CHAPTER 3: KIDNAPPED

I paced up and down feeling like a caged animal desperate to be set free. My breathing started to go up as panic set in realising how bad the situation I am in is, I wish I never took Kade with me yesterday, I should've just went alone.

Then, suddenly, my knees buckled, and I crashed against the wall, the rough brick scraping against my palm, grounding me in that moment of chaos..

My ears are ringing, and my throat feels like it’s on fire dry and scratchy. I’m sweating, yet I feel chilled. I curl into myself, wrapping my arms around my middle, trying to find comfort. Each breath comes in quick, shallow gasps, it feels like there's a heavy weight on my chest. My fingers tingle, my legs go numb, and a sharp pain blooms in my chest, hot and relentless. Tears go down my face as I realise what's going on, I'm having a panic attack.

The smell of blood, his blood, hits me. The echo of his last breath scrapes through my mind like broken glass. I can still see his eyes, empty but still begging me to save him. I wish I could've had the chance to say my goodbyes, to say I'm sorry for not being able to save him.

“No,” I whisper, rocking forward. A little girl stands in the corner shivering with dark hair hanging loosely, hiding a part of her face, and we stare into each other until the frame disappears. My voice is so small it barely feels like it's coming from me. “No, no, no…” It feels like walls are closing in. The air in the room feels suffocating, like the weight of the world is crushing me. I felt my nails dig into my skin, hard enough to hurt, anything to pull myself back, to make this stop, but it doesn’t.

My vision blurs at the edges, black spots blooming and swallowing everything. My body shakes uncontrollably, my teeth chattering even though it’s not cold. The sound of my own breathing is too loud, too fast; every gasp another reminder that I can’t control it, can’t control myself.

And then a voice, deep, firm, cuts through the chaos, yanking me halfway back to reality. But my heart doesn’t listen. It’s still pounding like a drum of war. "You didn't tell me your name." I didn't need to look to know whose voice that was, Raven's.

I didn’t even hear him come in. "Why would I tell you my name when you already know it?" I answer as my body calms down, the sound of his voice dragging me to reality and gaining control of my body.

“Take a shower and get dressed in this, fast.” I turned, and he had a big bag that he dropped on the floor and stood there watching me. I hesitantly reached for the bag, unsure of what to expect. What if he wants me to be a sex worker? I almost breathed out in relief when I saw a black pair of jeans, a blank tank top, a leather jacket, and new underwear. “Why?” I snarled, the words tearing out of my throat. “Get ready, I will be waiting outside.” He shut the door behind him, and I stood up and obeyed his orders, feeling like I had no other choice.

“Just trust me,” he’d said, like that was supposed to erase every red flag flashing in my head. The city streets were empty at this hour, all slick black from the evening rain. My boots slapped against the pavement, echoing too loudly in the stillness. We stopped in front of a building I didn’t recognize, tall, glass, the kind of place with a security guard who’d shoot you than ask questions.

“What are we doing here?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. Raven only smirked, that slow, dangerous curl of lips that could make you forget your name. He shoved a pair of black gloves into my hands. “Put these on.”

I didn’t move. “Why?”

“Because I’m not leaving fingerprints, and neither are you.” A nervous laugh slipped out before I could stop it. “You’re joking.” His smirk didn’t fade. The weight in my stomach dropped. “Raven—”

“Relax, Dragonfly.” He used the nickname like it was a leash, pulling me forward. He led me around to a side entrance, his movements quiet, deliberate.

My pulse thumped in my ears as he knelt beside the door, pulling something from his jacket pocket, thin metal tools that gleamed under the weak security light. “You’re a thief now?” I whispered.

“I’ve always been a thief,” he murmured, voice low enough to sound like sin. “What do you mean you’ve always been a thief? You are a Billionaire.” The lock clicked, and he stood, opening the door just enough for us to slip inside.

The air was different in here, too still, too cold. The faint hum of electricity ran through the dark hallway. I followed him because I didn’t know what else to do. He moved with purpose, like he’d been here before. “What are we even stealing?” I asked, my voice a strained hiss.

“You’ll see.” I groaned in frustration, feeling like he was being shady about everything. We reached a steel door with a keypad. He typed in numbers so fast I barely caught them. The heavy lock released, and he stepped inside like he owned the place. The room was filled with small black cases, stacked neatly on metal shelves.

Raven grabbed one and tossed it to me. “Carry that.”

“What’s in it?”

“Don’t drop it, and you’ll live to find out.” My fingers tightened around the handle. I wanted to walk out, leave him to his dangerous games, but there was something about the thrill in his eyes, the way his presence made my skin tingle with adrenaline and something warmer. I'm used to this thrill, but seeing him this excited just makes me feel some type of way.

We were halfway back when the alarm shattered the silence. Flashing red lights bathed the walls, and my stomach lurched. “Move!” Raven barked, yanking me forward. The cases banged against my thigh as we ran. Somewhere in the distance, heavy boots pounded on the floor.

We burst into the alley, the cold air slapping my face. Raven didn’t stop until we reached his car. He ripped the case from my hands, tossing it into the back seat. I collapsed against the door, chest heaving. “You’re insane.”

“Maybe,” he said, starting the engine. His voice was calm, like we hadn’t just fled a crime scene. “But you kept up.”

“You said your best friend was the only person who understood you, well, not anymore.” I stared at him, adrenaline still singing through my veins. I didn’t know whether to cuss or kiss Raven Moonflower.