Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances. Thomas Jefferson

She wasn't sure how many hours they had been on the road. The drive was long and arduous that she was definite about. They'd been on the same highway for at least several hours, two hundred miles if she had to estimate which she was glad she didn't. Her brain was bordering on a state of vegetation.

They were headed north; each road sign that they had gotten on said north. They had been out of New York for at least two hours, but the cramps in her legs, the tension rolling under her flesh were all repercussions of a strain that had nothing to do with being stuck in a car too long.

No one had said anything to each other.

She desperately wanted to talk to her parents, but she was too afraid of Jason hearing her. So she stayed motionless at his side. There was at least a body width's of distance between them. The amount of space should have been good enough to make her relax but it didn't. Nothing did when the word hostage was rolling over and over again in her head.

In those hours he hadn't moved except to scratch the side of his face or rub his forehead.

He would close his eyes briefly. She'd thought maybe he'd sleep and she could use the small advantage to talk to her parents, make sure they were okay, but after only several minutes he would reawaken, if he were even ever really asleep, and continue his blank pensive stare at the horizon. Sometimes he'd lean over and whisper something in Ritchie's ear. What, she wasn't close enough to hear, but it couldn't be anything good.

Not when it meant that in a short time she would be separated from her family and when she would see them again was a bleak uncertainty.

Elizabeth rested her forehead against the window, watching as she pressed her fingertips into the glass and let go as the small dotted markings of her own unique human pattern shone back at her.

It was so weird how life worked out. She had spent a good amount of time trying to escape her family. She would use any excuse to be away from them and enjoy her solitude. Most families usually had an unspoken bond that didn't need reworking or assistance to run smoothly, but no matter what she did, she was never quite in sync with them.

After a while she gave up, didn't try anymore. Now, Elizabeth sighed, the fog of her breath misting into a clear snowball on the window, she'd give her life to start over.

The van slowed down as her haunting thoughts parted from her.

Jason was the first to break the hours of silence. " We're here."

His voice resonated close, coming up against her, clearing her mind when she found him staring at her when he spoke.

" Get out of the van."

She looked away, straight ahead, hoping her hate didn't manifest itself too plainly. That was a sure fire way to give him the upper hand and since her near future consisted of his unwanted company and his scrutinizing gaze, ambiguity was her best bet for survival.

Her family was already being shuffled out. She checked the area around them, knowing it would be unfamiliar to her. Small buildings surrounded them, but on the right where the van door was opened were trees, bushes, separated only by a dumpster and some old useless cardboard boxes.

It looked like they were in some abandoned parking lot behind offices or shops.

" Elizabeth," the sound of her name, terse and short, coming from his mouth, set her movements forward.

He was waiting by the door and she ignored him as she passed. His hand came up, surprising her as the indent of his warm fingertips began to cup her elbow. She recoiled as if he burned her, immediately wiping her elbow down and shooting him a glare of brilliant despise, fiery enough to singe his eyebrows.

Jason didn't react. He just looked down until she turned.

She was walking over to her family when she stopped at his words.

" Say goodbye. You have five minutes."

She was on her heel spinning before she could drag her fury back from the ledge. Her ponytail had fallen out somewhere along the way and so her hair was in her face, strands sticking to her lips as she quivered, out of breath. " That's not enough time."

" That's what you're getting."

" Where are you taking them?"

He shook his head, his tone not budging from its' unemotional state. " You can't know."

" Yes I can," she shot back defiantly. "Tell me where you're taking them. They're my family." She heard her father and mother murmuring for her to stop but all she would allow herself to hear was the deafening echo of her anger spring to life.

" If you need a hostage, then why not take all of us? Why me, huh?" she came closer, her body working on a separate engine than her mind. " What are you going to do to them? What, are you going to kill them? I'm not going to let you do that," her voice was weak as it shattered on her last words. " I won't let you."

Her knees knocked together as a spasm of fatigue threatened to plunder her. Behind her, her mother's voice called out, sounding miles away, frantic but groggy. The support her body was seeking she found as her hand came up and leaned into the car door. She prayed in a muted plea, calling for strength that seemed scarce.

