by Anna L
“What does that have to do with me getting up,” I asked.
“It doesn’t. We just want you to stay sleeping. We are trying to figure out where your dad would be, compared to where we are staying. It’s just a bunch of maps. You don’t need to be worrying about stuff like that.” Sam told me and went over to Brent. “Stay with her until she falls asleep. Thomas, you stay and make sure she stays safe. We can’t let her leave our sight.”
“What is going on? I asked.
“Nothing, just go to sleep,” Sam said and then walked away.
“I can’t tell you, Cat,” Brent said. He wasn’t smiling.
I looked at Brent and then Thomas. “Do you know what is going on,” I asked Thomas.
“Yes, Catherine, I know everything, except for what Sam just said. I know more than William, and I am the only one in the family who knows everything. Mom doesn’t know anything either. I know more than you. The only thing I don’t know is what Brent is going to tell you.” Thomas replied.
“Oh.” I relaxed. Brent told Thomas to go sit somewhere else and Brent laid down on the couch next to me.
“I’m sorry Cat. I don’t know what to do. I want to tell you so bad, but Evan is making me wait until we are in Italy,” Brent said.
“It’s okay Brent. I understand, it’s okay don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” I knew that Brent was lying to me, but I wasn’t going to let him know that.
“I can’t help but worry about you. I worry about your family too, but not as much as I worry about you.”
“What was Loren talking about earlier?”
“Loren was going to tell you what I am going to tell you, and I couldn’t let that happen.”
“Brent! I need you here now!” Sam sounded mad.
“I’m coming,” Brent yelled to Sam. “Sorry Cat.” Brent got up and left.
I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep.
When I woke up again, it was even darker than before and even Thomas was sleeping in the chair next to me. I felt like such a slug. I had taken multiple naps this afternoon. As soon as I moved, Thomas jerked awake.
“Katie, you okay,” Thomas asked.
“Yeah, Thomas, thanks,” I replied.
“No problem.”
Brent walked over to the couch with Sam close behind.
“How you doing Cat,” Brent asked.
“Good,” I smiled at Brent and he sat down next to me. Brent put his arm around me and pulled me towards him.
“Any new information,” Thomas asked.
“Yeah, actually. We learned a ton. I think we have enough information to make sure everyone stays safe on the trip,” Sam said.
“Okay,” I said a little confused.
“Look Cat, you don’t need to worry. We have everything under control. The only think you have to do, is listen to us and be smart,” Brent said.
“We might actually bring someone else with us,” Sam said.
“Who,” I asked.
“Thomas, if that’s okay with you,” Sam said, smiling.
“Really,” I asked excitedly.
“Yeah,” Brent said.
“Sweet!” I jumped off the couch and gave my brother a hug.
“So I can come,” Thomas asked.
“Of course,” I replied.
“Cool! Thanks Katie!”
“Let’s get back to business though,” Brent told us.
“Okay,” Sam said. He sat on the couch leaving space for me and Thomas. Brent was going to stand. I sat between Sam and Thomas as Brent explained, to us, what the plan was.
“We are leaving tomorrow morning. Sam and I will pick the two of you up at 9:30A.M. Our flight is around 10:15 A.M. We are hoping to get to Rome, Italy around 7:45 P.M our time which is around 1:45 A.M in Italy, which is also the next day. When we get there we can talk more. We can also talk on the flight there. There isn’t really that much going on.. You guys don’t need to worry, we have it under control.”
I smiled at Brent and he smiled back.
“So, Cat, we have some info that we can tell you. Do you wanna know?” Brent asked me.
“Yes!” I replied.
“Okay, so you need to stay safe, very safe, because we are playing into the hands of the kidnapper. He captured your dad so that he could get to you. That is why Evan wants me to keep you safe. Loren wants to keep you safe, because he made a deal with your dad. They know each other because of Nick and his dad. You’re dad knows that you are on your way now, but earlier this week his kidnapper told your dad he was going to come for you. That’s the main reason Loren wants you safe.” Brent paused. “My job is to keep the kidnapper from you.”
