When the hood was removed from Oliver's head, he glared as his eyes adjusted to the light until he found himself face to face with Ricardo Diaz.
"This is bold, kidnapping the mayor of Star City." Oliver said.
"Yes well, my plans have been thrown off course by you being acquitted by the president, that was a nice touch by the way, so now I'm improvising. If your city wants their mayor back in one piece, then they'd better turn over Anatoly Knyazev immediately." Diaz said.
"You really think that my city will just surrender him to you?" Oliver asked.
"No, but I think that your cop/vigilante girlfriend will in order to get your son his father back." Diaz said and Oliver glared at him.
"You leave my son out of this." Oliver growled.
"Maybe I should've abducted William instead. I'm sure that Anatoly would already be free by now." Diaz said and Oliver glared at him even harder.
"You touch him and you will regret it." Oliver growled, only to have Diaz punch him.
"Show some respect to your captor. Otherwise things could get unpleasant fast." Diaz said.
"I've been hurt in every way imaginable and even some that can't be imagined. Trust me, there is no way you can torture me that I haven't already experienced." Oliver told him.
"Oh I don't doubt that. There's a reason Lian Yu is called Purgatory." Diaz said as he punched Oliver again.
"But that's not going to stop me from trying.
Laurel was in Oliver's apartment, trying to console William, who was wreck after finding out that his dad had been taken hostage by the man who was responsible for everything bad that happened over the past year.
"William, I promise we'll get your dad back." Laurel said.
"How do you know he's even still alive?" William asked.
"Trust me, he is. Your father is one of the toughest men I've ever met. If anyone can survive this, it's him. And I promise John and I are doing everything we can to save him." Laurel promised him.
"Why would dad just surrender himself? Why didn't he fight back?" William asked.
"Because he just got all the press about him being the Green Arrow dropped and fighting back would have just reopened that case. Besides, your father did what he's always done, put the lives of innocent people above his own. That's one of the many reasons why I love him. And it's why I'll bring him back to you. No matter what." Laurel said.
"Do you think you and dad will get married?" William asked, stopping Laurel abruptly.
"What?" Laurel asked.
"It's just, dad told me that you guys used to date and it seemed like you might get married back then and considering how often you spend the night here, yes I have noticed that, do you guys think you'll get married." William asked and Laurel smiled at him.
"Someday, hopefully yes, but I doubt any time soon. Now, Raisa is here if you need her, I need to go check with John and see if he's got anything on where those men took your dad." Laurel said right as the TV in the background was preempted and Laurel was surprised when she saw Diaz's ugly mug appear on the screen.
"Greetings people of Star City. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Ricardo Diaz and in case you're wondering, I have your mayor." Diaz said as he moved to the side to reveal a bloodied Oliver tied to a chair.
"And now for my demands. You have 24 hours to release Anatoly Knyazev from Iron Heights Penitentiary. Fail to meet this deadline, and let's just say that the mayor's son ain't getting a sibling anytime soon." Diaz said as the message cut out.
"So are you going to do it?" William asked.
"Oliver has a strict no negotiating with terrorist policy, but he's not in charge right now." Laurel said.
"Do you think your dad will go for it?" William asked
"Let's hope so." Laurel said as she hugged William before walking out the door.
"Did you see the news?" Laurel asked John as she entered the bunker.
"Yeah, I guess we better get ready to bust Anatoly out of prison in the event your dad doesn't order Anatoly's release. We can't let Oliver die." John said.
"Agreed." Laurel said as her father entered.
"No need, Diaz sent us a link to contact him with and we've negotiated a prisoner exchange. Oliver for Anatoly." Quentin said.
"Oliver's gonna be pissed when he finds out." John said.
"Yeah well better he be pissed and able to come home to his son rather than risk making William an orphan." Laurel said.
"Give us the location of the exchange and we'll provide some backup." John said.
"Will do." Quentin agreed as he walked out.
"John, I don't think you should go dressed as Spartan." Laurel said.
"What do you mean?" John asked.
"I mean it'll look suspicious if the Green Arrow isn't seen there tonight after Oliver was just acquitted." Laurel said.
"No, Laurel you can't be serious." John said.
"I am. You need to be the Green Arrow tonight, one last time." Laurel said.
