Chapter 20

Miranda wiggled softly in her rope binds. She was not trying to escape; she had given up on that a long time ago. She was just trying to find a more comfortable position, but every position was as tight and painful as the last.

Her hands were bound at the wrist behind the chair she was placed on. Her torso was tied to the chair itself. She was gagged, blindfolded. She quickly learned that crying was inconvenient and would only worsen her situation. Imagine being stuck with tears and mucus staining her face, without a way to clean them.

And so, she was silent, waiting for the horror that would soon unfold. She didn't have to wait long. The sounds of footsteps striking metal getting closer rang out in the room she was held in. She had heard those sounds sporadically throughout the day.

They came, inspected her, and left. Now, it seemed another inspection was imminent. The creaking of the metal door as it opened made her wince, as it had every time it was opened. The footsteps neared, became absurdly close and then they stopped. Considering the warmth emanating from the person, Miranda guessed that the person stood directly in front of her. less than 3 feet away.

She swallowed in fear and her body began quaking.

A deep low chuckle reached her ears and transformed into a full-blown evil cackle. She did not need to be told that the person in front of her was Karly. Even in her dreams, she could never forget the sound of his voice.

She tried to lean back and away from him, but she was bound so tightly, she barely moved. Karly's hand shot out and gripped her face, squeezing fiercely. She moaned through the gag, pain racing up her jaw.

"Foolish wench," he spat, his voice full of venom. "You embarrassed me. You humiliated me. I'll make you pay. This is just the beginning. Your family is next. Then finally that fool Matthew Devin. All of you will pay."

Miranda struggled against his grip, the pain becoming more intense with every second.

Karly released her and using the same hand, struck her harshly on the face. Her head snapped sideways with the force of the blow and left a ringing sound echoing in her left ear. She gasped, and hot tears escaped from her shut lids and ran down her face.

She barely had the time to recover when he struck her again, smashing her head in the opposite direction. Her neck strained with the blow, stiffening with the effort of keeping her head stable.

Karly pulled the gag from her mouth and she panted, the influx of air welcome. He had ulterior motives, however.

He slapped her again, the sound of his hand hitting her face even louder this time around and he whispered in her ear, his hot breath fanning against her flesh. "Scream. I want to hear you scream."

Miranda did not scream but she cried out. That seemed to satisfy Karly as well. He laughed and from the sound of his footsteps, circled her.

"Of course, I will also continue with what we started that fateful night. I presume that you are still a virgin. I know the stupid Devin boy would not have touched you. Rumors are going round that he is a eunuch and frankly, I believe them. There is something wrong with that idiot. I knew from the moment I set eyes on him."

She heard him rub his hands together and continue. "I will have you transported and then drugged again. You don't have to be conscious for me to take my pleasure. I prefer women when they are unconscious. It is easier and far more enjoyable for me."

Miranda almost fainted at his words, her mind becoming blank with terror. "No," she sobbed. "P-please. No. Please, Mr. Karly. Please d-don't do this."

He cackled again, reveling in her fright. The sound of people descending the metal stairs came once more and the door squealed open.

"Ah, Mr. Karly. Welcome," came a loud, brash voice. "My men told me you were here. Inspecting the goods?"

Karly humped. "I just came to see if everything was going ahead in the manner it should, not like the last bunch of hooligans I paid. But remember, I paid for a home delivery."

"Yes, we were about to deliver but you insisted on visiting first," the voice that seemed to belong to the leader said.

"I just could not wait to see her. It's fine. I still owe you the remainder of your payment. Did you forget?"

The leader laughed. "Of course not. I just trusted you to fulfill your end of the deal while we fulfilled ours."

Karly scoffed at that. "Common criminals acting like businessmen. Well, I don't have to encumber myself with your presence anymore." He pulled out a phone from his pocket and tapped it a few times on the screen.

A phone beeped a few seconds later and the ringleader picked up his phone and smiled. "30,000 to complete the deal. It is nice doing business with you. I hope our efficiency has convinced you to patronize us in the future. Not like the other amateurs you hired."

"Deliver her securely to my place and maybe I will even recommend you to others that may be in need of your services."

"Thank you," the kidnapper said with a mock bow. Gesturing to the other two in the room, he said, "Bring her."

The two men marched over, tightened the gag and made quick work of the ropes.

One of them whispered harshly in her ear, "Don't even think of trying to escape. You'll end up hurting yourself."

She was dragged out of the room, held tightly in the grasp of two of the kidnappers. Their holds bruised and burned her flesh. Wincing, she squirmed in their grasp, trying to ease the pain but that only made their grips tighter.

