* WARNING: There was something wrong with fan fiction when I updated my last chapter, Chapter 18 (which most of you haven't read), which is the chapter after Aria's POV (which most of you have read). There were very few reviews so if you're reading this and haven't read the last chapter about Ezra and the girls plans, I would advise you read AND REVIEW that first and then read this chapter. *

Chapter 19:

EZRA POV

"Khaki is not your colour Mr Fitz!" Hanna whispered to me as we hid behind an evergreen bush, spying on the abandoned cottage. We wore khaki to blend in with the trees.

"Shusssh!" I whispered back to Hanna, because if we were caught spying, our plan was ruined.

We had been spying for over an hour now and not once did we see any movement from inside the cottage. I was nervously awaiting for Spencer's phone call to say everything had gone okay, but twenty six minutes had passed since midnight and we still hadn't heard from her.

"Where is Spencer?" Hanna asked aggressively in a whisper. "She was supposed to call us!"

"Relax!" I said in a quiet voice that was barely audible. Telling Hanna to relax was extremely hypocritical of me, as I was the complete opposite of relaxed. I was wired, and not in a good way. "She'll be fine. She's probably on her way back from-"

"Oh my god look!" Emily screamed and I had to order her to stay quiet before seeing what the fuss was about. "I knew it, I knew she was involved!"

Looking through the dusty window pane, which was about 2 metres away from where I stood, allowed me to see a woman who had used to play a big part in my life. Her name; Jackie Molina. Occupation; BITCH! She stood inside the small, thatched cottage, pacing around like she had nothing to feel guilty for. She was still as tall and as skinny as ever. I should've known that Jackie was involved in this. I felt disappointed in my lack judgement of the woman. I had clearly made her out to be a better person than she was.

"Is that Jackie?" Hanna wondered while I failed to respond. Emily gave her a nod, knowing that I was in a state of shock.

I followed Jackie with my eyes. I followed her until she stopped and began a conversation with a man who was not the man I had met at the ice cream bar. This man looked cleaner, but had sort of an edgy-like look about him. He didn't look like someone you'd want to meet in a dark ally way.

"Can you see Aria?" I proposed the dreaded question to Hanna and Spencer.

"No. The angle we're at isn't giving us much chance of seeing her." Emily said. "We need to move closer."

The girls and I then moved to another evergreen bush that would give a slightly better view of inside the cottage.

"THERE SHE IS!" Hanna screamed while Jackie and the man stopped their conversation to investigate the noise. We ducked down so they couldn't see us and I brought my index finger up to my lips, an indication to Hanna that she was to whisper at all times. Luckily, Jackie and the man ignored the noise and went back to their conversation, laughing and giggling like nothing was wrong. They were sick, sick people and they should have nothing to laugh about.

I looked at her. The girl who's hair was scruffy. The girl who was tied up so tight that it looked like she was struggling to breath. The girl that was paler than a ghost, probably from lack of food. The girl that I came to rescue, was now only several feet away from me. Aria would be mine shortly, I hoped.

To my surprise, my cell phone start playing 'Paradise' by Cold Play. I took out my phone and saw that Spencer Hastings was calling me. I quickly answered to prevent Jackie and the man from hearing more noises.

"Mr. Fitz! I'm on my way to Padova. And so is the guy who wasn't fooled by the fake monopoly money." Spencer said in an awful state. "He's furious and is following me in a car behind. I suggest he's going to ring whoever is in the cottage so you need to act fast!" With that, Spencer hung up and I knew I hadn't got much time.

I stared in through the window pane that was not relieved of grime for one last time. I saw Jackie pick up her cell phone, indicating that it was now or never for myself, Emily and Hanna.

"Are you ready?" I asked the girls while taking a huge gulp.

"Not really." Emily whispered. And to be fair, I wasn't ready either, but it really was now or never.

"Just knock on the door and when they answer, get Jackie and the man outside the cottage. Do whatever you have to do. But get them as far away as possible. I'll need to un-tie Aria from the ropes."

