Author's Note:

Hard to believe that we are only in the second week of the new year and so much has already happened. It's Farm Show week here in Pennsylvania. We go every year to enjoy the sights and sounds (and smells) of the show. It was really cool to see some newborn piggies (only a few days old) and two newborn calves, one of which was born just hours before. Truly amazing. On the same day, we toured a school that we are thinking about sending our girls to next year (which we decided to go for it). Lastly, I found out (on the same day as well) that I have a torn ligament in my ankle. How it happened, I haven't a clue but I need surgery to repair it. So, that has been my year already and I'm just still reeling from it all. Anyway, onwards to the story. Thank you for reading the last chapter and especially for the reviews! You know how much I love reading your thoughts through those reviews! I am really excited though for this one as I'm sure that you are! You know what's coming! First, I do have to give a little bit of a disclaimer. You know I only do these when the events are a little questionable and this one is no different. Please be aware that there is some adult content in this chapter along with language. It's not a lot but I'm just giving you all a heads up on it. The content might be a little bit upsetting for some if you get my meaning. So, I am going to let you go and enjoy the chapter before I get too long-winded. And don't forget to leave a review to let me know what you think! Have a great weekend and God bless.

Chapter Nineteen

"Are you sure this is the way, Charlie?" Joe asked quietly. He and Kate stared at a blank wall with only a painting hanging in front of them. Joe heard the clicking of the keys as Charlie searched for the entrance to go downstairs.

"It should be there, Joe."

"Well, it's not," he growled looking around. "There's nothing but a wall! Have you heard from Carlos?"

"Nada, Joe. Not since he last spoke. He must have turned it off when he and Nancy left the closet a few minutes ago. Have you seen them yet, Frank?"

"Nothing here," Frank's voice crackled over the radio. "I had to move to make sure no one saw me but they're late."

"Something's wrong," Joe muttered.

He stopped when he heard the sound of footsteps heading toward them. Luckily, there was a door just to the left of them and Joe pulled Kate inside just as a large, burly man appeared around the corner. Joe cracked the door and peered out into the hall. The man opened a panel behind the painting and entered in a series of numbers. Joe tried his best to pay attention but it was what was draped over the man's shoulder that caught his attention.

"Oh, shit!" Joe cursed quickly closing the door. "Houston, we have a problem."

"What?" Charlie cried. "What's wrong?"

"Carlos is here!"

"Well, isn't that a good thing?"

"No, it's not," Joe continued, opening the door again. He saw the panel open revealing stairs leading down. "Some dude just carried Carlos like a rag doll and went downstairs through a hidden opening."

"I told you it was there!"

"Yeah, I know you were right so don't rub it when we have a problem!"

"Do you see Nancy?" Frank crackled in.

"No. That's what's not good! If Carlos is here…"

"Then where did Nancy go? Charlie, do you see anything on the screens?"

There was a brief pause then Charlie came on sounding frantic. "Back door, Frank! Now!"

"Huh?"

"Muldoon, get going!" Charlie cried. "We're moving to intercept."

"But what's going on?" Frank yelled loud enough to make Joe to cover his ear.

"She's out the back door and in a car!" the young man stated. "She's with the same guy you saw earlier and I don't think it's voluntary."

"I'm on it," he announced. "Joe, get Carlos out of there! We'll meet you back here when we have Nancy."

Joe nodded then turned off the radio. He didn't want anything giving away their position at the worst possible time.

"What is it?" Kate whispered concerned seeing Joe tense up earlier.

"It's Carlos," he stated then explained everything that transpired with Charlie and Frank.

"Okay...and?"

"Well…"

"You can't bullshit me, Joe. Just spit it out!"

"Wow," Joe laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "And here I thought Nancy got her cheekiness from Mr. Drew."

"Joe!"

"Okay! Sorry. We're going to get Carlos."

"You said that. What about Nancy?"

Joe sighed then explained what he heard from Charlie about Nancy. "I'm assuming it's that piece of work Geoffrey Kingsley but Frank will get to her. I wouldn't want to be in that guy's shoes either when my brother gets a hold of him."

