Author's note: Song for this chapter is Together Again by Evanescence. It's kinda more about what Jackson is thinking and feeling in this chapter. I thought that song fit cause it kinda shows what I didn't write because it's from Lisa's POV.
Also yay for another chapter so soon. This is like record time.
Jackson looked down at Lisa, she had blood dripping down her forehead, but more importantly had grabbed the gun Jackson's associate dropped and was now pointing at Jackson himself. He stood behind a wall, out of sight of any cops that were gathering outside, leaning on the wall for support. The stab wound in his leg was stinging, blood pouring down his leg. He poked his head out behind the wall to look at the cops, who were about to barge in. He shifted his gaze to Lisa. "We'll talk again," he rasped, about to make a run for it.
"Don't move," Lisa threatened, cocking the gun. Jackson glanced at his escape route a few times before deciding to make a run for it. Lisa had stabbed him in the neck, but he doubted she had the guts to kill him. Before he could make it two steps towards the door Lisa pulled the trigger and he felt the bullet tear into his side.
Jackson grunted, kicking the gun out of her hand before standing over her, one foot on either side of her. He grabbed her hair and started to pull her upright, fully set on strangling her then and there. Before he could get that far however Lisa's father walked in, picking up the gun and was aiming it at his chest.
"Hey!" was the only warning Jackson got before another bullet tearing into his chest. This time it knocked him down. Lisa rushed to her father's side, using him for support to get off the floor. The moment after that was so different from what had happened not even sixty seconds ago. Lisa looked down at him, roles completely reversed. Jackson would have smiled had he not been in so much pain. For this one moment they saw each other as equals.
Lisa woke up with a start, panting slightly. She glanced around the room, trying to calm herself and remind herself that she was in no immediate danger. She slowly got out of the bed and walked to the kitchen. It took her a minute to remember where everything was, as Cynthia's kitchen was much smaller than her own.
Half of Lisa was saying it was a stupid idea to stay with Cynthia, as Blake would expect her to stay there or with her father, however the other half of her said it would be so obvious that she'd never do it and Blake would just look elsewhere. Even if he did come looking she couldn't go back. Her decision was final. If Blake was going to live through this he couldn't be anywhere near Lisa. She hated to put Cynthia in danger, but she needed to stay away from Blake. As far as she could see Jackson would win, unless whoever Blake hired put an end to him.
She shivered, rubbing her hands on her arms. The thought of something happening to Jackson stirred up a mix of emotions in Lisa. Fear, worry, gladness. She wasn't sure what to do with these emotions, hence she'd woken up at two am and was now sitting in Cynthia's dining room with a plate of eggs. She took slow bites of the eggs, chewing them as she thought about the situation. She'd explained the basics of what was going on to Cynthia, but didn't give her all the details. When she finished the eggs she set the plate and fork in the sink as quietly as she could. She would have washed them but didn't want to risk waking Cynthia up. A few minutes later, after going to the bathroom Lisa was in bed, trying again to get some sleep.
Morning came and Cynthia was already gone to work when Lisa woke up. She began spending her days trying to bury herself in work when she wasn't dealing with the divorce papers. Day after day ticked by like this. Cynthia worried about her but didn't say anything, knowing it would only upset her more. Occasionally Lisa would see Blake at the hotel, every time he would ask her to come home but she never did. Every time she told him the same thing. "I have to do what Jackson wants,"
It didn't take long for the hotel staff to see she was upset, but none of them said anything for at least a week. Lisa was rushing about, as usual now, when Ryean approached her. "Lisa you're going to overwork yourself if you keep putting in so much over time," he said, his voice warning that he was being polite but was about to turn this into a serious conversation.
She looked up from what she was doing computer and met his gaze. "I'll be fine Ryean, just trying to keep my mind busy," she commented.
He sighed and leaning on the counter at the front desk. "Lisa I don't know what you're going through but all of us can tell it's bad. Cynthia is constantly worrying about you and you've buried yourself in work here. What's going on?"
Lisa shifted her gaze back to the computer, debating whether she should tell him or not. He seemed to be a hero type, much like Blake. If he knew he'd probably try to stop Jackson on his own and she couldn't pull him into this as well. Lisa looked up again. "I can't tell you that. Believe me, I need someone to talk to, but I am not pulling anyone into this. I've already put you in danger just by speaking to you. If you appear to be anything more than a coworker you could be killed."
