The next few weeks were somewhat calmer. Jensen had told Eloise all that had been talked about at the meeting and Eloise had to be honest, it had scared her knowing that if this war didn't end, that the other families could also get involved.

She knew Elijah wasn't going to give up, but she was hopeful that maybe now that the other Dons were aware of the reason why they were at war, that Elijah would step back and at least stop the ambushes on Jensen's men. And even though they had to a certain extent, there were still a few happening here and there.

Ever since the meeting, Eloise had stayed at the estate, not leaving for anything. Whatever she needed, someone would get it for her, even the more personal things. It had been a request from Jensen, just to keep her safe, and she had agreed to it because of all the chaos that was ruling the town at that point.

But it had been a lot quieter than before and Eloise was driving herself crazy after staying at the estate for so long. She had talked to Jensen about it and he had agreed to let her go to the local bookstore to pick up a few new books. This was something she wanted to do herself, since she didn't know which books she wanted. Once she had the books, she would stay at the estate and not leave again, at least until she needed new books. That was the compromise she and Jensen had come up with, and she was okay with it.

Eloise was leaving the small bookstore with Misha and David, after buying a few books that would last her for a while, and making their way back to the SUV, when they heard cars speeding down the street. They all turned to see the cars, thinking that maybe it was just some kids drag racing, when Misha recognized one of the drivers.

Misha yelled at her to run and Eloise didn't need to be told twice. Dropping the bag that carried her new books, she took off sprinting towards the SUV, Misha and David right behind her and Alex motioning and screaming at her to go faster.

A few feet away from the SUV, one of the black town cars that was racing towards them cut them off, forcing Eloise, Misha and David to stop. David told her to run back through the alley. They ran as fast as they could but before they got to the other end, the other car cut them off as well. They were surrounded.

Eloise heard David ask Misha what now, and Misha saying that they couldn't shoot their way out of it, because of her. Elijah's men quickly surrounded them and threw Alex inside the circle next to them, having grabbed him from the SUV. The three men surrounded her, making sure that neither of Elijah's men had a clean shot at her.

She knew what was happening and what their fate would be, so she decided to take a chance.

- "I know what you want. And if you let my men go, I will go with you without a fight." - Eloise spoke, taking a step forward from behind Misha and David, both men grabbing her arms trying to stop her, but she simply looked back at them and shook her head.

- "We have orders to bring you with us and to kill them. So, either way, you're coming with us."

- "You might be able to do that, but unless I have your word that no harm comes to my men, I'll take this pretty little knife and plunge it in my chest." - She told them, showing the knife she had stolen from Jensen before she left as a precaution, hearing Misha asking her not to do it.

- "You wouldn't."

- "Do you really want to test that theory? I grew up surrounded by men like you. And I know the value of your word. Just let my men go, unharmed, and you will be able to tell Elijah you succeeded where others have failed. Can you imagine how much goodwill that will buy you with Elijah?"

The man she was talking to took a moment to think, and Eloise knew he was weighing the pros and cons of the decision he had to make. If he allowed Jensen's men to go, he could present to Elijah the one thing he has wanted for the last few months. But, if he allows Eloise to kill herself, then all the things that Elijah has planned for her are the exact same things that Elijah will do to him.

- "You know I can't just let them go unharmed. Alive, sure, but not unharmed."

Eloise looked back at the men behind her. She didn't want to see them hurt in any way, but if she didn't agree, then they would all be dead. Taking one last look at them, Eloise made a decision she never thought she would make.

- "Fine. But I'll do the harming, not you nor your men. Agreed?"

- "And then you'll come with us peacefully?"

- "You have my word. I'll even give you the knife."

- "Done. You have my word we won't harm them in any way. Now, get moving."

Eloise nodded and turned towards Misha. She knew she had to be strategic with the injuries and thanks to all the time she spent with Dr. Beaver, she knew exactly where to stab them without injuring them too much.

As she stepped towards Misha, she heard him telling her that they would find her. She nodded and told him she was sorry before plunging the knife to his side. She heard him suck in a breath in pain and tears welled up in her eyes.

She moved on to David, Misha now on his knees on the floor, and apologized to him as well. David smiled at her and answered that they'll pay for making her do this. Eloise nodded and stabbed him in his leg, making sure to avoid any major arteries, and watched him fall to the ground next to Misha.

Eloise watched Alex walk up to her, that kind, child-like smile of his on his lips as he approached her. She told him she was sorry, tears now on the verge of spilling down her cheeks. Alex just smiled at her and told her it was okay, before she stabbed him on his shoulder and took a step back.

