Her Con Artist

CHAP-14

This chapter is in third person perspective;

Eric after talking to his friend, he made his way inside the mart.. Feeling bad for making Monica wait, he moved his feet faster. Just the thought of her, brought a smile to his face. Smiling in shyness, he moved his hand over his face avoiding being seen by people in this vulnerable state. He went looking around the aisles but wasn't able to find her. Then a sudden thought appeared to him that he should call her and ask her in which aisle she was. Placing the phone on his ear, he looked at the aisle in front of him, it was a juice aisle. Waiting for her to pick his call, he found her favorite juice among other juice's in the aisle. With a smile on his face, he picked it up, thinking to give it to her later. He realized she hadn't picked up her phone yet, confused he dialed her number again. He knew she was not the one to pick the phone late. The call went on and she didn't pick it up. Sensing what if something happened to her, heart beating fast, pumping his legs faster he shouted her name. His voice was ringing around the area but he never once got a response. Gasping for air, he found a small crowd of people around a aisle. He ran towards them, the juice still in his sweaty hand which he was holding tightly.

"What is going on?" He asked as he approached the people.

The two couples made way for him to see. The cart was laying down on the floor with some broken glass bottles of spices were laying on the ground and spices were all spread out. He was able to see foot steps on the sheet of spices. Narrowing his eyes at the chaos he looked around and found Monica's phone laying near the end of aisle. It was in bad shape the screen was broken like it had fallen from her hand.

"What happened here?" He asked, heart in his throat as worst case scenarios were playing in her head like a torture.

"Manager said a girl was kidnapped here by two men. They had called the police." The middle aged woman said with an upset look on her face.

He closed his eyes in pain as he cursed.

"f**k!" He punched the wall in anger and regret. Regret for letting her go here alone.

Thinking it's not the time to mourn, he should do something. Monica must be waiting for him to come rescue her. Promising himself that he will rescue her safely no matter what, he leave the market with confused spectators. He approach the main counter and asks for the footage. The manager asked him the relation with the girl. Without a second thought, he introduced himself as her boyfriend. Manager opened the file and showed it to him. He saw Monica looking at the spice aisle when two men appeared. Eric recognized one of them as the members of gang. Looking closely he was left astonished for a second that the same men which came looking for them in the previous city were the one to kidnap her. Balling up his fists in anger, he thanked manager and left. The manager tried stopping him from leaving as the police was on the way to investigate. Eric said he will look for her by himself and left the market.

He gets in the car with hurried steps and dials Russell number. Starting the car, he drove at crazy speed, not wasting any any minute.

"Yes?"

"Russell gather men right now. Monica has been kidnapped." He says and cuts the line.

Next he dialed Keith's number as he drove the car. His hands still sweaty with anxiousness, worried what must they be doing to her.

"Eric. I heard what happened." Keith's upset voice was heard in the silent car.

"Remember we put a tracker on Monica. Search her location hurry!" He said, cutting the line after.

When Monica first came to live with them, Eric didn't trusted her. He wanted to keep an eye on her so he decided to put a tracker inside her watch which she always wear. He forgot to pick the tracker out and he was grateful that he didn't.

His phone started ringing, caller id was an unknown number. Picking it up, he put it on speaker as he waited for them to speak.

"Eric. Long time no see, man." The voice was belonged to the head of gangsters.

Eric grinded his teeth in frustration and anger.

"Don't you dare hurt her!" Eric growled as he threatened them.

The caller laughed evilly and spoke in low deep voice.

"You better bring my money back and make sure to add two zeros more for this beauty to return back to you safely."

"I will give you the money you want, but if you hurt a single hair on her head. Swear to god, i will rip your throat." Eric threatened with his own low dark tone.

"I will send you the address. Better come alone if you want her alive." And the call was cut before he could say anything.

After a minute a message popped up and it was the address where they were hiding. Forwarding it to Keith, he slowed the car as the house was near.

Taking a sharp turn, he parked the car roughly outside the house and quickly made his way in. He found everybody gathered in the living room, having tense and worried expressions.

"Eric! Eric how did this happen? Who did it?" Ella asked him as soon as he announced his entrance by his sharp hurried steps.

"It is the work of gangsters. They kidnapped her." He said with a heavy sigh as he started pacing the room.

"I have called for help, they all are ready to come on your signal." Russell said, coming into the living room.

