Part 2 – Rescue
Upon arriving in Monte Carlo, Nick set about preparing him meeting Zack which started with him checking into a UAE-owned house that over-looked Monte Carlo, and the Monte Carlo Casino.
He also had backdoor access into the cameras mounted all around the city so he could track Zack's movements.
"What have you learned," Mathias asked over a video-conference with Nick as he was getting dressed about four days after he arrived in Monte Carlo.
"This guy is a robot," Nick said, "He doesn't deviate from his plans no matter what happens. He has breakfast every morning in the Casino's cafe. After breakfast, he goes to a private gym near the casino, and exercises from ten to two. He then goes back to the hotel to check on business, after spending two hours on business calls he heads downstairs to the casino, and stays there until closing."
"Do you have a plan?" Mathias asked.
"Yes," Nick said as he came out of the bathroom dressed in his black tuxedo, tying on a black bow-tie, "I'm going to the Casino, and take as much as I can from him."
"What do you think is going to happen?" Mathias asked.
"One of two things is going to happen," Nick said, "He's either going to buy me a drink or he's going to offer me a job."
"And who will that phone call be to?" Mathias asked.
"To his financial adviser," Nick said, "And if I know this asshole I know he's going to lose his mind once he loses his money, and with luck, I'll be listening in on that call."
"Good luck Wolf." Mathias said.
"Thank you sir," Nick said as he closed the computer.
Nick took the Equus to the casino, when he rolled up, several women at the casino were looking at him, and as the Valet took the Equus to go park it, Nick walked into the casino after sliding on the Aviators.
Once inside the casino, he started scanning the crowd, and right away the facial-recognition in the glasses picked up Zack at the Baccarat table, by the way the chips were being played he knew the game had a one hundred thousand buy-in followed by a quarter million rebuy.
Nick walked over to the chip-dealer, and held out a case of Euro Notes, "Half a million please sir." He said.
The chip-dealer handed Nick the chips, and after walking onto the floor, he walked up to the table but was stopped by the security.
"What's his deal?" Zack asked.
"Am I allowed to play this game?" Nick asked.
"How much can you bring?" Zack asked.
Nick held up the chips, "How much do you want to lose?" Nick asked.
"Let that cocky bastard inside." Zack said.
Nick walked over, and took his seat at the table, "The buy-in is one hundred thousand," the dealer said.
"I'm in," Nick said as he placed his half million in chips down on the table.
"Very well," Zack said, "You look familiar."
"I'm sorry you must be mistaken," Nick said, "I've never met you before."
"Sorry," Zack said as the dealer passed out the cards, "Shall we?"
Nick took his cards, and after giving a quick look, he placed five thousand on the table, "Five thousand." Nick said.
"Call," Zack said as he tossed another five grand on the table.
"Gentlemen," the dealer said, Zack tossed his cards down, five of hearts, and a king of spades, a hand value of five, "Five to Mr. Zack," the dealer said, Nick scooted his cards forward, and flipped them over, a two of spades, and a four of diamonds, a hand value of six, "Six for Mr…"
"Wolf," Nick said, "Dominque Wolf."
"Six for Mr. Wolf," the dealer said, "Mr. Wolf takes the hand."
After five more rounds, Nick had won two million and lost fifty thousand while Zack had won half a million but had lost one million, the rest came from the other gamblers.
"I must say Mr. Wolf," Zack said, "You certainty can play some Baccarat."
Zack got up and left as Nick gathered up his chips, and walked over to the bar.
Zack joined him a few seconds later as Nick ordered a Black Ferrari Cocktail, "Tell me Mr. Wolf, what do you do for a living?" Zack asked.
"Right now I'm between jobs," Nick said, "I used to work for an oil company but when their stock fell their company tanked, and I was left with the half mill I saved up, but now I have two mill, thanks to you and your friends."
"You want a job?" Zack asked.
"You hiring?" Nick asked.
Zack pulled out a card for Zack Enterprises International, "Give me a call." He said.
"Thank you," Nick said as he shook Zack's hand, the ring inserted the tracking-chip into the man's hand.
After walking out of the casino, and to the hotel, Zack pulled out his phone to contact his financial adviser.
After putting the money into his account, Nick found Zack's hotel room, and using the card he was given by David, he entered the man's room.
