“I need my rifle,” he said and tried to focus. Danielle had said to meet them at the canal. He pulled on his canvas pants, his boots, and a bulletproof vest.
He jogged down to the parking deck, where his father kept a motorcycle. Grant had thought it was yet another wasteful display, but now he was glad to have it.
He slipped two razors into his mouth, put on the helmet, and raced out of the deck.
When Grant arrived at the canal, Luigi was there waiting for him in front of what looked to be some sort of storm-water tunnel.
“Our guest of honor has finally arrived,” Luigi said.
Grant felt his eye twitch.
“No threatening statement from the newest Holbrook?” Luigi sneered.
Grant ignored the dig. “Let’s get this over with. I have other things I need to do today.”
Luigi smirked at him and held up a blindfold and handcuffs. Grant didn’t want to put them on, and he hoped he would make it out alive. Luigi patted him down and removed most of his weapons but didn’t check his mouth. He also didn’t find the pistol Grant had pressed between his vest and his undershirt. He tried to suck in his stomach as much as possible so his mother’s lackey wouldn’t notice the weapon. Luigi threw the weapons into the water then marched Grant in front of him. Grant hit his head on the low ceiling as he entered into the tunnel, and he heard Luigi chuckle.
They walked for at least a mile, and Grant could hear Luigi huffing and puffing. When they finally arrived at their destination, Grant could smell exhaust and wet dog. The blindfold was ripped off.
“You aren’t so smart after all, are you?” Danielle said when she saw him.
“What happened to a simple trade?” asked Grant. “This is excessive.”
“Run!” Kate sobbed. “They’re going to kill you to hurt your father.”
Grant ignored her. “The Bitcoin are on that hard drive,” he told Danielle. He tried to remain calm and buy himself some time, for what exactly, he wasn’t sure. The odds were three against one—not good. Plus, he was still handcuffed.
“What’s the password?” she asked.
“You’ll receive it when you let me and Kate go,” he said to her.
“No.”
“Too bad. I don’t remember it,” Grant told her. “I have it written down in my office.”
Danielle looked at him. Grant wondered if she knew he was lying. Luigi grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and forced him to his knees.
She held up her phone and started a video call. Grant heard his father’s voice.
“Danielle, what are you doing? Where are you? Release my assistant at once!”
Danielle turned around the phone, and Grant saw the shock and horror on his father’s face. His mother laughed as Luigi pressed a gun to Grant’s head.
“No!” his father yelled. “Luigi, you’re a dead man!”
“I want money,” Danielle said. “And lots of it. Also, there’s a password on Grant’s desk. I need it for these Bitcoin.”
“I’ll give you money. Please don’t hurt him!”
His father looked as if he was crying. Danielle looked pleased—this was the reaction she had been hoping for.
“Don’t bother tracking this call. We’re on the move,” she said and hung up as Alan started the truck.
Grant had no intention of waiting around for her to receive her money or for him to be put in that van. Luigi’s attention was off Grant for a split second. He jerked forward, sweeping out a leg, and brought Luigi to the floor. He wrenched his arms over his head and felt his shoulders pop and dislocate. He spit out the razors and sliced Luigi’s throat. His hands were at an awkward angle, and he didn’t make the cut he wanted.
The gun went off, and he heard Kate scream. Grant slammed his boot down on Luigi’s arm and felt it snap under his foot.
“Kate!” he yelled.
