My Fibby and editor have approved this chapter. Of course, I tinkered after you gave your blessing, I just couldn't help myself. I'm bad :( Any flaw in this chapter is of my creation and not reflected on these two wonderful special ladies. If you catch a mistake, PM me and I'll fix it.

I unfortunately need a few more chapters of angst before our dear couple come together completely. The version I envisioned has a few plot twists. To tell the story I want to tell, I need at least another 4-8 chapters. I hope you will not be disappointed. I don't actually like angst for angst sake. But, Darcy has to be given his chance at redemption. I think some of you might soften your stance on our dear boy after this chapter (you hold outs I hope I can get you onboard in the next few chapters). One of you guessed at a major plot twist. It's amazing how you all seem to do it even though I want to keep you guessing.

To AbbaLane - You weren't the only one to complain about Elizabeth's complete caving to Darcy's wishes, but you were the most helpful. I love to hear people venting about my story almost as much as when they give me kudos. It means they feel invested in the characters. I really appreciate it the constructive criticism. It actually helped me add some texture and depth to this chapter that I hadn't thought was necessary before I read your post.

To Shellyprz - We're getting closer to the pouncing :)

To Ali Kisugi - No mention of Stronger in the chapters. It will be revealed when he wrote it and why he titled it that though in the next few chapters. I'm glad you caught the reference to the first song. Sometimes, I think I am being as obvious as Darcy thinks he is. It makes me SQUEE out loud whenever someone gets one of my Easter Eggs.

In this Kingdom by the Sea - You've gotten your wish. Sometimes I think people are hacking into my computer and see what the next chapter has in store.

To everyone else - thanks so much for your comments, suggestions, praise, criticism, they are all eagerly read and thought over. I can't tell you how much they have helped me craft this story.

Good news! I was sitting at a traffic jam the other day, and my writer's block (or story block) suddenly unfurled. I know how to proceed! The reason my muses were being so silent is because I was writing in the wrong direction. Fellow authors understand I am sure. Chapter 11 is proceeding and I hope to have it up after a week hiatus. This Chapter will have to do until then. I hope you like it!

Oh, and I apologize in advance for the cliffy - I think it might be the best one in any story I have written to date. Enjoy.

Girl On Fire: Chapter 10 - Part 2

Hush little baby, don't say a word
And never mind that noise you heard
It's just the beasts under your bed
In your closet, in your head

Enter the Sandman Metallica

The moment the door closed behind Elizabeth, Darcy felt his bravado evaporate. He sagged in his seat, as the heaviness of the last past weeks, which had momentarily lifted seeing her, crashed down on him.

Richard sighed. Loudly. Darcy knew he was upset about the removed clause. Might as well admit his mistake outright. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have meddled with the contract."

"No, you shouldn't have." His cousin swiveled in the chair to look at Darcy. "What were you thinking removing that clause?"

Darcy knew exactly what he had been thinking. He wanted to own her. Possess her raw talent. He still did.

"I don't like any of this, Will." Richard voice showcased his unusual frustration. "I'm concerned that your decisions have left us exposed."

"I don't think she'll perform again without our approval." He may not have the threat of repayment over her head, but he had the threat against The Hole. It was an idle one. He couldn't destroy it. They'd met in that dirty little dump. It would forever have a place in his heart. She didn't need to know it though. He wanted her to think he was the unfeeling bastard she believed him to be. Too quickly, she would realize she was the one with all the leverage. He smiled wryly. "Or, at least, she won't anytime soon."

"That's not what I mean and you know it!" Darcy was surprised by his hostility. "Let me be perfectly blunt with you. Does she have grounds for a sexual harassment lawsuit?" He was not quick enough to school his features. "Jesus, Will! You've never done anything remotely this foolish in your entire life. We could lose everything we've built here. What were you thinking?"

He hadn't been really thinking. He hadn't been about to think anything but her for months.

"If you won't release her, as your attorney, I advise you to have a different producer handle her from here on out. Stay away from her. Keep your distance."

Shaking his head, Darcy wiped at his mouth. He knew he was going to ignore his cousin's well meant advice as much he had the day they signed Elizabeth. He attempted another smile. "At least, the meeting wasn't a complete loss. She did agree to do Wrecked. It's what we wanted, right?"

"Is it?" His cousin sound exasperated. "Her recording the damn song was what I wanted. Was why you brought me here, but it wasn't the reason for this meeting. What did you really hope to accomplish from this meeting, Will?"

To see her. He had wanted to see her.

After all what he really wanted, Elizabeth wouldn't give him. He wanted All of Her. He wanted to be in her life, share his with her. Every day, he found himself talking in his head to her.

