Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or the characters.

Chapter 39: Jenny

Flashback: 72 hours…

Jenny woke to the smell of coffee filling her brightly lit loft. She smiled to herself and stretched, rolling over to look out into the kitchen. She could see his bare back, his muscles flexing as he moved around the kitchen. As if sensing her, he turned and grinned.

"Let what you see Humphrey?"

Jenny couldn't help but giggle at his cocky statement.

"You could say that." She grinned sitting up pulling the sheets with her. As she did, she noticed his eyes on her, the look of yearning and heat. Her grin lit into a full blown smile feeling power in his desire for her. She walked over to the living area letting the thin sheet drop a little around her breasts. She saw him visibly gulp. "What does a girl have to do around here to get a cup of coffee?"

He stood there for a long moment, just staring at her. She blushed looking down at the ground and tucked a strain of her blonde locks behind her ear.

"I'm sorry." He laughed softly. "It's just…well…you're just so…"

She looked up then and met his gaze once more. He shook his head and laughed.

"I'm so what?" She smirked re enforcing her grasp on the sheet covering her.

He looked back up at her, a soft look of happiness on his face.

"Let's just say with you standing there looking fucking sexy in only a white bed sheet with the sunlight surrounding you from behind…well let's just say…I have just a couple of ideas of what you can do for a cup of coffee."

His words instantly made her body flush with heat and her cheeks blush. She couldn't help but laugh nervously and pull the sheet closer to her body.

"Get me that cup of coffee and I'll see what I can do."

His grin widened and he started opening all of her cabinets looking for the coffee mugs. She laughed and plopped herself down on her couch and lifted her legs up onto her coffee table, watching him now search for the coffee grains.

"Where do you keep your filters?" He turned to ask in desperation.

She laughed and shook her head no in a playful gesture.

"You have to find it on your own O'Conner if you want any of this." She grinned playfully letting the sheet fall ever so slightly around her breasts. He gave her a painful look that made her laugh as he spun back around to search her kitchen.

As James busied himself wrecking her kitchen to make her coffee, Jenny's mind drifted back to when she had first met him, after her father had been attacked.

Searching for solitude from the craziness, Jenny had gone to the opposite wing of the hospital—to one of the many waiting rooms. She figured it would be quiet. That she could just be and get away from all of the darkness that had recently enveloped her family. That was where she had met James.

Her first impression of him as he sat across from her—brownish blonde hair, black leather jacket, blue jeans, and ear buds blasting some heavy metal music—was of a bad boy, but upon further inspection she saw the sadness in his blue eyes the brief moments his eyes would lift up from his phone, occasionally looking at her. Her heart ached. For some reason she could not stand to see the sadness in his eyes, even though her own was eating her up inside as well.

She shifted uncomfortably in her chair reaching for another magazine when a doctor came into the waiting room. Jenny tensed thinking that he was looking for her, but sighed inwardly of relief when he instead approached the handsome stranger across from her. Only then did he remove his ear buds when he saw the doctor. Jenny couldn't hear what the doctor said to him as he kneeled down beside the chair to speak, but she could see by the grief on his face that the news had been horrible.

"You're father said if you want to say goodbye…"

"No!" The handsome stranger had spat at the doctor. The doctor visibly sighed. Jenny didn't envy his job at all.

"She won't make it through the night James."

James. His name was James.

"Why didn't my father come to get me?" James spat again in hate.

Jenny could tell by the hate in his voice that there was tension there, and she felt bad for the doctor who had suddenly been sucked into this intense family drama.

The doctor seemed to not have the words to calm James, and as if sensing his defeat James stood from his chair and left the room.

Jenny felt as if she should go after him, and had to check herself back to reality after the thought. It wasn't her problem. She had many problems of her own—problems that she currently didn't want to face either. That thought made her understand this James more, and tugged at her heart strings. In some way in was comforting to know that someone else was going through hurt and pain as she was and before even thinking about what she was doing she was up and out of the waiting room following this James.

