Revenge From The Underworld
Female Main Character: Catherine Hill
Pairing: Catherine Hill × Brian Baker
Summary: The Baker Brothers got kidnapped.
Word Count: 1.6K words
Rating: Mature (Action, Mafia)
Warnings: Fight Scene, Gun, Kidnapping
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Brian Baker woke up finding himself stuck in a dark and abandoned warehouse, with his older brother in the same state. They were both bound tightly with their hands behind their backs. Completely trapped and unaware of what their captors had planned for them, despite their situation, Brian glared at Hodge from across the dimly lit room, his voice dripping with resentment as he hissed.
"Guess your shady business deals finally caught up with us, huh? Always expanding the family ‘fortune’ your way. Now look where that got us. You got a plan to get us out of here, or are you too busy counting dirty money in your head, Hodge?"
The older man shifted uncomfortably in his restrained state, his face betraying a mix of anger and regret.
"I was just trying to salvage our family's legacy after his death. Meanwhile, you were off playing Mr. Artist."
"And look where that 'salvage' got us, big bro? Tied up and at the mercy of some goons. Real stroke of genius."
Their harsh exchange was abruptly cut short as they heard the sound of footsteps approaching outside the warehouse. The brothers fell silent. The rusty door swung open, flooding the space with bright light. In the doorway stood two burly men, their clothes stained and old scars covering their skin. They looked dangerous. The kidnappers stepped forward, brandishing handguns. Both brothers tensed up, instinctively shifting closer to each other as the gravity of the situation set in. This isn't just about their personal issues anymore. It's life and death now. The taller goon strided towards them, his steps slow and menacing.
"Well, well, looks like we've got us a pair of siblings. The infamous Baker Brothers, huh?"
Brian clenched his jaw, eyes flicking between the masked men, his mind racing. Hodge was unnervingly still beside him, calculating.
"What do you want?", Brian spit out.
The goon just laughed, crouching to eye level.
"Oh, nothing much. Just a little... 'chat' about your family’s debts. And since Daddy’s not around... His baby boys get to pay up.", the man threatened them while he tapped the metal gun against his palm.
Hodge exhaled sharply, finally speaking, low and cold.
"Tell us who sent you. You're insane if you think I am going to hand over the family fortune."
The goons stepped closer, the barrel of his gun hovering inches from Brian's forehead.
"See, your father owed us. And debts like that... They don't just disappear."
"Let my younger brother go and name your price."
"Oh, we will. But first, let's see how loyal you both brothers really are."
The deafening BANG of the gunshot echoed.
"Brian!! Noooooo..."
But instead of flesh, the bullet was embedded in the concrete wall beside Brian’s head. A furious, guttural snarl tore through the warehouse as a blur of fur launched at the goon’s arm.
"Sam?!", Brian’s voice cracked in shock.
Brian's dog, Sam latched onto the gunman’s wrist. The animal's teeth sank deep and the kidnapper howled in pain, dropping his weapon. The second goon staggered back just as Sam whirled around. Hodge seized the moment and rammed his shoulder into the distracted second thug, sending him crashing into a stack of crates.
"Sam, hold!!!", his owner screamed as he frantically worked his roped hands toward a jagged piece of metal on the floor. Sam tore the ropes easily releasing both brothers. Amidst the chaos and violence, the sound of Dominic's familiar voice broke through the pandemonium.
"Hodge, Brian! This way!"
Turning, the brothers discovered Dominic, Hodge's employee holding open a side door, an escape route in the shadows.
"Let's go!" Dominic yelled motioning urgently.
Brian's eyes widen as he spots his girlfriend, Catherine in the doorway beside Dominic. Fear and relief mingled on her face.
"Kitten?!"
"What is she doing here?!", Hodge muttered who was also caught off-guard.
But there was no time to waste. Dominic beckoned them again, more urgently now.
"Come on, before more goons arrive!"
"Catherine shouldn't be..."
"Brian, I'm not about to stand on the sidelines while you two are in danger. We go together.", she argued with her boyfriend as her ice-blue eyes blazed with determination. And the boys knew there was no time for arguments now.
All four escaped with Sam trotting protectively beside them. As they burst outside into the night, Dominic's car was parked nearby, in the shadows. They sprinted toward it.