Kate took a deep breath, then headed for the door. "Then let's go. Time's a-wasting!"

"Damn," Joe mumbled following her. "Just like Nancy."

The moment he got word from Charlie that something was going on at the back of the house, Frank got off the motorcycle and headed in that direction. He hoped to catch the car before it left but as he rounded the corner, he stopped. He watched the sedan pull away from the house and his heart sank. Cursing himself, Frank went back to the motorcycle but knew he couldn't move right away, remembering the men who were standing outside the back door. It was several minutes before he finally took off but now Frank was regretting his hesitation.

"Charlie," he said into his radio, "do you have eyes yet on the sedan?"

"No, Frank," Charlie's voice came through. "We're still on our way but we might be a few minutes."

"Okay"

"Do you see it yet?"

"No, but I have to be coming up on it soon. I'm going pretty fast." Frank paused, seeing a set of taillights ahead of him. "Wait. I think I got them. They're the only ones on the road so it has to be them."

"Muldoon's is going over the speed limit already so we should be able to meet up with you sooner rather than later," Charlie replied. "What are you going to do?"

"I'll figure something out. I'm not going to let them get away this time."

Frank thought about it then realized what he had to do. It was the only thing he could think of and that was to get the car off the road before it got any further. With that he throttled the bike and surged past the sedan without batting an eye. Frank recognized the vehicle and knew it was them. All Frank had to do was stall until the others got there.

"Oh, my mom is going to kill me when she finds out," he muttered as he revved the engine and waited.

Joe then peered out expecting the burly man to be in the hallway but the panel stood open, the hallway empty. He motioned for Kate to follow and the two went over to the panel where they descended the stone steps.

It was dimly lit with a good portion of the light below them. Joe rounded the corner but quickly ducked back around when the room opened up into a large stone chamber. Joe shivered, feeling a cold he hadn't felt in a long time and one he never want to feel again. He could see a tunnel near the cells though it was pitch black to see what lay beyond. Whatever was down there, Joe knew he didn't want to go exploring or have to escape through it.

He scanned the rest of the area. It looked as if the chamber hadn't been changed for generations, with chains still attached to the walls from a time when their use was necessary. Luckily, no one was currently hooked up to the chains. Several cells lined the opposite wall with three of them lying empty. The burly man stood in front of one of the other cells where he was talking to its current occupant.

"How do you like your new accommodations, traitor?" he said, his voice echoing.

"Well, at least it's better than your face, Nikola," a man retorted, his voice hoarse.

Nikola reached through the bars but the prisoner was too far for him to reach. The man sneered, moving away from the cell. "I'm sure you've already had some 'visitors' lately. They just love feasting on poor souls who betray their master."

"I didn't betray him," the prisoner said defiantly. "I just said no."

"That must be Austin," Kate whispered behind Joe. "He doesn't sound good."

"No, and Carlos doesn't look any better," Joe replied. "We have to get them out of here quick. I don't like it down here one bit so I want to get out of here as quickly as possible. There's something about this place."

"You feel it too?"

"Yeah, and believe me, it's not going to be pleasant if we stay down here any longer than we have to."

He paused scanning the room for something to use before seeing an unused torch lying on the ground nearby. Joe reached for the torch then started to cross the chamber towards Nikola. Just as he was about to the middle of the room, Nikola turned around to leave. His eyes went wide when he saw Joe. The younger man made a mad dash at him, taking Nikola by surprise.

As Joe moved on Nikola, Kate rushed over to the cells, looking around for the keys. Once she found them hanging on the wall nearby, she opened the first door where Austin was sitting cradling his arm. He looked haggard though he'd only been down in the cell for less than a day.

"N…Nancy?" he stuttered, looking at her.

"No, sweetie," Kate said softly with a smile. She carefully inspected his arm, seeing the brake and knowing he needed a doctor right away. "I'm Kate, her mother. We're getting you out of here."

