CHAPTER TEN

"It's going to be dark soon; we can't just sit out here waiting all night," Bruiser groaned.

"Alf wants us to stake out the place for a while; so that's what we are doing," Charlie snapped at his brother.

"Old man Stewart isn't our boss Charlie," Bruiser scoffed. "We do our own thing; not what he says," he added.

"No, he isn't, but Martha is," Charlie glared at him. "And Alf is her grandfather. Martha would want us to do whatever Alf tells us to do. So stop sooking and do what you're told," he ordered.

"Whatever," Bruiser scowled and turned away from his older brother. "I just want to get Martha back," he pointed out.

"We all do," Charlie exclaimed. "Now having said that; we're going in," he said before waltzing up the driveway towards Corey's mansion.

"What do we do?" Macca asked as he trailed behind his brother; the others close behind him.

Charlie turned around and faced the men. "Kill each and every person that comes and goes from that place. And don't stop until Martha is handed over," anger was coming off Charlie in waves. Alf had ordered the destruction of the Henderson and Nadar family and Charlie was going to live up to his promise. He wasn't going to go down without a fight.

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Martha sat by herself at the bar; sipping on a glass of scotch. She loved the calmness it brought to her senses. She'd been through so much in the last 48 hours and she was so tense. It was great to finally feel loose.

Martha had pretty much ordered Jack to pull over at the first available bar. And even though this one was a shit hole; she didn't care. It may have been run down and full of old drunken men, but it had alcohol; and that was all that mattered.

"Another, please," Martha said to the bar tender as she pushed her glass towards him.

The old man complied and filled her glass with the liquid. "Have you been in the wars today, love?" he asked Martha as he pushed the glass back towards her.

Martha raised her hand to her bruised face and ran her fingers gently over the dried wound. "You could say that," she tried to smile. "One piece of advice; don't trust anyone," she said to him.

"Don't worry; I found out that a long time ago," the old man chuckled.

Martha smiled at him. She liked him. He reminded her a little of her grandfather; very friendly and quite caring. Alf's face appeared in her mind. How she wished that she could see him; have him hold her in his protective arms like he had when she was only a little girl. She missed those days. Things had changed so much.

The old man walked away to serve another customer, so Martha swiveled in her chair; looking around for Jack. She scoffed out loud when she spotted him; surrounded by some tarty women. Jack looked up at her and held her gaze; while smirking at her. Martha shook her head in disgust and turned back to the bar. She lifted her glass to her lips and downed the last of drink.

As she placed her glass back on the bar; she spotted a man sitting by himself; over in the darkened corner of the room. She couldn't see his face clearly, but there was some oddly familiar about him. She watched as he stood up from his spot and made his way towards the bar. Martha quickly lowered her head and pretended to be interested with the ice in her glass. She tensed up as he sat down next to her.

She could feel his eyes on her and he was beginning to make her skin crawl. Martha glanced up quickly and gave a soft smile; showing that she wasn't frightened. She only just held in the gasp that threatened to spill from her lips. She knew who he was.

Johnny Cooper.

Her father had shown her pictures of almost all of Corey and Ash's men. And there was no mistake; Johnny Cooper was one of their men. There was no doubt in her mind that he was there to collect her; along with Jack.

"I'm Joe," Johnny said to her.

Martha felt relief wash over her. It seemed that he wasn't aware of her knowledge of him. She could play this game too!!

"Mac," she smiled and reached out to shake his hand.

Johnny grinned and took her hand in his. Martha tried not to flinch. The thought of his hands on her made her sick to the stomach.

"What's a pretty lady like you doing here all on her lonesome?" Johnny asked her.

"Just having a drink," Martha answered him. "But, I'm not here alone; I'm here with my husband," she added.

Johnny laughed. "I don't see a ring on your finger," he said.

Martha shrugged. "I lost it," she exclaimed.

"Right," Johnny nodded. "So, where is this husband of yours?" he questioned her.

Martha looked in Jack's direction. Of course he was absolutely oblivious to the fact that Martha was sitting next to one of their enemies. He was too busy with those women still. She would remind herself later to punch him in the face.

