Chapter Three

Jack set the kitchen table back upright and brushed his hands off on his jacket. "Are you sure you're okay?" "Honestly, Jack, I'm fine," she replied, "Just promise me one thing, okay? You won't hurt him." Jack paused, "Audrey, I'm sorry, I can't do that." "I'm not protecting him Jack, I won't condone what he did, but let's not lower ourselves to his level, okay?" Jack looked earnestly at her keeping silent. She looked him steadily in the eye, "Hey tough guy, let's forget him okay, I don't want our night ruined. Why don't we lie on the couch and finish off that wine?" "Okay, but only because you're asking," he replied pulling her onto his lap.

...

Jack wasn't sure how long they'd dozed off for, but he awoke suddenly his senses telling him something was wrong. There was a part of him that never fully switched off, most people put it down to his training, but he knew to always trust his instincts and they hadn't failed him yet. He sat up slowly and gently eased himself out from underneath Audrey. "Jack, what's wrong?" She sat upright fixing him with a worried look. "Shh, stay right here," he whispered motioning her to stay where she was. He got up off the couch and crept to the front door easing it open slowly. Audrey followed behind him slowly making her way to the ajar door. He stepped outside into the hall closing the door behind him and Audrey could just make out the sounds of a scuffle. She darted towards the door opening it quickly to see Jack pinning a large man in a dark trench coat to the wall. "What are you doing here?" Jack snarled patting the man down from behind and removing a pistol from the man's pocket. He pushed the gun into the man's neck and pulled his head back, "Did Paul Raines send you?" "Oh God, Jack," Audrey gasped. "Audrey, go back inside now!" Jack yelled. "Who sent you, you son of a bitch?" "I don't have to tell you anything." "No, you don't, but I can make it very painful for you if you don't," Jack warned pushing the gun further into the man's neck. "Go to hell," the man spat. Jack twisted his arm up behind him and a loud snapping noise sounded. "Arghhhh you bastard," the man howled. "WHO SENT YOU?" Jack roared. "Paul Raines," the man mumbled. "What does he want?" "He wants you dead." Jack's face twisted angrily as he let the man drop to the floor.

"Oh my God, Jack, no, Paul couldn't… he's not that type of…. Oh my God," Audrey sighed sinking to the floor. "Audrey, I need to get you out of here now, it's not safe," Jack said pulling her to her feet. "Where are we going to go, Jack? I won't be forced out of my home by him." "Audrey, please just do as I say. I need to get you somewhere safe and then I'm going after Paul."

...

They drove in silence, the only sound was the rain hammering down on the windshield. Jack adjusted the rear view mirror and kept his eyes darting between it and the road. "Do you think we're being followed?" Audrey asked quietly. "No, but I don't want to take any chances," he replied gravely. "I'm sorry this happened, Jack." "You have nothing to be sorry for," he said taking her hand in his. "I feel like it's my fault, Jack. Maybe if I had handled things better Paul wouldn't have reacted in this way." "You had no way of knowing this would happen. I'm going to fix it, I promise you. I won't let anyone hurt you, Audrey," he squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I know you won't. I feel so safe when I'm with you. I've never felt this safe with anyone," she smiled a small smile at him. "When I was with Paul he didn't…." "Audrey, you don't have to do this now." "No, Jack, let me finish," she said sternly. "When I was with Paul I wasn't happy and I guess in the end it was no secret. I blamed him for never being there, I blamed his job, I blamed him for anything I could, but deep down I knew whatever he did for me was never enough because I didn't love him. I wanted to blame him for my problems and I took my anger out on him. I can understand why he's bitter. But, meeting you, Jack, was the best thing that happened to me and I would never change that, no matter what has happened tonight and I won't let him come in between us."

...

They drove into the night, with the city lights fading and the street lights becoming fewer and further in between. Jack occasionally removed his hand from Audrey's to shift gear, but he mostly kept his fingers interlocked with hers rubbing her hand reassuringly. They were both startled out of their thoughts by the loud ringing of a mobile phone.

*Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz* Jack pulled the phone he had taken off the man in the hallway out of his jacket pocket and glanced at it, "It's him." "He's checking that he did it, isn't he?" Audrey asked, her voice quavering slightly . Jack let the phone go to answer phone and placed it on the dashboard his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Yes."

...

Paul sat at his desk, his hand in his hands, a half drunk bottle of whiskey in front of him. His phone was open on the desk, but he couldn't stop himself from checking it every few seconds. He sighed deeply to himself - where did it all go wrong? He had spent a long time brooding over their separation, questioning and dissecting it over and over in his head. He loved her more than anything, but part of him was still reeling and hurt from what she had done. How could she leave him? How dare she leave him for that man? He figured a part of him had been selfish, had he not been a good enough husband? Had he not provided for her enough? Had he spent too much time working? Had he not loved her enough? "I gave her everything," he sobbed out loud arguing with his own thoughts, "Is that not enough?" But deep down he knew he was lying to himself.

He picked up his phone and dialled quickly, "Come on, pick up, pick up you bastard," he muttered. 'The person you are calling is unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone.' "It's Paul. Don't hurt her. Please don't hurt her. Stand down. I'll give you your money, just please don't hurt her."