10. Chapter 10

10

" D a," Dimitri answers.

Stepping outside, I quietly shut the door, not wanting to wake Blake up. After breakfast, she ran off to the bathroom. Every ten minutes I was cracking the door open to check on her. I think she forgot the bathroom no longer locks because I broke it last night.

"She's safe," I mumble into the phone. Stepping down the stairs, I make my way to the beat-up car we had stolen.

"It's been almost twelve hours," he growls into the phone.

"Yeah, well I had to get her out of there and far enough away they couldn't follow us," I snap. Dimitri might be protective of his daughter, but I found myself wanting to rip his head off for even letting her get taken in the first place.

"How many was it this time?" He sighs.

"Eight, maybe nine," I say, glancing over to the cabin, my eyes watching the only window connected to the room she's in.

"They're learning. "

I nod even though he can't see me. For the first attack in the hotel room, they had only sent four guys. I should've known the next attempt was going to be more.

"Is she okay?" Dimitri asks, after an awkward amount of silence. I wasn't sure how to answer this because Blake was nowhere near okay. She hasn't been okay since she was taken, and Mila just shoved a tracker into her shoulder. Well, that doesn't help.

"She's alive," I answer. It's the best I could do.

"Well, that's great to hear. Gabriel has been beside himself worried since he saw some of the attacks."

"Yeah," I sarcastically spat into the phone. I'm more worried about Blake shutting herself down. Dimitri hadn't told me anything about this job. I was doing it as a favor to Walker, and now that I'm here, I've grown feelings for her and refuse to back down. Even if that means they send hundreds of more men. I've dealt with worse.

"I sense a little…what should I call it, attitude?" Dimitri chuckles into the phone.

"Did you know your wife put a tracker in your daughter's fucking shoulder?" I snap.

Silence meets me on the other line, telling me he had no idea.

"Tell your wife if she wants to shove a tracker into her kid, she might want to let the guy trying to protect her know about it." I snap, hanging up before Dimitri can say anything.

Fuck Dimitri and his whole family. I don't understand how Blake grew up in that household. Her father is a cocky fuck and her mother sure was better than my shithead of a mom, if you could even call her that, but still, putting a tracker in your kid… What the fuck is wrong with Mila?

"Hey." Luna comes up behind me. "I'm running into town to pick up my monthly order. Want to come with?"

Glancing back at the house, I shake my head. I can't leave nor do I want to. Blake needs me here, and I'm afraid if I leave, she might run off. Or worse, we're somehow still being tracked, and those that are after her come back .

"She hasn't come out of the bedroom?" Luna asks.

"No, I think I'm going to go in and try to lure her out. Got any more sweets in here?" I chuckle. I don't understand how someone can love sweets as much as she does, but Blake could eat them all day.

"I think I have another thing of cinnamon rolls, and there's ice cream, possibly," she says, tapping her finger on her lips. Luna continues to think. "I think if you dig in the cabinet far enough there might be a bag or two of candy."

Nodding my head, I mutter, "Thanks."

"Of course, uh… okay, I'll be back. You guys leaving in the morning?"

"Yeah, I think one more good night's rest, and we should be good."

"Okay, uh, bye," Luna mumbles. Turning on her feet, she rushes off to her car. I watch until her taillights become a blur down the mountain until I can no longer see them.

Time to go wake the sleeping stabby girl.

I watch Luna and Jace talk briefly before she gets into her car and drives off. Jace watches the entire time, not moving until she's gone, and the lights disappear. I wait a moment, staring at him as he moves up the stairs, realizing he's most likely going to come looking for me. Shutting the curtains, I tiptoe back into the bathroom, shutting the door and trying the lock, forgetting again that Jace had broken it yesterday. It makes me uneasy, and the fact I had fallen asleep in the tub, not knowing that anyone could just come in here …

Shaking my head, I refuse to think about what could happen. Jace wouldn't let anyone hurt me, he said so himself. And so far, he's proven that—saving me twice and the fact he would hurt Luna, someone he obviously once had something with.

