I could feel the deadline looming down on me, suffocating me with the decision I had only five more days to make.

I stared out at the forest spread out in front of me, digging my hands deeper into the depths of my jacket in hopes that they would warm against the chilly air. It was evening, the beginning of fall cause a splatter of leaves to wash across the lawn in an array of colors. I was seated on a stone bench, wishing I was alone, but also knowing of the lone figure behind me.

Watching me.

Guarding me.

Trapping me.

The wind picked up, ruffling my uncombed hair into more of a tangled mess than it was already in. I slowly traced my thumb along the ridges of the bench, sinking my teeth deeper against my lip. The knowledge that my parents had given up on me weighted on my chest, making it feel impossible to inhale.

I blinked, staring unseeingly at the trees in front of my eyes. I could hear Duke shift from foot to foot, his weight causing the dead leaves to crumple and crack under his boots. The tension between us had only seemed to increase, our already fragile acquaintanceship more strained than ever.

"Savannah - there's nothing here. We've been here for over two hours. Let's go back?" His voice was almost a whine, a hidden plea written in his words, but also hostility. "It's cold. Jace wouldn't like this."

I ignored him, knowing that he could go back if he truly pleased. I need time to comprehend what I was going to do and the consequences my actions would have in the coming days. With Jace's return only mere hours away, I felt my panic rise at the time left. His presence overwhelmed my being and caused my thoughts to grow even more muddled, making planning almost impossible.

My hands curled into two fists, my nails digging into my frozen skin. The sky was slowly darkening, the only indication of how much time had passed. I made no move to leave, only shifting my numbed thighs against the granite.

"Savannah." Duke demanded once more, attempting to claim my attention from the trees in front of my gaze. "Savannah, we should-"

"You can go." I finally spoke up, forcing my fists to unfurl and squeezing my eyes shut, wishing that his presence would stop haunting me. "I won't go anywhere, I promise." And I knew that was the truth, for as much as I wanted to escape as far away as I could and hide, I knew that I couldn't.

For Jace.

For Stella.

"You know I can't do that." His frustration was layered in every tone of his voice as I heard him shift behind me once more.

"That's not my problem then." I muttered back, opening my eyes to once more stare blankly out into the darkening forest.

"Savannah." Duke groaned out and I heard the muted sounds of his footsteps against the dirt as he moved closer.

"What?" I snapped, not casting a look in his direction as I continued to stare blankly straight ahead. To be alone was something I yearned for, and Duke's presence was only making my loathing for the people in this house grow.

"I can't watch you anymore anyways." He stammered out. "My shift is over. So, let's go."

"You can't make me leave here." I stubbornly replied and he exhaled sharply.

"Then I'll have to call Jace and..." He let his sentence trail of, an unspoken threat behind his words.

I lurched up off the bench, turning to face the infuriating man. "You're an asshole." I simply stated, my hands shaking with anger. I didn't cast another glance in his direction as I began to march towards the house, my anger propelling me forward at an amazing rate.

"I'll just stay in my room." I hissed out and Duke chuckled, keeping up with me easily.

"I don't think so. You're staying with Jared."

I halted in my steps, causing Duke to almost crash into me.

"Fucking shit Savannah-"

"Jared, like, Stella's brother, Jared?" I questioned, feeling my stomach drop threateningly.

"Yes. That's the one." He sighed, sounding annoyed, as he latched onto my arm and started pulling me towards the house, which was now in view.

"No! That's not fair." I argued, resisting with no avail. He easily pulled me through the doors, ignoring my struggles.

"It's completely fair. Everyone else in busy and can't watch you and Jared was the only one available." He rolled his eyes, already making his way to the staircase.

"It's only for a couple hours." Duke's words didn't comfort and I swallowed around the lump growing in my throat.

"Did Jace okay this?"

"Cameron did. That's all the confirmation we need." Duke snorted, pulling me up each step at a rate that had me resisting the urge to fall.

"Call Jace. I doubt he-"

"That's not necessary. It's happening, Savannah."

"You can't just force to me to stay with him." I pressed, fruitlessly trying to resist the grip he had on me.

"Try me. It's Jared's turn to watch you." Duke rolled his eyes, twisting through the hallways as he led me towards where Jared was staying.

"I don't need a babysitter!" I refused, digging my heels into the carpet, though my attempts to halt Duke did nothing.

My stomach knotted with the knowledge that I was most likely going to have to face Jared. I didn't want to face him. Not after the reactions I received from the other guys over what happened and with the fact that Stella was also Jared's sister... I shook my head, I wouldn't do it.

"Yes, you do. Especially after what happened." Duke snorted, turning another corner.

His words made my stomach turn once again. "That wasn't my fault." My voice was quiet and I swallowed around the lump in my throat when he didn't reply.

"You really think it's a good idea for Jared to watch me after what happened?" I pushed, the anxiousness in my voice picking up with every step he pulled us closer to his room.