She found him alone down the hallway and to the left, looking out the huge glass windows that overlooked the skyline of the city. Feeling instantly awkward and like an idiot for chasing after a completely stranger she started to turn to go, but before she could he looked over and saw her standing there.

"Who are you?"

She froze uncertain of what to say. So she said the first thing that came to her mind.

"You should go to her."

The glare on James face made her swallow nervously.

"Who…you know what...this is none of your business!" James let off in anger. "You have no idea what it's like to see someone you love disappear to a sickness that doctors can't stop."

His words were cold and angry, but she only felt sadness for him.

"It is none of my business…you're right…" Jenny agreed, "…but I do know what it's like to see someone you love hurt and there is nothing you can do to help them…I know what's it like to feel like you have no control—the hopelessness of trusting that everything will be ok and knowing at the same time that it might not be…"

She was rambling now, and she was surprised to find tears streaming down her own face. She looked up to see the anger had left James face. Now he looked at her with sadness too.

"I'm sorry…" He said unsure. "I didn't…"

Before he could say anything more, a middle aged man joined them looking from Jenny to James.

"James…" He spoke softly. "She is asking for you son."

Jenny watched as James visibly tensed. His eyes met hers then. His bright blue eyes filled with such intense emotion that it made Jenny want to burst into tears. It was as if he was seeking her comfort, her support. Without thinking she nodded at him in silent answer. He nodded back.

"Let's go." He whispered brushing past Jenny and his father.

James' father looked at Jenny in confusion but followed after his son a moment later leaving Jenny to the dark room, lit only by the city skyline.

Two days later more craziness.

Her father had been attacked again, Lily almost killed, and Blair had responded in desperation, firing at the stranger who was about to kill Jenny's father.

When Serena told her, she couldn't believe it. The image of Blair holding a gun and firing it at a Russian Mobster was too foreign an idea for her to grasp, but then again, this had become their life. The craziness continued to envelope them all. When she did finally get to see her new sister in law, lying next to Dan on her hospital bed, she rushed to her side and embraced her, not knowing what else she could do.

Blair and Dan had done their best to console her. To reassure her that this too would pass—that they would get through it, but Jenny only felt the darkness surrounding them. She couldn't see a way out of this without someone getting seriously hurt or even worse…

A part of her wished that Georgina had never left Milo with Dan, and instantly she felt horrible for the thought. Milo didn't deserve what was happening to him either. Uncertain of how to act around Dan and Blair after that, she excused herself and fled for another place to escape in the hospital, that was when she ran literally into James once again.

After quick apologies Jenny found herself looking into the blue eyes she had forgotten about until now.

"Oh hey…eh…" James paused awkwardly.

"Jenny." Jenny blurted out quickly.

"Jenny." James smiled.

"And you're James."

He looked surprised at her knowledge of his name and she inwardly scolded herself for sounding like a stalker.

"Eh right." He laughed running a hand through his soft brownish blonde hair. The sight made Jenny a little weak at the knees, and once again she inwardly scolded herself. Where the hell had that come from?

Not now Jenny! You cannot add a guy into this craziness that is your life!

James looked at the direction she had been fleeing from.

"You ok?"

Jenny frowned in puzzlement. Why did he care?

"Eh yeah I'm fine…just…"

"In my experience when a girl says she is just 'fine', she isn't really." He grinned at her.

The sight made her melt and suddenly she brought the walls back up.

"I have to go that's all." Jenny quipped.

James grin faltered a little in disappointment.

"Ok well if you need to talk ever…I…well you know where to find me."

The realization that she did indeed know where to find him made her instantly feel guilty.

"I..I would like that…it's just…right now my family…"

James nodded as if he understood.

"That was your family right?"

She looked at him in confusment.

"My family?"

"Yeah." James shifted awkwardly. "The Central Park Abduction. It's all over the news."

Suddenly Jenny didn't want to talk anymore.

"I have to go."

She had felt horrible for doing it. For fleeing from him that way, but she couldn't face her growing feelings for the handsome James stranger when she had all the family drama going on. She needed to focus on her dad and her brother and her little nephew Milo. She ran into Dan as he was coming out of Blair's hospital room.

