Secured Sevenfold

Arin’s POV
Matt got up from his chair, hugging his mom tightly.
“Oh… Oh!” His mom let out surprised as she got a worried look in her eyes “What’s wrong dear?” She took a close look at her son before Matt shrugged it off “Nothing mom, I’m just happy you are here” He kissed her cheek and walked back to his desk “We kinda have an emergency and need to check some things. You know how it goes, right? With this kind of company, business is always going”. Matt’s mom nodded and turned around out of the door again, but I could see the suspicious look in her eyes. I could only hope she wouldn’t ask about it, I don’t know if Matt could take it.

Both Matt and Brian stood behind the computer screen, waiting for Johnny to push the button. They both looked so lost and Johnny, Zack and I exchanged worried looks. This wasn’t good. We didn’t have any confirmation yet, but this sure wasn’t good.
“Do it” Brian said softly, his voice sounded scared, but he knew we had to do it, we all knew.

Johnny had traced the recording to Joe storming into the house, her posture was mad and I could see Matt tense, beating himself up for doing this to her. Joe sat down on the stairs and suddenly her head snapped up and she got up, walking for the door. We didn’t have any sound, but there must have been someone at the door.
“Baby, don’t open the door” Matt whispered before we saw Joe open it, two arms grabbing her, and closing the door again. Joe gone. Matt closed his eyes and I saw one single tear running over his cheek.
“Switch to the other camera outside” I requested calmly, looking at Johnny who nodded curtly. This would be even harder. All five of us were aware of what we were about to see and we weren’t wrong.
The man had overpowered Joe, putting something over mouth to put her out and then dragged her to the van standing in front of the door. A plain black van.
“They fucking took her right from under our nose!” Zack let out, receiving a look from Johnny. Maybe not the best time to point that out now.

The van didn’t move.
“What is he waiting for?” Johnny said, still staring at the images. Time ran by and a little later another guy came onto the screen, a little body swung over his shoulder.
“Jacky….” Brian let out on a breath.
We watched the guys put Jacky into the van too and drive off. This had all happened not even 30 minutes ago.
“Let’s go after them!” Zack was already half way down the office, while Johnny closed down the program and Matt and Brian just sat there like zombies.
“How, Zack? They left 30 minutes ago, they can be anywhere” Johnny replied, making Zack stop.
Zack started pacing “They had some fucking nerve!” He fumed with anger.

I looked around the room, everyone lost in their own thoughts. We needed to make a plan, start looking for them, someone needed to take the lead. My gaze wandered over to Matt, there was nothing to expect of him, I know he wouldn’t be capable of anything as long as Joe was concerned. But we could hardly sit back and wait, not with these important woman gone. They messed with the wrong guys, they were my sisters for crying out loud!
“Zack, Johnny, you will try to get this party to a early ending. I mean, it’s already 11.30, we might as well declare this party to be closed. Just make sure no one notices something going on.” Zack and Johnny both nodded and left the room, after they shortly gave Brian and Matt a squeeze on their shoulders.

“You two, you need to get moving. Jack and Joe are not going to come back with you two sitting around, waiting. You know what to do, just handle this like it’s a regular job. I need your knowledge, and then we will fucking get back those women”
Both guys looked at me glassy, but then finally got up and started setting things up. It would take a while before they would have their head in the game, but we would manage and we would have these women back in no time!

Zacky’s POV
“Okay, Christ… What are we gonna say?” I looked a around little helpless, then meeting Johnny’s eyes who also shrugged his shoulders.
As I could see, only a few of our guests had left and most of them were still here, how are we supposed to get them out of the house without them realizing something odd was going on?
“I don’t think it will be hard to get most of the customers or business partners out, but how are we supposed to get rid of our families?” Johnny looked at Arin’s mother passing our way, giving us a warm smile and both Johnny and I nodded in return.

“Fuck, I have no idea…” I shook my head.
“We gotta do something, have you seen the way Matt and Brian looked and reacted. Brian was full on denial and Matt wasn’t able to catch a straight thought. We have to get the people out of here, quickly, then we have to think of a plan. I can’t believe they really took them right under our nose. What will they do with them? Where would they take them… fuck!” Johnny said and I closed my eyes for a second, why didn’t we pay better attention?
We should have known these guys would be coming again.
I rubbed my eyes and breathed deeply in and out, “Alright, let’s roll. We gotta do this… we just do the typical things, that you always do at a party, when you want the guest to leave.”
“That would be what?” Johnny asked me with a curious look.
“You never wanted to-” I sighed. “Forget it short shit… Listen, we gonna turn down the music, get someone to freaking get the booze out of the way, so the drinks are limited, and while doing that we talk to the people saying something like it’s already late and a lot of appointments waiting for us tomorrow… hell lie or do something… if nothing is working, you just get naked and everybody will run from you.” I chuckled and Johnny flipped me of.
“All the women would come running… believe me, but you wouldn’t know, since lately all women are running from you, right?” Johnny said and I turned my back on him, damn this guy.
“You go into the tent and take care of the things I told you, I will take care of the people in the house, and get them to come outside as well.” I told him while heading into the living room and Johnny’s chuckle was still hearable when he walked out behind me.

