"Yes, she seems fine. We will proceed with the exchange now," Hayden stated tly as he waved his hand slowly for his men to approach with the money.


    What happens now?


    "Can you stand?" Hayden asked softly.


    I didn’t think that I could, so I shook my head at him helplessly. The truth was, even if I could stand up, I couldn’t walk which made me a huge burden. My freedom was just on the other side where Hayden’s men were, but it seemed so far away and impossible to reach with my feet taped together like this.


    "Move away from her, Torex," the leadermanded coldly.


    Suddenly, all guns were drawn and pointed in Hayden’s direction. My head felt light, and I truly thought that I was going to faint just from the sight. This can’t be happening. One sign of aggression only led automatically to another as all of Hayden’s men drew their guns and pointed it at the enemies.


    I started praying and I didn’t even know what exactly I was praying for. Please…don’t shoot?


    "I propose a hostage exchange," Hayden spoke up calmly yet very clearly.


    Everyone seemed to freeze at his unexpected proposal, and I was among one of them. A hostage exchange? What does that even mean? Who is he going to exchange me for?


    My eyes widened when I realized that in this entire ce, there was probably only one more person who would be considered more valuable to this group of men than me. My rtionship with him was probably the only reason why they thought that I was of any value in the very first ce.


    It can’t be. This can’t be happening!


    I began struggling as I tried to stand up while making desperate protesting sound against the tape over my mouth. Hayden must have realized my panic before he turned to smile reassuringly at me. The smile wasn’t enough to calm me down and I knew that nothing could ease my fears. This is just in crazy!


    "A hostage exchange?" the leader questioned with unfeigned surprise.


    "Correct. I propose that you take me instead of her as hostage. As you can see, I’mpletely unarmed. All you have to do if you agree is escort her over there to my men and I’ll let you tie me up as hostage. It’s that simple," Hayden exined calmly.


    "And if we disagree?" the leader asked.


    Even I could tell that he was interested. Who wouldn’t be interested in taking the next boss of Torex as a hostage?


    "Why would you disagree? Are you saying that woman is more valuable than I am?" Hayden asked as if the question was a dumb one.


    Hayden’s offer made sense. In fact, the terms were too favorable for it to be true. He was right, why would they hesitate to take Hayden instead of me.


    "I hope you’re not ying games with me Torex," the leader warned suspiciously.


    "There are no games. You can take me, and you can check your money over there. If all is well, we do the exchange. You get your money and I get to go home," Hayden exined casually.


    A nagging feeling at the back of my mind told me that it wasn’t going to be as easy and simple like how Hayden had put it. Something told me that it wasn’t going to be easy for Hayden to go home. Arge knot formed in the pit of my stomach along with a sickening feeling that I couldn’t exin.


    It was like something terrifying yet unstoppable was about to happen and I would be forced to just sit by and watch.


    "Get up…" the tall man close to me urged as his hands pulled me to my feet by pulling on my arms.


    "Be gentle with her…please…" Hayden hissed before shaking his head in disapproval.


    "Sorry…" the tall man muttered an apology.


    I turned my head towards Hayden as I tried to plead to him with my eyes for him to change his mind. Can’t he see that it’s so dangerous? Why is he doing this!? Does he honestly think that these men will just let him walk free after they’ve got their money?


    Hayden…please stop this!


    I cried out to him so loudly in my mind. Despite all my efforts, Hayden didn’t seem to pay my worry any mind at all. When our eyes met, he only nodded once at me and smiled as if to tell me that this was definitely the right thing to do. He looked like a sweet angel even in this situation and it was wrenching my heart out.


    This isn’t right!


    I began struggling against the hold that the man hand on my arms, but he only held me tighter while whispering to me to keep still. His fingers dug into my arms, and it hurts as he pulled and dragged me across the floor towards where Hayden’s men were waiting with their luggage full of money.


    Just as I was making my way slowly across the floor, Hayden’s men slowly dragged the luggage filled with money over to start the exchange.


    The man who was holding me managed to drag me to where Hayden’s men were waiting. I could feel Hayden’s eyes on me although I didn’t dare to turn around to see him. One of Hayden’s men quickly came to my side and with an approving nod from the enemy, the man removed the tape that was covering my mouth.


    I gasped for breath and then I felt hands on my wrists and ankles and knew that they were undoing the tape there as well.


    I didn’t care about that at all, I turned my head back to stare at Hayden.


    "Hayden!" I called his name loudly.


    My voice came out so broken and so choked up and I realized that I had started crying and sobbing.


    "Don’t cry and get out now!" Hayden yelled from the other end of the floor.


    "This way Miss. We have to get you out…" one of the men said politely as he reached his hand out towards me as if to receive me from the tall man.


    "No, please…Hayden…" I protested in between my sobs.


    --To be continued…