Reclaiming Her Heart

Ann had been burning the midnight oil at work until 3 a.m. When she finally headed downstairs, she felt woozy and lightheaded.

Just as she was about to get into her car, a group of guys jumped out from the shadows and whacked her on the head with a stick, knocking her out cold. These dudes, all wearing hats pulled low, quickly dragged Ann into another car.

Ann woke up to a bucket of ice-cold water. She looked up and saw several masked men staring back at her.

The leader, Joe Orsini, tossed her phone in front of her. "Call Selena and tell her to come save you."

So, they were after Selena. Ann shook her head and refused, turning away.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Joe squatted down, grabbed her hair, yanked her face up, and slapped her hard. "Don't piss us off, or we'll rape you."

Ann's head snapped to the side from the slap, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

Joe kicked the phone towards her. "Make the call. If you don't call within ten minutes, we'll kill you."

These guys weren't just some street thugs; they were clearly pros at this kidnapping game.

Ann glanced around. It looked like she was in some abandoned basement in the suburbs-dark and damp.

With no other choice, she slowly picked up her phone and made a call. She said just one sentence before hanging up, "I've been kidnapped."

But the guy on the other end was still drinking. He heard her, tossed the phone aside, and kept pouring himself another drink.

When the kidnappers realized Ann hadn't called Selena, they kicked her over. "Are you messing with us?"

One of them started tearing at Ann's clothes, but Joe grabbed her phone and called Selena himself.

It was 4 a.m., and Selena was still asleep. As soon as she answered, a nasty voice came through.

Joe said, "Ann is with us. If you don't want her to get hurt, you'd better come here alone. If you call the cops or bring anyone else, we'll rape her immediately." After that, Joe signaled to another guy. This guy, who was still tearing at Ann's clothes, got the signal and slapped Ann several times.

Ann started coughing and then spat out a mouthful of blood, which had a tooth in it.

They wanted Ann to make some noise so Selena would know they weren't bluffing. But after several slaps, she only coughed a couple of times.

Joe pointed at one of the men and said, "Damn it! If she's stubborn, then fuck her right now!"

Just then, Selena's cold voice came through, "If you want me to come, then don't touch her before I get there, or I won't come."

Joe squinted and, hearing Selena's calm voice, mocked, "You'd better hurry. If you're late, she'll be finished. We haven't gotten laid in half a month."

Selena clenched her fist tightly. Raymond, who was sleeping next to her, had already gotten up and put an arm around her shoulder.

Raymond asked, "What happened?"

Selena replied, "Ann's been kidnapped. They're targeting me."

Raymond had already gotten dressed and made a call.

Within five minutes, Raymond's guys had located Ann.

Raymond said, "Selena, don't go. I'll handle it."

Selena shook her head, "No, I'm worried about Ann."

Raymond had no choice but to let her come along. But when they arrived, they found only a few kidnappers lying on the ground, groaning. There was no sign of Ann. The place was almost destroyed, with two kidnappers crushed under the rubble, already dead.

Selena, freaked out, immediately called Ann. They hadn't wasted any time getting there, so how had the place almost turned into ruins?

Ann was sitting in a car, dirty and with her clothes torn to shreds, her upper body covered in dust.

Brody wouldn't let her sit on the seat, disgusted by her dirtiness.

Ann could only sit on the floor, curling up her body. Her knee accidentally touched his high-end suit pants.

He frowned and moved away, speaking in a disgusted tone, "Don't call me next time."

"Okay." Ann, trembling in front of him, felt utterly lowly and would remain so for the rest of her life.

She hugged her shoulders with both hands, not daring to look up.

The phone rang beside her; it was Selena calling.

"It's annoying," Brody said in a cold tone as he threw the phone at her, hitting her painfully.

Ann quickly picked up the phone and answered, "Ms. Fair."

Selena quickly asked, "Ann, are you okay? Where are you?"

Ann replied, "I'm fine. A friend rescued me. Don't worry, I'm on my way back."

Selena felt relieved but was also puzzled. She and Raymond hadn't wasted any time getting there. What kind of friend could have rescued Ann before they did?