Don't Play With My Soul
Chapter 41

Ethan Junior's POV

"Evan! Something is wrong with Zenia!" Jasmine called out as she came into the living room where Evan and I were looking at another movie while eating hot Buffalo Wild Wings.

By the mention of Zenia's name I froze and grew alarmed.

"What do you mean?" Evan asked.

"Well, she called me but when I answered, she wasn't speaking; instead, I heard scuffling noises in the background. I tried calling her back but it's going to voicemail." She sat down between us with creased eyebrows. She called Zenia again and, just as she said, it went straight to voicemail.

"Evan, something is wrong."

"Baby, these things happen. Could be the call connection is dropping."

"Evan, I have a terrible feeling that something is wrong with my sister. It's not like Zenia to call me then send the call to voicemail when I'm trying to call her back." "You said you heard scuffling noises?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Jasmine, stop being paranoid. Zenia could've called you by accident; hence, you weren't hearing anything than scuffling noises," Evan dismissed. "Fine!" Jasmine snapped and left.

The next day, I met up with Evan at the office. We were going through financial statements when Jasmine burst through the door, tears streaming down her face.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Evan stood up and pulled her against his chest.

I stood too, something was definitely wrong.

"He called me, Evan. He called me," she cried

"Who?"

Jasmine's cellphone chimed again and it was a video call.

"It's him," she muttered.

"Who?" I asked.

Ignoring me, Jasmine answered the video call with trembling hands. Evan and I got into a position where we could see the screen, and my whole world shattered when I saw her tied up on a chair with blood flowing down her neck. My blood came to a boil instantly.

"As the three of you can see, I do have her!" a figure speaking with disguised voice and wearing a mask spoke, but I had a strong feeling I knew who it was.

"Oh my God! Please don't hurt my sister!" Jasmine yelled.

"She will get hurt if you don't do exactly what I say!"

In the background, Zenia looked pretty bad. She looked like she had been beaten and drugged.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"I'll be sending Jasmine three account numbers and you'll transfer one billion dollars each! If that is met, Zenia goes free."

"Are you kidding me?! We're not giving you three billion dollars!" Jasmine yelled. She was going through a mixed, emotional state and, with her carrying twins, shouldn't be going through this.

Zenia's kidnapper held up a gun, took it off safety and aimed it at Zenia. Before Jasmine could beg for him to reconsider, he shot Zenia in the leg.

She screamed with pain and my heart broke at the fact that she wasn't next to me and I couldn't touch her.

"Does it look like I'm joking?" the kidnapper asked. "You have six hours to wire that money, or else the next bullet will go through her head! And if she dies," he began laughing hysterically, "well, your baby dies too, EJ." The call ended and Jasmine almost passed out. Evan laid her down on the large couch in the office and frustration appeared on his face.

"We've got to do something Evan. Zenia is pregnant!" I yelled out.

"I know we have to do something EJ, but how are we to know that if he gets the money he won't kill her afterwards?"

"I'm not taking any chances with her safety. You saw how he put a bullet through her leg! If we don't do what he says, I believe he will hurt her very drastically."

"Okay, okay! Let me think."

"Dad!" we said in unison.

Dad and Mom arrived at the office. Mom took Jasmine to the doctor and, afterwards, she took her home and stayed there with her.

"Evan, the first thing you need to do is to tighten up on your security. Jasmine could also be a target," Dad advised.

Evan begin making phone calls.

"What's next Dad?" I asked.

"Where's the cellphone?" he asked.

"I've got it." I handed him the cellphone and he began browsing through it. "I'll get my IT guys to trace this call and the account numbers." "But what if it's untraceable?"

"Nothing is untraceable, you've just got to know where and how to look."

"Dad, he shot her." I felt the tears coming out. "And she's pregnant."

My father pulled me in for a hug and I cried against his chest. "It's okay son, we'll get her back and bring her home. I'll fly out tonight."

"We're coming with you," Evan blurted out.

"Evan, you should stay with Jasmine and your mother."

"Dad, I'm married to her sister so Zenia is my family. I'm not going to stay out of this. He picked the wrong girl to kidnap, and that gun he used on her, I'll send it down his throat!" Evan was angry, Dad was angry and I was broken. Zenia's life hung in the balance, and if anything happened to her, the baby wouldn't get to see a light of day.

"It's that Anton guy. He's the one doing this."

"Anton? That guy Zenia was with at the restaurant?"

"Yes."

"How do you know that EJ?"

"Because that's who she went to England with, and why wasn't he kidnapped as well? He can hide behind voice disguise and a mask, but I know it's him."

"What the hell! Dad, get the black jet. We're leaving right away. EJ, close down the tower and send everyone home."

Within the next two hours, we were at our private airstrip

Within the next two hours, we were at our private airstrip. Evan's car was the last to pull up on the tarmac.

We boarded our plane, fastened our seat belts and prepared for take off.

"Find out anything?" Evan asked Dad.

"The account numbers are accounts from a bank in Maine and under the name Jerry Lee," Dad said. "Jerry Lee, Jerry Lee. Why does that name sounds so familiar?" "The bells are ringing."

"Jerry Lee is Madison's father!" I recalled.

"Yes! He lived next door!"

"Okay, now I'm puzzled. Isn't that guy still in jail for money laundering?" Evan asked.

"Yes, he is. So why his account numbers?"

"Someone must have access to them."

"Or, it could be that Jerry Lee is behind this. Everyone know he's broke. This could be his way of getting rich again," I said.

"I don't believe so. Jerry Lee would know better than to cross lines with us. I think it's beyond that."

"Jerry is in jail, and Madison's mother is dead, so that leaves--"

"Madison!"

"Good Afternoon Mr. Hollens'. This is your pilot. Please prepare for take off.'

We double checked our seat belts.

The plane started down the runway and ascended into the skies.

Hang on Zenia. I'm coming to get you, just hang on for the baby and for me.