Chapter 103 - Back to Square one (3)

After helping his best friend seat on the couch inside the study room, Malcolm couldn't help but sigh. He too was anxious to know what exactly happened yet he knew that asking his best friend right now wouldn't be a good idea. He then saw that there was a tape recorder on the floor. It fell from Ted's hands just now when he helped him up. He then walked towards it and played it. Unfortunately, it was the end of the tape so he had to re-wind it.

After waiting for a bit, he played the recorder. Same as Ted, he became furious. He was part of that past and so he didn't have to think hard who was the voice at the end of the tape. Fortunately, he was more oriented and so he didn't fell into shock like Ted. He looked at his best friend and sighed. Malcolm himself treated April as his daughter. To see it happening again pains his heart. He knew that he couldn't leave his best friend now, Ted needed his help and so he took out his phone and called a bunch of numbers.

He stayed inside the room and talked to a bunch of people while Ted silently sat on the couch. After an hour, the plane was finally ready. He had ordered his own men to ready his plane. Just then, the door opened.

"Father! I'm going with you!" Colm abruptly announced once he came in. Following behind him, Malcolm saw his wife Jenny.

Jenny instantly went to hugged her husband. She could see his red eyes as soon as she came in. "Dear, do what you need to do. I'll bring Annie to our house and keep her company."

Malcolm sighed and hugged his wife. "Thank you, dear. Do keep yourself healthy as well, I'd worry about you too." He then kissed her hair. Their hugged didn't last long since Jenny pulled away. She took a glanced at Ted and sighed. He was still dazed. Malcolm could only shake his head when Jenny looked at him in question.

Malcolm looked at their son and said. "No, you need to stay here and handle both of our companies. Your uncle doesn't have any son to rely on, so you have to stay."

Colm glared at his father. "NO! I'm going to save her! This time, I want to find her myself!"

Malcolm sighed. Seeing the two in disagreement, Jenny spoke. "Son, your father is right. Our company and your uncle needs your help. Someone has to stay."

"Mother! How can you do this to me?! April needs all the help she can get! Remember the last time?! Didn't she waited for me?! April needs me! She wants me to find her!" Colm angrily yelled his emotions.

When he heard about this news earlier, he hated himself for not seeing her back then before she left. He hated himself for letting her leave in bad terms. Now that she is kidnapped again, he can't just stay in the corner and wait for news again. He just can't! Even if April doesn't love him, he still wanted to see her alive. He'd rather see her happy with someone else than to see her dead.

"ENOUGH! I ... " Before Malcolm could even finish his words, Ted interrupted. "Let him go."

Everyone turned around to look at Ted, he was now getting up. "The staff should be able to handle it. I have arranged everything on my side. Let's go. April can't wait too long." He then walked and stopped in front of Jenny. "Please keep an eye out for Annie. She can't handle this by herself. I'd watch out of her but our daughter needs my help." He then looked down and clenched his fist.

Jenny was teary and hugged Ted. "I'll do my best. Please keep an eye out of my husband and son too." She then pulled away. "I have arranged your clothes already as well your dear. Both of your luggage should be ready and loaded in the car. I'll stay for the night to keep watch on Annie."

"Thank you," Ted replied.

Malcolm then hugged his wife. "Don't tire yourself too much. I'll keep in touch as soon as we land and if there is news."

Jenny nodded and looked at her son. "What are you waiting for? Get your father and uncle going!"

Colm then woke up from his thoughts and got out of the room, Ted followed out. Malcolm held hands with his wife until they got out of the mansion. He gave her a last peck on the lips before he left.

Jenny looked at the sky, it was now almost 6 pm. Tears fell down on her cheeks. She too has accepted April like her own daughter. Now that April disappeared again, she felt a stabbing pain inside her heart. But right now, her best friend needed her help. She wiped away her tears and ordered the servants around.

Some were ordered to pack away Annie's clothes, while others were ordered to cook dinner. It was going to be a long week, she thought.

-----

BANG !!!

"What did you say?!" Cefei slammed his fist on the table.

"April was kidnapped around noon yesterday. It's now 8 am and so she's been missing for roughly 20 hours." Tommie reported.

"Why didn't I got this news yesterday?!" Cefei glared at Tommie.

Tommie gulped and explained. "We didn't have any close relations with her and our men didn't report it. I only found out about it today when I saw the news on TV."

Cefei doesn't watch TV or more likely that he doesn't have the time to. He was busy yesterday doing conference meetings and then at night, he had to do social meetings. He had been away for quite a long time so now he was booked with work.

"Did you found out who took her?" With the Black Dragon Club behind him, there was no information that they couldn't uncover.

"It was the same man who kidnapped her from before. From the information that we dug up, it looks like Alex's wife had gotten him out of jail earlier than expected. I'm not sure if Alex's Group already knew of Francesca's dealings with that man. By the looks of things, they are still blindly looking for her." Tommie then handed a bunch of paper works that he had dug up to his boss.

Cefei then looks at the papers. There were also pictures of Francesca and her secretary, meeting suspicious people. He knew that he didn't have the right to save her, yet he had the information on his hands. His mind and heart were battling a silent war inside him. His heart was saying, "Go and save her! You can't let her suffer any longer!". His mind disagreed, "You aren't that close to her and she doesn't know you or your identity! Once you showed up, what then? She will hate you for lying to her!"

Cefei held his head with both of his hands. He was frustrated. He hated Alex, Francesca and to that kidnapper! What the hell are they all doing?! Why are they targetting a kind and innocent woman?! But most of all, He hated himself for not knowing April before everything happened to her!