The leader of the armed men made gestures to the members of his crew. It was most likely for them to take their assigned positions.
It was like I had guessed.
One of his men remained at the door to look out for intruders, while another moved to the window.
The last of his men hassled my mum pulling her up.
"Sit down!" He yelled pushing her to the chair. My mum obeyed even though she was still badly shaken.
Her hands were trembling so much I got scared. She was weeping as she sat down.
My eyes welled up too.
I hated seeing her hurt. It would have been better if I was hurt instead.
This time I no longer cared about looking weak for I was weak and powerless against them especially with the fact that they had my mum captive.
I couldn't save her and save myself with my limited strength and I would be a fool to think otherwise.
"Good girl." He smiled, caressing my mums cheek. Even with the mask covering his face I could feel him smirk.
The one who had given the orders, the leader, walked up to me and dragged me up from the ground.
"Let me go!" I screamed, trying to pull my hand out of his strong grip.
"Shut up!" He ordered.
He pushed me to Mr Lucky's chair kicking Lucky out in the process since he was lying in front of his chair.
Mr lucky moved away with the speed of flash and went to lie on the other end of the office backing the wall.
"Now you sit here and answer all of my questions." The leader ordered.
"What do you want?" I choked out.
"Who is with the money?" He asked.
He was standing in front of me so my legs were in between his. I swallowed.
I could not deal with another ken. I refused to.
"Which money?" I replied, taking in a deep breath.
My reply was definitely not what he expected. He looked at me with rage filled eyes, tilting his head to the side. Daring me.
"I won't ask again, who has the money?! where is it?!" He screamed at my face.
I shook my head and refused to answer because my answer would have been the same. Which money was he talking about?'
"Speak!" he yelled.
"I..." I stuttered. What was I to say. It was obvious that all this was a big misunderstanding of some sort.
"Do you think I'm playing with you?" He hissed.
"No. I ju.."
He hit me on the face before I could even complete my sentence.
The slap stung so much teardrops fell down my eyes. I could taste blood on my as my breathing became labored.
"I don't know what you are talking about!" I yelled out in frustration.
"I was told of your stubbornness, but I know just how to break you. Kofe?" he called.
The guy who was standing by my mum and pointing the gun at her looked at him, he nodded so I took it that he was the Kofe.
"Do it!" The Leader snarled.
"Yes boss." Kofe replied. "Stand up!" He ordered my mum, dragging her up from the ground.
My mum was frantic. Sweat dripped down her face despite the air conditioner blowing cold in the office.
She was crying hysterically, I wanted to console her, but for the first time I was at a loss for words.
"Good, now face your daughter." Kofe sighed. His words were laced with lust. He pushed my mum so she was resting on the table her back turned to him.
My heart skipping a beat at the thought of what he wanted to do to her.
***
"Don't move or I will blow your daughter's head off!" The Leader warned my mum, now pointing the gun at my glistening forehead.
Kofe started taking of his belt.
"Don't worry I won't be too hard." He grinned, licking his lips. He started drawing tiny circles on my mum's back.
"What are you doing? Stop please."My mum cried out. "Please you don't have to do this please! I will give you anything you want!"
"Tell us where the money is?!" The Leader screamed.
He leaned down so that his face was mere inches from mine. "Or you would watch as your mom is thoroughly fucked in the way that your father never dreamed to do."
"I don't know!" I yelled back, my voice hoarse and my throat dry. "I don't know which money you are talking about. Why would I lie when my mum's life is at stake?!" I asked with pleading eyes licking my dry lips.
My heart skipped so many beats, I was surprised it was still beating.
The leader continued to check my facade waiting for any weakness he could pounce on.
Kofe started to open his jean button despite my mum's pleas.
"Wait!" I screamed, causing the man who's face was just inches away from mine to grin wide.
"Stop Kofe!" He instructed. Then he turned to me. "Are you going to tell me where the money is now?"
"What money?"I asked again. This time my voice came out more as a plea for I didn't want to annoy him any further.
"The one you were going to use to buy this event centre." He groaned, rolling his eyes like it was obvious.
"I'm.. Not with the cash," I cried out. I was expecting him to hit me, but he didn't.
"Don't play me for a fool, whose account Is the money in?"
"My...my..mums." I stammered. It was then I knew why they were here. They were not regular robbers like I thought at first.
Someone must have tipped them off about us buying the event centre. It could only be two people, Mr Lucky or Aunt Lisa.
If it was Aunt Lisa God knows that I would not spare her this time around.
I didn't think Mr Lucky was brave enough to pull such a stunt so it was definitely Lisa.
On my confession the leader walked to my mum pushing Kofe aside. He pulled her up from the table with her hair, so hard she screamed out in pain.
I wanted to fight him, to do anything that could inflict more pain on him than he was inflicting on my mum.
But I was powerless and impulsive me seemed to be on lockdown by a barricade in my mind.
"Where is the cheque?" He screamed at my mums face, causing her to move her head sideways in fear.
"In my bag..." My mum choked out in response. She pointed at her handbag that was now resting on the floor. The Boss stared at it lustfully.
"Get it yourself!" He ordered, pushing her to the bag with full force.
Her legs hit the chair and she stumbled backwards falling down in the process. Her face fell flat on her bag, but she hurriedly picked it up adrenaline probably dulling the pain she felt from the fall.
"Get the cheque!" He continued.
My mum opened the bag and brought out her cheque book with shaky hands. She was breathing so fast I feared for her consciousness.
"Good. Kofe call out the account number for her."
Kofe pulled out a paper from his pocket and gave it to my mum. She slowly took it from him.
Her hard and fast breathing could be heard across the room as she stared blankly at it.
"Write a cheque now with this account number!" The leader continued to order.
He thrust his hands into his pocket, causing me to almost fly up my chair in shock, but I relaxed when I saw that it was a pen he was pulling out.
He gave it to my mum and she hurriedly took it from him.
She tore out a cheque from her folder and began scribbling fast on it.
When she was done writing, the leader snatched the cheque from her and laughed triumphantly.
His men laughed with him too, but for a brief moment, Until he started to walk to me again his eyes no longer filled with rage, but with lust.
I held on to the chair I was sitting, digging into it with my fingers. I could hear my blood pulsating in my ears.
"Now only one thing is left." He said as he touched my face with his rough hard fingers. Even with his entire face covered in mask he still could not hide his twisted want for me.
He started leaning down slowly until his face was inches away from mine, but a bang stops him midway to my lips.
I started sobbing bitterly, my chest heaving up, down with bolts of anguished tears.
The fear and the suspense was killing me and then there was regret clawing at my heart. I shouldn't have pushed Scar away.
I could not afford to kiss another criminal.