Head down she didn't see Jason step toward her, didn't see him hesitate as his hands came up only to fall hard at his sides in fists.

" Elizabeth." Her father's soothing voice seemed to break the gray inside her.

" I'm okay, she gulped, taking a large deep breath. " I'm fine," she smiled weakly, determined to convince her father she wasn't going to break. " I'm fine."

" Come here," and he didn't have to ask again. She was in his arms, wrapped in him so securely she could barely draw breath. Warm and safe, she inhaled, her face buried in her father's chest. He smelled like peppermint and old spice. He smelled like home.

" Daddy." The first tear fell and something inside her caved in as well.

" Ssssh, hey, pumpkin." He drew her away from the warm cocoon of his body to capture her face between his older slightly wrinkled hands. " You listen to me. You have been so brave. I have never been more proud of anyone in my entire life."

" Daddy," she shook her head to stop him. She didn't like the note of finality his tone carried.

" But right now I need you to be stronger than you've ever been. Don't try to be a hero. Don't try to save us pumpkin. I want you to take care of yourself. Listen to Mr. Morgan. Please. If I know you're okay, then I'll be okay."

She fought the cry building up, biting the tip of her tongue to stop the wail of anguish that rushed up at her. " I can't do this," she admitted in a whisper only they could hear. " I can't. I don't want to leave you."

" Yes, sweetie. Yes, you can." There was no doubt in his words. He was so confident in her strength. She wondered momentarily, how that could be when she had never really done anything to justify such faith.

His gentle grasp became affirming as his gray stormy stare rendered a meaning his words always seem to fall short of. " I love you." He finally supplied softly, kissing her forehead as she gripped his wrists and dug her nails into the flesh, unconsciously, unwillingly to let go.

He released her face, backing away from their embrace, but her fingers clung to him. " Dad," she cried in a moan that embodied a car wreck, a disaster ruined and ugly.

" Dad, don't leave me."

Jason cleared his throat. " We should get going."

Forcing the bile down, she rubbed her nose and looked around, at nothing.

" Max isn't here yet. We have to wait for the guy Max."

" Max will be here." She heard him move closer. " We have to go."

The touch of his fingers coming against her again sent her spiraling away from him, out of his clutches. " Don't you touch me," she snarled, the command barely audible, but direct in its' clarity.

She watched him as her complete disgust for him momentarily removed her from her fear. There was nothing he could do to her, no pain he could inflict, that wouldn't hurt more than the agony she was suffering at his hands. At this point so much was possible. He could slap her, drag her into the car, beat her until she submitted. Whatever it was, she waited for it, uncaring.

Her chin came up and her eyes blared in teary revolt.

Instead of a sharp order he stuck to his silence. His inconclusive expression remained in tact. He didn't break his tide of impassiveness, but he stilled, licking his lips and holding her captive with his wounded blue eyes. His words rang angry but they contradicted the bruised tenderness of his voice.

" I won't hurt you."

She didn't swallow his promise like she suspected he was hoping. " I'm not leaving."

He came closer, just a step, but it glued her train of thought in place. " I won't hurt you," he repeated, slower, his stare boring into her, causing the bones under her skin to spring up like an electric volt was being shot in her.

Persistent on not allowing such reckless abandonment of feeling ever to impair her senses again, she raised an eyebrow, defining her opinion of his honor by taking a significant step back as she sneered and huffed down at his supposed sincerity. She'd spit nails before assuming any truth in the man before her.

Her mouth opened just as the color of his face bloomed from tan to red in a hot second. There was no misreading his face this time. He was mad. " I said I'm not going with you and I meant-"

He advanced on her so quickly all Elizabeth saw was a blur. Next he was over her, crowding her, his anger surpassing his ability to keep control. " Get in the car or I'll-"

" You'll what? Kill me? Kill my family?" she spit back, " You're a low life murdering pig and you expect to believe you….to get in there and drive away with you. I'd rather be shot in the head first."

" That can be arranged."

" Drop dead."

" I don't have time for your childishness. We're wasting time."

" Time? So you can send my family away and have them killed. Get the goddamn job done without exposing to anyone what a disgusting, miserable excuse for human being you really are."

