I could do nothing for a long time. I sat very still, holding the receiver to my ear. One breath slipped in and out of my lungs. Then another.

All the times that I had considered the possibility of Josh finding me I tell myself that my mind would spin out of control with panic. I thought I would be so overwhelmed with fear that I would immediately begin crying or spew hundreds of apologies just for the sake of attempting to soothe some of Josh's anger. I would do anything, even if it was just putting a metaphorical Band-Aid over a bullet hole.

But I was just numb now.

I had begun to believe that this battle was over. I had let myself think that my skilled tech friend was handling everything and there would be nothing that would go wrong. It hadn't seemed too perfect at the time but I so badly wanted it to be true. Now, the shock of that faith coming undone was more than my mind could handle. I could do nothing but cling to the phone and stare blankly at the computer screen.

"For someone who was brave enough to go against me you sure are soft-mouthed all of the sudden." Josh purred from the other end.

And he was right. I had gone against him. I hadn't meant to originally, I certainly never wanted to and didn't plan it. I had just wanted to keep myself safe, to restore what was left of my authentic self instead of living in fear for the rest of my life. I just wanted to slip away in the night and restart in a new country. I had never been brave enough to take up the sword myself.

But Alistair had gotten involved, Smith had been murdered, and the only way to get home safely was to fight a war against my own fiancé. I had done it out of necessity, but because I hadn't been doing the work I almost forgot who I was attacking.

"What do you want?" I whispered, finally finding my voice.

It was foolish; I knew that was nothing of monetary value that I could give him that he wouldn't have access to himself. But I would've given him everything, from my condo to the shirt off my back, if it meant that he would leave me alone.

"I just want to talk, Camila, that's all."

When Alistair said my name it sounded like silk coming from his mouth. When Josh said it I felt bile rise in my throat and my eyes watered with disgust.

"I won't." I sputtered out, fully aware that it was a trap. Josh only played to win and he never played fairly.

"I think you will." Josh replied confidently. Even when he was threatening me so boldly his voice carried no concern or dread. There wasn't the slightest quake or tremor in his voice.

"I left you, I illegally entered another country, what could possible make me go back to you?"

"Well, you do love your dear friends so much, don't you?"

My breath caught in my throat.

My body froze.

"I know that you don't believe me. But that's okay. You were always so logical. I know that Sophie does one hell of a job with computer programs. If anyone would've been able to ease your mind it would've been her. And Alistair Kingsley. One of the youngest men to hold his position. You always wanted the best for yourself, daddy's little girl would never settle for less. And I'm sure that he could use all of his psychology training to convince you of just about anything. Like thinking that you could actually hide from me."

"I don't believe you. If you're with them let me talk to them." I blurted.

"As you wish."

I heard rustling as the other line was jostled about. Then a soft breath was sucked in.

"Camilla?" Sophie's voice was soft and weak.

"Oh my God Sophie." I whimpered, my hand flying to cover my mouth in horror. Reality struck me like a gun blast. "Where are you? What's he doing to you?"

"Don't Camila. Don't come find me." Sophie pleaded.

I heard her voice break, then I could hear her begin to cry. I could hear her trying to speak, but coherent words were eluding her.

"Sophie? Sophie!"

Her sobbing grew distant and the line filled with static once more.

"Camila." A steady, low and strong voice filled the silence.

"Alistair." I breathed, feeling tears of terror stream down my cheeks.

"I want you to listen to me. You need to stay where you are."

"I'm going to call the police, tell me where you are." I blurted out desperately.

"No, don't do that." Alistair warned softly, "Please, stay where you are."

I heard Josh's loud voice slice through the background noise. Sophie shouted something I couldn't make out. Then was a loud cry of agony that could only belong to Alistair.

"Alistair?!" I gasped, "Alistair, what happened?"

"Always the protector, isn't?" Josh purred back as the other voices fell away, "Leave it to you to find a knight in the middle of wreckage."

"Leave them alone, they have done nothing to you." I growled, trying to assume a violent and angry persona. The reality was that I was absolutely terrified.

Josh called my bluff without hesitation.

"You couldn't be more wrong. They are the only two people in the world who actively worked against me. One of them murdered my right hand man. I take that quite personally and a man with my standing can't leave acts like that unpunished. And you know what I do to those who cross me, don't you, pet?"

