11. Blankets Make Perfectly Good Hideaways

I was tied to a wooden chair; the straps digging too tightly into my ankles and wrists had tears springing to my eyes though I refused to let them drop. I shook my head, not understanding the haziness that lingered in my mind and made it hard to think. I shifted in the chair, feeling the bruises that would already be appearing on my skin from where the straps laid. I could feel blood wind gently down my cheek, dropping into my lap and staining the demin shorts I was wearing. Fear tinged my chest and I resisted the urge to scream out for help.

"Hello?" I croaked, my voice cracked and weak. I cleared my dry throat, wishing for even the tiniest sip of water. I squinted out into the shadows that lingered around my chair beyond the circle of light I sat in, attemping to see if anyone was lingering where I couldn't see them "Is anywhere there? Please, help me," I whispered.

A ghostly chuckle echoed throughout the room, making me freeze with terror. The sound was eerie, cold, and promised pain.

My head turned to the right frantically, hoping to spot anything that would give me a warning of what was to come.

Nothing.

Turning my head, I froze when I spot the table. It was wooden, various stains marring the beautiful top, with a single knife stained with crimson lying upon it. Widening my eyes, my lips pressed together, wishing I could hide but knowing there was no way I could. Studying the straps expertly locked around my wrists, I knew the best I could do was hope that I would somehow get out of here.

Glancing up, I let out a shocked whimper at the sight of a sadistic-looking Cash standing in front of me, holding a knife similar to the one still of the table. Riley appeared next to him, a weapon in his hands and a sadistic grin on his face, as Xavier appeared with a shiny gun locked between his fingers. My mouth popped open at the three who were beginning to move closer and I squirmed frantically. "Help!" I screamed, not liking the way Cash raised his knife expertly. "Someone, please help!"

"Stop." A voice boomed and I let out a cry of relief as the three men immediately froze under the command.

"Is someone there? Please help." I whispered, my eyes searching the shadows.

Jace appeared, moving forward quickly. His eyes locked with mine.

"Oh, Jace." I sighed, choking on a sob. "Please! They're-"

"Shut the fuck up." He snarled harshly, that malicious glare aimed towards me. He walked over to the table, picking up the bloodied knife that sat there. "Did I say you can speak?"

I let out a choked whimper as he stepped closer, tracing the knife across my neck and up to my temple.

"What are you-" I cried frantically, tears openly falling from my eyes.

Though, I didn't have time to finish because he had carved a clean cut into my thigh. I screamed as the pain burned into my leg. "Stop! Please!" My blood spilled onto the concrete.

"Xavier," Jace directed, turning to the sadistic looking man. "Now!"

His finger pressed the trigger.

"Wake up." A deep voice growled loudly into my ear, fingers wrapping around my arms and frantically shaking me as gently as possible. "Savannah - wake the fuck up. It's just a nightmare!"

I let out a gasp, my tear-filled eyes opening to stare widely at the figure above me. I brought a hand to my mouth, feeling my stomach turn sickeningly as I spotted Jace staring, wide eyed, above me. "I'm going to throw up." I choked up, shoving him away from me as I started towards the bathroom.

"Savannah!" Jace yelled after me as I slammed the door to his bathroom shut, not bothering to turn the lock. I knelt in front of the toilet, quickly emptying my stomach into the bowl. The door banged against the wall as I did and a warm hand pulled my hair away from my face, another rubbing my back. I could feel his worry and stress and I forced myself not to feel an ounce of sympathy for him.

Sitting up, I shoved him weakly away from me. I didn't like him near, the memories of what had happened only six days ago still haunting my mind. With the nightmares that continued to haunt me every night, I was terrified of the man kneeling next to me.

"Savannah," He spoke softly, urging me to look his way.

I shook my head, swiping a shaky hand across my forehead to wipe away the sweat that had beaded there from the nightmares. The amount of sleep I had received over the past few nights was barely anything. I didn't want to sleep; to see the replay of what exactly I feared, another version of what happened days ago. So, I stayed awake, until I was so weak I couldn't help but sleep, only to be woken up the same way.

