Sitting in the back of the car, Charlotte wondered just what was going on. She knew that things were connected and she had the good sense to be scared. She knew that whoever the man sat across from her was had links to her husband. She also knew that there was someone higher up whose name no one knew. The only name Charlott could remember her husband mentioning had been Fisk, but she had no idea who he was or what he did. A part of her wondered if she should've told Matt that information, but she'd kept it quiet. She'd put it to the back of her mind considering everything else that had gone on with Jonathan.

"Your boyfriend is working on our case, but we've had a couple of hiccups," the man across from her finally spoke as they crawled through traffic. Charlotte just arched her brow and cocked her head, trying to act not entirely interested in what was going on. She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

"So?" she questioned.

"Well…we just want to make sure there's no more interruptions," the man informed her with a smile that Charlotte could only describe as dangerous. There was nothing comforting about it. Charlotte remained quiet. Did this man have any idea that Matt was probably responsible for the hiccup? If he did, then that meant Matt was putting his alter-ego's hidden identity in jeopardy. Or was this just some kind of assurance? Some kind of ploy to ensure that Matt stuck to the rules?

"And what does kidnapping me have to do with that?" Charlotte dared to question him.

"I hardly kidnapped you, Ms. Daniels."

"You held me at gunpoint. I'd class it as kidnapping," Charlotte bit back at him. "Look, I don't know what's going on, alright? I don't know anything about this case…Matt keeps his work life from me for the most part."

"Why don't I believe that?"

"Believe what you want to believe," Charlotte said. "Whatever is going on, I don't know why you think taking me is going to solve anything."

The man regarded her cautiously then. Charlotte folded her arms over her chest and leant back. She knew that she had to try and be the bigger person here. She had to try and act innocent, even if she was anything but. She folded one leg over the other and glanced out of the window, seeing that they were leaving Hell's Kitchen which meant that she was getting further away from Matt and where she wanted to be.

"You've heard about this man wandering the streets of Hell's Kitchen, haven't you?" he suddenly asked Charlotte.

She tried to remain passive. She didn't want to look guilty, but she also knew that she didn't always perform well under pressure. "It's hard not to have heard about him. He's all over the news," Charlotte said, meeting his eye. "If you ask me, he sounds like a nutjob."

"We can agree on one thing then," the man said.

"Listen, I don't know who you are and truth be told, I don't care," Charlotte said and a part of her was telling the truth. She'd prefer to live her life with ignorant bliss, but unfortunately Matt wasn't like that. She guessed a part of her might not be, but she would never go to the same lengths that Matt did. "I know that Jonathan was involved in some dodgy business. I'm not pretending not to know that…but I don't know what that business was and I don't want to know. All I want is to move on with my life. I divorced him. I had a chance to get my own job. I'm making something of myself…but then you went and gave my boyfriend that case. Whatever is going on in that case has nothing to do with us. I don't know what's going on and neither does he."

She didn't drop her gaze from his, refusing to back down. She just kept on staring straight at him, refusing to let him see that she was actually terrified that he might piece things together.

"Look, this doesn't need to be difficult," the man promised her. "You see, this masked vigilante…he put the trial in jeopardy. We need our man to get off and your boyfriend is a good enough lawyer to make that happen, but not if we don't have the jury on side."

Charlotte drummed her fingers against her kneecap. "So you're bribing jurors?" she asked. She already knew he was.

"More like blackmailing," he confessed and adjusted his glasses on his nose. "We need to ensure that they do as we say and we know that the masked man…well…he protects the innocent. I'm sure he'd hate to see the girlfriend of the lawyer we hired get hurt."

Charlotte's nose wrinkled. "You think Matt knows who he is?"

He snorted. "Your blind boyfriend is just a pawn in this game," he said dismissively. "All we need is for the news to be put out that you…well…you've gone missing…and you'll only be returned when the trial is finished. The masked vigilante would never put someone innocent at risk, especially someone so high profile."

"No," Charlotte said quickly. "You don't need to do this."

"Nothing will happen to you," he said, holding his hand up. "I give you my word. You can go back home to Matt Murdock once this trial is over and we are certain that our masked friend isn't going to cause us anymore hassle."

