CHAPTER 9
BRAX'S POV:
"I'm here just like I said I'd be." I stated to Adam as I stood at his doorstep the following morning.
"Excellent," Adam smirked, "But luckily for you, I found someone else to do the job while you were in the city."
"So we're even then?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.
"Not by a long shot!" he laughed, "For now I will settle with the money you owe me."
"All of it?" I questioned.
"Yep. All of it." he nodded.
"If I pay off this debt will you leave Natalie and me alone?" I asked, running my hand through my hair.
"Tell you what. Cos I'm such a nice guy I will leave your pretty little miss alone," he said, rubbing his chin, "As for you though," he paused, "I'm not done with you yet."
I sighed hoping that Adam would stick to his word regarding Natalie, "Fine. Give me your bank account details and I'll transfer the money." I said.
Adam laughed, "Nah that's too traceable. I want cash. You know how much you owe me. I'll give you three days to organise it then I'll contact you."
I nodded and drove back home.
Three days later I received a text from Adam. The drop was happening this afternoon at an abandoned warehouse in Mangrove River. I read the message over and over again. 'Come alone. Wouldn't want anyone else getting hurt.' Something wasn't right. Why would he say that if it was only going to be me and him there. I had a bad feeling about this. I sat mulling it over for a few hours then decided I had to check on Natalie. Arriving at her house I knocked on the door. "Is Natalie here?" I asked when Zac answered it.
"You really need to stop coming over here, Brax. You need to leave her alone." he stated coldly.
I pushed past him and searched the house, "Natalie! Natalie!" I called out.
"She's not here." Zac said as I came back into the kitchen.
"When was the last time you saw her?" I asked, a hint of worry in my voice.
"This morning when she left for work." he replied.
"Have you heard from her since then?" I asked.
"Brax you really need to let her go." he stated again not answering my question.
I shoved him up against the wall, "Have you heard from her since then?" I repeated, angrily.
"No, I haven't." he replied taken aback, "She was meant to meet me for lunch but didn't show. I sent her a text but just assumed she was busy with work."
I sighed and let him go as my phone began to ring. Pulling it from my pocket I saw Adam's number displayed.
"Just wanted to make sure you are on track with getting the money to me." Adam said, "Oh and Brax, don't try anything stupid. Wouldn't want anything to happen to your pretty little miss."
"Adam, I swear if you hurt her I'll..." I didn't get to finish before he ended the call.
"What's going on?" Zac queried.
"Adam's got Natalie." I stated, rushing out the door to my car. "What do you think you're doing?" I asked Zac who had followed me.
"I'm coming with you." he replied.
"No you're not." I said, leaning on the car.
"If you think that I am just going to stay here while my girlfriend is in danger because of you, then think again!" he yelled, climbing into the passenger seat.
I sighed and got in the car. I drove home, grabbed the suitcase containing Adam's money then drove to the warehouse in Mangrove River. Arriving half an hour later I pulled into the car park and turned off the engine. I took a deep breath and sighed.
"Well what are you waiting for?" Zac asked getting out of the car.
"No. You're staying in the car." I stated.
"Like hell I am! I'm going in there with you." he replied defiantly.
"If you go in there with me, she'll end up dead. Adam told me to come alone." I said looking directly at him, "Look, stay here. Once Natalie comes out get her in the car and get the hell out of here. Don't wait around for me. You understand?"
Zac nodded and sat back in the car. I took another deep breath then walked inside. I saw Adam standing beside Natalie at the back of the warehouse and made my way over to them.
"That's far enough." Adam stated as I got closer, "Nice to see you came, Brax. Your pretty little miss and I were getting bored. Not much of a talker this one." he grinned, putting his arm around Natalie's shoulders.
"Let her go, Adam." I said glancing at her.
"Not until I get my money." he stated.
"You want it? Go get it." I said throwing the small suitcase to the side. It hit the floor with a loud bang.
Adam laughed, "Nice try Brax. Now go pick it up and open it."