"Hey!" Dan smiled at the sight of her.

"Hey." She smiled back.

"I'm going to take Blair home tonight just to kind of recheck and refresh after being cooped up here so long."

"Good idea." Jenny found herself agreeing. "I still can't believe she shot at that Russian guy."

Dan nodded seriously.

"You and me both." He sighed. "I should have been there."

"Hey." Jenny gripped his shoulders. "Don't blame yourself."

Dan nodded again but she could see he was close to tears. She threw her arms around him, hugging him, a hug he happily returned.

"Don't know what I would do without you Jen. I love you." Dan squeezed back before letting her go.

"I love you too." Jenny smiled. "Now go! Take your wifey and take a break from this place. I'll stay with dad."

"Jenny…" Dan hesitated. "He has an entire unit watching his hospital bed. If you want to go home and get some real rest you should."

Jenny was starting to shake her head no but the sudden thought of her comfy bed made her reconsider.

"Do you think he will wake up? I don't want him to wake up alone."

Dan smiled at Jenny.

"I don't think so yet, but I think he too would tell you to go home and rest."

Dan's statement comforted her. She knew that was true.

She agreed and gave Blair a hug goodbye before heading over to her dad's hospital room to say goodbye. She was surprised to find James sitting in the lobby when she stepped out of the elevator. She could tell from his demeanor that he was upset and without thinking made her way to him. When she sat next to him he didn't look at her, but instead looked the other way. She didn't know what to make of that, so she went to stand, to leave, but his hand on her arm stopped her. She looked back at him, his blue eyes meeting hers once again—and just like that her knees went weak again.

"I…" He started but stopped.

"Are you ok?" Jenny asked finding herself sincerely concerned.

He looked down unsure of how to answer.

"It was just a rough day is all."

Jenny's mind flooded back to the doctors words "She won't make it through the night James".

"You're mother?" Jenny asked gently.

She watched him tense and instantly regretting her words.

"She is sleeping and they don't know if she will ever wake up. Dad and I…well we kinda disagree on what to do next."

Jenny fiddled with her hands in her lap, unsure of what to say next.

"My dad is sleeping too." Was all she could think of to say.

He looked up at her then, comfort coming to his face.

"Do they think he will wake up?" He asked.

"They hope. Said that he has a very good chance." She answered.

"And your mom doesn't want to pull the plug?" James asked, anger filling his tone.

Jenny winced at the idea instantly feeling bad for James. She could only image his situation.

"No, well it's my step mom, but no. She, my brother Dan and I all agree on his treatment."

"That must be nice." Was all he replied.

Then it got silent. Like an awkward silent. Jenny felt weird just sitting there next to him, and she found herself wondering what she was doing. She didn't know this guy, but yet she felt a connection to him. Without thinking once again she spoke once more.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

James looked over at her in surprise.

"Eh…yeah…that would be nice."

She stood and held her hand out to him.

"Jenny Humphrey." She smiled officially introducing herself.

James took her hand with a smile.

"James O'Connor." He introduced.

"Nice to meet you James. Shall we go?"

She led him out of the hospital main lobby and called for a cab, relieved that most of the media circus had called it quits for the night.

When they both piled into the cab, Jenny was suddenly aware of how close he was to her, and was not ready for the assault it would have on her senses. The touch of his leg against hers, the scent of his masculine cologne, and she could feel his eyes on her. She knew herself well enough to know that she was attracted to him. She wanted him, and she couldn't help but feel he wanted her too. Getting an idea Jenny gave the cabbie an address.

"Where are we going?" He whispered into her ear. His voice sent shivers down her spine, and she hoped he hadn't noticed.

"To a little bar I know. Low key. We can just chill." She answered back.

"Sounds perfect." He smiled contently.

When they arrived he got out and held the door for her, paying for the cab, making Jenny grin at his gentlemen action.

"You didn't have to do that." Jenny smiled at him when he turned back to her.

