Chapter Nine

Joe Reisert was awoken by a jab in the arm. With a gun. Through his blurred vision, he could see that it was, Ben and Shane, the two men that he'd come to hate in the past three days. He'd come to Lisa's house after not being able to get in touch with her only to find her boyfriend Michael bound and gagged in her bedroom, which was soon Joe's fate as well. The first time he'd asked what was going on; he received a punch in the face as a warning to mind his own business. A few hours later, one of the men explained that he, along with Michael and Lisa's mother were being held to ensure that Lisa would help them with their plan. They wouldn't say what it was or anything about Lisa's whereabouts…only that she wasn't dead.

"There is a call for you," one of the men said, shoving a cell phone into Joe's hand.

"H-hello…Lisa?" he asked, still a little groggy.

"No, no, Mr. Reisert…this isn't darling Leese…"

"Who the hell are you? WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?"

"Calm down, Mr. Reisert. Lisa is fine. The babies are fine. I just figured that you'd like to know that. I'd let you talk to her, but she is sleeping right now. She's had quite a long day."

"What is your name?"

"That's not important. What's important is that I need something from you."

"Why should I help you?"

"You know why. Now, it seems that Lisa gave us the wrong set of keys…we need you to go to the hotel and get them. I'm sure Cynthia will let you into her office."

"They won't let me into her stuff like that…I don't have clearance."

"They will after Lisa calls the hotel. You'll go tomorrow. It's very important that this gets done, Mr. Reisert…we're up against a very tight schedule."

"I'm not going to help you kill people!" Joe was irate.

"It would be unfortunate for something to happen to you, Joe. I mean, Lisa being in the delicate condition and all…she could miscarry. And neither of us wants that to happen." The urgency in the man's voice made Joe as curious as much as it frightened him.

"I want to know my daughter is alright, or I'm not doing anything."

"Ah, like father like daughter," the man chuckled, "I'll have her call you first thing…right after she calls the hotel. How's that sound?" Joe made no reply.

"Hope it's alright…cause that is the best I can do. Goodnight, Joe. I'll kiss Lisa for you."

"Don't you touch Lis-" the line went dead and the man with the gun grabbed it from him.

"Chill out, dude. She's in good hands. Jack wouldn't hurt his own kids." Shane chuckled. His partner joined in. Joe couldn't believe his ears. Jack. He knew that name. That was the name Lisa cried out in her nightmares…Jack. Or maybe…Jack…son. Jackson Rippner! That bastard who'd tried to kill her a year ago. The Red Eye flight. The attack on Charles Keefe.

Those were his children? Joe felt sick to his stomach. Jackson not only tried to kill his daughter, but he had raped her as well. If Joe Reisert got out of this alive…

He looked over at Michael who looked just as shocked and confused as he was.

"Who is Jack? Please tell me its not who I think it is…" Michael choked. Joe couldn't bring himself to say anything.

"Jesus Christ…that son of a bitch. I'm going to find Lisa and kill that motherfucker."

"Not if I get to him first…" Joe muttered.

It had taken Lisa another three hours to fall back asleep that night. Jackson's words had succeeded in shaking her to the core. She just didn't understand him. How could he be so loving to her one moment, but so cruel the next? And, why was he so intent upon being in these children's lives? He was just a killer who thought only of himself; He couldn't possibly have any human decency in him. But, Lisa couldn't get the image of his face when he felt her protruding stomach out of her mind. He looked so gentle and handsome. She couldn't deny the fact that in that very moment, she'd wanted him to take her into his bedroom…and well…

Lisa shook the thoughts from her mind. She couldn't be thinking that way about him; it made her susceptible to his charms. She looked around the room for her suitcase and changed into a pair of yoga pants and a tank. The smell of breakfast hung in the air; bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Lisa's stomach rumbled at the thought of food. She drew in a huge breath and hoped that Jackson wasn't still pissed at her. Walking out into the hall, she peered around the corner and into the living room; then the kitchen. Jackson was busy cooking the eggs on the stove. His eyes met hers as she stepped into the living room.

"Hi," he said flatly.

"Hi," Lisa stuttered.

"Hungry?"

"Starving."

"Well, sit down then. I'll bring it to you. Milk?"

"Yes please." Lisa took her seat at the end of table by the wall. She kept her eyes on her food as she ate.

"Did you sleep ok last night?" Jackson asked.

"What do you think?" she retorted.

"You brought it on yourself, Leese. I was trying to be nice and you had to go and be a bitch." Lisa was quiet after that, not trying to press her luck with him. It was obvious that he was still smarting from last night's comment. When she was finished, Jackson took her plate and glass and dropped them in the sink. Lisa got up from the table to offer her help with the dishes.

"Never mind those right now, we have something more important to do." Jackson said cryptically. He took out his cell phone, "Now, Leese, it's come to our attention that the keys you gave us do not work…I'm going to assume that you were under a lot of stress and you gave them to us on accident. However, I want you to understand something: My people are extremely irritated with you…they came close to killing your mother when they found out that the keys were duds. You're lucky that they tried them out first before executing the actual operation. I convinced them to not kill your mother; explaining that you were under a lot of stress. So, I'd appreciate it if you started showing me a little more gratitude and respect. OK?"

