A/N: Hello my favorite readers! Apologies for the delay but I was traveling internationally for a few weeks and fell behind on everything. This chapter gets PRETTY CRAZY REALLY FAST. It was written very quickly so apologies if there are any typos. I am pretty happy with where I am going here - would love to hear what you all think! Don't forget to review/favorite/follow to get the fastest story updates. ENJOY!
CHAPTER 15
CLARKE
::One month later::
When Clarke arrived at baggage claim in the Newark airport she found a stranger standing with a sign that read, "C. Griffin."
Clarke walked up to him and introduced herself.
"Hello Ms. Griffin, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Marcus but people call me 'Kane'. I'll be driving you today to your hotel." He said with a big smile. "Do you have any checked bags to pick up?"
"No, I travel light." Clarke gave a small sliver of a smile.
Kane took Clarke's carry-on bag, "Shall we then?"
Just outside the automated airport doors was a long, black, stretch limousine. Kane opened the passenger door and Clarke climbed in.
"Hi!" Came a cheery voice from within. Clarke jumped at the sound.
Octavia came at her, balancing a mixed drink in one hand, and gave her a big hug.
"Hi!" Clarke said with effort since Octavia was squeezing her.
Octavia plopped down on the leather seat across from Clarke and opened up a panel in the cherry wood shelf that lined the vehicle.
"I have so many things to tell you and ask you but FIRST, you need a drink. What would you like? Gin and Tonic? Champagne? Beer?"
Clarke, who had only ridden in a (beat up) limo once in high school for prom was impressed by the interior of the car. Dark inside with black leather seats, beautiful dark wooden lining, it was very sleek.
"Hm, I feel like a limo calls for champagne." Clarke smiled and gladly accepted the glass Octavia handed her.
Kane was already in the driver's seat and looked back at Clarke and Octavia.
"Should you ladies need anything, please just hit the down arrow on the panel next to the window behind me, I am going to close it for your privacy. Considering traffic we should arrive at the hotel in approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Please help yourself to anything in the back, we have beverages and snacks."
"Thank you." The girls chimed. Kane shut the window and they were alone.
"Ok, so you and my brother?" She smiled teasingly.
"Seem to attract trouble?" Clarke responded, feigning innocence.
"And yet, can't stay away from each other."
"Do you think we are crazy?"
"Yes, but I dig it. I've never seen my brother so off his game when he's with you or talking about you or worrying about you. He can't think straight. It's nice to see and nice to know he actually is human and not some cyborg built to drive me crazy." She laughed. "In fact, he was so worried about you for this job he got me in on it to make sure you were taken care of since he couldn't be here himself."
"I really care about him." Clarke admitted in a more serious tone. It made her happy to hear that maybe Bellamy was really just as wound up in her as she was with him.
"I know you do." Octavia responded genuinely, "I knew how much you cared the first time I saw you two together in that club in LA. You guys have a pretty powerful connection."
"So you and Lincoln?" Clarke changed the subject.
Octavia smiled, "I've been chasing that boy for years. It's about time he came around."
"So what was it that did it?"
"I wouldn't take no for an answer. I've always known he loved me regardless of how much he tried to play it cool. He was so in his head about what Bellamy would think."
"What? That's crazy! Knowing your brother I am sure he was more than accepting of the news." Clarke said with obvious sarcasm and the two of them busted out into a fit of laughter.
After the two of them had a few moments to compose themselves Octavia looked up at Clarke.
"I know you don't want to be here or do this, but it will go well tomorrow and then it will all be over." Octavia said reassuringly. "Ready for the final details?"
Clarke nodded and Octavia gave her the final plans. When she finished she pulled an envelope out of her back pocket and handed it to Clarke.
"Before I forget, Bellamy asked me to give this to you."
Clarke ran her fingers around the envelope but left it unopened. "Thank you." She wanted to read it when she was alone.
Clarke and Octavia chatted about non-criminal topics the remainder of the ride, things like friends, their jobs, Lincoln and Bellamy, and upcoming trips they had planned. It almost felt like a normal day out but reality sunk in once they arrived at the hotel.
…
After unpacking her things, Clarke sat down on her bed with the envelope from Bellamy and opened it.
It read:
Clarke,
I wish I could be right by your side tomorrow. Even though you won't see me, I will be there the entire time, keeping an eye on you. When it's all over I will meet you at the hotel at 7pm.
~B
Clarke held the letter against her chest and took a deep breath in. She felt better knowing that Bellamy would be there tomorrow and watching her back.
