Smolder Lane Las Vegas Part VII
Taylor screams as Brendan backs into the room and the man with the gun slams and locks the door behind him, but not before a few more unidentified men come in.
“Brendan!” Evie jumps up and is knocked out cold by the man
“Evie!” Brendan tries to go to her but the man stops him.
“Leave her or you all get shot,” he gestures to the other men. Brendan slowly sits, never taking his eyes off Evie
“What is this about?” Rob growls, holding Jlyn close.
“I was hired to take you all somewhere for the captain,” the tall wiry gunman tells him. “Except that one,” he nods to Evie. “She goes somewhere else.” Two of the men pick Evie up and walk into the hallway.
“Hey!” Brendan yells.
“Sit down!” The man yells back. Taylor begins to cry.
“Really!” JLyn hollers at him. “You are not making this better!”
“Now,” the man looks at all of them- frozen in their seats. “You will accompany to the awaiting van without so much as a sound or someone gets shot. Is that understood?” They all nod slowly. “Let’s go,” he snaps. The eight friends head down to the lobby. No hope for an escape.
***
The man shuts them in the back of his van and locks the door. They soon feel the van moving
“What the hell is going on!” Caroline screams.
“I wish I knew,” Orlando wraps an arm around her.
“They’re taking us to that captain,” LOTSLove gulps.
“Perhaps we can find a way out there. There is always a way out,” Craig reassures his wife
“I want to go home,” Taylor cries.
“Cry again and I smack you!” JLyn growls at Taylor.
“Why did they take Evie?” Brendan looks at them all sadly.
“I wish I knew. Once we get out of here we will find her,” Rob gives Brendan’s shoulder a pat. Brendan sighs and shakes his head.
“I have a thought you may not like,” JLyn looks at Brendan.
“Let me guess,” Brendan says. “Chris?”
***
Evie’s head is pounding as she wakes up and moans. She bolts up, remembering what happened. She is confused because the ground feels likes it moving. She jumps off the small bed she is in and looks out the window and screams
“Well that’s certainly not the reaction I was going for,” a smooth voice comes from the doorway. Evie whips around and sees Chris.
“Chris! Thank the spirits!” She hugs him out of relief. She had thought she was in a prison or something
“I like this better,” he purrs. Evie breaks away.
“Where is my husband and friends?” Evie asks him.
“I am not sure,” he responds and walks away. Evie chases after him to the seats where Chris is sitting and sipping champagne.
“Chris! This is not funny!” Evie stomps her foot
“You’re cute when you’re mad,” he smiles. “Now sit down and buckle up. We are about to hit some turbulence.”
“I want an explanation!” Evie demands
“Sit down,” he growls. Evie gulps and does as she is told.
“Tell me,” she begs. “Where is Brendan and my friends?&rdquo
“Shouldn’t you be thanking me for saving you from those monsters?” Chris asks her.
“The man with the gun?” Evie asks.
“Yes. They wanted all of you because of some diamond someone stole,” Chris explains.
“None of us took a diamond!” Evie tells him.
“Well, they’ll find that out, won’t they?” Chris responds.
“We have to go help them!” Evie begs
“No we don’t. I bought your safety, not theirs,” he explains.
“You bought my safety?” Evie scoffs. “You cannot buy me like that!”
“Maybe not,” Chris nods. “But I can nullify a marriage certificate,” he smiles. Evie’s mouth falls open.
***
“You think Chris has something to do with this?” Caroline asks aloud
“It would make sense,” Rob scowls.
“How did the boat captain find Chris?” Craig asks. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
“None of this makes sense!” JLyn throws her hands up. “How are we always getting in these situations?”
“Babe, calm down,” Rob sneaks in a quick kiss. “We will be okay.”
“Maybe he just has some questions and then he will let us go?” LOTSLove adds.
“Someone needs to start packing some heat in this group,” Caroline says aloud
“I second that,” Craig responds as the door of the van open and they are now in front of an abandoned warehouse.
Once inside, the couples are tied to poles and are waiting for the captain as the henchmen call him
“At least Brendan has Taylor this time,” JLyn comments.
“Gee, thanks,” Brendan mumbles
“Don’t suppose you have a knife in your pocket again?” Orlando asks Brendan.
“I wish I did,” Brendan sighs
“Don’t suppose you could bite threw the ropes?” JLyn asks Taylor. Taylor frowns. “I miss Evie. She would have laughed.”
“Let’s just hope she is in a better place than us,” LOTSLove says sadly.
***
“You cannot do that!” Evie screams
“When you are me you can,” Chris smiles.
“But I don’t love you!” Evie responds
“As I said before, this is not about love,” Chris sighs.
“Please, take me back to Brendan,” Evie clasps his hands
“No,” he releases her hands. “I want at least 24 hours with you.”
“But the others! They could be killed!” Evie begins to cry
“They will not die,” Chris wipes her tears.
“Are we going to go save them?” Evie asks hopefully.