Ryean frowned at her. "What can I do then?" he asked, wanting to be at least a little help.
Lisa bit her lip for a moment before saying, "Keep an eye on Cynthia. She's in more danger than anyone at the moment and I can't see her get hurt."
Ryean nodded. "If you change your mind you know where to find me," He said before walking away.
For Lisa her shift ended around five pm, however she stayed until nearly eight. She probably would have stayed longer had her coworkers not sent her home. Cynthia had been off for several hours and was already at her apartment, waiting for Lisa to get back. Lisa did feel slightly bad for staying late, as Cynthia was probably worried sick about her getting back late.
Lisa arrived at the apartment, dropping her purse on the coffee table. "Cynthia, I'm back." she hollered, confused that Cynthia wasn't waiting in the living room. Normally she was on the couch with a book. Lisa furrowed her eyebrows, beginning to search the apartment. It didn't take long for her to find that Cynthia wasn't there. Lisa rushed back to the living room and grabbed her phone out of her purse, speed dialing Cynthia.
The voice that answered when it picked up the call wasn't Cynthia. "Hello Leese. I told you to hurry with the divorce but you've barely done anything with it."
Lisa's throat went dry at the sound of Jackson's voice. "What have you done with Cynthia?" she choked out.
"Oh nothing yet. I've just relocated her for a bit. She'll be released as soon as the divorce is done with," Jackson said.
Lisa could swear she could feel the smirk on his face over the phone. "She has nothing to do with this. Let her go. I'm working on the divorce as much as I can, but it's not easy. They want to give John a bit more time to sign the papers."
The smirk on Jackson's face broadened, nearly turning into a real smile. "I told you what I'd do if you didn't let me help. I don't want to do anything to hurt you Leese. Don't force my hand," he said, the smirk having fallen from his face by the end of the sentence.
"Fine I'll let you help. Just let Cynthia go." Lisa said, not willing to risk her friend's safety over her own.
The smile reappeared on Jackson's face. "Good girl. Come by and take her home. I'm sure Cynthia won't trust me to take her anywhere."
"Don't talk to me like I'm your pet. I don't fetch when you tell me to." Lisa growled, picking up her purse and heading out to her car. She suspected he was at his old house so that's where she would check.
A soft laugh escaped Jackson's lips. "True, you're not my pet. But you will be my wife soon enough."
She shoved the keys into the ignition and started driving, holding the phone to her ear with her shoulder. "Not by choice."
"Right, because life was going so well with the cop. He can't even keep a simple promise not to break the law. I'll be honest with you Leese. I won't lie and deceive you like he has." Jackson said, almost sounding like he was in love with her again.
Lisa shook the thought from her head. No, no he's a psychopath. Psychopaths don't feel love. "No you just stand there saying you don't want to hurt me while you nearly dislocate my shoulder," Lisa retorted, referring to when he had talked to her outside the hotel.
For a moment Jackson was silent. Lisa was right, he had nearly dislocated her shoulder while claiming to not want to hurt her. "I do apologize for that Leese. I never want to hurt you, but you need to do things my way or else people will get hurt."
"You're an assassin, people always get hurt around you." Lisa pointed out accusingly.
"True, but I don't want you hurt. You've never been my target." Jackson said.
Lisa tried to focus on driving, barely talking to Jackson at this point. "Never been your target? What do you call everything you're doing now?"
"What I'm doing now is claiming what belongs to me," Jackson said, the smirk returning to his lips.
"I don't belong to you Jackson. I belong to myself." Lisa argued, turning into the neighborhood. "Stop talking like I'm some trinket to be owned!"
Again the smirk fell from Jackson's lips. "I'm sorry Lisa. I don't mean to treat you so badly, I just don't know how to act around you anymore." he said very solemnly.
A moment later Lisa pulling into the driveway, hanging up as she did so. Jackson might be offended but it didn't show when she knocked on the front door. It opened to reveal Jackson. He smiled and let Lisa in. She automatically rushed to the living room to see Cynthia. Her friend was panicked but Lisa quickly calmed her down, promising her it would be okay. Surprisingly Jackson didn't say anything, merely watching what she did. When they went to leave Jackson grabbed Lisa's arm and pulled her close to him. "Don't think you can leave without saying goodbye." he said before leaning down and pressing his lips against Lisa's.