Disclaimer: I don't own the Revenge plot, but the new characters at the moment belongs to me

A/N: Hopefully Riley/Michelle is going to make it out of this one okay!

Note for all chapters: I watched the finale multiple times, pausing it to get some form of a transcript of the article that Nolan was shown in the last few minutes, trust me; it wasn't easy so perhaps a cheeky little review for the effort I put in there?

Chapter 29

"Michelle? Oh Michelle, it's time to wake up..."

Water, water was thrown directly into my face. I gasped and spluttered uncontrollably as I tried to maintain a calm front. Opening my eyes, I found that I was in a derelict building, with my hands chained together and above my head, perched over meat hook.

"Oh god!" I squealed in a high pitched. "Daddy?!"

Jordan Campbell paced slowly towards me. "It's strange, isn't it? How someone you thought was so close to you can betray you so easily?"

"What are you talking about, Daddy? Please- let me go, I'll do anything!" I twisted my body, trying to look pathetic and weak. Knowing I was so much stronger than Jordan could know made everything much more of a challenge.

"Anything?"

"Anything! Daddy, please!"

"Costello- uncuff my girl. She wants to learn what daddy's business really does." Jordan clicked his fingers and 'Costello' entered.

When the cuffs came off, I was relieved, but that only lasted a few seconds. My father ushered me over like I was an obedient little puppy. He pointed at a complete black outfit and army boots, ordering me to put them on in a dingey bathroom in a corner of the warehouse.

In the bathroom, I changed – mostly out of fear and because there was no way I could bail out just yet. The narrow window was tempting, but I had barely spent twenty-four hours in Campbell territory. I had to see this through.

"Daddy?" I called out when I exited the bathroom.

Jordan was there and held out a gun to me. "Happy birthday for last year darlin'. I need to make up for a few things... Come with me. You have a job to do."

I followed quickly, tucking the gun into the back waistband of my trousers, making sure to put the safety on. It was moments like these that I was grateful to have lived with Scott and Nolan who had shared in training me, along with Amanda who took it even further.

"What have you got planned, Daddy? Why did you drug me?"

"Because I needed to introduce you to how we do things in our family. So that I know I have your honest dedication, there's something we have to ask of you."

"Like a favour?"

"Yeah... Like a favour."

"Does Carly do favours for the business?" I asked as we started to walk down a metal stairway that led down to the ground floor of the building. "Oh god- what are those two doing all under wraps like that?"

I was looking right at two people with hoods over their faces that were strapped to wooden chairs. My heart was beginning to beat more rapidly, forcing me to focus hard on remaining steady and calm.

"They're individuals whom I believe have either crossed me or are a harmful threat to the family." Jordan cracked his knuckles, listening to each click of the fingers. "It's time to show them who they're messing with." He pulled the hood off of one of them.

Inside, I screeched.

It was the mentor that Ms Nixon had drafted in to watch me. Obviously he was not so successful as remaining unseen. There was tape across his mouth and his face seemed to be dripping wet with something. His eyes were drooping and when they connected with mine, I tried not to make any sudden giveaways.

"Who is he?"

"This is some federal agent – he's been tailing us and our family since we moved north from Florida. I don't like it. He needs to receive a message loud and clear."

"So what are you going to do to him? And what about our faces – he knows who we are now!"

"He knows what we look like. If he knows what's good for him, he won't put names to our faces."

"I'm not sure about this..."

Jordan swung a fist at the agent's face. Monaghan. That was his name. Agent Monaghan. "Your turn now, darling. Now don't forget to follow through with your swing, okay?" He folded his arms and for a moment, stood there like a proud dad.

"But he's probably got a wife, and kids – we can't hurt him."

"Would you rather this guy hurts us? Darling, this is the real world. And us Campbells have to watch our backs."

"Right. Okay. Here goes..." I winced hard, wondering what to do. I had to...

Crack. My fist connected with Monaghan's face. The muffled groan turned my stomach.

"Wooo!" Jordan shrieked. "That's my girl – oh man, was I putting my eggs in the wrong basket!" He was unbelievably exhilarated at the thought of me punching someone in the face. "Ah that was good, but I'm not quite sold on the idea of him walking out of here."

Before I could even turn to look at my father, a gun was fired, right between Monaghan's eyes. A droplet of blood stained my boots. This was some twisted psychology on Jordan's front.

