Love Is Always Write Volume 4

Victor? No one ever made fun of Dominics or Victors, and they probably never got themselves into these sorts of situations, either. "Robert," he replied, hoping for the best.
    The wallet thief snorted a laugh. "Sure, Bertie. Now sit the hell down. Mike tie him tight. He might be more dangerous than he looks. Can never tell with people named Bertie." He chuckled at his own joke and then made a threatening motion toward Bob, who glared at him, but sat.
    Bob gnashed his teeth as his hands were bound to the chair near his hips. If his name were Dominic, he would never allow himself to be tied. Pragmatism shouldered through his self-disgust, and he knew as Dominic he would probably be beaten and bound to the chair anyway, and at least this way Bob was healthy and well while waiting for whatever was to come, instead of nursing broken teeth and fractured ribs.
    "What do you want?" he asked.
    "I want Jordan Takara," said a voice behind Bob, who craned his neck to look at the newcomer. A tall, slender man stood in the doorway. He had sandy hair and wore stylish oblong-framed glasses. A pale blue shirt with faint stripes covered a slender, almost-too-thin torso, and a silver-striped blue tie was knotted around his neck. "Or more precisely, I want that code."
    "You must be Snyder," Bob said. He felt somewhat relieved. The man looked like a stereotypical nerd and Bob could easily imagine him sitting in front of a television for hours with a gaming controller in his hand.
    "How nice that my reputation precedes me." Snyder walked forward and lifted the wallet from the first man. Bob caught a glimpse of the movement until a protesting muscle in his neck forced him to face forward. There was nothing in front of him except an expensive-looking wooden cabinet before a window with thick drawn curtains.
    "If you say so," Bob muttered.
    A hand reached out and gripped his chin, squeezing painfully. "Where is Takara?"
    "I don't know."
    The squeezing tightened, but Bob met his cold blue eyes steadily. If that was the worst he could do, then Bob could take it, even if his name wasn't Dominic. "Wrong answer." Snyder released Bob's chin and stepped away. "Grind, remove his shirt."
    Bob nearly grinned at the name. Grind ? Except that Grind was suddenly grabbing Bob's T-shirt and his hands were tied to the chair, so how the hell was he planning to—?
    The fabric gave with a ripping sound and Bob yelped. "Hey! I liked that shirt!" Grind ignored him and kept tearing until Bob's former shirt was nothing more than a shredded rag. He pulled away the remains and wadded it up.
    Snyder sneered. "You will soon have more to worry about than your substandard department store clothing. How long have you known Takara?"
    The third man had exited, but now he returned with another set of ropes and tied Bob's legs to the chair. "Don't you think this is a bit much?" Bob asked. "I'm obviously not going anywhere."
    "I asked how long you've known Takara." Snyder's voice was low, and Bob frowned when he looked at the man. Snyder was not even looking at him, instead tapping on a blade-thin electronic tablet.
    "I just met him today, actually."
    "Curious. And obviously a lie, since he entrusted you with the code. Are you in a relationship ?" He asked the last with a sneering tone and then added, "Apparently not, according to Facebook. Although, it seems you don't post there much. I see you are a fan of sushi. What do you know? We have something in common, Bobby. Two sisters, mumsie… no father or is he just another technophobe? What a cute photo of you as toddlers. No gay pride banners. Are you in the closet, Mr. Davis?"
    Bob gaped at him, horrified. He had never bothered to lock down his online profile. He was a bank teller, for fuck's sake. No one had ever cared about him enough to dig through his personal information.
    Snyder made a clucking noise. "You haven't even friended Takara. Definitely in the closet. Or are you just experimenting?" Snyder looked at Bob and smirked, but his eyes did not carry an amused glint. "Whatever. Are you planning to tell me where the code is?"
    Bob glared at him. "You realize kidnapping is a felony?"
    Snyder gasped. "It is? Oh my, I'm in trouble now." He rolled his eyes. "Your loyalty is wasted on Takara. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. And you haven't answered my question."
    "I don't know where the stupid code is. " Bob's tone was flat. He wondered how long Snyder planned to keep him.
    "How much do you know about Jordy-boy?