"Oh, man." Ethan voice echoed around the vacant building. "How do you see this ending, friend?"
Big Tiny gave him his toothy smile. "Well, my man, I see me with enough money that I don't have to worry about hurting myself on the football field and losing my scholarship. Then I see me sailing away into the sunset. Just kidding. I get seasick. " His grin almost split his face. "I'm going to disappear. "
"That won't be easy." Ethan scoffed, taking in his former friend's almost 400 pound frame. Besides, you can't just kidnap a guy, then expect to get away scott free. That's not how it works. " Ethan had tried patiently for the last two days to explain to his former friend that there would be repercussions for his actions.
Big Tiny, never great at planning, couldn't seem to see that far ahead.
"Hey, want some cookies?"
"No, I'm good. I'll be leaving shortly. "
"What? No! Your family hasn't brought the money. "
"Tiny. There will be someone coming to get me and they will not be paying you. I guarantee it. I just hope you don't get hurt."
Big Tiny guffawed spraying cookie crumbs just as there was a knock on the heavy metal man door next to the big sliding door in the front of the warehouse.
"See, told you so. Thats my money, for sure." Smiling, the linebacker lumbered to his feet. "I hope they remembered to get it in American dollars," Big Tiny muttered as he crossed the concrete floor.
"Hello."
Ethan wasn't really surprised that his body flooded with warmth when he heard Anne's voice.
"Wow, you're a big fellow. Hi. I'm Anne. I'm here to bring Ethan home."
"Nice to meet you. Where's my money?"
Anne looked past the gargantuan man at Ethan. He looked healthy, but ruffled, tired and gorgeous. She allowed herself a relieved smile. "Ethan."
"Anne."
"Here's the thing, big boy, I don't have any money. I mean none. I'm broke."
"But the note I left at Ethan's place said to bring the money. Or else." Big Tiny remembered to add the threat.
"Hmmm. Yeah, well, there isn't any. So, how about you untie our friend there and we'll be on our way." Anne stepped to the left to be out of the fall zone.
"Uh uh. Not gonna...ouch!"
"Blinky, all 50,000 volts please." Anne sounded more impatient than worried.
A loud crackling noise snapped the air. At the same time the taser connected with the man's groin a stream of pepper spray shot directly into Big Tiny's face. He gasped, his muscles tightened, his eyes bulged red and watered. He did all this and fell to the floor in the time it took Anne to cross the warehouse and circle the chair Ethan sat it.
"I knew you would come." His voice was soft, intimate.
"Hi Griffen!" Ethan raised his voice as Anne untied him.
"Hi, Ethan." A voice came from nowhere.
"Okay, Blinky, the big guy seems to be out of the picture for now. Who knows how long he'll be down. Let's get going." Griffen appeared at the door.
Ethan's arms were useless, his muscles tight after two days sitting. He let Anne and Griffen wedge him between them, grateful for the support. He left the warehouse without a glance at his past friend.