Chapter 6 Return: Nothing Short Of Impressive

• “What? Did you call Sebastian back for Connor’s daughter?” Serena’s voice was sharp as she snapped at Anton, her eyes narrowing as he put ice in his glass and shook it before taking a sip.
• “Putting our son in danger over a girl seems like a reckless decision, don’t you think?” She stepped forward, her fury igniting a brawl within her. “Also, how did we not know Connor’s daughter? Did she come crashing down from heaven?”
• “Connor gave up on her when she was a newborn. She came here in search of him. Unfortunately, our enemies took hold of her.”
• “Fortunately or unfortunately, I don’t care! My son won’t put himself in danger because of her. He is destined for greater things in life. Connor’s daughter is Connor’s problem. And why should we care if he shows no regard for her safety?” Serena stood in a confrontational stance with her arms crossed over her chest.
• Anton cast a withering look her way. “Serena, you’re so evil! Connor saved my life!”
• “That’s his job!” Serena answered in an equally high pitch. “We fucking pay him to work for us. He didn’t do us any favours. However, enlisting my son’s aid and putting his life in danger to rescue Connon’s daughter, with whom Connor has no connection, is an act of folly!”
• Anton took another swig of his whiskey, averting his gaze, his jaws tightly clenched. “Connor is worried about her state. Instead of putting us at risk, he protected us over his daughter. Anyway, I have taken matters into my own hands and my ruling stands. Sebastian must be returning soon, and we will strategize a rescue mission for Janet. We will surely bring her back!”
• The only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock as a long silence fell between them. Serena stared at him. “You know what?”
• “What?” The sharp clink of the glass hitting the bar counter filled the air as he locked eyes with her.
• “You’re weak! That’s why your father chose me for you. He was cognizant of the fact that your feeble heart would pose a threat to us in the future! You say Connor is close to you, huh? Why didn’t he ever open up about his past?”
• “It is likely that he had compelling reasons not to. And you’re speaking as if we have a longstanding friendship and he is obligated to divulge everything to me.”
• Serena sat down heavily on the recliner, letting out a deep sigh of exhaustion as she held her head in her hands. “Anton, I love you. But it’s disheartening that you don’t even make an effort to see things from my perspective. The frustration is maddening!”
• As the couple argued in the bedroom on the first floor, Connor strode through the entrance, and the guards bowed their heads in acknowledgement as he passed. “Get me a filtered coffee!” he instructed the servant and made his way towards the left wing of the Genovese mansion.
• He crossed through one room after another until he finally arrived at the door of Don Vitalino Genovese’s room. The retired godfather and Anton’s ruthless father, who once struck fear into the heart of Springfield, Missouri.
• Whistling his way into the room, Connor’s hands were tucked comfortably in his pockets and Don Vitalino recognized his signature tune and opened his eyes. His lips trembled as Connor’s face loomed over him, and he felt a wave of fear wash over him.
• “My heart aches at the sight of you bedridden. Karma is a real bitch.” He lifted his hand, gently stroked the back of it, and then let it fall from above, allowing it to hang down the side of the bed. “It fucked you up so bad!”
• His eyes roamed over his paralyzed body, then followed the network of wires that tethered him to the machine. “Last time we met, I left plenty of clues for you to follow. Do you now remember who I am, huh?”
• He pulled a chair and sat next to him, studying his face intently. “Blink twice if you don’t recognize me.”
• Vitalino blinked twice, staring up at the ceiling in response to his words. Connor’s face contorted as he leaned forward, his hand grasping Vitalino’s throat.
• “How sad. Because if something happened to my daughter, I would have to kill you with my bare hands and you’d never know why it all started!” He clenched his teeth as Vitalino’s eyes welled up, but Connor withdrew his hand only at the sound of the beeping machines.
• “Fucking pray that I get my baby girl back or I will give you all a hundred times more brutal deaths.”
