25 | PAY UP

It took a few days for Nichole to feel less on edge and more in control of her emotions.

She eventually brought Bonnie and Alicia up to speed, told them to stay armed and to not travel alone in case whoever has Kade makes an attempt to come after one of them next. Guilty by association because they're affiliated with Nichole who's affiliated with Kade. Ademar contacts his brother and temporarily moves him into his condo while he stays at Taehyun's with Nichole.

"What about your family, babe?" Nichole asks, taking a moment to sit and catch her breath. "Are you going to give them a heads up about what's going on?"

"Nah. They're safe," Taehyun replies. "My sister is on vacation out of state and my parents live several counties over in a gated community that they rarely ever leave. I'm not worried about them."

"Well, I convinced my parents to take a trip overseas for their upcoming anniversary." Nichole continues to go down her mental checklist, sighing heavily. "What do you think I should do with the bakery? I can't leave Danielle hanging again."

"It might be best to shut it down until this mess blows over," Taehyun recommends. "These people have proven just how ruthless they are. God forbid they show up and do something to your store, or worse, harm one of your employees by trying to send you a message. The fewer people we get involved, the better. Unless you think otherwise."

"No, what you said makes sense and I really don't want to add another tragedy to my conscience," Nichole replies. "Are you up for a short trip?"

"Sure. To the bakery?"

"Yeah. I have money inside the safe in my office that I need to get out. Say these fuckers do try to run up and catch me off guard, I'd rather not be forced to give them a dime."

"I understand. When do you want to head over there?" Taehyun asks.

"Now? The sooner the better," Nichole answers. "Will you come with me?"

Taehyun smiles. "As if I'd let you go alone."

Having had an eventful morning that was mostly spent in bed, the two decide to let Ademar sleep in while they quietly slip out. Taking Taehyun's car, they drive to Nichole's bakery in silence. It's become difficult to hold casual conversations considering their lives are one wrong turn away from bursting into flames.

"Looks like Danielle hasn't left for lunch yet. This is good," Nichole says while they park. She glances at Taehyun before getting out of the car. "Stay here and keep watch? I'll be out in a sec."

"Yes, ma'am." Taehyun winks, keeping the car running.

Nichole speed walks into the bakery. Talking fast, she tells Danielle and the rest of the staff to clock out for the remainder of the day. Promising them paid time off and without disclosing the fake emergency, she informs them that the bakery will be closed for the next two weeks. She hopes by then that this chaotic situation with Kade will have come to a permanent end.

"I am so sorry about springing this on you guys at the last minute. Please forgive me." Nichole stays out front and watches everyone leave. Danielle is the last person to clock out. "Thanks for everything, doll." Nichole accepts the store keys from Danielle and then gives her a hug. "You have no idea how much help you've been to me over the last few months. I know I haven't been the greatest boss—"

"Girl, don't even finish that sentence," Danielle interjects, smiling. "You've been an exceptional boss. Working here has been amazing. I honestly love it. And whatever this emergency is, I hope everything works itself out quickly and safely. In the meantime, you take care."

"You too!" Nichole waves goodbye and then locks the store after Danielle leaves.

She runs to her office and takes all the money out of the safe, shoving it into her massive Prada bag. Shutting off the lights on her way out, she pauses upon seeing Taehyun standing at the door. Behind him is a man dressed in all black. He's about two inches taller, massive in size, and a smug grin creeps onto his face when he and Nichole make eye contact.

He is definitely not a potential customer.

Feeling the panic slithering its way up her body, Nichole hastily tosses the bag off to the side, kicking it out of sight. She rushes to unlock the door, having no choice but to let Taehyun and the strange man enter. The man doesn't speak until after he forces them to the back exit of the store.

"Been waiting for your pretty ass to show up." The man steps away from Taehyun, revealing the gun in his hand. Attached to it is a silencer, showing he's no low-level crook. "What was in that purse?" The man nods in the direction of where Nichole had tossed the bag of money. "Anything I need to know about? Lie to me and one of you is gone end up with a bullet in you."

"We came here to pick up important business documents," Taehyun answers instead of Nichole. "Because of Kade, she decided to close the bakery and move it elsewhere."

If telepathy was a thing, Nichole would thank Taehyun for being quick with the lie.

"I-I only threw the bag because I was nervous. You didn't look like you came here for sweets, and in case you did try to rob me, I didn't want to risk getting my paperwork fucked up in the scuffle. I only have one copy..."

"Damn." The man stares at Nichole, his ugly smirk returning. "You really planned to move away just because your white boy got himself into a little bit of trouble? What happened to ride or die?"

