Chapter 1: Taken

“Tell your husband to withdraw the M model or you will die here,” a man said. Anya looked at the gun over her head, wondering how she got here. She had been walking down a street of Wind City, a few hours ago, feeling empty inside. The cold night made her feel more lonely than usual. That was the only reason she had even stepped out to get something. Her diamond expensive wedding ring on her finger had caught the light, attracting Anya’s eyes. She had looked down on her hands and smiled bitterly, thinking her husband would not be returning for Thanksgiving again, this year. Before her mind could wander too far, a dark van had appeared out of nowhere and men in black masks jumped out. She had immediately broken into a run when she saw them, but they were professionals. They easily grabbed Anya, covering her mouth to make sure she did not scream and took her away, bringing her here. “Where am I? Who are you?” Anya asked. She could smell a bit of iron and hear water from afar, but it was too dark for her to see. The men pointed a gun at her. “Stop with the nonsense or, I will blow your brains out! Pick up your phone and tell your husband to withdraw the M model!” M model? Anya did not know what this was, but rightly, she knew very little about her husband’s work. “Pick it up!” They dropped her phone on the floor. Anya picked up the phone in panic and dialed her husband, Daniel’s number. As the phone rang, she became nervous. What would they do to her if Daniel did not withdraw this M model? She knew Daniel, or better, she did not know him at all because in three years of marriage, she had only seen him five times. Would he even do anything for her, talk more, withdraw something this important? Anya doubted it. When the call went through, a female voice sounded on the other side. “Who is this?” “Put Daniel on the phone, it’s his wife, Anya,” Anya answered. The other person went silent for a while, before she answered. “Mr Shaw is busy at the moment, why don’t you leave a message with me?” the woman said. “I said to put him on the phone! There are people here with a gun on my head because of him. They say I am to tell him to withdraw an M model or something. Put him on the phone!” Anya basically shouted. The woman on the other end sneered. “Mrs. Shaw, whatever is going on, Mr. Shaw has an important announcement to make tonight and is about to go on stage. You are his wife and should understand this, right?” the woman said. “So, you will not give the phone to the owner so my wife can speak to him, that 's what you are saying, right?” Anya asked, almost chuckling. She had met women like this, she probably looked down on her because her husband looked down on her. “You know this call is recorded, right? If something happens to me, do you want to guess if your response will end up on the Internet and you become a celebrity,” Anya threatened. “There is no need to exaggerate, Anya!” the woman said and Anya sneered. So, this woman knew her. “I don’t know who you are, but I am sure this conversation can spin many ways. A mistress? I can see the headlines. Daniel Shaw’s with his Mistress as his wife is kidnapped,” Anya said. “Tell her, I am sending men for her. End the call,” Anya heard Daniel’s voice say on the other end and paused. So, he was listening? He knew she was in danger and did not even bother answering her call? Tears filled her eyes and the woman’s smug voice repeated Daniel's words. “Mr Shaw says to let you know he will send me for you,” the woman said and ended the call. Tears filled Anya’s eyes. “As you heard, it seems he will not withdraw any model. Whether, M, A or S. He will not withdraw anything for me. Please let me go, I have nothing to do with this,” Anya begged. “Did we get the wrong woman?” one of them asked. “She is definitely his wife, we did not get it wrong,” Another said. “Please let me go,” Anya begged. The men talked for a while ignoring her. The next moment, there was a loud crash. “We have been attacked!” one of them said. Soon, Anya found herself in the middle of a gun battle. One of the men used her as a shield, dragging her all the way to the edge of the water. Now able to see clearly, Anya realized they were at the docks. “Don’t come any nearer or else, I will throw her in!” the man holding Anya backed closer to the water. Those raiding stepped forward and Anya could see them better. They were the Shaw family private military. When she saw them, she calmed down. But the leader opened his mouth to speak. “We have already cleared out all of your men and captured those from your unit. You walked right into a trap,” the leader said and Anya went pale. A trap? Was she bait? Anya heard an engine roar and looked down at the water. It seemed the man was trying to escape on a boat. “Don’t let him get away!” The leader ordered and Anya suddenly found herself falling into the water. The cold sea water swallowed Anya. Gunshots were released firing into the water. The moment Anya felt hot pain on her arm, she knew she had been shot. Her vision started to dim. Just as she could no more hold her breath, someone dragged her up to the surface. Anya was rescued very quickly. She coughed out some water before she could register where she was. “Ma’am, we will transfer you to the hospital now,” the leader said. “Where is Daniel?” Anya asked. “He is at a conference,” the leader answered and Anya’s vision went black. When she woke up, she found herself in the hospital. “Have you woken up?” Anya heard a voice say. She turned around to find Daniel sitting on a chair beside her bed working on his tablet. When Anya saw his handsome face, she recalled seeing him for the first time. “Did you use me as bait?” Anya asked. “No. Other people from my research team were captured. We did not foresee that they will capture you too,” he said, not bothering to look up at her. Anya felt anger and pain. She looked down at her arm. It was clear she had been shot. “The Shaw family’s security would shoot into the water when I was in it, I see,” Anya said and Daniel finally looked at her. “The situation was complicated. They couldn’t let the assailant get away,” Daniel said coldly. “Even at the risk of my life? Or could they see into the dark water to know how to avoid me?” Anya asked, then looked down on her arm. “I guess not,” she commented on her injured arm. “Why were you outside at night?” he asked and Anya looked up at him incredulously. “Are you blaming me for walking around at night?” Anya asked but got no reaction from him. Anya felt like an idiot. It was because she was not important. She was not as important as other people married into his family. That is why they shot without care. She was willing to bet that if any of the Shaw family members were in her place, they would not release bullets into the water. She was lucky it was only an arm she had injured. What about next time? Could she guarantee that she would escape alive? Anya looked Daniel in the eyes and said words she never thought would ever leave her mouth. “Let’s get a divorce.”