Author's notes: Despite my head buzzing with the finale, I managed to finish this chapter. A huge thank you to MissDonnie and Everydaysia10 for reviewing the last chapter. It was so lovely to recieve feed back. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Nick feels his heart racing at the realisation of what's happening as his head ,finally, accepts what his senses are telling him. Hannah's fathers in the backseat of his car and he's holding a gun to the back of his neck He hears a voice behind his ear.
" I'm going to move the gun further down but it will still be pointing at you and I will use I if you don't do exactly what I tell you. Now get us out of here" .
Hannah turns in her chair at her dad's voice. Nick instinctively puts out a hand to stop her, but she fights him off.
"Daddy. "
" Hello pumpkin. How's my girl doing.?"
"I'm good daddy. "
Hannah turns to Nick.
" Am I going with Daddy now? "
It's Mr. Chionetti who answers
" Yes pumpkin you're coming with me. "
Hannah claps her hands with glee and looks at Nick.
" What a great surprise. "
Nick gives her a sideways glance and a small smile, in an attempt to hide the situation from her.
" You need to sit straight in your seat while the cars moving. "
Reluctantly Hannah turns and sits straight. She looks at Nick and asks hopefully :
" Can I sit with daddy? "
" No, you need to sit in the front with me. "
Hannah turns away from Nick in a huff. Nick glances at her again, his heart full of sadness for her at the disappointment that awaits.
" Get us out of here. "
Nick feels the gun as it's pushed against his seat and turns the key and backs out of the parking space.
Nick attempts to reach out to the man.
" This isn't helping you or your daughter. You need to think about.. "
Nick quietens as he feels the gun pushed harder in to the seat. "
" I don't need any advice from you. Just keep driving, south, out of the city. "
Nick answers by turning south. He watches through the rear view mirror as Hannah' father relaxes in to his seat.
" That's better Mr. Fallin. "
Hannah squirms in her seat towards her dad.
" His names Nick, though my friend Samir calls him Mr. Lawyer. "
"That's nice Hannah, well Mr. Lawyer is going take us where we can be together, it's a long drive so turn around and sit nice like Mr. Lawyer told you."
Hannah giggles as turns back to the front at hearing her daddy call Nick Mr. Lawyer. Nick's brain's working on three things at once. It's trying to keep himself under control, steadying his heartrate and breathing deeply. It's also wondering what Mr. Chonetti is after, what his end game is and what it means for Nick and Hannah. Finally it's trying to come up with a strategy to get him and Hannah out of this before they get to the end game. It's discarded every idea it's come up with so far. He glances at the clock, they've been on the road for twenty minutes, and they will soon be out of the city, it's still another thirty minutes before they will be late and how long after that before they decide that something must be wrong. Nick decides he has to do something.
"Where are we going? "
" You don't need to worry about that, I will tell you where to go. "
" I'm just concerned about the gas, I only have a quarter of a tank."
"That will be enough, Mr. Lawyer. "
That means it's not too far out of the city, but Nick's a little disappointed as stopping for gas would have been an opportunity to get help. Hannah turns to talk to her daddy once more.
" Where have you been Daddy? "
He turns from concentrating on where they are and is irritated by the interruption and speaks harshly at her.
" Just do as you're told and turn around and be quiet. "
Nick takes a look at Hannah, whose turned around. He can tell she's fighting back tears and her hands are shaking. He speaks softly at her.
" It's okay Hannah, I won't let anything happen to you. "
Hannah looks up at him and sniffs. A voice comes from the back.
"Stop your crying girl, I haven't done anything to you.,
Nick intervenes.:
"There"s no need to talk to your daughter like that, you're frightening her."
Nick hears leather squeaking behind him and then the gun pushed harder into the seat against his back.
"Just mind your own business, she's my daughter and I can talk to her however I want."
"You have a wonderful daughter Mr. Chionetti, who loves you, despite the terrible way you've treated her. She deserves your kindness. I'm sorry about your wife, I know it's been hard, but you didn't lose everything, you have a daughter, who lost a mother and needs you, needs your love."
Nick knows he's taking a chance and Mr. Chionetti growls in reply
"Just keep your eyes on the road and your mouth out of my business, you have no idea about my life."
"I know what it's like to lose a Mother, so I know that Hannah needs you to be there for her, not serving life in prison for kidnapping. Give yourself up and let your lawyer sort it out and get you the best deal you can, before it goes too far."
"Mr Lawyer, do you think I'm an idiot, I will never get Hannah back."
"That's not true, Mr Chionetti. True it won't be easy, it will take some work but I'll look after her until then."
Mr. Chionetti shoves the gun in the back of the seat in a rage and shouts at Nick
"Mind your own business, you're not taking my daughter anywhere."
Hannah jumps at her father's rage, turning towards him, tears running down her face she sees the gun for the first time and screams, Nick hits the brakes and the car screeches to a stop.
