CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO

VANESSA POV

The car slowed down to a halt, I sighed inwardly in impatience, there was a traffic jam, that meant that I'll be stuck here for god knows how long!

There was much honking and the air was thick with smoke. I looked out of the window, meeting the eyes of the passenger in the car beside mine. I quickly looked away as the guy's stare became probing.

I was idly nodding my head to the sound of the music playing in the car stereo and inwardly praying for the traffic to ease a little.

Then suddenly the shout of 'armed robber' filled the air.

"armu robber oo!!" Someone screamed as he ran past the car. Panic gripped me as I looked at the chauffeur, Abdul .

"madam calm down, è fit be prank oo." Abdul was still talking when I heard the deafening sound of gunshot.

An involuntary scream left my lips as I dipped my head down, clutching my hands to my ears.

Another gunshots,more scream left my lips. It felt like I Was a character in a horror movie. My instincts screamed at me that I should keep my head down.

"shhhhh! "the chauffeur was telling me furiously. I nodded stiffly and put my hands over my lips, whimpering quietly. My heart was beating fast, my brain was busy conjuring up the bad thing that could possibly happen.

What if I get hit by a stray bullet? What if I get abducted? What if our car got burnt? What if...? There were so many what if...

The street was quiet now, maybe they had left already. My heartbeat returned to normal,but my breath still came out in quick shallow puffs.

I was tempted to raise my head, I did just that.

I immediately regretted it.

Someone dressed in black was looking through the window of the car beside mine. The Lower part of his face was hidden in a black mask. He turned around and looked at me. With a gasp I ducked down, my breath catching in my throat, blood roaring in my ears.

A thief! A masked thief ...i had seen with my eyes!

My heart beat nearly stopped when I heard someone try to open the door of the car. My breathing automatically stopped as the person tried harder to open the door.

"open the door! "the command was muffled due to the mask.

I nearly swooned and dropped in a faint.

"open the damn door!! "the command was clearer and Sharper this time. I was paralyzed with fear and couldn't move my limbs to comply to the order. I nearly jumped out of my skin when a gloved hand snaked into the car from the window. I was already shaking terribly as the hand fumbled with the lock. Then I heard a loud click and the door swung open. Sunlight streamed into the car, I was already curled into a ball in the car seat.

"come out! "another sharp order. My eyes were shut so tightly,my hands were tightened into a fist, my teeth clenched .i couldn't believe this was happening to me, I only watched about robbers attacking their victims in TV, but I never expected it to happen to me!

"i said come out!! "

"no! "the words wheezed its way out of my throat. I was surprised that I still had the energy to talk.

I felt someone roughly drag my hands and pull. I screamed loudly, and clawed at the hand until it let go.

"Make una leave that small girl alone. "I heard Abdul's voice. I was already shaking like a leaf.

I wondered what the robbers wanted with me, with us.

"Will you shut up there?! "The masked man barked.

"She still be small pikin na...her mama get money, abeg--"

The loud report of a gun silenced Abdul.

A wave of horror washed over me, I met dark beady eyes that was hidden behind the mask.

I could tell he was smirking.

The bastard just shot someone and he was smiling?!!

He made to pull at me again

I screamed loudly, the tiger in me was awakened. I clawed furiously at the robbers hands and wrist. I heard a silent cuss of pain.

"Leave me alone! Somebody help me!"

Then I felt something cold and heavy descend on my head forcefully. Blackness floated in my vision, blurring out everything and every noise.

___CALEB'S POV___

I dragged out the girl from the car and lifted her to my shoulders. she was limp and quiet heavy. I gave the chauffeur a cursory glance, he was still breathing. He'd be lucky if medical helps reaches to him in the next fifteen minutes. But if not-

I shrugged nonchalantly. He shouldn't have dared interrupt me while I was talking.

I picked up her school bag and walked away quickly, cocking my gun in anticipation for any hindrance. There was none. My boys were all prowling about, all heavily armed. The black sports jeep door was wide open. I carefully carried the unconscious girl down and gently placed her in the car. The others soon joined me in the car, all disguised with their black mask.

"let's go! "I sharply commanded the driver, who also had a black mask on.

The car lurched forward roughly as the driver pumped the accelerator lever. I cocked my gun and fired two shots in the air from the window.

Then with a satisfied grin, I leaned back into the cushion of the car. The smell of cigarette was thick in the car as everyone was nursing a stick. I glanced at the unconscious girl's face, she was an half caste. I could tell from her skin colour, which was copper colored, and her long curly hair. I positioned her well so that her head was on my laps. It gave me the opportunity to study her facial profile well.

"look what I found, ' scorpion pushed something into my hand. I collected it from him and glanced through it.

It was a school ID card. It was hers.

"Vanessa Campbell... "I read aloud, the boys laughed mockingly at the name.

"so somebody pikin dey answer camp and bell? "scorpion mocked, ensuing more laughter.

