What's Your Deal?

"Speak. What do you want?" Antonio released his grip on the wrinkled collar. After calming down, Antonio returned to his seat and fixed his sleeves.

"This is not the first day I've worked for Master Liam. How would I not know what he is thinking about? If I end up in prison, I will never see light again. I have a family as well. I don't know where Lia is since my team got ambushed before we even had the chance to find her. However..." The man paused with a slight grin on his face, leaving a cliffhanger.

"However what?" Antonio asked as he ran out of patience.

"However, I can tell you that he sent more than one team to look for Lia. Since I got the news that she was at the airport, I am sure the other teams received the same message. Now, I can't guarantee whether she got caught or not. What I can do for you is tell you Master Liam's plan after capturing Lia. And in return..." The man paused again to observe Antonio's response.

"What?! Quit speaking and stopping midway. You have all the time in the world, but I don't. Either speak properly or I will walk out this door right now." Antonio threatened with his arm stretched backward pointing at the door.

"Fine. I can tell you what his plans are, but in return, I want you to guarantee me and my family's safety. By doing so, I mean getting me out of here and booking our plane tickets with new identities. I know how capable your father is. If you don't do as I say, I will not give you any information." The man folded his hands and leaned his elbows on the table surface.

"Deal. Tell me the information first." Antonio promised without the slightest hint of hesitation.

"I like your decisiveness, but I am not stupid. Do what I want you to do first. If not, I will not give you any information. Until we are at the airport with my family in front of me, I will not tell you a single word. Don't worry, I will keep my word. I just want to make sure I am getting what you promised me." He chuckled.

"You- How can I arrange everything so quickly? You have to give me time, and time is not what I have right now to spare! If my father has Lia, then that means she is in danger right now. You have my word for this deal. I will guarantee you and your family's safety!" Antonio gritted his teeth, feeling blood pump at a faster rate throughout his body.

"Nope. You've agreed on the deal, but you could also go back on those words. If you want to know your old man's plans, then you better hurry up. Your time is ticking away, while I have enough time." The man's arrogant expression was asking for a harsh beating, but Antonio held himself back.

"Fine. I will be back." Antonio left the investigation room, leaving the man alone. As soon as he got out of the police station, he dialed a number and requested everything he needed to prepare. Now, all that was left was to wait for the confidential documents to finish printing.

In the meantime, Antonio also sent his men to the man's home, which was included in the file he saw earlier. Since it was a fairly easy address to remember, he easily recalled it and searched it up. Once he confirmed everyone in the man's household, he sent their information to the group chat with his helpers.

He sighed, scrolling through the group chat and answering whatever questions his underlings had about this mission. "why do these kids have so many questions for? Ugh, just go! Lia can't wait if she did get captured!!!" He frustratedly cursed while kicking a few stones to the road in front of him.

With his body leaning against his vehicle, he continually struck his forehead lightly with the front of his phone. Everything seemed so quiet, but peace is a long way from where they were currently at. He knew his father too well.

-Hospital, Private Room -

Selina had just fallen asleep when a clear crisp bell tune woke her up. She opened her eyes and looked over to her charging phone, which brightened up from a new notification from an unknown number.

Thinking it was a phishing scam or spam, she clicked on it to get rid of it from her lock screen. "Huh...A video..? Is this one of those virus videos that hack into your phone the second you click into it? This is sus-"

The new message that followed after the video dispelled her assumptions. "...If you want to know where Lia is currently at, watch the full video. If you don't watch it, you will regret it. Remember, her life is in your hands."

She read the message out loud at a rather low volume, but Jason heard her clearly. "give me your phone. I will set up a security system on your phone through an application. It'll take a few minutes. After that, we can watch the video together to determine whether this person is a scammer or not. Lia should have boarded her flight already at this time. This person shouldn't have her as hostage."

After a few minutes, Jason sat next to Selina, pulling her in for a light hug before he pressed play on the screen. As they watched, their expressions began to twist to a conflicted one. Selina's eyes turned red, lips quivered and hands were in fists under the blanket.

When the video ended, it took the couple a minute to process what they've just watched. "Impossible! No! How could they do this to her?! Is this real? It can't be real!" Selina wished to refute the solid evidence in the video.

While consoling his wife in his embrace, Jason sent the video to the family group chat and had someone investigate the authenticity of the video. Unfortunately, the response he received in the next ten minutes was not one that anyone would like to hear.

"Wife, the video is real. No editing nor photoshop involved. Lia is really in their hands. The whiplashes and fresh wounds were all real. She...may be in great danger." Jason muttered.

"..Impossible! How could she be- That... Let's reply to this bastard and see what the hell he wants from us! Is it money? If it is, then have him or her name us a price! Lia cannot withstand such torment! It is impossible. She is pregnant! She will die if we don't save her!" Selina's emotions were a puddled mess at this point. She no longer concealed the fact about Lia's pregnancy.