Zack had stepped out because the room was empty, but he had left behind several items, his phone book, and a ledger containing all his business transactions: he must have been broken up after losing his money because he'd never leave it there.
One of the transactions was for a 'dating service' delivery made to his villa in Austria, and that he also purchased several items from a bikini store, all in Tina Armstrong's measurements.
After putting away the ledger, he heard Zack outside the door, made it to the balcony edge right as the door was opening, and was over the edge and disappeared as soon as Zack walked into the room.
"I'm telling you I need to know about this guy," Zack said, "He comes out of nowhere, steals my money, and then runs," there was someone over the other line, "Alright! Alright! Alright! I'll be on the next plane back to Austria, I need to see if Tina's acting up again."
After walking back into the room, Nick who was hanging onto the bottom of the balcony dropped onto the ledge below him, snuck around to the back of the casino, and ran out to the Equus where he made a phone-call, "Wolf to command," Nick said, "Wolf to command, I have conformation that the Tiger has the meat, repeat the Tiger has the meat."
"Roger Wolf, you are cleared to pounce." Command said.
Nick raced the plane Zack was on through the south of France, Italy, and made it to the Austrian border right as Zack's plane touched down.
That night, Nick made it to the hills above Zack's estate several miles outside of Vienna, Zack had several guards patrolling his house's balcony armed with M4 assault rifles, two patrolling the forest around the villa with dogs, and several inside.
Using his car's x-ray scanner he saw that there were two patrolling the study, there was one guarding the door to the basement, and that there was a female tied up in the basement.
Nick knew that had to be Tina so he planned his attack.
After pulling his car into the woods just fifty feet from Zack's estate, hidden in the trees, Nick prepared his attack, his black Kevlar chest plate and pants were the first things to come on, followed by his steel-plated gloves, and face mask.
After he got dressed, he walked around to the trunk, and retrieved his weapons, a Honey Badger assault rifle and a suppressed Sig Sauer P226 pistol.
After moving through the forest, he found himself right next to the electrified barbed-wire fence, and using some duck-tape he hid made a section big enough for two people to squeeze through.
When he was inside the gate, he instantly went to the side of the estate, and disappeared in the shadows.
As one of the patrols moved toward the edge of the balcony, he didn't have time to take a breath of air before he heard something from behind him, but when he turned around, he didn't see anything.
It was unfortunate for him also that he didn't notice the man dressed all in black peeking out from behind the solid wood door that entered Zack's estate.
After Nick made sure it was clear, he proceeded down the stairs, and over to the basement entrance, using the card David handed him to scramble the key-pad's brain, and caused it to short-out.
After opening the door, the guard that was guarding the entrance to the basement looked up to see Nick standing at the top of the stairs, and didn't even have time to raise his rifle because the next thing he saw was the flash of a shell casing leaving the gun, he heard a puff off air, and everything went dark.
After leaving his weapons at the side of the door, he peaked inside, and noticed Zack standing over Tina who was strapped to a chair.
"Let's be decent," Zack said, "I did have you brought somewhere nice didn't I?"
"Go to hell," Tina said in her cute Texan accent, "You had me kidnapped."
Zack seized Tina by her cheeks, and turned her head to face him, "You're hot Ms. Armstrong, but you need to learn some respect," Zack said, "I'm in control here, I make the rules," he then forced Tina into a kiss, and as he tried to force his tongue into her mouth, Tina bit his tongue, causing Zack to jump backwards, when he stood up, he reached up to his mouth, and felt his tongue, when he removed his fingers, there was a small trickle of blood on it, "Why you little…" Zack picked up a small whip, and flicked it once against the ground.
Tina tensed up, and closed her eyes, waiting for the pain, but as Zack was about to lash it toward her, there was a loud 'crack' as the door to the room they were in flew off the hinges.
Zack turned around as Tina opened her eyes, and they saw a man about six foot three dressed completely in black.
"Hello Zack," Nick said as he entered the room.
"Who are you," Zack asked.
"You don't recognize me," Nick asked as he pulled off his mask.
"You're that asshole that cost me one million dollars!" Zack exclaimed.
"That's one time we met," Nick said, "But we met several times before, back then my hair used to be black."
"Nick Greymane," Zack exclaimed in a surprised expression.
