Fake Reflection

The ride to the destination was quiet. It didn’t take an hour to get there, but that was the plan. Matt looked confused at the street name when Brian turned down the road they needed to be on. “Is this dumb son of bitch doing the exchange at their house?” he asked looking at the address on the GPS. Sure enough it was the address he listed as their residence. “Park around the corner,” he told Brian, “Fucking idiot.” he finished at a mumble, shaking his head. You don’t do exchanges at your house. You do it somewhere you can see everything. Matt likes his old highway in the desert. You can see any car coming to you from any direction, miles away.

Brian turned the corner, and killed the engine. “Jarrett,” Matt called out looking back to Shane, “Stay here with Frank. When I tell you, pull the car around to the front of the house,” he said tossing a walkie back to him, “Then move so Gates can drive.” Matt ordered as he opened his door. “Yes sir.” Shane said moving up a seat to sit next to Frank. He had an idea. Dan and Cam never spilled anything about what goes on. When he can get them to talk, it’s never anything useful. Maybe he can get something out of Frank.

The guys filed out of the SUV. Brian left the keys in the ignition for Shane. With a pause, Jacoby took one last studying look at Shane. He knows he has seen him before, but he just can’t figure it out. He knew it wasn’t recently, but he knows he has. Letting out a small sigh, he shut the door, and joined the others. It’ll come to him eventually if he just stopped thinking about it.

Shane pulled out his phone when the guys disappeared around the corner. Frank sat silently staring and his shaking hands in his lap, not paying attention to the man next to him. Shane started a voice recording on his phone, and placed it next to him on the seat. He turned to the scared man, “Your name’s Frank?” Shane asked startling the man a little. He gave him a nervous nod. “You don’t have to be afraid of me.” he tried to assure him. Frank just looked at him with worried eyes. “Why are you so scared?” Shane asked. “I’m just worried about my wife.” Frank whispered. “Does Avenged Sevenfold have her?” he questioned further. Frank shook his head. He knew who he was asking about. As soon as the man said his name was Shadows, he knew. Frank has heard stories, good and bad. “They’re trying to save her.” he told him. Shane furrowed his brow in confusion. Why the hell would they try to save her? “Why are they helping you?” he asked. “I don’t know,” Frank said with a shake of his head, “The man that brought me said something on the phone about rules being broken.” he said looking at Shane, visibly calmer than before. Again confusion washed over Shane's face. Rules? What kind of criminals follow rules? How fucking organized were these people? “Who has your wife?” Shane questioned. “A man named Ivan.” Frank whispered getting nervous again. Shane has never heard this name before. “Is he part of a gang?” Frank nodded. “Do you know the name?” Shane asked. “Five Finger Death Punch, I think.” he told him. This wasn’t a gang Shane has heard of yet. They must be new. “Never heard of them.” he mumbled shutting off his phone, and putting it in his pocket. This wasn’t exactly the information he was looking for. They were criminals, not good Samaritans.

The guys stopped a house away on the side walk. “Jacoby, you and Gates go to the back door.” Matt ordered. “Rev, Vengeance, you’re with me,” he said turning, and walking towards the house, “We’re going through the front fucking door.” he said low. Brian and Jacoby cut through the neighbors yard to the back of the house. The FFDP house was no Avenged mansion, but they didn’t have that kind of money yet. Matt walked ahead of Jimmy and Zack, up the stairs to the front door. He brought his foot up to the door, and with one hard kick, it went flying open, almost coming off the hinges.

Jeremy and Jason were sitting in the living room when Matt came storming through the door. They quickly stood, “Sit the fuck down.” Jimmy hissed as both him and Zacky shot the two with tasers. They collapsed to the floor, convulsing, as the electricity flowed through them. “Hit the button on the side.” Zacky told Jimmy with a smirk. Jimmy returned his smirk, and looked down at the men. He hit the little red button on the side of the taser gun, and the wires quickly retracted back into the gun. Jeremy and Jason let out cries of pain, when the prongs took flesh with them. “I like this.” Jimmy said with a grin looking at Zacky, who returned his grin with a nod.

