*Bianca*
‘Can we et up?’
I didn’t think anything of Isabela’s innocent text at first, simply shrugging off her casual language when normally she was more formal. I thought about the offer for about half a second before I felt a cramp in my belly.
“Ugh, alright, kid, I won’t go,” I groaned, rubbing my belly to soothe it. I knew the baby didn’t have ears or feet or even a heartbeat yet but I still felt it necessary to talk to him. Or her. Whatever they may be.
Fuck, they could be a kangaroo and I think I’d still love them.
Fucking pregnancy hormones, I grumbled silently to myself as I typed out a reply to Isabela.
‘Sorry, I’m not feeling well today. I’ll have to raincheck for another day.’
I sighed, thinking that was the end when I received another response almost imdiately after.
‘It’s essential. I need you to et at The Java Junction in ten.’
I frowned at her response, and sothing finally clicked in my brain that this behavior was very wrong. Isabela was never pushy like this, ever. She apologized if sobody spilled their lunch on her, there’s no way she’d be so insistent.
Unless sothing was really wrong.
I thought back to the conversation I overheard with Leo. About that guy, Michael targeting people. Could he have gotten ahold of Isabela? I shook my head, thinking I was just paranoid but there was a bad feeling that lingered in my gut.
I felt uncomfortable and sick still, and I didn’t feel like getting up and going to a coffee shop near campus but...I also didn’t want to be a bad friend and leave Isabela hanging when she clearly had sothing up with her.
“Sorry, baby, looks like I need to go after all,” I sighed to myself, cringing as I rose slowly. It didn’t take all too long to get ready though I was slower than normal due to the nausea still hitting every ti I slt sothing new.
I felt like all of this was pretty weird so I did end up sending a text to Leo, telling him I was heading out to et with Isabela at the coffee shop. He didn’t respond but I didn’t think much of it. Many tis he’d get caught in a eting and only reply after getting out.
So I shrugged and continued onward. My two bodyguards ended up driving since I didn’t feel good and I was actually a bit relieved to have them nearby. Just in case my bad feeling was correct.
The Java Junction, a coffee shop right outside the college was a hot spot for the students and today was no different. Filled to the brim with 20-year-olds with newfound freedom and lack of impulse control sounded like a special kind of hell on earth for personally. Especially since there wasn’t just one couple hiding in the corners and making out.
As soon as I walked in, I was hit by the harsh scent of ground coffee and my stomach roiled nauseously in response. I had to bite my tongue to keep from hurling all over the floor and took a few deep breaths as I cald myself.
I glanced around the coffee shop, breathing only through my mouth but I didn’t spot Isabela anywhere. Just as I pulled out my phone to text her where she was, I saw a flash of soone approaching .
I jerked away just as a hand reached out for , my eyes wide as they landed on a vaguely familiar face. A handso guy with a relaxed posture. There was sothing off about him that I couldn’t put my finger to.
“Hey, what a coincidence running into you here, Bianca,” the guy said casually but I only frowned at him, struggling to rember where I’d seen him before. It hit as he leaned back to brush his hair from his face.
Liam, the guy from the bonfire that night.
It wouldn’t normally be odd to run into a fellow classmate but we were on Christmas break. Despite his calling it a coincidence, it didn’t feel like it to . My bodyguards hovered behind , clearly sizing up Liam as they eyed him as a threat.
“Coincidence, right. Um, I’ve got sothing to do so-” I turned to walk away but Liam stepped in my path.
“Hey, why not grab a cup of coffee with while you wait for your friend?” Liam asked with a pleasant smile but my guard was imdiately raised.
My eyes narrowed on him as I stepped back towards my bodyguards.
“I never said I was waiting for a friend,” I said suspiciously. “Leave the fuck alone, you creep.”
I turned to leave but just as I did, I heard a cold laugh from behind .
“You might not want to do that, Bianca,” his voice imdiately dropped all pretense and as I looked back at him, he had on a cocky smirk. His nice guy act was completely broken, and I glared at him fiercely.
“And why not?” I growled, feeling more confident with my bodyguards behind . If he dared to do anything, they would take him down faster than he could get to . Especially in front of so many custors.
Liam chuckled then pulled out an outdated phone from his pocket. One I recognized in a heartbeat due to the colorful worn stickers on the case.
Isabela’s phone.
Panic struck as I realized exactly what was going on.
