CHAPTER 8

Bellas p.o.v

Sam kept his hand on my lower back the entire way to the car. His hand felt like it was searing through my sweatshirt, T shirt and onto my body' Imprinting his very hand into the skin and marking me. A weird mixture of emotions there whirling around in my head. Anger for him doing this to me and my family. Fear that My baby brother and I would be harmed and we wouldn't ever see my childhood home or best friends ever again. Nervousness due to the fact I had know idea where or what was going to happen to me or Lucas and also not wanting to make Samuel even more mad and annoyed with me when I'm about to make a few demands. and spurts of arousal. All mixing in me to make this emotional cocktail leaving me lightheaded, flushed and scared. And all this was happening in a mere few seconds while we walked to the damn car.

I swallowed the thick lump in my throat; it felt like I had a bread ball stuck in it and the air wasn't getting to my lungs making it extremely difficult to speak. Clearing my throat a few times to help dislodge the ball and with tense shoulders I turned around and faced Samuel to ask.

"What about our clothes and other belongings? Won't we need them?" I tried to hide the nervousness in my voice, but failed miserably. I was dealing with so many emotions inside my brain that it was hard to figure out which was the most dominant. I started to naw on my bottom lip again. Then at the moment I thought I was going to crack from Sam's intense staring, Lucas decided to sigh in his sleep and sorta squirm and get a little more comfortable in my arms. I looked down at him with a fond smile and kissed his forehead; smelling his sweet scented hair calmed and centered me.

That's when my determination and stubbornness came back. I could handle this, I could handle whatever life threw my way. And you wanna know why? Because I was a tough fucking, bad ass bitch that didn't take shit from no one especially a damn MAN. I had a little person that relied on me 24/7 of my life. I was responsible for this little life in my arm and I wasn't going to fuck it up.

Samuel cleared his throat, getting my attention again. At some point i had closed my eyes and was cradling him in a hunched position

"No. we'll buy new stuff for you both." Sam mutters, ushering me down the front porch steps. My bloody footprints long since been cleaned off. I frowned from the memory. I hated this so much. I tried so hard and fought tooth and nail to escape this man and here he was doing the same thing all over again. Bitterness started setting it evil hooks inside me making a deep scowl form across my face. Then his statement clicked in my brain and my head shot up to look at him.

"We're not not going to be coming back here, are we?" the corners of my eyes tightened, I pressed my lips into a thin line.

"No." he grunts. Resolute in his statement and task, once more pulling me along. I stop in my tracks almost tripping the both of us up. My hold on Lucas tightening a little making him grunt and his face to scrunch up in irritation. I look down at him then back to stare at Samuel. He didn't even give it a second thought to us ever returning here. This was my childhood home. I was born and brought up in this house. He did not understand that. He obviously didn't know I owned this house or new how much it meant to me. DUH….But It was my last piece of tangible proof my parents lived here. And he wasn't going to let me ever come back!?

I sigh and look back down at Luke, giving him a quick kiss to his forehead. If this was our fate then i had to get as much of our things as I could. "Then there are some things I need to get before we leave." He had been watching me the entire time while I was processing. When I kissed Lucas, an emotion crossed his face but I didn't have time to fully comprehend what. Regret maybe? Now though, his face was blank and started moving to continue ushering me forward to the car. I fought to stop him.

"It can be replaced." He snaps, getting irate with me. He was breathing hard and I could feel from the hand on my arm that he was beginning to shake. Then a low rumble deep in his chest started to build. I look at him in shock. He didn't even know what I wanted to go get. He was just assuming it was meaningless. Again I fought him off and planted my feet, Shrugging Lucas up a little higher in my arm. He was starting to get heavy.

"These things can't be replaced, that house is my childhood home. I was born and raised in that house. It's the last bit of my parents I have let. If you're going to make me and and him *points down to Lucas* leave it for the rest of our life then I'll be damned if I'm not bringing some of our parents mementos with us!" His hand, which had grabbed my arm when I stopped walking yet again, tightened. Flaring his nostrils and sighing loudly he barked an order out over his shoulder.

"Paul." The driver from my first kidnapping appears in front of us. So that was his name, I would have guessed it was something more...I don't know, intimidating? This Paul guy was close to the same build and height as Sam, though the big difference was Paul looked like he was gonna beat the shit out of you just for breath near him. His eyes burned into your sole and it really scared me.

