Hostage

Chapter 24 - Risking it

Jason and Zoey were standing outside on the patio. Jason lit a cigarette and puffed on the end, inhaling the deadly fumes, and blowing them out of his nose. Zoey never understood why Jason smoked, it was pointless. "When did you start smoking?" Zoey asked with her arms crossed, trying to keep her body warm. Jason held the cigarette in between his fingers. "I started smoking when I was eleven."
Harry was the one who actually introduced him to cigarettes.

"Don't start though, I wish I didn't smoke, but it calms me down a bit." The door swung open, Jack made his way over to where Zoey and Jason were. Jack reached into his pocket and got out a cigarette of his own. Zoey rolled her eyes to the back of her head and turned her back, facing away from him. Jason played it cool and nodded at him. "Need a light?" Jason asked bluntly. Jack reached into his pocket and lit his cigarette himself. Jack took a drag and blew out smoke into the air. "No, I got it."

It was silent for a minute or two. The awkwardness grew between them. "So, Jason..." Zoey began to get a little nervous on what her dad was going to say. The last time they were in each other's presence, they fought. "What do you plan on doing later on in life?" Jack already had an idea... In jail for the rest of his life before he is thirty. Jason swallowed his saliva and flicked the ashes onto the ground. "Well, I plan on... Taking care of your daughter for the rest of my life." Jason scratched the back of his neck. Jack emitted a brief laugh and shook his head. "You do know you have to have a job..." Jason clenched his jaw and sensed the tension in Jack.

"I realize that.... Sir." Jason hated calling anyone ma'am or sir. Especially to people he loathed, but he had to be nice to him since he is letting him date Zoey. Jack raised his eyebrows in waves and nodded. "I haven't gotten to really introduce myself, but I'm Jack." Jack reached out for Jason's hand. Jason remembered when Jack denied his handshake when they first met. He wanted to do the same, but he knew if he did, it would be hell to pay. Jason's hand met his, they both had a tight grip on each others hand. "I'm Jason McCann." Jason said in a raspy tone. Zoey turned around noticing that they were hand in hand. She knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. "I know who you are..."

"If you hurt my daughter... I will make sure I hurt you ten times worse." Jacks grip tightened as he spoke. He was tightly squeezing Jason's hand. Jason clenched his jaw at his words. Jack let go of his hands and flicked the cigarette at his feet, still lit and burning. Jason stared at the cigarette and had no emotion in his face.

Zoey took her fathers place as Jack walked back into the house. Zoey stepped on the lit cigarette putting it out the flame. Jason's hand was tinged red from her fathers grip. "This is exactly why I hate him..."

Jason curled in his lips. "Zoe, at least he is letting us date." Zoey rolled her eyes at his words. "Jason, he cheated on my mom and left us for another woman."

"Yeah, but you have to let that go, at least your father is trying to be in your life... Mine was a piece of shit who is out doing drugs and probably will never want to see me... He is probably in jail rotting."

Zoey felt bad for even saying anything, but she couldn't help for what she feels. "Jase.. I--"

"Don't, it's okay... I understand why you hate your dad, but don't take him for granted... One day you are going to wish you had him in your life... Bc even though sometimes I act like I don't give a fuck... I do."

Zoey reached her hand around Jason's back, and rested her hand on his shoulder. She pecked his cheek to show her affection. She could tell he was getting angry at the fact that he cared about his dad. "You know what you need?... A drink. You need to get out instead of just sitting here with me."

Jason raised his eyebrows looking into Zoey's eyes. "Drink? The last time I got drunk I almost got arrested for trying to have sex with the bartender on the bar table... I mean she was hot."
Zoey rolled her eyes at his words, jealousy took over her. Jason knew it would piss her off, he thought it was cute. "You are the one who said to get a drink so don't get pissed." Jason remarked with a slight smile.