"Everyone else is busy." He replied shortly, and I could practically hear his eyes rolling. "And Jared has become a drunk over the last couple of weeks. Cameron ordered him to stay sober enough to keep an eye on you today though."

"That's not reassuring." I bit out, glaring at the man's back in front of me. "After what happened with Stella, I don't think Jared is really going to want to see me."

Duke shrugged. "It'll be fine."

Before I could argue anymore, Duke had pulled us to a stop in front of a door at the end of the hallway. He gripped the doorknob, shoving the door open before yanking me through all in the same motion. With my heart in my throat, I made eye contact with Jared, my mouth falling open at the sight of him in front of me. The once clean-cut man looked like he hadn't showered in days, much less slept. His wrinkled shirt, the sweatpants hanging off his hips, and the beard he was currently growing, were all signs that he wasn't coping well.

That, and the glass that dangled from his left hand.

"Jared." Duke groaned, sounding both annoyed and worried. "Cameron said-"

Jared waved his hand, his face folding into a scowl. "It's my second glass. There wasn't much left in the bottle, so calm down."

Duke watched him suspiciously for a few moments, before releasing my wrist and gently pushing me deeper into the room. "You know the rules. Watch her." He commanded, his index finger uncurling from his fists to point in Jared's direction. "If you let something happen..."

"Got it." Jared rolled his eyes, raising his glass in his direction. "Cheers, Duke. Better escape now, before you let Savannah accidentally kill you."

I shot the man a glare, moving back towards the wall, hoping that the darkness in the room would veil me.

Duke didn't laugh, instead only he deepened his glare. "I mean it, Jared."

"Yes, Dad." The man in question rolled his eyes.

Duke didn't stay to say anything more, instead slamming the door behind him as he left.

"I didn't mean that. He just annoys me." Jared commented, watching me momentarily before moving towards the fireplace.

I stood rigidly by the door, my hands curled into tight fists, my eyes firmly on the man in front of me.

"I'm surprised they let you in here." Jared muttered, running a hand through his messy-looking hair as he turned to study me. "Then again, they haven't been the smartest over the last few days, so I don't blame them."

"Why would it be a stupid thing to do to bring me in here?" I finally questioned, hoping I sounded confident, but knowing from the shake in my voice that I sounded anything but.

I couldn't stop my gaze from dropping to the glass of scotch gripped under Jared's hand. A lone finger traced the rim of the glass as he turned away, staring forlornly at the fire in front of him.

"They didn't want me to see you." He chuckled darkly, briefly pausing to bring his glass to his lips. "As if they feared I'd do something to harm you because of what happened."

I nervously shifted my weight from one foot to the other, hesitating as my eyes flickered to the door, wishing that Duke hadn't locked it so I could run if I needed to.

"After all, Stella was my sister and in some fucked up way, you got involved, and suddenly everyone seems to be blaming you for Stella being taken once more." He seemed to ponder his words, his head giving the smallest of shakes. "But, not me."

Jared turned to face me once more, his eyes running over my face, and he lifted a brow in my direction.

"I can see that you're afraid. I won't hurt you. I was angry about what happened, but not at you - never at you." He watched me, almost carefully, before turning back to the flames.

"But, I can't stop wondering if I could have done something. If I had been there, would it have been any different? Would she be here? Would you not?" The questions he continued to ask himself seemed to stress him out and he guzzled down another sip of his drink.

"I'm sorry about what happened." I replied quietly, wrapping my arms around my torso. "She looked well - though I don't know if that matters."

"It's not your fault." He murmured, a glare folding itself over his face. "None of this is, yet you routinely continue to get the backlash of it."

"It's fine." I hushed him gently, looking at the ground as he let out a choked sound of anger.

"It isn't though." He lashed out, dropping his glass messily onto the table in front of him. "None of this is fair. You getting involved, you getting treated like a traitor, you getting continually manipulated and hurt and exposed to things you shouldn't be - none of that is fair."

My shoulders lifted in a shrug, as I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. "There's nothing I can do about it now. What's done is done."

"No." Jared stressed, moving to face me so quickly that I jumped. "What's done isn't just done. And that's where I come in."

"What-"

"I'm going to help you." Jared stood up, tilting his head as he stared at me. "And then I won't have to owe you anything more." He concluded.

"You don't owe me anything as it is." I pointed out, confused on what he was eluding to. "You've done nothing and I haven't done anything for you either."

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong."

"What do you mean?" I questioned, feeling my brow wrinkle as I watched him.

Jared watched me for a moment, before running his hands through his hair. "You remind me of my sister." He murmured, his eyes straying to the empty bottle of scotch.

My heart broke for him. "I'm sorry, Jared." I whispered, biting my lip to stop myself from tearing up.

"Like I said, none of this is your fault." He paused, shaking his head. "And you know how to get out of all this."

"I do?"

"Yes." I could feel his eyes on me watching me carefully, as if he was suspicious about something he had seen crossing my face.