“Okay,” I was trying to wrap my head around this new information. “So my dad’s kidnapper wants me, and he is going to come and find me. That is why I have to stay safe?” I clarified. So this was new, but I still felt like there was something Brent was keeping from me.
“Yes,” Brent paused. “Loren is sort of mad at your dad for bringing him into this situation, but that doesn’t really matter anymore.”
“Thank you Brent,” I understood now, and I had no more questions. But Brent was still keeping something from me.
“Okay then. I think that is it for right now, Thomas you can leave. Sam, I don’t care what you do, but I’m going to leave. I have to get ready for tomorrow. Goodnight Cat.” Brent bent down and kissed my lips gently. He left without saying another word. Thomas left the room too.
“You okay, Catherine,” Sam asked.
“Yeah, I think so,” I replied. I leaned towards him and put my head on his shoulder. He put his arm around me and pulled me closer.
“I’m sorry about everything, mostly about your dad, and getting you into this. I know I didn’t really have a lot to do with it, but I still feel bad for you.”
“Its okay, Sam. Please, don’t worry about it.”
“Okay, I won’t. I promise.” Sam’s arm around me tightened and I never felt safer. I liked this Sam, the sweet side.
“Can we go up to you room and talk please,” Sam asked.
“Yeah, sure.” I replied.
We both stood up and walked up the stairs. When we got to my room I sat on my desk chair and Sam stood by my window.
“Are you nervous for tomorrow,” Sam asked me.
“No, I don’t think so,” I said.
“You shouldn’t be. There is nothing for you to worry about.”
“Are you nervous?”
“No, not really. I think that Brent has is under control. “
It was silent for awhile and Sam walked over to me and pulled me towards him. He hugged me and then pulled me with him towards my window.
“Do you know what I would like before we go to Italy,” Sam asked. I barely had to think.
“Yes,” I mumbled. He wanted a kiss, but I wasn’t going to give him one. I felt bad already for kissing him while going out with Brent. I don’t think that I would be able to tell Brent again. Brent trusted Sam. If Brent didn’t trust Sam, he wouldn’t have left Sam at my house alone.
“What’s wrong,” Sam asked.
“I can’t do that to Brent,” I said.
“Brent doesn’t have to know.”
“It doesn’t matter, Sam. I don’t want to kiss you.”
“Katie, I know how much you liked it the first time, stop lying to me.”
“I can’t do it, Sam.” I tried to step away, but Sam pulled me closer to him.
“Katie, tell me the truth. Who do you like kissing more?” Sam had his hands on either side of my face. He was looking deep into my eyes.
“You.” I paused. “But that doesn’t matter.”
“Why not?” Sam asked, throwing his arms in the air.
“It just doesn’t.”
“Katie, you’re lying to yourself again.”
“No, I am not!” Sam gave me a questioning look. “Okay, fine, maybe a little.” I gave Sam a small smile.
“I’ll take that. Now, will you please kiss me?”
“No!”
“Why not? You know how much you like it.”
“That does not matter! My boyfriend is Brent, not you.” Our conversation was going in circles.
“Brent doesn’t have to know, Katie.” Sam ensured me. I gave up. I pulled myself away from Sam and walk towards my desk.
Sam grabbed my arm, and put it around his neck. Then, he pulled me close to him. His arms tightened around me, and I could barely move. I tried to get away.
“Struggling is going to get you nowhere. I would’ve thought that you’d learned by now. If you kiss me, I will let you go.”
“I don’t want to kiss you.”
“You’re lying to yourself again.” Sam tightened his arms again, and closed his eyes. I could barely breath.
I had no choice but to kiss him. He was right; I did want to kiss him, very badly. That’s why I was worried.
I stopped struggling, and he opened his eyes.
