Chapter 9: Biting the bullet!

[Warning: There will be some violence in this chapter as I am going to make Face suffer. Apologies in advance to all you Face-loving fans!]

After about ten minutes, Face started to stir from his unconscious state. He moaned out loud as he rubbed the back of his head with his hand. Realising that he was sprawled over the seat, with his head banging against the passenger door, he forced himself up to a sitting position.

One glare from Luciano promptly refreshed his memory as to the recent events. Face contemplated taking the risk of almost certain death by jumping out of the car, rather than facing the unknown of what was about to happen.

But his thoughts kept returning to Ellen. He was mindful that she could be in great danger. Plus Luciano had information on his mom, so he had to try and keep him sweet.

"Look!" he said, trying to sound as apologetic as possible. "I didn't set you up back there. You have to believe me. Please don't take this out on Ellen."

Although he wouldn't admit it, Luciano believed him. The look of complete surprise on Peck's face when the car appeared, seemed very genuine.

"That's Radcliffe's call," he retorted. "You'll know her fate soon enough."

Despite his obvious ulterior motive, Luciano was finding it very hard to dislike the handsome young conman. He had courage and loyalty, two qualities that Luciano actually admired him for. He frowned irritably, as he reminded himself that his family's honour was at stake and that this was payback time.

Face suddenly began to feel nervous. He became aware that they had left the main highway and seemed to be heading out towards the back of beyond. There were no other cars, buildings or other signs of civilisation in sight. The over-hanging trees on either side of the twisty country lane appeared to form a foreboding tunnel of doom.

Luciano eventually turned off the lane and drove down an almost unidentified dirt track. It wasn't until he took another sharp turn to the right that Face saw a small, barn-like building up ahead. His heart sunk as he realised, that without a trace, no-one was going to find him all the way out here.

Luciano pulled up outside the Barn. The door opened and Face instantly recognised the three approaching figures as the goons who had kidnapped him in Florida. One of them opened the passenger door and dragged Face out of the car with one hand. He held on to his shoulders as Radcliffe made his appearance.

Luciano also got out the car. After retrieving his gun from the back seat, he took off the silencer and put the weapon back in his holster. He then gave the diary straight to his boss.

Radcliffe took the diary, a smug grin on his face. However, as he flicked through the pages, the smug look was very soon replaced with a dark, unyielding anger.

"Is this a joke!" he fumed, throwing the diary back at Luciano.

Luciano looked taken back as he somehow managed to catch the diary. He opened it up, a puzzled look on his face, as he browsed through the contents.

"I … don't … understand," he said slowly. He glared furtively at Face, as if he was the answer to all the confusion.

"What?" questioned Face, apprehensively, returning Luciano's glare with his own puzzled expression.

"The diary is fake!" ranted Luciano. "It's complete gibberish – just a load of words that don't mean anything. Stockwell must have switched it with the real one!"

Radcliffe did not look pleased. In fact, he looked like he was going to self-combust!

"Is someone going to tell me what went wrong!" he retorted.

Luciano marched over to Face, who was still being held by one of the goons. He slapped him violently across the face with the back of his hand, momentarily stunning the Lieutenant.

"You know, Bancroft, for a moment there, I almost believed you!" snarled Luciano.

Face could feel the warm trickle of blood flowing down from his nose, which had taken most of the impact from Luciano's strike.

"I don't know what you mean!" he grimaced.

Luciano swiftly punched Face a second time, this time in the stomach.

"You must have known it was a set-up!" continued Luciano. "Why else would the rest of the A-Team have turned up?"

"You mean the A-Team know about this?" queried Radcliffe, in alarm.

Luciano nodded in acknowledgment.

"Yeah!" he drawled. "Blondie here must have tipped them off!"

"Then we need to get out of here, quick!" retorted Radcliffe. "I'm afraid the deal's off, Peck. You've just hammered the final nail in your sister's coffin!"

"No … wait …!" stammered Face, who looked absolutely distraught.

But Luciano didn't give him the chance to object, as he proceeded to pummel him with a series of face and body blows. Face began to see stars as the onslaught brought him down on to his knees. The Goon still had a tight hold on him, making it impossible for him to fight back.

"Finish him off, Luciano and then get out of here!" said Radcliffe, his voice full of malice. He gestured to his henchmen to follow him as he hurried back to his car. The Goon let go of Face and followed Radcliffe. Within seconds they were driving off out of the clearing.

Face promptly dropped down on to all fours as his strength gave way. His face stung, his body ached and all his spirit had been punched out of him. Luciano circled round him for a few seconds, like a vulture waiting to make its kill.

"I wonder what mommy would think about her little boy now!" he ridiculed. "Such a shame she's not here to hold your hand for you!"

"Please!" begged Face, managing to push himself back up on to his knees. "If you know anything about my mother, please tell me!"

Luciano kicked Face in the ribs, who winced as he doubled up in pain.

"What for?" he laughed, as he continued circling round again. "It ain't gonna do you no good, now!"

"What exactly have you got against me?" asked Face, his words becoming thick and slurred as his mind was beginning to get hazy. "This was never just about me getting the diary, was it?"

"My father was one of the people AJ Bancroft fleeced," replied Luciano, in a revengeful tone. "Bancroft run off with almost everything my Pops had worked hard for. He left him with nothing but disgrace and dishonour. In the end he took his own life because he couldn't live with the shame that had been bestowed on our family."

"I'm sorry, but I can't change what my father did," wheezed Face. "You weren't the only one that got short-changed!"

Luciano finally stopped circling. He took his gun out from his holster, stepping back a few paces from Face.

"Maybe not, Lieutenant, but I believe in a life for a life," he taunted. "I guess your Guardian Angel finally ran out on you."

Face closed his eyes as he waited for death to embrace him. His whole life flashed in front of him. It was as if someone had pressed the Fast Forward button on a cassette machine, as faces from his past and present collided together to make a collage of good and bad memories. As he heard the crack of the gunshot go off like a firework, his last thoughts were that of betrayal, heartache and regrets.