Charlotte wasn't entirely convinced, but it wasn't as if she could argue with what was going on. She bit down on her bottom lip, swearing that she was going to break the skin. "Can you at least tell Matt?" she tried to push. She saw him about to shake his head, but she spoke quickly. "He's working with you. He's on this case. He's expecting me home…please…he won't tell anyone."

"The less people who know the better, Ms. Daniels," he said and Charlotte knew that was his final decision. She just didn't know if Matt would accept it as being that.

…

Matt was in the apartment, waiting patiently for Charlotte to show up. He checked the time on the watch she'd bought him, fingers running along the face of it on his wrist. He had no idea where she was, but she should've been back by now. It was getting too late. He tried to call her again, but the call went straight to voicemail. Shaking his head back and forth, he tugged on his tie and loosened the know, unbuttoning the top button. He dropped his hands to his hips and paced the length of the apartment. Something had happened to her. Something had to have happened to her. He called her again to no avail, but he left a voicemail this time.

"Lottie, sweetheart, it's me…listen…I just want to make sure you're okay. It's getting late and I thought you'd be home by now. Just call me. Please, call me."

But he knew that she wasn't going to reply. He knew she wasn't going to call him back. He had a bad feeling and that was why he went into the bedroom and he changed into his black tee and trousers, making sure he grabbed his mask before he left the apartment into the night.

…

Charlotte had to admit that there were worse places to be kidnapped to. They'd put her up in some five-star luxury hotel. She had a suite on the top floor and there were two men guarding the door. She'd been warned not to try and escape. She'd had her phone confiscated from her. Someone had ordered her room service, but the dish of pasta remained untouched. Charlotte went to the window and tried to open it wide enough to see if she could get out, but even if she could, there was nothing to stop her from falling to her death.

Huffing, she resigned herself to sitting on the sofa. She knew that Matt would be worried. He'd be driving himself to madness. Or, alternatively, he'd be out on the streets looking for her. She hoped he wasn't, but she also knew who he was. She knew that he wouldn't stop trying to find her. If she was in his position then she'd be wandering the streets too. She loved him too much not to look for him.

Charlotte was about to start pacing again, unable to sit still for too long before she heard the tapping of the glass. She glanced to the main door of the hotel room. She'd locked it, but she guessed the men outside had a key. She turned the television on in the living room and padded across to the bedroom, shutting the door behind her and seeing him perched on the ledge by the window. Her heart skipped a beat as she rushed over to it and pulled the window open.

"Jesus Christ, get off there," Charlotte hissed.

He was wearing the black mask over his face and she saw that his knuckles were blooded. Tugging him into the room, Charlotte glanced back outside. "How the hell did you get up here?"

"I climbed across the ledge from the room next door," Matt said as if it were the simplest thing for him to do. "Are you okay? Have they hurt you?"

"I'm fine," Charlotte assured him and she felt his hands move up and down her arms before running along her neck and to her cheeks. She took hold of his fingers to stop him worrying, clinging onto his hands by her shoulders. "They haven't hurt me. They just want this trial to go their way and thought taking me was the best way to get that."

"I know," Matt said with a nod. "I had to go through a lot of hoops to get here and find you."

"I'd guessed that judging by the cut knuckles and your bruised lip," Charlotte said and she moved a hand to cup his chin, her thumb running over his bottom lip and seeing him wince slightly at the motion. "I know I should tell you that you didn't need to do this…but you…I knew you'd fear the worst."

"I didn't know what to think," Matt confessed to her. "I kept thinking that it might be Jonathan…or that it might be someone having worked out who I am."

"They don't know," Charlotte promised him. "As far as things go, they just think you're some blind lawyer who is looking for a pay cheque and has very questionable taste in women to be dating me."

Matt shook his head once and leant his forehead against hers. He kissed her quickly on the lips. "I'd say I have excellent taste," Matt whispered to her. "But this…you being here…it's all my fault-"

"-No, it's not," Charlotte promised him before he could start blaming himself and feeling guilty. "I'm here because of your legitimate business, not because you enjoy running around Hell's Kitchen in that mask at night. I'm here because you took on a case you had to take on and that's why I need you to go and do what you do best…be a great lawyer and finish the case."