• ***
• Janet’s head began to clear as the drug wore off, and she realized she was tied to the chair. Gradually, her eyes opened, and she noticed several men gazing at her through the laptop screen. After a few blinks, her eyes adjusted and she could see more clearly.
• “So, what do you make of her?” She could feel Marco’s breath on the back of her neck as he stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder.
• “She is a real head-turner! How much do you want?” Janet was sure the man on the laptop screen was Russian from his accent when he asked. She strained to hear their conversation about selling her over the sound of her own heartbeat.
• She had an urge to scream, but her body was too feeble to even twitch a finger, and she slumped back in the chair.
• “Allow me to present my gift to Don Vladimir Ivanov.” Janet felt Marco's hand gently patting her head, and then she noticed him raise an eyebrow as he took a seat beside her. “Do you know who is her father? Connor Blair! The Capo of Anton Genovese.” He smiled evilly.
• “Wow, that’s an excellent catch! That detestable scoundrel slaughtered our comrades. It would be so much fun to fuck her. But is she a virgin?”
• “Can’t say. I could have her checked if you want.” Marco smiled.
• “No. We will take care of that. If she comes out virgin, she’ll be Don’s plaything, and if she fails, our soldiers are no less when it comes to satisfying women!” He chuckled and Marco joined him.
• “Get ready. Tomorrow night at 10:30, our men will seize her from your possession! Give her a good rest till then.”
• Marco shut the laptop with a snap and turned to face one of his mates. “We need to examine the arrangements carefully. We must get her out of Springfield tonight. Be very careful.”
• “What the hell did they inject into me?” She was consumed by a burning sensation throughout her body, and her thoughts raced.
• “Damn, I can’t even lift a finger!” Janet’s eyes were brimming with tears, and she felt powerless to stop them.
• The memories of her aunt, uncle, and Isabella lingered in the back of her mind as she desperately hoped for a miracle.
• The next evening,
• “Leave me. Help!” Janet yelled frantically as the Russian armed men proceeded to abduct her onto the ship. Though her hands were restrained with rope, her fighting spirit remained unbroken. Despite her brave efforts, the big bully guys overpowered her, and one of them carried her into a cabin on the ship like a sack of potatoes.
• “Leave me, please! I’ve nothing to do with all of this! Let me go!” She pleaded with them, crawling back onto the bed in terror, but one of them seized her ankle and pulled her forcefully. Her heart leapt into her throat as she struggled against their giant hold, only to be met with a sharp slap across her face.
• They bound her to the bed with thick, rough ropes. A cloth was shoved into her mouth, stifling any sound she could make. And the moment they shrouded her face, Janet felt that her life had come to an end.
• “Rest up now because once the nightmare begins, there’s no going back to peaceful sleep.” She heard their laughter receding as they closed the door to the cabin with a loud thud.
• “Wow. She is a tough cookie!” They laughed and chatted as they climbed up the deck, but their conversation came to an abrupt halt when they heard the loud thrum of the helicopter.
• “What’s that?” They unsheathe their guns and hurry up.
• ~Janet~
• Tears streamed down my cheek for what felt like an eternity when suddenly the sudden, piercing blast of gunshots drowned out the sound of my cries. Startled, I tried to wiggle myself out of reflex, even though I knew it wouldn’t help.
• The drug they injected into me before delivering me to the Russian men was taking hold, causing tremors in my limbs, but I refused to let it dim the will of my strength.
• I groaned in pain and struggled to move when the sound of gunshots just outside my cabin made me freeze. The danger was close. I was at a loss on how to help myself out of this state, but I continuously comforted my throbbing heart that eventually all would be well. I will make it through it. No matter what!
• The door of the cabin opened with a soft click. I immediately stopped moving as I listened to the footsteps creeping closer, and then there was silence in the air. Despite my face being covered with a black cloth, I could sense the piercing gaze of unseen eyes.
• And then, suddenly, the ropes binding my legs to the bedpost were released and the smell of a strong, woody cologne filled the air as I sensed someone sitting next to me on the bed. Rough hands brushed past my skin as they reached behind my head to remove the veil from my face.