"Yes I did." He smiled back. "And I'm buying the drinks too."

"No…"

He held up his hand to stop her protests.

"You got me out of that hospital and have given me something to look forward to in a long time…so I guess this is me showing you in a way how grateful I am."

Jenny didn't know what to say to that. She just smiled.

The next couple of hours they just sat and talked. He with his beers, she with her wine. She enjoyed his company. The light conversation about their hobbies, plans for the future, dreams and aspirations. Neither of them brought up the hospital of their family dramas. It was as if they both knew that was off limits—that they needed a break from it all.

"So Humphrey." James playfully chided. "Tell me. How are you single?"

The question didn't catch her off guard. They had been flirting hard core for the last 30 minutes of their conversation.

"Too busy." She smiled genuinely before taking another sip of her wine.

"Ah the too busy excuse." He laughed.

"It is not an excuse O'Connor." She glared playfully. "It's the truth."

"Ok, ok." He laughed throwing his hands up in surrender. "I get it. I have been busy too."

She could feel the conversation getting ready to take a turn into off limits territory—family drama territory. The last thing she wanted to talk about.

"Well I should be going." Jenny smiled with a sigh.

James looked disappointed but nodded.

"I probably should be too."

He threw a 20 on the table and called for a cab when they got outside. The thought of sharing another cab with him made butterflies flare in Jenny's stomach. The 4 glasses of wine that she had just consumed were making her have heated thoughts about James O'Connor.

When they got in the cab, James gave the hospital address and Jenny gave hers. The car ride was silent but tension filled. Jenny was aware of James every movement. His cologne was even stronger if that was possible, and his warm body next to hers made her yearn with longing.

Knock it off. That's just the alcohol talking!

Arriving at her apartment, James opened the door for her again and helped her out of the cab. She stepped up onto the curb, but James hand still held hers. She looked back at their connected hands then up at his brilliant blue eyes—the eyes that always made her go weak at the knees. Before she could say goodbye, James had closed the short distance between them, brushing his lips against hers. She gasped at the feel of his soft lips against hers and grasped his shirt pulling him closer, returning the kiss. His arms snaked around her small waist. It was the first time in a very long time that Jenny had felt any resemblance to a life—to a typical young woman going out with a typical young guy—enjoying just being—enjoying living life, because this is what life was supposed to be like. She was supposed to go out with a charming guy and let herself fall. Lately she had been so guarded and forgot what it was like to let go. They only parted when the cabbie beeped his horn at them. They both jumped at the sharp alarming sound. James laughed. A laugh that Jenny was starting to love.

"I guess I should get…"

Jenny pulled him back to her, brushing her lips against his lightly, then whispered against them.

"Stay."

James looked at her for confirmation. She could see the heat in his eyes, the desire for her.

"Are you sure?" He asked breathlessly. Jenny nodded a playful smile answering.

James paid the cabbie and then followed Jenny as she took his hand, leading him up the stairs to her loft apartment. As soon as she unlocked and led him inside, he had spun her around pinning her to the door, slamming it shut—his mouth on hers. This kiss was different. It was deep and passionate. The kind of kiss you feel all the way down to your toes, and Jenny answered his need back desperately, running her hands up over his chest and around his neck pulling him closer. Jenny allowed herself to get lost in his embrace and kiss. It felt so good to have his touch, his mouth against hers. His hands slid down her sides- one making its way under her shirt, and then other gripping her leg pulling it up around his hip. She gasped at the motion immediately as she felt his need firm against her. She threw her head back and gasped as his lips traveled hot sloppy kisses down her jaw line to her neck. She reached for the bottom of his shirt and ripped it off and over his head throwing it to the ground, running her hands over his bare chest, loving the warm firmness that met her touch. His mouth found hers again, his kisses growing even more feverish and she felt him reach up behind her back from her clasp. He had her shirt off and bra removed next, picking her up and practically running with her to her bed across the room. She laughed when they hit the bed and grasped his belt needing his pants off immediately, as he pulled at hers. They laughed and awkwardly pulled off the remainder of their clothing between heated kisses and intimate touches. She groaned in pure pleasure when he entered her, his body cradling hers, his mouth never leaving hers. He moved slow at first, but then his need took over and his pace quicken taking her higher and higher with each thrust as she clung to him for dear life.

