcus could make both Dad and Adrian come to their knees."

His words brought a bitter taste in my mouth. Those bastards!

So that's why Max couldn't track his phone. Because they destroyed it just like they did to my watch.

I let out a sigh.

I wished it was with me right now. At least Dad and Adrian would get to find out my location.

"I'm sorry. Because of me everything got ruined. I heard your conversation with Robert near the office exit. And from what I heard, I thought you were working with Monet and going to meet someone to hand them the envelope over. I just wanted to know the whole truth. You know, if you really were betraying us or what your exact intentions were."

He let out a dry chuckle. "You won't leave this habit of yours, will you? How many times did Dad tell you not to eavesdrop?"

I rolled my eyes. "I have to if everyone keeps hiding things from me. But really, I'm sorry for that day. I didn't know I would put you in any kind of trouble."

"Don't. Yes, you shouldn't have done that stunt, putting yourself in danger in the process. But everything was already ruined even before you did anything. They wouldn't have let me leave that day anyway, after knowing that I was betraying them."

Even if he was right. I didn't feel any less guilty. "And what about Jenna? Do you know why she agreed to go against us?"

His mouth set in a grim line. "They had Janna's father in their clutch and threatened to kill him if she didn't listen to them."

"What?" A gasp left me. "They had uncle Carlo? Oh, God! Is he alright?"

This all made sense now. That's why Jenna was so helpless. She needed to save someone very close to her. Her father.

"Don't worry. Robert got him back safely. That's where he all of a sudden disappeared for the last few days. He told Dad that he was going to take a look at a new lead he found about Monet."

A relieved breath left me. I could understand why he didn't tell anything to Dad. He would have to reveal everything about the envelope and Alex if he spoke a word to him. And Dad wouldn't ever let them proceed with their dangerous plan.

So many things were happening and I wasn't aware of it at all.

"Anyways, I heard their men talking that you escaped from that place that night. How did you do it? I can't tell you how relieved I was after I heard that." A small smile tugged up his lips.

A shrug. "Someone helped me. When I woke up in the middle of the night, I found my bindings were loose and the window was left open. So I took it as my cue and escaped."

A crease formed between his brows. "Someone helped you? Who?"

"I don't know. I didn't see his face."

A look of wonder crossed across his features. "That's strange."

This question has been bothering me since that night too. But I just couldn't find an answer to it. Who could betray Monet in his own gang?

"How did Monet get in the city? Sinister said he went back to his hole after he got to know about my escape."

He shook his head. "I don't know. That bastard somehow managed to sneak into the city under our people's noses. Now that he has us with him, he knows our people would think twice before planning to attack him regarding our safety if they get to find our location."

Cursing under my breath, I let my gaze survey around us for the first time.

The little room we were locked in was dimly lit. Only a flickering bulb gave our vision some rays. A close to window length wooden door stood at the corner of the room. The cracks on the wall and chunks of falling plasters from the mold indicated its age. And the damp rotten smell in the air made me cringe.

"What's this place?"

"The dungeon."

"Dungeon?" With my eyes wide, I gaped. Anxiety rolled inside me. "What do we do now? We don't even have our phones with us to call for help."

"We wait until they find us. We don't have any other choice, Sofia. And I'm sure," a dark look came over his face, "if Monet kidnapped us then he would definitely use us against Dad. Means, we will be used as bait."

My heart sank deeper in the pit of my stomach.

"We're doomed, aren't we?" I whispered.

He turned to me. "Hey, don't worry. Our people will come for us soon. And don't forget about your lover boy, I'm sure he won't get any rest until he gets you back safely in his arms."

My lips parted at the painful tug in my chest at the mention of him.

Adrian…

Every cell of my body craved his warmth, his protective arms around me. For him to save me again, like he always did. I didn't care if he locked me in his bed for the rest of my life, I just wanted to be in his arms at this moment.

I wonder what he is doing right now? Is he looking for me?

Blinking away my tears, I cleared my throat. "Is there any way to get out of here?"

Glancing around, I tried to find a way to go out. But other than the small locked door at the corner, there was no hint of an exit that could lead us to our freedom.

"Unfortunately, no."

Sighing, I slumped against the wall. "I still can't believe Tim betrayed us like that. I thought it was Robert. But never in a million years I thought it could be Tim. He even got injured while saving me and Adrian on our date night."

"Even I couldn't believe it when I saw him with Monet. Sometimes… people who are extremely close to our hearts, are the ones to break it."

"I can understand Jenna's compulsion. But Tim? Why did he do it?"

When he didn't answer, I glanced at him.

A dark shadow came over his eyes as his jaw clamped tight, I could even imagine his fists curling into balls.

"Alex?"

"He isn't the only one to break our trust, Sofia. We have two backstabbers in our home."

Jenna said the same thing to me. But she didn't tell me the names.

"Who is the other one?"

His hard gaze met mine. "It's..."

Some rustling of keys outside of the door interrupted him. My gaze snapped to the door.

A click resounded of the lock being unlocked. And then with a groaning, the wooden door opened, letting three shadows saunter in.

Subconsciously I inched closer to Alex. My heart pounded in my chest.

James Monet, Milton and an anonymous man with a short height and a huge hanging belly towered over us.

"Ah, finally you're up! Took you long, little one. I was waiting for you to meet someone," Monet said, a small smile playing on his lips.

A sick smile.