Even Russell was tense with worry for Monica. Though she irritated him but she had grown on him and the thought of her getting hurt was not settling for him. Russell wanted to rip those bastards apart and get her back safely.

"Keith?" Eric asked, hopefully

"The signals are coming from an unpopulated area a bit far away from here. Nearest location is Whittier, so they must be using an empty building there. It's the same address you send me." Keith elaborated, eyes glued to his laptop in his lap.

Eric nodded his head and asks where is Josh as he was no where to be seen.

"He went out to hunt those men. He will be back, i have messaged him." Owen told Eric. To which Eric sighed at Josh's stupidity but let it go

Eric then bring out the white board to show them the plan he had thought of on his way back from thr market.

...............

With groan, Monica opened her eyes, blinking to focus her vision in the dim light. She tried moving her hands and legs but found them tied up against the chair with a rope. She looked around at her surrounding, it was an immense and weird, obviously uninhabitable, ancient looking ball room. Where every corner was covered in thick layers of dust and countless spider webs. She looked behind her and found several large bow windows, she could see large wild bushes behind those windows. Her sharp eyes despite the dim light found a trail of stairs going up on to the first story of the house which looked like a mansion.

"She's awake!" I heard the voice coming from above.

Moving my chin up, i found a man looking down at me from the first story. She sighed. The gangsters made their way down the stairs to where she was tied up. The leader of the subgroup gangster had a half lit up cigarette in his mouth. Tattoos covering every inch of his neck and arms. He was well build and tall which made her nervous a little. He could easily crush her with his hands. Russell had a competition.

"Will your boyfriend come to save you?" He asked her and began circling her.

She nodded her head and kept her face devoid of any emotions. She had her usual blank expression.

"You are quite confident aren't you?" He asked, trying to provoke her.

She understood his tactics and remained silent. Looking ahead she ignored his little nudge on her shoulder. He was trying to irritate her and get a response out of it. But she was not giving in so easily.

"Whatever. You are no fun at all." He sighed with disappointment.

He stopped circling her and stepped out of her space making her breath in relief. But it was short lived, she heard a loud sound ringing across the room before she could feel anything.

Bam!

Her cheek was stinging where the leader slapped her and felt blood drip down from her split up lower lip. She felt the headache coming and the pain at it's peak. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. His thundering feet came towards us making her heart race in fear but she didn't show it that she was afraid of him. Which infuriated him more.

"You better answer me next time i ask you a question. Understood!? b***h!" He spat as he grabbed her hair in his fist and pulled it back painfully.

She glared at him but nodded nonetheless. Roughly pushing her face away, he walked away from her.

Bastard.

She could only curse him in her mind.

"Keep your eye on her. And when he arrives tell me." Leader said, throwing one glance her away as he left her in the hands of his puppets.

She looked around but couldn't find those two bastards who kidnapped her. Sighing as the pain was making her loose focus on finding anything which could help her cut the ropes but found none.

She sat there with her face downcast, praying that her guardian angel should stop partying now and come to her rescue.

After sometime she heard footsteps approaching the large room, shaking her head to make her mind focus. She found a familiar face entering the room. She closed her eyes tightly and then opened them to confirm what she is .seeing was real or fake. No matter how many times she blinked, the same face appeared in her sight of vision. Eyes wide with shock, mouth hung open in disbelief and heart pained with the feeling of betrayal. She found his eyes meeting hers and saw a flash of guilt cross those sinful eyes.

"Sir, Josh is here!"

She scoffed and glared at him, he avoided making eye contact with me. If looks could kill, he would have been six feet down the ground.

"My man here you are. I have been waiting for you to come." The leader had a sly smirk on his face, putting his arm on Josh's shoulder.

Josh smiled awkwardly as he kept avoiding Monica's eyes which he felt were digging a hole in his head. Leader walked forward towards the girl dragging him along with him. She could see Josh getting tensed as they moved closer to her.

"Did you greet your friend?" He mocked as he patted Josh on the back.

Josh with purser lips looked away and spoke,

"My work is done here. When will i get the rest of my money?"

"Come we will talk it in private." Leader said, walking away.

Josh threw a glance at Monica who was scowling at him. Josh whispered sorry to her but she looked away from him. Quickly averting his eyes, he followed the bastard leader.

Umm the name was good. Bastard leader.

Monica focus!

She thought must be loosing her sanity that she was thinking of the name she gave the leader.