“Ready?” He asked, smiling.
“No,” I replied.
Sam’s arms around me loosened enough for me to reach on my toes to get to his mouth.
I kissed Sam barely on the lips, but his hand moved up my back and to my neck. His hands forced me closer to him. There was no going back now. I put my other arm around his neck. My stomach was in butterflies, and I didn’t want to stop, but I had to.
I started to back away, but he followed me. I tried to push Sam away with my hands, but he was too strong. I tried to move away from him again, but he wasn’t buying it.
One of my hands left his neck and rested at my side. I kept the other hand at his neck and waited for him to stop. One of his hands left my neck and grabbed the hand at my side. He obviously didn’t like it there. He raised his arm so that my hand was on his shoulder, and then his hand rested on my back, pushing us closer again. His touch was soft. I could barely feel him touching me. His movements were subtle, but rough enough for me to listen.
I was done kissing him, now. I took the hand, that was at his neck the whole time and punched him in the stomach, like I did the other time. He stopped kissing me, finally.
I was mad. I was not counting on that. Yeah, it was nice, but it was bad. I just made out with someone who isn’t my boyfriend.
“What’s wrong,” Sam asked, out of breath.
“I was trying to stop and you wouldn’t let me,” I replied.
“I wasn’t done.”
“Were you ever?” I asked throwing my hands in the air.
“Yes I was going to be done. Now, come back here,” Sam said. I was on the other side of my bedroom and his bad side was coming out.
“No,” I replied.
“Katie get back here, or else I won’t let your brother come with us to Italy.”
I slowly walked over to Sam. I was scared he was going to grab me and start kissing me again.
“I’m not going to do anything.” Sam sounded too innocent.
I kept walking and when I got to him he put his arms out.
“All I want is a hug Kate.”I gave him a quick hug and he kissed me on my forehead. “Was it really that bad,” Sam asked me.
“No, but I’m still mad,” I replied.
“I’m sorry Katie, you’re right. I shouldn’t have made you kiss me when you have a boyfriend. You are just so hard not to like. I want to kiss you whenever I see you.”
“Yeah, you should be sorry.”
“Can I at least kiss you on the cheek?”
“No! I don’t want you to touch me,” I snapped.
“Katie, you can’t do that to me!”
“I just did.”I turned around and reached for the door.
Sam’s hand grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. His hand was still resting on my shoulder.
“I told you not to-” Sam interrupted me. He pushed me up against my door and began kissing me again. I kissed him back for a short time before I realized what I was doing. I pushed as hard as I could on Sam’s chest. I tried moving my head, but Sam kept it still with both of his hands.
I pushed again and this time he stopped. His lips were still less than an inch from mine, though.
“I told you-” Sam cut me off and began kissing me again.
I then realized he was going to keep kissing me until I stopped talking. I pushed him away and didn’t talk.
“You learn fast,” Sam said. I was still pinned up against the door. Sam wasn’t touching me but his arms were on either side of my body.
“Now, I am going to ask you a few questions, and I want you to answer them by nodding your head. That’s it.” I nodded my head. “Did you enjoy the first kiss?” I nodded my head. “What about the second?” I shook my head. “Are you mad at me?” I nodded my head up and down until his hands stopped it.
Sam backed away and reached his hands towards me. I began walking towards him without speaking. Sam was smiling at me.
When I reached him, I gave him a hug. “You can talk now,” Sam said.
I had nothing to say. Sam changed my feelings from mad ones to happy ones with three simple questions and a hug.
“I only have one thing to ask,” I said.
“Anything Katie,” Sam replied. We were still hugging.
“Please don’t make me tell Brent.”
“Katie, I won’t make you tell him. He doesn’t ever have to know.”
“Thank you, Sam.”
“You’re welcome Catherine.” I backed away from Sam. “I should probably go, shouldn’t I?”
“Probably,” I said walked to the bedroom door.