“No, but I can trace one of their cell phones and send help,” Chris softens a bit and takes out his laptop. Evie quickly rattles off Brendan’s cell phone number and watches his computer find the phone.
“There it is!” Evie points at the pulsating red dot. “Send help! Now!” She yells.
“So demanding,” he snickers and takes out his cell phone.
***
The doors to warehouse creak open and the captain walks in. They all stare wide eyed at him.
“Ah, we meet again,” he grins.
“What do you want with us?” Rob asks.
“You took something of mine,” the captain tells him and begins to pace.
“And what was that?” Craig asks
“A rare gold diamond was inside that cave and it was gone when I went back,” he screams.
“Water washed it away! That whole cave filled with water!” Orlando replies.
“Those jewels have been there for centuries and have never washed away. One of you took it!” He snaps.
“We did not take anything! We barely were able to take our own lives!” Rob responds
“Obviously one of you is holding out from the others. Perhaps you need a moment alone to figure this out,” the captain turns and walks out the door with his henchmen.
“That man is crazy!” JLyn screams. “We did not take anything!”
“Like we had time to stop and steal!” Caroline adds.
“He has to remember how they chased us from there!” LOTSLove says
“This is all unbelievable,” Brendan shakes his head.
“We have to figure out how to convince him,” Orlando looks at them all.
“Perhaps offer him money or something,” JLyn offers. That’s when she notices Taylor crying again. “Brendan, kick him or something!”
“I did it!” Taylor cries. “I took the diamond!” Everyone goes silent and stares at him. “I thought it was pretty and would make a good conversation piece in my house.”
“I do not remember seeing any diamond on you! We had to use your shorts for a flag and you had no other clothes,” Rob reminds him.
“We would have noticed a rare diamond on you,” Craig adds.
“Not if I hid it,” Taylor looks at them
“What? You hid it?” Brendan furrows his brow. Then it dawns on him. “Holy shit! That is disgusting! Get away from me!” Brendan starts squirming.
“What? I don’t get it,” Rob frowns.
“He put it up his bum!” Brendan tells them.
“Holy hell! What is wrong with you! Ew! I am going to throw up!” Jlyn starts squirming as well.
“Didn’t that hurt?” LOTSLove asks.
“LOTSie! I do not want a mental image!” Jlyn grimaces
“You tell them that! All of it!” Caroline yells.
“And they can determine if they want the tainted diamond,” Craig scrunches his nose.
“If we survive I am punching Taylor in the face!” Jlyn mumbles.
“He is coming back, tell him the diamond is in your house,” Brendan looks at Taylor as the captain comes back in….
“Brendan!” Evie jumps up and is knocked out cold by the man
“Evie!” Brendan tries to go to her but the man stops him.
“Leave her or you all get shot,” he gestures to the other men. Brendan slowly sits, never taking his eyes off Evie
“What is this about?” Rob growls, holding Jlyn close.
“I was hired to take you all somewhere for the captain,” the tall wiry gunman tells him. “Except that one,” he nods to Evie. “She goes somewhere else.” Two of the men pick Evie up and walk into the hallway.
“Hey!” Brendan yells.
“Sit down!” The man yells back. Taylor begins to cry.
“Really!” JLyn hollers at him. “You are not making this better!”
“Now,” the man looks at all of them- frozen in their seats. “You will accompany to the awaiting van without so much as a sound or someone gets shot. Is that understood?” They all nod slowly. “Let’s go,” he snaps. The eight friends head down to the lobby. No hope for an escape.
***
The man shuts them in the back of his van and locks the door. They soon feel the van moving
“What the hell is going on!” Caroline screams.
“I wish I knew,” Orlando wraps an arm around her.
“They’re taking us to that captain,” LOTSLove gulps.
“Perhaps we can find a way out there. There is always a way out,” Craig reassures his wife
“I want to go home,” Taylor cries.
“Cry again and I smack you!” JLyn growls at Taylor.
“Why did they take Evie?” Brendan looks at them all sadly.
“I wish I knew. Once we get out of here we will find her,” Rob gives Brendan’s shoulder a pat. Brendan sighs and shakes his head.
“I have a thought you may not like,” JLyn looks at Brendan.
“Let me guess,” Brendan says. “Chris?”
***
Evie’s head is pounding as she wakes up and moans. She bolts up, remembering what happened. She is confused because the ground feels likes it moving. She jumps off the small bed she is in and looks out the window and screams
“Well that’s certainly not the reaction I was going for,” a smooth voice comes from the doorway. Evie whips around and sees Chris.
“Chris! Thank the spirits!” She hugs him out of relief. She had thought she was in a prison or something
“I like this better,” he purrs. Evie breaks away.
“Where is my husband and friends?” Evie asks him.
“I am not sure,” he responds and walks away. Evie chases after him to the seats where Chris is sitting and sipping champagne.
“Chris! This is not funny!” Evie stomps her foot
“You’re cute when you’re mad,” he smiles. “Now sit down and buckle up. We are about to hit some turbulence.”