"Why did you do that?" I asked, breathing unsteadily.

"Like I said baby, he couldn't be allowed to live."

"You're not going to kill the other guy, are you?" I looked at the other hooded figure. "This is wrong."

"No. This is what we do. This is who we are. This is who you are."

No. It's not who I am. It's who you want me to be.

"Okay Daddy, but I want to deal with this one completely – on my terms. I want scarves, or something to cover our faces with."

It was something I had to say, I had to play Jordan at his own games. If the way of keeping people alive was by them not seeing who we are, the scarves were going to be needed. They were supplied quickly, and as soon as we were all wearing one, I nodded at Jordan to lift the hood off the second captor.

Brody...

"What's his name, Daddy?"

"Brody Carmichael- this little runt used to work on the Campbell Compound back in Florida. Decided to dabble with the Norwegians when he left, but he's tried to come crawling back – telling me this crap about him and you – how I owe him for keeping you safe..." Jordan stopped, ripping the tape from Brody's mouth, showing a dried trail of blood from his nose and mouth. "Tell her, Mr Carmichael- tell her what you've apparently done for her."

"I don't need to hear him Daddy," I snapped, lifting Brody's face up to mine. "He's got a pretty face, I'll give him that, don't you think?"

"Mr Carmichael will have broken a few hearts in his life I expect."

"You got that right..." I mumbled heartlessly.

Brody spat out blood onto the floor beside him. "Just get it over with."

"Get what over with, hot stuff?" I indulged in a speech pattern that was totally un-Riley like. Whilst I may have been born Michelle Devon Campbell, I was Riley Osborne now. No doubt about it.

Jordan grabbed my jumper, pulling me sharply back before slamming his fists into Brody repeatedly. Blood was sprayed over his face and I had to bite on the scarf to stop myself from crying out for him to stop.

"That's enough, Daddy. I told you this one was mine. You've had your fun, now go home and Costello will help me here."

"You really are growing up to be a Campbell businesswoman." Jordan wiped his bloodied hands on his jumper. "But this is father, daughter fun. Why don't I take a seat whilst Costello gets rid of the other body?" Jordan waited for Costello to drag Monaghan's dead body away, before moving the seat to face Brody. "So Mr Carmichael, what brought you back into the Campbell's empire?"

"Because," Brody stammered, starting to laugh. "Because I was in love with Michelle and she rejected me in Florida, so I thought I would see if there was room in the Blue Lagoon for a loyal subject."

I held back.

Jordan was eager to poke me. "See Michelle? Clearly those nights where you would sneak off out your bedroom window and run off with the boy in the grounds meant more to him than it did to you! Those little romps in secret – god, if only your mother knew what you were like! Well go on then, teach him a lesson. Teach him to behave properly. I'm waiting..."

My spine froze with my father talking about me this way. "I'm getting there, Daddy. Just be patient."

Brody murmured something inaudibly.

"What's that, little guy? What are you trying to say?" I leaned forwards, listening to the mumbling.

"Get it over with. I forgive you."

The words nearly broke me, but I blinked away the tears.

"Enough!" I snapped hoarsely. My fists struck Brody's face until his head rolled backwards. "There... We'll drop him on the highway."

"My girl- you misunderstand what we do. We get rid of people. So we don't just drop them off. Unless..."

"Unless what?" I snapped aggressively. "What? Because if you dare to put a bullet in him, you will regret everything. I will then go to the police and give them every, single little piece of evidence, recount and witness statements that I own or have."

Jordan started to laugh, confusing me massively. "Oh it all makes sense now. You wanted to play cat and mouse with this guy – you liked being pursued by him."

"No!" I interrupted, barely recognising what it might mean for Brody. "That is not the case," I added weakly.

"Oh... Well I was about to consider having Mr Carmichael join our forces because there is clearly some unfinished business between you and him. Wouldn't that be nice? We could have little double dates – me you, Brody and Carley... Wouldn't that be nice?"

The defeat in Brody's eyes made me feel like he would want me to say yes, but then I thought about the weight of knowing that Jordan would kill Brody if I said no was too much.

"Maybe it would. I've always wondered what it might be like if you actually got to know one of my boyfriends, rather than a single introduction." My heart was snapping with the thought of having to explain to Scott what the hell was going on.

"Hmm... Not the most convincing argument ever. We'll compromise." Jordan pulled out the gun again and I whipped mine out quicker.

