Chapter 5 – Found At Last
1339 Words
Olivia had been forced into the back seat of the car, with Richard sitting beside her.
Caleb occupied the driver's seat, and without wasting any time, he pulled away from the curb and drove off.
The moment the car started moving, Olivia turned toward Richard. "Where are you taking me?" she demanded.
Neither man answered.
Richard merely sat there, watching her quietly before turning his gaze toward the road ahead.
Fear and frustration boiled inside Olivia. Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her.
"I'm talking to you," she snapped. "Where are you taking me?"
For a moment, Richard looked genuinely amused. Then he asked quietly, "So this is how you always touch him?"
Olivia immediately pulled her hand away. Confusion filled her face. "Who are you?" she whispered.
The question hit Richard harder than he expected, and his jaw tightened. Just one year, and she had completely forgotten his face.
He leaned forward slightly. "Do you remember now?" he asked, his eyes locked onto hers.
Olivia stared at him for several seconds before slowly shaking her head. "No."
The answer seemed to ignite something inside him.
Richard exhaled heavily and leaned back against the seat. He rubbed his face with one hand before saying coldly, "Faster."
Olivia didn't understand what he meant until the car suddenly accelerated.
Her heart nearly stopped and panic flooded through her. "Please..." she whispered. Then louder, "Please let me go."
Richard didn't look at her.
"My mother is still recovering. She needs me." She explained, but Richard didn't say a word.
Seeing that he was ignoring her, Olivia suddenly leaned forward and grabbed Caleb's shoulder from behind. "Stop the car!"
Caleb immediately tried to steady the steering wheel. "Let go," he warned.
Richard reacted instantly.
He pulled Olivia away from Caleb and forced her back into her seat. "You leave me no choice," he muttered.
Before Olivia could react, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a long cloth strap.
Her eyes widened. "What are you doing?" She struggled immediately.
Richard grabbed her wrists. "I'm trying to stop you from getting yourself hurt."
"Let me go!" She fought harder.
Before she could think of anything else, she slapped him, and the sound echoed through the car.
For a second, silence filled the vehicle.
Even Caleb glanced into the rearview mirror before quickly returning his attention to the road.
Olivia froze as she stared at her own hand in shock.
Richard remained completely still. A dangerous silence settled over him.
Then he gave a bitter laugh.
Without another word, he grabbed her wrists again and began tying them together.
"Stop!" Olivia cried. "You're hurting me."
But Richard kept going, tighter.
"Boss," Caleb said cautiously from the front seat. "I think you're really hurting her."
Richard took a slow breath.
The anger faded slightly from his expression as his grip loosened a bit. Only when the restraints were secure did he finally release her.
He leaned back against his seat and stared ahead. He didn't look at Olivia again.
Olivia glanced down at her bound wrists. Tears threatened to form in her eyes, but she forced them back.
Instead, she looked toward Caleb. "Please," she pleaded. "Tell him to let me go."
Neither man responded.
"My mother will be worried." She explained. "I also have someone coming to see me tonight."
Richard's expression darkened slightly.
She continued. "If they can't find me... It'll make them think something bad happened to me."
The more she spoke about someone waiting for her, the tighter Richard's jaw became.
She had been in danger. And yet the only person she seemed worried about now was another man.
Before Olivia could continue, Richard suddenly spoke. "Has the shipment arrived?"
At first, Olivia thought he was talking to her.
Then Caleb answered. "Not completely."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
Caleb continued. "Vincent checked the inventory." He paused. "Several packages are missing."
Olivia frowned. Neither man seemed to care that she was listening.
"The product scheduled for tomorrow's distribution is gone," Caleb continued. "The premium stock."
Richard's expression hardened immediately. "The one promised to our clients?"
Caleb nodded. "Yes."
A tense silence followed.
"If we don't replace it before tomorrow," Caleb said, "we'll have problems."
"With the buyers?" Richard asked.
"Worse." Caleb tightened his grip on the wheel. "Some of them already paid."
Richard's jaw flexed. "Who took it?"
Caleb hesitated. "Vincent suspects Adrian Russo."
The name alone changed the atmosphere inside the car. Olivia felt it instantly.
Richard's eyes became cold... dangerously cold.
For several moments, he said nothing. Then he finally spoke. "Head there now."
"Yes, Boss." Caleb immediately changed direction.
Olivia stared at both men in disbelief. Shipment, premium stock, clients, Adrian Russo... Boss.
The pieces slowly started fitting together.
And for the first time since being dragged into the car... a terrifying realization settled over her.
These weren't ordinary criminals.
She had been kidnapped by people far more dangerous than she had imagined.
After what felt like an endless drive, the car finally slowed to a stop.
Caleb glanced into the rearview mirror before turning slightly toward Richard. "We're here, Boss."
Richard gave a single nod. His gaze shifted to Olivia, who was already staring at him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Richard leaned closer. "Behave yourself," he said in a low, dangerous voice. "People who cause trouble around here don't last very long."
Olivia's eyes widened.
Before she could respond, Richard untied the restraint around her wrists and immediately grabbed one of her hands, holding it firmly.
The next second, he pulled her out of the car. Caleb was already standing outside, waiting.
Olivia looked ahead and felt her stomach tighten.
An old warehouse stood in the distance. Several armed men were positioned around the property, standing guard.
The place looked isolated and hidden. Like the kind of location nobody would accidentally stumble upon.
Fear crept into her chest.
Richard gave her hand another pull, forcing her forward. She followed reluctantly, glancing around as they approached the building.
The armed men immediately straightened.
"Welcome back, Boss."
"Evening, Boss."
"Good to have you back, Boss."
Richard acknowledged them with brief nods as he continued walking. The men stepped aside without question, creating a clear path for him.
That alone told Olivia everything she needed to know. Whoever this man was, everyone here answered to him.
When they reached the warehouse entrance, Caleb stepped ahead and pulled open the large metal door.
The moment they entered, Olivia froze.
Stacks of sealed crates filled different sections of the warehouse.
Several men moved around the area, checking inventory and recording figures on clipboards. Others stood guard with weapons hanging from their shoulders.
The atmosphere felt organized, professional, and terrifying.
Near one of the tables stood Vincent Cole. The moment he noticed Richard, he straightened. "Boss."
Richard stopped walking. Keeping a firm grip on Olivia's hand, he positioned her beside him. "Tell me."
Vincent's expression darkened. "We confirmed it." The warehouse grew quiet. "The missing shipment wasn't misplaced."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"It was taken." Vincent said.
Caleb folded his arms. "Russo?"
Vincent nodded once. "All signs point to Adrian."
A heavy silence followed.
Olivia watched the exchange nervously. She didn't fully understand what they were discussing. But she understood enough to know it wasn't anything legal.
Richard's jaw tightened. "Has anyone heard from him?"
"No." Vincent shook his head.
"Any demands?" Richard asked.
Vincent responded. "Nothing yet."
Richard stared at the floor briefly before speaking. "Then he's waiting for us to make the first move."
Nobody disagreed. Because everyone knew he was probably right.
Vincent was about to respond when his attention shifted. His gaze landed on Olivia.
For a second, surprise flashed across his face.
Then a slow smile appeared. "Well..." He looked back at Richard. "Looks like Boss finally found her."
Olivia blinked.
Her brows immediately furrowed. "Found her?" The words replayed in her head.
Slowly, she looked from Vincent to Richard. Confusion mixed with fear.
"Found who?" she asked quietly.
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