I want to thank those who favorited and followed this story when I published it here all that time ago. If you're one of them, then you know why I had to take it down. After getting a notification that another followed, I decided to reupload it. Thank you AllyCo for following.
The Bittersweet © 2017 by Starling Knight. All rights reserved.
NOTE: This doesn't need to be registered to the Copyright office, once it's created, it's protected even if an alias is used (95 years, life plus 70 years if the author's identity is known). Any action with it without my consent and copying is strictly prohibited but you may use the general idea. I don't claim to own the characters, I do not. This notice is merely in case I'd like to do something with this in the future.
Chapter 1 TAKEN
I rubbed the back of my head as I dragged my feet on my way home. It's been a long day. Actually, it's been a long week, and it had snowed heavily. There was old snow of varying colors on the streets up to a foot high. At least it was Friday. I lusted after a relaxing weekend of nothing as I walked through the slush. Needless to say, my two-mile walk home was terrible, but I felt better about it the closer I got home.
Jumping over ridiculously large puddles, and shuffling across the ice as safely as I could, I was barely aware of the street lights and the creepy SUV. My body, if every one of my pores could sprout out an arm, they would all reach for a hot cocoa and cartoons.
I only became aware of said SUV when it turned the corner after I did. I walked a little more quietly to try and hear if the SUV was following me down the block. It rode down the street from behind me only to stop in the middle of the next block that I was walking towards. It did it again when I got close. Am I being followed? Nah I'm being paranoid. Ugh, I can't wait to get home...
But just in case it was, instead of going straight I turned the corner, going south. I'll just walk to my avenue and then turn to walk to my street. I looked behind me and said car wasn't following me but another SUV like it was headed towards me from my right. I decided to walk through the park since cars weren't allowed to drive through it and it would shave off a few minutes off my time.
Maybe it wasn't a good idea to go this way...Sure it was shorter, but when you get to the other side you're surrounded by apartment buildings with alleys between them and dead ends. But which was worse, walking home by yourself with a suspicious looking car following you and finding out where you live, or walking home by yourself in a seemingly deserted area?
How about walking home by yourself in a deserted area with five SUV's on your tail?
My breath caught in my throat. I wasn't being followed, I was being corralled! I froze, my eyes already darting to find a way out. There were two cars side by side behind me, one in the street next to me and another blocking the crosswalk in the corner. I darted into an alley, sprinting towards the opening on the other side. God, God, God, God, God! I chanted with every step. GOD! Three cars were there, one being flanked by the other two and driving into the small space. I whipped around and the other cars were there, blocking the way I came in. I looked around for any way out and noticed a fire escape to my left that I might be able to reach. The men were getting out of their cars, and with the sounds of car doors slamming shut egging me on, I went for it. I wasn't short, but I wasn't tall enough.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Someone grumbled loudly. He ran to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, grounding me before my next try. He was more handsome than I expected. Light skinned and red hair. No facial hair, exposing his angular jaw. After a second I remembered what was happening and I start to freak out.
"ERNGH!"
"Would you relax?! Fuck!" I squirmed as hard as I could to prevent him from wrapping his arms over my arms, completely immobilizing me. But he was really strong. In the struggle, puffs of a light, sweet scent wafted over me. Not really what I expected to smell from a kidnapper. But I wasn't about to be kidnapped. If I break free, maybe I can run over the cars. Tired of wrestling with me, he opted for throwing me to the ground. I bellyflopped onto the wet pavement.
"I'm not usually rough with girls but..." He caught me looking at my possible escape.
"That would have been badass, but I would have gotten into my car and followed you home. Even if you didn't go there now, you'd go home sooner or later. I'll be waiting for you and get you then. Now come on, the floor's dirty." He said, offering his hand. What a freak.
"Fuck you!" I pushed myself off the ground. Maybe I can throw my bag in his pretty little face. Why was he handsome? Maybe that's his weapon. Well too bad I'm not that type of girl.
He and his goons, wearing all black, laughed. They all laughed. My jaw clenched. I'll mar that face so it would hurt to laugh. And the red head's laugh sounded the most...joyful? Twisted little prick.
"My, the kitten has a potty mouth. It's funny and cute, but a pretty little girl like you shouldn't say dirty things like that."
"Flattery will get you nowhere." I said, my voice a little higher pitch from nervousness. I hated I didn't sound more confident.
"No...but force always does." His expression changed from playful to one of complete seriousness. A predator focused on his prey. It made me drop my only weapon, my bag. He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.
"Let me go you bipolar prick!" I yelled kicking and pounding his back with my fists. He stuffed me into the back of his car and came in after me, pinning my arms with one arm, covering my mouth with his other hand. His legs from under me wrapped around mine. A position I definitely don't want to be in with a stranger.
"Shut the fuck up! DRIVE!" He growled. It was frightening enough that he had me where he wanted me. I stayed still and fought away the tears. No way was this dick going to see me cry.