My finger squeezed the trigger and the gun flew from my father's hand. "I said no."

"Give me the gun, darling..." he said sharply, standing up and holding his hand out to me.

"Sorry Daddy." I placed it in his hands and exhaled sharply with closed eyes.

A gunshot made me jump and call out Brody's name. His scream through seething teeth was stomach churning. Jordan had put a bullet in Brody's leg. He was calling my bluff.

I tore the scarf from my face and bound it to Brody's leg, tightening it over the wound. "Stay alert Brody."

"Oh this is too good!" Jordan yelled loudly. "My baby girl is showing her true colours and I could not be happier at her fury. Costello, make sure Mr Carmichael is seen to and brought back to the house."

"You're allowing him to stay with us?" I asked neutrally.

-o-

Yes he was. Brody was welcomed into our home, welcomed by the opened arms of Jordan and Carley. The gunshot had damaged a muscle in his leg, leaving him wheelchair bound.

When Costello bought Brody home from surgery, I was shocked by the chair, but had to play along.

"You'll be put up in Michelle's room." Jordan smiled, putting an arm around Carley and watching us. "Well? Aren't you going to help Brody out?"

I looked at Brody, watching him wince in the embarrassing events that were about to unfold. Defiantly, I kicked off my heels and helped Brody onto one leg, keeping pressure off his wounded leg. "You okay?"

"Yes, just keep going up the stairs... Get this over with."

I nodded and let Brody hold the bannister. We took it step by step and I felt a tear in my heart getting deeper and deeper. Scott was going to have a swallow his pride when this was all over. As was I.

It took us nearly five minutes to make it to the top of the stairs and then I had to go and carry my shoes and the wheelchair up as Brody waited weakly. The sadistic attitude that Jordan was exuding made me even more determined to get rid of him.

"This is new..." I whispered, closing the door behind Brody as he wheeled himself into my room. "Guess this is a test of your acting abilities too."

"I know, and I know your heart sits elsewhere."

"No funny business okay? Seriously- Scott's my endgame. Nothing will change that."

"What if J.C's listening?"

"Nolan gave me a device to disrupt any listening devices. They'll get visual, but no audio." I smiled weakly, holding back the lump in my throat. "What do we do now?"

"We'll have to play along. Learn more about the business. I say you tap into Carley Morano- she's going to know more about the links between Blue Lagoon, Hydra and Gorgon."

"Gorgon's not much of a problem now – the police have convicted Percy Demetriou of countless crimes. Right now, I need to focus on Blue Lagoon and bringing down Daddy. Before, he was too heavily protected. Now, I need to work out a way to give the most concrete evidence imaginable."

"Whatever you need me to do." Brody avoided eye contact with me.

"Talk in the bathroom. More private." I inhaled long and hard, leading the way to the bathroom. Perched on the end of the large bathtub that was in the middle of the room and facing a glazed window. "We need to have a talk. Away from everyone. You- you will always mean a huge amount to me. You were my first in a few ways, but that is in the past. After I found out Leo had cheated, you were my protector, healer and comforter. Knowing that you were there was more than I could handle. We've had our ups and downs at this point, but I really need you to close the book on us. You were with Aaliyah and she seems-"

"She's the one who handed me over to Jordan."

"Well- I'm sorry Brody." I hugged him awkwardly, trying to not linger too long. "Do you understand why we can't be together? Because I need you to say it."

Brody was silent as I pulled away. "Be. Be-because you chose Scott motherfu-"

"Language, Brody..."

"You choose to be with Scott over me. I have to respect that, and I'm sorry for this situation I've put you in."

"Hands to yourself when it's just us- just to clarify. Remember that you know exactly what I'm capable of."

"Yeah- I feel like you owe me for allowing you to beat the crap out of me. I'll let you know when I think of the favour."

"Respect the boundaries as you think of the favour." I frowned. "I don't want to sound patronising, but Brody- you are the most amazing, caring and devoted guy. There is some drop dead gorgeous girl out there who is just waiting for you to whisk them off their feet. She's going to have an adorably plain name like Jane."

"Jane?"

"Yes, and you'll move to California because she's chasing the sun. You'll get a tiny apartment with a puppy you take for walks along the beachfront, and one day she'll surprise you with a positive pregnancy test."