"Yes Zack," Nick said as he walked up to the platform Zack and Tina were on, "Now you have two choices here. You can let the girl go, let us walk out of here peacefully, and you still have your teeth intact."
"What's the second option?" Zack asked.
"I make you," Nick said as he pulled off his jacket, and let it fall at his boots, "You remember those times we used to have when I was in the Rangers?"
"I've changed since then," Zack said, "How do you think you could win?"
"Because I've also changed," Nick said as he cracked his knuckles.
Zack charged spinning the whip wildly, and as he brought it down, Nick grabbed the rope, and pulled it from Zack's hands.
After deposing of the whip, Nick walked toward Zack who swung at him.
Nick blocked the swing, and came in low, hitting Zack in the ribs; another swing came in high, and threw Zack onto his side.
After Zack got up, he tackled Nick to the ground, and they ended up right in front of Tina, "Sorry for the delay Ms. Armstrong," Nick said as he stunned Zack with a blow to the jugular vein, a classic Dim-Mak maneuver to cut of circulation of blood to the brain for a brief second, a second swing nailed Zack on the temple, and a third sent Zack to the ground, "I hope you don't mind."
"Take your time," Tina said as Nick blocked Zack's kick, and planted his open-palm in Zack's gut, throwing him backwards, "I love seeing someone kick Zack's but."
"Thank you Ms. Armstrong," Nick said as he gave Zack a kick to the side, "I'll be right with you."
"Call me Tina please," Tina said as Zack stood up, and delivered an upper-cut to Nick's jaw, "While we're going through this."
"Very well Tina," Nick said as he brought his elbow to Zack's back when he grabbed Nick around the waist, and then threw him off the platform.
"Oh get a room you two," Zack said as he jumped back onto the platform, but right before he could do anything, Nick delivered a jaw-kick to Zack's chin, and knocked him backwards.
"You still haven't changed Zack," Nick said, "You're still my favorite punching-bag."
"Oh really," Zack asked as he reached into a section cut into the floor, and pulled out a Beretta Px4 Storm, and aimed it at Nick, "Now who's the boss?"
"Still me," Nick said as he reached into the waist-band of his pants, and pulled out a suppressed Walther PPK, "You know I'm an excellent shot."
"And so am I," Zack said, "Now I've decided to take you up on your first offer," he then went into the pocket of his pants, pulled out the key to Tina's restraints, and tossed it to Nick who caught it in midair while keeping his aim on Zack, "I'm going to walk out of here, and you're going to take that blonde bitch and leave."
"What's your connection to Greco Moussa?" Nick asked.
"For me to know and you to never find out," Zack said as he opened the exit door, and walked out.
Nick then put his PPK away, picked up the key, and ran over to Tina, "You alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine," Tina said as Nick unlocked her arm-restraints, "Thanks for saving me."
"Don't say thanks yet," Nick said as he unlocked her leg-restraints, "We still have to get out of here."
As soon as Tina was free, both she and Nick walked over to the door Nick came through right as the alarms started going off, "Son of a bitch," Tina said, "He tricked us."
"It's Zack," Nick said as he picked up his Honey Badger, "That's how he is. Now follow me, keep low, and do exactly what I say when I say it."
Tina nodded, and after running up the stairs, the two ended up on the first floor of Zack's estate, with several of the guards running at them.
As one of the guards raised his weapon to fire, Nick fired first, the Honey Badger made a few rapid puffs of air as the bullets left the barrel, and struck the guard in the chest and neck.
"Move," Nick said as he ran forward with Tina on his heels.
One of the guards came around the corner, and swung at Nick who ducked under the swing, elbowed the man in the gut, and then put one through the back of the Guard's head.
Nick and Tina ran to the wall, climbed through the gap in the wire Nick made, and ran into the forest.
The bullets whistled all around as Nick and Tina made it to Nick's car, after throwing the guns into the trunk, Nick jumped into the driver's seat while Tina ducked her head against the dash-board.
After starting the car, Nick quickly backed the car out of the tree-line, onto the road, and floored it toward Vienna.
"Thank you," Tina said as she looked over at Nick.
"No problem," Nick said as he drove the car toward the city, "You might want to change into something. There's a pair of jeans in your size, a tee-shirt, and jacket on the seat behind you."
"Thanks, again," Tina said as she reached onto the seat behind her, and quickly slid on the jeans and shirt.