"Are you going to play nice kitten?" He said. I hissed at him. I turned away from him and tried to get a feel of my situation was. I wasn't uncomfortable and his scent wasn't too bad. Damn, I have to be careful. His looks might be enough to give Stockholm Syndrome!
"Your claws are sharp for a kitten but nothing can cut through this exterior." He said, still holding my down. I laughed. This guy was totally full of himself!
"I do love a challenge..." He breathed as he stared at me. Adrenaline coursed through my veins. That he induced that reaction with a mere whisper... He tested me by letting go of my arms and legs.
"Nice and sweet kitten..." He purred while stroking my hair, his hand still on my mouth. I would have moved into the corner, but he laid us across the backseat. His legs were long, no wonder, and I definitely wouldn't have been able to outrun him.
"Move your legs," I ordered.
"No."
"I wasn't giving you a choice!"
"I don't take orders, I make them." I pushed his legs off of the seat and sat down.
"You-!"
"WHAT! Me what!" I challenged. He silent for a moment.
"You're infuriating." He said. I noticed he didn't have any weapons on him, like a gun or knife, but he had his strength.
"Infuriated." I corrected. He laughed. The bastard laughed!
"Shut the fuck up asshole!" I tried to whack him in the head.
"Woah-hey!" He grabbed my wrist before I made contact.
"Shut the fuck up, you are an asshole!"
"Don't make me gag you," He threatened, forcing me into my corner. Not just with his voice but his eyes too.
"You already make me gag."
"Pipe down kitten-"
"I have a name." I'd rather be called anything but 'kitten'. I was not his fucking pet. I fixed my gaze on the black leather of the front seats rather than his eyes when I told him.
"It's Bella."
"You're infuriating." He muttered, no trace of anger in his voice.
"What did I do now?"
"Nothing, but I didn't expect you to fight me either."
"Sorry, but I'm new to the whole kidnapping thing."
"Will you stop being snarky? It's ugly and you're not." I narrowed my eyes at him. Did he just...?
"Why?" I asked.
"Why what." He grumbled.
"Why me. Why do this, just why in general?"
"Revenge, for all three. In general." I definitely did not expect that. But revenge, and anything related really, was never good.
"I never did anything to you-"
"Not you, your goddamn father!"
"Charlie wouldn't have anything to do with the likes of you!"
"Who the fuck is Charlie?!"
"My Dad!"
"The fuck?!" He pulled out a photo of me at the park when I was prepubescent. Neither of my parents owned a camera at the time.
"When I saw this I almost changed my mind. But then I got my head on straight."
"It's still crooked."
"I know this is you. Not a lot has changed except..." He looked me up and down. "However your purity is still there."
"My what? You're not-you're not into human trafficking are you?"
"No. And even if I were, it wouldn't exactly be beneficial to me, now will it?"
"You wouldn't..." I couldn't say it.
"Wouldn't...? No! As pure as you are, any relationship with you would be disgusting!" Asshole.
I was relieved...and hurt. No guy has ever been interested in me, but none has ever said it 'would be disgusting!'. Asshole.
"We're not rich, so they can't pay any ransom in full."
"I don't want your money. I'm already rich."
"Broadcast it why don't cha-"
"Would you relax!"
"Tell me to relax one more time and I'll hurt you so bad, you'll never be able to relax, capisce?! You get kidnapped and try to relax."
"Bloody hell woman..."
"Asshole." He snorted with a smirk on his face.
"You're nothing like him." He suddenly said.
"Charlie doesn't curse. He has a swear jar with my name on it. It's become my college fund."
"...I'm sorry to say...but this Charlie isn't your father."
"The hell he isn't."
"He isn't."
"And I'm supposed to believe you?"
"Yeah, unless..."
"Unless?" His expression changed from being interested to one of disbelief.
"You don't know?" He asked. I crossed my arms and legs waiting for him.
"You gotta be fucking kidding me," He grumbled. He reached back into his pocket for another photo. It was of a middle-aged man with graying black hair and brown eyes. Both of my parents were blue and they had dirty blond hair.
"This is your father."
"You're saying he gave me away?"
"The one other thing drug lords care about most besides drugs or money is their children. The children are always the successors and he only had you."
"And you want me to give you what he had? He's dead right? Just take it then."
"Not possible. When we invaded his estate, I killed him. His men aren't happy about that. They're hunting for you, but I think you'll thank me for getting to you first."
"You just told me you killed a man."
"It was kill or be killed. Your father was ruthless and merciless. If it makes you feel any better, he had a gun pointed at me too."
"He's not my father. Charlie raised me." He nodded.
"So you have me. What happens now?"
"I don't know. I was told to come get you. I supposed Carlisle has plans for you."
It's pretty much the same as before, though slightly different and hopefully no typos. I'm trying to get better at catching them.