Chapter 25: Heiress

I watched from the bench as Eric chased after Eve, pretending to be some sort of monster. Eve was wielding a stick in her hand and shouting 'spells' at Eric. Every now and then he'd pretend to be hit and either limp or complain that he couldn't see. I thought it was adorable and hilarious. After snapping a quick picture, I turned to see Jess come down and sit next to me.

Both Eric and I scheduled my visit to Erudite on his next business trip - as Eric suggested - which just happened to be two weeks after my brother's wedding. Jonathan had just started moving his things to Erudite also. Because of that, the first day of our trip coincided with the last day of his. He ate lunch and dinner with us, Jess and Eve before he had to head back home to get more things.

"Why don't you just ship them here," I questioned, "wouldn't that be less expensive than flying back and forth?"

Glancing at Jonathan, I saw that he had an ulterior motive for coming to Erudite also. Rumor was that before we had come, he and Jess had been spending a whole lot of time together. Jonathan denied it of course and said that they were friends. But I was the determined, stubborn younger sister and wanted to weasel it out of him.

"How can I not be close to Jess? Especially since my sister is marrying her brother," Jonathan questioned.

"But you went to the aquarium, the zoo, the water park," I listed.

Jonathan shrugged. "It was hot that day and Eve wanted to go."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You do know that Eve's father is an ass, right?" Jonathan turned to me with a reprimanding look. "Eric and Jess have called him that more than once, I'm just repeating what I heard. I've seen him but haven't met him. And I don't think Eric would introduce me to him in the first place. But Jess and Eve had been through a lot and..."

"Don't you think I know that, JoyAnna?"

"Then what are you doing with them? Is this some game to you, like all the other times?"

Jonathan shook his head and turned to face the living room where Jess and Eve were sitting with Eric. "I went through a very humbling experience, JoyAnna. You of all people should know that I went from having everything to nothing. I felt that my family was inferior, that my brothers were idiots, that anything to do with Amity or you was just meaningless. No," he shook his head again and looked at me, "I was convinced that everything I had before the Banners came into my life was insignificant. I hated you for the longest time for leaving Cain. I thought to myself, couldn't she just have sucked it up and stayed with him?"

Jonathan chuckled and took a step closer to me, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"Some brother, huh," he took a deep breath. "I saw all this money for the taking, all these material possessions, the parties, the prestige, the women," he added and glanced at me. "I thought that was living the high life. And felt that in one small move, you took that away from me."

"You never really did say it out loud but I knew the implication was there from the first time we talked after you moved back to Amity," I whispered softly.

Jonathan nudged my side and made a motion with his head for me to come closer. I smiled gently as he held out his arm and I rest my head against my brother. He rubbed my back lightly before kissing my forehead.

"I know that you'd do anything for mom and dad, or the rest of us," Jonathan began, "but if it makes you unhappy, don't do it anymore. Mom and Dad will understand and now," he pushed me back slightly, "now so will I, Ana." We both smiled and I reached up to quickly wipe away the tears that were beginning to form. "Eric is a good man. I'm happy for you," he nodded behind us. "And as for his sister, well," he removed one hand and scratched the back of his neck.

"You're interested but..."

"Yes, I'm interested alright," he admitted as I hid a laugh. He smiled and finally released me. "I don't want to really talk to you about a woman I'm attracted to."

"Why not? I've known her longer than you have," I pointed out.

"For one, you're my sister. I should be talking to Jack about this sort of thing."

I snorted and waved my hand dismissively. "Jack would not be able to help you there. Hannah is a strong woman but so is Jess. Their strengths are different in so many ways. How they deal with the trials they went through show their character and Jess is..."

"Intelligent, independent, perceptive and devoted," Jonathan finished. "Kind of the opposite of what I was when I first moved to Erudite, right," he glanced my way with a smirk on his face.

"I wasn't going to say that."

"Sure, you weren't," he chuckled. "But Jess is," he paused and shook his head, "I don't know how to describe it but she's intriguing. And Eve," he smiled, "she's so smart and at the same time she's just this happy child, you know? The first day that I called them up..."

I smiled as I watched him talk about the day he spent with the two of them. My brother had changed - he had changed a lot. We rarely spoke to one another after he moved to Erudite. The Banners had got him so involved in his new lifestyle that he did - as he confessed - believe that we were inferior to him. Then after he came back, he was unfeeling and critical of everything that the family did - including myself. It wasn't until we had returned to Amity on this last trip that I saw a glimpse of the brother I had when I was a young girl. And now it looked as though I was actually looking at Jonathan Summers - the real one - all over again.