• Reflexively, I quickly turned my face away and tightly shut my eyes.
• “You’re safe, kitten.”
• The resonance of a man’s deep voice had an instant calming effect on my pounding heart, but it continued to beat erratically because of the drug’s side effects, which allowed me to gain a complete comprehension of everything that was transpiring around me, yet slowly leaving me incapable of making any moves to stop it.
• “The nightmare is over. You can open your eyes now.”
• Feeling the man's breath on my skin sent a chill down my spine, but that feeling quickly dissipated when I heard the unmistakable click of the cuffs releasing from my wrists. Suddenly, a sense of relief flooded through me.
• The moment my eyes fluttered open, I sensed the intensity of a man's unwavering stare bearing down on me. “Are you okay?”
• In an instant, I sat on the bed and pulled out the cloth that had been forcefully wedged into my mouth. “Who are you? What do you want from me?” I propelled myself to the other side of the small bed and confronted him. Every nerve ending in my body tense with apprehension.
• “Sebastian,”
• He answered calmly as I stared at his striking appearance. The man had a firm jaw covered in dark bristles, high cheekbones, a straight nose, and sharp black eyes. I don’t know if it was his handsome face or the effects of drugs robbing me of the ability to breathe. I take in his tall, broad-shouldered frame and chiselled features before my vision starts to blur.
• “I’m here to take you.” His silky voice was the last thing I heard, and then the room whirled as I toppled off the bed. “Janet!”
• Sebastian scaled to my side and yanked me towards him, preventing me from crashing onto the floor. I felt his rough hands cradle my face, and I saw the concern in his eyes as he took note of my bruises and cuts. And then I felt his hand on my chest, and it was as if his touch had the power to steady my racing heart.
• “Did my dad send you to rescue me? Are you one of his comrades?” Clutching his collar for support, I tried to regain my focus.
• “Yes. Now be quiet and let me help you.”
• Holding my hand firmly, he smoothly stepped down from the bed and effortlessly carried me in his strong arms. He cast a fleeting glance at my bruised feet and cursed under his breath as I rested my head on his chest, my eyes growing heavy.
• “We’ll be out of this place soon.”
• He escorted me out of the cabin and up the stairs to the ship's upper deck, where I couldn't help but notice the helicopter looming overhead.
• Another man dressed in a black suit and black aviator walked towards us, his silhouette cutting through the bright sunlight. “Hand her to us!” His baritone voice resonated, and I promptly voiced my objection.
• “No… No. You take me home. Please!” I clasped Sebastian’s collar with every ounce of my strength, and he looked down at me.
• “Do not hand me over to anyone else. I trust you.” I gazed into his eyes, which seemed to be as dark as the void.
• “Bos…”
• “Bring down the safety rope!” Sebastian silenced the man in a black suit. As my feet made contact with the ship’s surface, a sharp hiss escaped my lips upon feeling the weight of my body.
• “Alright, listen to me. I am about to hoist you up. And you must hold me with all your might!” He takes my hand and puts it around his shoulder.
• “Okay…” I struggled to speak properly, but it came out sluggish.
• Sebastian fastened his jacket to the rope and then leaned down. I was enveloped by his strong arms as he effortlessly lifted me. I wrapped my legs around his waist and clutched him with all my might as if my life depended on it.
• “You’re choking me to death!” I heard him say with a difficulty that suggested he was struggling to get the words out. “Don’t worry, I won’t betray you.” He gave a gentle pat on my arm, and I loosened up, resting my head on his shoulder, and gradually we ascended into the air.
• Just a minute later, a sigh of relief escaped my lips as I found myself comfortably seated in the helicopter cabin. Sebastian, who was seated beside me, removed his jacket and swiftly turned towards me, his face filled with concern. “You’re sweating! Why is your heart still pounding?” He rubbed my chest.
• “I’ve been drugged!” My body trembled uncontrollably before he enveloped me in his arms, pressing me against his solid chest, and his hand soothingly rubbed my back.