" That's it."

His hand came down on her shoulder and he bent; his intentions evident when his forearm wrapped around the back of her legs. Her body stalled in its' response. Her anger, her emotions, had gotten the better of her again and by the time she realized what he was doing to her, she was already hauled over his shoulder and locked in place.

Her wiggling was useless in the cement binding of his arms. There was no amount of squirming that would free her, although she tried for preservations sake.

" Don't hurt her, please." Her mother muffled a plea between sobs. " Please just let her be. She's a good child. Please, let her stay with us."

Hoisting her up for a firmer hold, Jason eyed Ritchie, jerking his head in the family's direction. " When Max gets here, get them in and out of here. No stops. You hear me?"

Ritchie nodded. " When do you want me to-"

" The minute they're settled. Tell Max I don't want to hear from him. If I need anything I'll contact him. Otherwise, nothing."

" And what about Sonny-"

Jason straightened, an uncomfortable flatness entering his eyes as the rest of him followed suit and became granite. He heaved out a short quick stream of air, fishing for his own set of keys out of his pocket.

" I'll deal with him when we get-Ow, fuck." The pinch in the middle of his back sent him lurching forward, but his sharp reflexes steadied him and he ended up only taking a step ahead instead of flat on his face.

Cursing under his breath, his thumb and forefinger, which he found were resting comfortably in her inner thigh, bunched the soft flesh there together and squeezed.

He felt her body tighten as she stifled her yelp, but she didn't say anything.

He went on, pretending she wasn't over his shoulder, her weight, body not pressing into him." Remember what I said."

He was rounding the front of the van when he heard Mr. Webber call out. He stopped but didn't act to respond.

" Please, take care of her. Don't-don't hurt her."

Twisting his head to meet the man's gaze, Jason didn't hide his disdain for other man, nor did he refuse to back down as the elderly fellow cowered under his lethal glower.

" Elizabeth is the least of your worries," he advised coolly, his gaze dropping to the two women on both his shoulders than lingering on the toddler who still lay sleeping in the mother's arms. " Do as you're told and you and your family might make it through this alive."

He was at the front of the driver's side, letting Elizabeth on her feet in one fast motion. The keys dangled in front of him as she straightened her hunched position.

Pushing the hair from her face, she took a ragged breath and just as he leaned in to get a peek at her she threw him off balance by shoving him.

He didn't go very far only faltering a step, but when he saw her hands come up to do it again, his temper spiked. He blocked the obvious attack and manacled her wrists with his hands, tugging them in place at her sides.

His face was almost buried in hers before he could talk himself out of sinking to her level.

" Get in the car," he paused, his nostrils flaring in time with his fuming glare. " Now."

Blocking the rise of fright that tended to show itself at the most exposing moments, Elizabeth twisted under the harsh pressure of his hands. Her tiny wrists burned in pain the more she moved, but she didn't stop as she spat her vow out. " You ever do that again and I'll pinch a more sensitive area." Her eyes slipped lower than came back up in an unmistakable message. " Got it?"

There was no misconstruing the hint of the smile that came and passed on his face. He straightened, still too close for comfort, but at least he wasn't as unnervingly near, destroying and raging in glorious anger.

" I think I liked you better when you were meek and shy."

She squinted her eyes at the keys still dangling from his finger. " I know I liked you better when you were bleeding and unconscious."

He sighed, taking her hand and plopping the keys in her open palm. She looked at them as if they had fallen from the sky.

" Let's go." He grabbed the latch of the door behind her. She didn't move. " They're keys Elizabeth."

" I don't get-"

His eyes skipped between her and the keys in her hand. " What?" There was no misinterpreting his impatience. " What?"

" Why am I driving?"

" The cops are going to be looking for a driver matching my description. You drive and it helps our chances."

When the answer didn't jolt her into action, he gently but firmly pushed her to the side, opening the door the rest of the way then leading her in with a nudge from her lower back. He stood there until she started the car, but she still appeared off to him.

He came around and was in his seat before she had time to understand what was really happening here. She was leaving, leaving her family and she might not ever see them again.

Her small fingers gripped the wheel tight, refusing to accept this as her reality.