“I want an explanation!” Evie demands
“Sit down,” he growls. Evie gulps and does as she is told.
“Tell me,” she begs. “Where is Brendan and my friends?&rdquo
“Shouldn’t you be thanking me for saving you from those monsters?” Chris asks her.
“The man with the gun?” Evie asks.
“Yes. They wanted all of you because of some diamond someone stole,” Chris explains.
“None of us took a diamond!” Evie tells him.
“Well, they’ll find that out, won’t they?” Chris responds.
“We have to go help them!” Evie begs
“No we don’t. I bought your safety, not theirs,” he explains.
“You bought my safety?” Evie scoffs. “You cannot buy me like that!”
“Maybe not,” Chris nods. “But I can nullify a marriage certificate,” he smiles. Evie’s mouth falls open.
***
“You think Chris has something to do with this?” Caroline asks aloud
“It would make sense,” Rob scowls.
“How did the boat captain find Chris?” Craig asks. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
“None of this makes sense!” JLyn throws her hands up. “How are we always getting in these situations?”
“Babe, calm down,” Rob sneaks in a quick kiss. “We will be okay.”
“Maybe he just has some questions and then he will let us go?” LOTSLove adds.
“Someone needs to start packing some heat in this group,” Caroline says aloud
“I second that,” Craig responds as the door of the van open and they are now in front of an abandoned warehouse.
Once inside, the couples are tied to poles and are waiting for the captain as the henchmen call him
“At least Brendan has Taylor this time,” JLyn comments.
“Gee, thanks,” Brendan mumbles
“Don’t suppose you have a knife in your pocket again?” Orlando asks Brendan.
“I wish I did,” Brendan sighs
“Don’t suppose you could bite threw the ropes?” JLyn asks Taylor. Taylor frowns. “I miss Evie. She would have laughed.”
“Let’s just hope she is in a better place than us,” LOTSLove says sadly.
***
“You cannot do that!” Evie screams
“When you are me you can,” Chris smiles.
“But I don’t love you!” Evie responds
“As I said before, this is not about love,” Chris sighs.
“Please, take me back to Brendan,” Evie clasps his hands
“No,” he releases her hands. “I want at least 24 hours with you.”
“But the others! They could be killed!” Evie begins to cry
“They will not die,” Chris wipes her tears.
“Are we going to go save them?” Evie asks hopefully.
“No, but I can trace one of their cell phones and send help,” Chris softens a bit and takes out his laptop. Evie quickly rattles off Brendan’s cell phone number and watches his computer find the phone.
“There it is!” Evie points at the pulsating red dot. “Send help! Now!” She yells.
“So demanding,” he snickers and takes out his cell phone.
***
The doors to warehouse creak open and the captain walks in. They all stare wide eyed at him.
“Ah, we meet again,” he grins.
“What do you want with us?” Rob asks.
“You took something of mine,” the captain tells him and begins to pace.
“And what was that?” Craig asks
“A rare gold diamond was inside that cave and it was gone when I went back,” he screams.
“Water washed it away! That whole cave filled with water!” Orlando replies.
“Those jewels have been there for centuries and have never washed away. One of you took it!” He snaps.
“We did not take anything! We barely were able to take our own lives!” Rob responds
“Obviously one of you is holding out from the others. Perhaps you need a moment alone to figure this out,” the captain turns and walks out the door with his henchmen.
“That man is crazy!” JLyn screams. “We did not take anything!”
“Like we had time to stop and steal!” Caroline adds.
“He has to remember how they chased us from there!” LOTSLove says
“This is all unbelievable,” Brendan shakes his head.
“We have to figure out how to convince him,” Orlando looks at them all.
“Perhaps offer him money or something,” JLyn offers. That’s when she notices Taylor crying again. “Brendan, kick him or something!”
“I did it!” Taylor cries. “I took the diamond!” Everyone goes silent and stares at him. “I thought it was pretty and would make a good conversation piece in my house.”
“I do not remember seeing any diamond on you! We had to use your shorts for a flag and you had no other clothes,” Rob reminds him.
“We would have noticed a rare diamond on you,” Craig adds.
“Not if I hid it,” Taylor looks at them
“What? You hid it?” Brendan furrows his brow. Then it dawns on him. “Holy shit! That is disgusting! Get away from me!” Brendan starts squirming.
“What? I don’t get it,” Rob frowns.
“He put it up his bum!” Brendan tells them.
“Holy hell! What is wrong with you! Ew! I am going to throw up!” Jlyn starts squirming as well.
“Didn’t that hurt?” LOTSLove asks.
“LOTSie! I do not want a mental image!” Jlyn grimaces
“You tell them that! All of it!” Caroline yells.
“And they can determine if they want the tainted diamond,” Craig scrunches his nose.
“If we survive I am punching Taylor in the face!” Jlyn mumbles.
“He is coming back, tell him the diamond is in your house,” Brendan looks at Taylor as the captain comes back in….