Moving my sight around from left to right, then back to the enemies in front of us. Goddamnit.
"What do we do? What do we do!" Ashton said, panicking. Me and my brother eyed him. What a dork.
Having to roam my sight around, it gave me the chance to examine the place. I couldn't see any escape paths. All the sides were dead ends, except for the main exit, which is the blocked way. I looked behind assuming that there could be another way, maybe some kind of fire exit, but it was too late as enemy troops started to gather and surround us.
Without my awareness, Clinton made his way out of the car, slowly.
Everyone got alerted. "Slowly, stay there! Don't do anything stupid," a man said.
My brother stood still and calm. Waiting for the next thing to happen.
"Give us the ring and no one gets hurt."
"You don't get to fool us with a fake one!"
"Doesn't matter, you bought the idea." My brother laughed hysterically. The man negotiating got pissed.
"C'mon, just give us the ring and we all get out of here alive."
"Okay, fair and square," my brother said which made my eyes widen. The hell? We went through all that just for him to surrender the ring? Or why am I even thinking like this? There's no way he'd give them that willingly. Why would I even ask that kind of question? Geez.
I looked at Ashton. He's busy with his phone and I have no idea what he's doing.
I pssted at my brother. "What are you doing?" I asked in doubt.
"Hand me the ring." I hesitated. "Trust me," he assured.
Slowly, I slipped out the ring from where it was hidden. Ashton looked at me. Pervert!
"Stop," he said. My brows met. What is he up to?
I looked at Clinton, he was still waiting for the ring.
"What's taking so long? Faster!" An enemy said. Clinton looked at me.
I was about to hand him the ring but a loud gunshot echoed, a bullet took down a member from the other side, specifically the negotiator. From that one gunshot, it got followed by many more. We got ecstatic. Clinton immediately went inside the car. "Keep the ring."
I put back the ring, keeping it hidden.
Who was that? Who fired the gunshot? Who just saved us?
"Fasten your seatbelts. We're about to take flight," Clinton warned. Oh God!
Clinton stepped on the accelerator, as the tires screeched against the ground, we waited to reach the blocking cars.
As we got closer, "Change of plans!" He shouted.
"What?!" Ashton protested. Oh, he's still here, I remembered.
"Get ready to jump on my cue!" He instructed. Damn it, brother!
I immediately unfastened my seatbelt as we only had ample time to do it. I got myself prepared, holding the door handle...
"Jump!" And on cue, we jumped, seeing the vehicle continue its way to the blocking SUVs ahead. And just like that, it exploded along with the other vehicles.
I stood up, I had Ashton on the side. I don't know where Clinton went, he jumped the other way since his on the driver's seat.
"That was close." I looked down, seeing Ashton trying to get up. Geez, this man can't live without saying at least a word. I rolled my eyes on him. "Why are you so grumpy?" He asked.
I didn't answer him. I took cover as they still kept on exchanging gunshots. I scrutinized the area. Damn. They almost had us.
"Won't you ask who fired that gunshot?" He finally said— asked. I really don't have any idea.
"Don't dare ask me that. I haven't the foggiest." I started to find an escape. That's where I started to speculate the place. The vignette on the corners were despicable as the lights were off, probably because it got hit by bullets.
"I do."
My eyes squinted. Is he kidding?
"We have no time to joke around right now."
"I kid you not." I stared at him. For a moment, I didn't care about the surroundings. About the bullets flying back and forth. About the people outraging behind us. I just eyed him, never letting go. Waiting for him to say his next words. "I called my brother." Oh, so that's why he was so busy with his phone earlier.
"Then there should be a getaway van by now!" I said, cranky enough for him to know. Why didn't he inform me earlier then?
He placed his hand on the back of his neck. "We should go now," he said. I objected as I remembered my brother. Where the fuck is he? I can't leave him here.
I stood up, still taking cover. Of course, I need to find him before we leave.
"What are you doing? Let's go!" Ashton grabbed my hand tight, trying to convince me to come with him already. I restrained.
"I need to find my brother." It was stubborn of me to tell him that, but this is the right thing to do. I can't let my brother be the captive— or worse, I can't let him die here.
"Your brother's smart. I'm sure he already found his way, Brinley. Let's just go, we've got no time," he said. Trying to process everything, I needed time to decide.
First and foremost, it's unjust to leave without my brother. And besides, I still need an explanation for all of what's happening. Second, I don't really know if Ashton's telling the truth. What if he's just setting a trap? I know it's unfair for him that I'm judging him this way right now, but we never really do know. Third—
Within a split second, I felt my body getting numb as something hit my head. I got dizzy, I couldn't think straight. Fast enough, I started to lose sight of everything. I felt my nerves losing strength, and the next thing was I felt my body touch the cold hard ground.
Ashton's POV
As I tried my best to convince her that help was waiting for us, he wouldn't just let go of the thought of her leaving her brother. She started to make a move, but I couldn't just let her. It's too dangerous, and I have nothing else in mind to make her come with me.
I picked up a metal tube lying on the ground, probably debris.
"I'm sorry, bae," I whispered, soft enough for just myself to hear.
And there it goes, I hit her in the head, making sure I got it right. Careful enough not to send her to her death. That'd be a cruel thing for me to do.
After hitting her, she tried to resist the blow, trying to remain standing, but after a few seconds, her body hit the floor. God! I'm really sorry, you're just so stubborn.
I tried dragging her first, but I felt pity as her body's brushing off the rough floor. I couldn't attain myself seeing her like that, so I've come up to the idea that I'd just carry her— her stomach against my shoulder— that'd be better.
Now, how heavy is this girl? I asked myself as I successfully got her to where I wanted. Damn, she's giving me a hard time.