She lost herself completely many times that night only coming back down to earth by his touch or kiss. She could not remember ever feeling this way before and the thought both scared her and made her happy.

Jenny returned from her memories to find James sitting on the couch staring at her, holding two cups of coffee.

"Earth to Jenny." He grinned handing her cup of coffee. She laughed and took it greatfully.

"Sorry." She smirked. She took a sip of the delicious goodness that he had made and sighed in contentment. He made good coffee.

"You like?" He smiled.

"It's delicious. Thank you." Jenny beamed at him, taking another sip.

He watched her for a moment, a smile on his face. She put her cup down on the coffee table and shifted closer to him. His eyes followed her. The need she saw in them made a tingling go down her spine. She placed her hand on his thigh, inching it up slowly, as her lips brushed lightly against his. He practically growled in response, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her ontop of his lap so that she was straddling him. She squeeked in amused surprise, but quickly was cut off by his aggressive mouth on hers. She answered him just as strong wrapping her arms around his neck. He pulled at the sheet—the only thing between them—throwing it off to the ground as his mouth left hers to make trails down her neck. She let her head fall back in rapture. His mouth felt amazing. Slowly he eased her down onto her back, his eyes locking with hers as he took her breast into his mouth and sucked. She gasped and arched her back into him at the sudden pain and pleasure mixed, throwing her head back in ecstasy. No one had ever made her feel this way.

Before it could go any further, Jenny's phone rang. She would have ignored it but it was Dan's ringtone. Sighing heavily she pulled herself away from a disappointed James and grabbed her phone.

"Hey!" She answered awkwardly.

"Hey!—Jenny I just wanted to touch base—." Dan answered.

"Sure! Whats up?"

"I just wanted to let you know that Blair and I are flying out to Chicago."

"Chicago?" Jenny asked unsure sitting up. "What's in Chicago?"

James sat up at this and eyed her suspiciously. She grinned at him and held up a finger teasingly. He grinned and fell back into the couch watching her.

"Possibly Milo." Dan answered. "We are following a lead. Cyrus is helping us too, so it will just be you Lilly, Serena, and Nate allowed seeing Dad until we get back."

Jenny inwardly scoffed at his protectiveness.

"We will be ok Dan. Just make sure you are alright. Sounds like your heading into enemy territory."

She could hear Dan laugh on the other end of the line.

"I guess you're right." He replied. "I guess I just called to say, be careful, and be safe."

Jenny couldn't help but smile at her brother's protectiveness.

"I will. You too Dan."

With that she hung up. She found herself lost in thought of her current family dilemmas until James threw a pillow at her. She gasped in surprise and laughed when she saw the pouty look on James face.

"What does a guy have to do around here to get laid?"

She threw the pillow back at him, laughter consuming her. He caught her arm and pulled her to him. She went willingly and fell into his embrace with ease, kissing his lips with a familiarly that was making her nervous.

They made love again, gentle and slow, and without realizing it, Jenny was falling completely for James O'Connor.

The rest of the day was pure bliss. They never left the apartment, both of them not wanting to burst this perfect bubble they found themselves in. The outside world and its troubles could wait. What mattered was their temporary escape. They spent the day watching movies, ordering take out, and making love.

The last thing Jenny remembered was falling asleep in James' arms. His warmth her comfort…but when she woke up the only thing she felt was the cold rough carpet floor beneath her and the sting sensation in her wrists and ankles.

XXXXX

Confusion swept Jenny's mind as her senses tried to come into grasps with her reality. She felt like she was underwater. She couldn't make sense of anything. She tried to see where she was but it was dark. She didn't feel right. Where was she? Where was James? What the hell was going on?

She heard a man's voice outside her confinement and recognized it immediately. James.

"What is the plan?"