Suddenly a flashback came to her mind. The day where she sneaked into the room to find any hints and Josh came to the room. She remembered his conversation on the phone. He said he will send the address and picture to the person he talking which must be leader of this gang. Josh had been bought by them that's why those two men appeared there and kidnap her out of now where. Those men knew their new location and everything detail they did. Using her brain more, she focused how she found Josh being distant and lost in thought whenever they sat together.

She sighed in disappointed that she couldn't see the signs. Usually she has sharp eyes on things going on around but this time she failed to acknowledge it.

.............

"Everybody ready?" Eric asked, standing tall, chin pulled up as he looked around to the people gathered there to help him.

"Yes!" He felt goosebumps at the loud yells, making his adrenaline level go up.

"Let's go!" Eric shouted, opening the door of their van he got inside.

Russell was drove, only typing sounds could be heard in the tense environment. Ella and Owen were once again discussing their plan, looking down at the map of the area where Monica was held. Keith got the map after some typing on the laptop and making it easy for them to formulate their plan. Keith and Lexi were hacking CCTV cameras on their way so that they could see the area better. Lexi knew some hacking stuff which Keith taught her, which were finally coming to use. Eric looked at the side mirror to check the cars were behind them.

Around forty men, some friends of Russell who were former wrestlers too, some friends of Eric and some mutual friend's came to help him at his tough time. For which Eric felt grateful.

Eric's only wished that Monica was doing fine by now. Its almost midnight, making it eight hours of her being kidnapped.

"Eric we are almost there." Keith told Eric, who was lost in his train of thought.

Nodding his head, "Slow the car." He said to Russell and opened the car window.

He waved his palm up in the air signalling for the following cars to slow down.

Russell stopped the car at the side of the road and the cars behind them followed suit. Eric got out of the car along with the others.

Opening the back door of the van, he asked Keith to tell him the details of the area.

"This is the road which will lead us there. There will be a gate on your right after covering some distance on this road. There are no lights and no CCTV there so that's all i can give." Keith told them.

Eric nodded his head. They were standing at the start of the road which lead to the building. The people in the cars waited outside their cars, for Eric to tell them what to do next.

Eric approached them and hands on his waist as he stood looking in front of him.

"We will leave our cars at some distance from the gate. You all will follow suit and get out of them quietly and keep your weapons with you. Rest i have to see to decide. Okay?!"

Everybody agreed and started to get inside their white and black cars. Russell closed the door and get inside along with Eric.

"Let's go." Eric said to Russell who gave a sharp nod and drove the car.

The road was narrow, rutted grassy and unpaved. The area was barren with no signs of any life. There were no roadway lights that could help them see properly. The van jiggled on its springs due the broken patched road. Finally with the help of van headlights he found the gate.

"Stop.. Cut the lights." Eric said to Russell and signalled for the others to stop. Russell pulled the van down from the road and parked it near the gate beside the high walls. They quietly moved out of the van and opened the back door once again.

Owen got out of his seat after passing a reassuring look to Lexi and Ella.

Eric turned around to see everyone has exited their cars and stood waiting for the next command. Eric walked towards the gate along with Owen to see where there any guards outside. The large iron gate had no lock on it. Becoming one with shadows their eyes searched the area.

"There there!" Owen whispered, pointing somewhere a head of them. Eric followed his line of finger and found two men roaming on the terrace with no weapons in their hands. Eric thought it was a good sign.

"Okay come on." Eric said, patting Owen on the shoulder.

Going back to where everyone stood waiting, Eric looked at them.

"So the area is clear. I along with Russell and Owen will go inside and see what's the situation inside. If anything happens, Russell will give Keith the signal through the ear piece." Eric told them, pointing to Keith who was installing the device on Russell so that no one could detect it.

"Then you all will come inside immediately and we all try our best to handle the situation. I will make sure nothing bad happens. But we have to be cautious with them. And lastly, when you all go in, Keith will drive the van inside so that we could run if needed. So a few have to stay back and drive the car inside and be on guard. Cars should be ready to go just only wait for the signal. Be careful."

Eric told everybody. They all nodded their heads and whispered among themselves to see who will stay behind and drive the car.

"Please stay safe." Ella who was feeling anxious as she wished them good luck.