Eve had called him at least once a day since he left to let him know what she was doing. Jess smiled brightly when she heard the two of them talking over the phone as Eric studied his sister.

"I think that something is going on with your brother and my sister," Eric said before we went to get them for an afternoon out at the park and dinner.

"Why did she say something to you," I questioned, trying to be innocent about my brother's feelings. I didn't want to throw him to the wolves just yet.

"No," he shook his head, "but I..."

The pause in his statement made me look over at him. "What is it? Do you think my brother is taking her for a ride or something? Because I can call him and..."

"That's not it," Eric replied.

"Then what?"

Eric smiled. "I just haven't seen Jess and Eve so carefree and happy since they went to meet your family in Amity. And if something did happen between the two of them, I think it would be good for them you know. I just don't want my sister or my niece to get hurt."

"Neither would I," I touched his arm. "I love Jess and Eve, too."

Thinking about that, I looked back to the woman sitting next to me - the one who would soon become my sister-in-law. I had known Hannah Fields my entire life. She had been dating Jack since they were in high school. But for some reason I felt closer to Jess than Hannah.

"He's so good with her," Jess commented.

"He is," I nodded, "he loves you both very much."

Jess hummed in agreement before crossing her legs and turning slightly to face me. "You know he'd make a great father, at least that's what I think."

Smiling, I looked over at Eric. "I think he would too."

"Now, we're talking about being the father of your children," she gestured to me. "If I wasn't being obvious about that already," she shrugged before we both started to share a laugh.

"We only just got engaged," I turned to her. "Your brother and I are getting married next year. We're moving to Erudite, I still have to finish..."

"Wait, wait, wait," she held up a hand. "Your mother said a summer wedding. Summer is right around the corner, Ana."

"Eric and I realize that and we agreed to a summer wedding, we just want it to be the summer of next year," I explained. "Like I said, we're moving here in four months. I'm going to finish my degree. And right after that, which just happens to be next summer," I emphasized, "then Eric and I will head back to Amity so you and my mother can throw this wedding that you all started planning."

Jess huffed. "I understand that but I still think you and Eric should discuss children and family."

"Every time we do, we argue," I sighed. Jess turned to me with a shocked expression. I shook my head quickly. "Not that type of arguing," I assured her.

"I would have thought that you'd want to have children. And I'm sure that my brother has told you..."

"He has but what I meant is that we tease one another about how many children we're going to have," I smiled lightly before looking at him. "I grew up in a big family. It was wonderful for my parents to raise us in Amity and they love each one of us, you've met them. But being with Cain and then knowing yours and Eric's family background, I don't want a big family because there will be issues and I..."

"Wait, are you holding our family's crimes against us," she looked offended.

"No, I'm not. Let me explain, Jess." She nodded after a time. "I grew up thinking that," I sighed and shook my head. "I guess you could say that I was somewhat sheltered in Amity. I didn't experience abuse. I heard about it when my Aunt moved back home but I never saw any of it. My cousin Blossom did and she raised above it all. She is one of the strongest women I know - yourself included. She could tell that Cain was bad news but I never listened to her because all I saw when I looked at Cain was my chance at having what my parents have or what my grandparents have. I lived in a fairy tale life. I thought I would have this huge family in a huge home and everything would be perfect."

I blew my breath upwards towards my eyes to try and fan away the tears that were forming.

"My dreams changed when I realized that not all men are faithful or devoted or want a family," I began again. "I'm not saying that this is the case with your brother because he and I have worked through my insecurities and I am convinced that he loves me," I said as I caught the small smile on her face. "But I don't want to raise a huge family and have them live in this perfect bubble like the ones my parents created. It's just going to get them hurt."

"Wait," she held up a hand. "You're worried about having a big family because you think they'll be just like you and your siblings?"

"Yes," I laughed at it all and wiped my cheeks.

"And what's wrong with that? This world needs more families like yours, Ana."

"We were - and some of us still are - so naive to how people operate in this world. I didn't think that I'd meet women who allow their husbands to be unfaithful. There are such things as mistresses and open relationships and," I shook my head, "that's not something that I was raised around. I didn't think that I'd meet men who held little disregard for women. I didn't think that I'd meet people who manipulate and use others to their advantage. I have had so much people lie to me and..."

