Lust Meter System: Conquering Beauties-Chapter 50: Kidnap

The taxi ride back to the mart took twenty minutes through evening traffic. Liam sat in the back seat, staring out the window as the city lights blurred past. His body still felt warm from the beach, from Sofia, from everything that had happened just an hour ago.

But now reality was pulling him back.

The driver pulled up outside Mr. Sam’s store. The neon sign glowed red and white against the darkening sky, buzzing faintly. A few customers lingered near the entrance, and through the glass windows, Liam could see Elsa moving behind the counter.

"Here’s good," Liam said.

The driver nodded. "Fourteen fifty."

Liam pulled out a crumpled twenty from his wallet and handed it over. "Keep the change."

"Thanks, man."

He stepped out onto the sidewalk, the cool evening air hitting his face. The door chime jingled as he pushed inside.

The store smelled like it always did—cleaning solution, cardboard, and that faint sweetness of spilled soda that never quite went away. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting their usual greenish-white glow over the aisles.

Elsa looked up from the register, relief washing over her face.

"Oh thank God," she said, letting out a long breath. "I thought you weren’t coming."

Liam walked up to the counter, already feeling the exhaustion creeping back into his legs. "Yeah, well, Mr. Sam made it sound like the place was burning down."

Elsa snorted. "It basically is. We’ve had non-stop orders for the past three hours. I’ve been running between packing deliveries and handling customers. I’m losing my mind."

She gestured toward the back room. "There’s like six delivery orders waiting. Addresses are all written down. Mr Sam said he would be calling you for backup."

"Of course he did," Liam muttered.

Elsa gave him a sympathetic look. "I know it’s your day off. I’m really glad Mr. Sam got through to you."

"Yeah, yeah." Liam rubbed his eyes. "Where is he, anyway?"

"At the other shop. Some issue with inventory or something. He said he’d be back later tonight." She leaned against the counter, brushing a strand of white hair behind her ear. "You good to handle the deliveries?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really."

Liam sighed. "Fine. Let me see the list."

Elsa slid a folded piece of paper across the counter. Liam unfolded it and scanned the addresses. Six deliveries, all scattered across different parts of town. The farthest one was nearly forty minutes away by bike.

’This is going to take forever,’ he thought.

"Alright," he said, pocketing the list. "I’ll knock these out. Anything else I need to know?"

"Oh, yeah." Elsa’s expression shifted slightly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Some lady came in earlier looking for her dog. Said it ran off near the park a few blocks over. I told her we didn’t have time to help, but she was really upset. If you see a little brown terrier running around, maybe grab it?"

Liam stared at her. "You want me to catch a dog?"

"I’m just saying, if you see it." Elsa shrugged. "She was almost crying when she left. Poor woman."

Liam thought about it for a second. If he happened to pass by the park anyway...

"Alright, I’ll keep an eye out."

"You’re a saint," Elsa said with a grin, her tone teasing.

"Shut up," Liam muttered immediately.

Elsa’s grin widened as he grabbed his red cap from the back room, pulled it low over his head, and headed out the side door to where the bike was parked.

The next two hours were a blur.

The first delivery was to an apartment building on the south side. A young guy answered, wearing a stained hoodie and holding a bong. He paid in exact change, stinking of weed, and didn’t tip.

The second was to a house with a perfectly manicured lawn and a white picket fence. An older woman in a floral dress answered, smiled warmly, and handed Liam a ten-dollar tip along with a "God bless you, sweetheart."

The third was to a dorm. The student who opened the door looked half-asleep, grabbed the bag without a word, and shut the door in Liam’s face.

The fourth was to a sketchy motel on the edge of town. A man in his forties answered in boxers and a tank top, cigarette hanging from his mouth. He grunted, took the bag, and slammed the door.

By the time Liam finished the fifth delivery, the sky had gone completely dark. Streetlights flickered on, casting pools of orange light along the cracked sidewalks. His legs burned, his lower back ached, and his fingers were stiff from gripping the handlebars.

’One more,’ he told himself. ’Just one more and I’m done.’

He pedaled toward the park where the last delivery was supposed to be—a small house just on the other side of the green space. As he cut through the park’s bike path, he slowed down, remembering what Elsa had said about the dog.

The park was mostly empty now. A couple of joggers passed by, earbuds in, faces focused. A homeless man sat on a bench near the fountain, bundled in layers despite the mild weather.

And then Liam saw it.

A small brown terrier, maybe fifteen pounds, darting across the grass near the playground. Its leash dragged behind it, tangled in the dirt.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," Liam muttered.

