Chapter 6 Like you're Hardie

•••FeW hOuRs LaTeR•••

||Arlington Arlington||

I woke up with a loud bang in my skull, that kind of bang you can't simply ignore.

What?

Am I, by some means, suffering from hangover yet again? Did I get drunk last night again, after I've promised not to? Oh God, this is bad!

But, how did I end up getting drunk? I think harder but nothing is coming, arrgh!

Whoever get me drunk last night will pay for... Wait! What am I even saying, I should clear this bad headache first.

I groaned deeply, clearly frustrated as I tried standing up to get some pills. This banging is freaking me out and it seems as if my head will be falling off my neck in the next minutes.

"Easy, you might hurt yourself that way." A calm voice pierced into the air, shutting the daylight from me. I jumped up startled.

How did he get in? Did mom invite some visitors in our home? If yes, this is my room and it should be off limit for him.

"Hey... hey, I didn't mean to startle you that way." I heard footsteps being dragged gently. " I'm sorry, if I did though."

"Here, it'll help reduce the hangover you having." He offered me pills and a glass of water. I collected it from him without warning and quickly take the pills and water. That was when I realised that...

I stare up to look at the source owner of the calm but strict voice and oh goodness! A god in disguise?!

A gasped lightly. No this isn't real, I'm hallucinating, right?

"Stop drooling, already." His strict voice jolted me off my daydream.

"I'm not..." I argued as I look away, clearly embarrassed. That was when realization strike me, wait, this isn't my room. Where am I?

I threw my gaze abruptly at the stranger as I glare dagger at him. How did I get here in the first place?

"Don't give me that kind of look, I saved you from that guy trying to harass you. But it seems I'm late cause you've lose conscious before I could get to you." He explained in his oh-so-calm, yet strict voice.

And now, it all making sense. Jesse. Being grounded. The strange guy and the dark figure. Yeah, I remember now.

"You save me to keep me here just to-" I widened my eyes in clear horror.

What if he saved me just to do something more harsh?

"What...?!" He raised his brow in a questioning manner.

"Please..." I cried. "My mother isn't that rich but I'm sure my brother is gon' pay the ransom no matter how much it is. Please don't hurt me."

He let out a menacing laughter that could send chill into everyone else spine and I couldn't help but shiver. If I could, by chance escape this, I promise to keep my mouth in it accord place. I got in trouble because of my oh-so-running tap mouth that I've got.

"Money, huh?" He sighed like he wasn't laughing a while ago. "What am I gon' use the token your brother will offer me for? To buy cannabis? Nah, too cost for him to afford. Maybe lighter?"

I gaped at him, totally bewildered. Alright, who the hell is this guy for crying out loud. This minute he's calm, next minute strict and another minute, he was laughing like a maniac and now... Oh god!

"You will be lost in your own world of wonder if my brother could gift you that token you called it cause it'll be enough to feed your ancestors for years." I blurted unable to stop myself. Gawd, this mouth!

He smirks evil visible on his face. "I bet your brother will lick my feet for my signature only his wretched clothes." He respond with a smug grin.

This guy...! I'm starting to like his guts and boldness. Who the hell does he take Jamel for? Seriously?

"Do you know who my brother is?" I countered.

"Do I look like I care?" He replied flatly.

"Even if you don't care, I'm still gon' tell you who he is." I yelled to his face. "My brother's name is Jamel. Jamel Grayson, second richest in New York, do you get?"

"So?" He shrugged his shoulders with a boring expression. "What if he's Jamel Grayson, huh?"

"You won't wan' try shit with him, I bet that with you." I flared up, angry at him for taking Jamel so lightly. "I'm only being reasonable cause you'll be sorry for your ass if Jamel gets to know I've been kidnapped."

"I bet with you that its the other way round cause Jamel won't want to try shits with me, either." He replied nonchalantly. What effrontery!

"Who the hell are you? The world richest?" I snorts. "You aren't even New York's richest, tch. Or are you?"

"What. If. I. Say I. Am?"

"Like You are Hardie?" I somehow find this funny and I couldn't help but chuckled at him.

"Yeah. Hardie Morrison..."

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||Hardie Morrison||

"Like You are Hardie?" She chuckled.

"Yeah. Hardie Morrison." I replied dryly.

"Lies. Lies. Lies." She clapped her hands lightly. "You should at least look for a better lie, like that of your class where you belong and won't be suspected."

"Yeah, I agree." I nod with a faint smirk. "You should remember that its not everyone who fake their identity."

"Like you are doing, right?" She countered with a sharp gaze.

"I think you need..." The creaking of the door cut me short as I threw my gaze towards it.

"Lincoln...?" I called out. "Thought you should be resting now, huh?"

"I need to speak to you." He voice out barely escaping a whisper.

"Not now, get some rest first. You need it." I shook my head.

"But Hardie, this is important." He groan.

"Your life is more important here, you should..."

"Listen Hardie, we don't need to waste anymore time. They are obviously planning big, I was doubting before but now I'm sure." He paused as he threw his gaze towards Arling.

"His sister, right?" He asked with a mumbling voice and I gave him a curt nod. "Good! This is it."

"This is it?" I creased my brows.

"Yeah."

"What exactly?" I frowned hard.

"Why we need to talk, she isn't suppose to be here." Lincolnshire pressed.

"I know, right." I shrugged. "I have nowhere to keep her after I saved her and I can't let her out there alone, that was why I brought her here." I faced Arlington but she's putting on a straight face without letting out a word. Something is wrong?

"Do you need something?" I asked her.

"Yes, you are right." She replied sharply. "I want to go home."

"I- I will get..." I couldn't finish my speech as Lincoln pulled my hand and he dragged me towards the exit door.

"Don't you get? it's foolish keeping her here, she needs to go before she brings any suspicion." Lincoln glared at me. I blinked, this was never the Lincoln I trusted. He never for once raised his voice at me, talk more of glaring dagger at me.

"I know right, I just want to..."

"Don't try anything rash, please Hardie." He countered.

"Okay. Okay, I won't." I smirks.

"Good. I'll get her to some safe route, it almost dawn already." He pinched his brows.

"Can I go with you at least?" I asked still putting on my smirk.

He glared at him before nodding. "Right, no rash actions."

"Sure..."