"Ana," she touched my arm.

"What do I do, Jess? Raise another troop of daughters and sons who believe that there's only good in this world? Tell my daughters that all men are like their father - caring, honest and hardworking. And tell them that women can do anything," I let out a laugh. "I believed that and look what happened. I can't repeat that cycle of ignorance and have seven other innocent lives tarnished. I just want a family like you and Eric. A girl and a boy who will look out for one another, keep each other strong, rely and trust on..."

"And you don't feel that way about your brothers?" Jessica sighed and scooted closer towards me. "Okay I agree with you a little - because I'm a mother. You want to raise your children the right way and have them believe in fairies and that the good wizards always win," she gestured to Eve with a little laugh. "But you tell your kids along the way that there are bad people out there. Eve knows that, Ana. At the same time, we can't protect our children or our families from everything."

"I don't want my daughters to go through what I went through."

"And you think I don't want the same thing for Eve," she asked with a kind smile. "But all that I went through, I don't regret her."

Eve's laughter broke into our moment. We both turned to see that Eric had finally caught her and was 'destroying' her with tickles.

"You can't be afraid to have a big family thinking that they'll face the same issues. They may have a brand new set of issues. At the same time, having one child," she kept her gaze fixed on Eve, "it has it's own troubles. Nothing in life is perfect. I can't keep Eve from falling on the side walk but I can pick her back up, clean her cut and tell her that everything will be alright. There are good and bad things out there and they affect us every day but that shouldn't stop us from being happy."

Eric and Eve returned shortly after that and they both could sense that I was feeling a bit down. Eve was just the pick-me-up that I needed. She asked if I was okay twice - when she first saw me and then when we dropped them off at their apartment. But in the middle of it all, she joked about everything, asked for me to help color her kids menu at the restaurant, talked about my classes - that sounded boring to her - and even asked about all the houses we saw. She kept me distracted and one glance at Jessica, I knew that she was right.

I didn't want to raise a big family because the only time I saw a big family, I saw pain. I thought about how my brothers and I were raised and felt that I didn't want to do that to my children. I didn't want them to only see good things and then have them go out into the world with a bright perspective only to get thrown into a dark pit. It seemed like a silly fear but it seemed real to me.

I realized that I wanted a strong woman like Jess and a courageous man like Eric, who went through it all and survived. But my brothers and I were just as strong. And we did survive our trials. Eric wanted a family like mine - full of love. And that was how we were just as strong as others. Our strength was in the love of our family, from our family. I survived because as my dad had told me, I knew that no matter how far I flew away, the so-called nest was always there, ready to love me if I got caught in a storm.

"What were you and my sister talking about," Eric asked as we got back to the hotel that night.

I smiled and motioned with my finger for him to come closer. "About how you'd make a good father," I answered as he picked me up and my legs wrapped around his waist.

"Mm," he groaned in appreciation before leaning forward to kiss me, "to our two children?"

Eric laid me down on the bed as I ran my hands up his arm. "Or maybe more," I whispered as Eric pulled back.

He studied me intently. One of my hands reached up to run through his hair gently, until they rested against his cheek. Slowly his lips turned upwards and his eyes were alight. "When do you want to get started," he asked in a deep voice that caused my eyes to flutter and a gasp to leave my mouth. "I'm guessing your answer is as soon as possible," I felt him smirk against my skin.

It wasn't until the next morning - after our long night of 'baby-making' - did we finally discuss that we would wait until after we got married. It wasn't so much the concept of our children being born out of wedlock - although that was a concern for Eric. A lot of it had to do with the fact that he wanted us to be settled in Erudite. When we had established ourselves and that included the house, car, job and/or pets.

"I think we should look for a place that can have pets," Eric concluded as we finished looking at an apartment that was for sale.

"I'm guessing ixnay on the aceplay," I pointed behind us as Eric chuckled. "Oh, come on that was a decent joke," I shook his hand as we walked away.

Our trip was well-balanced. When Eric had to go to the office, I volunteered to watch Eve on some days. On other days, I had gone to the University campus or studied bus and train routes to and from Jess's apartment so that I knew how to get around without Eric or Jess after we had moved. The campus visit had gone better than expected. I was able to put in my application for late enrollment and Eric suggested that I take the tour with the incoming Freshmen. Eric stayed by my side that first day. But during the second and third days that I was there, I was able to explore other options and even met with a counselor and a professor to help with my transfer.

