Chapter 4

Still don't own Ian or Lucy.

You guys are just astonishing! Already at 71 reviews! Thank you! And yes I know that was mean of me to leave you with such a cliffhanger then go out of town for a week, but I had to do it!

Lucy's POV

I feel extremely groggy as my eyes slowly flutter open and I attempt to stretch my sore body only to be restricted from moving. That's when it all came back to me. Going to the café, someone grabbing me from behind and holding a cloth of what I assumed held chloroform on it over my mouth. Panic runs through my body whilst I try to take in my surroundings to see if I can get an idea on where I am. All I can tell is I am in a grungy motel room laying on a bed with my arms taped behind me as well as my legs being bound and a piece of duct tape over my mouth which I know is going to hurt like a bitch when it is taken off…whenever that may be.

My breath catches in my throat when my eyes land on two men sitting in the corner of the room on an old couch watching a poor quality TV eating pizza. There is a second queen sized bed parallel to the one I am on, granting a greater distance between me and the two men though it isn't much.

What are they going to do to me? Does Ian know I'm gone? Does he know I've been kidnapped?

I shift on the bed to try and adjust a little in hopes of moving my dress farther down my thighs since it had drifted up thus it was too high for my liking given the current situation. However as soon as I started moving on the bed that I was placed on one of the men look over toward me.

"Hey there beautiful, nice to see you're up." When he stands up I can see he is very tall, probably over six feet. He is wearing jeans and an old black shirt. He's a little heavy set but more so in the buff area, short brown hair accompanied with unattractive scruff on his face. The man appears to be mid-twenties or so, maybe thirties.

I want to scream at the top of my lungs for help but given the looks of this run down place I doubt there is anyone around who could or would actually help me. Leaving me to decide I best keep my mouth shut in hopes of not pissing off one of these guys not knowing what they may do. I swallow nervously as he comes to stand next to the bed bringing his body a mere 12 inches in front of me.

"I'll take the tape off your mouth if you promise not to scream sweetheart, you promise?"

Just the sound of his voice gave me chills. I nod my head slowly, hesitantly.

The man reaches down to slowly pull the large strip of tape off. He wads up the piece sitting it down on the nightstand right next to a brand new role of duct tape. Oh Shit. I let out a ragged breath and stare at him terrified of what he'll do next.

"What do you want with me?" I ask him timidly.

"Nothing you need to worry about sweetheart. Should your husband cooperate and do everything we say you'll be home soon and we'll have what we need."

"Ian" I whisper to myself thinking of how he must be going crazy right about now. The clock next to the bed reads 7:58pm.

"Don't tell her anything, Zach." The other guy who had remained quiet on the couch watching TV spoke up in a monotone voice.

"I know, Daniel."

The man who had been standing in front of me who I now know as Zach turns around to head back over to the couch. Please, Ian please get me out of here as soon as possible. This isn't how our day was supposed to play out. I was supposed to be snuggled into Ian's side right now watching the big premiere of his movie, not tied up with two rough looking men in a cheap motel. Tears slowly roll down my cheeks and I clench my eyes shut wishing this was merely a horrid nightmare I could wake up from.

Somehow I had managed to sleep through the night whilst dreaming happy memories of Ian and me. I had fought the fatigue in my body for as long as I could until finally around two or three in the morning I couldn't fight it anymore. The crying had taken a toll on me leaving me to fall asleep much to my dismay. When I wake up I really have to use the bathroom but I know that isn't feasible and I sure as hell don't want to ask either of the guys. I inwardly shutter at the thought of what the outcome to that may be.

Daniel and Zach were conversing about something in hushed tones over by the couch just like they had been last night. I try my hardest to pick up on even a few of their words but they were too quiet for me to hear a thing. Once they finish whatever they were talking about they both turn to look at me.

"Ah good, you're awake. Mornin' Sweetheart." Zach greets in the same creepy tone from yesterday. God I cannot stand him calling me sweetheart, let alone the way he says it!