He hopped off the bike, letting it fall onto the grass, and started walking toward the dog.

"Hey," he called softly. "Come here, boy. Or girl. Whatever you are."

The dog stopped, ears perking up. It looked at Liam, tilted its head, then bolted in the opposite direction.

"Of course."

Liam broke into a jog, chasing after the little bastard as it zigzagged across the park like it was playing a game. His exhausted legs protested with every step, but he pushed through.

Finally, after what felt like ten minutes of running, the dog got distracted by something near a trash can. Liam seized the opportunity, lunged forward, and grabbed the leash.

"Got you!"

The dog yelped, startled, then immediately started wagging its tail and licking Liam’s hand.

"Yeah, yeah, you’re cute," Liam muttered, catching his breath. "But you’re also a pain in the ass."

He tied the leash around the bike’s handlebars and finished the last delivery with the dog trotting alongside him. The house was small, the porch light barely working. A teenage girl answered, took the bag, and tipped two dollars.

By the time Liam made it back to the mart, it was nearly ten at night.

He walked inside, the dog still following him, and Elsa’s eyes went wide.

"No way," she said, laughing. "You actually found it?"

"Yeah." Liam handed her the leash. "Call the owner. I’m done."

Elsa took the leash, still grinning. "You’re actually kind of cool."

"I’m exhausted," Liam corrected. He leaned against the counter, letting his head drop forward. "Seriously. I’m thinking about quitting. Like, actually quitting this time."

Elsa raised an eyebrow. "You say that every week."

"I mean it."

"Sure you do."

Liam groaned. "I’m serious. I can’t keep doing this. I’m running all over town on a bike that barely works, chasing dogs, dealing with weird customers... It’s not worth it."

Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Rough night?"

"Every night is rough." Liam looked up at her. "I mean it this time. I’m thinking about quitting."

Elsa’s smile faded slightly. She glanced down, fidgeting with the leash in her hands. "Yeah, well... I get it. Tonight’s been hell for me too."

Liam noticed the shift in her tone. "You alright?"

"Me and my boyfriend got into it earlier," she said quietly. "Right before my shift. Just... stupid stuff, you know? But it’s been on my mind all night."

"Sorry to hear that."

Elsa shrugged, trying to play it off. "It’s whatever. But I might need you to do that favor for me any time now. Remember, the one you owe me."

Liam studied her for a moment.

"I remember," Liam said finally.

"Alright." Elsa gave him a weak smile. "Get some rest. You look like death."

Liam grabbed his stuff from the back room, changed out of the red polo, and stepped outside into the cool night air. The street was quiet now, most of the shops closed, only a few cars passing by.

He started walking toward the bus stop, hands shoved in his pockets, his mind already drifting toward his bed.

Then he heard footsteps behind him.

Heavy footsteps.

Liam glanced over his shoulder.

Two men were walking toward him. Both were huge—easily six-foot-five, broad-shouldered, built like they spent every waking hour in a gym. One wore a black leather jacket, the other a dark gray hoodie. Their faces were hard, expressionless.

Liam’s stomach tightened.

’Keep walking. Just keep walking.’

But they picked up their pace.

"Hey," one of them called out. His voice was deep, rough. "Liam, right?"

Liam stopped. His heart started pounding.

"Yeah?" he said cautiously, turning to face them.

The two men stopped a few feet away, blocking the sidewalk. Up close, they looked even bigger.

One in the leather jacket had a scar running down his left cheek. The one in the hoodie had hands the size of dinner plates.

"We need you to come with us," Leather Jacket said.

Liam’s pulse spiked. "Come with you where?"

"Just come with us," Hoodie repeated, his tone flat. "Won’t take long."

"I don’t even know you guys," Liam said, taking a step back. "I’m not going anywhere."

Leather Jacket took a step forward. "It wasn’t a request."

Liam’s mind raced. He looked around. The street was empty. No one nearby. The mart was behind him, but Elsa was inside and wouldn’t hear anything.

’Shit.’

"Look," Liam said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I don’t know what this is about, but I’m not looking for trouble. I’m just trying to get home."

"Then make it easy," Hoodie said. "Walk with us. Get in the car. Simple."

"And if I don’t?"

Leather Jacket smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "You really want to find out?"

Liam’s throat went dry. He glanced at their hands, no visible weapons, but they didn’t need any. Either one of them could break him in half without breaking a sweat.

’I can’t run. I can’t fight this guy’s without activating point bound might....’

"Fine," Liam said quietly. "I’ll go."