......

Ezra's pov

I wake up to the sound of something dripping to fall on the ground every few seconds. My head feeling light and my body protesting to move.

Furrowing my brows I blink my eyes ,trying to adjust to the darkness around.

To only hear my own heart thud instead when I looked around.

The place was scary as hell. It looked like a basement of an old house. Which has been uninhabited since years.

The windows were broken. Dirt everywhere around. Water leaking from old rusted pipes.

And I gulp.

Why am I here? Why is it so silent here?

And that's when I remember being taken. Someone pressing a cloth on my mouth.

No..no shit! I was kidnapped.

Anxiety hits me. And I try to move to only find my legs immobile .

Sh*t! This is bad.

I look down to see my legs were tied together with a rope. My arms locked behind my back in a dead grip.

And when I try to scream for help.

I find a damp cloth muffling my sound.

No...not this please.

I plead in my mind. Feeling a tear drop fall down my eyes. As I start thrashing in the bounds.

The rope pierces my skin. Rubbing against it. Leaving red marks. But I didn't care. I need to escape to safety.

These people are dangerous.

Who knows what they even want from me.

My struggles continued for I don't know how long till I felt tired. Leaning against the wall to stare outside.

I could see the sun set outside. Hours have passed.

But no one was here to check on me.

I try to scream. To call this person to give me something.

" Ummphhh"

To only lean back tired. It was no use. When I can't hear my own voice, how will they listen to me?

I was feeling thirsty. My throat was burning.

My arms were aching tied behind my back. My shoulder protesting.

I thrash again. But no use.

The person had left no loopholes

It was impossible.

I can't escape from here.

Staring down at my sweaty body with my clothes sticking on me. I just sit in silence. Feeling too exhausted. My eyes dropping.

Why...why will anyone do this?

What do they want from me.

Does anyone even know I was kidnapped?

Or they all were too busy celebrating the wedding.

Did the wedding happen?

I smile to myself. Moving my head in a no. Chuckling at my own thoughts.

Of course it must have happened.

He wouldn't cancel his marriage because of me.

I can bet that they all must be enjoying the party.

And Aaron?

Why would he care? He must be having the night of his life with his new wife.

I again find my vision going hazy and I realised it to be a doing of my tears. Leaning my head back on the wall I try to reverse their path.

But no use. They were going to be perennial now.

Aaron must be elated to be free of me. I think.

He has Andriana Richardson as his wife now.

Who was Ezra anyways? Just a stupid girl.

I smile sadly at my weak vulnerable self again. What a pathetic useless existence Ezra?

And suddenly I didn't wanted to go back.

To see dad, Mrs Rose, Neil ,Ben,Stel.

I was content here. Away from their eyes full of pity. Like I am a broken piece.

Alone. In peace.

This silence which felt suffocating earlier was feeling calming now. And I don't know when sleep overtook me. . . . . I wake up to a bucket of cold water on my face. Making my eyes to bolt open and body to shiver.

" Wake up bitc*. You are not here to sleep."

A voice speaks and I try to control my rugged breaths. My body adjusting to the coldness and the lights around.

A light bulb was on and a figure was crouching down to my level.

He looked dangerous.

Like a criminal. With piercings and tattoos. And I try to move back ,afraid.

When he grips my jaw. Seething.

" Get up. Boss wants you awake when he comes"

I don't say anything. Just stare. Blinking my tears. When another voice speaks from behind.

" No touching Ray. Boss ordered."

Rolling his eyes, the man Ray moves back. Leaving my jaw. And I can already feel a bruise forming.

My jaw aching.

" Ya yaa I forgot. It's just a habit you know."

Turning around. He goes and talks to the other man and I just gulp. Seeing around 4 men in the room.

They all looked like criminals. With guns in their hands.

Maybe not that peaceful. Who is their boss? Will they kill me? What do they want from me?