Matt wasn't entirely certain how Charlotte could sometimes be so understanding. All he knew was that he loved her more than anything and he was going to do everything in his power to keep her safe. "I wish I could take you home," Matt whispered to her. "I don't want to leave you here."

"You kind of have to," Charlotte said. "Besides, there's worse places to be held hostage. I have cable TV…goose feather pillows and a comfy bed."

"Well, don't get too used to it," Matt urged from her.

"I won't," Charlotte replied and she stood on her toes to kiss him, lips moving slowly against his as Matt's hands went to her waist, bringing her closer to him until her body was pressed against his. She cupped the back of his head tenderly, eyes closed as her lips kept on moving against his. A part of her would've preferred to have stayed like that for the rest of the night, but she knew that Matt had to go before anything else happened or anyone walked in.

Pressing a hand to his chest, she gently but firmly pushed against it. "You need to go," she urged from him. "Get some sleep for the trial tomorrow."

Matt's lips arched, thumbs roaming along her hipbones. "You think I'm gonna be able to sleep?"

"No, but you do need to go," she said firmly and she gave him another peck on the lips. "I'll be fine…I promise."

Reluctantly, Matt nodded his head and hugged her tightly before leaving her with a final 'love you.'

…

James Wesley knew that things were becoming challenging. He knew that his boss wasn't exactly pleased with what was going on in Hell's Kitchen. The masked vigilante kept getting in the way of business and Wesley was trying to handle it as best as he could, but that man seemed to be everywhere they turned. He seemed to know their every movement and thwarted their plans at every chance. But he couldn't let this trial go awry. He couldn't see that happen. It had been necessary to take the girl. Of course it has been necessary. He had passed it off as a necessity for the trial, but there was also another issue.

Jonathan Jonas had become volatile. Wesley knew it and so did Fisk. Truthfully, it would be in their best interests to get rid of him and install another politician in his place who wasn't constantly drinking and stumbling out of bars in the early hours of the morning. Wesley was tired of cleaning up his mess, but Fisk had insisted it was too risky to get rid of him for the time being. There had been whispers that he was a corrupt politician and it would take far too long to get a replacement in, especially a man they could trust.

And so they had tried to placate him. They had asked him what it would take for him to stop drinking and risking his position and also their secrets. He said that he wanted one thing and one thing only: his wife.

Sitting in the courtroom, Wesley listened to Matt Murdock as he delivered closing remarks. He seemed confident, almost cocky as he moved along the jury. He made them laugh at times and he held their attention better than his counterpart had. There was a charm to him, but Wesley could see that he was slightly on edge, no doubt because his girlfriend hadn't come home. Honestly, Wesley was struggling to understand what was so special about this girl that had two men fighting over her.

Once the judge gave the jury time to deliberate, Wesley left the courtroom and headed to the bathroom. He didn't think it would be long before they delivered the not guilty verdict. As he finished in the bathroom, he heard the door open. Washing his hands, he saw Murdock moving into the bathroom. He'd put his glasses onto his eyes, but even Wesley could see that he was angry.

"Good speech out there," Wesley said, grabbing some paper towels and wiping his hands.

"Where is she?" Matt demanded, having no intention of being complimented.

"Who?"

"Charlotte," Matt said. "Listen, I know you're into some dodgy business and I don't care what it is. I couldn't give a shit. What I do care about is Charlotte. I took this case and she went missing. There's a link there."

"You're not wrong," Wesley agreed with him. "But you need to think rationally about this. I know you claim to love her and I know that she's been through a lot…but you're right. The things that me and my boss are involved in are things that you don't want to get involved with and you, unfortunately, are just a lawyer for an ambulance chasing firm."

Matt's brows furrowed together. He had no idea what was going on. This didn't sound right. This sounded worse than what he thought might happen. "I just want her back."

"I know," Wesley said, tossing the towels into the bin. "But, unfortunately, that's not going to happen. You see, there's bigger fish out there who want her and…well…to us, she's indispensable."