Eric Russell and Owen pocketing their knives they made their way in. Russell opened the heavy door open completely so that it won't be a hassle for the others. Eric was ahead of them, in hurry to go in and see Monica. They walked on unpaved gravel which was rough and sunk from rain or snow and tires of vehicles moving on them. The Mansion was old looking but was beautifully engraved by designs. Eric climbed up a set of small stony stairs, entering the building and found two men guarding the entrance of a large room. The guards which were the members of the gang, recognized Eric and his mates by his side. They nodded their heads signalling him to go in and they called out loud.

"Boss! They are here!"

Monica raised her eyebrow and thought who they were now. She was looking at the entrance of the room and found those blue eyes.

Eric saw Monica's hazel eyes got wide with surprise and just like how he predicted. Monica was relieved that he was here to save her. He didn't need to ask her how she was doing, he could read her easily. She was scared but she was holding herself up bravely. He couldn't control himself from pulling her into his arms right there and then, to seek comfort in those arms.

Then she found Russell and Owen coming inside beside him making her smile broader and felt like burden has lifted her shoulders. Russell met Monica's eyes and inspected her from head to toe and his eyes stopped at her face. He noticed one side of her face was swollen, making his thoughts rush to another level. He was very much familiar with this kind of swelling as he had had them and seen on his member who hit them. Owen took a sigh of relief as his eyes fell on Monica, who was smiling at him even in this condition. They were stopped by the men from reaching her. Monica found herself getting agitated by every passing minute. Eric clenched his teeth in anger but controlling himself he nodded his head to others telling them to be at ease.

"Finally i got to meet you again." They all followed the voice and found the leader coming down the stairs. Monica rolled her eyes at his sarcasm and lightly scoffed.

Behind him was Josh who was looked like a deer caught in headlights. Eric's eyes found a certain face here that they had been searching for all evening. Russell and Owen couldn't understand what was going on either as they stared at him the back at the leader.

"What are you doing here?" Eric asked, confused but felt something strange going around here.

"That Bastard joined hands with the Bastard gangster. He has been going behind your back for a long time now and he was the one for pushing me into their hands He gave the information to them." As soon as words left Monica's lips, Eric was on him in a split second.

Eric couldn't control his anger anymore and pounced on Josh who was standing a few feet away from them. Eric landed punches again and again. Russell blinked his eyes in shock as he found the truth and watched Eric beat the s**t out of Josh. Russell knew Eric wont be able to stop now unless he was stopped by someone so he walked towards him and pulled him back. Owen was stood frozen with shock as feeling of betrayal hit him.

"Well what a fun sight to see." The leader said, with a smirk on his face. All Monica wanted was to scratch that smirk off his face by her nails.

Eric sighed and ran his fingers in his hair in distress. Eric couldn't understand why Josh did it, he did everything for them.

"What's the reason behind this? Tell me!" Eric yelled as he walked forward and grabbed him by his collar.

Monica watched the blood tricked down Josh beaten up face. His eye was getting swollen and his lip was split open. She cringed at thought of pain he was going through, hit her too as she just experienced it sometime ago. But she reminded herself not to feel empathy for him, he was the reason she was here.

"I am done with your stupid games! All you do is steal and than live in fear! I cant live like that. I don't want revenge. My brother was the one who had to go through it and he is dead now. So why should i go through all this! I want to live a peaceful life! They offered me ample amount of money to live peacefully for a few years until i find myself on the right track. Come on, Eric aren't you tired of running and hiding?" Josh told them, throwing the burden he was carrying on his chest finally. He understood Eric's rage and anger towards him but he couldn't carry on anymore. He was sorry towards Monica, he didn't know it would turn out like this.

"I am ashamed of myself for trusting a piece of s**t like you. And why should you go through all this? Let me take you back, it seems like you threw your memories away before money. Your brother was the one who brought you up by himself when your parents died in a car crash. He went through all the struggles and suffered to keep a roof over you! He wasted his life after such a shameless brother who only cares about himself!" Eric yelled at Josh, who looked away from him. Owen was throwing daggers at Josh as he totally agreed with Eric.

"What the hell are you looking at? Take the money and leave her." Russell said to the leader, who was leaning against the wall of the room enjoying the drama in front of him.