On days that I had Eve, it was decided that Eric and I would join her and Jess for dinner. On the days where I had not watched Eve then Eric and I would go apartment hunting. Although by the time we had reached our fifth apartment, Eric suggested that we might look into a small house.

"Like suburbia," I asked.

"Why not?"

"It'll be outside of the city, far from your job and the school and..."

"Okay, okay," he nodded with a small smile, "we'll talk more about a house after the kids come." I couldn't help but smile too as Eric pulled me close to him. He gave me a quick kiss. "I suppose we can search for a loft like the one I had in Dauntless."

"You know we could always move back to your father's house in Dauntless later on," I suggested, "live out our retirement days there and have all the grandchildren come over and wreck the house."

Eric's smile widened before I was brought back to him for another kiss. "I love you, Ana."

After we had returned to Dauntless, it wasn't until I started work again that I realized I had not really gone hunting for a job.

"Does Eric want you to work," Myra asked after we had finished working.

"No, well," I paused and scrunched up my face in concentration, "he hasn't really mentioned work. We went there to look at the University - which is panning out kind of nicely," I smiled. "There was the search for where we were going to live but no job."

"You know what you could do," she said, turning to face me as we came to a stop light. "Call up Miss Matthews at HR and inform her that you're moving to Erudite. Word is that she used to work for a Bank there. You might be able to find something part time. And aren't you in the Insurgent program?"

"Yes but what..."

"The Insurgent program helps you get your degree while you're working," Myra replied.

"That's right," I nodded before frowning. "But I'm changing my major so I'm not sure if they would let me."

"You're changing your major?"

Smiling, I nodded. "Eric kind of figured that I wasn't into finances and I confessed that although I loved math in high school, I don't know if I could deal with any more numbers."

Myra hummed in agreement. "I know what you mean. Working at the Bank is nice because who knows when I'll be able to touch thousands of dollars at once - in my lifetime," she said as we both laughed. "But I don't know if I can deal with annual percentage rates and interest rates and all that financial terminology for the rest of my life. I give Mrs. Rodriguez props for that sort of thing."

"Mrs. Rodriguez," I face-palmed, "I didn't let her know that I was going to be moving."

"Oh honey, she already knows," Myra waved her hand in the air.

We pulled up to my apartment. "Since you are going to tell me how she knows," I narrowed my eyes at her suspiciously, "did you want to come up for a couple hours before Edward gets off from work?"

Myra nodded appreciatively as she reversed the car to turn into the parking structure.

"So," I said as we got out and walked towards the elevator to head up to mine and Hec's apartment, "how is it that our boss knows I'm moving, when I didn't tell her?"

"Because your roommates with her son," Myra answered as I frowned.

"That Hec! I can't believe he told everyone. You know," I pointed at her, "I blame Lauren for all of it. She told her brother - who is Hec's best friend - and then when I came home it was like all of them knew."

"Well, I'm glad that I found out from you that you were engaged," she nudged me as we got off the elevator. "Edward was worried that you two were going to break up."

"I'm guessing he heard about the proposal," I winced.

"Yeah, he did," she laughed.

I unlocked my door and walked in to a dark room. "Hec?"

"Hey Ana, your lights don't work," Myra replied as I heard her pressing the button over and over.

"Which is weird," I walked towards the outside hallway and looked up and down. "The lights in the building work, why is that these don't work?"

My head whipped around when I heard a muffled noise.

"Myra?"

I stood by the entrance of the door, waiting for her response. My hands immediately fumbled through my bag until I found my phone. I had just unlocked it and pressed the dial button when I heard a small crash come from inside the apartment.

"Ana," Myra shouted, "run!"

Debating on whether or not to leave my friend behind, I stood there for a second too long. It wasn't until a shadowy figure started to appear in front of me that my feet turned and bolted down the hallway. I had barely reached the elevator when I felt a strong pair of arms wrap around me.

"Hel..."

Whoever it was, covered my mouth with his hand. It was hairy and disgusting. I desperately tried not to gag. Then again, if I threw up in his hand he might release me. I tried to remember all the things Eric had taught me as he pulled me back towards the apartment. I moved my legs up to kick the wall, hoping a neighbor would hear me. My body twisted and turned in his hold, in an attempt to get free.