"Don't" I whispered feebly. "Please don't hurt them Josh."

"The thing is I don't want them, Camila. I want you. And if I have you I might be inclined to let them go."

"I'll come to you right now. Just tell me where you are." I agreed, feeling my heart begin to race in my chest.

"Before I do that I want you to remember that I have friends on both sides of the border. Calling for help with do you no good. I've tapped all of your phones, both personal and work. If a single call goes out after this one ends or if you take a couple extra minutes to get here I will gladly put one bullet in each of your dear friends. I'm giving you one chance, I wouldn't try to be the hero now."

The finger that was hovering so readily over the nine on my keypad instantly fell away.

"I won't call anyone; I'll come straight to you." I promised, "Just don't hurt them."

"Good. You have fifteen minutes to get to your condo. You know what will happen if you're late." He threatened.

"That's not enough time; I don't even have a car here!" I cried, but it was too late.

The line went dead.

As an empty sound trickled through the line a similar sound filled my mind.

Just blankness.

The two people I loved the most in the world were in danger and I didn't have the time or the resources to save them while saving myself. But sitting behind my desk dumbly wouldn't alleviate anything. My friends were in danger and I was the only person that could save them. After all they had done for me it was my turn to make the sacrifice. I knew what would happen when Josh got his hands on me. I didn't care.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a car.

Jasper had driven me in and left. I wouldn't be able to call Stanley either as Josh had warned me of those consequences. So I had to find a way to get to my condo without using any of my phones or raising suspicion. It seemed like an impossible task, but I was desperate.

I tried to walk out of my office as casually as I could, but I had no idea what I actually looked. I could've been jerky and uncoordinated or moving like I was drunk. The fear and the shock that were pulsing through my heart made it impossible to feel and comprehend my own actions. Luckily my legs guided me to Hope's desk.

"Miss Davidson?" she greeted, "Are you feeling okay?"

"I need to borrow your car." I stated.

"Excuse me?"

"I wouldn't ask unless it was absolutely necessary."

"Can't you just call Stanley? I can call him for you, actually."

"Hope, I wouldn't ask you for your car if there were other options."

"But-"

"Hope, please. I'll give you an additional two weeks of paid vacation or whatever else you want, I don't care. I just need your car for a few minutes."

Either my receptionist was terrified because of whatever bleak trance I had fallen into or she really wanted what I was offering. She dug through her desk to retrieve her purse, then moved to hand me a set of keys.

"Do I need to call an ambulance for you?" she asked softly. Her hand was positioned to drop the keys into my outstretched palm, but she refused to let go just yet.

"No, this isn't about me. Just trust me." I pleaded.

The keys dripped into my hand as Hope gave me a confused but sympathetic look.

Then I was moving. My entire office building seemed to fly by me as I moved. I was walking, trying to avoid attracting too much attention but I felt like everyone's eyes were on me once more. I passed my creativity rooms and cubicles filled with people who relied on me, relied on my ideas and my business sense for a paycheque and a way of life. And I thought about the fact that I was leaving them behind for the lives of two people that I loved more than myself.

By the time I hit the parking lot five minutes had already trickled by. Though Hope drove a mundane car I was able to find it easily and awkwardly steered it out of the parking lot. Then I was racing through Ottawa, not caring for the public's safety or my own. My only thoughts were that I needed to get home as soon as possible and that I hoped I wouldn't be spotted by a police officer.

It felt like it was a miracle that I didn't get pulled over for my reckless driving. And when I stopped harshly in front of the condo that had once been my home I only had a minute left before my time was up. I shut off the vehicle and darted to my front door. My fist slammed against the sturdy door and I repressed the urge to scream when it wasn't flung open right away. I couldn't be too late. But Josh made the rules. He could've killed them the moment he hung up. And I had just handed myself over to him.

But the door did eventually creak open.

And there was Josh, just as I remembered him.

Blue eyes that could convey sympathy and empathy.

Perfectly straight teeth that nearly glowed when he smiled at me.

Soft, blond hair that was perfectly styled.

A brand new suit that was at the height of men's fashion.

And crimson blood covering his hands.