"You get one bathroom chance, take it now or you aren't getting the chance til' tonight." Daniel scoffs walking past Zach over to the small wooden desk that was against the wall opposite of the bed I was currently laying on. "Yes or no?"

I bite my lip debating my options. Yes I really need to relieve myself however I don't want to do it in front of either of them. In the end I have to give into my bladder and nod my head briefly.

Daniel picks up a pair of scissors that had previously been resting on the desk and tosses them to Zach. Nervously I watch Zach walk over to me about to cut the tape off of my wrists and ankles while I simultaneously trying desperately to think up some sort of plan to get me out of here. After removing the tape off of me—which hurt like hell might I add—he reaches out to pull me up off the bed. I attempt to pull out of his grasp causing him to tighten his hold thus making me wince.

"I can pee by myself thank you." I snap at him harshly.

"Nice try but you're not going to pull anything Darlin'. There is no way out of here, you're stuck with us until we determine otherwise." Zach replies with a cocky tone.

"And don't even think about trying to do anything other than pee with the door open otherwise we'll have a problem." Daniel turns the face me, it was then I realized he had a gun grasped in his hands that had been lying on the desk out of my previous sight.

Holy Fuck. I swallow nervously, my mouth beyond dry.

"Okay," I manage to squeak out thoroughly terrified.

Zach walks me over to the disgusting bathroom making sure I don't shut the door. He turns his back slightly to give me a tad bit of privacy but that still doesn't make this situation any better. Once I was done I return to the bed and sit down on the edge of the mattress. When he picks up the role of silver duct tape I manage to find my voice.

"Can I just sit here without you taping my wrists and ankles again? It's like you both said, I'm not going anywhere."

He looks over at Daniel for permission, after several beats he nods his head in agreeance reminding me what'll happen if I even so much as stand up from the bed for a second. I sit here for the longest time in silence as the two of them sit on the couch watching TV.

When noon rolls around Daniel announces he is going down the street to pick up some lunch. I take this as my chance to possibly get some answers from Zach and maybe find a way out of here. I watch the brownish door that once was white, slam shut behind Daniel.

A good 15 minutes pass before I bring myself to the courage of speaking up. "How much longer until I can go?"

Zach shrugs in response. "That's all up to Daniel."

"My husband will give you whatever you want if you guys will just let me go. Why drag this out?"

"Enough talk about your husband Sweetheart, that's Daniel's task. Let's talk about you."

"There is nothing really to talk about involving myself." I mutter uncomfortably under his crucial gaze.

"Oh now I wouldn't say that. You are quite the beautiful woman. Sexy, petite what more do you need?"

I shutter away from him and shift higher up the bed when he gets too close to comfort.

"Stop." I tell him when he scoots closer and reaches for my dress.

However he doesn't stop. I begin screaming, yelling, thrashing everything I could think of to try and get away from him in hopes of running across the room to the door. Unfortunately he prevents me from doing so and I am forced back onto the bed aggressively. By now my dress had been all but yanked off and I had tears streaming down my face continuing to scream at the top of my lungs.

The door abruptly swings open and I am filled with hope believing it is someone coming to save me. I wasn't so lucky because it is Daniel.

"What the hell is going on? Shut her up!"

I sink my teeth into his hand when Daniel covers my mouth reaching for the duct tape and Zach holds my body immobile though I was still fighting against them.

"You bitch!" Daniel snarls at me and slaps me across the face belligerently.

My wrists and ankles are once again bound, much tighter if I do say so than they had been. They also put tape across my mouth to keep my screams muffled. I have tears flooding my face and sobs racking through my body. I struggle to even out my breath due to only being able to breathe out of my noise at the moment.

"Don't touch her, but you can look at her all you want." Daniel says sternly to Zach.

Pulling my knees up as I lay here on my side I curl into the fetal position wishing I wasn't on display for these two horrid males only covered in the black bra and panties I dressed in yesterday morning.