"Grab her," someone ordered as I desperately tried to claw my way out.

"Where's the other one," the man who had me grunted as I elbowed and bumped my shoulder into his chest.

"I took care of it."

That's when I stopped fighting and shook my head. There was no possible way! How in the world did he know where I lived? I had all my mail forwarded to a P.O. box. Hec didn't put my name on any of the paperwork. How did he find me? I almost dropped to my knees, but the man holding me whipped me around.

Marcus smiled at seeing my face. By now, the other two men had tied my hands behind my back and put a gag over my mouth. He ran a hand down my cheek as I tried to pull away my face.

"I'd say that we should have some time to play but we don't," Marcus kept of the haunting smile on his face as he gestured for three people to come out of my apartment.

I squired at seeing that one of them was wiping a blade that had blood on it. "Mmaah," I mumbled, crying out for Myra. Where was she? What did he mean by he took care of it, took care of her? My mind reeled with all the horrors that could have been done to her.

"She shouldn't have put up such a struggle," Marcus grabbed my face in between his hands and pulled me to face him. "Like I said, if you weren't so valuable," his eyes greedily looked me over as I attempted to pull my face away. Marcus pushed my face to the side only to lift up his other hand and slap me the other way.

There was a slight pounding in my head as I closed my eyes and waited to slip into unconsciousness. I never did. There was slight chuckles and laughter from the other men as I was shook to face Marcus again. Glancing pass him, I saw two other men exit my apartment. It was then that I saw Hec was with them - tied up and gagged.

"Girls are definitely my thing but I know someone who would pay a nice price for a pretty boy," Marcus said as a couple of them smirked.

"Too bad we had to kill the girl," one of the men behind me whispered in my ear as I started to thrash around again.

It wasn't long until both Hec and I were taken away from the apartment. Looking inside as we were dragged pass, I saw Myra on the ground. Tears streamed down my eyes as I thought that I had just lost one of my best friends - one of the very few that I had. I mentally kicked myself for inviting her up. She should have gone home to wait for Edward. He was going to finish work at ten-thirty. If she had just gone home! If I didn't invite her to stay...

My vision was blurry with tears as they ran down my face. I wondered why no one had heard anything. We had four other people who lived on our floor. Then when I saw the last door slightly open with things all over on the floor, it dawned on me that they made sure to take care of everyone who could have witnessed them come in and take me. The more I started to cry. There was a single mother who lived across from us with her two children. I prayed that she wasn't home - that none of them was home. There was an elderly man who lived in the first apartment - the door that was slightly open. I shook my head and continued to cry, thinking about old Mr. Harrison who was murdered by these jerk-offs, these assholes, these cold, ignorant bastards!

"Stop crying," one of them threw me into an SUV.

Hec was pushed into the second SUV that came around the corner. We looked at each other just before they placed a cover over my head.

I thought about the entire incident and how I stupidly had frozen when I should have just ran. I allowed them to take Myra. I allowed Hec to be in danger too. And did I hear Marcus right? Were they going to sell Hec? They couldn't, they just couldn't.

My head went through all these scenarios about what I could have done, should have done! My friend was dead! She was dead.

I was such an emotional wreck that I mentally kicked myself again. If I wasn't wallowing around in this grief, then maybe I could have paid attention to how many right turns or left turns I was taking. Eric had told me to remember stuff like that - sights, sounds, smells. I had panicked and now I wouldn't be able to describe anything to the police or to Eric.

That's when I started to cry a bit more. What were they going to do to me? Would I ever see Eric again? Or my parents, my brothers? Would Blossom be able to find me? Would Dillon, Peter or even Edward miss me? I knew I was going to miss all of them, especially Eve. And Jess, I thought sadly.

"Eric," I whispered and slouched forward, dropping my head and continued to sob.

My body felt like it was on the edge and full of pain all at the same time. I wasn't sure why.

Just as I started to relax, the man sitting next to me pulled me out roughly. I let my feet limp and he had to call someone else over to get help with dragging me wherever it was that we were going. They released my hands only for me to be tied up again as I was made to sit down on a chair. It was a metal chair, hard and cold. I scolded myself for only paying attention now to my surroundings. It was a damn good thing I didn't become an agent for the CIA. I wouldn't have paid attention to things like this - not the way that Blossom would.