Lisa trembled at the thought of them killing her mother. She had given them the wrong keys on purpose; partly because she was defiant and also because she thought it would buy more time for planning on her part. She knew now that she was just foolish and that nothing would stop these people. Perhaps it wasn't worth her life…her father's…her mother's….or Michaels…to save one person that she didn't even know.

"So, what do I need to do now?"

"First, you're going to call the Lux, and tell them that in your rush, you forgot a few things from your office and you're sending your father in. They know your father, correct?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then, after you call them, call your father. Explain to him what to do and where the keys are. Apparently, he wanted to talk to you anyway. Ready?"

She gave no reply.

"Good." Jackson dialed the number to the Lux and handed the phone to Lisa.

"Lux Atlantic, this is Karen, how may I help you?"

"Hi, Karen…this is Lisa Reisert. Is Cynthia there by any chance?"

"Hello, Miss Reisert! Yes, she's right here. Hold on."

"Thank you."

"Hey Lisa! Enjoying your getaway?"

"Yes, it's been really nice so far. Um, I need to ask you a big favor though. The night I came to get the keys…I meant to get a few other things…some books and some important folders. I was wondering if you'd possibly let my dad in there. He is coming up to visit tomorrow…and he was going to just bring them to me."

"Uh, sure. That should be fine. Is he coming in today?"

"Yes, probably after 12 sometime. Thank you SO MUCH, Cynthia. I don't know where my head's been lately!"

"I understand, Leese. You're pregnant. Things are crazy."

"Yeah, that must be it." Lisa looked at Jackson. Wrap it up, he mouthed. She rolled her eyes, "Ok, well I better go, my movie is about to start. I'll see you soon, Cynthia. Bye!"

"Bye Lisa!" She hung up and handed the phone back to Jackson.

"Women," he muttered as he began to dial once again.

"This is Rippner. Put Mr. Reisert on the phone." He handed the phone back to Lisa.

"Hello?" she heard the troubled voice of her father ask.

"Dad…" she sputtered, "Dad, are you ok?"

"Lisa, sweetheart, where are you?"

"I don't know. I think somewhere up north." Jackson glared at her.

"Has he hurt you?"

"No, he hasn't hurt me. I'm ok. Have you been hurt?"

"No, no. I'm alright. Listen…Lisa….is it true that those babies…are his?" Lisa squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to get hysterical. She hadn't wanted her dad to know.

"It's a long story, Dad, but yes they are."

"Oh, Lisa…did he rape you?"

"No, Dad, he didn't rape me. I don't really want to talk about that. Now listen, I need you to do this. I called the hotel…they'll be expecting you shortly after noon. You need to go and get the set of keys in my top desk drawer. Cynthia will take you…she is the only other person with keys to my office. DO NOT tell her about the keys. Just grab the two manila folders off the top of my desk and my Dr. Phil book to make it look convincing, ok?"

"Who are they trying to kill, Lisa?" She was about to tell him that she didn't know when she heard the phone being snatched away and some man yelling in the background.

"Hello, Miss Reisert, put Daddy Rippner back on the phone, ok?" she heard a gruff voice instruct.

"Don't you dare touch my father, you monster!" Jackson snatched the phone out of her hand.

"I told you not to touch him, Shane. And don't fucking agitate her. I'm irate that you said something to her father about our situation in the first place. That has nothing to do with your job, so why don't you just shut your fucking mouth about it? I can see that when this is over-"

"Oh, save it Jack. We all know you're retiring to play house with little Miss Lisa after this. Don't jeopardize that. We'll call you when we've retrieved the keys." Jackson pressed the end button on his cell phone and slammed it down. He looked at Lisa who was crying.

"What did he say to you?" Jackson asked.

"Someone told my father about you and me…" she sniffed.

"And? So what, Lisa? I'm the father…nothing's going to change that. It would have come out sometime."

"I told him that they were the product of a drunken one-night stand."

"Wow. So, a drunken one-night stand is less embarrassing…" he walked away from her and slumped onto the couch. For the first time, Jackson looked truly hurt in Lisa's eyes. At that very moment, both Jonathan and Katherine kicked. She wiped her eyes, slowly approached the couch, and sat next to him.

"What did you expect me to do, Jackson? In my father's eyes, you're a criminal. You tried to kill me…and him. I was afraid and ashamed ok? You can't possibly tell me that you don't understand why."

He stayed silent.

"I don't want these babies to have a killer for a father."

"I'm quitting after this, remember?" The babies kicked again. Lisa flinched and held her tummy. Jackson looked at her.

"Are they at it again?" he asked.

"Yes."

She took his hand and placed it over the bump. He took Lisa into his arms. She shifted and lay down. His hands swirled over her stomach, feeling his children kicking. Was this what love felt like? Did he love Lisa Reisert? Jackson looked at her; her eyes were closed and her breathing was ragged. She was clearly enjoying every moment. He took her arms and pulled her back up, then placed his hands back on her stomach. They stared at each other for a moment.

"Jackson, I-" He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, still holding her there. And to his surprise, she didn't resist, but kissed him back.

AN: I had the craziest week ever last week, so, my apologies for taking so long to update! I hope you like this chapter...itnothing spectacular...but it's fun. Also, if any of you are the praying type-please keep me in your thoughts because I've got a stalker boy situation I'm trying to deal with. It's starting to freak me out, but I think I'll be ok.

Reviews are love!