Leader nodded his head at his puppet to take the bag and bring it to him. Monica kept looking at Eric, who had a broken look on his face but quickly composed himself. Her hands were itching to run to him and hold him in her arms to comfort him. As leader was going through the bag full of money, Russell nodded his head to Owen. Owen knew what he needed to do. He quickly walked towards Monica and took out his knife. Owen passed a reassuring smile to her as she looked anxious. Owen cut the ropes around her hand and legs setting her free. He grabbed her arm to make her stand as she wobbled on her feet due to sitting in that position for along time now. Monica thanked Owen and patted his hand which was on her arm holding her.

"Good. I am happy, you listened to me boy." Leader said, throwing the bag towards his men who catch it and kept it behind them.

"Lets go." Russell said, Signalling Owen to move. Eric walked towards Monica, who took two steps when they all were stopped.

"Not so fast. Take it easy boy." Leader said, clicking his tongue against his cheek. He had a gun on his hand, toying with it. He was taking out magazine in which bullets are put, in and out of the guns grip.

"What do you want now? The deal is over, we returned your money." Eric said, raising his eyebrow at him in question as his forehead creased in concentration.

He knew the leader wont let them go so easily, he loved toying with them.

"Remember, during our deal, we made certain rules." Leader said, who was still leaning against the wall.

Eric and Russell looked at each other, thinking where he was taking this. Eric answered yes, getting impatient to get the hell out of this place.

"There was rule you made, that i and my men wont use their guns on you if we ever fell into dispute or in anger. We all agreed and complied. Agree?" Leader asked them again.

Monica stood there in confusion, her eyes were only on the gun in his hands. Owen was facing the same dilemma as Monica.

Eric and Russell nodded their heads.

"And there was a rule that i made. The money we steal, will be divided into halves as decided by both of us. You singed it but what did you do? You made us fool and took all of our money. Because of some scums like you, I was humiliated. Are you listening? Humiliated by my boss!" Leader yelled at the end, angry veins popping out of his neck.He sighed and took a breath.

Suddenly they all were alerted as the leader raised his gun at Eric. Monica widened her eyes, her heart racing hard against her rib cage.

"You broke the rule and went into hiding making me angry. So i should balance the equation by breaking the rule right?" Leader said, moving his gun at Monica.

Monica stumbled back in fear and shock. Owen tightened his hold on her, ready to throw both of them down before the shot. Russell grabbed his jacket and pulled it close to his mouth so that no one could hear him. He whispered, signalling Keith to send in the members right now.

"I Like the name Bastard gangster. Now take this b***h!" He fired the gun and Monica shrieked closing her eyes, waiting for the bullet to pierce her skin but it never came but instead heard a yell and a groan.

She quickly looked back and found Eric in her line of vision, falling down at the ground. She felt the ground slipping beneath her feet in shock, her hands trembled. Suddenly a crowd of men barged in, they were their men. Leader smirked and left the arena, leaving his puppets to face the men.

"Eric!" Monica yelled, struggling against the hold of Owen to rush towards Eric.

"Monica, Monica! We need to leave. Stop fighting me! Russell will bring him. Its dangerous here." Owen said, grabbing her tightly and dragged her towards the exist.

Monica despite her pleas was being dragged by Owen but her eyes never left Eric's. Russell was beside him in an instant, pulling him up from the ground. She saw blood tricking down his hand, he was severely injured. He took the bullet for her. As they reached outside, Ella, Lexi and Keith wore worried faces as they inspected Owen and Monica from head to toe.

"What happened? we heard a gun shot?"Ella asked scared. Monica at her question decided to take matters into her own hands now.

"Owen go with them. Russell and i will take Eric to the hospital and make sure to take different path." Monica said, running towards the car behind the van.

Owen agreed and told the others to get in the car and rush from here. Ella and Lexi confused they get in the car along with Keith, who told the men to move and leave the place now.

"You go with them. I need the car."Monica said to one of the men who came with them to help. The man nodded his head, passing the key to her, he joined Owen in the car as they drove out of here.

She looked at the entrance anxiously for them to appear. She saw Russell coming out of the building as she saw smoke rising from the back of the house. She opened the door and told Russell to lay Eric at the back seat. She ran inside making Russell shout at her where she was going. She didn't reply to him and ran inside and saw chaos going on.

"There's a fire here! Move!" She shouted loudly twice, making sure people heard them, They all stopped and looked around to find the the second story and third story was burning and in no time the fire will reach them. She ran back to where Russell stood in distress at her actions.

"Lets go!" She said, sitting in the back seat, putting unconscious Eric head on her lap.

.....