I finally got the courage to speak up when the shock subsided, "Garrett, what's going on?"

He looked angrier than I'd ever seen him before as he paced back and forth in front of me.

"You and Jenny are here because Liam's gang has taken over as the number one drug suppliers in the town. No other gang has any customers anymore, but I'm taking it back in exchange for you two." He finally explained.

This whole kidnapping thing is over drug customers? Seriously?

"I committed to this for so long, and now it's finally paying off. Hell, I even got shot for this. But in the end it'll all be worth it." Garrett went on, to no one in particular.

"You're a monster." I spat.

"Watch your mouth." He snapped back, his dark eyes bright with anger.

This makes no sense. He really seemed like a genuine friend to everyone, how could we have all been fooled by him this much? He's the last person I expected to be the mole. How did this happen?

"You're a pathetic sociopath." I seethed between clenched teeth.

He betrayed Liam, he kidnapped me and Jenny, he probably killed Liam's mom. And I was angry beyond belief at him. But also at myself because I was fooled by him.

He stormed right up to me as my words registered in his brain, and without a word, slapped me across the face, causing my head to snap to the side upon impact as the sound of the violent act rang around the otherwise silent room.

My cheek burned and I wished I could place my hand against it to ease the pain but I was tied up. I couldn't do anything to help or defend myself.

I looked into the eyes of a monster, my own never wavering. I wasn't going to back down. I wasn't going to show him how much he hurt me. I wasn't going to show him how scared I was.

"You hit like a girl."

As soon as the words were out of my mouth I regretted them. His eyes were murderous. He was furious.

I knew I should stay silent, but I was so angry that I just couldn't. And I was going to pay for it.

Garrett balled his hand into a fist and drove it into my stomach, causing all the air to leave my body as I wheezed out a cough of agony.

Unfortunate he didn't stop there. He hit me in the face again, and this time my nose took the majority of the damage.

I felt warmth pool up under my nose and onto the top of my lip, telling me that I was bleeding.

I hoped the sight of blood would be enough for him, but it wasn't.

One final blow to the side of my head seemed to finally satisfied him.

My head pounded and I felt dizzy as I saw him walk over to the door.

"Russ, keep a close eye on these two, I'm not in the mood to stick around here while I wait for Liam to make his decision." I faintly heard Garrett say as darkness engulfed me.

•  •  •  •  •  •  •

I don't know how long I was out for, but by the time I woke up I wasn't tied up in that room anymore. Instead I was back in a car, a still sleeping Jenny beside me.

As I took in my surroundings I noticed that it was pitch black outside, probably the middle of the night or very early in the morning, and as I took a closer look at the interior of the car I realized that it belonged to Garrett. I've been in here countless times before, and the familiar purple palm tree air freshener only confirmed my suspicious.

Next I looked at the people in the front seat, Russ was in the passenger side and Garrett was driving.

Everything was quiet, there was no music playing, the only sound was the soft purr of the car's engine. It would've been relaxing if it weren't for the fact that I was kidnapped by a complete monster.

Since everything was uneventful at the moment, I decided to keep it that way by pretending I was asleep so Garrett had no reason to do anything to me, even though he was driving so that was unlikely. But who knows, he's obviously not being logical or sane at the moment so he could do anything.

"There he is, tail between his legs, submitting to be because he wants his girls back." Garrett spoke up a little while later, his tone dripping with mockery as the car slowed to a stop.

A moment later both the front doors opened as
Russ and Garrett exited the car, and then the back door opened on Jenny's side and Russ gently took her out and held her in his arms as he closed the door.

I waited, my heart hammering against my chest in fear, for my door to open. And a few seconds later it did, revealing Garrett wearing a sadistic smirk.

"I'm glad you're awake now, the fun is just beginning." He said as he roughly grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the car.

Thankfully my mouth listened to my brain and I kept quiet as my head throbbed with the constant reminder of what happened the last time I talked back to him.

I tried my best to study the area just in case anything happened, but it was just a dirt road with dense forest lining either side. Nothing stuck out to me that could help identify this place if I needed to.

But what I saw not too far in front of me made hope swell up inside me. Liam was there, standing in front of his car, his face not showing any emotion. It was smart of him to keep his feeling to himself at a time like this.

"All this time it was you." Liam finally said when we were right in front of him.

Being this close to him now, I could see the anger and confusion in his eyes. He didn't know Garrett was behind all of this until now.

"Surprise." Garrett deadpanned, never loosening his tight grip on my arm. I could already tell it was going to leave a nasty bruise.

