AN: Thanks for all the follows, favorites, and reviews for this story. I really appreciate them!
Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.
A man sits at his desk, his eyes roaming over the newest stack of paperwork, one of the perks of being a Congressman. However, his mind is anywhere but the newest form. Frowning, he lays back in his chair, hands behind his head as he chuckles in annoyance. Only one person could have him this distracted, and he really hopes that it ends, today.
The sound of the intercom crackling breaks his thought process.
"Congressman, you have a call on line one," his secretary intones indifferently.
"Right," he states, picking up the phone. "Congressman Bracken."
"Is this a secure line?" the voice on the other end quizzes.
"Yes," he responds, shutting the door to his office as he answers. "What's going on?"
"Our friend decided to take a trip to the local diner and meet her two coworkers who have been lending a helping hand."
The congressman grits his teeth, resisting the urge to slam his fist on the desk.
"There's no way she's telling them to drop this thing," he hisses. "Where did they go afterward?"
"She went back home while the other two returned to the firm." The voice on the other end snickers. "I have to admit, she thrives on living dangerously."
"Indeed," Bracken mutters, shaking his head. It's like the woman is begging for harm to come her way.
"Would you like me to do something about it? Persuade her?" The utter pleasure in the other man's tone isn't lost on Bracken.
"I know just the thing," Bracken says. "Meet me at the house in an hour. I have a feeling Johanna Beckett needs to see that her actions have consequences."
"You don't trust him to accomplish this?"
"He's good, but soft. Views the girl too much as an innocent to touch her." He has no idea how Rodgers got into his line of work, but his track record had been good, according to the congressman's acquaintance. Too bad Rodgers apparently possesses a conscience.
"Understood," the other man hums before hanging up.
Bracken returns to his desk, smirking.
Oh yes, Johanna Beckett will discover that her stubbornness does indeed have repercussions.
Kate skims through one of the magazines Alex had gotten her, her eyebrows raising at some of the latest gossip in the celebrity world. She usually doesn't pay much attention to such things, but it's not like she has anything better to do.
She realizes that she should try to escape, but a part of her knows that Alex has done this to keep her safe. If she tries to walk out the door right now, she has no idea if his boss has hired other lackeys to finish the job if Alex screws up. So, she stays curled up on the bed or chair, occupying herself with reading or watching television.
The earlier incident of Alex walking in on her in just a towel swims in her mind, the memory of the heat in his gaze making her own cheeks tinge scarlet. She's aware he has some feelings for her, but his glance had made her flashback to New Year's Eve and the passion between them then. She can't deny she still feels something for him and briefly wonders if it can be considered Stockholm Syndrome since she developed these feelings before he kidnapped her. The thought has her groaning in exasperation. She really shouldn't be entertaining these kinds of thoughts at all.
The noise of the doorbell ringing interrupts her musings. Soft voices murmur above her head and she hears footsteps traipsing around until the sound of the door unlocking comes from the first door and then the second. Guessing by the loud sound of footsteps, it's not just Alex who's paying her a visit.
Sure enough, the door reveals three men, two of whom she doesn't recognize, one of them wearing sunglasses and a hat, the other carrying a backpack.
"So, what's this about?" Alex asks, his expression wary as the other two enter the small room with him.
The man in the glasses ignores Alex, addressing her instead. "Your mother enjoys testing my patience, it seems." She recognizes the voice as the one belonging to the man who had showed up the first night she was taken here. "Her meeting with her coworkers has proven to me she has no desire to drop this little crusade of hers."
Pursing his lips, the man steps closer to her, as does Alex, who appears as if he's ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
"How do you know she wasn't telling them to destroy information?" she counters, but a small part of her knows he's right.
The second man snorts as the one with the hat towers over her, and if she could see them, she's sure his eyes would be boring into hers.
"She said no to my initial idea of making this all go away," he sneers.
"Or, you can just be paranoid," she spits, glaring.
"Well, you certainly do have her spirit and lack of respect for your betters." He reaches a hand out, and in her peripheral vision, she notices Alex begin to move forward, but Backpack Man holds him back. Sunglasses strokes her cheek and she has to restrain herself from cringing. "But, perhaps we can change that."
As he says this, Backpack Man begins to unzip the bag.
"Here's what's going to happen, we're making a little production for your mother. Hopefully, this video will entice her to change her mind."
"She still has until tomorrow," Alex argues, panic creeping into his voice. "And you don't actually know what she told them."
"Oh, I don't need to know. I've had her watched long enough that I can guess her next move." Chuckling, he gestures to Backpack Man. "She'll release the information to the press, after it gets reviewed by her superiors. Make a spectacle of the whole thing." Reaching behind her head, he grasps her hair and pulls hard, forcing her neck back as she winces. "Well, I can match her."
"This isn't necessary," Alex hisses. "Do you really think this is going to discourage her from continuing with the case?"
"Only one way to find out." The man tsks as he releases her hair before turning toward Alex. "And must I remind you that I call the shots?" He nods to Backpack Man, who produces a video camera and a pair of handcuffs. "Cuff her to the bed, otherwise my friend here won't hesitate to shoot either of you."
As if to emphasize Sunglasses's point, Backpack Man pushes his jacket back, revealing a gun holstered to his hip.
Alex sighs, snatching the handcuffs from the other guy before walking over to her. An apology shines in his eyes as he gently takes her hand and encloses one of the metal cuffs around her wrist before attaching the other to one of the bed posts on the headboard.
"Good," Sunglasses hums, taking the video camera from Backpack Man. "You're not needed for the rest of this." His tone is dismissive, making it clear Alex should make himself scarce.
"Mind if I stay and observe?" his questions, tone innocent. However, Kate sees what he's trying to do. Bless him.
The other two exchange a glance and Backpack Man shrugs. "Don't see why not. Besides, you might learn a thing or two. Just don't interfere."
Alex nods as he steps back, positioning himself far enough that he would be out of the shot, but close enough that he can still reach her in a matter of seconds.
Backpack Man dons a ski mask, placing himself beside her as Sunglasses revs up the camera. A soft click in Backpack's hand has her glancing sideways, and the sight of a very shiny, very sharp pocket knife makes her swallow as the next words from Sunglasses send a shiver down her spine.
"And action!"