AN: Nikette, as always thank you for being such a loyal reader and reviewing throughout all these years! I wish FF would let me type a heart emoji. Seriously, it means so much. Thank you Jirozaemon for the review, I'm glad it has you enthralled! Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review. I began this fic when I was a teenager, and it's crazy to see that people still enjoy reading it (looking at you Nikette)

I really enjoy writing this story. Some shout outs may be missing from previous chapters, as I went back and uploaded revised versions of them. It's the same story, I just really wanted to flesh out the characters and their motivations a bit better. I really like climbing into Jackson, Lisa and Logan's heads. It's kind of fun to explore what may motivate people to act like they do. I hope you all like what I've done with it, and I hope ya'll keep reading and reviewing. Blanket shoutout to everyone who's taken the time to read and review! Anyways…

Lisa gasped as her windpipe began to constrict. She clawed desperately at Logan's strong arms. Panic was beginning to consume her, and threatened to swallow her whole, as her lungs screamed for oxygen. Her movements were jerky as she tried to grab Logan's wrists, only to be easily pushed away.

It was a horrible feeling.

Here she was again, at another's mercy. Completely helpless, with her autonomy stripped away. Her fate was entirely dependent on the whims of the stronger person overpowering her. Her wants, her needs, her desperate need of oxygen, none of them mattered to Jackson, nor to the vicious, conflicted woman squeezing her throat.

Lisa was nothing in that moment. Her life meant nothing to these people. It could all end, right now. Logan could easily kill her. And as she tugged and pushed at Logan's forearms, she realized with a sinking horror that she was utterly powerless to stop her. She had no say in her own fate.

It was all so devastatingly familiar.

In the Fresh Air bathroom, she had been completely helpless, with Jackson's calloused hand crushing her windpipe, as he chastised her for fighting back, berated her efforts to resist his commands, taunted her. She could do nothing but cower as he boxed her into the cramped, suffocating lavatory and cupped her face tightly in his strong hands. He had invaded her space and demanded her complete and utter subordination. And Lisa could do nothing about it.

In the parking lot, so many years ago, she had been completely helpless. Unable to scream or fight, for fear of her assailant making good on his threat to sink his knife into her neck. In that moment, Lisa had no control over her life. Her bigger, stronger assailant had stolen that from her.

It was a tragic pattern. One Lisa had never put together until now. As her eyes began to water, she wondered ruefully if her final moments on this earth would be spent helpless and overpowered.

Her wide eyes caught Logan's briefly. There was a detached menace in her brown eyes that Lisa could not bear to look at. She wondered wildly what would happen if she gave in, if she complied to Jackson's demands. Would she wind up as soulless as Logan?

Her gaze hurriedly flickered toward Jackson. He was half leaning against the back of the couch. His hand was stuck at the knot of his tie as he looked on, his face pulled in a seemingly calm, yet tight expression.

Lisa locked onto his cerulean eyes.

For a split second, Lisa could see the same tenderness she had witnessed only minutes before.

It was a pattern with Jackson. Split seconds of humanity followed by violent outburst and verbal abuse. Only moments ago, Jackson had kissed her passionately. He had held her tightly in his strong, protective arms and clutched her safely against his hard chest. Lisa, utterly exhausted, had finally felt she could let her guard down. If only for a minute. After days of stress, uncertainty, violence, and bondage, Lisa had felt safe. It was a beautiful inkling, a brief respite in the midst of so much violence and confusion.

And then, once again, Jackson changed.

Night and day, Jekyll and Hyde, just like on the Fresh Air flight. He had lured her in with his sweet word, his charm, only to slap her down the moment the wheels were off the ground.

Lisa kept her eyes locked onto him. She couldn't stop Logan from doing whatever she planned to do, but she could sure as hell make sure Jackson watched it happen. With his sick twisted sense of 'ownership' over her, she knew her death would affect him in some small way. And that gave her some sense of power.

Lisa's chest burned, hungry for air, and her vision was beginning to dim, but she kept her angry and pleading eyes on him.

Jackson returned her gaze. A part of his heart ached, as he watched Lisa writhe in pain. She looked so hurt, so betrayed. And he knew he had caused it.

Though he retained his composure, he felt a gnawing pang of guilt bubbling in his throat. He quickly pushed it back down, and a righteous sense of rationalizing anger took its place.

Lisa had to learn how to take orders. Especially in front of his company agents. In fact, if she had just followed Jackson's damn orders in the first place on that red eye, the two of them wouldn't even be in this mess. His bitter thoughts brought a resentful scowl to his face.

If only Lisa had listened to him, she would be home now, safe. It was Lisa's fault she was here now, indebted to his company, her life hanging in the balance. It was her fault that he had to punish her. If she had just agreed to the very simple terms he had laid out for her, everything would be fine. Her family would have been safe, she would have been safe. And the company would have never bothered her again. Jackson would never had had to think of her again.

But she just had to fight.

He bit the inside of his lip as an uncomfortable truth caught up with him. Who was Jackson kidding? Even if all had gone according to plan, Jackson would have seen her again. He would have found some reason. Any reason.

He clenched his fist quietly at his side as this uncomfortable truth washed over him. He had feelings for Lisa. Of course he did. But the feelings weren't solely rage and vengeance. And Jackson felt a deep resentment build in his chest as shame washed over him. Irrational feelings of caring, guilt, affection, these had no place in his heart or his line of work.

His shame gave way to anger as he took a step toward her. Her pained, angry expression only filled him with a deeper rage. How dare she try to make him feel bad for something she caused!

