A/N chapter 3 is here! sorry its late, and I hope you like it! :3
Little Lion Man
Chapter 3
"We're not married." Was the first thing Fiona had to say to the man that had kidnapped them. They had been stuck into yet another tiny room, a bright light practically blinding them, but there was no mistaking the evil smirk/crazy smile on Merenov's face.
Leonid Merenov raised an eyebrow. "Really? I thought you two would have tied the knot by now. I suppose you never were someone who would marry."
Fi held Ninel's hand underneath the table, trying to keep her calm. The women wisely kept her mouth shut, which was something to be said when compared to past clientele.
"Whatever the case, we need to get your brother to come from zhe shadows."
"My brother doesn't have what you want." Ninel said shakily.
Merenov laughed to himself quietly, like the statement was no more than a joke that might be told at the dinner table. "He does. He just doesn't know it yet. So." Merenov pulled a Ka-bar from out of its case and ran his finger along the edge carefully. "Are you going to tell me where Pavel is?"
"Never." Ninel spat at him angrily.
Merenov simply smiled. "Suit yourself. Come with me, Fiona."
Two burly men appeared from out of nowhere, taking Fi roughly by the arms and dragging her away.
"Don't worry Ninel. I'll be okay." Fi called when Ninel gave her a terrified look. Fi knew she was lying a little too well.
*(*)*
In covert ops, information is just as good as guns and explosives. It can even keep you alive where said guns and explosives cannot. If you have all the information you need, than all you need to do is formulate a proper plan, and execute it fairly well. Go in with little to no information and you'll likely just get yourself killed. Unfortunately, you don't always have all the information. When that happens, you'll just have to play along and hope everything works out. If it doesn't, go from there and improvise and most importantly—try not to get you or the hostages you might be trying to help, killed.
"What did you find out Sam?" Michael asked, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands.
Sam retrieved a beer before coming over to sit down and give him an answer. "Not much Mikey. It has been reported to the Russian feds about a year ago, I guess the news never really made it over here. The Chain of Office is basically just a really fancy necklace, looks like something Fi might actually wear to some crazy Russian party."
"Russians are to stubborn to admit something like that to the U.S." Michael replied in a monotone, ignoring the last part.
"Come Mike, loosen up a bit brother. We'll get Fi back, we just gotta think this through. I know what'll make you feel better!" Sam exclaimed happily a grin spreading across his face.
"What?" Michael asked, still looking through multiple files and folders on The Chain of Office.
"A joke. Whatdya call it when a bunch of Russians get together for a party?"
Michael just glanced up at him with a look that said, 'and this will cheer me up how?'
"Aww, no guess?"
"I don't know, the Communist rock?"
"Nope. The Soviet Reunion."
Michael face palmed, and sighed. "That was terrible Sam."
"I came up with it my self about to seconds ago." Sam shrugged. "I thought it was funny."
"We really need to start thinking this through now Sam. Can get you back in the game here? We don't have much time." Michael could barely keep the annoyance from his tone.
"Yeah. Anyway, I located the brother. He's actually here in Miami, lucky for us. Apparently he was told about his sisters situation and came here looking."
"We have to find him before he does something stupid." Michael glanced up at Sam, and took the files that were handed to him. "Did you get his number?"
"It's in there yeah,. I got most of his personal files. The guys not a criminal. He's got nothing on his report. It's almost like he doesn't do anything. He's got no criminal history; he's only ever had one job at a publishing company as one of the editors. He married though apparently, with two kids. Nothing incriminating to speak of. He always flies under the radar."
"Which could mean he's either goody two shoes or he knows how to cover his tracks."
"Apparently not well enough if it's the latter of the two." Sam said quietly.
Michael found the cell number among the small stack of files, and pulled out his phone, dialing it. It rang three times prior to the man picking up.
"Hello?"
"Hi, are you Pavel?" Michael asked, glancing down at the papers to find the name.
"…Yes."
"I'm Michael, I'm trying to help out your sister Ninel. Do you think you could meet me somewhere private?"
"You know what's happening with my sister?" His voice cracked with panic that had built up over the week. "Is she okay?"
