Taken

Chapter 30

I finished the food on my plate and sat back for a moment sipping my coffee and watching the men as they ate.
My mind wondered to Henry and Max and I hoped they were thinking of me. Were they worried? What had they been doing?

"Refill ma'am?" The steward said beside me breaking me out of my thoughts. I sat forward and put the cup I had been holding against my chest to the table.
"Ah yes please. Sorry." I said picking it up again and handing it to him. He smiled at me and walked away again. I puckered my lips and blew out slightly, embarrassed and flustered.

"May I leave the table?" I asked awkwardly. Nico stopped eating and finished what was in his mouth before looking to me.
"I just want to go sit in the sun. You'll be able to see me from here." I said, gradually ending in a whisper.
Nico nodded at me and waved for me to head towards the sun lounges.

"Go ahead, as much as it may feel like it to you at the moment, you are not a prisoner here." Nico said looking at me. I stared at him and didn't respond before I stood up and got half way. My fingers danced along the hem of the shirt, it was almost like a mini dress on me.
The day was warm and the track pants were beginning to make me overheat. I turned around and walked back to the table. Nico watched me closely. Without saying anything I pulled down the track pants and placed them over my chair.

I watched as Nico and Kevin swallowed heavily then watched me as I walked back to the sun lounge.
"Well that was unexpected." Ford said leaning back in his chair watching me. I sat on the sun lounge and leant back, feeling the sun hit my skin. This was bliss. My mind went to how this would feel with Henry, and somehow that thought was even better.

The sun was blocked out and I opened my eyes to see Nico standing in front of me with two coffees and his phone. I sat up and moved slightly as he began to sit on my lounge next to me. Kevin walked over and lay on the other lounge to my right. Ford remained at the table still eating but was watching us closely.

"Here you go."  Nico said passing me a coffee.
"Thanks" I whispered, gripping the hot coffee in my hands.
"What sizes are you? I have someone at the shops who will pick up clothes for you." My eyes locked onto Nico's phone. I could tell they were watching me watch it.
I told him my sizes, and closed my eyes and leant back when I had to say my bra and panty size.
"Fuck, that was awkward." I sighed, finishing my coffee. Beside me Nico laughed. And I heard the swoosh sound as the text sent. I opened my eyes and looked to him as he took the cup away from me and put it on the ground.

Before he could react, I grabbed his phone and tried to pull it out his hands. Beside me Kevin launched forward and grabbed me around the waist. Pulling me into his lap and grabbing my hands and holding them together in my lap. I struggled in his arms, desperately trying to get out of his grip.

"Now Anna. Manners go a long way." Nico chastised, standing up and walking around the sun lounge and sitting again so he was facing me. He held his phone out and Ford walked over and took it.

"I just need to let them know I'm okay." I begged, pulling forward slightly. Nico shook his head.
"I have thought about that. And I want to let things cool a little bit before we do that.  I don't want to be starting a war with the Murdock's."
"If you want to avoid a war, you would let me call Henry and tell him that I'm okay." Nico stared at me for a minute, before nodding his head. He stood up and took his phone from Ford and dialled a number. Putting his phone on speaker as it rang.

"What the fuck do you want?" Henry answered, anger filling his voice. I could look imagine his face, and how bitter and rage filled it would look.
"Look, I'm not calling to start anything. We just thought you'd want to know Anna is safe and okay." Nico said looking at me and sitting down in front of me.
"Henry." I cried out, feeling a lot of emotions coming flooding in.
"Anna! Are you okay?" Henry asked, the anger which had filled his voice had gone, and it was now soft and concerned.

"I'm okay. I promise." I said looking up to Nico. He was watching me closely and we locked eyes.
"Nico and Kevin are being really great." My voice broke at this and I cursed myself.
"Anna, what's happened?" Henry asked, hearing the break in my voice.
"Nothing, I promise. I just miss you." Tears were flowing down my cheeks and I stared at Nico. His blue/grey eyes flicked over my face as he watched me.
"I just wanted to let you know that I'm okay and to tell you to be safe."
"I love you Anna." Henry said. I sobbed, an ugly loud broken cry. I couldn't respond. I buried my head in my hands and tried as hard as I could to cry quietly. Without saying anything, Kevin gently spun me on his lap so I had my left arm against his chest. He gently guided my head to his shoulder and wrapped his arms around me.

I could hear Nico stand up and move away, still on the phone to Henry.

"Hey, shh. It's okay. You're okay." Kevin said to me, hugging me tighter to him.
"I know that sucked; but it was the right thing to do." He whispered to me, kissing my temple. Tears ran down my cheeks and into the neckline of the shirt.

***

Kevin didn't rush me, he let me cry and continued to hold me close. Nico returned and sat opposite us.
"Thank you for doing that Anna. In the end, I think it was a good decision. Next time, try asking. I think you'll find I'm pretty accomodating." I nodded in Kevin's chest.

A loud noise brought my attention up. I watched as a small helicopter buzzed over the top of the yacht before landing.
"Ford." Nico nodded towards the front of the yacht where it had landed. Ford nodded and left through the doors.

"I believe that will be your clothes. They have been laundered as well. Did you want to go get changed?" I nodded and aggressively wiped the tears from my face as I waited for Nico to stand before I moved. Kevin stood up behind me and followed us into the seating area, then the lift. Nico guided me back to the bedroom. I looked to the bed at all the dry cleaning bags laid out.

Ford grabbed a small bag and threw it at me. I caught it and opened it. Before quickly shutting it and looking to him.
"It's a yacht, you need a swim suit."
I rolled my eyes and tsked.
"Not like anyone is going to see me in it." I snapped back. Ford raised his eyebrows quickly in a mocking way, then continued unpacking the clothes but looked at me from the side.
"See how long that lasts."
I scrunched my face at him.

"Ford will put all the clothes for you in the dressing room, in the bathroom is some skin stuff and makeup should you want it." Nico said walking to me and taking the bag from me. He held it out to Ford who took it, throwing it back on the bed and walked with his arms full into the change room.
I pursed my lips and looked down.
"Thank you Nico." I whispered. He smiled and gently reached out and touched my arm where the cuff had been.
"I'm sorry we hurt you." He said absently as he looked at the mark.

"I've had worse." I whispered, looking up to meet his eyes. He furrowed his brow and dropped his hand from my arm. My words seemingly frustrating him. I wasn't sure if he was annoyed at me being bruised or experiencing worse. His reaction made me feel strange.

"Once you're ready we will give you a tour to help you get more aquatinted with the yacht. I would recommend wearing the swim wear. There's an indoor plunge pool, sauna, spa that kind of thing; you may be interested in. It might be nice to just relax and try and feel a bit more comfortable." I nodded and grabbed my arms, suddenly feeling cold.

"I need more time to explore the room situation. If a spare room can be made available, it'll be yours. Obviously I'd rather you stay in here with me, but the only condition I would have for you having your own room would be that Ford or one of the others, guards while you're in there." I shook my head and looked down.
"Thank you, but I'd rather not have anyone guard me?" I said looking up to him. He smiled, and nodded his head, seemingly happy with my response.

  "You can get changed now." He said as he turned and left the room with the men.