"Get away," I mumbled, planting my hands on the floor as I forced myself to stand on shaking legs. I ignored his hands reaching out to help me. Remembering the way he had shouted at me only made me more eager to move away from his presence. "I'm fine, please leave." I begged, my eyes on the floor as I passed by him.

He didn't say anything as he followed after me. I crawled in between the sheets of his bed, not willing to accept the fact that the masculine scent clinging to the fabric made me feel safer. Burrowing the blankets over my head, I willed the nightmares to go away.

I felt the bed shift as Jace seated himself next to me. The bed was large enough that I didn't have to feel him during the night. He had insisted each night that he sleep right by me and I was too-tired to protest his orders. Instead, I wrapped myself tightly in his blankets and willed myself to forget his presence lying right next to me, though it was hard to avoid when I woke him up with my screaming each night.

"I'm sorry," He murmured into the darkness of the room. "I'm so fucking sorry, Savannah."

I could feel the way he didn't relax, how he laid there stiffly listening to my breathing as I listened to his. He always whispered that after he woke me up and each night before he fell asleep.

"I'll do - just tell me what can make you feel better." He continued, his voice tight and quiet.

I couldn't exactly tell him that their was no way he could do that. The constant replays of the way he had shouted at me and cut into that man's skin as if it didn't matter haunted me. I couldn't exactly express how terrified I was of the men downstairs. There wasn't any way to relay that him.

Jace spoke again, his voice tinging with frustration. "I can't express to you how sorry I am. I shouldn't have brought you there and shouldn't have let you see what you did. I shouldn't have spoken that way to you either." He swallowed loudly, his voice loud in the quiet of the night.

I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling them begin to water. I wished he hadn't either.

"I want-" He stopped and I felt him sigh angrily. "Just let me know if you need anything, okay? All the guys all want to help if you need anything." He expressed, shifting. "They're worried - just like I am."

I didn't want help from anybody. More tears leaked out of my eyes, streaming down my cheeks and wetting the pillow beneath my head. I just wanted to forget the images that were constantly replayed in my head.

Every morning, Jace would get up and leave at the crack of dawn. He was quiet, not speaking as he moved to the bathroom to shower and do his business before he returned. He would bring me up my meals, setting them up on the bedside table situated on my side and reutrn a few hours later to take it back down once I was done picking at whatever he had brought me. Fresh sheets were changed onto the bed whenever I had returned back from the bathroom and it seemed like there were more pillows and blankets swamping the bed. It was obvious he was trying to make me feel safer in hopes that I would get better.

Though, I didn't and continued to routinely wake up screaming.

"Fuck," He cursed and I could feel his eyes on me. "I really messed up, didn't I?"

"What's the reason?" I finally spoke, continuing to stare numbly in front of me. "What's the reason you're keeping me here?"

He seemed shocked that I had finally spoken and he swallowed, "I can't tell you that." Frustration tinged the edges of his voice. "Though, I'll answer anything else - if you have any questions. I promise I'll be honest, Savannah."

"Just leave." I harshly choked out, wishing that the blankets could swallow me.

I felt him finally get up. He let out a harsh breath and muttered a 'fuck this', before he made his way to the door, the padding of his feet meeting my ears.

I couldn't explain my disappointment when the door slammed shut.

__________________________________________________________

It was only hours after he had left that a small rap sounded on the door. I didn't bother speaking, knowing that whoever wanted in would come in whether I wanted them to or not.

I was half-asleep, enjoying the warm morning sun that washed over my face. Tightening the covers around me as the door slammed open, I tried not to care who it was who entered.

The door opened with a low creak. I didn't pay attention to it, wishing that whoever stood on the other side of the doorway would decide to leave.

They didn't; moving forward until their footsteps stopped in front of the bed.

