First thing this morning, just had to get this part out.
Imagine my surprise at seeing the reviews. Thanks much, reviewers & follows! MUCH LOVED!
All mistakes are mine. DON'T OWN! DON'T SUE!
Snatch
The inside of their office was a fifth floor loft apartment located in a busy London shop district. Thick sheets of black hung from the windows, and even thicker sheets of plastic stretched out on the floor. Mismatched chairs and tables were scattered about the room along with a series of closed black suitcases. In the corner of the room, laid a single mattress, the sheets were mussed about into a crumple.
Forty-eight hours prior, this room used to be all concrete. Now it was fully furnished.
Turning off the percolator, Claudia poured herself a large mug of coffee and right beside it she dropped a teabag into HG's hotwater filled one. Handing both of the cups, she stepped out from the kitchen into the assigned war room on the right, it was the living room.
"Thank you darling."
HG murmured as Claudia handed her the cup of tea. Nodding her head, Claudia continued her way over to the window and gazed outwards. It was a sunny mid-afternoon. Cars passed from lunch meetings to return to their offices downtown, while businessmen and bums mingled as they passed each other on the sidewalk.
People have no clue about anything, even if it's right under their noses.
Claudia thought as she idly stirred her coffee and a police vehicle rounded the corner. One would think, considering the heinous crime she just committed, that she would've shown the least amount of concern. She didn't.
At the sound of sirens, her expression went bored.
Must be the gangs. She concluded, taking a sip.
"Darling, you know how much I detest when you pour the water before adding the tea."
HG 's voice rang from the corner of the rooms only armchair. The redhead ran a hand through her hair and turned around.
"Yeah, well, you weren't the one up till five in the fracking morning trying to hack into a billionaires collection of ninety-three bank accounts."
The raven haired accomplice rolled her eyes as if to say, point taken. Giving her infernal drink another sip, HG sat it down on the floor. She then pulled a bizarre device from inside a box placed at the end of the rooms one and only table.
"Since we're still comparing scores, look at the beauty I conjured up last night."
Claudia came closer to view the inside of the box. Her brows rose in impression after a few quiet moments of inspection.
"Wait, so this will what, act as a switch?"
"Yes, it only needs to be put in place then—," HG made an exploding expression with her hands. "Isn't it exquisite?"
The redhead stuck her hand into the box and ran a finger over the wirings of the mechanism. Her lips twisted.
"I'm seriously jellin' over your brainage right now."
HG's dark eyes flashed at the claim, "Your brain works beautifully, darling. Actually, compared to most people, you are by far a most ideal specimen of superior intellect."
The redhead's mouth hung open at the compliment. After eyeing the older woman suspiciously, she pointed an accusing finger in her direction.
"You didn't just pull that out of your ass did you?"
"And if I did?" There was a hint of suggestion as the Cheshire grin grew on the Brits face. Claudia pressed her hand over her eyes and groaned. Her cheeks were a fiery red.
"Darnit HG! I hate when you do that."
In response British woman broke into a laugh.
"Mmm! Mmmm!"
At the muffled sound, both women turned to the middle of the room.
Forgotten and strapped to a chair was their billionaire heiress. Her face was still covered in ruined makeup and her dress was even shabbier than ever. This time she had a leather thong tied around her mouth and leather restraints were holding her pinned to the seat.
The two captors stared at her as if she was an alien.
Noticing how pale the woman's face was, Claudia winced as she tried to remember something.
"HG, did we feed her?"
There was a thoughtful pause before HG slowly replied.
"I don't think we did."
Claudia's face shifted to a one of humor, "Sheesh, who are we kidding? We don't even remember to feed ourselves around here!"
And so Claudia stepped forward and removed the heiress' gag.
The ball center of the gag popped from the hostages mouth with a distinctive wet plop. Once the gag was removed, Myka flexed her sore jaw and blinked her tear encrusted eyes. Her head whipped side to side as if she was looking for an escape.
"Thirsty?"Claudia asked. She bent to the brunette's level and placed a hand on top of Myka's shoulder.
Myka did not trust this younger woman's attempt at kindness one bit at all. She blankly stared at the redhead, her mouth clutched tight. On the other side of the room, HG wore an amused expression as she gently cleared her throat.
"I don't think she trusts you anymore."
"Huh?" Claudia whipped her head around to meet the darker woman's gaze. "And what gives?"