"After lunch we'll make the call."

Ian's POV

It is the day after Lucy had been kidnapped. I called her mother yesterday shortly after I received the email. Julie booked an instant flight right after hanging up from me and flew out here last night. She is currently staying in our guest room while everyone, including the police, look for Lucy. The police had tried tracing where the email was sent from, all they could find was her kidnappers had used a business' free wifi to send the email and there was no further trace on it since the email was sent from Lucy's phone which is still turned off. No other messages have been given from her kidnapers since yesterday afternoon.

I had of course blown off the movie premiere yesterday which the producers of the movie were not pleased with me about though when I explained to them the reasoning of my absence they were more than sympathetic. It hadn't taken long at all for word to get out and spread like wild fire. Apparently social media especially was buzzing with all of her fans freaking out and asking if it were true the second they caught word of the issue at hand.

This morning the police had managed to find a store with security cameras on the block Lucy had been at yesterday when she was headed to the café. Though it wasn't the best angle, the security tapes clearly show a man exiting a van, grabbing Lucy from behind, and throwing her into a white van before she could even react to what was taking place. So far there wasn't much else other than that; the police had been unsuccessful in trying to locate the van but they were still working hard on it. Once they realized Lucy is a well-known celebrity it seemed to have lit a fire under their ass because they have been putting much more effort into trying to find her.

Currently I am in the kitchen making lunch for Julie, Lucy's Mom, I on the other hand was far too anxious and worried to eat a thing ever since the moment Lucy went missing. Several of our friends had stopped by as well as called to see if there was anything they could do or if they should come over to the house but I declined. My sister, Sarah, however wasn't budging. As soon as she caught wind of it yesterday she called me and I confirmed it was true. She drove straight here instantly after hanging up and refused to leave knowing how upset both Julie and I were she felt we shouldn't be alone.

"Do you guys want—." I pause midsentence when I hear my phone ringing over on the kitchen counter behind me. My heart freezes when I see Lucy's name and beautiful picture light up on my phone.

"It's Lucy!" I all but yell catching both Sarah and Julie's attention. They run into the kitchen to hover hopping to hear the conversation that is about to take way.

"Lucy, baby, are you okay? Where are you? What's happening?" I rattle off several questions overjoyed to hear my wife's voice finally and know she's okay.

"I'm doing great Sugarplum, yourself?" A gruff humorous voice filled the phone rather than my angelic wife's sweet melody voice.

"Who is this?" My tone hardens and I swallow harshly.

"I'm the guy that'll make you a deal if you want your little wife back." The man pauses for a brief moment before continuing. "I want half a million dollars in cash. I'll call you later with the drop off details."

"I want to talk to her before we start making any kind of deal." I state firmly to the man.

"Not this time. She's been acting up this afternoon so she doesn't deserve to talk to you. Maybe next time, depends on if she decides to behave more appropriately or not."

"No, let me talk to her!" I shout back, anger running through my veins.

"Sorry buddy, not gonna happen. Remember half a million and no cops."

Before I could get a word in he hangs up the phone. I try redialing the number but he had already turned the phone back off.

"God dammit!" I yell in frustration running an angry hand through my tangled hair.

"Ian, what did they say?" Julie's broken voice asks, meanwhile Sarah was on the phone with the police informing them of what just happened.

"They want half a million dollars in cash, no cops. When I said I wanted to talk to Lucy they said 'she's been acting up' and didn't deserve to talk to me. What does that mean? Do you think they hurt her since she apparently did something they didn't like?"

When Julie starts to tear up I pull her into a hug to reassure her everything will be alright though deep down I felt as if I was attempting to reassure myself. Sarah had handed me the phone for me to repeat to the police everything the man said to me. I told them her phone was turned back off right after my conversation with the man had ended.