“I suggest you accept that coffee, Bianca, and dismiss those guards of yours,” he said, glancing at my guards over my shoulder, then smirked as he lifted his shirt slightly to show the firearm strapped at his hip.
I stiffened and I knew my guards saw it too because they stepped closer.
Liam gave them a warning glance, tilting his head and I knew I had no choice left here. If he has Isabela’s phone, then he has Isabela. The coward was using her as a hostage. All I could do was follow his orders until I could get us both safely out of this ss.
I turned around to my bodyguards, giving them a firm look. “Wait outside.”
“Absolutely not,” Daniel, the guard most by my side snarled in response. “We have orders-”
“Wait outside,” I repeated, giving them a aningful look. “Leo’s orders are to listen to .”
I see the understanding dawn on them but also the hesitance to leave alone with this psycho. I’m terrified, too but I have to do what’s best for everyone. I can’t let Isabela die.
Luckily, they listened to this ti, backing out. The door swung shut and I stiffly turned back to Liam who gave a cunning smirk like he’d just outsmarted us. But the jokes on him, Leo had already prepped for a situation like this.
No doubt, the guards were already calling him and anyone nearby for help.
“Now, let’s have that chat, huh?” Liam gestured for to head to the booth he picked out and I followed obediently but fuming silently. I slid in all the way to the end, painfully aware of the gun he had hidden.
A few custors left and nobody else ca in as the odd looks we were getting fade away now that we’re seated. Liam stared across from with a grin.
“Well, I think it’s probably obvious at this point but I’m not actually a college student,” he told boredly.
“No shit.” I retorted with a glare.
Liam chuckled, leaning his head on his hand as he looked at coldly. “Well, there’s no need to be nasty. This is all just business. You’ve been quite hard to get close to, Bianca. I’ve always hated following loners like you. Fewer friends and parties ans fewer opportunities to get close, especially with your boyfriend following you around all the ti. I tried my best at the bonfire but well, we know how that ended. So forgive for taking the chance when I saw it. Your little friend was quite talkative.”
“Where is Isabela?” I demanded, not wanting to listen to his stalker bullshit. I knew exactly who he was working for and why he’d decided to follow .
“All in good ti,” Liam smirked. “Don’t worry, she’ll be released completely unhard once I take you back to the Boss. And if you decide not to listen, well, nobody will find her, I can promise you that.”
I tightened my fists under the table, terrified and angry that this had happened to her because of . I could pray that Leo would get here soon, that they’d find Isabela and she really was unhard like he said.
“If you just need to take to your Boss then why not do it now?” I raised my chin defiantly at him.
“Oh, I plan to, but first, I’m a little curious,” Liam leaned forward, giving an intrigued look as he asked, “I was only supposed to follow you at first, get close, and report your movents back to my boss but well, it looks like your little boyfriend pissed him off this morning. I’m sure I’m not the only one who got the hit he sent out on you so tell , before you die today, what’d your boyfriend do to piss him off so badly?”
Liam grinned widely as I stiffened, the words barely registering as I realized the true pit of danger before . A hit? I’d only ever heard those words in TV or Movies, not real life. This felt like a nightmare and I couldn’t help but discreetly lay a hand over my belly.
Did they an to kill and the baby? Before I could even tell Leo about him?
“What makes you think I know?” I played it cool, hiding my regret and panic as I wracked my brain for any kind of way to get out of this, to keep buying ti.
But before he had a chance to drag out of here or I had a chance to try to stall so more, the bell behind us dinged and a loud, boisterous voice called out, “Hey, Bianca! Long ti no see!”
Before I even knew what was happening, Liam’s expression darkened as a familiar body slid into the booth beside .
“Taylor?” I gasped in surprise as he winked at .
“So what’s going on? You guys wanna see this video I have of a cat being terrified of a group of baby ducklings?” Taylor grinned at us, offering up his phone like this was just another day.
“I don’t know who you are but you need to--” Liam growled out, eyes locked on Taylor.
“I’m Taylor, now you know,” Taylor interrupted with a grin, completely unphased by his threat. I didn’t know if he was oblivious or just acting but the shock of it all when he curled his arm over my shoulder and showed his phone screen was enough to break out of my trance.
Instead of a video, what he showed was a written ssage on a notes app.
‘Bia, stay calm. I know what’s happening. Isabela is safe and I’m going to get you out of here.’
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