She whimpered and tried to endure it. It was over soon. She was shoved into a vehicle, her body hitting the ridged internal frame. Miranda lay her palms on the cold metal floor of the vehicle, tried to push herself off it. But the kidnappers were having none of that.

They hauled her off the floor, bound her once more, and dropped her back. She grunted as she hit the floor, the pain radiating through her body.

On her belly, she felt the vibration as the van started and was put in gear. It rolled forward and with every meter covered, Miranda felt the terror in her veins multiply. They were taking her to Karly, where she would be drugged, and raped to his heart content.

Shivers ran down her spine continuously until her entire body shook with the force of her fear. This was not happening. This could not happen. She did not want to be drugged. She did not want to be raped. Tears, pleas, and prayers poured out of her constantly.

Why was this happening to her?

The kidnappers around her seemed to catch on to her fear, chortling heartily at her condition.

"Karly may be an old man but you can't deny that he has taste. She looks very supple."

"Right? And she will last for a long time before a replacement is needed."

Their words made Miranda cry and shiver even more. Please, she begged. Somebody please help me.

***

Holding his hand out, Lachlan tried to reason with his employer. "CEO, please. You cannot put yourself in danger. The ring that runs Good Luck Electronics do not behave like the typical thugs. They are well organized and arranged. They are trained and will probably have weapons with them. Please remain here. We will bring Miss Dunne back safely."

Matthew himself was not in a state to be reasoned with. "I don't care what you have to say, Darley. I am coming with you." He tossed the keys of his car to the head of security. "Drive."

Exasperated, Lachlan looked around him but there was no one to back him up. All the employees were studiously staring at their screen, not daring to enter an argument with the CEO of their company. Lachlan sighed and wished Walter was here. The assistant seemed to be the only one that could reason with his boss when he got like this.

"Fine," Lachlan acquiesced. "But we will keep a distance from the ambush."

"I don't want to get in your way. I just want to…see her."

Lachlan nodded. "Then, let's go, sir."

The duo took an elevator to the underground parking lot of the company where the strike team was waiting in two unmarked vans. Lachlan spoke to the team, going over the details of the plan with them.

One of the tracking teams would follow the kidnappers, providing real-time information on their route. The other team would follow Karly taking note of his movements. The last team would intercept the kidnappers on their route, forcing them towards the strike team. Finally, the strike team would apprehend the kidnappers, rescuing Miranda Dunne.

It sounded simple in theory, but Lachlan had enough experience in security to know that any slight issue can result in the loss of life. They would have to be careful. Especially as Matthew had insisted on coming with them.

Engines rumbled to a start and two vans and an Audi exited the parking lot.

After a few minutes of driving, the strike team arrived in position and were awaiting instructions over the radio.

In time, the instructions came over the radio. "Strike team, the suspects are in a white van marked Good Luck Electronics. They will be heading your way in two minutes. We suspect that they have weapons. Proceed with caution."

Matthew stared at the radio intensely, aware of every breath he took and every movement he made. The car was air-conditioned, but he felt his underarms become damp with sweat.

Tonight, Miranda could die. A random bullet, a knife stab, a blow to the back of the head. Something could end her life and he would never see her again. All because of his stupidity. All because of his misplaced distrust.

Clasping his hands together, Matthew begged and prayed for a miracle.

Two minutes elapsed and the white van pulled up to the ambush site two streets away from where Matthew's car was currently parked. They had selected a quiet, uninhabited area for their ambush and Matthew was happy about the decision because soon after, the unmistakable sounds of bullets rang out in the afternoon.

The radio crackled and a voice came over. "Strike team here. We've ambushed the criminals and halted their movements. They are shooting out of the van. We have deployed snipers, but they are yet to ascertain Miss Dunne's position so…"

"Don't shoot," Matthew shouted. "Don't shoot until you know where she is. Don't shoot!"

Lachlan picked the radio and depressed the transmission button. "Do not shoot. I repeat. Do not shoot until you are certain she is out of harm's way. And protect yourselves."

"Roger that."

Matthew waited with bated breath, the sound of every bullet spearing through his mind and heart. The radio crackled once more, and news came. "I have a clear shot of three targets. Permission to shoot."

Matthew drew in a breath, his heart pounding in his chest. Lachlan leaned forward, picking up the radio once more. "Take your shot."

Hands clammy, Matthew turned to Lachlan and whispered. "What now?"

Three gunshots answered his question.

"All the targets have been neutralized. Miss Dunne is safe."