Just to let you guys know there are some parts of this chapter that are pretty dark and I apologize to those who are disturbed by this. With that I hope you enjoy!


Cress's POV

After 20 minutes passed the vehicle came to a stop and Thorne killed the engine. Cress cowered towards the back wall of the trunk as Thorne cracked open the door. Sunlight streamed inside, forcing Cress to repetitively blink so her eyes would adjust.

Cress noticed that Thorne was holding a large brown sack over his shoulder, he brought it in front of him and he opened it in front of her.

"Get in," Thorne said simply.

Cress was numb with fear, Thorne was so calm and something about him was comforting but overall Cress was terrified and she couldn't move. She looked up at Thorne and her face must have conveyed with what she was feeling because Thorne spoke.

"The way we have to get in is through a club and there are some perverted men in there. Any cute petite blonde that crosses their path will not be leaving with a friendly kiss on the back of the hand."

Cress didn't respond and she looked up at him. She couldn't help but notice again, how good looking he was, but her mind was more focused on the fact that she may never see rays of sunshine again.

Cress can't remember how she got herself to move but as soon as she knew it, she was in the sack and off to the unknown while blinded.

Soon Thorne stopped and they had reached their destination.

Thorne set Cress down and she got out of the bag, but this time she was not greeted by sunlight, just a dingy looking basement.

Cress looked around, it was a small room, but bigger then her bedroom at Sybil's. The walls were cement blocks and the floor was cold on her bare knees. There was a small bed pushed in the corner with a worn maroon quilt draped across it.

That's all Cress saw before she dove to the opposite wall and stuffed her head into her lap and covered it by her arms.

"Are you going to keeping me here?" Cress asked in a trembling voice.

"That was the plan." Thorne mumbled.

Cress was shaking violently and she was in a cold sweat.

Thorne walked towards her, Cress was terrified of what was he going to do to her.

Thorne leaned down next to her and put his hand on her tear stained cheek. Cress's eyes widened and she felt herself freeze up again.

"Cress, like I said no one's going to lay a finger on you"

"That's what the psychos always say in the books," Cress whispered under her long breaths.

"Yeah well I'm not really into hurting others physically" responded Thorne.

How messed up was this guy? He just kidnapped her and he wants her to trust him? Cress then realized that his warm calloused hand was still upon her face.

Thorne realized the same and he quickly backed away.

"Umm, well you are, I mean I should probably should go." Thorne said while looking quite flustered.

Cress was confused about his loss of words, she had almost forgot the given situation.

"If you aren't going to kill me then why am I here?" Cress peeped out.

"Your mother, Sybil Mira has some money," Thorne answered.

She must of had a very confused look on her face because Thorne continued to speak with his ignorance returned.

"I know, I know, you are probably wondering what a handsome intelligent fellow like me is doing in the hole for money, well me too." Thorne said with a grin.

"Enjoy your stay," Thorne said as he walked out the door.

"I'll be here," Cress mumbled.

Once Thorne closed the door Cress began to ponder her situation, Thorne was planning on keeping her for ransom for some of Sybil's riches.

Cress honestly didn't know if Sybil would pay him or not. On one hand if she did it would be because she knows she can't continue being successful with the stock market without Cress. On the other hand that was more likely, she would say no and leave Cress here to die. Sybil had plenty of money to live the rest of her life doing minimal work. And Cress knew what Sybil thought of her, another mouth feed, yet it was she who was bringing in all the savings.

Cress would hope that mistress was feeling greedy and she would get Cress out of here so she could continue making money. Sybil was never truly satisfied.

Cress didn't realize she was sobbing until she found she was having a difficult time breathing because of how hysterical she was.

It felt like hours until Cress's tears subsided into a drizzle. She was still rolled up in a ball in the corner of the gray room.

Cress looked at her cell in a little more detail, there were two doors, the one farthest from her she assumed was the door she had entered from. The other door lead to a bathroom, there was a toilet, small sink, and a tiny shower, the bathroom was all a tan color, no different than the room itself.

Cress glanced at the book shelf, maybe she could distract herself from crying for a moment if her mind was dedicated and lost in the words of a book.