"What have you done?" Matt demanded from him, voice terse and on edge.

"Look, in return for your silence and because we know this isn't ideal…well…we are prepared to send more lucrative business in your direction."

It was then when Matt saw red. He grabbed hold of the man by the throat, slamming him against the wall. He felt the white-hot anger rage through him, his breath coming out in short pants as he kept hold of him, knuckles turning white from pressure. "You think that you can pay me off?" Matt demanded.

"I think if you know what's good for you then you'll take that offer," Wesley managed to croak out in between deep breaths. Matt reluctantly let go of him and he slumped back against the wall, coughing loudly. "She's not worth it. She's not worth any of it."

"She's worth everything," Matt snarled back at him. "And you gave her back to him…and God knows what he's doing to her…"

"If you go after her and get in the way of our plans then you know it won't end well for you."

"I don't care," Matt said firmly. "I'm not letting you get away with this. I'm not letting you ruin her life anymore."

Matt turned on his heel and stormed out, stick in his hand but folded up. He knew where he had to go and what he had to do. He wasn't going to stop until he had her back.

…

Sitting in the townhouse, Charlotte had struggled to contain her emotions. She could feel the blood drying on her lip. She could feel the bruise on her cheek pulsing whenever she took a breath. Her eyes were blurred with tears and her cheeks stained with them. Her hair was mussed up on the top of her head. She's fought. Of course she had fought. She wasn't going to give up without a fight, but then it had all been too much. She was back where this entire mess had started, but she'd dragged Matt into it. She shouldn't have left. She should never have gone.

"I'm sorry, baby," he cooed as he sat down next to her, the back of his hand going to her hair and sweeping it behind her shoulder as he kissed her neck. She tried to recoil from him, but she couldn't get away. "I didn't mean to do it…you don't know how hard it's been for me without you…I just wanted you…it was always you…the affairs meant nothing…it's always been you, baby. I'll always want you."

She didn't want him. She'd never wanted him.

He took her hand and pressed the phone into it. "Just tell him," he urged from her. "Tell him and we can all move on."

Charlotte didn't want to. She didn't want to and she knew Matt wouldn't believe her. He'd never believe what she told him. But she still had to say it because Jonathan was calling him and forcing the phone to her ear. Charlotte closed her eyes as it rang twice and then he picked up.

"Lottie, sweetheart, where are you? I know what they've done, okay? I know…just tell me and I'll come for you," Matt said frantically down the phone.

"You can't," Charlotte said, voice monotone. "Matt, you can't come after me. This is for the best."

"I know you're lying because he's there," Matt said. "I know whatever you're going to tell me right now is bullshit because they're forcing you to. I know it…because I love you and I know you love me. I know you better than myself sometimes."

"I know," Charlotte agreed with him. "And you know how much I love you, Matty. I love you more than anything and I…I wish that things could've been different. I wish that we could've left here together…ran away…gone somewhere else and just been us, but we can't be. We can't be together because it's too dangerous and that's why I need you to stop. I need you to leave and not come after me because if you do…if they hurt you then you know I'd never be able to forgive myself…I couldn't live knowing that they hurt you because of me."

"And I can't live knowing that you're with him."

"I know, but I want you to," Charlotte pleaded with him and she could feel Jonathan move a hand to her thigh, gripping it firmly. "I want you to, Matt. I can't see you get hurt. Please…Matty…please…"

"You know I can't," Matt said to her in a whisper. "There's no me without you, Lottie. I need you. I need you more than anything. I'm going to bring you home because I love you."

"Matty, don't-"

"-No," he interrupted. "Don't waste your breath, sweetheart. I'm going to stop this. Just stay strong and wait for me…just wait for me."

He hung up then and Charlotte lowered the phone to the side of her on the sofa. Jonathan wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed the side of her head. "Don't worry. He's not going to get to us," he promised her and Charlotte wanted to scream. She wanted to yell and lash out. But she didn't. She just sat there silently, not knowing that by the end of the night one of them would be dead.

…

A/N: Sorry for a cliffhanger! If anyone is reading then I'd love to know your thoughts!