“Okay, well goodnight Katie. Sorry about tonight, I will see you tomorrow morning,” Sam said.
“Goodnight Sam, I’ll see you in the morning. Bye.”
“Bye, Katie,” Sam said as he left my room and walked downstairs.
My mind was racing. I didn’t know what to do. I had never been in this situation. Maybe I should talk to Margaret, but I won’t see her until I get back. Could I talk to Thomas?
I was convinced that Brent was still hiding something from me. I meant to ask him about it, but he never gave me a chance. I knew for sure that Sam wasn’t hiding something, and I am pretty sure that he hasn’t caught onto Brent. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Brent wasn’t hiding anything from us.
My mind was going crazy. I couldn’t control it whatsoever. The only way to control my mind was to go to bed. So, I decided to lay down. Tomorrow was going to be crazy too, so it was best that I went to bed. I lay in my room for awhile before I actually fell asleep. My brain still didn’t want to relax.
When I finally did fall asleep, I slept like a rock. I never woke up and I don’t remember dreaming.
Chapter 26
My alarm was brutal on Wednesday morning. I didn’t pay attention to it, until my phone started ringing too. I looked at my phone. Brent was calling me.
“Hello,” I asked.
“Good morning Cat! How did you sleep,” Brent seemed wide awake.
“Pretty good. You?”
“Good! Are you ready to go?”
“Yup. I just have to get dressed. When are you and Sam going to pick us up?”
“In about 15 minutes.”
“Okay!”
I rushed out of bed. I already packed and gave my suitcase to Brent, so I didn’t have to worry about that. The only thing I had to do, was get myself ready.
I got dressed and did my hair. I was walking down the stairs when the door bell rang. Thomas was already downstairs when I got the door. I opened the door and Sam was standing in the doorway.
“Good morning Catherine,” Sam sounded so happy.
“Good morning Sam,” I answered, almost as happy.
“Good morning,” Thomas told Sam.
“Are you guys both ready,” Sam asked me.
“Yeah, I think so,” I replied. I walked over to the stair well and said goodbye to my mom. She was sad to see my go, but knew that I was going to be okay, especially if Thomas was coming with us. She didn’t know the real reason we were go
ing, or even where we were going. My mom thought that we were going to New York to visit some old friends.
We left the house as soon as possible. Thomas and I were very excited and I think that Sam and Brent were too. Our trip could be very dangerous, but it could be fun too.
As we drove to the airport, Brent went over the agenda for the next couple of days. I was sitting in front of the car and Sam and Thomas were in the back. Brent’s black Porsche was the nicest car I have ever been in. I was almost scared to touch it. Whenever I was in the car I just sat; nothing else.
I didn’t realize that we were at the airport until Brent’s car turned off. I hopped out of the car and grabbed by bag.
“You ready to go?” Brent asked me.
“Yeah, I think so,” I replied.
We all walked towards the elevator. No one was talking. I don’t know why, but I guess there was nothing to talk about.
The airport was actually very busy. We had to wait in line for 30 minutes before we even got through security. We chatted in line, and finalized our plan for the next couple of days.
We made it through security and we were now waiting by our gate. The plane was supposed to be here any minute. Brent and Thomas just left to go to the bathroom leaving Sam and I alone.
“So, how did u sleep last night?” Sam asked me, breaking the silence.
“Good, I guess, you?” I didn’t really want to talk to Sam about last night.
“Pretty good. I missed you though.”
“Yeah,”
“Katie? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I guess I just feel bad about last night.”
“Kate, you don’t need to feel bad. There is nothing wrong with what happened.”
“Sam, are you blind? I kissed you, twice, and I have a boyfriend! And that boyfriend is definitely not you!”
“Katie, I thought we talked about this.”
“That was before you made me kiss you. I think you brain washed me or something.”
“No, I talked some sense into you. The only thing that you did wrong last night was lie to yourself. You knew that you wanted to kiss me, but you just kept on denying it!”