"In, in, in!", Dominic hissed as he hopped into the driver's seat. The rest scrambled into the vehicle. Brian and Hodge were in the back, Sam was wedged between them, while Catherine took the passenger's seat. Instantly, the doors of the car slammed, and Dominic floored it. Tires screeched as the car took off. Hodge glanced out the rear window, checking the street.
"Anyone followin’?"
"Not that I can see. For now."
There was silence except for racing breaths until Brian broke it, addressing his girlfriend.
"Kat, you shouldn't have come."
"You were in danger."
"I know that, but you could have been hurt. It was too dangerous. We could have handled this."
"Didn't look like that. Besides I was the one who figured out your disappearance first. And I wasn't going to just sit there, waiting and wondering."
"I know you were worried, but..."
"But what, Brian?"
"Great. The perfect time for a lover's spat.", Hodge commented and rolled his eyes.
Dominic cleared his throat awkwardly, keeping his blue eyes on the road but unable to resist interjecting.
"Uh... Maybe save the yelling for after we’re absolutely sure we’re not being tailed?"
Sam let out a soft whine and nudged Brian’s hand with his wet nose as if saying to relax and make peace. The dog owner exhaled sharply, fingers curling into Sam’s fur. When he spoke again to her, his voice was quieter, rougher with worry.
"Catherine, just promise me you won’t do that again."
"Only if you promise not to get kidnapped, Mister Brian Baker."
Hodge snorted at her answer. Never mess up with Catherine Hill, The Snow Queen. Even Dominic cracked a smile. The tension in the car eased a little as the city lights blurred past the windows. After a while, the group arrived at Hodge's secret storage warehouse, an unassumingly grimy industrial building on the outskirts of the city. Brian cast a glance at his brother as they filed out of the car.
"You have a place like this and never thought to tell me?"
"It's not exactly a vacation home. More like an emergency hideout."
"This is like the Batcave. If Batman was addicted to collecting old TV sets...", Dominic noticed and whistled at the Baker's collection.
Sam trotted ahead, sniffing around curiously.
"Guys, listen... Until we can't figure out who’s behind this and how deep the threat goes, Hodge and I will stay here. We can't risk your lives, either."
"Which means we start tracing our father’s old enemies. Someone with enough grudges and resources to come after us directly.", Hodge explained as he pulled out a burner phone from a hidden compartment.
Catherine crossed her arms, frowning. "Just hide indefinitely?"
Brian hesitated. Sam whined and nudged his hand again, as if sensing his conflict and then he answered. "No. We strategize first. Then we act."
"Agreed. But this time, we do it together, little brother."
"Great. More sibling bonding in a creepy warehouse. Not something I actually want to."
Then the younger brother, Brian caught his dog scratching his ear with a paw which made him smile. A momentary distraction from the tension. Hodge was already scrolling through the list on the burner phone, muttering something about too many enemies and too little time. Dominic glances around awkwardly before trying for humor.
"So... does this place have Wi-Fi, Hodge?"
"What part of 'emergency hideout' implied high-speed internet to you?"
"A man can dream."
"Okay, priorities first... Dominic, Sam and I make sure nobody follows us out of this hide-out. Then we figure out who wants you two dead."
"Agreed. But we also need to find out why now."
Sam, Brian's puppy, tired of the tension, plopped down with a dramatic thud and rolled onto his back, paws in the air demanding belly rubs.
"Be careful, boys.", she requested while rubbing the animal's fur.
Brian hugged Catherine tightly, taking a deep breath of her familiar scent.
"We will. I promise. No unnecessary risks."
Hodge watched them from a distance, arms crossed. Dominic clapped Brian's shoulder.
"We'll keep a low profile and check in soon. Be careful."
"Dom, take care of her."
"Of course. I won't let anything happen to her."
To calm his nerves, Catherine gave Brian a lingering hug and kissed him tenderly before speaking.
"You better come back to me, okay?"
"I will. I promise. Sam will look after you while I'm gone. Don't worry, we'll get through this, Kate."
They watched Catherine and Dominic disappear with the dog into the night. Brian exhaled sharply, turning back to his older brother.
"Alright, let’s dig into Dad’s old mess and figure out who wants us dead. The sooner we figure this out, the sooner our paths can divide again."
While the boys were hiding, Catherine was at Brian's home with his dog feeling much safer. Only until she found a mysterious letter attached at the front door which was saying:
You may have escaped but I'm coming for you to get revenge for what you and the brothers did to Ocean. This time, you're alone, and nobody will help you, precious lady. Be ready.