And, what did Elizabeth want? How did she feel about him? She wanted to be Free. His mind kept circling back to that one very salient point. She wanted to be free. Free! Free of him! After all he had done for her, given to her, sacrificed for her, and she could think of nothing but wanting to cut the fragile ties that remained between them.

He was just a means to an end. A step she took for the advancement of her career. He felt used. Is this how the women he dated felt after he called an end to their relationship? Even though he was honest about his rules up front with them, some had still engaged in fantasies he would feel more for them. Looking at his past relationships, he knew there were several that he had hurt. Several he had callously moved on from without a second thought. Now that he knew what it felt like he regretted his treatment of the women he had dated in the past. This ache of insignificance was almost worst than the disappointment of finding out that Elizabeth did not return his feelings.

Darcy stood and went to his bar, eyeing the decanter of Scotch. The good stuff. He'd been drunk far too many times these last few weeks. It wasn't good for business. At the end of the day, he was a business man. Cutthroat. Cold. Distant. He'd have to harden himself over the weekend.

After all, they'd be working together on Monday. There'd be too many people about—video crew, sound crew, musicians. One too many damn musicians. How had she manipulated him into agreeing to allow that man back in his studio? How! He knew how. If he couldn't have her, he could have their connection again. To feel like he was important to her.

Even if he had to share her with others, he wanted to be part of recording Wrecked.

There was never a doubt after Darcy heard the song that she would want it on her album. Elizabeth wanted to be a star. To that end, she'd want only the best for her debut. He couldn't blame her blind ambition. In truth, he admired her tenacity. She'd come to New York with only one goal in mind. Nothing and no one was going to get in her way. Underneath the waif was a surprising fighter that he respected.

"Reconsider, Will. Let me terminate her contract." Richard shut his briefcase with a loud click reminding him that he was still there. "Let's cut our losses. Move on."

"What losses?" Darcy looked at his cousin in astonishment. "There's not going to be any losses. You know that. You saw that performance at The Hole. Even now, the advance orders for the CD are triple our expenses. That was before the free publicity with the YouTube video and that article in the paper calling us out. You know the public eats that stuff up. Since the release of Stronger, Gloria has been fielding offers begging for her to appear and we've released only one song. After she appears on Bingley's show and the world sees her perform live, it is going to only increase the demand for her."

"Let's forget for a moment that she could sue you, or sue us, the personal cost you're paying is too high, Will." He took a deep breath before continuing, "You have to know I'm not talking about money."

It was clear his cousin was only trying to help, but Darcy couldn't cancel their contract any more than he could stay away from the studio for the recording. It was all he had left of her. There was not going to be any more dinners, phone calls, workouts, rides to and from work. All of that was over. THIS was all he had left.

Darcy forced himself to say calmly, "You agreed with me that Wrecked needed to be on the album."

"I do. But, I don't think you are up for it. Let Paul or Gia produce it. There's no reason you have to be here. No reason to put yourself through this. Head out of town early for Thanksgiving. You and Georgie can drive to my parents with me and Esme. You need to get some separation from this. From her. You need time."

Everything down to a cellular level rejected the idea. They'd be enough separation from her when Elizabeth went on tour. He wouldn't see her for weeks at a time unless he went to one of her shows. Reverting once more to being an anonymous fan skulking in the shadow of her life.

"Your hurting, Will. You obviously are still not over whatever happened between you two?"

No, he agreed silently, he wasn't. Darcy gave in then and poured himself a scotch, swallowing it quickly. He thought about pouring another but he couldn't afford to drown his sorrows. He had meetings. So many meetings.

"You realize you're scaring Georgie."

Yes, damn it, Darcy knew he was scaring his sister. It was impossible not to notice. For the last week since his breakdown, his sister had been staying with him at the penthouse, cursing Elizabeth, cursing the day she met Elizabeth, and most violently cursing the day she had introduced them. It had taken every ounce of his persuasion to talk his little sister out of going to The Hole and cursing her in person.

The funny thing was that Darcy had actually convinced himself that he was ready to see her. What a delusion! When Elizabeth walked into his office - he barely could stand it. He'd been attracted to her from nearly the beginning, but now - ! He had gotten what he wanted. Elizabeth looked every bit the part of a star. She was glowing - her makeup was impeccable and her clothes had conformed to her body's every advantage - the thigh-high boots had seemed to go on forever, and that blouse revealed way too much cleavage. She had never looked more desirable.