"Yes Alp- er, Sam." Paul answers, his eyes were down, looking at Sam's chin rather than looking him straight in the eyes. Also Paul's body language totally changed. His back and shoulders stood straight but his head tilted just a little down and to the side. It reminded me of when my grabpa would try to hear you better and would lean in to listen out of his good ear. In fact-Paul looked like he was almost bowing to Sam. I rolled my eyes. whatever.

"Well, are you going to tell him what it is that is so important you just can't live without?" My lips twitched in secret satisfaction, there was so much annoyance dripping from Sams voice. I internally was chuckling like the wicked witch of the west. Sweet satisfaction spreading through my veins, that I could give him as much trouble and maybe even a really bad migraine as he deserved was very rewarding.

I turned my attention to Paul-"If you wouldn't mind, Paul,'' I look up at Paul, faking a sweet smile. "Could you go up to the second floor; down the hall to the third door on the left and go into my closet. At the back of the closet on the right side there is a cedar hope chest, please bring that with us. Then over on my bookshelf there are a few plaid binders, please grab those too. As well as the duffel bag that's under my bed," I cleared my throat, feeling uncomfortable with a stranger rummaging through my shit but I wasn't going to put Lucas down to go get everything, that made me feel more uncomfortable than having some pervy pair of hands going through in my naughty drawer.

"I know this seems like a lot of demands, but I've got one more thing. if it's ok that is?" I ask, looking up through my lashes and giving Paul my best doe eyes. He huffed, crossed his arms and only raised an expectant eyebrow. I could see the corner of his mouth turn up in a little smirk.

He simply gestured for me to finish my demands with a roll of his wrist. Wow maybe he isn't as bad as I thought. You can tell he's annoyed but his eyes weren't as hard now.

"Thank you Paul, I really appreciate you doing this. So the room that has all the superhero stickers on the door, could you please go in there and grab the duffel that is in the cedar chest at the foot of the bed and the stuffed dog that is on the bed in there? Please and thank you." Paul looks from me to Sam before he bows his head at us and jogs up the porch steps and disappearing inside the house.

That was weird. He bowed to me. I snort at that.

I was really happy Sam was letting me bring some things with us. After Mamma and Daddy passed away I had packed a duffel for me and Lucas. filled with updated-sized-clothes, toiletries, our legal documents - (birth records, SSI stuff, my paperwork on Lucas and everything about the house and stuff on mom and dads deaths) I also kept about $5000 in cash in my own duffel, but I wasn't about to let any of these kidnapping freaks know that.

Lucas's duffel was filled with his most special toys, movies, books and other things a 5 year old holds dear. The Cedar chest that was in the back of my closet held a bunch of our parents things; Like Dad's watch, both their wedding rings, photos and vhs tapes of our family trips and special times, their wedding and the birth of both Lucas and I. But the most important thing in my cedar chest was the ashes of both of them. Lucas didn't know they were in there and I wasn't going to tell him till he got a little older. I kept a small locket around my neck with both of them in there. Mr. Roody, Lucas's big brown stuffed dog; had Mom and Daddy's ashes in it and a voice recording of them singing Lucas's little lullaby they made up inside it. He new Mommy and Daddy were in his Mr. Roody but didn't know that it was ashes. He thought they were angels that were watching over him living in the Plushie.

I know, crazy and totally out of this world but that was just how he was. Again he's only 5 going on 6 years old so his imagination runs crazy.

After about 5 minutes of me staring at the front door Sam starts to push me forward to the car and opens the back passenger door to the SUV. He nods his head forward indicating for me to get in. I take a step off the curb to try and slide in with Lucas in my arms, when he suddenly grabs my arm and turns me around. I looked up in confusion. He was standing with his arms open in what I thought was his way of asking for a hug, but when he pointedly looked at my baby brother and indicates with his arms once more. Then it dawned on me and I understood what he was trying to do. He wanted to hold Lucas while I got in.

I took a step back from his open arms, a strange sound of uncertainty coming out of my mouth.