"Is she all right?"

"Yes, she's fine but let's worry about you first."

Joe tackled Nikola to the ground. Although Joe was muscular and athletic, Nikola was a much larger man, easily able to fend him off as the two fell. Crying out in anger, the man picked Joe up and squeezed him tight, forcing the air right out of him. The young Hardy tried to get out of Nikola's clutches but the man wouldn't let up. Joe screwed up his face in disgust when Nikola laughed at him.

"Geez, have you ever heard of Altoids, dude?" he joked.

As Joe struggled to draw breath, Kate unlocked the second cell where Carlos was slowly coming to. She helped him into a sitting position then checked him over for any other injuries. Kate stopped when she heard Joe cry out in pain. She looked over to see Nikola throwing him to the ground before hefting a large bit of stone over his head.

"Whoever you are," the man sneered, "his lordship will be pleased to hear you're dead!"

Joe tried to crabwalk away from Nikola but stopped when he felt the cold air coming up from the tunnel behind him. He dared a look back then quickly scrambled away as a burst of wind blew through. Nikola caught up to him, raising the stone again to strike. Joe closed his eyes, waiting for the strike to happen only it didn't. He opened his eyes when he heard the sound of the stone falling to the ground. Nikola staggered before stumbling to the ground, passing out. Joe looked up in surprise to see Kate with the same torch in her hand that he found earlier.

"Thanks," he gasped. "I owe you one."

"We're even," she smiled holding out her hand.

Joe took it and was on his feet seconds later. He looked around and found some old rope to tie Nikola up. Once that was done, Joe glanced over to see Carlos leaning against the cell door while Austin cradled his arm though he was still able to stand.

"You good?" Joe nodded to Carlos.

"Yep," the former agent grunted, rubbing his head. "I'll have a monster of a headache but I'll live."

Kate went over to Austin and put his good arm around her to support him. Joe looked at him skeptically especially after what he heard Nikola say about him. He wondered if the man was trustworthy.

"Mrs. Drew said you helped Nancy," he replied. "That true?"

"I…I guess you could say that," answered Austin nervously. "I…"

"I think he was also Gigi's informant," Carlos interrupted. Austin quickly nodded. "She was getting inside information after she left the house here and mentioned him in passing that his name was Austin. He's been doing helping her since Donatelli found us in Switzerland."

"You're sure he's the guy."

"I don't know him personally, but it has to be him."

"Joe, we need to trust Austin for now," Kate replied softly. "When we are out of here, then you can interrogate him all you want. By then, hopefully Nancy will be able to vouch for him."

He hesitated just for a moment then shook his head. "Fine," Joe spat. "But if you do anything to hurt this trust that Mrs. Drew has for you, I'll put you back in that cell and lose the key."

A wind blew again through the chamber and the four shivered in fear. Joe wanted to get out of there and quick. He turned his radio back on to call for Charlie and Frank but there was no response. Cursing out loud, Joe looked up and wondered if his brother and friends were all right.

The moment Nancy was thrown into the car, she scampered across the seat to the other door though she couldn't get it to open with her hands tied. Geoffrey soon got into the car and pulled her close to him once he closed the door.

"Let's go!" he cried to the driver before closing the barrier between them. "There. A little bit of privacy so we can get to know one another. I'm so happy that Baron Greesley contacted my father. If he didn't, then I would not have met you. Plus I would not have been able to leave the country so easily. This is going to be fabulous! I have the baron's business to run and I have you. How can it get any better? I just wish I could see the faces on those oafs as they try to continue to look for me! Do you know that the police are looking for me? It's such a laugh! The nerve of them and blaming my father on top of it! They actually believe that I had anything to do with all those girls going missing. Well, I did have something to do with that but it's really none of their business. The fact that they were able to figure it out so quickly makes me wonder if my conniving little brother turned me in! I'll get him back once I'm settled. Marks my words."

Geoffrey glanced at her, his eyes moving up and down as he took her in. Nancy kept her eyes on the countryside going by though she knew of his close proximity. She tried to move away from him again only to have Geoffrey bring her back even closer, her body touching his.