If they had met alone, Darcy wouldn't have been able to stop himself from touching her. Wouldn't have been able to stop himself from making himself a fool over her. Begging her as he had on that night on the subway platform. To give him another chance to be the sort of man that could make her happy. Just, if they could, only start over.

This weakness for her angered him. The fact she breezed into his office looking as if she didn't have a care in the world annoyed him. It wasn't fair. He was barely holding himself together and she had never looked more confident.

"I just don't understand this at all, Will." Richard threw his hands up in the air. "You were even composing again. What happened between the two of you? What did you do to mess things up so badly?"

"I did the most stupid think of my life." It was painful to admit the truth. He couldn't help but laugh at the irony of it all. "I fell in love with her, Richard. I couldn't help myself. I was in the middle before I even knew I'd begun."

His cousin's mouth parted, shocked. "Don't you think you should tell her? Let her know how you feel about her instead of - " he waved his hand at the door, "whatever that was."

"That's great advice. Why didn't I think of that myself?" Darcy could not keep the sarcasm out of his voice. "And, I might try it sometime if it wasn't for the fact that Elizabeth is madly in love with someone else."

"Madly in love with someone else?" Richard's eyebrows rose into his hairline. "When would she have found the time? Either she was with you or in the studio every day. You two practically lived in each other's pockets. Will, you have to be mistaken."

He wasn't, but he would give anything he owned to be wrong. "It's Max. She's in love with him."

"The bassist? No. No, that's not right. She told Esme that they were only friends."

"Well things must have changed. They are living together at The Hole."

"They could just be roommates . You know how musicians are starting out. They barely have a nickel to rub together between them." His cousin glanced at the door to his office. "Did she tell you she was in love with him? Are you sure, quite sure?"

She hadn't needed to tell him. She had shown up with him wearing Max's clothes. The man had been with her the night before he left for Cabo. How hard she fought to keep the band together. He didn't need a diagram. "Believe me when I tell you I am."

"I'm sorry, Will. She was the first person you let close. I know you won't believe me when I say this but someone else will come along someday. You know the Garth Brook's song, Unanswered Prayers. Sometimes not getting the one you want is a blessing." Darcy didn't bother correcting Richard. He knew that wasn't true. Not for him. Yes, there would eventually be other women. He was realistic. He'd have to move on, but there would never be a woman who would speak to his soul the exact same way Elizabeth did. She was his muse. Awakened that part of him he had shut off from the world. He'd never love anyone the way he did her.

After Richard left, Darcy stood staring down at the city he loved. The hustle and bustle below mirrored the churning emotions she provoked within him. There'd be a time when it didn't hurt to breathe around her. There'd be a time when he didn't wake up wanting her. He'd be able to go to sleep without hearing her. There'd be a time when her songs no longer spoke to him. With all of his heart, he wished for that time to come. And, at the same time, he dreaded it.

Darcy returned to his desk, forwarded the video on his I-pad to the spot of her encore. Before she began, she didn't address the crowd with playful banter. She looked hesitant, unsure, then she shut her eyes. She channeled everything into her pain and contrition. It was powerful.

Your voice still haunts me.

In every silence. It's so loud.

Torturing me. Nurturing me.

Making me miss you more than I can bear

Wrecking my peace of mind

Completely.

I sleep with your memory.

Night after night.

Warming me. Freezing me.

Making me wish I could rewind time

Wrecking my sanity

Completely.

I know I've disappointed you.

Wrecked you

Made mistakes that cannot be unforgotten

Wrecked me.

Said things that cannot be forgiven

Wrecked you.

Destroyed all the beautiful moments we shared

Wrecked me.

Made the future impossible.

Wrecked us.

I wish you could understand me.

Or see yourself through my eyes.

Then you'd know how I feel.

I'm wrecked.

I've complicated something that were simple.

I can't stop thinking of us

I'm wrecked.

I didn't appreciate what you were to me.

I'm wrecked.

Didn't know how much

how much you meant to me

I wrecked myself

when I hurt you.

Wrecked.

Why had Elizabeth concealed the song until now? It made no sense. She had to know the song was special. Had to know that it showcased her talent in a totally different way than the rest of her album. Hell, Wrecked made Stronger seem virtually irrelevant. Her abilities dwarfed his. The longing in her voice when she sang it twisted at his soul. Her tears had been genuine, heartfelt. The message was repentance.

Had she written it for Max? Had he somehow found out about the night they shared? Gotten angry? Was the song her apology to him? The idea, once he latched onto it, was so painful he had to lean against the table. Tears had sprung in his eyes. Damn, he was stronger than this!