"Savannah? I brought you some breakfast." Jace spoke, his voice slow and hesitant. I could hear the tinge of worry coloring his tone.

Not speaking, I turned my body away from he was standing, thankful for the blankets covering my face. I hoped he would try to understand the message that I was attempting to convey to him; that I didn't want to be around him or anyone right now.

The man's face flashed through my mind.

Jace exhaled, his frustration clear to me. He didn't leave, instead walking over to the couch. "I'm leaving for a few days." He finally spoke, sounding torn. "And I've decided to take you with me."

I bristled, feeling myself stiffen at his words. In no way did I want to travel with him. I refused to.

"I think you need some time away from the house to collect your thoughts after everything that has happened. So, I'm taking you someplace." He finished, pacing back over to me. "I've thought a lot about this and I think it's the best idea after everything that has happened."

"You can't just do that." I croaked, my voice weak from barely using it the past weeks. I could feel the emotional turmoil in my mind, the confusion on why I wanted to slap the boy behind me and have him kiss me all at once. "You can't just take me."

"Savannah, turn around." He ordered, the bed shifting as he sat down on the edge. "Look at me."

Refusing to do as he said, I felt the blankets gently being pulled away from where they had been wrapped around me. I didn't move, just curling myself into a ball tighter. His loud sigh sounded depressed and he quickly got up. His steps echoed around the room as he paced.

"Why are you doing this?" I whimpered, shutting my eyes tightly. "You can let me go and I won't say anything to anyone - I promise."

He stared down at me. I could see the turmoil drowning in his eyes, the confusion that wouldn't leave them as he met my gaze. The dark circles that stained the skin beneath his eyes and the bone-tired expression hanging on his face were a clear sign that he wasn't sleeping as well as he let on. If I hadn't been watching him so closely, I would've missed the brief sadness that flashed in them.

"I don't know if you'll tell anyone." He eventually gritted out, turning away from me as he disappeared into the closet. "The man was right - you could make a lot of money selling this story."

"Yes, you do. You know I won't tell anyone." I argued shaking my head and turning away as tears stung my eyes. "Someday you'll realize that you can't just order everybody around and expect to get your way. People have rights and are able to make choices." I murmured, gripping the sheets beneath my body with my two fists. "

I shook my head, feeling my tears soak into the pillow under my head. "What if that man had a family? People who loved him and who he loved back? I know he shot Chase, but what if Chase died? Imagine how the people who loved him feel."

He didn't speak and the silence that stretched on seemed to for miles. I didn't care if he couldn't hear me, I continued to mumble, unable to grasp the concept that the man Jace had murdered, could have had kids,

"You shouldn't have to him." I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut and wishing that the mattress beneath me would swallow me up. "You shouldn't have-" I choked out, unable to finish my sentence. I placed a shaky hand to my lips.

My eyes flashed open when I heard his footsteps returning. Catching a tear that had just left my eye with my finger, I watched him hesitantly. A wad of clothing was gripped between one of his fists.

"Put these on." He ordered, his eyes softening when he had finally reached my side. "We need to go. My jet is ready."

"I don't care." I laughed bitterly, flipping myself so I was turned away from his body.

"Don't be difficult," He forced out and I could imagine the way his eyes would darken. "We are leaving, whether or not you want to. Now are you going to put these on or am I going to have to do it for you?"

"Don't touch me." I whispered, my skin crawling at the thought.

"Shut the fuck up." He snarled harshly, that malicious glare aimed towards me. He walked over to the table, picking up the bloodied knife that sat there. "Did I say you can speak?"

He sucked in a breath, the sound loud enough for me to hear. "You really do hate me, don't you?"

When he didn't receive a reply, he dropped the clothing onto the bed and left the room.

Shrugging the blankets over my head, I let out a shaky breath. I didn't know if I hated him. I wanted to hate him more than anything, but something was holding me back. And for that, I resented myself.