"Oh, no, Nancy," he said gleefully, cuddling up to her. Nancy practically gagged when his strong cologne reached her nostrils, her eyes watering from the stench. "You're staying right here next to me as we head for the airport and then we'll get a little bit more...comfortable on our trip to the continent." He forced her head to face him then smirked. "My, you are quiet but then again I can't really take off that tape. I'm afraid you might try to bit my fingers off like you did poor Barton. You could show me that you will behave. Then maybe I'll think about it."

Geoffrey reached for her bare leg but Nancy quickly shifted away from him. "Pity," he tutted.

Nancy's blue eyes narrowed waiting to see what the man tried next. Even with Barton in the front seat, she knew she wouldn't get far on the chance she could get out of the car. Still, her eyes roamed the sedan, wondering what she could do, or anything she could grab to get him off her.

In that brief moment she took her eyes off Geoffrey, he leaned in to nuzzle her neck. He sniffed her hair and closed his eyes with elation. Although they didn't have much time until they reached the airport, Geoffrey knew he couldn't last much longer with her beside him.

Nancy felt him near her again and she twitched, whirling around to face the man. Her heart beat faster, her senses on high alert. She didn't want Geoffrey to get any closer so she moved away from him as best she could. When he suddenly made a move on her, Nancy fought back by pushing him away from her. The two fought with Geoffrey eventually smacking her then pressing her sore face into the seat. Struggling to get up, Nancy felt him on top of her, crushing her hands beneath her body.

"I'm going to make you regret fighting me, Nancy," Geoffrey hissed in her ear as he struggled with her dress.

Nancy kicked her legs in the hopes of hitting something that would disable him long enough for her to get out from under him. Geoffrey was too strong for her and she couldn't move anymore. She thanked God for the amount of fabric in the dress she wore, separating their bodies but she knew it was only a matter of time before he got his way.

Nancy closed her eyes as she waited for what seemed to be the inevitable. She felt lost, thinking no one was coming to save her this time. All hope seemed lost. She only seemed to be aware of the distant sounds going on around her until the next moment.

Suddenly the pair was thrust forward, landing on the floor of the sedan when the vehicle violently swerved. Nancy rolled with Geoffrey landing away from her as the car came to complete stop. She could hear the grumblings of both Geoffrey and the two men in the front of the car. In the chaos, Nancy was able to rip off the tape over her mouth and kicked Geoffrey in the face, knocking a tooth out in the process.

"Sick bastard," she spat.

Before Geoffrey was able to reach for her, Nancy opened the door and fell out onto the ground, scraping her knees. She heard a motorcycle nearby but didn't look as she got up and took off running. Her heels dug into the ground as she ran across the field. She looked back to see if Geoffrey was following her and in the process, tripped over a piece of wood she didn't see. Nancy cried out in alarm, landing hard on her side.

"Get back here!" Geoffrey yelled. In the moonlight, he saw her go down which added some momentum to his run.

Just as Nancy was able to get up, Geoffrey was on her, bringing her down to the ground once more.

"Get off of me!" she screamed trying to kick him. In retaliation, Geoffrey ripped the gown she wore. "No!"

"Stop fighting me!" he said through gritted teeth.

Nancy continued to struggle with him until he grabbed a hold of her hair and slammed her head into the ground. She saw stars, momentarily dazed and confused as to what was happening to her. The next few seconds seemed a blur to her and it took her a few moments to realize that Geoffrey was suddenly no longer on her before she moved again.

Frank nervously drummed his fingers on the handlebars of the motorcycle. The sedan was closing in on his location but he didn't think they knew he was there yet. He turned off the headlights, waiting for the right moment and it was just about there. He just hoped it went off without him getting killed.