Hanna and Emily then left the bushes and tip-toed over towards the front door of the cottage. They interlaced their fingers together, wishing each other luck before knocking on the door. They knocked three times. Each knock sounding like thunder. I was having heart palpitations at this moment, knowing I'd be sprinting inside any minute now. I took three deep breaths, each one slowly but surely, before the door was opened.

Hanna and Emily were greeted by Jackie at the front door of the cottage.

"Don't I know you?" Jackie asked hesitantly. It was obvious she was guilty.

"No!" Hanna replied smartly. "But we know you."

Before Jackie could respond, Emily slapped her across the face. The slap sounded like one of those fake slaps you would hear in a movie, but it was most definitely real, and most definitely sounded painful.

"Marco!" Jackie screamed while the man who now had a name came to her side. "Take these -" Emily then slapped Jackie again, causing both Jackie and Marco to chase after the two girls who were on Team Ezra. Yes, I had got a name for my team.

I sprinted across to the front of the cottage and barged my way in through the door. There she was, tied up by ropes just like I had seen her through the window. She was trying desperately to escape and her mouth was also covered with duck tape.

"Aria!" I exerted and ran over to her. She mumbled something back at me, but it was too hard to hear her with the duck tape over her mouth. I then fiercely yanked the duck tape off her, realising after that it was extremely painful for her.

"Ouch!" she moaned and looked at me with the 'you've been a jerk' look that I had missed so much.

"I am so, so sorry Aria!" I told her, tears welling up in my eyes. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I was a jerk and I totally understand if this is the end for us. I'm just so glad that you're safe." Aria then stared into my eyes for about ten seconds. Her piercing browns met my cool blues. I knew she was hurt, but she didn't show it.

"Just shut up and kiss me!" Aria said with a cheeky smile. I immediately bent down to her level, and pressed my lips against hers. I kissed her passionately, allowing our tongues to interlock every so often. The kiss was heated, lust-filled and beautiful. Occasionally our heads bashed and we missed each other's lips, but it didn't matter. I had waited so long for this moment, and every painfully, slow hour that I had been through was worth the wait. However, our moment was rudely interrupted.

"Ezra. It is so nice to see you here again." Jackie said in a rather loud, angry, sarcastic tone. I released my lips from Aria's and turned around slowly. I saw Marco standing behind her. Emily and Hanna stood behind Marco, out of breath from all the running.

"I won't let you hurt her!" I exclaimed protectively to Jackie while reaching for Aria's hand, forgetting she was tied up in rope. "I won't let you ruin what we have."

"You were warned Ezra. You didn't get the money, and now she'll pay the price." Jackie said evilly while signaling for Marco to take something out of his pocket. "Now that you're here, you can watch!"

As my knee's started shaking, I wondered was this actually happening. I glared at Marco as he took a rusty, steel revolver out of his back pocket. I then looked at Aria. She was petrified and her teeth were chattering.

"Jackie don't do this!" I begged. "This isn't you. I know the real you and the real you would never do something like this." Jackie stared at me, clearly thinking about what I said.

"I'm trying to protect you Ezra!" She said quietly and told Marco to load the revolver. "She'll be the reason why your life will fall apart. She will ruin you, and I won't allow it." By this point, I was speechless, clearly caught up by the heat of the moment.

Marco loaded his revolver. Slowly but surely. He then raised his two hands, clenching the revolver tight and pointing it directly at Aria.

I felt tears rolling down my face as Marco prepared to do a countdown. I then looked at Aria for what was possibly my last time, and mouthed 'I love you' silently. You could hear a pin drop in the room. Marco then began his countdown.

"Three, two, one -"

A/N…. REVIEW! Cliff hanger much? There will be one final chapter after this. Were you expecting any of this? Am I leaving you desperately wanting more? You're all just gonna have to REVIEW FOR MORE. If you want more and are reading this, I would strongly advise that you review. I'm back to school on Monday =( Which means I've my mocks in 3 weeks, so it'll be study, study and more study. I will start the sequel after my mocks, so in about a month. Thanks for being amazing again, and remember there is one more chapter left of this story. Love you all! Becky x

PS- All good things come to an end ;)