Unfortunately, Bellamy's note wasn't enough to help her sleep. She tossed and turned most of the night, her brain wired and worrying about what could go wrong. Until finally, at around 3am she slipped into a restless sleep.
. . .
2PM THE NEXT DAY
Monty held the door to the bank open for Clarke, she was nervous but kept a cool demeanor. After meeting with Monty a few hours earlier she felt confident in his hands.
The two of them made quite a pair, Monty with his dark fitted suit and sunglasses looked more like a movie star than a bodyguard and Clarke, in her white, mid-length summer dress that fitted snug on top and flowed on the bottom was a vision. They looked good and they looked like they had money.
Immediately a man in a suit came to greet them and ushered them into a private room to meet with one of the bank's Vice Presidents.
"Ms. Griffin, it's a pleasure to meet you. And you are . . . Mr. Griffin?" She turned to Monty questioningly.
"Monty Green." He smiled and reached out his hand to shake hers.
"My bodyguard. Having the New York DA as your mother comes with its quirks." Clarke added, rolling her eyes to feign annoyance with his company.
"Oh, well nice to meet you both. My name is Harper McIntyre, I'll be helping you open your business account today." She began.
After several minutes, Clarke began to feel that something wasn't right. From the corner of her eye she could see Monty typing on his phone but she had not yet received the signal from him that he was in the bank's system.
"Harper, I hate to interrupt but I am a bit thirsty, do you have any water here?"
Harper smiled and stood, "Yes of course, give me just one moment. Mr. Green would you like some water as well?"
"No thank you Ms. McIntyre."
"Please, call me Harper." She flashed him a smile.
As soon as she walked out the door Clarke turned to Monty, "What is going on?" She whispered frantically.
"I don't have the green light from McCreary yet so I can't get into the system without alerting their IT security systems. If worse comes to worst then we will just abort the job today and try again another time." He reassured her.
Clarke didn't know who McCreary was, she had been given very minimal information about the operation. She just nodded her head and let out a deep breath that she didn't realize she'd been holding in, relieved that they may not be committing a felony today.
A moment later Harper walked back in with some water just as a loud bang shook the building. A powerful blast knocked Harper off her feet and Monty rushed to her aid. She was rattled but seemed to be OK.
Clarke was frozen in shock, she stood near the doorway as dust and debris settled around the main lobby, through the dust walked in around 15 dark figures carrying guns.
"Nobody move or I will kill every single one of you. Get down on the floor with your hands and legs spread, do not move." A tall man in the front of the group yelled.
Three men approached the bank tellers, guns raised.
"GIVE US ANY CASH YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW." One yelled at a young teller who was uncontrollably crying and shaking.
As this happened the tall man made his way to the room that Monty, Harper and Clarke were in. He picked up Harper and threw her out of the room into the lobby closing the door behind him.
"What did you do McCreary?!" Monty asked.
"We have 3 minutes before the cops get here. Can you get into the system directly from that computer?" He nodded his head toward the computer Harper had been using.
Monty nodded.
"Then get it done, you've got 1 minute before we have to make a run."
Monty got to work.
McCreary seemed to relax a little and slowly moved his attention to Clarke. He looked her up and down, tilting his head as if he was really enjoying it.
"Clarke, I can see why Blake is so fond of you." He gave a small smile and licked his lips.
She didn't say a word, just held his gaze.
"Ok, done. Let's go." Monty said quickly, standing up to leave.
McCreary held out his arm pushing Monty back and swung his gun knocking Monty across the head with it. Monty went down and didn't move.
Clarke screamed and McCreary came toward her, grabbing her arm.
"You're coming with me darlin'."
She tried to fight him off but something struck her and she went out cold.
. . .
BELLAMY
Everything had gone wrong. He'd been watching Clarke and seen her walk into the bank. She looked beautiful in that white dress and he wondered if she'd worn it to tease him. He couldn't wait to take it off her.
After he knew she was in the bank with Monty he went straight to the van in an alleyway across the street that McCreary was camped out in to keep his eye on him. He didn't trust the guy.
About 5 minutes later McCreary came out of the van cursing.
"What's the problem?" Bellamy asked guarded.
"The whole fucking system isn't working. I tested this piece of shit program 3 times last night and now it's not fucking working."
"Can you fix it?" Bellamy was getting anxious.
"Yeah." Watch the van I'll be back in 2 minutes.
"No, you are not leaving here." Bellamy got in his way.
"Listen, Blake. I need to get my backup computer from around the corner. I'm not stupid, I came with a plan B."