HG crossed over, the soles of her boots made a soft clicking noise against the plastic covered floor and unintentionally drew Myka's eyes down to her legs. Clothed in black jeans, the tight fabric accentuated her figure perfectly. Confused by the thought, the hostage shook her head.
Taking position at Myka's opposite shoulder, HG tapped a finger to her chin as she spoke.
"Prior nights incident, if I may recall, did it not involve the back of your right hand?"
The corner of Claudia's mouth twitched as she raised surrendering hands.
"Ok. I'm done."
Claudia rose to a stand and strode back towards the kitchen. Waving her hand dismissively over her shoulder, she signaled to her accomplice. "From now on Miss Priss is all yours."
HG chuckled and leaned over Myka.
The scent of her vanilla perfume filled the hostage's nose and immediately the curly haired woman felt herself began to dizzy with a sudden heat. It wasn't unpleasant.
"Hello darling, what may I get for you today?"
At the smile on her face and the sound of her purring tone, Myka lost herself. Her mind literally went blank at the sight of her captor's lips.
Bering, just what are you doing?
Myka chided herself back to reality and jerked upright in the seat. The leather straps bound around her wrist bit into her flesh and caused her to gasp aloud. When she looked up she found that the woman, the so-called HG, actually appeared concerned.
The nerve!
Green eyes narrowed, Myka huffed, "So, is this how the two of you work, Good Cop/Bad Cop?"
Her eyes flickered over to Claudia who was leaning against the kitchen counter with a mug drawn to her mouth, then back over to HG who was eyeing her with a quirked brow.
"Not necessarily."
Not necessarily.
Myka mocked the British woman inside of her mind. Was it wrong for her to feel more incensed by two simple words than she did when they were abusive towards her?
Giving them both glares, especially that redhaired one, Myka gritted her teeth then mellowed down to a civil tone.
"Well…Is there a place for me to you know," Myka gestured with her head around the room. The two captors stared at her dumbly.
"I have to pee!" She bumped her fist against the chair in frustration.
"Oh, certainly."
HG got on her knees to unbuckle the brunette from the seat. As she worked on the straps, Myka found herself watching the strange captor. She was strikingly beautiful. Her skin was pale and her hair and eyes were both rich shades of black.
Gazing down at the black locks, Myka suddenly felt the urge to stroke her hair. This urge was broken as she unexpectedly felt the tightness around the bottom of her leg loosen, and the blood surge through the now freed veins.
The feeling was so relieving Myka wanted to thank the captor, but the other woman was hard at work. Silently she willed her to look up.
At the exact moment, HG just so happened to raise her head. Brown eyes met green and a startling moment of exchange took place between them. Neither of the women breathed. Captor was ensnared by captive, and the captive literally just the same.
And then the doorbell rang.
Unfreezing, HG reluctantly turned her head towards the kitchen at her accomplice. Claudia was wide-eyed and looked as if she was the mouse who had just got caught nicking the cheese.
Annoyed, HG soundless spoke. "Is that for you?"
Across the room, the redhead shook her head and mimed back, "No!"
HG turned her gaze onto Myka. The fierce look in her dark eyes was so startling, Myka gasped in fright.
Bollocks.
HG angrily rose to her feet and rounded to the right side of the hostage chair. Briskly, she took the arm of the chair into both hands. From the kitchen, Claudia hurriedly tipped her to the opposite side and followed suit. Together the two women lifted Myka into the air and crab walked her to the back of the room.
After sitting the chair down in front of an unmarked door, Claudia opened it thus exposing the inside of an empty storage closet.
Myka's eyes widened.
Already holding her end, HG waited for Claudia resume position. When the redhaired returned, she pulled too hard on her side and nearly dropped the hostage onto HG's foot.
"Careful." HG muttered.
Claudia grunted in response as she backed into the storage room. After her back came flush with the wall, she dropped her end of the chair and HG followed suit.
Without another word, the dark haired woman disappeared from the closet and around the corner. Last to exit, Claudia threw Myka a stern look then closed the door.
Just when Myka's eyes were adjusting to the darkness the door flew open and in popped the redhead.
"Almost forgot."
Myka squinted at the image of the girl and opened her mouth to protest. Before any words could be released, her mouth was quickly filled with the hard plastic ball gag. Feeling a quick pat on the cheek, the door was shut once again.
Outside the closet, the two accomplices gathered their wits. The doorbell rang for a second time as Claudia straightened her clothes and HG pulled a gun from under her shirt. Taking up a position on the back of the door, HG signaled for Claudia to open it. The redhead's face was frazzled but she placed a firm hand onto the handle.