"Here," Nick said as he held out his phone to her, "You might want to call your father, tell him you're ok."
Back in Vienna, Tina was still talking with her father, "I already told you, I'm fine," she said, "Daddy, I'll be ok."
"Put that man that's driving on the phone." Bass Armstrong said.
"Ok," Tina said as she held out the phone to Nick, "He wants to talk to you."
Nick placed the phone against his ear, "Yes Mr. Armstrong." Nick said.
"I wanted to be sure I said thank you," Bass said, "For rescuing my daughter."
"I couldn't stand by and watch someone harm an innocent young woman." Nick said.
"Hey," Bass said, "I might be half a world away but that doesn't mean I won't come there and snap you in half if you cause my daughter to get hurt."
"Trust me Mr. Armstrong," Nick said, "She'll come to no harm in my care."
"Good," Bass said, "Goodbye."
As the line cut, Nick pulled the car into Vienna, "By the way," Tina said, "I know your name, but I don't know who you work for."
"Forgive my manners," Nick said as he held out his hand, "United Arab Emirates Secret Police."
"Ah Dubai," Tina said, "That would explain the car, the watch, and the appearance."
Nick pulled the car up in front of the Grand Hotel Vienna, "Alright here we are," Nick said, "Act tired."
"Ok," Tina said as she leaned back against the seat, "But why?"
"Just trust me." Nick said.
As the Valet came to take the car, Nick got out of the car, and walked around to the Valet, "Ah Mr. Wolf," he said, "We've been expecting you."
"Shh," Nick said as he hushed the Valet, and pointed at Tina pretending to be sleeping in the front passenger-seat, "My wife, she's tired, spent a whole day driving, park it somewhere close, and leave our bags, I'll get them later."
"Yes sir," the Valet said quietly before taking the keys.
Nick walked around to the passenger-side door, opened it, and carried Tina out of the car, Bridal style into the hotel.
After checking in, Nick took Tina to their shared room, and contacted his office, "I understand sir," Nick said, "I know. It's my fault he got away. But respectfully, choosing between the mission and innocent lives, I'd choose the latter any day."
"That's what I was hoping for," Mathis said, "Proceed at your discretion Wolf."
"Yes sir," Nick said as he hung up, and walked into the main area of the hotel room.
Tina was sitting on the couch watching TV: Nick could tell she was angry, confused, scared, and disgusted all at the same time.
Nick took his seat next to her, "What are you watching?" He asked.
"News," Tina said, "Trying to see if there's anything on the Shootout at the OK Corral we reenacted at Zack's estate."
"I see you have no problem with talking about it." Nick said.
"You save my life," Tina said, "I'm not exactly a helpless damsel but he had me helpless."
"You were taken by surprise," Nick said, "It could have happened to anyone."
"I'm just glad he kept his hands to himself," Tina said, "Tonight was the only night I knew he was behind this."
"Don't worry," Nick said, "He'll get what's coming to him," he then looked over at Tina, "I know this is probably a lot to ask, but if you want in, I could use a partner."
Tina looked over at Nick and spoke, "You want me, a Texan to work with the UAE Secret Police," she asked, "Be a spy?"
"Putting it simply, yes." Nick said.
"What do I get if I say yest and we save the day?" Tina asked.
"Respect, honor," Nick said, "And a personal revenge against Zack for labeling you as nothing more than payment for doing a deal with a wanted terrorist."
"I'm in." Tina said.
"Good," Nick said as he held out his hand, "On behalf of the Dubai Secret Police, welcome to the force."
Tina took the master bedroom while Nick took the double-bed bedroom.
While Tina was entering the bathroom to take a shower, she walked in on a freshly-showered Nick.
"Oh, oh," Tina exclaimed as she walked in dressed in only a towel to see Nick dressed in a towel of his own, his muscular form in plain view of the gorgeous half-naked blond bombshell standing in front of him, "Sorry, I un…"
"N-n-no, I'm sorry," Nick said as he kept his hand on the towel, "My fault, I was finishing up anyways."
Nick left the bathroom, and as he did, Tina saw the scars that crisscrossed his chest, back, and arms, it was obvious he had been through a few wars.
Ok we've now got a sexy Blonde Bombshell working with an equally handsome spy, I wonder what could possibly happen…