Jenny heard before she could call out to him. The roughness in his voice halted her attempt to call out to him.

"Dimitri wants her at the mansion. He has her brother."

Jenny's blood ran cold. Dimitri? Her brother? What about Dan? He had him? Dimitri had him?

She closed her eyes and forced herself to breath deep breaths.

"What's he planning to do?" Jenny heard James ask.

"Well I know for sure that he wants them both dead, but we only have the one due to Vince's fuck up, so that's why we had you grab the girl. He wants to use her as leverage."

"What's he plan to do with her after."

"Careful there cousin, you're starting to sound like you care about the girl."

"I just want to know what the plan is Alek."

Jenny heard the other man laugh at James.

"Yeah sure." Alek answered. "Just get to the mansion, quick like. Dimitri will have my balls and yours if she isn't there in time."

With that she heard a door slam and the start of an engine. She was able to grasp onto a little more clarity. A car. She was in a car—in the trunk of a car…and James…James was…oh God James…He was…who was he? Tears brimmed her eyes and she once again forced herself to take deep breaths.

The car started to move. Jenny pulled at her wrists but nothing. They had been tied too tightly and she could tell she was only cutting into her skin by the pain it caused her. She surrendered then to her tears by the hopelessness of her situation. How could she have been so stupid? James obviously was involved with the very people who had taken Milo. And what did that strange mean that they had Dan. She was so confused and worried and so angry at herself. This is what she got for letting her guard down. The car slowed and stopped, then engine turning off. When the truck opened she was looking once again into those blue eyes that she had loved.

"Jenny." He whispered in disbelief. "How are you even awake right now?"

"Who are you?" She meant to yell, but only managed a whispered. She watched his expression turn from concern to guilt.

"Jenny I…"

"Get me out of here! Now!" She was starting to get her voice back and he clamed his hand over her mouth much to her surprise.

"Shhh! Jenny be quiet!" He whispered violently. "You have to be quiet."

She bit into his hand making him grimace in pain.

"Help!" She screamed.

"Jenny!" James scolded her trying to cover her mouth again.

"HELP!"

James then pulled out a cloth and dumped something on it. Jenny watched in horror as this guy she had come to care about and trust held it against her mouth. She fought but as she struggled against her restraints she felt the darkness creeping back into her vision.

XXXXX

When she woke, she felt groggy and felt sluggish. Her vision was blurry and she felt sick to her stomach. She focused on a chair across from her and fought to keep it from moving. As the fog started to leave her mind she could tell she was in what seemed to be a study or library of some sort lit by a fire in the fire place.

"Wakie wakie Little J."

Jenny looked up to see Georgina standing above her. She gasped in shock.

"Geor…"

"I really am sorry that it had to come to this J. I really am, but your brother and Blair have made it what it is. Dimitri really feels that this is the only way and we need Dan's cooperation."

Jenny squeezed her eyes shut and tried to shake the rest of the fog from her mind.

"Dan?" Jenny asked.

"Oh that's right—you've been trapped in a trunk for the last 12 hours." Georgina laughed.

"Georgina what are you doing?"

Jenny and Georgina both looked at the doorway at the voice. James stepped through.

"I was just saying my farewells." Georgina sighed. She turned back to Jenny. "Please do what Dimitri asks Jenny. You might just survive this."

Georgina walked out of the room, brushing past James giving him a glare.

"Alek went for Dan. They will be asking for her shortly."

James nodded in understanding. Then Georgina left them.

The fog was mostly gone now although she still felt sick. She looked up at James in the doorway who was shifting his weight uncomfortably in the doorway. Anger started to well up inside her.

"Look at me." She found herself saying.

He stopped moving but kept his head down.

"Look at me James!" She yelled once more.

His demeanor went even more rigid.

"Be a fucking man and look me in the eye James! "

At this he lifted his face towards her. His eyes meeting hers. What she saw confused her even more. The guilt and sadness was there, but also anger and determination. It scared her. This person she thought she knew, she didn't know at all.

