A/N: From here on out, every time I post an update to a chapter, I will list the date below and include word count (without bolded words) Also, I'll include a line, hopefully this will make reading this story easier. I've also been notified that my chapters are short; at the conclusion of each chapter there will be a note reading, "End of Chapter." Thank you for all that review and read. I am glad that many seem to enjoy my story.

December 2, 2014: 1,111 words

Chapter 2

"Noah." Gradually, I regain consciousness. With my eyes ready to face the light, I begin scanning the room for him. "Where are you?"

"Ah, how nice of you to join us," A voice says making me jolt in surprise.

"Mm!" My throat manages to return a low moan.

"Mommy!" Noah desperately cries.

"Stay back!" The person barks. Noah gasps but does as he's told. In the meantime, I attempt to lift my head off the hardwood. A shock of pain zaps my temple, but the drive to know my son's status is higher on my agenda. Ignoring a wave of dizziness, I drag my head to rest on top of my stiff neck. Nausea plagues my stomach as this morning's breakfast threatens to touch the base of my throat. My head wants to depart from the tilt-a-whirl that's doing nothing to aid the sickness.

"That's a nasty bump you've got," I hear the person holding us hostage sneer. His voice sends shivers down my spine. Wisely, I ignore their taunt as I focus my attention to facing them. "What's the matter huh? Cat got your tongue?" This time I growl. "Oh, no. She's still alive." My eyes squint to better see in front of me.

"You know, you have beautiful big brown eyes," I see his white teeth shine. My body tenses, and I resist the urge to show him that his words hit a sore spot.

"You and me have a score to settle." I give him an askance head tilt. "Well, technically you and Lewis do." Bam! My heart tumbles to the pit of my stomach. He chuckles, obviously noticing the suppressed fear. "Yes, I know all about you and him," the middle-aged man smiles deviously. "He even told you the story of his nanny. I bet you enjoyed listening to that. Or how about the part where I took him to Dairy Queen."

My mind registers the conversation at the beach house instantly. The man in front of me is Lewis' father. I eyes widen in complete horror as I struggle to regain a steady breath.

"Do you know who I am?" He asks with a glimmer in his eye. I decide not to answer, we both know I know. Lewis' father circles the chair I am strapped to. I steal a quick glance at Noah who looks completely lost and terrified. "You know, everything my lad learned was from his good ol' man." He pridefully gestures to himself. "But you murdered him. My son," he seethes, "Now, you're going to pay."

The color in my face drains as he extends his arm to meet my face. Yanking the tape from my mouth, the skin underneath tears unevenly. The sting flashes me back to that fateful night in my former apartment.

As rehearsed, my spit catches his face. "Honey, you may have thought Lewis was a twisted bastard," he says while removing the droplet, "but you haven't seen anything yet."

"Let my son and me leave. No one will know anything happened to us. You let us leave, we will pretend this didn't happen," I try to negotiate, but deep down, I know that's futile. Deja vu, my mind frowns.

"Oh, this is too good." He stops circling my chair and hauls another one in front of me, obstructing my view of Noah. "Do you remember what else you said to my son when he had you duct taped to your chair?" He doesn't allow me a chance to answer. "You said to him, 'Billy, I'm offering you a way out.'" He makes a point to mock my voice. "You can't bargain with me, I will get what I want."

"Okay." I nod nervously attempting to think my way out of this situation, "Okay, you're right. What do you want from me?"

He shifts in his chair, kicking his feet to rest on my knees. Angrily, I jerk my legs so his feet plop to the floor. The atmosphere changes instantly as his shoe brushes the hardwood. He springs to his feet, his frame towers above me. Out of the corner of my eye I notice his hand flexing into a fist. His eyebrows knit together then abruptly calms.

I watch sharply as his face relaxes into the famous Lewis smirk. No doubt, William's a dead ringer for his father. His face is what William's would look like at his age, I predict.

"You know, I'm a huge fan of feisty women. I find them so intriguing and a challenge. I see why my son liked you so much, why he made a commitment to make you his finest accomplishment. I mean feisty, sexy, and a cop, you basically have "I dare you to come after me," written all over you." He shrugs in anticipation.

"Yeah, well, that got Lewis killed, didn't it?" I challenge his smirk.

"And how could I forget, you've got quite a mouth don't you?"

"Funny, yours seems to never stop running." He laughs at this.

"You're funny you know?" I opt to stay silent at his remark. "What would you say if I were going to put a bullet in your son's skull, like you did with mine?"

Dangerous territory. "Don't, because if you do, my face will be the last thing you'll ever see before I flip that gun and pull the trigger," I growl venomously, knowing in the back of my mind that this is the reaction he wants. I lean in close so our faces are mere inches apart. "And trust me when I say this, you will die here if you kill my son. Whether that be by my squad or swat. Of course, they'll have to beat me to it, which I doubt they will." I glare intensely at my reflection in his eyes.

His face fashions a nonchalant simper, as if my threat flew into empty air and was swapped by a beaming compliment to his ego. Profiling William I predicted that this would be his father's reaction. Like father like son. A big part of me wants to slap off his happy grin, but I instead settle for a more effective reaction. None.

"Well then, my darling, For his sake, let's hope you won't need to do that." He pronounces as if he's talking about a recent weather report. His expression, or lack of, makes me uneasy as I stare in his poker face. "One move light's out."

End of Chapter