Richard was right. He would forget her in time. He just needed to bury himself in work. There was so much to do, but looking at his desk, he did not possess the desire to do it. He knew he was being incredibly rude to the powerful men in his lobby, but he didn't know how he was going to make it through the endless day of meetings. Normally, he thrived on the challenge of running Darcy Records, but lately he'd felt crushed by the weight of it all. Utterly exhausted. Heartbroken.

The phone on his desk buzzed interrupted his musing. "Yes, Maggie."

"Ms. Rhodes is here."

This was another unexpected complication. One didn't have to know his secretary to catch the obvious thick disapproval in her voice as it came through his intercom. Ever since the day he'd sent Elizabeth away without seeing her, Maggie telegraphed her displeasure in subtle passive ways. Just like this—not telling him everything as she usually did.

"What does she want?"

"She has an urgent update for you."

He could only imagine what Richard would think about this if he knew. "Give me a few minutes before you send her in."

"Mr. Kooker and Mr. Morris from Sony Music Entertainment are still here and have indicated that they cannot wait much longer."

"Reschedule them then!" he snapped, irritated that he had to tell her how to do her job. Then he tempered his voice, he didn't want to alienate her with his moodiness. "I apologize, Maggie. I want to meet with Ms. Rhodes. If they cannot wait, reschedule them."

"Very good." Her tone indicated his instructions were anything but.

*)*)*

Nancy Rhodes was a chameleon. Medium height, medium coloring and medium weight. Nondescript. Extremely efficient, she'd been gathering information for months about Elizabeth, and following her without detection for the last several weeks since Stronger was released. It was not merely surveillance. She also served as Elizabeth's protection. While she did not look intimidating in the slightest, Nancy was a black belt in karate and had spent six years in Quantico working for the FBI. She was not a woman to take lightly. Since Elizabeth insisted on flaunting her safety by living in a bar in that part of the city without any real security, what other choice did he have but take matters into his own hands? The thought of someone hurting her was enough to make him crazy. If something were to happen to her -

Darcy shook off the feeling that thought provoked. He opened the drawer where he kept Nancy's reports. It was thick and already the binding was showing signs of wear. The first report had arrived the day after he found out about Peter. It contained general information about Elizabeth and her family. Things he already knew like the bond between her and her elder sister had been exceptionally close. There were things he hadn't known back then such as her being a nurse. An exceptional one from the reviews Nancy had included. Then, there were things that had outright shocked him. Elizabeth had quit her job and moved in with Jane when it was determined Jane's cancer was inoperable. The two sisters had spent the last six months of her life together. To know she'd unselfishly undertaken such a burden made his considerable admiration of her grow.

To be loved by Elizabeth, truly loved, was a remarkable gift.

Elizabeth had been an average but popular student in high school and college. A member of various clubs, in the choir, a cheerleader, voted Most Friendly by her peers. She was a social butterfly. People gravitated to her. So many pictures of her surrounded by friends, always laughing.

After finding nothing significant about it in the original report, he'd asked Nancy to look into her love life. The request had surprised the detective, but she returned within days with the information he wanted. Flirtatious and effervescent, Darcy assumed Elizabeth would've left a wake of men in her past. Clearly, she was a favorite among the male sex. However, the report documented only a few casual boyfriends in her teens and early twenties.

Nothing remotely serious until her path collided with Dr. Peter Hancock.

Oh, the good doctor! He was the son of a prominent cardiologist, born into money and privilege. An attractive, well built, fair haired man, he'd never been married, had no children, and no criminal record. Not so much as a speeding ticket. Squeaky clean. Athletic. Financially secure. Not as secure as Darcy, but wealthy enough to comfortably provide for a wife and start a family.

Peter had asked Elizabeth to marry him, and had been accepted, at a New Year's Eve party where all of their friends and family were in attendance. It had taken Dr. Hancock exactly four months from their introduction. Their engagement picture showed a well-matched couple. Happily in love. Eager to wed.

It bothered Darcy as he examined the photo. Her smile was so brilliant as she cuddled against her fiancé. Peter was everything she claimed she wanted for herself. The perfect mate. Whatever had happened to break them up? Had Elizabeth called an end to things or had the doctor? Even after sending Nancy to Ohio twice for reconnaissance, Darcy still didn't have that answer. He had other troubling information. Peter wasn't dating anyone. He hadn't dated anyone since the two had broken up. It was as if he was simply waiting for her to return to him.

Darcy dropped the pages of the report as if they burned his fingers. Well if he was waiting on her to return to him, Dr. Hancock would be sorely disappointed.