"I promise I won't hurt him and and the second you're settled and buckled up I'll give him right back." Sam's tone was gentle and the look in his eyes seemed sincere. I bit my lower lip and nodded. Slowly I slid Lucas into his waiting arms. Sam maneuvered Lucas easily so that he was resting in the crook of his right arm. My 5 year old baby brother truly looked like a baby in Sams huge arms. A weird sense of contentment washed over me as I watched Sam's own eyes traveled from me down to my brother, they seemed to smolder with unspoken emotion. I wasn't sure what those emotions were though.

I shook my head; dispelling my bout of outlandish contentment at seeing Sam hold my baby brother. I quickly jumped into the car and buckled up fast setting myself and looked back up to take my brother back into my arms. Though more confusion overtook me when i looked up. Sam was still staring at Lucas. His brow was pinched like he was trying to figure out a complex math problem. He had lifted Lucas up a little high on his chest at some point and seemed to be sniffing at him. My eyebrow raised at his weird behavior. What a freak. I've had enough of that.

I cleared my throat and raised my arms back up to take Lucas again. Sam smiled at me then gently laid him across my lap. He even ran his fingers through Lucas's bangs, ruffling his hair in a friendly teasing manor. A soft chuckle sounded from him. When Luke whimpered in his sleep and turned away from Sam's hand and into my chest, burying his face into me trying to block out the light of the day. I stared down at my sweet little boy, a soft affectionate smile curling my lips then raised my eyes to look back up at Sam. Startling when I came nose to nose with Sam. I let out an involuntary high pitched exclamation but didn't move, I couldn't. I was trapped by his hypnotizing eyes.

I hadn't realized how close he had gotten. We stared into each other's eyes. Cemented in place. A heavy tension was building in the small space of the car and I could see his pupils start to dilate. He started to breath hard. Vaguely I noticed my own breath was coming in short pants. My eyes traveled down to his plump luscious bottom lip and I suddenly had the urge to lick my own, suddenly feeling way to dry and lacking the moisture they needed. I wanted to lean in the last few millimeters of space that separated us and had started to feel my body move but than Paul slammed the back of the SUV shut and it broke me from the trans that Sam's eyes held over me, I suddenly jerked back and righted myself in the seat for travel with Lucas feeling very Thankful for Paul even more and ignoring Sam all together by keeping my eyes focused on the back of the front passenger head rest.

I heard Sam growl and from my peripheral vision I could tell him was shooting Paul a seething look as said man opened the drivers side door. Paul's eyes widened and then bowed his head yet again, only this time a weird high pitched sad sounding noise came from Paul followed the gesture he made. Did Paul just whine? Weird.

Sam Nodded before he closed my door and walked over to the other side on my left and slid in next to me. I was too busy contemplating the weirdness of this all to notice them talk for a moment. When Sam suddenly unbuckled my seatbelt and started to maneuver me into his lap I sighed and pushed against his chest then laid Lucas in between us. I put Lucas's head in my lap to lay over my thigh, his little legs automatically curled up close to him to stay warm. Shit I forgot to get a blanket for him. Then to my surprise Sam magically produced LuLu's all time favorite fuzzy blanket and proceeded to tuck it around him.

I look up, gifting him with a thankful smile. He only nodded, a slight twitch to the side of his mouth as a responding smile. A blush creeped its way up my neck and to my cheeks. I couldn't help it. Whenever I was around him my body had a mind of its own. Noticing this, Sam smiled wider and gave a low chuckle. I huffed and turned away, continuing to fight to ignore the insufferable man sitting next to me. I distracted myself by looking down and watching my brother sleep.

The whole drive I could feel HIS gaze burning my skin. It felt like little acupuncture needles that were dipped in boiling water where pricking my skin over my whole body, it started at my neck and went all the way down to the tips of my toes. I tried with all my might to focus on my baby brother, he looked so peaceful sleeping. Even though it was technically a drug induced slumber, it was still peaceful and he wasn't in any danger...at least from the chloroform anyway. I run my fingers through his beautiful Auburn colored hair, stopping to run my finger along his little ear then over his soft pink cheek and down his little button nose. It twitched and I smiled a sad sweet smile.

