Gunslinger

“Are you assholes on a picnic or something ?”
Johnny grinned at Ana, the voice on the end of the phone sounded weary but the fucker was alive and that was the best news he had been given all day. Matt caught his eye, a trace on the phone in progress as he slumped down on the sofa in relief. They really should have picked someone harder to cage in.
“Gates, you ok ?”
“I’m a little fucked up but I have a shitload of information and nobody knows I’m free yet.”
Johnny nodded, Zacky had appeared in the doorway, still looking a little annoyed but Jimmy had already passed him car keys and now he was ready to go get his twin. Dani was gathering up firearms as they all listened to Johnny.
“Get the fuck out of there.”
“Not yet. Make the meet with Mysenko and get Zacky to me. We can make a mess here and draw in the authorities before he realises what hit him.”
Johnny grimaced but relayed instructions to Zacky and Dani, he would send them along with Ana to help Gates while he took Matt and Jimmy along to meet the mobster. The man wanted a meeting, he would get one. Danielle hated being out of action, it was beyond frustrating but she accessed all the cctv around Gates’s position and agreed to relay information about activity there and wherever Johnny set up his meet.
“What about me ?”
Charlotte looked a little disgruntled, the talk with Zacky had been a little heated and confusing, especially the kiss that ended it and now the news that Syn had got free made her hope that Zacky may forgive her. Ana winked at her and looked at Zacky and Johnny.
“She can shoot straight, send her with us.”
Zacky growled and aimed a slap at the back of Ana’s head before grabbing Charlotte’s hand and pulling her with them. Matt kissed Dani hard, his quiet words of love followed by a be careful as he handed her the address of Syn’s location. Johnny was already talking to the mobster, his words clipped and calm as he arranged a meeting. There was nothing in his voice to give away that the advantage had already left the Russian and Zacky grinned as he closed the door.
“Let’s go get the asshole and then we need to talk.”
Dani smirked, handing Charlie the spare luger and watching as she and Ana exchanged a glance. She had known the twins a long time and really wouldn’t have fancied being on the receiving end of that conversation. Both men had a temper, the man in front of her tended to slow burn while Gates was explosive but the end result was the same. She sauntered along to the car and took the front seat as Ana tried the number that Gates had given her. Where he had got it and who’s cell phone it was hardly mattered.
“Hey sexy, are you bruised up ?”
“Yes and no, you ain’t licking me. You lied to me…”
Ana winced, trying not to show Zacky and she half turned, looking out the back window of the car as they sped along icy streets. This was one conversation she had been hoping to save till later. Charlotte saw the hesitation and glanced away. Things were still on tenterhooks and now none of them trusted her.
“I can explain. Where are you and how do you want to do this.”
Syn smiled painfully to himself, the usual dodging tactics but she was right, it could wait. He had the phone to one ear, the other still listened into the security patrol and he was amazed that it had been half an hour and nobody had checked on the missing man and the prisoner. He had found Mysenko’s office and grabbed everything he thought might help them and was now propped behind a tree near the back fence and feeling every bruise.
“Two cars out front. Got anything explosive ?”
Ana handed the phone to Zacky, he had the bag at his feet as Dani drove and she could hear the relief in his voice as he spoke to his buddy. The tracking data in the sat nav said they were still thirty minutes out and the traffic was getting heavier as the snow continued to fall. Charlotte and Ana kept watch for any signs of trouble, both of them starting to run on adrenaline.
“Jimmy packed us some decent stuff. We can blow both.”
“Good, then get around the back and I’ll make a break for it.”
Zacky turned to Ana, the concern at the breathless pained voice clear on his face. He didn’t like that he and Charlotte were in trouble or that she had lied but he knew that she had never been good at lying to him and the fear for Syn was clear on her face. Whatever else might be an issue, they were both terrified that he was badly hurt.
“Hang in there baby, thirty minutes to evac.”
He handed the phone back to Ana and quietly told Dani to put her foot down. The other woman complied, all of them in the car going quiet as Ana made notes on a scrap of paper as to where Syn thought he was in relation to the house. Abruptly the call ended and she swore loudly.
“We need to find him Zack. He’s hurt bad and if they find him…”
Charlotte grabbed Ana’s hand and even Zacky’s expression softened a little. They all counted the minutes, Dani’s skill and the satnav shaving off the minutes until the huge estate came into view. As Syn had said two large BMW’s blocked the gates and Zacky counted two guards beyond that. The homing signal now only gave them the estate and none of them dared ring Gates again so they drove past and around the corner. Zacky checked his gun was loaded and looked at the three women.
“Dani, blow the cars. Charlie, get in the driving seat and be ready. Ana and me will go look for Syn. Stay in communication and be ready to leave quickly.”
