Chapter 37
"We're here," Happy called from the front.
"Wonderful, ready kiddo?"
"Yup," I said then noticed that Happy stayed in the car. "Aren't you eating lunch with us?"
Happy looked over at Pepper then back to me. "I think this is a girl's day. You and your mom go have fun. I'll be here when you get back."
It felt weird to have him just wait for us but I nodded accepting that it's his job.
Pepper guided me to the little mom and pop restaurant a few doors down from where we parked. The restaurant smelled wonderful even before we opened the door. Once inside, the shop was exactly what you would think when going to a pizzeria. There were several tables all with red and white checkered table clothes and pictures of Italy including a map of the boot-shaped country, famous landmarks and a gondola. There were also shelves with jars filled with peppers, olives, and oil. Most of the tables were occupied by other patrons all enjoying their meal.
We waited for only a few moments to be seated. A young man, probably in college, met us at the 'wait to be seated' sign. Along with two sets of silverware and two menus, the man led us to one of the last tables that would seat two people. "What can I get you ladies to drink?"
"I would like water. Jamie?"
"Root beer, please."
The host left to get our drinks while we looked over the menus. "Would you like pizza or pasta?"
"Pizza. Can we get pepperoni on it?"
"Sure, sweetheart. Anything else?"
"No, thanks," I remarked, oddly polite, still getting used to Pepper.
When the waiter came to our table, Pepper gave him our order. "Anything in particular you would like to do after lunch?"
"Whatever is fine."
"Ok, well we could go shopping or maybe see a movie, whatever you want."
"Ok," I responded hesitantly, distracted by the misplaced anxious feelings that I felt from someone nearby. I just couldn't figure out who or why.
"Honey, are you ok?" Pepper asked but before I could respond someone shouted.
"Everybody on the ground!"
Pepper and I turned to the front of the restaurant where two men donning black ski masks were standing pointing guns at the small crowd of people.
Since no one in the stunned group moved, the man shouted again, "Everybody on the ground or I start shooting!"
Pepper reached over to me, pulling me to the ground next to her. It took a few moments, but my fear set in hard. I shakily reached up to my necklace that Tony gave me a few months earlier that connects to FRIDAY. With the alert sent, I calmed slightly, knowing that someone would come to help.
"Hey, you…aren't you that Potts lady, the Stark's CEO?" One of the men said, pointing at Pepper then looked back at his partner.
Pepper just stared at the man as she gripped me tighter.
"Grab her, maybe we can get a little extra for her," said the man who appeared to be in charge.
"What about the kid?"
"Yeah, take the kid. If she's with Potts she might be worth something, too."
The man in charge set to gathering up valuables from the other patrons then emptied the cash register while the other man grabbed Pepper and I.
"Leave her…she's nobody, just a coworker's kid."
Pepper's words hurt but I refused to let it show. Unfortunately, her efforts didn't work. "Yeah right, the CEO's babysitting? You're both coming with us."
"Here," the guy in charge said then threw a roll of duct tape to the other man. "Tie them up with that. Get their mouths, too. I don't want to hear them screaming."
Once the guy in charge finished gathering up the valuables, he walked closer to help move us grabbing me while his accomplice grabbed Pepper. My core went from shaking with fear to a full-on panic attack. An involuntary growl spilled past my taped lips, matching the wind speed that was rushing around me. The men looked around then at me. Pepper screamed then a sharp pain hit the back of my head-the last thing I remembered before the darkness took over.
"What do you got for me, Happy?" Stark barked through his suit's interface.
"Surveillance shows two men entered the restaurant eight minutes ago. They had everyone get on the ground then one of them recognized Pepper. They took her and Jamie. I uploaded the video to FRIDAY."
"Where are they now?"
The AI spoke while various images of the vehicle popped up on the HUD from local security cameras, "They are in a dark gray 4-door sedan heading south on 478."
Tony changed directions to hunt down the kidnappers. "Sir, I have lost visual on the sedan."
"What! Why?"
"The tunnel doesn't have a working surveillance system. There is an eight-five percent chance they are heading for the docks and a fifteen percent chance they will continue following the Brooklyn-Queens Parkway."
"Keep scanning local security cameras for the car. I'm heading to the docks."
"Will do, Boss."
"Happy…" Tony shouted pausing briefly for the man to respond.
"I'm on it, Boss, just passed through the tunnel. I'm heading to the docks now."
"Incoming message from Steve Rogers," the AI announced.
"Accept," Tony said then paused for a moment before continuing, "Hey Cap. We are heading to the docks along the north shore."
"We will meet you there," Steve announced then the call ended.
I noticed the smell first, the awful mixture of alcohol and cigarettes, then the pain in my head followed by not being able to move my arms to rub my head. Wake up, you have to wake up, I thought to myself with urgency as the realization that I was in danger came flooding back to my consciousness. Squinting my eyes tight a few times, I tried to wake up with little success.
What happened? Lunch…the robbers…Pepper! My eyes flung open with a start remembering that Pepper and I were taken.
