The Accidental Son in Law

The Kidnap

Was he cursed to always have problems in his life? Jaxon swallowed hard and hurriedly stood up. “Where is he? At the hospital?”

“Dad’s health is also deteriorating and Mom is going crazy—she doesn’t know what to do.” His sister cried harder.

“Don’t worry, Leslie, I will send the money needed for the treatment today,” he assured her, then disconnected the call. But where would he get the money from?

There was only one person he could go to for help: his uncle. Jaxon arrived at his uncle’s gate and was allowed in, since everyone in the neighborhood knew who he was. He had always hated coming here because of how cruel his uncle was — he never helped without asking for something in return.

Jaxon sat down to wait. In no time his uncle walked down the stairs. “If it isn’t my nephew,” Austin said. Jaxon stood and bowed his head. “Good day, Uncle.”

“It is indeed a good day,” Austin answered, sitting down. “You’re not here to see me or say hello. You must be here for something—so just say it. Let’s get this over with; I’ve got work to do.”

“Well, Uncle, I came to ask for your assistance.” Austin lowered his gaze to his phone and nodded for him to continue.

“Go ahead. I am listening, sir,” he said. Jaxon swallowed and looked down, finding it hard to speak, but he forced himself on. “I was wondering if you could lend me some money. I promise to work for it. I need to pay for my dad’s treatment—my brother got rushed to the hospital.” Austin took his eyes off his phone and looked at Jaxon, whose head was bowed.

“It’s so sad to hear about your father. I wish I could help right now.” Jaxon fell to his knees, palms joined. “Please, Uncle. Help me this one time. I promise to pay back. I will do any work you want me to do.”

Austin shook his head. “I don’t grow money, you know. You came late. I already used up my money and my wife requested some cash to go shopping. You know women—they always want to buy expensive things, not minding if the money will finish or not.”

Jaxon swallowed hard, knowing it would be difficult to get his uncle to help. Austin was well-to-do and never lacked, but when it came to helping Jaxon’s family, he refused. “But I have a friend who might employ you,” Austin added. “He pays monthly and will treat you well. He has a factory. He can give you work, but you need money as soon as possible.”

Jaxon sighed deeply, trying to stop his tears. “I will give you a call when I talk to him tomorrow,” Austin said. At that moment Austin’s wife came down the stairs. “Honey, there’s a cloth I want. I need some cash, please,” she said, not looking at Jaxon.

“Really, you can get whatever you want. Just take my card.” Then Austin realized Jaxon was still there. “You haven’t gone yet? Anyway, forget what you heard. As you know, family first.” He turned away.

Jaxon stood and nodded. “I understand, Uncle,” he said with nothing else to add. He left the mansion.

“What does he want?” Martha, Austin’s wife, asked, irritated. “He came here for money. He’s such a useless boy, always looking for someone to help him and not working for himself. It’s all my brother’s fault”—she sneered. Austin smirked. “He wasn’t good enough to discipline his children. I always wanted to see them suffer. They deserve it, and I’ll make sure they suffer even more.”

Jaxon walked down the road feeling dejected. Why had he even bothered? His uncle hadn’t helped. Back at his apartment he searched for a phone book and began calling people he’d met before. He called everyone he could, but none answered positively. Finally he reached an old classmate.

“Hello?” came the voice. “Thank goodness, Silas,” Jaxon breathed in relief. “Please, I need your help. Can we meet?”

“If it’s something I can do, come over. I’ll send my address.” He dropped the call and almost immediately received the address text. Jaxon changed his shirt and walked out. Not having enough for the bus, he went on foot.

The address was far, but he didn’t mind. He walked as fast as he could until he arrived at an estate. Silas’s apartment was a few blocks away. After what seemed like forever he located the house and knocked on the door. After the second knock, the door opened—and a strong smell of weed and alcohol hit his nostrils. Silas stood in the doorway with a cigarette in his mouth. “Come in,” he said, opening the door fully.

Jaxon looked inside and swallowed hard. Five other men lounged inside—some smoking, others drinking. Still, he went in and sat down. “Do you want one?” Silas offered, holding a cigarette out to him. Jaxon forced a smile and shook his head. “I’m good. I don’t smoke.”

Silas smirked and sat beside him while the others watched. “So tell me, what do you want?” they asked. Jaxon felt something off about the way they stared.

“Actually, I don’t need anything,” he lied and stood to leave. “I need to get back to work as soon as possible.” Silas rose to face him. “Do you think I’m a joke? You called saying you need help and now you don’t? I don’t do business like that.” Jaxon apologized, but hurried out to avoid trouble. As he closed the door he heard one man say, “We just lost a plaything today. Fuck him.”

While walking back, a car suddenly pulled up in front of him, blocking his path. His mind flickered back to Silas and his heart pounded. The door opened and two men stepped out in black suits and sunglasses. Jaxon tried to run, but he had little strength left. The men caught him and forced him into the car. They tied his hands and sat him down roughly.

“Who are you people? What do you want from me?” he demanded, trying to loosen the rope, but to no avail.

“Calm down, Mr. Jaxon,” a man said as he entered the room where Jaxon had been taken. He sat opposite him with a pleasant smile. “We aren’t here to harm you.”

He snapped his fingers and the men behind Jaxon went forward to loosen the ropes around his wrists. Jaxon massaged his hurting wrists, eyes fixed cautiously on the stranger.

“What do you want from me, and why was I forced here?” he asked. The man leaned forward. “Well, I brought an offer to you. What would you say about getting rich in exchange for becoming the son-in-law of the Greyson family?”