Thorne's POV

Thorne couldn't deny that the blonde was cute. In fact, he thought he almost started blushing, him! Carswell Thorne! The only time he ever grew red was when he walked in on Wolf and Scarlet making out.

More importantly Thorne felt guilty. He did bad things daily, stealing and breaking stuff, stealing and breaking girls hearts, but the fear in Cress's eyes made him want to turn himself in and make sure she is always ok.

Though Thorne hadn't lied to her, he isn't going to hurt her, in fact Thorne wasn't even sure if he needed the money anymore.

The only thing Thorne kind of lied about was his handgun, he just keeps it with him to scare people away, to be honest the thing has never even been loaded.

Thorne did a lot of bad thing but he did not injure people, that was his rule. The only time he's had to get physical was when Aimery was being a pain in the ass so Thorne punched him in the face, and Thorne admits it was the best thing he's ever done, by far.

The only reason Thorne keeps Aimery around is because he is their connection to one of their biggest alcohol importers.

Aimery thinks he owns the place and Thorne usually lets him play that charade, but Thorne makes all the big decisions, like the one to kidnap Cress which he was starting to regret.

Aces he was getting soft.


Cress's POV

Cress was engrossed in the words of a book when she heard the voices outside the door.

"I heard she's cute," one male voice said.

"Did you now?" Another voice said, "maybe Randy, when this all over you can ask her to go with you for a day out on the town."

"Really? You think so, Aimery?" Said the one she assumed was this Randy.

"No you idiot, besides she probably won't even see the light of day again anyways" said the other one, probably Aimery.

Cress's heart stopped were they talking about her? She knew Sybil wasn't likely to give Thorne the money but he would let her go right?

"What do you mean? The rich mother will give up all her money for her daughter right?" Randy said.

"Even if the moma gives the moola the prisoner will be killed to tie up all loose ends, you know how it goes don't you?" Aimery asked.

Then the voices faded away and Cress couldn't hear them any more. Cress found it hard to breath as she realized that she was dead. Thorne was going to kill her. Cress realized what was happening at that moment and she realized this wasn't a dream.

Cress felt betrayed he said he wouldn't hurt her. She started sobbing again. Cress was going to die and she had only had fourteen more months until she was free.

Cress felt so stupid. She had actually believed that the playboy would keep his word. Why did she have to be so naive!

There was no way she could escape. Even if she could get out of this room there were guards outside. It was hopeless.

Then Cress made a decision that changed her life, even if she didn't know it then.

If Cress was going to die she might as well live out her one wish, which was to stand up for herself. All she ever wanted was to tell Sybil that she was human too, and she had rights.

It was no different from these savages.

No more backing down from a fight, no more tears, no more of getting swooned by Thorne, she had a voice and she was going to use it, might as well right?


Thorne's POV

Today was part two of Thorne's master plan. They were going to contact Sybil today, demanding money for Cress's return and Thorne felt sick about it.

Thorne went to the room where the rest if his people were waiting, the conference room he liked to call it, he liked how official it sounded.

There was Aimery, Wolf, Scarlet, and Ran. Thorne had many other people working, but these people were the ones who helped him keep the system going.

Wolf and Scarlet were sweethearts. Wolf was the first guy Thorne hired when he first started the business. Scarlet came 2 years back, Thorne wasn't sure why exactly she was working for him because she doesn't seem like a bootlegger, but he was pretty sure she needed the money to get medication for her grandmother. Oh and did he mention that it was those two that he wouldn't want to be against?

Wolf and Scarlet had been making googly eyes 6 months into Scarlet's arrival and ever since then they have been practically inseparable.

Ran is Wolf's younger brother, Thorne was pretty sure that the kid had gotten in more trouble with the law than Thorne did and Ran is 3 years younger than him.

Iko was the other main who doing something else at the moment and was absent from this event. Iko always was just kind of apart of all Thorne's operations. He can't really remember how she came to work with him but she was such a delight to work with, sometimes so delightful it's annoying.