"Who are you?" She asked in a whisper. She saw him sigh.

"My name is Lucas Markov."

Any hope that Jenny had vanished. She slammed her eyes shut, feeling the tears stream down her face.

"Oh God…" She whispered in dread.

"Lucas, Dimitri is ready. Bring her."

Jenny looked up to see two other men enter the room. Lucas crossed the room to her, grabbing her arm and lifting her from the chair. She turned to him and spit in his face. Surprise and anger filled his expression as he wiped the spit from his cheek.

"I hate you." Jenny whimpered as more tears came to her eyes. "I hate you!"

Before Lucas could react to her words, one of the other men had slapped her across the face, hitting her so hard that she fell to the floor.

"Alek!" She heard Lucas yell in frustration.

"Just get her and let's go." Alek growled walking away from them.

She felt Lucas's hands on her, lifting her back to her feet. She pushed and fought him but his grip on her was too firm and her head was still spinning from the slap.

"Get away from me!" She tried pushing at Lucas again.

He pulled her tight against his chest and bent towards her.

"You need to shut up and do what you are told if you want to get out of this alive." He whispered in her ear.

Instantly Jenny went cold, and in that moment she felt her heart break.

Lucas and the two other men led her down a hallway of old oil paintings and bookshelves, stopping at the end of the hallway.

"Wait here." Alek instructed them, slipping inside the room.

They stood there waiting as the voices inside the room grew more and more heated. She heard what sounded like something hitting the floor, and then a man's Russian voice called "Bring her in!"

Lucas grabbed her arm roughly and led her inside.

There on the ground was her brother. Dan. He looked wrecked. From his arm in a sling to the blood gushing from his forehead she lost it. Whatever self-control she had was gone.

"DAN! Oh my GOD! What have you done to him?! DAN!"

He looked up at her in disbelief as if trying to make sure it was her.

"Pick him up! And tie her to the other chair!"

"Jenny?" Dan asked in disbelief.

Lucas shoved her down into a chair across from Dan and once again her wrists were tied behind her back, with another restraint around her waist securing her to the chair.

"Now…" Another man said leaning against the desk in front of them, "Let's try this again Mr. Humphrey."

Jenny looked up at him and knew immediately. It was Dimitri Markov. Bitter hatred coursed through her at the sight.

"Let her go." She heard Dan growl.

Dimitri didn't respond. Instead he walked over to Jenny, grabbing a fist full of her blonde hair, yanking her head back. Jenny couldn't help but cry out in pain and scream again when she felt the gun pressed against her temple. The whole room froze. She looked over a Dan- his expression a mix between terror and hate.

XXXXX

Dan couldn't believe what was happening. Dimitri had taken this too far. His little sister- he had the nerve to abduct his little sister and use her as leverage! Never had Dan ever wanted to kill someone as much as he wanted to end Dimitri Markov's existence, but right now he was holding a gun to his little sisters head. As much as he wanted to say screw you—he and Jenny would both be dead, and Blair left to be hunted down by the vindictive killer. He was obviously convinced that Blair and he would always be a threat. So should he play the game?

He knew that there was a reason Dimitri was going to such lengths to convince Dan to bring Blair in quietly, but he wasn't sure why. What was holding Dimitri back from just taking Blair? He knew he had to find out and get back to Blair, but if he chose Jenny in Dimitri's twisted sick game, Jenny would be left behind in dangers way, but if he chose Blair, he had no doubts that he and Jenny would be dead before the end of the night. Dimitri was quickly losing it and was on edge.

He felt like his heart was being ripped in two. Looking up he met Jenny's light blue eyes. He could tell she had been crying and his heart broke at what he could only imagine she had been through. Her gaze was bright and determined, as if letting him know that she would be ok. She was putting her life in his hands. She believed in him. Making up his mind once in for all he spoke.

"Jenny."

XXXXX

Thank you for all of you who are still reading and sending me messages of encouragement! The swarm of messages really inspired me and I am determined to finish this story! Working on Chapter 40 now :) Hope you enjoyed!