CHAPTER 5

I awoke to find myself tied to a chair. The cold of the damp air in the old warehouse seeped into my bones and I shivered helplessly. I could sense my heart pounding as I remembered the blow to the head and loss of consciousness. Was I kidnapped? I screamed, "Where am I? Help! Help me!"

"Relax, Ruth. Shouting isn't going to benefit you. I tried it myself, I swear," a voice I recognized rang in my ears. I glanced to the right and noticed Dera bound into a chair similar to mine. My eyes bulged with horror.

"What is it? Why were both of us kidnapped?" I asked, my chest pounding in terror. At the very back of my mind, I feared for the welfare of the child I carried within me. In case anything should happen to me, I would lose my baby.".

"Good question," a low male voice boomed somewhere in the warehouse. I spun back toward the voice and my heart ran wild when I saw four goons coming our way. The leader of the group, a bald man with yellow-stained teeth, had a pungent smell of alcohol on him.

"Don't worry, Ruth. Frank will rescue us," Dera said with determination. I felt a glimmer of hope. Frank, my husband. But then I remembered how he had rushed out the instant Dera disappeared. He would rescue Dera. I mean nothing to him compared to her.

It did not take long before Frank arrived at the warehouse. He walked in and did not move when he saw the two of us tied up. He clenched his fists and glared at the goons. "Untie them! It is I who have an issue with. Leave the women alone."

"Rapido. These two ladies are obviously very close to you," said the leader, spinning a knife around his fingers.

"Let them go immediately," Frank commanded again.

"No can do. Because they are so special to you, they are in this trouble," the thug replied. "I'll let you keep one of them. The other one will remain with us as a hostage."

"You're kidding, right?" Frank growled.

"You save one or none at all," the thug sneered. "Oh, Frank Lanka, I should like to see whom you will choose. I had just come to a mind to have a little sport, but now I have a wish to know whom you love most of the two."

Frank's fists were clenched. He ground his teeth as he glanced at the two of us, both frightened and helpless.

"Frank, choose Ruth. She is your wife! Do not listen to me," Dera looked up at Frank with watery eyes. She was pale and weak, but so kind, treating me with every care.

Frank's conscience was overwhelmed with shame. His fists were clenched, ready to spill blood on his hands.

"Go, Frank. You can save one woman. The time is escaping."

Frank snarled, his eyes darting back and forth between the two of us. My heart pounded in my chest when I saw his eyes darting back and forth between Dera and me.

Frank looked at me only once before he spoke to the thug, "Let Dera go."

My heart fell. He had picked her. I should have realized this was the inevitable, but I had hoped secretly that Frank would pick me. I was his rightful wife, for goodness' sake.

It hurt me to see him pick another woman and leave me to be the thug's hostage more than I ever thought I would. Frank. Was I not important to you? I wept like an idiot.

"Frank, you look as cold as is rumored," the thug snarled with a revulsion-filled smile. "Are you at ease leaving the other woman in our hands?"

"Let Dera go," Frank commanded icily.

The thug grinned wickedly and undid the rope from Dera's waist. Frank stepped up and wrapped his arms around Dera, holding her against his chest as if she were one of those delicate porcelain dolls that would break if set down. "Frank, you must take Ruth. I'm a cripple and will be in a wheelchair for the remainder of my life. I'm of no use to you," Dera breathed.

"Don't worry, I'll rescue you from here," Frank promised while pulling her out of the warehouse.

I couldn't utter anything. My heart was broken into a million pieces. The only thing that frightened me was my innocent child, who would be killed because of my stupid love for Frank. If I were to go back in time, I would never give my heart to such a heartless man.

"Because Frank has made a choice, I have no use for you to live," the thug declared, playing with his knife as he glared at me.

"Proceed. What are you waiting for?" I spat back as I glared at the thug.

"I was waiting for you to beg for your life. I would not have let you go either," the thug laughed. He ordered his henchmen to fill the place with gasoline.

"But boss, is this to be done?" one of them asked.

"She wants her out," the thug answered.

I heard that but could not even begin to take in what he was saying. My heart ached. To the very last, I never came first for Frank. Why was I doing this? Why was I allowing Frank to treat me so poorly? I knew I was having my last moments and there were just so many things that I was regretting. "Hey, Miss, last words?" the thug grinned at me.

My eyes were closed, accepting fate.

Boom!

A huge explosion rocked the ground. Frank, who had run back to the warehouse, was blown back by the explosion. He looked in terror at the warehouse, now engulfed in flames, burning the whole building to the ground.

I, his wife, stayed in the warehouse.

"Ruth!!"

"NO!!!"

Frank's anguished cry filled the air.