"She was alive yesterday for sure. We believe she is okay though. What about that meeting then?"
"I can meet you anywhere, I don't care as long as you can help my sister."
"Okay, how about my place?" Michael said. He gave the man the address.
"One more thing…" Pavel said, sounding small and a tiny bit lost and childish.
"Yes?"
"Who are you exactly?"
Michael thought about it for a second. "I'm a guy who can help you." With that Michael hung up.
"Mikey, you realize you gave him…"
"My moms address. I know. I don't want to bring him here. They know where I live."
"Are you gonna tell Maddie?"
"Ehh…actually Sam, I was going to ask you to tell her. I've got some bombs to make."
Sam sighed. "Fine. Sam Axe the secretary will do it. You owe me Mikey."
"I already gave like fifty bucks for beer."
Sam considered it. "All right." He admitted. "We're even then."
*(*)*
Fiona was struggling to stay awake at this point. By now, she had stopped being able to feel the multiple blows and cuts all over her body. None of her wounds would kill her, but they all stung and bled ruby droplets that fell and painted a picture of pain and anguish all over the ground.
"Are you ready to talk yet?" Merenov asked.
"Never." Was the same reply she gave every time he asked.
"Fine." Merenov waved at his cronies and they released the handcuffs that held Fi suspended on the wall.
She fell to the ground in a heap, a small moan of pain slipping through her teeth.
"Перерыв ноги." Break her leg.
Even if Fi had understood
One of the men stepped forward, stomping down forcefully on Fi's leg.
For the first time since the torture started Fi cried out. She curled up on her side choking out a single sob and then staying silent as new pain coursed through her. She had heard the break before she felt it, but now the pure agony shredded through her like she was no more than a flimsy piece of paper.
"She might not be ready to talk, but her friend will be." Merenov said somewhere in the distance. Everything seemed so far away…
Someone picked her up roughly, igniting new tones and shades of ache, but Fi didn't do anything. Her strength was all but evaporated. Once more she could only hope that Ninel would stay quiet.
Once again hope was her final option.
*(*)*
"So you're bringing another random person into my house?" Madeline drawled, taking another deep breath and puffing out smoke on her cigarette.
"Well, he's not random. He's a client I guess you could say." Sam tried to explain unsuccessfully. Sam hefted in the little C-4 bombs that Michael had spent the entire morning prepping.
Madeline half ignored him and turned to Michael, who stared out the window, waiting for Pavel to show. "Did you get you're future wife back yet?" Maddie asked.
"We're not even dating, Ma." Michael told her for the umpteenth time.
"Well you should be." Madeline said fiercely.
"I'm gonna go drink somewhere that's not here." Sam spoke up, taking his beer and walking out to the garage. Michael glared after him.
"Seriously Michael, you two are so alike! Why shouldn't you be dating her? You're always in a better mood when she's around." She took another drag on her cigarette, much to Michaels distaste.
"Mom, you know I'm not good at relationships… the fact is that I can't-."
"Can't what Michael? Can't look past this whole losing your job crap to see the perfect woman for you standing beside you through all your shenanigans? God, Michael! Even with all you're brains you're still an idiot sometimes!"
Michael blinked. He had no clue how to reply to that.
The doorbell rang, saving Michael another line of insults and such form his mother.
"I'll get it!" Sam announced, coming back in just in time to get the door before Michael did.
"We'll discuss this later." Madeline said.
"Hi." The man said nervously. "Are you Michael?"
"Yeah, that's me."
"I came when I could. I was being followed."
"Did you loose them?" Michael asked quickly his heart rate instantly shooting up.
"Yeah. I circled around the entire city about twice and they fell back. They're gone."
"Hi, I'm Maddie." Madeline said, coming forward to shake Pavel's hand. "You already met my son, and that's Sam."
"Hiya."
"You live with you're mom?" Pavel asked, eyebrow quirking.
"Long story." was all Michael said in answer.
"So," Michael said after they all took a seat in the living room. "Do you have the Chain of Office?" He just went straight to the point.
Pavel didn't answer right away, unsure of what to tell them. "Yes."