“IVAN MOODY GET YOUR FUCKING ASS OUT HERE!!” Matt’s voice boomed as he stormed further into the house. Chris heard the commotion from the kitchen, and he took off down the hall towards the back door. He knew it was a bad idea to break the rules, but nobody would listen to him. Jacoby and Brian came up to the back door, and Jacoby peeked through the window. “There’s a guy running this way.” he told Brian. An evil smirk crossed Brian’s face, and he stood in front of the door, “Say when.” he said, Jacoby catching on right away. He watched the guy run down the hall looking behind him. “Now.” he said. Brian kicked the door in, and Chris, not paying attention, collided with it. Brian and Jacoby laughed as he fell to the floor, hitting his head hard enough to loose consciousness.

Ivan and Zoltan sat in the basement with Frank’s restrained wife. They took off up the stairs at the sound of Shadows voice. Ivan threw open the door, and seen Gates and someone else he didn’t know, standing over an unconscious Chris, laughing. “What the fuck is going on here?!” he snapped moving towards them. The basement door slammed shut behind them, and the two men jumped, turning to face a furious Shadows. “You’re breaking my fucking rules, THAT’S what’s going on!” Matt barked as he closed the distance, and slammed Ivan against the wall. “Where’s the woman?” he hissed. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” Ivan lied. Matt smirked, letting go of him, and rocking him hard in the jaw. Ivan fell to the floor, and Matt stood over him. “I’ll ask you again,” he said glaring down at him, “Where the fuck is she?” he asked bending down. “Fuck you.” Ivan spat, climbing to his feet.

Matt turned to Jimmy and Zacky behind him, and motioned towards the door Ivan and Zoltan came out of. The two disappeared through the door, and Matt turned to face Ivan in time to receive a cheap shot to the mouth. Matt stumble backwards to the floor, and Ivan advanced on him. Matt laid back, and put his foot out, flipping Ivan over him, and on to the floor. Brian and Jacoby stood, with guns on Zoltan, and smirks on their faces. He was going to get it now. Matt leaped to his feet from his back, and wiped a little blood from his lip. He kicked Ivan hard in the side of the ribs before crouching over his chest, and grabbing his shirt. Matt punched Ivan in the nose, the crunch echoing through the hall. He punched him again, and again, and again, till his mouth was bloody, and one of his eyes was swollen shut. Matt took Ivan’s shirt into both hands, “You broke my rules, and now you suffer the consequences,” he seethed, landing another punch, “Innocents are not allowed to be used, and now you forfeit everything that man owed you. Do you understand me?” he asked yanking the man closer to his face.

Ivan let out a sadistic chuckle, and spit blood in Matt’s face, “Obviously not.” Matt said just before head butting him in his already broken nose. Jimmy and Zacky came through the door with a scared and slightly beaten woman. Matt looked up, rage flashing in his eyes at the sight of her bruised, and swollen face. “You come near this family again,” Matt started yanking him back up again, “And I will put a bullet in you. You break another one of MY rules again, and I will put a bullet in you. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!” he barked in Ivan’s face. He landed a few more punches to make sure it was clear to him. Matt released him when he received a weak, and defeated nod. “Pull the car up.” he said into his walkie as he stood from Ivan.

Matt walked over to the scared woman with Jimmy and Zack, “What’s your name?” he asked softening his expression. “Maria.” she whispered. Matt nodded and took her shaking hand in his, “Come on,” he said with a soft smile, “Your husband is waiting.” he said leading her to the front door, giving Ivan one last kick as he stepped over him. Shane pulled up to the front of the house, and quickly climbed into the back. As soon as Frank saw them walk out, he was out of the SUV with Maria in his arms. Kisses were placed all over her face as he held her tight, whispering apologies in her ear. Matt watched the reunited couple for a moment, feeling a slight ping in his heart as they stared lovingly into each others eyes. He’s felt it before seeing Brian and Tammy. The way they stare at each other sometimes like nobody else is around them, seeing no one but each other. He missed that. With a sad heavy sigh, he walked towards them, and placed a hand on Frank’s shoulder. “Let’s get you two home.”

Notes

I don't think he'll learn....