She turned, her head moving to the right and then to the left, leaning over the steering wheel to catch a glimpse of her family, but they were too far from the car. The windows were too tinted in the back for a good enough view to at least wave a goodbye.

" Elizabeth."

She sniffled, put the car in drive. " Shutup," she whispered, torn. " Just shutup."

And he did. He didn't say one word for the rest of the ride, which was good because as far as she was concerned she never wanted to speak to the man again. Not when he was the one responsible for ripping her family apart.

8

She drove slower than shit.

It took all of Jason's strength not to pull her off the wheel and jam the gas pedal till his foot hit ground.

He didn't know if she was doing this on purpose, but he wasn't going to argue. Fighting with her always seemed to slow plans down and time was a commodity they couldn't waste.

So he sat, not moving, trying harder than ever not to think. He ran the mental lists of dos and don'ts in his head. Fucking cops. He kept coming back to that. He wasn't sure who had made the call. He knew it wasn't one of the Webbers. None of them had ever left his sight long enough to sneak a call.

He didn't know who it was but when he found out...

The sign for a rest stop zipped past them. He straightened clearing his unused vocal chords. Now that it was just the two of them, he was uneasy with the idea of having to control her on his own. He didn't trust himself to do what was needed and stay as impartial as possible.

She was more unpredictable than any person he'd ever met and that made for a damn nuisance when it came to this delicate situation. She was hostage, he was her…kidnapper?

Either way, she had to believe his intentions were dead serious. She had to believe this was serious in order to protect her from what came next.

It was hard when one minute she was emotional, on the verge of a breakdown and the next she was spitting angry, ready to war with him like she was six feet and weighed over two hundred.

A temper like that was only asking for trouble and since having the cops on them was an unpleasant curveball they were going to have to deal with Jason was intolerant to handle more.

" Pull off the next exit."

Her countenance didn't change as she asked " Why?" Her question raucous sounding.

She sounded so diminutive… just like her presence. He peeked a look from the corner of his eye, not turning. She looked especially tiny behind the wheel. He also noticed how it seemed to hurt whenever she tried to swallow.

His eyes narrowed but he didn't voice his concern. " Supplies."

She raised an eyebrow.

" Town is far from where we're staying."

He didn't know why but his answer darkened her appearance, like a shadow was cast over her. She nodded but it was faint almost nonexistent. Since it appeared she didn't notice him inspecting her, he took a more liberal view, examining her carefully for the first time.

She looked horrible, he concluded as a fist of emotion punched his gut.

She was a beautiful girl, there was no denying that fact, but sitting so close to her he couldn't excuse the dark blue shadows forming under eyes, the lines that accented them. Her curls were limp around her, no longer shiny like the side of a polished gem. Her eyes had lost their luster hours ago, but her body looked ready to break.

Every now and then she would shake, some part of her would tremble; her elbows, her shoulders, sometimes even her legs and he could tell she was holding herself together to stop the unwanted tremors, but she couldn't hide them.

His hand fit around the cool metal latch of the door, suddenly angry but for a whole different set of reasons. When they got to the cabin she was going to sleep. She was going to sleep until she no longer could be mistaken for a fucking zombie.

The car halted to a stop. Elizabeth shifted the gear in park and sat, her face, her body not moving from its' driving position.

" Let's go."

" I'd rather stay if that's okay."

" I wasn't asking. Let's go." He opened the door, pushed it halfway then stopped. " Elizabeth. I mean it."

She licked her parched lips, but the move didn't recover the moisture that usually made them glisten like the shell of rose petals. She retrieved the car keys, throwing them at his face as she went to unlock and open her own door.

His hand came up and caught the keys without breaking her from his sight just as she whispered, " Asshole," under her breath.

When he met her at the back of the SUV her eyes were planted on the small drugstore in front of them.

" Stop fighting me."

" Stop being an asshole and let me go."

He started toward the store. " You keep this up and you're just making it worse for yourself."

" Where did you send my family?"

She hadn't moved from her spot. He paused. " Stop asking questions I can't answer."

He heard her stomp toward him, grab at his elbow to face her. " Are they dead?"