He had killed someone, unnecessarily. He had taken the life from someone's eyes, stole their last breath, caused them pain.

I was so consumed in my thoughts, that I hadn't even realized the person coming my way until they were just behind me.

"What the fuck is your problem?" A harsh voice slammed into my ears and I sleepily blinked at the long blonde hair that appeared in my vision. "Hello? Yeah, Savannah, it's your best friend Brooke here ready to kick your ass."

I heard Jace let out a growl. "Shut the fuck up - I didn't say you can talk to her like that." He hissed, marching over to where she was standing by my side.

"You wanted advice, so here you have it." She shot back at him, gripping the blankets which had snugly wrapped around me and successfully yanking them off, exposing my body in only an oversized t-shirt.

I let out a moan, as the cold air rushed around me, squinting up at Brooke. She was currently waving her hand in front of Jace's face, who seemed occupied staring at my scantily-clad legs.

"Hello, Pervert? You can leave." She shoved a finger towards the door, shoving him towards it. "I don't give a fuck if your some illegal arms dealer or a fake cop. Goodbye!"

"If you're going to treat her this way - get the hell out." He shoved a finger to the door and I winced at his loud voice.

"You want her to keep acting this way?" Brooke shot back, slapping her hands on her waist.

He shot her a glare. "This is the one time I'll let you get away with this. Fix her. - and be gentle." He hissed his command, his eyes moving to meet my wide ones. His hard ones softened slightly, before he turned on his heel, giving me one last long look before leaving.

Brooke let out a huff, flipping her hair, before her eyes settled on me. "Well, where the hell have you been? We get kidnapped over a week ago and you just disappear and leave me in some dick's room? I don't even know why we're here!" She huffed, moving to sit on the bed. "And then I'm awaken this morning by Jace, who's suddenly asking for my help and who looking so worried I thought you were dead. Did you forget about me or something?" She shouted, clapping her hands together. "So, let's hear it, Savannah!"

Wiping my eyes, I turned to her, hauling the blankets over my form once more. "You don't want to know, Brooke. Trust me on this one."

"Not happening, Babe." She rolled her eyes "I understand this is a gang and all, but I need some details."

"Are you sure?" I muttered, pressing my fingers to my temples. "Cause ever since I found out, it's been a nightmare and I wish I never found out."

"Put yourself in my position; one moment we're running from some gang and suddenly Hot Cop is kidnapping us." Her head tilted, as she ran over the details in her mind. "Something isn't connecting."

Her fingers tapped into her knees relentlessly. "I know you, Savannah. You wouldn't hole-yourself-up in your room for nothing. If someone annoyed you, you would have probably beat the shit out of them. This has to be bigger."

"Of course it is!" I hissed back at her, throwing the blankets off my form so I could sit up. "We were kidnapped!"

"By a bunch of funny guys who let us do practically whatever the hell we want?" Brooke shot back, raising an eyebrow at my form. "I mean, you really just have to come up here and sulk and Jace will come running to me to figure you out."

"Not true," I denied, wrapping my arms around my knees. "Jace and I loathe each-other. You didn't see what I did."

"Fill me in." She demanded once more, her eyes narrowed at me fiercely.

Staring down at my bruised legs, I bit my lip. "Okay," I sighed, nodding slowly. "Okay."

__________________________________________________________

Brooke was ranting and it looked like she wasn't going to be stopping any moment soon. "What the shit!" She exclaimed, only riling her temper up even more. "He expects you to just forgive him after that little stunt he pulled?"

I pressed my lips together tightly, leaning back against the fluffy pillows swallowing my body. I knew better than the interrupt her when she was this mad. "You have a right to be upset." She quieted as she spoke softly to me. "Now I understand why Riley was so guilty-looking!"

"Those assholes! I didn't understand that they would do something that bad. Those lying, little-" She growled, tightening her fists.

"Are you okay?" She carefully spoke. "I understand why everyone I met seemed so stressed."