She was seventeen. Her mother was Bridget Freeman, the CEO of Bree fashion empire. I already knew about her, infact I had been paid ten million naira just to have her abducted. I smiled, this tiny girl here was worth millions of naira if I played my cards well. She stirred slightly and I paused,thinking she was going to wake, she didn't wake up.

My hands moved to her hair, they were soft. It was obvious she spent much effort in her hair . The roads soon gave way to bushy paths, the driver expertly maneuvered through the crooked paths. It was the road to our secret hideout.

The driver pulled into the bush, the cars were hidden by the shrubs.

I dragged on my cigarettes, as the driver rushed out of the car, clutching the fake plate number. One of the boys climbed out of the car to help him change cars plate number.

"Hurry up! "I finally snapped at them, when I felt they were taking so long.

They soon rejoined us and we commenced our journey once more

After much turnings, the car came to stop in front of a big supermarket. The car slid in smoothly though the gate and past rows of houses. The car skidded to a stop in front of a pale blue bungalow with terraced platforms. The boys discarded their mask and pocketed their guns and leisurely stepped out of the car.

I instructed one of my boys,Jerry, to carry the captive into the house.

Jerry was my favorite, he was the youngest. He was just seventeen and he had an ugly scar on his left cheek.

Jerry lifted the sleeping girl, as though she weighed nothing, into his arms, bridal style.

I walked slowly, in a dignified way, behind him, an unlit fat cigar hanging limply on my lips.

The boys were already sprawled in the sitting room, drinking and smoking.

I looked at the clock, it was still 8:30am, she'd be up in the next hour or two. The boys immediately kept quiet when they saw me, I was the leader of course.

A feeling of pride settled on me as I walked to my favourite seat and sat down.

The boys were all looking at me expectantly,waiting for me to tell them the next move. I took my time lighting my fat fragrance cigar, even after I had lighted it,i let it burn for a few seconds, watching the spirally smoke tendrils drift upwards and then disappear into nothing.

"nice job boys.. "I said when the silence had become unbearable. There was a total of four boys sprawled either on the floor or on the couch. The youngest was seventeen, the oldest was twenty five, three years older than me.

We called ourselves 'the bastards'. Because, we were literally bastards.

"monies would be paid into your account soon."I leaned into my cozy chair and took a long drag from my cigar, then I let the smoke trickle out of my nostrils and mouth.

"meanwhile I heard that Alhaji Bubu is expecting some tanks of ale in a fortnight. "

I heard some slight murmuring. I nodded slightly.

"I think it's time we pay him a regular visit."I raised my brows leisurely In mischief and let smoke dribble out of my nostrils again.

The boys cheered loudly and clapped excitedly.

"more drinks for everyone! " some scantily clad young girls soon came in with trays. In the tray was different assortment of wine. One of the girls, Bella, caught my eyes. She gave me a suggestive wink. I cocked up a brow in encouragement. The girls were all under my payroll, they warmed my boys bed on cold nights.

So while the girls served us, I turned on the TV.

The news about the abduction was already in the news. I scoffed loudly.

Because the daughter of a rich woman goes missing it's already in the news. But if someone like me should go missing, even the police would do nothing about it. My country was a piece of bullshit

ONLY DAUGHTER OF BILLIONAIRE ABDUCTED BY UNKNOWN ARMED GUN MEN...

The headline boldly read.

"...the unfortunate incident occurred today when the victim was been driven to school, the police is requesting all form of assistance from the general public...."

I switched off the TV and picked up a glass of scotch, my eyes narrowed in deep thoughts.

I decided to go check on her. I stood up quickly and picked up my glass of a

Scotch, then I began to unhurriedly climb the stairs.

"Tiger! Wait!" I heard a soft feminine voice behind me, the voice was clearly calculated to be seductive. I turned around, it was Bella. She was sashaying towards me, her wide hips swinging enticingly.

"what do you want Bella? "I didn't let the smoke out this time, I let it trickle down my throat.

"you... "her voice was already reduced to a purr as she stood in front of me.

"not now, I have a job to complete... "I turned around and began to head to my room. I had just reach the door when I felt a strong pull on my wrist. Next thing I felt was supple feminine body pinning me to the wall.

"Bella, I said... "the rest of my words were smothered by her lips as she began to kiss me hungrily. I groaned aloud and dug my fingers into her hair attachment, then I tugged. Hard.

She gasped loudly, breaking the kiss. I tugged again, till her neck was arched, then I trailed feathery kisses down her throat. My hands had tightened around her wrist and pulled her hard against me.

Just when we were about to get heated, I heard a loud clattering of something inside the room.

"what was that?! " Bella asked, breathing heavily. I pushed her roughly away from me,wiping my mouth with the back of my hands.

I knew at once what it was.

I twisted the knob of the door and hastily opened it. Something heavy descended on my head, accompanied by a loud grunt.