Rifles were laid on the dining table and in the middle was a blueprint of the old factory building they were meant to visit. It was a good thing Robert still had it with him considering he owned every building in that area.

"I can't believe Gerrard would stoop that low to take my children," The Captain said, balling his hands into a fist. When he found out about it earlier, he cursed out every single vulgar word in existence. He finally found his children and now they were taken again. He didn't even get the chance to introduce himself to them.

"I'm sure we'll get them back, Captain," Robert said, fixing bullets inside his pistol. "We just need a good plan."

"Let's not forget he said no police," Howard reminded.

The three of them were surrounding the dining table, fair afternoon light spilling onto them. Robert didn't like the fact that he had to hide this from Ella. However, considering what her father intended to do, he didn't want to put more pressure on her. She wouldn't be at rest if she found out her siblings were in trouble.

"Your Lordship, the news is in," Mr Griffith said, walking into the room with a newspaper in his hand. It was the Times and Robert hurriedly grabbed it from him. The headline stated Mr Featherington had been arrested.

"How many people have this?" He asked his butler.

"Everyone in London is reading it, My Lord."

Ella must've seen it by now. Oh, she'll be furious at him. But this was her father's decision and no matter how hard he tried to talk him out of it, he didn't listen. But it was for a good cause. And now, Ella was out of the spotlight. Mr Featherington was a good man. And he didn't deserve what came to him.

Robert was sure Gerrard blackmailed him into killing those people. He could tell it was true when he asked Mr Featherington about it yesterday and he refused to speak on the matter.

"Let me see it," The Captain said and took the newspaper. Howard peeked in and their eyes read the lines. Their jaws slacked lower with each second that they spent reading the newspaper.

"Was this his plan?" Howard asked, surprise laced in his voice.

Robert nodded.

"He did this for Ella?" The Captain sounded like it was the most unexpected thing he expected to happen. "I must say, I didn't expect him to be willing to go this far for his daughter."

Robert appreciated the fact that Captain Asher was still willing to call Mr Feathherington Ella's father. Though he wasn't her biological father, he still trained her and took care of her as his own. And he was still willing to sacrifice himself for her even though it cost him his freedom. For that, Mr Featherington deserved to still be called her father.

"I was surprised too when he brought it up yesterday," Robert said, striking a cowboy pose.

The distant din of a conversation could be heard outside the dining room. It sounded like Mr Griffith was discussing with someone.

"Miss I don't it's a good idea for you to-"

"Where's he?" Ella stormed into the room her brown eyes hard with anger. Robert widened his eyes at his butler who mouthed, "I'm sorry." Robert had made it clear that Ella shouldn't be allowed into the house and Mr Griffith failed to fulfil that duty.

Robert could understand why.

Ella looked like she wanted to eat him alive.

"Miss Featherington," he said, taking a step backwards. "you're here."

"Now you're calling me by my surname," Ella said, moving closer, her eyes narrowed. "I won't be surprised considering you've decided to hide things from me."

"It's not what you think."

"Oh, it's exactly what I think." She prowled to him, steam rushing out of her ears—metaphorically.

"Ella dear," Captain Asher said with the most fatherly voice as he shielded the captain from her wrath. "Why don't we get you a cup of tea and we can settle this amicably."

The words of her father seemed to do the trick and she walked over to the nursing chair at the corner of the room and sat on it. She tapped her feet anxiously against the marble floor, her brown eyes still searching for Robert behind the Captain's huge frame.

"I just came back from the police station. My father was already in a jail uniform," Ella said, anger tied to her tone. "If you would've told me, at least I could've stopped him from doing that."

"Well let's look on the bright side, you're out of the spotlight," Howard said and she glared bombs at him.

Bad timing, Howard. Bad timing.

"How are we going to get him out of there first?" She asked. "We can't leave him in there. Gerrard blackmailed him with my mother and I so he could do his bidding."

Robert was right all along. Mr Featherington was innocent. But getting him out of there wasn't a priority now, it was Ella's siblings.

"What are those guns doing there?" Ella asked, walking up to the guns on the dining table.

Shite!

Now he had to tell her, "There's something you need to know."

"Oh, so there are more secrets?" Ella asked, glowering at Robert.

He gulped and adjusted the collar of his white shirt. She looked dreadful when angry. Next time he'll make sure he avoided a situation like this by a thousand miles.

"Your siblings were abducted and we have to get them back. Gerrard is our only suspect."

"And you're telling me this now?" Ella's voice was raised to the roof.

Robert scratched his head. "I didn't want to get you involved. It's not safe. He took your siblings. Taking you out there would be risky."

"Do you want to know what risky is?"

Judging by the way her eyes sparked with fury, he knew the answer was a no. So he answered by shaking his head and reeling backwards from a potential attack.

"Risky is what I would do to you if you don't let me in on your plan to get back my siblings." She banged her hand on the table making the grown men flinch like babies. "Are we clear?"

This wasn't a good idea. Ella joining them wouldn't be safe in the least. Coupled with the fact that he wouldn't be able to concentrate for fear of her safety. But if she wanted to do this, there was no way he could make her not to. They were her siblings and she deserved the chance to save them.

"Alright," Robert said, sighing. "But know it's not a good idea."

"I don't care. Now, what's the plan?"

******