"Ride or die? I don't know what that delusional bastard told you all, but Kade isn't my man. He's been dead to me for years, first and foremost. The shit that he's in with you psychos has nothing to do with me, so why the hell would I ride or die for him?" Nichole snaps, feeling more angry than afraid. "Secondly, have you lost your mind? Do you seriously plan on killing us in broad daylight? And why have you been waiting for me to show up here? What the fuck do you want from me when you already have Kade in your possession?"

"All that talkin'..." The man laughs, growing frustrated. He runs his free hand over his face, his dark skin covered in deep, old cuts. He's seen some shit. "The white boy said you'd put up a fight."

"W-What is that supposed to mean?" Nichole's stomach sinks to the floor, her hands shaking. "If you aren't going to kill us, then what do you plan on doing? What do you—"

"No more fucking questions." The man points the gun in her face. "I'm tired of talking." He then pulls something from his back pocket, dropping it in front of Taehyun. Zip ties. "Wrists and ankles. Tie her up."

"I..." Taehyun hesitates. "Maybe we can—"

A shot is fired.

Taehyun goes down.

Nichole screams.

"I don't like repeating myself." The man drags Nichole off to the side with ease, her body having gone limp. She watches in horror as Taehyun frantically presses both hands against his right thigh, struggling to stop the bleeding. "He should've followed orders," the man grumbles. He quickly secures Nichole's ankles and wrists with the zip ties. Assuming Taehyun is too weak to try anything, he leaves him free. He then pulls out his cell phone and makes a call. "Done with the cameras?" He pauses. "Good. We're ready. Pull around the back."

Minutes later, Nichole and Taehyun are placed into the back of a windowless black van. Kidnapping vans, she liked to call them. She does her best to scoot over to Taehyun, unable to stop crying. Taehyun continues to keep pressure on the wound, grateful that he hasn't passed out. One of them needs to keep watch on where they're going.

"I'm alright, baby. He didn't hit any major arteries," Taehyun whispers, silently suffering through the excruciating pain. "I'd be dead by now if he had."

"I wish you'd never met me," Nichole sobs. "This is all my fault..."

"While y'all are back there chatting it up, one of you needs to figure out who's going to be responsible for paying the white boy's debt," the man announces from the passenger seat. "My boss isn't a patient man. Not anymore. He wants his money, and he wants it now."

"But I-I thought... but the t-text to Kade's sister said she had until next week to drop off the money?" Nichole questions. "So what do you mean your boss wants it now?"

"The white boy's family basically said fuck him," the man replies, looking back at Nichole. "His sister text back the next day asking for proof of life. We sent her a picture. She sent another text claiming she couldn't recognize him, said she wouldn't pay up until we sent over a video proving he was still alive. My boss didn't like all the back and forth, knew she was stalling. Instead of killing the fool, he decided to give the white boy one last chance."

"Which is?" Nichole asks.

"You," the man answers, turning back around to watch the road. "A while back, your boy thought he could pull a fast one. He stole some kilos and pocketed a few thousand as if no one would notice them missing. Boss eventually found out, beat his ass, and then demanded he be paid back with interest. Weeks went by and your boy hadn't even returned a damn dollar. When Boss finally found him, he intended to kill him, but your boy is a smooth talker. He came up with a plan and... well, you can guess what happened next."

Knowing that his life was on the line, Kade made a deal with his boss. As part of a kidnapping scheme, he would get his family to cough up the money he owed. But after that plan flopped and resulted in him losing a finger, he had to go back to his first resort and roped Nichole into his mess for a second time. She, like his family, has money. She runs a successful business and is cherished by her loved ones. No one cares that Kade has gone missing, but if someone like Nichole suddenly falls off the face of the earth...

"That bitch." Nichole gasps once the pieces start to come together. "He set me up?!"

"He said he tried asking you for the money but you wouldn't hand it over. So now we're here," the man replies. "We've been watching you for weeks. Boss knows all about the two dudes you've been seeing. Did you know the construction worker has a rap sheet?"

"Who?" Nichole mutters, feeling livid. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Ademar Rodriguez. The other man you're fucking on. Boss looked into his background and found that he was a wild boy in his younger days. He's been in and out of jail for all types of shit," the man answers. Nichole and Taehyun share a look. "Someone like him isn't likely to get the cops involved. Once he knows we have you, he won't be able to stop himself from putting on his cape to come save you. And with him, if he's smart, will be the boss' money."

"And after your boss gets the money?" Taehyun asks. "Then what? He'll just let us go?"

"I can't speak on that," the man says. "He'll decide your fate after he gets his money, so you better pray Ademar shows up. If he doesn't, you're all dead."

. . .

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