Chapter 30

My mouth fell open when I saw Daxton's face. He walked around me, seeming very comfortable in this situation. The first emotion I felt was hurt.

"Daxton? How could you do this to me?" I asked, still in shock. He breathed a laugh and stepped close to me.

"Because, princess, I needed to." He said bluntly, cocking his head.

"Why?" I pressed, wanting to know why he would do something like this. "Wait, were you part of the plan to kidnap me the first time?" Daxton nodded and walked over to stand in front of his henchmen.

"You were actually supposed to die, but I decided at the last minute to 'save' you so that it would be more enjoyable this time. I mean, no one wants to kill a pregnant lady, am I right?" He asked everyone in the room and they all agreed, smiling like crazy people. Which they were. My heart squeezed and I could feel tears building up on my tear ducts.

"What's wrong with you? You're crazy! I hate you!" I screamed, yanking my arms to try and weaken my binds. I thrashed and screamed like a madwoman, wanting to rip Daxton's head off for putting me through this. Daxton frowned, walked towards me, and smacked my cheek hard. My head whipped to the side painfully and my cheek started to throb with pain.

"Shut the hell up." He clasped his hands together in front of him and paced. "Now, it's time for the good stuff." He turned to face me again. "Wanna know who you're really dating, princess? Bring him out!" Daxton shouted.

I looked up and gasped when I saw who they were bringing out. It was Michael and his hands were tied in front of him. His cheek was bruised, but that seemed to be the only thing wrong with him. "Michael!" He looked at me, a worried look on his face. I couldn't believe they kidnapped him too. He was supposed to be my way out and now we were both captured.

"Ahh, Mr. Michael. Glad you could join us. Please have a seat." Daxton shoved Michael into a chair that sat in front of a wooden table and grabbed Michael's tied hands, placing them flat on the table. Daxton sat on the table and I started to freak out when he pulled out a knife to stuck it in the table in front of Michael's hands.

"Did you really think kidnapping the both of us was going to solve something?" I yelled angrily. Daxton guffawed and his henchmen started laughing loudly.

"Kidnapped? I didn't kidnap Michael. He works for me." I frowned.

"What?" I was confused. "Yeah, he works for you. At the office. What does that have to do with this?"

"Oh my god, you're really a dumb blonde, aren't you? To think I was going to marry you." Now that one stung. "No, Michael was in on the plan to kidnap you. Kill you. Dispose of you. All of the above." His words were like a slap to the face and I lost all my breath.

"No, you're lying! Michael, he's lying right?" I asked, praying it wasn't true. A pained look took over Michael's face and he looked down, obviously ashamed. The tears I had so desperately wanted to keep down started to fall like bullets down my face.

I felt as if someone ripped my heart out of my chest and put it back in, just to rip it out again. Jeremy walked over and cut my binds, making me fall to the floor. I didn't bother running or trying to escape because it was hopeless.

"Ari, I'm sorry. You weren't supposed to find out like this. I didn't know what their plan was for you! Please believe me." Michael pleaded. I looked up at him, disgusted.

"You want me to believe that you weren't in on this whole thing?! They want to kill me and you were helping them!" I yelled, getting up. He closed his eyes and opened them again.

"Tell her why you were there just in time to save our son." Daxton told Michael, grinning. "Ooo, this is getting good!" I swallowed and waited for Michael to speak.

"I, uh, I was there to meet you." He finally said. Daxton frowned and took the knife out of the table.

"Tell her the whole thing."

"That is the whole thing." Michael said, looking at Daxton. The knife came down on the table, close to Michael's fingers and a yelp passed through my lips. My heart accelerated at Daxton's violent side. I never knew he could be this way.

"Tell her the whole thing, or you lose a finger for every lie you tell and every detail you skip."

"Okay, okay. I was supposed to save your son and get close to you till the point that you would be able to.....to trust me. And I was gonna take you here." My throat closed up and I pressed my hand to my mouth, shaking my head. This was all a game to him. "But I couldn't, Ari. I started to fall for you and I met with Jeremy multiple times because I wanted out. I didn't want to see you get hurt and I didn't know what they wanted with you."

"No, don't try and put your feelings in this. They're all lies. All of you are liars!" I yelled, backing up.

"Ari, please! I....I love you." He confessed, eyes watering.

"No!" I cried out. "You can't do this to me! Don't--" I couldn't finish because I broke down crying, not knowing what or who to believe. I felt as if my life was one huge bubble of mistakes and I would never get to be happy.

"Aw, boo hoo. So sad. You guys make me wanna puke. Now, for the real reason why you're here. I want the code." Daxton said, facing me.

"I--I don't know it." I lied, wiping my face. The code was a combination that had all of my father's assets and wealth in. Daxton grabbed my shirt and yanked me towards him.

"If you don't want to see your precious Michael die by my hand, you will tell me right now!" He shouted in my face. My eyes flickered behind him and I saw Michael give me one more pitying look before he shot out of his seat and dashed towards us. He swung his arms and brought them down on Daxton's head.

"Ari, run!" Michael shouted to me as Daxton fell to the ground, moaning in pain. I took off, running around the room where Daxton's guards weren't stationed.

"Get her!" Some yelled as they ran after me. I ran out the door and the sunlight pierced my eyeballs. I ignored the uncomfortable pain and looked around, realizing that we were on a pier. I heard Michael's pained cry and I turned around in time to see Daxton overpower Michael and shoot a bullet into his chest.

"Michael!" I screamed as Michael fell to the floor, blood flowing out of him. "No!"