I try to move. Moving up my legs to my chest. Trying to hide myself. All my clothes were wet. I don't want them to see me like this.

My teeth were cluttering from the ice cold water that soaked me. And I was taking deep breaths.

When I hear the sound of an engine killing.

"The boss is here."

The man speaks telling the other and they leave to get him.

Damn this. Can they just open my hands?

It felt like needles were piercing my shoulders and thighs. And I couldn't do anything.

They were numb. Being tied in this painful position since so long.

The door bangs open and I see the silhouette of a figure moving towards me. To stand at a distance.

Not coming in the light to show me his face.

I breathe heavily from my nose. Feeling the aura around me changing.

Looking at him. Showing I was not afraid. When my insides were screaming.

" Tsk tsk isn't this a pitiful sight? Do you like the hospitality here Ezra?"

My heart thuds. That voice. I have heard it. No...he can't be. It's not possible. He loved me...dad loves him.

They were family.

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of heels clicking and I look up at another figure entering.

Her heels come in the light. To be followed by her chuckling.

"Of course dad. She loves it. After all this is where a trash like her belongs"

No...no this is not true. I know she hates me...but she wouldn't stoop to this level would she?

My doubts turn to belief when I see her stepping forward in the light and my eyes widen in disbelief.

It's her.

Stepping closer. She couches down to my level. Looking at me from top to bottom and I press my knees more to my chest.

She notices this and smirks.

Moving forward her manicured fingers to touch my face. She caresses the bruise on my jaw and I felt disgusted.

I move aside my head. And she looked offended.

Gripping my jaw more tightly this time. Whispering.

" Aww. Does it hurt princess?"

She laughs at her own joke. Tightening her grip. Making the earlier bruise to burn.

And I harden my jaw.

This bitc"! I swear if my hands were free. I would kill her right here.

I don't give her the sadistic pleasure to see me beg. Keeping my hard stare at her. I look at her coldly.

" Daughter. There is no need to bruise my beautiful neice's face now. "

" Step back"

Andriana smirks. Looking at Ryan over her shoulder. To groan.

" Come on Dad. Finally we have her here with us. Why don't you let me have some fun?"

Ryan sighs. Placing his hands in his pocket. To barely nod. And before anyone knows.

A tight snack echoes in the silent room. Making my head to turn to a side. A loud ringing audible in my ears.

The bitc* just slapped me.

" Ouch! Oh my god! Does it hurt! I am so sorry"

I close my eyes. Trying to stop the tears. When I feel another sharp sting on my cheek. That literally made my head to hit the wall behind.

Agh! Fuc*! It hurt so bad.

I taste blood on my lips and I lean my head back on the wall. But she didn't like that.

Grabbing my hair in her fists. She pulls my body to her. Making me look back at her beautiful yet evil eyes.

" You will take my Aaron away from me huh? You wh*re? Let me show you your worth! '

" Let me show you where bitc*es like you belong!"

Tugging my hair. She makes me kneel near her. Throwing me around like a rag doll. Kicking my stomach. My legs. Slapping me again and again.

I couldn't do anything.

My hands and feet were tied. I was helpless at her mercy. But I don't cry. I don't plead.

I accept her assault.

Stomping her heel on my thighs, she makes a searing pain to enter. As I just lay still on the ground.

Keeping my cries in.

Don't give her the satisfaction Ezra. Keep it in. We can survive this. Someone will come to save us.

Just a little longer.

I feel blood drop from my thighs and that's when Ryan's voice booms from behind.

" Enough Andri. Stop it."

She does reluctantly. Looking at me all agitated. Her own hair a mess, eyes burning and body sweating.

Leaving my body. To fall back. She runs her hand through her wild hair. To stand to her full height.

I take this time to catch my breath. Managing to crawl back to have my head lean back on the wall again.

Why?

Was it because of Aaron?

She has him now. He is her husband. What more does she want?

Why are they doing this?

" Everyone out."