Johnny laughed again. "You have no problem with him being over there with other girls?" he remarked.

"I like to share my things," Martha stated. "Besides, I know he'll come home to me and our bed each night. I'm not worried," she smiled.

"It's good to see a woman with confidence," Johnny smirked.

"That's me; Miss Confidence," Martha said as she stood up.

"Don't you mean Mrs.?" Johnny pointed out.

"Whatever," Martha fobbed him off. "Excuse me; I need to have a word with my husband," she emphasized.

Martha tried not hurry, but she couldn't help herself. She walked briskly across the room towards Jack; quickly giving the women a shove to the side. "Get up," Martha grabbed a hold of Jack's arm and pulled him to his feet; wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his neck.

"If you wanted to touch me; all you had to do was ask," Jack laughed in her hair.

"Just play along," Martha hissed at him. "We have to go; Johnny Cooper is here," she told him.

"What?" Jack stiffened and tried to pull away so he could get a glimpse of Johnny.

"Don't," Martha pulled him back into the embrace. "He's unaware that I know who he is. So let's just pretend to be the married couple that I told him we were; and get out of here," she whispered in his ear.

Jack nodded in understanding and pulled away; turning to look at the women he had just been sitting with. "Sorry ladies, but my wife needs to be attended to; if you know what I mean," he winked.

"Just stay for another drink," a red head pouted.

"Back of bitch; he's mine," Martha snapped at her. "Let's go baby," she said through clenched teeth as she grabbed Jack's hand and led him away.

When they got to the door, Martha turned around for one last glance, but was shocked when she noticed Johnny was no longer at the bar.

"He's gone," Martha cried as Jack pulled her outside. It had started to rain and it was getting pretty heavy. Jack and Martha were drenched within seconds.

"Let's just go," Jack could barely be heard over the sound of the rain. He grabbed a hold of Martha's hand and started to drag her towards the car.

As they neared closer, they could make out the outline of a figure standing by their car. "Fuck," Jack yelled as he came to a stop; Martha crashing into his back. "Run," he pushed at Martha and they both took off in the other direction.

"There is no use in running; I will find you," Johnny sneered as he took off after them.

"Don't let go of my hand," Jack said to Martha as they ran. "Stay close," he exclaimed as they ran into the trees.

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Charlie led the men around to the back of the house; their weapons ready in their hands. Charlie was surprised but happy to find a posse of Corey's men standing and talking in a huddle.

"Hello there," Charlie called out as he raised his gun in the air.

The group of men turned in a flash; reaching for their own weapons. But it was too late for them. Charlie and his men had them surrounded.

"Put your guns on the ground," Charlie yelled at them. "If you don't; we'll shot each and every one of you," he warned.

"Do as he says," Jesse McGregor emerged from the group; throwing his gun to the ground.

"Um, Charlie," Robbie interrupted.

"What is it Hunter?" Charlie asked, but kept his eyes trained on Jesse.

"That's Jack's car there by the garage," Robbie answered him.

"I'm sorry," Charlie scoffed; not believing what he was hearing. "What are you saying?" he questioned.

"I think Jack's been here," Robbie exclaimed.

"Great," Charlie huffed. "He's probably dead too. Just what we need," he groaned.

"Actually…," Jesse tried to speak but Charlie cut him off.

"Seen Martha, Jesse?" he asked.

"She's with Holden somewhere," Jesse told him.

"Do you know where that might be?" Charlie said sarcastically.

"No," Jesse stuttered.

Charlie smiled. "Too bad for you then," he cocked his gun.

Jesse closed his eyes; knowing what was coming next.

"Bye Jesse," and with that Charlie pulled the trigger; firing a single shot into the temple, killing Jesse instantly.

At the same time, the rest of Charlie's group started to fire their weapons. Within moments, the rest of Corey's men were dead.

"Get inside and look around for Martha," Charlie ordered. "And Jack. Looks like that idiot has already got himself mixed up in this shit" he groaned out loud.

"I'll call my grandfather and inform him that Martha might be with Jack somewhere," Ric pulled a phone from his pocket and walked away for a bit of privacy.

"I just hope that he's protecting Martha with his life," Charlie sighed.

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