Having seen me move, Pepper shifted her legs, the only part of her body that wasn't either restrained or too risky to move for fear of drawing attention to us, to touch my own reassuringly. I sensed her concern, her desire to comfort me, and her fear. Despite the danger we found ourselves in, her presence comforted me. I remembered her words from earlier, that I was 'no one,' but pushed them aside opting to be comforted instead of the disparaging alternative.
Our captors were arguing, trying to decide where to go and what to do with us. Apparently, with the revelation that I had a special power which they hypothesized was control over wind or something, they guessed they had to hide from not only the police but also the Avengers.
I looked over at Pepper again, looking for some inkling that we would be ok. Feeling more than fear coming from her, I honed in on her emotions, taking some comfort in her strength and confidence. I wondered if she believed Tony would be coming to save us, that the might of the Avengers would be raining down on the men who were dumb enough to try to hurt us. I couldn't help the smirk that crossed my face, also believing that my parents would be coming for us, would be coming for them.
"Over there," the leader shouted while pointing to the docks. "We can hide out there until we get the ransom note sent."
"The docks, really?" The other man asked incredulously. "That's the first place they'll look."
Hmm, I thought agreeing with the man's assessment, I guess we know who the smart one is.
"Shut up and do as you're told! I don't pay you to think."
Pepper looked over at me, her reassuring smile hindered by the duct tape, but I noticed it nonetheless. I replied with a slight nod.
A few minutes later we pulled into the docks then up to a large building. The leader abandoned the vehicle to open the garage door, allowing the other man to drive inside, hiding the vehicle from passersby and no doubt the Avengers.
These guys have no idea what they're doing, I thought to myself with a sly grin.
"Alright, let's go," the leader commanded while pulling my arm to drag me out of the car. Pepper squawked in protest but was dragged from her side of the vehicle a moment later. The room was massive with a row of dirty windows lining the top near the ceiling. My nose crinkled at the smell of mold and grease. The men roughly pulled us with them into a small office off the left side of the main room. "Tie them up to the radiator," the leader said then paused looking at me with a disgusting grin. "Actually, I think I'll take this one with me."
Pepper's eyes widened with panic, screaming and yanking herself free from her captor then running toward the leader despite her arms being taped behind her back. She lunged toward the man, managing to knock him back causing him to lose his grip on my arm. I fell to the ground then Pepper shielded me with her own body. Her words from earlier rang through my mind, She's nobody, just a coworker's kid. I realized she just said that to keep me safe, just like she's protecting me now.
My relief was brief as the man regained his balance grabbing Pepper by her hair, dragging her over to the radiator, taping her tightly to the metal bars. When he turned back to face me, I saw a streak of blood coming from his lip where Pepper's head collided with his face. I shook my head as he stepped closer, trying to scramble away but unable to move more than a foot or so. With my back up against the wall, I had no choice, he gripped my arm tightly, roughly pulling me to my feet once more.
A moment later, Happy busted in the door, his own gun drawn. Happy managed to take out the guy next to Pepper, then moved with his gun pointing at the leader toward Pepper to guard her from anything the man might try to do. The guy in charge matched Happy's movements, turning slowly as Happy made his way around the room. He used his leverage, me, turning his gun to my head. "Back off or the girl gets a bullet in her head."
"Do what he says or you get a blast to your head," a familiar male voice commanded from behind. I couldn't turn around but I knew the owner of the voice was Iron Man, my dad.
Seeing that he was outgunned, the kidnapper dropped his gun and put his arms up. Happy subdued the man, binding his arms behind his back.
Tony stepped out of his suit moving quickly to me and to Pepper, gently pulling the tape away from my mouth then cutting the tape from my wrists. "Daddy!" I shouted then wrapped my arms around him tightly as if he was the lone life preserver in the middle of the ocean. Happy took care of removing the tape from Pepper then Tony wrapped his free arm around her while Pepper wrapped her arms around me.
"Are you ok, baby?" Pepper asked shifting to get a better look at me.
I nodded but didn't pull my face away from Tony's chest.
"The police will be here soon," Happy commented while guarding the assailants.
Tony nodded then removed me from the room where the men were. He picked me up settling me onto his lap once he found a place to sit. Pepper sat next to Tony while we waited for the police to come.
Nat, Steve, Clint and Bruce showed up a few minutes later, checking on me first then Steve and Bruce sat nearby while Nat and Clint scanned the area.
Once the cops arrived, Pepper and I were asked about what happened. Tony stayed with me while Pepper and Happy both talked to different officers. I felt Tony's muscles stiffen, anger and fear radiating from him, as I talked about the men and how they identified Pepper and kidnapped us.
When the police finished taking our statements, Happy drove the three of us home. I stayed on Tony's lap, too worked up to even be a few inches away from him.
"I'm so proud of you for remembering to use the device in your necklace," Tony said, kissing my cheek.
I only nodded, unwilling to talk right now. I was beyond tired. Feeling the crash following the adrenaline rush, I fell asleep on Tony's lap.