Ryan orders and I see everyone else leaving. He looks at Andri to harden his eyes at her.

" Andri out."

" But dad! I am not done with he-"

" Later. Get out now"

Stomping her foot. She looks at me one last time to turn her back and leave. Leaving only Ryan and me alone.

And I felt my breath hitch.

What will he do to me? Does dad know his own brother....his own blood is doing this.

Picking up a chair to place in front of me. He settles down on it. Taking out his pistol and rubbing his forehead with it.

" I am sorry Ezra. But I have to this."

He says. Looking ashamed of what he was doing. But I knew it was fake, it has to be.

" I really loved you like my own child. But your bastard of a father?"

" He left me no choice."

I couldn't understand what he was saying. Father? What did father even do to him? He loves him so much.

He considers him to be his only family.

" Confused? Well let's start from the beginning then."

" Albert and me grew up in slums. In dirt. We were filth. Begging around. To fill our stomachs."

" While he was the calm and calculative one. I was violent."

" He earned money by cleaning windshields of cars on lights? I preferred stealing, fighting on the streets. Betting."

" We lost both our parents to poverty. And one that day. He promised to become the richest man alive on earth."

Smiling to himself. He continues.

" And he did become. He fuc*ing worked day and night to reach where he is today. But along that. He forgot me...his only blood."

" He didn't care for me. He didn't ask me if I was fuc*ing breathing."

" I spent my days in underground fighting clubs...I used drugs..I was a mess. And then to show he had a big heart? He used to come and give me money and leave"

" As if I fuc*ing needed his money!"

Ryan was breathing heavily. His eyes clouding in hatred and I just stared.

" And after he became rich? He used to flaunt his money....he used to gift me luxuries. And you know what?"

" Every fuc*ing time he showed me what a failure I was in my life....that he was always the great one!"

" The infamous Richardson!"

" I couldn't see him living , enjoying , smiling around. His happiness was making me suffocated."

" And then I decided to take that one thing he loves more than anything. To take away his very reason of everything."

" His money!"

" But your mother? She was a nosy bitc*. She just couldn't mind her own business. And look what happened then."

Leaning closer to me. he whispers. Making my body to sweat and heart to thud.

This evil smirk on his lips widening

" I had to kill her."

No...I forgot to breathe for a second. He...he killed my mother? Why....why all because of money?

My trust on humanity was already at it's brink. And he? He broke it completely.

I wanted to scream at him. To kill him.

But I couldn't even speak. The cloth muffling my cries.

I thrash. Trying to move back from him. And he leans back on the chair. Smirking. Seeing my struggles.

" You were supposed to be dead as well. But what a luck my neice had."

" Your mother hid you somewhere. Where we couldn't find you. And fuc*ing decided to die than to give us your whereabouts."

I was feeling goosebumps rise on my skin. My mom? She laid her life for me?

A lone tear leaves my eyes as I stare at the murderer in front of me.

Why? Money? All because of a piece of paper?

" A dumpster. Creative isn't it? The bitch left you near a dumpster where no one could find you."

" And now?"

Placing the pistol on my forehead. He speaks with that evil smirk returning.

" It's time to throw you back from where you came my dear Ezra."

I move my head in a no. Making his smirk to only widen. Gulping I see him pulling up the lock of the gun.

When suddenly he chuckles.

" But wait. Not that easily. You haven't met my other partner. Have you?"

" Son?"

He speaks and the door suddenly opens. To make a silhouette enter.

His footsteps slow. His shoe heel hitting the floor.

Breathing heavily. I furrow my brows to recognise who this person was. And before I could see him. I hear his voice that made me loose my little sanity.

" Hello Stupid girl."

" Miss me?"

No...no...this can't be happening. Too shocked to react. I blink my tears away. But that face.

It couldn't be a hallucination. It couldn't be a dream.

It was truly him. The man I loved more than myself.

The man I gave my everything.

Was the one who wanted to kill me?

Aaron?