I sighed and picked it up, pulling out some of the money to show him.
"What happened?" Zac asked, rushing into the warehouse.
"I told you to stay in the car!" I yelled at him.
"I heard a loud bang." Zac puffed.
"Bad move Brax, I told you to come alone." Adam said, producing a knife and holding it against Natalie's throat.
"Let her go." I pleaded, putting my hands in the air.
"Brax! It's a trap!" Natalie yelled.
"Shut up you!" Adam yelled at her, pressing the knife harder against her throat.
Natalie cried out in pain and I saw a trickle of blood seep from beneath the knife. "Let her go, Adam!" I yelled, "All your money is in the case."
Adam laughed and let her go. She ran straight to Zac and I knew I had lost her. I watched as Zac embraced her and held her tightly. "Get her out of here!" I yelled at him. He nodded and I waited until they had left before turning back to face Adam.
NATALIE'S POV:
"We have to go back in there, Zac!" I yelled as he dragged me to Brax's car, "I can't leave him in there by himself!"
"The only place we are going is the hospital." Zac said bluntly as he put me in the car.
"They're going to kill him, Zac!" I cried.
"Natalie, listen to me." he soothed, taking my hand, " Brax told me to get you out of here and that's what I'm doing."
I pulled my hand away from his and cried as he drove away.
A few hours later I sat on the couch sipping the cup of tea Zac had made for me.
"Are you alright?" he asked, sitting beside me.
I stared blankly into the tea and didn't answer him.
"You need to let him go, Nat." he said, gently turning my face towards him, "I know you love him but he should never have put you in a situation like that. You were lucky this time."
I nodded as a tear rolled down my cheek. A few minutes later I turned my head to the sound of someone knocking on the door.
"I'll get it." Zac said, standing up. "You've got some nerve showing up here!" Zac stated, opening the door to find Brax standing there.
"Is Nat here?" Brax asked.
"After what just happened I think you're the last person she wants to see." Zac replied coldly.
"It's alright, Zac." I sighed with relief as I saw Brax standing there alive. "What do you want, Brax?" I asked.
"I just wanted to make sure you're okay." he replied.
"I'm fine. It's just a small cut. It didn't even need stitches." I said, gently touching my neck, "What happened to you?" I asked after seeing the bruise and grazes on his face.
"You were right. It was a trap. Adam had two guys waiting to beat me." he sighed.
"To kill you, you mean?" I stated, raising my eyebrow.
"I'm still standing, aren't I?" he smiled.
I lowered my head and sighed, "What was it you once told me? Adam won't stop until he gets what he wants."
"You should go, Brax. Nat's been through enough today." Zac stated, putting his arm around my shoulders as he started to close the door.
"I'm really sorry you were put in that position, Nat. I never thought it would go that far." Brax sighed as he left.
BRAX'S POV:
The following morning I stood behind the bar setting up the restaurant for the day. "We're not open yet." I stated, not turning around as I heard someone come through the door.
"What? Not even for me?" the voice greeted.
I sighed and turned around to face Adam.
"You fought well yesterday, Brax. I'm impressed." Adam grinned, "That's quite a shiner you got though."
"I'll live." I shrugged.
"Not for long." he smirked.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.
"I learnt something yesterday, Brax. If you want a job done properly do it yourself." Adam stated as he pulled a gun from his jacket and pointed it at me.
"Why do you want me dead?" I asked, taking a deep breath.
"It's nothing personal, Brax. I'm just tying up loose ends." he said, "You're a liability to me. You know too much."
"What happened to our friendship all those years ago?" I asked, shaking my head, "I looked up to you like a father. You were always there for me and my brothers when our dad wasn't."
"It's funny you say that. I always saw you as another son. I always hoped that Jamie would be more like you." he stated, "But circumstances change. You of all people should know that." he paused, looking me directly in the eye, "Goodbye Brax." he said pulling the trigger.
I hit the floor with the sound of gunshots ringing in my ears.