Blossom, I thought. She wouldn't rest until all these idiots were locked up. They would get theirs, I thought as I heard Hec placed next to me in another chair.

Suddenly, a bright light hit my eyes and I blinked constantly to adjust to the brightness. They had pulled the cover from off our heads. Hec was sitting right across from me. It was possible five or ten feet away. We were both still gagged, so I couldn't ask him if he was okay or if we could plan something about an escape. And my assumption about the metal chair was correct. Looking down, I saw that they hadn't bolted the chair or anything. Perhaps, I could pick it up and drag myself away or something. I looked around and so did Hec but we couldn't see anyone in the warehouse with us. At least it looked as though we were in a warehouse.

"You're still in Dauntless, if you're wondering."

My back straightened and my eyes narrowed at the end of the room that his voice came from. As if to confirm it, he stepped out of the shadows and smiled at me.

"It's very nice to see you, JoyAnna," Cain smirked. "Was there any trouble," he asked.

Marcus walked over next to him along with a few others. I studied each of their faces the best that I could. If I ever got out of here, I'd describe each and every single one of them. "She had her colleague with her," Marcus handed Cain a card.

"Myra Jane Valdez," Cain read from the card. "Such a shame to waste such a pretty face," he handed the card back to Marcus. "And you're certain that she's been taken care of?"

"I'm certain," Marcus smiled at me.

Cain stalked towards me, smiling the entire time. I narrowed my eyes and kept them on him, hoping he would sense how very pissed off I was. He smirked and knelt to my eye level. "I've missed you. Have you missed me?"

Gritting my teeth, I tried to move my feet forward to kick at him. I shouted against the gag and thrashed against the restraints to get at him. He only laughed and continued to stay in the same spot as if he knew that I wouldn't be able to move any further from where I sat. The other men who were there chuckled at my feeble attempts as well.

"I'm guessing she didn't miss you," one of them suggested.

"It seems like she's rather upset," another teased.

"Such a shame because it should be me that is upset with you," Cain pointed to me. "You left me at the altar, baby. And who is this," he stood up and turned to face Hec. "I wanted Coulter in here, not whoever the fuck this is."

"He's her roommate and college friend," a woman stepped forward. My eyes narrowed at her as she looked at me with disdain. "Hello Ana. It's such a pleasure to finally meet the girl who is engaged to my nephew."

My eyes widened at her as Cain came back my side. "That woman right there informed me a week ago that you were in Erudite with her nephew, looking for an apartment to move to. Her men followed the two of you. And you want to know what I found out," he smiled. "You got accepted into ESU." I almost smiled but looked down. "You didn't know, did you? Well, they only sent out the letter yesterday. I think," he chuckled. "And you see that's when I started thinking that there was no way in hell that you'd go and get engaged not even two years after calling it off with me. With me, JoyAnna," he shouted this time, causing me to cringe.

Quickly he knelt in front of me and touched my cheek.

"Don't be scared, baby. I didn't mean to yell," he talked softly.

Who in the world was this man? I can't believe that I was going to marry him.

"I just need to know why you're willing to give him everything when you held out on me?" I shook my head. "You don't know that either, do you?" Cain chuckled and looked back at Eric's aunt. "Your nephew hasn't figured it out yet, has he? Oh man, this is hilarious," he laughed and looked back at me. "JoyAnna, JoyAnna, JoyAnna," Cain repeated, "you are one rich young woman. You have a lot that you're going to inherit. You could be one of the richest heiresses that there are."

I shook my head again.

"Yes, you do," Cain insisted. "Amity Produce and all of its farms is owned by your grandfather. When he passes, you'll inherit one-third of it. Another third will go to Jack and the other to Jordan, but there's rumors that he'll leave his portion to Jensen. From the look on your face, I can see that you don't know that. Well, you would have been told on your twentieth birthday but you were with me in Dauntless."

He held out his hand and some guy walked over to place a gun in it.

"Your grandfather has also left you a lot of land in Amity - practically the whole thing. Your grandmother named you and Blossom the owners of that fucking animal place when she passes. Did you know that my grandfather lost a lot of money and his eldest son because of those animals? Yes, well those animals were being sold to the highest bidder and when the truck crashed in Amity, he couldn't pay and therefore the customer killed my uncle. Such a shame," Cain nodded.

"Why are you telling her all of this," Eric's Aunt asked.