Picking my phone up off of the counter I call one of Lucy's closest friends, Annie, who told me she wants me to keep her updated as soon as anything happens. Annie all but demands to come over instantly saying she can no longer sit at home twiddling her thumbs as she impatiently waits for news. A couple police officers were going to come over in case Lucy's kidnapper calls back again. However we told them that wasn't a good idea in case the kidnappers were watching our house somehow as a way to ensure we didn't communicate with the police.

It was nearly twenty minutes later when a persistent knocking on the front door was heard. Sarah opened the door to reveal Annie with her laptop and charger in hand.

"They called you on Lucy's phone, correct?" She asks me as soon as she sees me sitting on the couch with Julie next to me.

"Yes I tried calling her phone right back but they had already turned it off. Why?"

"After I hung up the phone with you I was thinking. I know exactly how to locate Lucy's phone so I can get its current location."

"You do? How? Never mind the how just do it right now please!" I jump up from the couch.

"That's the thing, I can't do it right now. Her phone has to be turned on in order for the app to be able to track her location. I know the police were working on a way to track the call but we all know that can take forever sometimes. Even then they can only track it by cell towers, if we do it this way it will give the exact location. Plus if I do it this way it typically takes only a few seconds to find it; it's always instant." Annie says making me feel somewhat relieved.

"How will we track it though if her phone is turned off?"

"I'm going to get it setup on my laptop so we'll have it ready when we need it. As soon as the guy calls you again to tell you where you are supposed to be taking the money I am going to track the phone. As long as it is located while the phone is still turned on we will still be able to see the exact location the phone was at during the time of the call. We did this all the time back when we lived together. I was either constantly losing my phone or else she was so we set up the Find My iPhone app allowing us to track the other's phone need be. Let's just hope she hadn't changed her Apple password."

Despite the police telling me we should hold off for a bit I called my bank to inform them of how much money I needed so they could start processing it as well as all of my account information. At the moment I don't care if the police think I should wait to take the money, this is my wife we are talking about and I will pay however much needed granted I get her back in my arms safely.

The day slowly dragged on everyone's emotions were still scattered and we were all wishing to have our beloved Lucy Goose home again. Before long 11pm rolled around and everyone was exhausted. No one wanted to take the chance of going to bed in case something were to happen overnight but I knew everyone needed to at least get some sleep.

With Julie, Sarah, Annie, and I here at the house and only two beds created an issue. Julie stayed in the guest room by herself, Annie and Sarah shared mine and Lucy's bed, whereas I opted to sleep on the couch in the living room. I knew I wasn't going to get even a bit of sleep tonight just like I had last night so I really didn't need a bed to sleep in. Besides ladies first right?

I spent my night differing from continuously moving around on the couch and pacing around the main floor of the house while Mochi and Bailey watched me as if I were crazy – Jack had gone to sleep in the guest room on the bed with Julie. Every time my eyes would land on the two large duffle bags sitting in the corner of the room waiting to fulfil its part in the deal of getting my wife back I would have to roll over to face the back of the couch due to not wanting to torture myself looking at it any longer. And then as I would stare at the black leather couch I would imagine what sort of situation Lucy is in right now—what have they done to her, have they touched her, have they hurt her, is she going to be okay? All of those thoughts would lead me to rolling back over onto my other side to stare at the bag thinking just how valuable it is in all of this right now. It was a destructive cycle actually.

Thinking back to when I went to the bank just a few short hours ago I remember the look on the tellers' faces because they all knew exactly what it was for. Without a doubt they had heard the news that had spread like wildfire of the one and only Lucy Hale, well Lucy Harding – some people still refer to her as Lucy Hale because that's the name she had when she built up her career – being kidnapped. They had expressed their apologies on the matter and that was that. I took the bag and drove back home waiting impatiently for my dammed phone to ring.

I must have worn my brain to sleep from all the thoughts rushing through my head these past couple of days because I woke up the following morning at 6am greeted by the smell of coffee. Who knew a simple everyday household scent could break my heart? I am used to the house smelling of coffee in the early morning hours to fill Lucy's strong coffee addiction. No one spoke much, we merely worked together to make breakfast to fill everyone's more than empty stomachs.

