Chapter Ten
AN: A quick note about the characters: Of course we all know what Jackson, Lisa, Cynthia and Joe look like...but here is who I envision the others as: Ben(Chris Meloni from SVU), Shane(Gerard Butler) John Caldwell(Chris Noth) and Salena(Lena Olin) Ok. Just wanted to share that! Happy reading!
Joe Reisert was forced into a car along with two of his captors, Ben, and awoman who'd recently made an appearance.Her name was Salena.She wasone of the company's female agents they'd called in to pose as Joe's sister, Jeanne. She was to go with him into the hotel to make sure he did exactly what he was supposed to (without opening his mouth too much).
"Don't do anything stupid Reisert…you know what will happen to Lisa."
"I don't think Jackson would kill her."
"No, he wouldn't…but someone else would. We have other people nearby. Do you honestly think we'd entrust this project to Jackson by himself? His judgment is far too clouded and he has failed us before. And, if you're good, after this, maybe we'll let you have him to maim for knocking up your daughter."
"I highly doubt that."
"Why not? We're going to kill him anyway,"Salena laughed. "He'll be useless to us after this…and we won't be able to trust him with Lisa." Joe couldn't believe his ears. As much as he hated Jackson, he felt terrible hearing about the young man's fate.
"C'mon," Salena insisted, grabbing Joe's arm and yanking him out of the car, "Now, you swear that this Cynthia chick wouldn't know what I'm supposed to look like?"
"Yes, I swear. For the eighth time."
"Don't get mouthy with me," she snapped sliding a pair of sunglasses on. Joe painted on a smile as he and Salena approached the front desk. Cynthia whirled around and gave him a giant grin.
"Hey there, Mr. Reisert! You need those folders right?"
"Hi Cynthia…yep…Lisa won't let me forget," he chuckled. Cynthia's eyes looked questioningly at Salena.
"Hi, I'm Jeanne…Joe's little sister and Lisa's aunt. We're both driving to visit her today." Cynthia extended her hand warmly.
"Nice to meet you," she said as she grabbed some keys from under the desk, "Now, if you two will follow me…I'll show you to Lisa's office…" They didn't walk very far before they were standing in front of Lisa's office door. Cynthia opened the door and Joe walked through with Salena attempting to follow…
"I'm sorry Jeanne, but only Lisa's father has clearance. You'll have to wait out here." Salena sighed, but gave Cynthia a sickeningly sweet smile. Joe flashed her a coy grin as the door clicked shut. He got the files and everything together and then proceeded to look in the top draw. There was the key ring…but also…a pocketknife? Joe said a silent prayer as he slipped the object into the top of his boxer-briefs. This certainly changed the tide. He quickly grabbed a piece of paper and began to scribble a warning note to anyone who came into the office next…hoping that someone would actually come in. Suddenly, the door flew open and Salena stalked in and had Cynthia by the throat. She saw the note, and ripped it from under his hand.
"Nice try, Joey. Now, Miss Cynthia…we're going back to the front desk, where you are going to tell them that you're taking the rest of the day off ok?"
"O-ok…wh-what do you need with me?" Cynthia stuttered.
"Oh, just some more insurance; and you know the Lux so well," Salena answered. "Did you get the keys?"
"Yes." Salena snatched them from Joe's hand and shoved them in her coat pocket.
"Let's get the fuck out of here…we've got a lot to do before tomorrow."
Two hours passed and Jackson still didn't want to let her go. He wanted to lose himself in her lips forever. Lisa pulled away first and Jackson tensed up, afraid she'd changed her mind towards him once again.
"What is it?" he asked, panting from atop her.
"I need to breathe," she laughed.
"Overrated." And he kissed her again. She pushed him up a little.
"We need to take this slow, ok?" Jackson bit his lip.
"Don't you think it's a little late for that?" he asked, patting her on her bump. She blushed.
"You know what I mean. As strongly as we may feel for each other…we need to take time to make sure we're both on the same page."
"Ok, but come with me. I've got something to show you in my room."
"Jackson!"
"No…no, not that. Although…" Lisa shot him a look. He helped her up and down the hall to his bedroom. When he opened the door, Lisa saw two brand new bassinets: one blue and one pink, and each with a matching teddy bear. She remembered at that moment where she was. She wasn't at home with her family in the nursery that she'd decorated. No, she was in a cabin, in the middle of the woods somewhere, with a man who'd taken her captive so the people he worked for could off some innocent businessman.
"Don't you like them?" Jackson asked.
"Yes, of course; they're beautiful."
"Then, what is it?"
"I want to go home." She heard him sigh in annoyance.
"Lisa…"
"I know, I know…there's nothing you can do." He put a hand on her shoulder; she brushed it off.
"Please don't stand here and pretend to feel sorry for me, Jack. If you were sorry, I wouldn't be here." She said, trying to stay calm, but on the edge of being quite snippy.
"Goddammit Lisa, I really don't get you. You're hot one minute and cold the next!"
"That's because part of me really wants to love you, Jackson! It REALLY does…but it CAN'T if you refuse to do what's right!"
"Lisa, doing what is RIGHT will get us KILLED! The babies…your parents…" he snapped, "Do you want to die? Because that is what's going to happen if I attempt to contest these people." Lisa shook at the tone in his voice. It wasn't only angry…it was frightened; and it wasn't easy to scare a hitman. Still, if he truly cared, like he said he did, he could do something to get them out of there. Who would know, for God's sake? They were in the middle of nowhere. But Jackson was selfish and wanted to keep Lisa locked away for himself. As much as Lisa wanted to love him completely, she'd never be able to get over his possessive tendencies.
"Promise me that after this stupid hit is finished, we can leave this place."
"What?"
"You heard me. Now promise."
"It won't be safe for us to go back to Miami after all of that, Lisa. You'll be bombarded with questions…they'll be after me…no, it's too risky in your condition."
"Well…who says we'll be here that long…they aren't due for another few weeks."
"The hit is tomorrow." Lisa slumped down onto his bed. She didn't even want to think about it.
"I can't believe I'm helping you kill an innocent person." Jackson stayed silent; she noticed the muscles over his cheekbones flex…the way they flexed when he was upset about something.
"What?"
Silence.
"Jackson, please tell me it's only one person."
More silence.
"God-fucking-dammit Jackson! You people have no souls!" Lisa shouted angrily. It wasn't enough to take one life…but the entire family had to go, too. It was too much. She shoved herself off of his bed and pushed past him.
"Calm down; you're overreacting, Leese."
"I am NOT overreacting! People are going to die due, in large part, to me!"
"You know it's hardly your fault." He extended his hand to touch her again.
"So help me God, I will break your fucking hand, Jack!"
"Please calm down…this is not good for you!"
"You're not a doctor! Quit telling me what to-" Lisa stopped suddenly and clutched her stomach.
"What? WHAT'S WRONG?" Jackson's heart was beating 100 miles a minute.
"Fucking hell…" Lisa squeezed her eyes shut and slid to the floor. She began to make all manner of groaning noises.
"Lisa, is it the babies?" Her eyes grew wide.
"Jackson, I-I think they're coming!"
AN: Wooha! I'm an epilogue away from being finished! I'm so excited! Anyways-thank you all for your continuing support of my story and for the nice words of encouragment about the stalker. I'm happy to report that he has a new girlfriend(THANK GOD!) so I don't have to worry about him anymore. So, in short, life is pretty great right now. I also have something cool to share with everyone...I made a Rachel McAdams video cause I pretty much want to marry her...lol. I'm gonna give ya'll the link and hope that you'll check it out! It's here: http/