Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 920 : Hostage

*Bianca*

‘Can we meet up?’

I didn’t think anything of Isabela’s innocent text at first, simply shrugging off her casual language when normally she was more formal. I thought about the offer for about half a second before I felt a cramp in my belly.

“Ugh, alright, kid, I won’t go,” I groaned, rubbing my belly to soothe it. I knew the baby didn’t have ears or feet or even a heartbeat yet but I still felt it necessary to talk to him. Or her. Whatever they may be.

Fuck, they could be a kangaroo and I think I’d still love them.

Fucking pregnancy hormones, I grumbled silently to myself as I typed out a reply to Isabela.

‘Sorry, I’m not feeling well today. I’ll have to raincheck for another day.’

I sighed, thinking that was the end when I received another response almost immediately after.

‘It’s essential. I need you to meet me at The Java Junction in ten.’

I frowned at her response, and something finally clicked in my brain that this behavior was very wrong. Isabela was never pushy like this, ever. She apologized if somebody spilled their lunch on her, there’s no way she’d be so insistent.

Unless something was really wrong.

I thought back to the conversation I overheard with Leo. About that guy, Michael targeting people. Could he have gotten ahold of Isabela? I shook my head, thinking I was just paranoid but there was a bad feeling that lingered in my gut.

I felt uncomfortable and sick still, and I didn’t feel like getting up and going to a coffee shop near campus but...I also didn’t want to be a bad friend and leave Isabela hanging when she clearly had something up with her.

“Sorry, baby, looks like I need to go after all,” I sighed to myself, cringing as I rose slowly. It didn’t take all too long to get ready though I was slower than normal due to the nausea still hitting me every time I smelt something new.

I felt like all of this was pretty weird so I did end up sending a text to Leo, telling him I was heading out to meet with Isabela at the coffee shop. He didn’t respond but I didn’t think much of it. Many times he’d get caught in a meeting and only reply after getting out.

So I shrugged and continued onward. My two bodyguards ended up driving me since I didn’t feel good and I was actually a bit relieved to have them nearby. Just in case my bad feeling was correct.

The Java Junction, a coffee shop right outside the college was a hot spot for the students and today was no different. Filled to the brim with 20-year-olds with newfound freedom and lack of impulse control sounded like a special kind of hell on earth for me personally. Especially since there wasn’t just one couple hiding in the corners and making out.

As soon as I walked in, I was hit by the harsh scent of ground coffee and my stomach roiled nauseously in response. I had to bite my tongue to keep from hurling all over the floor and took a few deep breaths as I calmed myself. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

I glanced around the coffee shop, breathing only through my mouth but I didn’t spot Isabela anywhere. Just as I pulled out my phone to text her where she was, I saw a flash of someone approaching me.

I jerked away just as a hand reached out for me, my eyes wide as they landed on a vaguely familiar face. A handsome guy with a relaxed posture. There was something off about him that I couldn’t put my finger to.

“Hey, what a coincidence running into you here, Bianca,” the guy said casually but I only frowned at him, struggling to remember where I’d seen him before. It hit me as he leaned back to brush his hair from his face.

Liam, the guy from the bonfire that night.

It wouldn’t normally be odd to run into a fellow classmate but we were on Christmas break. Despite his calling it a coincidence, it didn’t feel like it to me. My bodyguards hovered behind me, clearly sizing up Liam as they eyed him as a threat.

“Coincidence, right. Um, I’ve got something to do so-” I turned to walk away but Liam stepped in my path.

“Hey, why not grab a cup of coffee with me while you wait for your friend?” Liam asked with a pleasant smile but my guard was immediately raised.

My eyes narrowed on him as I stepped back towards my bodyguards.

“I never said I was waiting for a friend,” I said suspiciously. “Leave me the fuck alone, you creep.”

I turned to leave but just as I did, I heard a cold laugh from behind me.

“You might not want to do that, Bianca,” his voice immediately dropped all pretense and as I looked back at him, he had on a cocky smirk. His nice guy act was completely broken, and I glared at him fiercely.

“And why not?” I growled, feeling more confident with my bodyguards behind me. If he dared to do anything, they would take him down faster than he could get to me. Especially in front of so many customers.

Liam chuckled then pulled out an outdated phone from his pocket. One I recognized in a heartbeat due to the colorful worn stickers on the case.

Isabela’s phone.

Panic struck me as I realized exactly what was going on.