As I was making my way out of this mess, my phone started ringing. I used my free hand to get it and answer who's calling— Damian.
I made a sound for him to know that I'm here. "What now? Where are you? Just leave that girl in there since she's so bullheaded, so we could just go on with the plan!" He reprimanded. I rolled my eyes as I was taking deep breaths.
"We're coming," I said. "And she ain't bullheaded. Just justifiably unyielding. Be careful with your remarks, brother." I ended the call.
I continued making our way to the getaway car. God, I can't wait till this night's finally over.
Brinley's POV
I started to gain consciousness, slowly. As I regained my sight, everything was quite blurry at first. I tried to get myself to stand, but a hand stopped me by my shoulder.
I kept on looking from corner to corner until I finally got a clearer view. The place was unfamiliar to me. I haven't been here before, never once. Where am I?
I looked at the hand on my shoulder and traced it until I get to see whose was it. The only familiar thing I've seen since I woke up— Ashton.
His hand ran from my shoulder passing through my neck then brushing against my cheek. "You don't need to rush." His voice was gentle that it made me smile. It showed that he cared, I could read it through the way he said those. From the parting of his lips up to the sincerity of his eyes.
"Where are we?" I managed to say. I checked out myself— different clothes. Just the usual shirt and pants. "Who the hell changed me in these?" Don't you dare tell me it's you, Ashton!
"We're safe now." He smiled, assuring me. Damn, why not just answer my questions?
I got irritated. "For God's sake, Ashton, just answer my questions." I took his hand off my cheek. "What happened? My head hurts so bad."
He was hesitant to answer my question. In a way that you'd think something was bothering him. And with that thought, I prodded.
He stifled a chuckle. "I'm kind of responsible about that. I might've hit you—" He couldn't finish his explanation as I quickly grabbed his collar.
"Kind of? Damn you!" Then I let go of him. He tried to explain further but I shushed him. After that, my mind brought me to the question of... "Where's my brother?" I asked worriedly.
He just nodded and pulled my hand. He was very cautious as if my condition was critical.
"God, Ashton. Stop acting like hitting me with a tube will put my life at stake," I said, jokingly taunting him. He was clearly regretful of what he did. He just sighed.
"And about your clothes, I had a female maid change it," he said, stressing on the word female.
He just continued walking. I followed him. Walking through the hallways, I started to come to the conclusion that this is a hideout. There were various rooms getting passed by us. The hallways were quite dim, and it has a lot of bypasses which is probably intended to confuse newcomers here. It's smart. It would be a maze for rookies.
It was quite a long walk when we finally stopped in front of a door. I didn't move, neither did he. I looked at him.
"What are we waiting for?" I asked.
I felt his hand shudder. "Don't freak out," he said, which quite puzzled me. Thoughts started to run through my mind. What have they done?
He turned the knob, opening the door, revealing a handful amount of men lined up. My eyes nearly bulged out as I scanned the vicinity, where I saw my brother, sitting on a chair, tied. I cussed under my breath, trying to stay calm. Opting to stay contained.
"Oh, finally. I get to meet you, Ms. McNeill," a man beside Clinton said. He was leaning on a table, holding a cigar. I felt Ashton behind, walking past through me and trotting his way beside the man I was talking about earlier.
I tried processing what was happening. What are they doing? What do they need? Are they holding my brother as a hostage? But for what? And Ashton— he was the one I'm most frustrated at. Was this his plan all along? It wasn't like we had much bond, but as devastating as it is, he's hurting my feelings here. We both know we had a connection, but I guess, it was a fraud. Same thing when they helped us get out of that encounter earlier.
"Hey, don't go to any conclusions yet." The man warned. His aura was calm. Madness wasn't visible from him, neither from Ashton beside him. Clinton's eyes were raging but he was trying to stop himself, not wanting to make a scene or mess more with the atmosphere in here.
"Too late," I said. I looked at Ashton, deep into his eyes. How dare him!
"It's not what you think it is." He said those, worry is visible in his Goddamn beautiful eyes. You could see how sorry he is for putting me in this position. "We're here to negotiate."
"Chill, I know you're not yet into business, but you're involved now. Your brother seems to not want to discuss this peacefully. That's why you're here." He puffed his cigar. "Bring out the ring," he ordered. Was he talking about the ruby? But I have it. I started to search for it.
"No, I ain't giving that to you—" He shushed me.
"Yeah, I know. That's why we got it ourselves." One of the men brought him a box, probably containing the ring. This can't be, the ring was hidden inside my— damn it! They got it while I was passed out.
But if they already have the ring, what else would they want to negotiate with us? Can't they just let us go? Fuck, this is why I don't want to get myself involved in this world yet. It's ruining all the fun I want.
"The ring is fake," Ashton said. He opened the box.
"As if we're gonna believe that," Clinton disagreed.
"We're sorry to tell you but it's true. We don't know why because base on what Ashton saw, Ms. McNeill here got the original one." I searched through my memory. How could that happen? And when? The ring must have gotten switched out, maybe when I was still getting up stage or... it was fake the whole time. How could we even be so sure about that?
"What do you want?" My brother asked, he seemed to be convinced. Maybe he's having his own conclusions too. Duh, of course he has.
Ashton looked at the man. "Oh, Damian," he called. That must be the name. They both grinned.
"Since we want the same thing, I have something to offer. And it would be very kind of you to negotiate with us, of course." Damian stood up straight, he was wearing a suit, he looks so manly. "We have the same enemy. I don't know if you already had that figured out though."
"Just get straight to the damn point," Clinton said between gritted teeth.
"It's simple." Damian halted and took a deep breath, trying to find the right way to deliver what he was about to say. "We want you to become our ally," he stated as he found the right words.