Charlotte climbed into the vacant seat as Dani tucked two small semtex bombs into her pocket and sauntered to the corner to look at the two cars again. The cover was reasonable and it would be possible to get close enough to the wall to sneak up to the first, the car itself providing natural cover to the second. She watched Zacky and Ana stroll towards the opposite corner and disappear before watching the roads. The snowfall and mid-afternoon hour meant few people were around and she timed the guards routine for ten minutes before making her move.
Dani pulled up her collar and moved across the road, the large hat helping hide her features and cut out the bitter wind as she stuck close to the wall. Breathing deeply helped her focus, the calculated warrior coming out as she crouched down and placed the magnetic device under the wheel arch of the expensive car. Jimmy’s designs were always so neat it seemed a shame to actually blow them and the thought made her smile as she placed the second and glanced at her watch. It took another three minutes for the guard to pass and then she headed back the way she came and crossed over. To anyone looking it would seem that she was pulling the hat lower against the snow as she quietly spoke to Zacky.
“We’re on.”
“Do it.”
Ana pointed out another gap in the wall, this one a small metal gate as the ground shook and both of them crouched down. The explosions were huge, metal and fire raining over the front of the building and two huge plumes of smoke riding up as alarms started to sound and everything seemed to happen at once. They could hear people running and instantly Zacky was at the metal, using snips to take out the padlock. If it was alarmed it was lost in the din as Ana dialled Syn and bit her lip until she heard an answer.
“Metal gate, can you see us ?”
“No but I know where…”
“Stay there, we will come to you.”
Zacky pulled the phone away from her, he understood why Ana was ready to rush in but he needed to know that they were not walking into a trap. If Syn had been spotted it would be easy to pick the rescuers off the minute they walked into the garden. Another explosion rocked the house as he checked around.
“Start walking, where are you ?”
Syn willed his numb legs to walk, the thin shirt woefully inadequate against the below zero temperatures as he stumbled towards where the gate was. It was to his right and along, hie eyes darting as he listened to the chaos at the front. It seemed like an eternity until he felt strong arms go under his shoulder and he turned to see Zacky supporting him. The two men rested their heads together in silent greeting as the shorter man helped him walk faster and they made it out the back. Ana quickly assisted, her hands feeling warm against Syn’s back and chest as he kissed her forehead.
“Dani ? Charlie ?”
Dani’s voice came through and Zacky felt his calm restored.
“In the car, Jimmy sure knows how to make a mess. Half that fucking wall came down.”
“Come down Netvsly Street. We got Gates but he’s in a bad way.”
Charlotte didn’t like the worry in Zacky’s turn and surprised Dani with a calculated handbrake turn that sent them speeding towards the back of the estate. There was a growing respect between them, Dani knew from what Ana had said that Mysenko’s brothel was a hell on earth and surviving that let alone being smart enough to pull off getting into the university and Ana’s madness was not going to be managed by a weak person. Charlie liked that Dani hadn’t judged, merely listened and now was willing to work with her and show some trust. It meant a lot.
More and more cars sped past them the other way and it took Dani a couple of minutes to spot where Zacky and Ana were lurking in the trees. By now Syn was on the verge of passing out and it took both of them to push him into the back and sandwich him between them. Charlotte didn’t wait, stepping on the gas again as Zacky and Ana wrapped Syn in blankets and huddled close to him, Ana nervously touching the bruising to his face and getting a weak smile.
“It looks worse…”
“Shut the fuck up, does not look worse than it feels so don’t lie.”
Syn smiled and gave in to unconsciousness, he liked being warmed by their bodies pressed against him, felt safe. Zacky called Danielle for an update and was told in quiet control that Johnny was meeting Mysenko on the other side of town. Whether news of the explosion would reach him before they got out of there it was hard to say but Zacky doubted the mobster would admit to losing his leverage.
“How is he ?”
Dani took in all the bruising and cuts, the guy could sure take a pounding but the hint of blue at his lips was worrying and Ana saw it. She smiled a little and clutched her friends shoulder.
“He’s frozen, I think he’ll be ok once we get him warm and take a look at him.”
“Tough fucker as always.”
Zackt grinned at that and at Charlotte, her face lighting up at his expression. He liked that, he also knew that he would enjoy the punishment he had in mind. He didn’t like the lies but he was in love with her and now it would be fun to see if there was anything else she hadn’t admitted to. His eyes narrowed when he looked at Ana and he found himself having some interesting ideas on that front too.
“He’s gonna want to know about you two and what you told us.”
Ana smirked, reading his mind and then hugging both men closer. One step nearer her goal, one step nearer the payday as she pulled files out from under Syn’s shirt. Soon everything would be coming up her way and then nothing would stop her from burying her enemies and going home.

Notes