Looking over at the tub, I bite my lip. I should crawl back inside and pretend to sleep. But I know that wouldn't matter to him. He'll wake me up since I've been pretending to sleep most of the day. And now that Luna is away, I bet he is going to try and l—

"Blake," Jace calls from outside the door.

Rolling my eyes, I don't give him time to knock or just walk in. Not with the lock being broken. I swing the door open and Jace jerks back, either surprised I opened the door the first time he called my name or because my hood is down for the first time.

"You're awake," he mutters.

Nodding my head, I shift on my feet, suddenly second-guessing my decision to not act like I'm asleep.

"Come on, let's get out of this room," he says, smiling down at me. Stepping out of the way, he holds his arm out towards the bedroom door, motioning for me to leave the room. Pressing my lips together, I cock my head at him. I feel a little more comfortable with Luna being gone and it only being Jace and me.

"Come on, Luna said there's some ice cream, possibly candy out here," Jace smirks.

I smile at the idea of getting my hands on some ice cream. It's been a long few days without any. And wherever Jace is taking me, I have a feeling I might not get any again.

"Ah, got you there." He chuckles. "Come on." Jace turns, leading me into the living room. Keeping my hands in my pocket, I keep my finger against the scissors.

Standing in the middle of the living room, Jace continues into the kitchen, searching around in the cabinets. Is this what it's going to be like when we get to wherever we're going? Jace being nice, earning my trust… But what happens when I do trust him? Will he change ?

"Blake?"

Snapping my head over, Jace stands a few feet away from me, holding a carton of ice cream and two spoons.

"I asked if you want chocolate or vanilla."

Looking at his hand, I see he holds the chocolate, inclining my head towards the carton.

"Wonderful choice, I think vanilla is a little too plain for my taste," he smirks, wiggling his eyebrows. My face heats, biting my inner cheek, and the idea of having Jace in that way suddenly enters my head. Ever since Henry, I never thought I would think of men that way again. Henry destroyed something inside me when he ripped me apart. But thinking of Jace, and him not being so vanilla, I think I want that. And I'm not sure how I feel about that.

"Come on, let's watch a movie." Thankfully he changes the subject, which barely even got started. "What kind do you prefer?" he asks, reaching over for the notepad and pen. Handing it over, I take it and quickly write down action.

I used to like horror, sometimes romantic, but the idea of watching a horror movie makes me want to jump out of my skin. And romantic, I think I might get the idea to jump Jace. Which, that cannot happen.

Jace sets the ice cream and spoons down before grabbing the remote. We both sit down on the couch at the same time, nearly bumping into each other. I swear if my face could get any redder it would, and it doesn't help that I'm naturally pale.

Jace on the other hand doesn't seem to notice, or he chooses to ignore it. Grabbing the ice cream and spoons, he hands one to me before sitting back. Throwing his feet up, he leans back, turning the TV on. Switching on one program, he scrolls through. I bite my lip, my eyes bouncing between the TV and the ice cream.

"You can grab the ice cream, I won't bite." Jace laughs. Thankfully he doesn't make me actually take the carton. Instead, he hands it over.

Digging in, I sit back, tucking my feet under my legs. I don't know how long it takes before Jace finally just picks the movie John Wick , and it begins to play .

"Plan on sharing?" He nudges my arm. Freezing, I nearly drop my spoon, trying to remember it's just Jace. Taking a deep breath, I don't look at him as I hand the ice cream over. I need a moment to calm down. Jace takes the ice cream not saying anything. Which I'm even more thankful for. It seems we're both slowly learning more about each other.

Closing my eyes, I take a moment to clear my head, reminding myself over and over again that it's Jace sitting next to me. The one that let me stab him twice and hasn't retaliated against me. Leaning against the armrest, I pull my hood up over my head. It's not long before my eyes begin to droop, and I let myself drift off.

I can't breathe. I try to move my head to the side to stop them. Whoever is holding me is much stronger. My head doesn't even move an inch. The cloth over my head stops any sound from coming out. Even if I wanted to scream, I learned it's just worse to open my mouth.

"Where is it?" Someone asks above me, yanking the cloth off.

I gasp for air, coughing and spitting water up. My nose burns, and no matter how much I try to cough, I can still feel the water in my lungs.