“I suggest you accept that coffee, Bianca, and dismiss those guards of yours,” he said, glancing at my guards over my shoulder, then smirked as he lifted his shirt slightly to show me the firearm strapped at his hip.

I stiffened and I knew my guards saw it too because they stepped closer.

Liam gave them a warning glance, tilting his head and I knew I had no choice left here. If he has Isabela’s phone, then he has Isabela. The coward was using her as a hostage. All I could do was follow his orders until I could get us both safely out of this mess.

I turned around to my bodyguards, giving them a firm look. “Wait outside.”

“Absolutely not,” Daniel, the guard most by my side snarled in response. “We have orders-”

“Wait outside,” I repeated, giving them a meaningful look. “Leo’s orders are to listen to me.”

I see the understanding dawn on them but also the hesitance to leave me alone with this psycho. I’m terrified, too but I have to do what’s best for everyone. I can’t let Isabela die.

Luckily, they listened to me this time, backing out. The door swung shut and I stiffly turned back to Liam who gave me a cunning smirk like he’d just outsmarted us. But the jokes on him, Leo had already prepped me for a situation like this.

No doubt, the guards were already calling him and anyone nearby for help.

“Now, let’s have that chat, huh?” Liam gestured for me to head to the booth he picked out and I followed obediently but fuming silently. I slid in all the way to the end, painfully aware of the gun he had hidden.

A few customers left and nobody else came in as the odd looks we were getting fade away now that we’re seated. Liam stared across from me with a grin.

“Well, I think it’s probably obvious at this point but I’m not actually a college student,” he told me boredly.

“No shit.” I retorted with a glare.

Liam chuckled, leaning his head on his hand as he looked at me coldly. “Well, there’s no need to be nasty. This is all just business. You’ve been quite hard to get close to, Bianca. I’ve always hated following loners like you. Fewer friends and parties means fewer opportunities to get close, especially with your boyfriend following you around all the time. I tried my best at the bonfire but well, we know how that ended. So forgive me for taking the chance when I saw it. Your little friend was quite talkative.”

“Where is Isabela?” I demanded, not wanting to listen to his stalker bullshit. I knew exactly who he was working for and why he’d decided to follow me.

“All in good time,” Liam smirked. “Don’t worry, she’ll be released completely unharmed once I take you back to the Boss. And if you decide not to listen, well, nobody will find her, I can promise you that.”

I tightened my fists under the table, terrified and angry that this had happened to her because of me. I could pray that Leo would get here soon, that they’d find Isabela and she really was unharmed like he said.

“If you just need to take me to your Boss then why not do it now?” I raised my chin defiantly at him.

“Oh, I plan to, but first, I’m a little curious,” Liam leaned forward, giving me an intrigued look as he asked, “I was only supposed to follow you at first, get close, and report your movements back to my boss but well, it looks like your little boyfriend pissed him off this morning. I’m sure I’m not the only one who got the hit he sent out on you so tell me, before you die today, what’d your boyfriend do to piss him off so badly?”

Liam grinned widely as I stiffened, the words barely registering as I realized the true pit of danger before me. A hit? I’d only ever heard those words in TV or Movies, not real life. This felt like a nightmare and I couldn’t help but discreetly lay a hand over my belly.

Did they mean to kill me and the baby? Before I could even tell Leo about him?

“What makes you think I know?” I played it cool, hiding my regret and panic as I wracked my brain for any kind of way to get out of this, to keep buying me time.

But before he had a chance to drag me out of here or I had a chance to try to stall some more, the bell behind us dinged and a loud, boisterous voice called out, “Hey, Bianca! Long time no see!”

Before I even knew what was happening, Liam’s expression darkened as a familiar body slid into the booth beside me.

“Taylor?” I gasped in surprise as he winked at me.

“So what’s going on? You guys wanna see this video I have of a cat being terrified of a group of baby ducklings?” Taylor grinned at us, offering up his phone like this was just another day.

“I don’t know who you are but you need to--” Liam growled out, eyes locked on Taylor.

“I’m Taylor, now you know,” Taylor interrupted with a grin, completely unphased by his threat. I didn’t know if he was oblivious or just acting but the shock of it all when he curled his arm over my shoulder and showed me his phone screen was enough to break me out of my trance.

Instead of a video, what he showed me was a written message on a notes app.

‘Bia, stay calm. I know what’s happening. Isabela is safe and I’m going to get you out of here.’