Brody smiled, scoffing slightly. "Is that what you imagined for me and you when you used to love me?"

"Nope- I don't plan anymore. Riley doesn't plan."

"Don't lie. You know what is going to happen for you and Scott, don't you?"

"Maybe." I paused, knowing that Brody had to hear this. "Me and Scott might get engaged when Blue Lagoon or Hydra falls. It'll be a whirlwind of emotions, but I think Scott will pull out all the stops to do it. Everything will be perfect. He'll take me to some building site and I'll wonder why he's taken me there. Then Scott will tell me that it's our new home – a fresh start in the Hamptons or somewhere on the coast because we want to be near the seat. That's when he'll propose." I laughed. "And when Trinity is out of prison, that's when we'll get married. I would say a big and all that- but I know I can't have that, so it'll be smaller. In time, we'll get a puppy. No, I'll get Scott a puppy as a wedding present. Then after a year, there'll be babies crawling about our place..." A tear fell from my eyes and I tried to laugh it off.

"Woah- I didn't think that you could convince me that you and Scott were a better match than you and me." Brody squeezed my hand. "You're stronger than you let people know, Michelle."

"Oh don't."

-o-

Putting on a fake front in front of Carley and Jordan was easy, but making sure that Brody didn't get too carried away was tricky at first, but he got it eventually.

Carley was gullible and ate it up when I said I wanted to go to the Hampton Club with her. Admittedly, it was under the guise that I could reconnect with Nolan and potentially Scott.

She loved the idea of some relaxation and I did not expect the secret I was about to unearth, but before then, we had been having a session in the sauna.

"You know, it's great that you're finally happy for me and your dad..." Carley sighed, scooping her hair up into a messy bun on top of her head. "But I still don't get what you're playing at? First you approach me in the courthouse as some little hood-rat. Then you return into daddy's tight embrace. What's with that? Level with me kid, because I know you."

"I just realised that I am destined for greater things. I desire the luxury of life. It's who I am. It's all I've known."

"A woman after my own heart." Carley laughed softly. "Sorry about the whole trying to blow you up thing – the idea was to eliminate your pesky uncle."

"It's forgiven. Besides, I want in. I want to know what you know."

"Ahh in time, my darling. I want what I want first- then I can let you in."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked as walked out. "What are you planning, Carley?"

"Maybe I want Blue Lagoon for myself," she replied sweetly, greeting her masseuse and entering the room.

Instead of wasting time, I tightened the dressing gown and grabbed a towel to pat my face with. I asked the barman on duty if Nolan was upstairs and he pointed to the door.

"Nolan! There isn't much time!" I exclaimed frantically. "Jordan Campbell is installing your technology into his hotels so that he can take over your company by exposing you with some technicality. Then Carley Morano wants to take Blue Lagoon from Jordan!"

Nolan's pen dropped from his hand. "Do you mind? I'm in the middle of something..." He laughed and stood up. "Come here."

I hugged him tightly. "How quick are the massages in the club? That's how long I've got. No- tell me everything, is Scott okay? What's happened? Are you alright?"

"Ask him yourself." Nolan kissed the top of my forehead. "I'll leave you to it- and no extras in my office. I know what you kids are like."

I turned and find that smile that melted me, flashing itself at me. With little thought, I threw myself at Scott, wrapping my legs around his waist and holding him close.

"Oh god Scott. I've missed you so much. I love you, I love you unconditionally. I need you in my life, forever." I paused to kiss him aggressively with love and longing. "I love you Scott Patterson, more than you know." I stopped and stared at his brown eyes. "What's wrong?" I dropped to the ground and panicked. "Say something."

"I love you too, Riley." He went onto one knee.

I could hear the illusion shattering in my mind. Like a glass smashing. "No. Not now. Please, let me enjoy this reunion." I dropped to the floor and wrapped my arms around him. "Just hold me," I whimpered. "Carley Morano's here and I don't have time."

His hands squeezed my arms. "That's it! You have to go and interrupt her massage. Trust me. Before it's too late."

"What are you-?" I was interrupted by his mouth on mine, urging me to go. "I love you. I will come back to you soon."

I darted through the bar, grinning at Nolan and mouthing 'thank you' to him before bursting into the massage room Carley had just gone into.

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed when I saw Carley liplocked with the masseuse. "Oh my god!"

Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = It seems everything has secrets these days! What are we thinking now?