What he was about to do was beyond dangerous but it was the only thing he could think of at that moment. His father's voice echoed in his mind about safety and he knew his mother would give him a licking for it. Frank threw it all out of his mind, knowing it was for the best. He made sure his helmet was secure then revved the engine once more. The sedan's headlights approached but Frank didn't move just yet. He turned on the motorcycle's headlights then rode off, heading directly for the sedan in the same lane.

"You're going to move," he urged as he drew closer to them. The driver of the sedan flashed the headlights but Frank remained steadfast to his plan. His heart was in his throat when he was just feet from the car. "Oh, God. Please turn."

The sedan's horn blared loudly just before it swerved off the road and into a gravel shoulder. It came to a halt and sputtered dead. Frank brought the motorcycle back around then stopped. It was a close call but it worked. He headed back towards the sedan just as a large man kicked open the passenger side door. The driver got out and headed toward the road away from the car while the back door sprang open and Frank saw a small figure running off into the field. There was only one person it could be but he didn't have the opportunity to go after her.

With his attention to the field, Frank didn't realize the large man aimed a gun at him until a bullet whizzed by his head. The near miss brought him back to reality and he zigzagged the bike to avoid the other bullets. Frank skidded to a halt directly in front of the gunman, sending dirt and rocks into the man's face.

"Charlie, I need you guys!" Frank yelled though he didn't wait for a response. He ripped off his helmet and swung it at the man, knocking the gun from his hand. Quickly getting off the bike, Frank rammed the man, pushing him into the car. A cry ripped through the air causing Frank to stop. He had to get away from the man but he couldn't until Charlie arrived.

While Frank was distracted by the cry, the large man took advantage by tackling him to the ground. The two threw punches at one another, rolling around on the ground. Frank heard someone shout before a third person pushed down the man Frank was fighting. Frank scrambled away watching Muldoon take control of the fight. Their SUV was parked at an angle nearby. Charlie was running toward him, motioning for him to go.

A split second later, Frank took off running into the field. It was dark, the moon hiding behind clouds. Frank stopped searching around him, listening for anything that would guide him to her. Then he heard a woman's voice yelling and he followed it. Seconds later, an angry male voice echoed around him. Although he didn't exactly know him, Frank figured the man had to be Geoffrey Kingsley, the only other passenger in the car.

Frank turned about, wondering where they were, frantic to get to Nancy. As if the heavens knew he needed help, the moon suddenly reappeared, illuminating a figure on the ground a few hundred feet in front of him. Frank ran as fast as he could toward the area, praying Nancy was all right. A male figure came into view though Frank couldn't see Nancy right away. That was when he realized there was another person underneath the other, their body moving slow.

With his blood boiling, Frank rushed to Geoffrey. "Get off her!" he yelled, pushing him off Nancy. Frank and Geoffrey rolled away from Nancy, exposing what the man had done. It momentarily stunned Geoffrey allowing Frank a chance to end it.

"When a woman…" he cried while throwing a punch after punch, "says 'no…' she means…NO!"

He stopped, his chest heaving from exertion. Frank let go, allowing Geoffrey to fall to the ground, bloody and unconscious. He looked over to where he found them to see Nancy slowly crawling away, holding the ruined dress in her bound hands. She struggled along and he was wary about touching, fearing that she wouldn't want to be touched by another man after what she just experienced. Frank approached her cautiously, his heart breaking at seeing her. He lightly touched her back but Nancy screamed, trying to lash out at him.

"Nancy, h…hold on," he said calmly, gently taking hold of her hands. "It's me. It's Frank."

Nancy looked up at him, her face splotchy from crying, her lip bleeding and swollen. Her eyes adjusted and when she finally saw him, she broke down in tears, reaching for him. Frank wrapped his arms around her, bringing her close to him in a strong hug.

After a moment, Nancy looked up at him again, her fingertips touching his face. "You came for me," she whispered. "I…I never thought I'd see you again."

"I'd move heaven and earth to find you, Nancy," Frank replied huskily. "And this time, I'm never going to let you go."

The two embraced tightly, the world around them suddenly invisible. Frank felt the tension leave Nancy as she settled down knowing that her nightmare was finally at an end.