He eyed her, watching her eyes bob back and forth, tears spring to her lashes in unshed, unknown grief. The air in his lungs burned his breathing passage. He sought for release in swallowing but the paralyzing feeling disarmed him of the small freedom.

" Are they?" her question guttural, hopeless. " You killed them didn't you."

The first tear fell and Jason felt the moisture drop straight onto his heart. He remained stiff in front of her, casting a look at the store, regaining the shift of emotion that quickly came and went. " They're alive."

Her intake of breath was like a surge of fresh air to his depleted body.

" For now."

Her head began to shake, her mouth opening and closing before the words tumbled.

" Jason, please…whatever you want, money, power, whatever it is my father can help. He knows people-"

" There is nothing that your father has that I would ever want."

Both Jason and Elizabeth seemed to catch the double meaning of the statement at the same time. Elizabeth looked away but Jason couldn't. For some reason he felt compelled to rectify his words and that anchored his anger deeper. He owed her no explanation. This was his job and whether she knew it or not her father had stabbed Sonny in the back and inadvertently him as well.

" Do as I say and they might live Elizabeth."

Fascinated that her face could change so quickly, he gaped as her eyes and the rest of her hardened from his response. Taking a step back, away from him and his aloof coldness, she headed toward the store without another glance his way.

" I hate you," she shot out venomously, unabashedly, but she didn't turn to see if he'd respond. He didn't think she really cared. She just wanted him to know that and now he did.

Which was a good thing.

8

He found her in the book aisle. Her eyes were fixed on some red covered paperback. Jason caught the words hot and scandal but was uninterested to investigate further. It was unnecessary when it was obvious it was one of those romance chick books.

He saw her body go ramrod straight when his oncoming build was drawing close in proximity. Her cheeks pinked and her eyes hastily darted the plethora of reading material, grabbing the first magazine that entered her visage.

He fought his smirk hard. " Finished?"

" Yeah," she answered, pretending to sound bored. " I'd love to go home."

" Funny." He was walking to the other end of the aisle. " Let's go."

She fell a step behind. " Who said I was kidding," she shot back dryly.

He could practically feel her stare daggering through his back, but he didn't turn to check. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction. She was acting like a toddler with the worst set of mood swings he had ever witnessed. Good thing he decided he never wanted kids because his dreams would have been seriously shattered after having her for company.

There was no line and so he went straight up to the cashier, handing the large basket of household products and bathroom necessities to the elderly gent behind the counter. He knew the stuff he bought wasn't going to last longer than a few nights, but at least they'd have toothbrushes and toilet paper. The rest he'd send Max out for when he had finished with the Webbers.

" An even fifty mister."

Jason dug in his pocket, fishing out the small wad of neatly folded cash and handed the two top twenties before thumbing for the ten underneath the rest of the bills. " Here." He slapped the money down and suddenly realized how silent and unusually quiet the company at his side was.

He turned to his right then his left. His eyes shot up. " Elizabeth," he called out, unable to restrain the anger that traced in her name.

A bubble of panic mixed with the anger but then his eyes found her, standing in between the mechanical doors that swung in and out. She didn't answer, didn't seem to hear him.

He was grabbing the bag as her feet hit the mat that opened the exiting door.

He didn't like how fast she was walking. He also didn't want to draw attention that was unneeded in their sensitive situation. He called out to her in a short but noticeably alert tone. " Elizabeth."

The one word should have stopped her but only furthered her steps to quicken and that's when he paused and noticed the cop car parked opposite them on the other side of the grassy hill that separated the two parking lots.

The police officer was still in his car, his head was down but it wouldn't be for long if he started running after her, barking, like he wanted to.

" Elizabeth." The last syllable of her name edged to verbalize the ramifications her disobedience would bring if she dared to do what he suspected.

He was going to fucking kill her before this was all over. He just knew it.

She was running now and he had little time to think of a convenient plan of action that wouldn't get them caught.

Abandoning the bag of merchandise on the pavement he dashed ahead, coming behind the SUV just as her feet began mounting the small hill.