"Fine, we can play it that way," he says.

"No," I weakly cry, but it's too late. The cloth is once again placed over my face, and water is pouring down on me. I can feel the water filling my lungs, and everything burns again. I can't breathe. My body thrashes against the cold metal table. I'm vaguely aware of someone touching me. My body can't take much more, but none of them care. I'm just the enemy's daughter. I'm nothing to them.

My visions begin to blur again. All at once, the cloth is yanked off my face, a hand is wrapped around my neck, and someone thrusts into me.

I can't scream, I'm barely able to breathe. Not when my vision barely comes back, and Henry's face fills my vision. I shake my head, refusing to believe this is real. That my bodyguard since I was six months is here raping me and letting someone else waterboard me.

"Knew you liked it rough," he grunts above me.

Tears stream down my face, not that they notice. I'm soaked from the water .

I'm helpless against him, helpless against them all.

"Burn the bitch," someone yells from around me.

I try pleading with Henry to stop. I don't understand what made him hate me so much. I can't understand.

Henry keeps grunting above me, thrusting into my body as something presses against my side. I scream low in my throat, not that it makes a difference, not when Henry's hand is pressed against my throat.

"FUCK, YES," Henry bellows. He removes his hand from my neck moments before bending down and his teeth sink into the side of my neck.

I scream at the top of my lungs, my body convulses, and I can feel myself shutting down. I can't take much more, but no one cares. Not even when the cloth is placed back over my face, water streaming down just as Henry finishes inside me.

"Hey," someone whispers, nudging my shoulder.

My eyes snap open and my hand grips the scissors, never having the chance to pull them out before someone grabs my hand, shushing me.

"Sunshine, it's me," his voice filters into my head. I'm safe, I'm okay, I am safe. I nod my head before I've even calmed down. It's Jace and I know deep in my heart that I am safe.

"That's it, breathe for me, baby."

My heart shouldn't squeeze at the word, but it does. I like that word coming from his mouth, and I like him calling me that. I don't know what takes over my brain. I'm not sure if I'm trying to erase the memory of Henry or if it's because I'm beginning to trust Jace. But before I can second guess what I'm about to do, I'm picking my head up and slamming my lips against his.

Jace doesn't move, instead, he goes stiff as a board. Realizing I'm making a terrible mistake, I jump back, eyes wide and afraid to look at him. Only I do, and Jace looks confused for a second. Biting my bottom lip to stop myself from crying.

"Blake," he whispers. Shaking my head, I don't want him to finish whatever he's going to say. I don't want to hear that what I did was a mistake because I already know it was. A terrible, terrible mistake.

"Look at me," he mumbles.

I'm still shaking my head, bringing my legs to my chest. Emotions that I don't fully understand seeping into me.

"I said look at me," he orders. His voice is strong and demanding to be heard. My head snaps to the side, tears forming in my eyes.

"Did you want to kiss me?" he asks.

Frowning, I'm not sure how to answer. Did I want to kiss him? I think I did. Jace makes me feel things. Makes my head fuzzy but in a nice way.

"It's a yes or no. Did you want to kiss me?" he asks a little more forcefully.

I nod my head once.

Jace moves at once, slamming his lips against mine. This time I'm frozen, but only for a second before he encourages me to open my mouth. His tongue runs across my lips before slowly sinking into my mouth. I welcome the chocolate flavor on his tongue. His hands gently hold my head, tilting me in the way he wants. Not that I mind; Jace controlling me surprisingly doesn't bother me. Not like I thought it would.

Every time his tongue enters my mouth, moving with mine, I swear I'm going to combust. Especially when his tongue plunges to the back of my throat. I want him to touch me, and the shocking thought drags me back to reality.

I'm kissing someone, the person that's supposed to be protecting me. Thankfully, just as I realize this, a car door slams outside. Luna.

Breaking our kiss, I jerk back, scared to look at Jace. I jump to my feet before running off to the bedroom. Bypassing the bed, I make my way into the bathroom. Once again forgetting the door doesn't lock, I sit back against it.

What the fuck did I just do?