"Can't…breathe…" Lisa coughed. "Can't…breathe…"

Jackson felt a pang of guilt as he thought back to the Fresh Air flight, to the terrified expression on her face as he noticed the shameful scar, a testament to her worst experience. It was hidden in plain sight. The smallest mark, yet such a large meaning.

Jackson swallowed as he shook away the brief twinges of empathy and began to rationalize the situation. The facts were simple. Clear cut.

Jackson had saved Lisa's life. He had to punish her because she refused to follow basic instructions. Anyone else in his company would do the same or worse. And now, here she was, refusing another simple, clear cut, mutually beneficial offer. An offer to regain the power she had lost in the parking lot. And in front of Logan no less. Jackson had no choice but to hurt her. Jackson never had any choice but to hurt her. Lisa made him hurt her.

Jackson took a deep breath as the warmth of his twisted logic washed over him. Jackson dealt in facts, not emotions. And these were the facts.

Right?

He shook the uncertainty from his head. Right now, his reasoning had to be right. Jackson wasn't sure he could face himself if they were not. He swallowed the burgeoning sense of shame in his chest and slowly exhaled. He was doing what he had to do. For his survival, and for Lisa's. He unclenched his fist, and moved into a casual lean against the back of the sofa. He calmly surveyed Lisa with a cool demeanor.

"Logan," He drew out the woman's name softly. "Let her go, darling. I think she's learned her lesson."

Logan turned her head toward Jackson and pouted, but a stern look from Jackson was enough to elicit an eye-roll followed by compliance. Logan released Lisa and sighed in disappointment.

Lisa inhaled a loud, deep gulp of air as her knees buckled beneath her. She collapsed onto her hands and knees, lightheaded and nauseous. Her eyelids were leaden, and her throat burned as she gasped hungrily for air. Splotches of brown appeared at the edge of her vision and threatened to encapsulate her. Lisa closed her eyes and did her best to steady her heaving breath, desperate to stave off unconsciousness.

Logan watched hatefully as Jackson took a step toward Lisa's crumpled form.

"I imagine you feel pretty hopeless right now. Pretty desperate." Jackson towered over her, feeling a mixture of guilt and satisfaction as he watched her writhe. "Imagine how the women Tamarin kidnapped feel."

Lisa could hear his smooth voice washing over her as her vision slowly began to clear. His words were biting, as once again he saw past her defenses and peered at her pain. He was playing on what he knew about her. And Lisa hated that he knew so much about her.

Jackson squatted down, so that he was level with Lisa. She was still on all fours, struggling to regain her breath. She kept her head bowed to avoid his gaze.

"You know, Lisa, I'm offering you an opportunity to learn how to fight back. Imagine never feeling this helpless ever again." He reached a hand tenderly toward her cheek, but she slapped it away clumsily. Jackson sighed. She was a fighter to the end. He reached in again, dodging her attempts to keep him at bay and cupped his fingers beneath her chin.

He forced her head upwards, and Lisa held back her tears as he forced her to look at him. She was too weak to fight back, and he knew it. His piercing blue eyes were fixed on hers, and he could see all of the pain, all of the hurt, the helplessness, and the betrayal. And Lisa hated that he could. It wasn't his to see. But he didn't care.

"I can train you, Lisa. My company can train you. All you have to do is say yes."

Lisa cast her eyes downward as the magnitude of his offer hung over her. What would happen if she refused? Hell, what would happen to her if she agreed? Her eyes flickered toward Logan, who was watching her with a hungry, scornful look of malevolence. The look on Logan's face answered both of Lisa's questions, and offered no sense of solace as she contemplated the impossible choice before her.

Could she really take a life? Even the life of someone as vile as a human trafficker? Lisa's mind flickered back toward the parking lot, to her nameless rapist, his leering face, his smug sense of satisfaction as he overpowered her. She thought back to her fear, her frustration, her helplessness, and the sickening realization that he was still out there. She wondered how many more women he had attacked. With a heavy, shameful heart, her mind flickered toward the dark fantasies she had harbored of hunting him down. She briefly wondered with a deep sense of guilt if not acting on these fantasies had led to more women being hurt.

Jackson's words hung heavy in her ears.

"Imagine never feeling this helpless again."

Lisa closed her eyes as his voice washed over her. It sounded so calm, so comforting, just as his arms had been mere moments ago. His voice beckoned her forward with its soft warmth, its soft promise to take her away from the physical pain and the inner turmoil, to ease the deep sense of helplessness that threatened to overcome her.

"All you have to do is say 'yes' Lisa." Jackson repeated softly, his voice a warm whisper. There was the slightest undertone of pleading in his voice, and Lisa shifted her gaze toward him, uncertain whether it was genuine.

Jackson stared back at her and used his free hand to gently tuck a strand of Lisa's dark hair behind her ear. To his surprise and relief, she let him.

Lisa closed her eyes again and shuddered at the confusing warmth of Jackson's now tender touch. He could shift so quickly between compassion and violence. Lisa wasn't sure which side of Jackson was real anymore, or if they were both simply parts of a very complicated whole. The aching in her throat made her cling desperately to the tender side he was now showing.

Lisa was so tired. She wanted nothing more than to just give in. Giving in would ensure she lived another day. It would ensure her family remained safe. It would give her a chance to get out of this wretched compound. And though she hated to admit to herself, part of her felt a strange pang of excitement at the thought of eliminating a man as evil as Tamarin from the world.

With a deep sigh, Lisa opened her eyes.

"Fine." She said at last. "I'll do it."