"You were my brother." Liam whispered, his stone cold facade cracking, revealing what he really felt.

He looked exhausted, heartbroken, angry, confused. My heart hurt for him.

"You have everything you want now, just leave Jenny and Emma here and go." Liam spoke again, his voice strong and void of emotion. I could see the walls going back up to guard his feelings.

"I don't know if I want to give Emma back, she was a nice therapeutic punching bag. I might keep her around for a while." Garrett replied, nodding to Russ as an indication to put Jenny in Liam's car.

Liam hadn't looked at me this whole time, but now his eyes were scanning me, and when he saw my beat up face all hell broke loose.

Liam's fist connected with Garrett's nose before anyone even knew what was happening, and this caused my arm to be released.

I ran over to Liam's car, got into the drivers side, and locked all the doors to make sure no one could get me or Jenny.

By the time I looked back at them, Liam was in a full blown fight with Garrett and Russ was quickly walking over to back Garrett up.

Without thinking, I turned the key that was thankfully left in the ignition, and started up the car, pressing down on the gas before I even knew what I was doing.

THUD

I slammed on the breaks and froze in shock.

Garrett and Liam both stopped fighting when they realized what happened, and they looked between the ground in front of the car and me in horror.

Liam was the first to snap out of it, running over to the passenger side of the car, which I quickly unlocked so he could get in, and then I drove away as fast as I could.

"I didn't mean to do it. I swear. He was coming to get you and you couldn't fight both of them off. I just wanted to stop him, I didn't want to hurt him." I rambled, panic racing through my veins.

"It's not your fault." Liam tried to comfort me.

I frantically shook my head, "What if he's dead? What if I killed him? Oh god I'm going to jail."

"Pull over." Liam gently ordered, but I didn't listen. I needed to get far away from here. I can't stop now.

"Emma, pull over." He repeated, more forcefully.

This time I listened and stopped the car at the side of the road. It's best that I don't drive anymore. I don't want to hit anyone else.

"Let me drive." Liam gently said, placing a comforting hand on my arm in an attempt to pull me out of my spiralling panic.

I slowly nodded and got out of the car, and the next thing I knew we were driving again, this time with me in the passenger seat.

"Everything is going to be okay. That guy is going to be fine. You're safe, Jenny's safe. It's all over now." Liam assured me as we raced through the dark, back towards the city.

I didn't reply, and the rest of the drive was tense and silent. I was too busy worrying about the well-being of Russ to even talk.

He didn't deserve to be hit. Sure he kidnapped me, but he never hurt me, he was just following orders. I'd probably do the same as him if Garrett was the one ordering me around.

Please let him be okay I begged over and over in my mind. I need him to be okay.

Finally we pulled into the driveway of Liam's house, which still had all the lights on.

I gave him a confused look as he turned the car off, "Is someone in there?"

He nodded, "Some of my gang members stuck around for protection, and there's a doctor in there for you and Jenny."

Without another word we both got out of the car, and Liam got Jenny out, and then we headed to the front door.

Once inside, Liam was bombarded with questions while the doctor took Jenny out of his arms and brought her somewhere to examine.

I hung back, unsure of what to do with myself since I had never really met anyone from Liam's gang.

"Guys, I'm gonna bring Emma to my room, she's had a rough day." He said after a few minutes of explaining what happened.

Without waiting for a response, Liam walked over to me, took my hand, and led me to his bedroom.

Once inside I finally let my guard down. Tears started falling down my cheeks as the adrenaline wore off and the full force of today hit me like a ton of bricks. My whole body hurt, especially my head, and I was so drained in every way.

My legs gave out from under me and Liam didn't have time to react before I fell to the floor sobbing.

"Emma, I'm so sorry." He whispered,
Dropping down beside me and wrapping his arms around my aching body.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered over and over, pulling me close.

I cried and cried for what felt like hours, until I didn't have any tears left. And then I just sat there, hugging Liam and letting his warmth and security comfort me.

"You should go to sleep, I just want to check on Jenny and then I'll be right back." He finally broke the silence.

I instantly tensed at the thought of him leaving, but then realized how unreasonable it would be to beg him to stay. His sister needs him more than I do. And he'll be right back.

"Okay." I finally agreed, taking his hand when he got up and offered to help me up.

"I'll be right back." He repeated once I was tucked into his bed, and then leaned down to give me a gentle kiss on the forehead before leaving.

I closed my eyes and tried to keep my mind off of the events of today as I attempted to fall asleep, and eventually it worked, but not before I felt the bed dip beside me as Liam got in.

The last thing I heard before I fell asleep was Liam whisper "You're safe."