Rifling until he found the last report delivered a few days ago, he glared at the pages. Max had moved in with Elizabeth at The Hole. Darcy harbored no illusions as to what that meant and the knowledge was like a hot dagger in his gut. Even now, he was tempted to call the property managers back and withdraw his support. Offering to obligate himself financially had certainly paved the way for her to get her own place. At the time, he'd been anxious to have her live in a secure place away from her unsavory friends. Now, it appeared, he had paved the way for the couple's new home. Nancy's report today probably would include the fact Elizabeth signed a lease on one of the units she just viewed again. That was probably the urgent news.

And now, on Monday, he was going to have to face the lovebirds.

Maybe he should leave early for vacation and let Paul fill in for him. Thinking about it now, he didn't really know where he was going to get the strength to stomach watching the two of them together. God, help him if Max gave him one of those antagonizing smiles of his! Punching the other man right in the face would go a long way to relieve him of these leeching feelings.

One thing he knew for certain was there was nothing, absolutely nothing, Elizabeth could do to make him change his mind about The Hole House going on her tour. Max would have to learn to deal with his disappointment just like he had. If what she shared with her bassist was strong enough to survive the separation and demands of her tour, then so be it. But he'd be damned if he'd make it easy for another man to succeed where he had failed.

"Was my video helpful, Mr. Darcy?" He glanced up at the question. Nancy had entered the office without him noticing and was sitting in front of him waiting patiently.

"Yes, it was." He said curtly, "You'll take it down today."

Nancy agreed easily, and then said, "I must say your Ms. Bennet is an extremely talented woman. I've never witnessed such a performance or such an audience's reaction." She looked at him with something akin to pity. "She seems to be a good, kind sort of woman."

Darcy did not agree. Elizabeth was exceptionally cruel to him. "Maggie indicated you have some urgent news you wanted to share?"

"Yes. As you've requested, I have completed all the background checks on The Hole personnel." Nancy handed him her perfectly typed report and the supporting documents that went with it. "In light of what I've learned, you have the right to be concerned. Very concerned."

Darcy read through the report and flipped through each document becoming increasingly alarmed with each new fact. "Are these all certified copies? Are you certain of the dates?"

"I am." Noting the investigator's uneasy expression, he asked if there was anything more. "I'm afraid I cannot authenticate this in any way without speaking directly to Ms. Bennet, but you've prohibited that so I . . ."

"Does it have something to do with this?" He waved the pages of the report impatiently. His heart thundered in his chest. This could not be happening.

"Yes, sir. One of Jane Bennet's neighbors called me this morning. She was in the hospital during my first trip and visiting with family the last time I was in town. She just found my card. In light of the other discoveries I made, I felt I should come here and tell you what I'd learned in person. I am very concerned by what this neighbor said. It is consistent with my hypothesis."

"Tell me. Tell me everything."

After she finished, Darcy felt sick with fear. "Inform your father, I want an extra bodyguard hired for her until Bolton returns to the States. We can't wait for the release of her CD. I need the best he can find now—immediately. Until those arrangements can be made, I want you to continue protecting her yourself. Everywhere she goes. Promise me you'll keep her safe, Nancy."

"I will do my best, Mr. Darcy. But, it is difficult to do my job if I can't be as close to her as I would like." Darcy rubbed his lips. He had to see Elizabeth again. He had to demand she allow him to keep her safe. Nancy continued, "I'll call my father on my way back to The Hole."

As she slipped from his office to carry out his instructions, Darcy pressed the button on his phone. "Maggie, cancel all of my appointments for the rest of the day. An emergency has come up that requires my attention."

"The men for Sony have rescheduled, but Mr. Carter and Mr. Kyle have been waiting for nearly an hour. Also, your 11 and 11:30 are still waiting - "

"I don't care! I said cancel all my appointments!" He didn't feel apologetic about his tone. He was terrified. When his secretary made to interrupt him again, he told her in frustration. He needed advice from someone he could trust. "Maggie, I think Elizabeth is in real trouble. Please. Please reschedule the appointments and get me Richard. I need his help."

Her tone changed drastically, "Of course, right away."

Darcy sat back in his chair. He didn't believe in coincidences. Memories of Elizabeth when he questioned her about Peter resurfaced. Her reactions were now seen in a totally different light. How had he missed it? Sweat broke out on his neck. Damn it! Why had she been so stubborn? Why had she never told him about her past? Why hadn't he pushed more? He felt blindsided by what he now suspected she had gone through. Did she even suspect how much danger she was in? How was he going to manage to keep her safe from harm?

Safe from those two psychopaths!

It felt like his absolute worst nightmare was coming true.