Michael didn't expect him to actually say he had it. "And why haven't you given it to them?"
"I didn't steal it for myself, if that's what you're thinking" Pavel said quickly. "My father Andrei was a part of the Russian government. He was an ambassador. That's why we moved here. That's what my father said anyway. When I was in Russia… I heard two men talking about a plan they had made to steal the Chain of Office. Normally, I would just hint of the police, but when I heard that it was Merenov behind it… I knew there was no time for it. So, using my fathers access card, I got in and took it."
"Was your father still alive at that point?"
"Yes." Pavel whispered. "But when they realized that it was my fathers access card that had been used, they chased him down. He was shot and killed in Moscow."
"And you still have the Chain of Office?" Sam asked.
Pavel nodded. "I have it with me."
"Haven't they traced it back to you though?"
Pavel shook his head. "They suspected me at first of course, but I slipped away after their questions and they haven't seen me since. I've being keeping my head down, hoping they'll forget me and my sister."
"That was a year ago though… Did you ever tell Ninel the whole story?" Michael asked.
"No. But it was for her safety. I didn't want her to be included in this. Apparently she is though." Pavel hung his head in his hands. "What're we going to do?"
"We're working on it. Tell me… what did you hear they were planning to do?"
"They we're talking about how to steal it, and what they were going to do was use it to get something from the president. I don't know what exactly." Pavel admitted slowly.
"It doesn't matter. We're going to have to get the girls back somehow."
"Girls?" said Pavel,
"One of our people was taken too." Sam explained.
"So here's the plan." Michael said quietly, "We're going to offer a trade. The Chain of Office for Ninel and Fi."
"Mike, we can't do that! Didn't she want you to do the Dublin thing?"
"It won't work considering the circumstances. We'll just get shot down." Michael continued. "When they bring out the girls, you'll hand him the Chain and we'll take him down from there."
"You want me to deliver it to Merenov?"
"Yes."
"…Okay. And you two are going to get Ninel and you're friend?"
"Sam's going to be sniping from a higher position about 100 yards away. I'll be hiding somewhere close so I can take out any guards he'll have with him. It's your job to get the girls somewhere safe."
"Anything else?" Pavel asked.
"Yeah. You have a gun?"
"Beretta M9A1. I'm pretty good with it. Can't shot anything too far away, but it's a good gun."
"Hopefully you won't be needing it."
*(*)*
"So… who is it that they took from you guys?" Pavel asked.
"Her names Fiona." Michael replied, not giving a last name. Not that it really mattered. He tried to pay attention to where they were headed. Pavel was driving them over to the sight after they had called and set up the meeting.
"Is she your girlfriend or something?" Pavel asked glancing away from the road a moment.
"No. She's just a friend who happens to be a woman." Michael said through clenched teeth.
"Oh. I catch you're drift man. I'm guessing it didn't work out?"
"This is a conversation we might have after we do our rescue mission." Michael growled.
"Oh, yeah. Right. So where's your buddy?"
"Sam is already in position. Leave me off here. I'll walk the rest of the way so they don't get suspicious."
"We're still a mile away." Pavel protested. He still slowed down and drifted toward the side of the dirt road.
"I know. It's not that bad." Michael said simply as Pavel pulled over and dropped him off at the side of the street.Operations with amateurs are always hard. They never seem to go well. Sometimes you just have to hope they know their part well enough to keep everyone from getting killed.
*(*)*
sorry it's way late, but I was procrastinating, so I give you this chapter at like midnight and hope all is forgiven! Anyway an important note, no offense is meant to you Russians, so if I offended anyone it was not on purpose and I'm sorry.! I love Russia! Woot!
Another thing, The Chain of Office, which is the thing that Merenov is after, actually exists, so it's not made up or anything. It's still used today for inaugural purposes in Russia. It does look like a necklace basically, but way more Bad ass. It's got the Russian colors and coat of arms on it and it looks really epic. Go google it and check it out. Don't forget to leave a comment!
Anyway BIG thanks to everyone who has commented so far! I loves you all :3
gilraenstar :D