I started to contemplate my decisions; Was it a mistake to bring him with me? I know Angela would have taken amazing care of him but I couldn't have her do that. although, he probably would have been safer with her. I'm so stupid, what was I thinking? I have technically been kidnapped again, and this time I had demanded I bring my innocent little brother with me. I have always said to myself I'd protect Lucas no matter what, from everything. But right now, was I protecting him or was I just wanting him with me out of selfishness and possessiveness. God I'm a terrible person, what if I only want Lucas with me because I'm the one that needs him more then he needs me.

God what if this Samuel guys and his group of lackeys planned to hurt me through Lucas as a punishment for escaping? Oh God! Would they do that to an innocent child!?

"Don't cry, Kitten. It'll be alright. I promise." I look up, a warm finger brushes my wet cheek. I hadn't even realized I was crying. I shrug away from his touch and aggressively scrub the traitorous tears away.

"If you plan to use torture, please leave him out of it. He's just an innocent little boy. I'm all he has so it's my job to protect him, please. If your going to use violance or torture, just do it to me." my voice sounded hoarse and broken. His eyes darken as he stares at me, not blinking at all. So many things swirled within them, but before I could identify any, they quickly disappeared.

"I would never hurt you or the pup, what makes you think i would?" he says. His voice was rough and full of anger.

I frown at the word Pup and look down at Lucas. Still, I don't respond to his question. Even if I wanted to, what would I say? How could I resound without him getting mad at me with some sarcastic thing that would most likely ramble out of my mouth. I mean wasn't it kinda obvious? Get kidnapped then get tortured and finally be killed- at least that's how it tends to go in the movies. This whole situation is all kinds of fucked up. I still had no idea how they found me or why they kidnapped me in the first place let alone a second time. Nor why he was so adamant on having ME but didn't want to hurt me. I mean for all I know he is lying to me so he can get me to play nice then the second he has us in that damn manor of his….

My eyes widen as all the possible scenarios pop in my head. Was he going to starve us and use our skin to make a human skin suit!? or Did he just like my dancing and want me to dance for him in a big cage the rest of my life. Is that what this is all about? Me living in a cage dancing myself into a grave? Stripping for him or whenever his special guest was over. Oh god is he going to pimp me out and sell my body?

Then, the worst thing that could ever come to my mind pops up.

What...what if Sam only wanted me to get to Lucas! Oh god! Was Sam going to sell Lucas for his body?

Shame and disgust floods through my veins. Bile threatening to flow up my throat. I shouldn't have ever talked Sam into letting me keep Lucas with me! I should never have started stripping! I should have listened to Angie and just found a couple normal jobs, But Stripping was just such an easy way to make money. I like to think that my parents would be proud of what I have done for Lucas. I had sacrificed everything so that Lucas and I stayed together and stayed in the home he only ever knew. Even if it meant degrading myself, but I know, deep down the truth was; my parents wouldn't resent me for doing what I had to in keeping my baby brother as happy as I could. They may have frowned but that's it.

"Kitten, please tell me your name." Sam asked, then a minute later heaves a heavy sigh when I did not respond immediately. When he huffs again I turn my head and give him an expectant look. He was leaning heavily on the passenger door with his chin resting in the palm of his hand, eyes looking me over.

"Why." I whisper, finally answering his second question

.

"Why do I want to know your name? Or are you asking me why I'm even bothering at all?" He asks and languidly raises his head out of his hand and looks over to me. My left eyebrow slowly raised in disbelief and annoyance, shocked about his attitude towards abducting me and my brother being so cavalier. Did he truly think nothing was wrong with what he was doing to me and my brother! I shake my head and then close my eyes, trying to stamp down the snippy, sarcastic remark i wanted to say but thought better of it. Gotta play nice Bella, you can do this.

"No. why are you doing all this to me?" I say, hoping my eyes show how angry I was.

"I promise one of these days, you'll understand." His eyes held hope and I can't stand to look at it. So I just swivel my head back to the window and look out instead. I'm probably never going to get straight answers.

A warm hand stops me from continuing my absentminded stroking through Lucas's hair, those weirdly wonderful tingles return and start light up my whole arm in that hot pin-prickly way they do. A lone tear falls down my cheek as I turn my head to look at Sam. All I have left is the little boy who is asleep in my lap and I will do everything to keep him safe.

Even if that means giving up hope and going along with whatever sick things that Samuel has in store for me. I was wrong to bring Lucas. I know that now. I have just supplied these phycos with my kryptonite, all because I am selfish in needing this little boy to make me feel better about myself.