"Fine, I'll come with you." Bellamy insisted.
McCreary let out a loud whistle and 3 men entered the alleyway, surrounding Bellamy.
Seeing the predicament he was in, Bellamy didn't stop to think, he swung at McCreary but McCreary ducked and the blow connected with his shoulder instead of his face. At that the three other men jumped on top of him, beating him until he couldn't move.
Bellamy lay on the street, the wind knocked out of him in a pool of his own blood.
After a few minutes Bellamy, going on adrenaline managed to crawl up onto his knees and then feet and then make his way to the street. A large hole replaced where the bank entrance had just a few minutes before. The sight was shocking.
At that time, he watched a few men and then McCreary walk right through the hole out of the bank. Bellamy let out a loud guttural cry when he realized that McCreary was carrying an unconscious Clarke over his shoulder. The men got into a car that was idled out in front of the bank and sped off.
Bellamy memorized the license plate and pulled out his cell phone. He took a deep breath and dialed.
"Roan. McCreary fucked us. He blew up the fucking bank. His guys jumped me. He kidnapped Clarke. It's a complete fucking mess. I need you to get every one of our men to any known residences, warehouses, you-name-it that has any kind of connection with McCreary to find Clarke before he does anything to her."
Roan was silent for a moment, "Don't do anything stupid Bellamy. Standby and wait for my call." He hung up the phone.
Bellamy couldn't believe what he'd just heard, he was on his own.
He dialed another number.
"Good afternoon, you've reached the office of District Attorney Abigail Griffin, how may I help you?" A friendly voice picked up.
"I need to speak with Abby immediately." Bellamy's voice was frantic.
"I'm sorry but she is in a meeting, can I take a message so she can call you back when she is available?
"It's an emergency, about her daughter Clarke, get her on the phone now!" Bellamy yelled.
"One moment."
"This is Abigail."
"Abby, I need you to listen. Clarke is in serious danger. I need to find her. Do you still have your contact at the police office? I need him to look up a license plate number so I can see what address it's registered to."
"I don't find prank phone calls funny and if you call here again I will sue you for harassment."
"Wait, please don't hang up. My name is Bellamy Blake." There was silence on the other end for a few moments and Bellamy thought she had hung up.
"Bellamy Blake? You mean Bellamy Blake, as in my daughter's kidnapper?"
"Yes . . . and boyfriend." He wasn't sure why he said it, he just wanted her to know somehow that he was on her side.
"You have some fucking nerve calling me."
"I don't blame you for hating me, but we have a shared interest in your daughter. Just a few minutes ago a man named Paxton McCreary blew a hole through First Republic Bank and when he left, he took Clarke with him. He is a very dangerous man and I need to find out where that car is registered now."
"Give me the license plate number."
Bellamy recited the number he'd memorized.
"Can I reach you at this number?" Abby asked.
"Yes."
"Ok, I'll let you know as soon as I have an address."
Bellamy ran into the bank where everyone was crying and trying to reunite with one another. He ran straight to the office he knew the meeting was taking place in and found Monty struggling on the floor, a blonde woman who Bellamy was crouched beside him.
"He OK?" He asked the woman.
"He has a pretty bad head wound. But he's semi-conscious."
"I'm a doctor and will take a look, please go call an ambulance."
As soon as the woman left the room Bellamy turned to Monty.
"Where did he take her?"
"I don't know." Monty was having trouble speaking.
The woman came back into the room. "The paramedics are already on their way."
"Take care of him, I need to check on others." Bellamy lied as he took off.
A miserable 15 minutes later his phone rang. It was Abby.
"I have an address in the Bronx, police are on their way now." For the first time Bellamy heard the District Attorney's voice crack.
Bellamy let out a loud sigh or relief.
"I'll let you know if they find her. Keep your phone on." She hung up.
A moment later his phone rang again. It was Roan.
"The bank job got done. McCreary says Clarke isn't with them."
"Bullshit. I saw McCreary take her." Bellamy was fuming.
"Yeah, I called bullshit too. He said you could come to see for yourself. He's at their warehouse in Queens. You go ahead, I'll round up the boys and have them meet us there."
Bellamy jumped into the back of the van and grabbed two guns from a carrying case inside. He turned on the car and sped out of the alleyway headed toward Queens.
A/N: Well . . .?! What do you think?! McCreary has Clarke captive . . . Bellamy is heading to try and save the day . . . what could go wrong right? Please let me know what you thought by leaving a review ~ and to get faster updates on the story don't forget to favorite and follow. Thanks so much for reading! XOXO