When Randy, Cress's guard walked in with her behind him with her hands tied up, Thorne couldn't help but notice that Cress was standing up taller and walked with more confidence. Even more so than when she strolled through the marketplace when Thorne first saw her.

"Cress," Thorne greeted her.

"Captain," Cress said sarcastically.

Thorne was taken back, where was the shy girl that blushed every time he spoke? He kind of liked her this way.

"How was your slumber?" He asked with a smirk.

"Well, considering that I was locked in a room as a prisoner by people who are probably going to kill me, it was adequate, I have experienced better" Cress responded with a snarky grin.

Thorne felt a jolt in his chest of guilt.

Randy sat her down at the end of the table where they were seated at.

On the table were some microphones set up by their radio guy, who Aimery was in charge of finding, Thorne thought the guy's name was Jael, but he couldn't fully recall.

Jael set up some sort of speaker system, a telephone but bigger, Thorne was told. He wasn't really familiar with the new technology.

"Alright," said Jael "we are ready for the transmission."

Jael dialed Sybil's telephone number and they waited, and waited.

After about a minute Thorne became bored of waiting, "is she not home?"

"No," Aimery said " Iko reported that she arrived on her property half an hour ago."

"Then what's the hold up?" Asked Thorne.

Everyone turned to Jael, "umm" he shuddered. Aimery got up and gave Jael a deathly glare.

"Did you connect the dial to the power source?" Said a high voice.

Everyone turned to the girl at the end of the table, Cress. Then after the shock settled everyone turned back to Jael, who scurried out of the room.

Thorne didn't realize Cress, the petite innocent girl was a know it all and kind of, sassy.

Jael returned and they tried again, this time there was a greeting from the other side of the line.

"Hello" said a low annoyed voice, "this is Sybil Mira"

Thorne immediately went into his charm mode, here he mostly spoke of lies, here he felt he became machine as he blocked out all his feeling and did everything, and say everything that will get the task done.

"Miss Mira! What a pleasure, I have an offer you won't be able to turn down." Thorne greeted happily.

"And what is that?" Sybil asked.

"Well you see ma'am, we have your daughter here." Thorne responded.

"My daughter? " Sybil questioned "oh! You mean Crescent."

Thorne glanced at Cress and saw her roll her eyes.

"We have Cress here in our custody and in order for her to be released we have to have you pay the fine" He said.

"Goodness! What has that ungrateful child done now?" Sybil asked.

Thorne was confused, did Sybil not actually care for Cress? Thorne decided to continue and forget it.

"I'm sorry Miss, perhaps I'm being unclear, unless you pay me I will put a bullet in Cress's head." Thorne lied smoothly. Though after saying it he cringed.

The line was silent until she replied, "how do I even know you have Crescent there?"

"We have her right here, Cress?" Thorne said looking at Cress.

"Hi" Cress said softly.

"Crescent!?" Sybil demanded.

Cress hesitated and then mumbled "Yes, mistress."

Mistress? The more this went on the more curious Thorne became.

"How much?" Asked Sybil.

"$500,000"

"Your joking!" Sybil said laughing, "for that dreadful, clueless child? She's not even worth a dime."

"Fine by me, so would you like Cress's body returned to your residents or do you have any other disposal methods?"

Sybil was silent and Thorne didn't dare look up to meet Cress's gaze in fear that he would see her horrified expression.

"You have 3 days to decide" Thorne said simply, then he hung up.

Another transaction completed, it was all these things really were. He looked over at Scarlet and she was glaring at him.

"You don't have to be so gruesome." She said.

"Ah Scar, you know how these things work, it you don't like it you know where the door is." He responded smoothly, ignoring the lump in his throat.

Then Thorne glanced over at Cress and she looked scared, she had sank down in her chair and she was covering her face with her small delicate fingers. Thorne just wanted to hug her and tell her it would be alright, but Thorne was not going bankrupt after 4 years of hard work of building this empire! Yet he still felt guilty.

"Hey Randy why don't you grab something to eat, I'll bring Cress back." Thorne suggested.

"Yessir" Randy said and he scurried out of the room.

Thorne wanted to apologize to Cress, and deep down there was a voice that said he wanted to get to know her better, but he ignored it.