She felt someone grab her arm and she turned towards the man she had made "the deal from hell" with, as she would later call it. The man nodded at her and took the knife from her hand, before leading her to his car. Eloise took one last look at the men that had been protecting her ever since this whole thing started and couldn't shake the guilt inside of her for being the one responsible for their injuries.

Once Eloise was inside the car, the men watched both cars leave the alley and them behind. Misha knew they had to be quick if there was any chance of finding her before Elijah got the chance to do anything. He pulled his phone from his pocket and quickly dialed the estate, telling them what had happened and that they were in need of assistance. The line went dead after that and all they could do now was wait for help to arrive.

At the estate, Jensen is in his office when Jared comes running in. Jensen looked up from the papers he had been going over and gave Jared a confused look.

- "Boss."

- "What is it, Jared?" - The look of concern on his consigliere's face told him that something was definitely wrong.

- "It's Miss Ellie."

- "What happened? Is she okay?"

- "Boss, they were ambushed. I don't know exactly what happened yet, but…"

- "But? Spit it out Jared."

- "Boss, she's gone. Miss Ellie was taken by Elijah's men."

The color drained from Jensen's face. His worst nightmare had just become a reality. Elijah had her. Suddenly, Jensen swiped all the contents from his desk in anger, making Jared jump back startled, and let out an angry scream that put fear in Jared's heart.

Taking a deep breath, Jensen looked back at Jared and asked him what happened. Jared told him he didn't know, that Misha had called the estate and told them they had been ambushed by Elijah's men and Eloise was gone. But they were already on their way back.

Jensen nodded and walked out of the office towards the main door, determined to wait there for them so he could ask them exactly what happened. What he didn't expect was to see the three men arrive a few minutes later covered in blood and with stab wounds. Sure, he had expected them to be hurt but with bullet holes or from being beaten, not stab wounds.

Sending the three men to see Dr. Beaver, he followed close behind. Once they were settled in the small infirmary, and he took a good look at their wounds, he needed to know exactly how the woman he loved was now in the hands of the man that wanted nothing more than to hurt her in ways Jensen couldn't even imagine.

- "Misha, what the hell happened?"

- "We were ambushed, Boss. Two cars, ten men. We ran but they trapped us in an alley."

- "How the hell did they even know she was in town?"

- "Someone must've tipped them off, because I know we weren't followed."

- "And how exactly did you get stabbed, all three of you?" - Jensen asked, his anger barely contained.

- "Boss, it was Miss Ellie."

- "What?" - Jensen couldn't believe, he wouldn't believe, that Eloise would do something like that. Not when she knows what Elijah would do to her if he had her captive.

- "Boss, Miss Ellie made a deal with one of Elijah's captains. Our lives for hers. She would go willingly with them if he spared our lives."

- "That still doesn't explain how you got stabbed." - Jared asked, in a much calmer tone.

- "Miss Ellie told him that if he would try and hurt us, she would take the knife she had with her and kill herself. So the deal was made that, in exchange for her going with them, she would hurt us herself. She agreed because I think she knew she could hurt us without it being life threatening."

- "Misha's not wrong, Boss." - Dr. Beaver spoke up. - "The stab wounds are shallow, and not life threatening at all. Sure, a bit bloody but still… Miss Ellie knew what she was doing."

- "She was trying to save our lives, Boss." - David spoke up.

Jensen watched the three men, searching for something he definitely wasn't going to find, when he realized that Eloise did all of that to keep his men safe, just as they had been doing for her all these months. She probably knew there was no other way and that was why she did what she did. At least that's what Jensen wanted to believe.

Leaving the men to get fixed up by Dr. Beaver, Jared following him close behind, he walked back to his office. Taking a deep breath, he knew what he had to do.

- "Jared."

- "Yes, Boss."

- "Send word out to all our men, as well as our spies. I want Eloise and Elijah's location. Only God knows what he's doing to her, so we need to find her and fast. I don't care what our men need to do to get their location, just get it done."

- "Yes, Boss."

Jensen watched Jared running out of his office, phone already to his ear, giving out orders to the person on the other end of the call, as well as any men he would walk past. He knew his men wouldn't stop until they found Eloise. The respect and friendship she had earned from them had made her so much more than just the woman their Boss had placed a Claim on. She was family and no one hurts their family.

He knew they didn't have much time. Elijah had a certain reputation when it came to punishments and the last thing Jensen wanted was for Eloise to experience that reputation first hand. He had to find her, no matter what he had to do. And he would stop at nothing to get her back.