I can't help the flinch my body makes when Samuel reaches over towards me. I could see the hurt in his eyes from it, but I don't say anything to him about it. Hes said before that he would never hurt me but isn't that what all the crazy psycho-killers say to all their victims.

"Kitten, please, I'm begging you. Please tell me your real name, I need to know it!?"

"It's Z." I say, tone flat.

"I will not fucking call you by that name. Why won't you tell me your real name!?" His hand slams against the armrest of his door, before running it through his hair. I only stare blankly at him, my eyes basically dead. He was sure getting upset about me not answering his questions, yet he won't even tell me why he is doing all this? How is that even fair? Don't the crazies typically like to monologue about their master plans?

"Why won't you answer my question?" I accuse, voice completely devoid of emotion and looking out the window. Trees pass by fast, absently I wonder if we were going to get pulled over for speeding. We sit in silence for a few minutes before Sam finally breaks it.

"I promise you, I will explain everything, but not right now." I nod. His voice was low, I barely heard him.

I cast my eyes over to him wondering when. His eyes were closed and looked really upset. Now that it was quite I started to realize I'd been rubbing my chest the whole time we had been in the backseat of the SUV, Why does it hurt me so much to see him so upset? My heart felt like someone had split my chest open with a sternum spreader and was squeezing my heart with two hands trying to wring all the blood out of it. I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes, trying to ignore the throbbing in my chest. I ran my fingers through Lucas's soft hair once more, hoping that would distract me enough to get some sleep.

It must have worked because the next thing I know, a warm hand gently lays over my shoulder while another cups my face. My eyes start to flutter then suddenly I feel a soft warmth run over my bottom lip, it jolts me completely awake. Sam was really close to my face. His thumb still softly smoothing over my anxiety bitten bottom lip. I clear my throat and turn to look out the window as the car pulls up to a familiar looking house. I stare up at the balcony on the top floor. I had a feeling that was the room I'd originally woken up in all those weeks ago.

Paul parks the SUV inside the garage, then hits a button and the big metal door starts to close behind up. Sam slips out before I even get my seatbelt unbuckled and jogs to my side and opens my door for me. I stared at him in shock. How the hell did he get over to my side of the car so fast? I mumble a thank you and turn around to grab Lucas. my heart jolts in panic, he was being carried away in Paul's arms on the other side.

"Put the pup in the room across from her." Sam practically orders Paul. I turn around and jump out of the car, running over to grab Lucas from Paul.

"NO! Please let Lucas stay with me?" I ask in a hurried voice, my hands fisting into Sam's shirt. He had stepped in front of me before I was able to get to Paul, blocking me. I begged him with my eyes.

"This is Lucas?" His eyes move between me and my still sleeping baby brother. A pensive look took over his face. His eyes kept darting back and forth from me to Lucas. What if he doesn't let Lucas stay with me in the same room, what am I going to do? I bet if I begged really hard he'd let me. Before I could even start to grovel he interrupts my thoughts.

"Fine." He grunts. Shock and extreme gratitude washes over me. A true smile takes up my face then I go run after Paul and grab Lucas. Sam quickly stops me as I reach for my brother. Frowning, I turned back to him.

"I will give you some time alone with Lucas, he should be waking up soon. I'll have a Pac-er, I mean servant bring you both some lunch up to your room," He says, then a stern look takes over his face. "You WILL eat, is that clear." I nod slowly as he continues speaking.

"Later tonight we can discuss Lucas and your sleeping arrangements.'' He turns and walks away with Paul tailing him. What does that even mean? discuss Lucas? There isn't anything to discuss, he is staying with me.

As I stand alone in front of the elevator, A thought strikes me. They had left me alone fully capable of escaping once more if I so wanted to. I looked around, everything looked the same. Hanging on the wall was the metal cage box lined with different keys all in their proper place. It was the perfect opportunity to escape again. However they must have learned from that mistake because as I looked around the garage I noticed in each corner of the garage there were running cameras and it looked like all the car keys were now padlocked. With a sigh I turn around, pausing a brief moment to square my shoulders and give Lucas a little nudge higher up in my arms and make my way inside the house. Going off of memory from the last time I was here I walk into the elevator and press the button that had the number 5 on it.