"Because I want her to know that the number one reason why - the only reason why - I would ever consider marrying someone like her," Cain snorted in disgust and pushed my head with the gun, "is because my daddy told me that I was going to get a big payout the second I said 'I do'."

I shook my head and looked away.

"Your Uncle Jephthah's pig farm, Johanna's diner, the community college that your great grandfather had built, the museum there, the underground tunnels with hid my grandfather's gold and diamonds he smuggled into the country. I had to put up with your shit, your fucking whiny, useless ass," he shouted as I started to cry, "in order to get it all back!"

Someone ran into the room and straight towards Eric's Aunt.

She nodded and took a step towards Cain. "Eric is looking for her."

"Wow," Cain laughed, "he must really care about his dumb whore. And to think he's doing all of this and doesn't even know that he's engaged to an heiress," Cain chuckled again. "What does he see in you, huh? What makes you so special?"

"Should we..."

"He won't find her!"

"I wouldn't be so sure. My nephew is one of the best out there. He..."

I winced and closed my eyes as Cain shot his gun up in the air. "He's not going to find her! You know how I know? Do you know how I fucking know," he shouted, looking around at everyone in the room. "You see," Cain waved the gun around in the air, "all these fucking idiots could not find you, JoyAnna. I had the best of the best looking for you," he gestured to me before walking around the room. "Dauntless' corrupt Governor, Candor's chief of police, Erudite's," he tapped the gun to his head, "most brilliant minds and still you could not be found. It's like you went off the radar. Imagine that," he laughed, "my ex, a simple country girl from Amity was able to elude the best men that I had. Your fiance won't be able to do it on his own," Cain walked towards me then.

Tears came down my face as I closed my eyes. Cain's hand reached out, grabbing my face.

"Look at me, dammit! Open your fucking eyes, JoyAnna," he shouted as I whimpered. Reluctantly I did as was told and he smiled. "That's a good girl," he stroked my cheek.

I tried to turn my head away the best that I could but the way that I was tied up did not allow much movement in that department either. His hands went up and pulled away the cloth that covered my mouth. "I hate you," I screamed the second it came off, "you asshole!"

"Wow. You've went and got a mouth on you. Or did your fiance help you extend your vocabulary?"

"You're wrong about Eric! He's going to find me and then you'll see. You'll all see," I shouted around the room.

"How foolish and naive you are," he continued to smile but I saw his Aunt's face falter slightly.

"I was when I was with you, you heartless, conniving, arrogant son of a..."

"Well, that's no way to talk to me, the man you once loved," he chuckled before doing something that made me cringe. He placed his gun in between my legs and slowly slid it towards my center. I began to thrash around in the chair but it was of no use. It only made him go further. "You'd beg for me to play with you before," he smirked.

"You're disgusting," I responded, turning away from him and closing my eyes.

"Look at me!"

"No!"

A force knocked me on the side of the head, causing me to fall back. My head throbbed and I refused to open my eyes then. I just wanted to pass out and wake up back at home - with Eric.

"He's not coming for you, JoyAnna," Cain whispered in my ear as two people moved to sit me back upright. "Mr. Carmichael," he called as I saw David Carmichael step forward, "her cousin works for the CIA. Her other cousin, Dayna has some governmental job, too. Make sure they can't get clearance on anything."

"Blossom already knows about David Carmichael being dirty," I taunted as David stopped and looked over his shoulder at me.

"And how does know that," Cain questioned, looking uninterested.

"Because I told her," I stared at him in the eye. "If Eric is really looking for me, chances are he's already contacted Blossom. And you know what she told me," I leaned forward and smiled - the first one since they had kidnapped me. "She's going to cut off your dick and nail it to the wall for me, Cain baby," I taunted. "You may have had the best men working for you but you're right about one thing," I sat back in the chair. "I'm just a simple girl from Amity with a lot of family and friends that care for me. They'll come and end you."

I held my head high as a few of the men - who could have worked for Eric's Aunt murmured to themselves. David Carmichael huffed and hurried to walk away. I surely hope that Eric had done exactly as I stated. I knew chances are that he might not have called Blossom but there was still that sliver of hope.

"She's definitely not the same girl, Cain," another voice spoke from behind him and I watched as his father, Thomas Banner, stepped forward. "In my day, we taught our women to know their place."

Cain reached for my cheek again.

"You're right. Nobody touches her," he instructed, then smiled cruelly, "until after I've had my fun."