Time slowly clicked on accompanied by a phone that refused to ring.

By the time four o'clock came I had already finished my third cup of coffee. Due to the lack of sleep I have received I need a vast amount of caffeine in my system. Right as I was walking into the kitchen to refill my coffee mug my phone lights up and begins ringing.

"ANNIE!" I yell loudly since she has disappeared off somewhere.

I all but sprint back to the living room to take the phone off of the coffee table. Julie who had been too worried to pick up the phone in fear of hanging it up stared at me with hope in her eyes. Sarah had jumped up from her seat on the couch to go find Annie so she can start tracking Lucy's phone.

"Hello," I answer the phone breathlessly with my voice caught in my throat.

"Hey there Sugarplum," the familiar gruff voice greets sarcastically. Asshole. "You ready to get your little wife back? My brother here is infatuated with her but I just want my money so let's make this easy."

My heart breaks at his words; what has his fucking brother done to be infatuated with her?

"Yes, whatever you want I just want my wife back. Let me talk to her, please. You at least owe me that much! If you want your money I have to know she is alive and hear her voice right now."

I nervously bite my lip as I watch Annie's fingers fly across the keyboard of her laptop before pressing the little Sign In button. My heart races as I watch the screen in front of me loading; locating.

"I guess I could do that." The man replies after a silent beat.

I can hear muffling in the background until I can clearly make out the sounds of Lucy's cries.

"Ian, Ian are you there?" Her voice sounds broken and hoarse.

"Baby, it's me. Are you okay?"

"Ian get me out of here! I need you!" She whimpers in response and my heart breaks into even smaller crumbles than it already was.

"I'm going to baby I promise. I love you so much and I am going to come get you before you know it."

"I love you, too. Ian –."

Suddenly I no longer am listening to my wife's broken voice over the phone but the asshole who took her. "I think that's enough of your mushy heart to heart for now. Drop the bag of money off in the bushes across the street from the café I took your darling wife from, be there tonight at 11pm. No cops or else you won't see her again which would make my brother here a very happy man." With that the line clicked and the phone call was over.

Unbeknown to me I had tears running down my face.

"Annie please tell me it located her phone?" I croak out brokenly.

"Yes I'm writing it down now. They are at some old motel in downtown LA."

"Go save my baby," Julie cries staring at the laptop showing the map of Lucy's phone. They had already turned it back off since it is showing the phone as currently offline. At least we got the address first and that's all that matters.

Looking up the directions on how to get there I run out to the garage, climb into my car and drive exceedingly over the speed limit until I reach the highway where I struggle to drive as fast as I wish due to the heavy traffic. Sarah said she would take care of calling the police and giving them the address of the motel.

Traffic was an absolute bitch. We were sitting at a standstill without an inch of movement for over five minutes. I was becoming all the more frustrated the longer I sat here. My phone rings a couple minutes later signaling Annie was calling.

"Are you stuck in traffic right now?"

"Yes, we are at a complete standstill. Why?"

"Tell them yes he is," Annie says to someone else. "Okay when we were telling to police the address they said there is a huge wreck south bound. Since you're already in the traffic they said once you see the cop cars on the shoulder if you can make your way to the right shoulder you can follow them. Then once they get past the wreck just follow them in the far left lane the whole way." Annie explains to me as I start trying to make my way over to the far right lane.

"Okay I can do that. Thanks Annie." I proceed to tell her where I am exactly so she can relay it to them so they know right where I'm at in case they need to help me get through this traffic seeing as I'm basically stuck in place.

It isn't long at all before I can hear the police sirens and see the flashing lights coming up on the shoulder.

"You'll be safe soon, Baby." I whisper to myself.

Okay, better? Or do you guys still want to kill me? I loved that a few of you thought it might have involved Chris! It does not but that was a very good theory. You'll find out why as well as everything else in due time. :) Please review, you know I love em'!