"You know." I whispered, staring down at my hands.

"I do." Jared nodded, his voice solemn and silence filled the room as I struggled with what to say. He was the first to speak once more. "Don't."

"What?" The word was out of my mouth before I was able to stop it and I jerked back to stare at the man. "What do you mean?" I peeked at him suspiciously, pressing my dampening hands against the tops of my thighs in an effort

"I mean, don't do it." He stood up from the recliner, moving towards the wall of windows the stretched across the western wall. "I love my sister. But, I don't think anyone could handle losing you too. I'm here to help you get out another way."

I opened my mouth to immediately argue what he was said, before shutting my mouth, knowing it was no use. "Are you going to tell?" I muttered, trying to look anywhere but at the man who was now openly studying me.

"Why are you doing this, Savannah? It's stupid." He pressed, a growing look of urgency evident on his face as he moved towards me. "This whole thing is stupid. You're going to end up getting yourself killed. Let me help you instead."

"No." I pressed once more, nervously biting down on my lip as I appraised the man in front of me. "I'm doing this for Stella too. She deserves her freedom. Don't you want that?"

"Don't. Of course I do, but I don't want you to die." He crossed the room quickly to latch his hands onto my shoulder, which he briefly shook. "I'm not choosing between my sister and you. I would be damning you to die."

"I might live. Don't you believe that?" I questioned, peeking up at him through my lashes.

There was pause, tension filling the room, before his shoulders dropped and a sigh left his lips. "No."

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to stop my stomach from dropping and instead released a sigh. "Okay."

"So, please don't be an idiot and please don't do this. Ricardo will kill you - he wants his revenge on the Kingston's and that's his way of getting it." He sounded urgent, the grip he had on my shoulders continually getting tighter.

"That's a risk I'm willing to take." I admitted, "Are you going to tell?"

Another pause, more tension.

"No."

I released a sound of relief. "Why, exactly?"

"Because, it's your choice." Jared seemed to ponder that thought, turning away from me once more. "I don't think it's a good idea, I think it's pretty fucking bad actually, but I can't change your mind and no one else will be able too. You want your freedom and I understand that."

"You're the only one who does." I muttered, glaring down at my palms, causing Jared to snort.

"Of course I am. No one else would want that for you." He countered, arching a brow in my direction. "Don't you know the impact you've had on the guys?

"You can't say that." I argued, a snort of disbelief exiting my lips. "Not after what I've heard."

"What do you mean?" Confusion was clearly written across his face, but I only shook my head, not wanting to admit that I knew exactly why I had been kept here.

I just shook my head, not wanting to focus on what had happened once more.

His lips thinned, forming a tight line as if he knew exactly what I was choosing not to voice.

I swallowed, lifting my shoulders awkwardly before glancing down at the wooden floors beneath my feet. "Why do you think you even owe me something?"

"Because of what you've done for all of us." Jared snorted, as if I was dense. "Because of what you've had to give up - what we've forced you to give up."

"That wasn't just you though." I argued, my head snapping up and he chuckled, shaking his head.

"I didn't try to help you though, and that, Savannah, is why I owe you, why we all owe you." He pursed his lips, as if he was thinking something over.

"I want to help you." He continued, walking over to the desk in the corner of the room, before reaching into his pocket and plucking out a key.

"I don't want you to." I pushed, stumbling a few steps forward. "We're getting Stella out of there. I need to do this. I need-"

"Not about that." He shushed me, waving a hand in my direction. "I know your mind is set on that, no matter how unhappy I am about it."

"Then-"

I was unable to finish my question because Jared stood straight, a satisfied gleam taking over his face as he pulled a manila envelope from the drawer he was digging through. "Here it is."

"What is it?"

Shutting the desk drawer, he moved back towards my direction, studying the folder in his hands before chucking it onto the table in front of me.

"Remember when you told Jace about how you met Noah? And they wanted to have you continually meet up with him? Jace knew about him already, he just wanted a closer link to the family and he was going to make that through you." At his words, it was suddenly much more difficult to breathe. His words only made the reality that I had been nothing but a tool for the Kingston's more of a reality.

"Jace had us tracking Noah's every move so that we could know where he regularly is, if and when he made you interact with him. That's what's in there, his locations." Jared jerked his chin towards where he had tossed the envelope.

"How's that going to help me?" I questioned, my brows drawing together as I struggled to draw the conclusion that he was hinting towards me.

The corner of his mouth quirked up. "You get a connection yourself. You can dig, talk to Noah. Jace said you thought he was a good kid. Well, if that's your instinct, maybe he can help you too."

Jared picked up his empty glass and the empty scotch bottle from the table, heading to the door as I stood there at a loss for words.

"Jared." I whirled around, watching as he halted in his footsteps. "How'd you even know about the plan?"

"Let's just say I have good ears." He winked, resuming his path to the doorway. "Stay smart, think things through, and Savannah? Don't die."

And then he was gone.