After taking a deep breath, Claudia opened the door.
"Lattimero's Pizzeria!"
In the hall stood a goofy dark haired guy wearing a pinstriped red and cream shirt, along with a shocking red baseball cap. He held up two boxes of pizza in his hands. Everything had the name "Lattimero's" running across it.
The redhead blankly stared at the stranger. After a full ten seconds, she finally said, "Pizza?"
"Mmmhmm, and very delicioso pizza at that!" The deliveryman happily replied. Claudia's eyes drifted down to the boxes in his hands. He wasn't lying. From the boxes wafted the scent of melted cheese and spicy sausage. Her stomach rumbled loudly at the mere smell.
Interrupting the exchange, a sharp thumping noise erupted from the back of the apartment. Claudia's hand gripped onto the door, whereas on the other side, HG silently swore.
It sounded as if Myka was knocking her chair against the shelves.
On the other side of the door, HG decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. Holding herself still, she chose to give the disturbance a moment's breath. Instead of stopping, the thumping noises became louder and more frantic.
Officially freaked, Claudia grabbed onto the pizza boxes.
"Thanks, uh, delivery guy."
She tried to back away from the door, but he stuck his palm in and held it open. Claudia's face enraged as her eyes flicked onto his grubby paw. The pizza man's warm brown eyes were confused.
"Uh, the money?"
"Oh, right."
Mentally kicking herself, Claudia pushed the boxes back into his hands and began to fumble inside her pockets.
"What was it again?"
"It was eighteen dollars and fifty-nine cents. Did you order with a coupon?"
"Uh-um, no." Claudia fished out some bills and just barely counted them out. As she reached to hand him the change, the unmistakable sound of a woman's scream came from the around the corner. Shaken, the money fell from her hands.
"Dammit!" Claudia hissed as she bent over to pick up the change.
"Is something going on?"
The nosey delivery man stuck his head through the door. Claudia pulled it up and purposefully thunked him on the head.
"Of course not!" She said a bit too cheerily, shoving the money into his hand. The delivery man drew back and rubbed his wrist onto the sore spot on his head.
Deciding to chuck up the strange behavior, he pocketed the money. Still holding the pizzas, he was about give her the standard Lattimero's "Weekend Deals" spiel, when suddenly from inside of the apartment- someone started screaming for help.
Brown eyes narrowed, as the delivery man skeptically frowned at the woman. Something wasn't right. Blocking his view, the redhead pulled the door closer.
"Uhhh…Porn."Claudia stumbled on. "My porn, it's really loud in the other room, I kind of forgot to turn it off."
Mistaking her blushing face for embarrassment, the delivery man's eyes widened in surprise. Porno in the afternoon?
First impressions of the girl, he definitely didn't peg her as being naughty. A blush formed on his face as his brain suddenly became imaginative.
"Oh, I see. Got ya." He said.
Claudia snatched back the pizzas, and quickly backed into the apartment. The delivery guys brows were still narrowed at her strangeness, when he happened to glance down at something shiny just outside the door. He leaned over to pick it up.
"Hey, you dropped some —
"Sorry, no thanks, bye." The redhead kicked the door shut on the delivery man's face.
Turning around, she spied HG who just exited the closet rolling up her sleeves. A furious expression was etched on the Brits face.
"What in the bloody hell was that?"
Claudia was completely bugged out. Her hazel eyes were wide and her face blanched as she sat the pizza boxes onto the table with trembling hands. She dropped into the armchair and folded her hands.
"I don't know."
HG's dark eyes dropped to the boxes on the table.
"You didn't order that?"
"Hells no!" Claudia's eyes flashed violently as she jerked towards her accomplice. "You think I'm that stupid?"
The dark haired woman turned her back on her accomplice as she crossed over to the sink and began to furiously wash her hands. Shoving the faucet off, she aggressively dried her hands on a towel then tossed the balled cloth over the counter top.
"Funny you should say that, especially a certain someone who didn't tie her gag properly."
Claudia stood up, her stance was defensive.
"I was in a rush!"
"Well your bloody rush cost us billions."
HG yanked opened a kitchen draw and pulled out a knife. Hefting the blade in her hands, the woman's dark eyes took on an inhumane glint. Any soul left in there was now fully gone to black. The dark woman slowly raised her gaze, the knife held in a manner in which the blade was pointing outwards in Claudia's direction.
"Do you think it would be too difficult... to chop it all into pieces?"
All of the color drained from Claudia's face.