“Mr. Jefferson, Mrs. Jefferson. It’s so nice to see you, it was a long day, right? We got so many appointments tomorrow, it’s ridiculous, but who am I talking to, you must be at least as busy as we are, right?” I said and Mr. Jefferson nodded.
“Yeah, I also have a few appointments tomorrow. Lately work never finds an end, right?” He said and I nodded, accompany the two towards the entrance without them realizing.
“It is, you know what is important for all this?” I asked again looking from him to her and they shook their head.
“A good night’s sleep that is really important.”
“That is right, see Henry, Mr. Baker knows what is important, I told you an hour ago we should go home, you will be so tired in the morning.”
“Yes, Laureen, I know. We will go now, you are right.” Mr. Jefferson patted his wife’s hand and I already had their coats in my hand, helped to put them on and brought them out of the door.
“Thank you for the invitation, I talked already with Mr. Haner about a new job, maybe we could talk about it in the coming week, he said you were available for a new job.”
“Of course, we will do that. How about I will call you on Monday, right away? Setting something up?” I asked and held the door open for them.
“Yes, perfect.”

Another round of goodbye’s were said and I sighed as I watched them walk away, but my relief was shortlived when I heard a voice behind me.
“BRIAN? Where are you? BOY?” Brian’s father was running around the living room.
“Papa Gates, what’s going on?” I quickly caught up to him, seeing Johnny coming in from the terrace with about 10 people who he was sending outside with a wave and smile, how was the short shit doing that?
“I was searching for Brian, where is he?” Papa Gates looked at me curious and I shook my head.
“Hell do I know, maybe having a talk with McKenna somewhere?” I shrugged my shoulder.
“No, he is not.” McKenna stood behind me and I suppressed the groan, shit.
“Oh, alright… then with Jacky? I mean maybe he is looking for some-”
“Ohh, yes some” Papa Gates winked at me and I closed my eyes, “Yeah maybe that.”
“Both of you are disgusting, that’s my brother.” McKenna said and turned on her heels leaving again.
“Alright, I will have a look outside, maybe they are outside hiding somewhere.” Papa Gates said following his daughter, and I had no idea how we were supposed to tell these people to leave.

Johnny came walking back in another group of people around him “It was such a nice evening, we really enjoyed it. You should do such an event more often, it is really nice to see you again, Mr. Seward.” Mrs. Clarkson said while winking at Johnny and he held the door open for her.
“We will sure consider that, Mrs. Clarkson, and if you have another job for us, don’t hesitate to call us.” Johnny said and I lifted my eyebrow, look at this guy, hiding qualities, huh?!

I turned around nearly bumping into my parents “Zachary, where is everyone going? It’s so empty outside, did we miss something?” My mother asked concerned and I laid my arm around her waist.
“No, Mom. Everything is fine, but these are all our business partners, they are as much workaholics as we are, they are never letting out a chance to work, so they need to leave early, to be ready to work tomorrow. You know how often I complain about the late work…”
“You never really complained about-” My mother started but I guided her past the office and into the living room again.
“So, you got plans for tomorrow? Mom? Dad? Something nice?” I looked from one to the others.
“Are you tired? You look a little tired, Dad.” I added when none of them said anything.
“No, I’m feeling pretty good. Why are you acting so strange?” My father looked at me and I sighed.
“Nothing, I just want you to feel good, enjoy the evening. That’s it. How about you grab another drink and we let the evening slowly come to an end? Sounds good?”
“Okay, babe.” My mom patted my cheek and I smiled, okay this was not working out as planned.

Arin’s POV
I heard a lot of rumor outside of the office and assumed Johnny and Zack were executing their task at hand. Matt had turned on his computer again and looked over the images over and over again. His fists clenched tightly, the knuckles turning white. Brian was shaking his head over and over again. I guess he still couldn´t believe his own eyes.

A knock was followed by Johnny coming into the office with my parents and Brian´s family.
“Hey, weare heading out, we wanted to say goodbye” my mom came over to give me a hug and so did my dad “Don’t you get overworked dear?” My mom whispered in my ear “You need to take your rest”
I kissed her cheek and assured her I would take good care of myself. It was hard to not just tell them what was going on, but it was clear we couldn’t get them involved in this and also…. We were at best with just the five of us.
“Where are those lovely girls? We would like to say goodbye to them too” My dad looked at my curiously.

Apparently Brian’s dad had just asked the same, because before I could reply to him, Brian already spoke up.
“Jacky wasn’t feeling well, she went to bed, Joe is taking care of her” the line came out in one breath and both our dads nodded in understanding, but our moms were not that easy to be fooled.
Luckily Zack chose that moment to come in again with all their coats, carefully leading them all outside after quick hugs, kisses and handshakes.

McKenna was the last one to go leave the room, but she took a few steps back and hugged Brian tightly. For that moment I thought she wasn’t going to let him go and my mind was working overtime to think of something to get her out, but then she cupped Brian’s face with her small hand and she looked at him intensely
“ Bri, I know there’s something wrong, but I trust you and therefore I assume there is a perfectly good reason for lying to me now. Please know I’m here for you, okay?”
I gaped at the girl, so young, but so wise. Brian closed his eyes and sighed, leaning into her touch a little. McKenna smiled, kissed her brother’s cheek, waved at us and then left the room.

Within minutes Zack and Johnny came walking back in.
“Good. Everyone is gone. We owe our families some explanations when all of this is done,but for now… Let’s get to work”

Notes

Soooo... how do u like Arin taking the lead?
And how are Brian and Matt doing?!

Leave us some comments!!
We need them ;)