" Officer-"

And then he came down on her. He hurdled his body into hers, sending them both crashing into the bumpy grass; their bodies, intertwined, as they fell forward. Elizabeth went down first. Jason protected her from the fall by pushing her into him and cupping her head to his chest.

Somehow he ended up on top of her, her hands pinned to both sides of her face as he cradled her midsection in between his thighs, squeezing her body tight with subliminal significance.

He kept her face buried in his chest, knowing if he released her she'd start screaming.

The door of the car opened and shut next to him, shooting off the tension inside him.

" What's going on here?" There was no mistaking the sharp northern accent of the cop proceeding toward them.

His mouth was on her ear, so close when he opened to speak his lips couldn't help but touch the shell. " Don't." He expelled a breath into her ear. " Don't even think about it."

She jotted her midsection out to try and hit him in the groin but she couldn't get enough power to put any strength into the hit. His arms bracketed her face from the cop's view, her screams muffled into chest.

The crunch of boots sent him spurring into action.

" I said what the hell is going on over here?" He moved a step closer. " Ma'am, you okay?"

Jason licked his lips, breathing in, taking in the sweet aroma of her body into his nostrils; the smell more powerful than he was ready for.

He let up on the pressure of his chest compressing her into the ground. He closed his eyes, shifting lower and pressing his face into hers. His eyelashes brushed and tangled with hers as his nose smushed into her cheek.

His lips might as well have been kissing her because when he moved to speak they touched hers involuntarily, slipping up and down as they caught in between and over her mouth like open kisses but with words.

" You talk and you're family-"

" Fuck you," she whispered lowly.

When she saw his eyes fix on her mouth, panic welled in her orbs, swelling her eyes like two large balloons. " Don't you dare," she warned, her lips parting and hitting his.

Both their mouths were opened, caressing one another absently, but Jason didn't move away, couldn't.

The officer wasn't leaving. He had no choice. He had no fucking choice, he cursed mentally.

Jason's eyes found her mouth again, purposefully ignoring the shaft of unwelcomed warmth that flooded him. He cursed the cop as his head came down, his intentions remarkably clear to him and his captive.

" Do it and I'll make you bleed." She hissed just as he made up his mind and sank his mouth into hers. She froze under him, his lips moving gently, more gently than he aimed since the purpose was to shut her up.

So he kissed her.

The pressure of his lips was hard, but the persuasion of his movements was soft, melding their bodies and mouths together in swift unison. He didn't mean to seduce her and he certainly didn't want the kiss to turn as erotically charged as fast as it did. But feeding off his instincts for the past twenty five years he couldn't stop himself when she caught him off guard and shifted her thighs so that she was straddling him, pressing him closer so that his midsection was being lovingly crushed by hers in a blatant message of need.

His hands released hers on impulse and palmed the back of her thigh. A burning sensation fired across his skin, tearing his senses to shreds. He gasped into her mouth, her lips hungry as her teeth skimmed his lower lip and her pelvis rubbed up against his, releasing and clenching. Her nails scorched fire, scraping against the back his scalp and smashed his face deeper into hers.

The warm clash of her soft skin, her cheek brushing his, the scent of her body was drowning out the world. When he heard her moan, felt the arousal of her soft wet jeaned center against his, his beastly nature roared to life, unshackled from restraint. His arm came under her head, bringing her so close he could devour her mouth.

His tongue found hers in the jumbled mess; met outside their mouths but quickly sought shelter in the dark crevasse of her opening as he followed the wet leading of her tongue.

First he coaxed her, his tongue moving up and down so that his mouth was directly over hers, but he didn't like that. He slanted, shifting his mouth to the side, hunting for deeper access to what lay inside. The second he did his tongue was swirling over hers, side to side, looping around her mouth until she followed and mimicked the move and the friction of their moist heated tongues was the only thing either of them could feel or experience.

He heard her whimper and he continued, the rush of power turning him hard as steel in his jeans as he finally answered her body and pushed himself against her. His tongue plunged deeper simultaneously with his body.

All thoughts of the cop behind him, the crunch for time, the trail of cops, and the strict methodical structure he prided himself on evaporated into thin air. All he knew was that he was kissing her and he couldn't stop.