Chapter Twenty-One

Taunts at the Riverside

In his time in Willingboro, the one thing Lukas would never have imagined in a million years was to wake up next to a beautiful girl in bed with sex being evident and no condom in sight. When he had awoken, he saw the wonderful face of the young woman, her black raven hair. Her body was slightly tanned, and with the covers slightly off Lukas could see the wonderful curves. A beauty if he had ever seen one.

Her name rolled off his tongue pleasantly. Dominika Lena Matveev. Much like his name, it was Russian in origin and brought back good memories with his father and mother, back when they were alive. Back when they were a happy family.

Good times.

Dominika had awoken soon after, smiling pleasantly at Lukas. It was then he realised he had one hell of a hangover, while simultaneously remembering the night before.

Lukas had gone to a bar the previous night, looking for a drink and smoke. Dominika had come up beside him, ordered a drink, and her opening line immediately enthralled Lukas.

"Vy khotite pogovorit' Vy vyglyadite odinoko."

Finding a smile on his lips, Lukas turned to the new arrival. "How'd you guess that one?"

"So, you DO understand the language." Dominika tapped her glass with a nail. "So, are you a gambler? Lost your money."

"No. Why would you guess that?"

"Practically all the guys from our homeland are like that here. 'The American Dream' and all that crap." Dominika chuckled. "Fuck the American dream. They migrate to little places like here. But hey, I hear we're all trapped. A fuckin' hurricane or some shit. Straight in the eye."

"So I hear." Lukas replied, sipping from his glass.

"You know what happens when I'm trapped?"

"What?" Lukas turned his gaze back towards Dominique, taken in by her looks.

"I want to make sure I'm happy. Why don't you make me happy?"

And just like that, they ended up in bed together. They slept together. They made love. Usually these flings in the night are one-night only, but Lukas felt a connection. He couldn't tell what that connection was, perhaps something to do with her being Russian, or because she looked beautiful, he didn't know.

All he did know was that when they exited the motel room and were attacked by men in black suits, Lukas felt an instinctive nature to protect her. To protect Dominika. Not that that worked. She was taken by the men in suits. Taken screaming, and no-one could help her. Then Lukas was threatened at gunpoint. A deal later, two lives for a life, Dominika for the Valentines, and Lukas had found himself pointing the same gun that was pointed at him in the morning at Joshua Valentine and his younger brother.

"...You can be back with her if you just comply, Lukas Solveig." The loudspeaker said. Lukas looked down to the phone while Joshua chuckled.

"Ah, I see. A hostage situation. They got someone you love, so you're coming for us? Christ, talk about your typical movie plot. Tell me, is it the FBI? Mafia perhaps? Have you got a box with her finger in it?"

"Shut up!" Lukas growled, hating every minute of this situation. He was a nice guy. Only days before he was apologising in a bar and offering to help clean up and now he was pointing a gun at a complete stranger. A stranger... that should help. It's easier to injure a stranger.

"Am I getting on your nerves?" Joshua shook his head in disgust. "You aren't a killer. Stop trying to act like one."

"I have to! So just... just stay there. Stay there."

"Or what...?" Joshua took a tentative step forward. "What are you going to do, Lukas Solveig?"

"I'll-"

"Shoot me? Injure me? Dare I say... kill me?" Joshua smirked and looked to Miles. "You hear this joker? He thinks he can kill me?" Joshua looked back to Lukas and took another step forward.

"Stop!" Lukas demanded, images of Dominika on his mind. A person he had just met... Isn't she just a stranger? Lukas winced inwardly. Essentially, it was true. Dominika was a stranger, someone he had met only last night. But... the connection he felt... the feelings welling up inside him... it was almost painful. Lukas raised his gun, hoping that the men in suits would come soon. "Hahah... hah..." Joshua pointed towards the gun. "You can't do it. Look at you. Your arm is shaking so much the gun's clinking. Just put it down, let us go, and hide in a hole. Forget about whoever that is."

"You don't know anything-"

"I know a hell of a lot more than you!" Joshua quickly interjected. "Much more that you'll ever imagine. You're a survivor, Lukas. Why are you doing the killing when you're next? Lukas, if you don't get up and do something, you're gonna die!"

"Stop... messing with me!" Lukas squeezed his fist.

"Can't handle death? Aww... did Mommy and Daddy not teach little ickle Lukie-Boy?"

"Who are you?" Lukas couldn't handle it. Even in front of a gun, this man, this Joshua was so cocky, so joking. Not taking anything seriously.

"Me?" Joshua narrowed his eyes. "I'm your worst nightma- No, no, I lie, I lie. Way too cliché, I'm sorry. I just, I'm sorry."

"Stop messing with me!"

"So shoot me!"

"I'm not going to-"

"Then I'm going to get closer." Joshua took another step forward. "Look, you're not shooting Lukas, my friend. How about this then, hm?" Joshua cleared his throat and put on a singsong voice. "Daddy, daddy shot 'till dead. Daddy, daddy full of lead."

Lukas froze as Joshua laughed. What did he know?

Joshua's grin grew into almost a Cheshire Cat smile. "Mommy, mommy, do come close." "Shut up..."

"Mommy, mommy, died of an overdose!"

"Shut up!" In surprising anger, Lukas's finger pressed into the trigger. He was taken off guard by the recoil, by the loud noise, and even more taken off guard as Joshua fell to the floor screaming as the bullet hit his chest.

"Oh God! Oh Christ, it hurts, Christ!" Joshua yelled, rolling on the floor. "Shit! Fuck! Argh! Ah! Ah... haha...haha... hahahaha!" Joshua suddenly leaped to his feet and put his arms wide out, tilting his head. "Surprise."

"Huh...?" Lukas could only blink as Joshua leaped forward and used the back of his hand to slap the pistol from Lukas' grip. Lukas turned just to see Joshua's other hand reaching for his throat. Unable to react in time, Lukas was pushed back with surprising strength into a tree-trunk. Joshua glared into Lukas' eyes.

"Tip 1, Lukas Solveig. In a hostage situation with two people, don't take your eyes off both of them."

"Wh...what?"

"My little brother Miles has already gone. So, you've lost one of us. I wonder how the men in suits will like that."

"I-"

Joshua put a finger against Lukas' mouth. "Tip 2. Work with me."

Speechless, Lukas could only watch as Joshua peered around the tree.

"Two men in suits. It's them. I guessed as much." Joshua smirked before leaning forward to Lukas in a whisper. "I can save whoever has been held hostage. But for me to help you, you need to work with me. When I give the signal, you are going to push me straight into that river, okay, as hard as you can. Knowing those guys, they will praise you, give you an 'address' to find that hostage. It will be a trap. However, we'll work it. In thirty minutes, meet me at this exact spot."

Lukas couldn't reply as Joshua suddenly pushed him out of the tree-line. He stared at Joshua as Joshua pulled out a small knife and cut a thin line down his cheek drawing blood. Joshua then stabbed the knife into his arm, allowing blood to well and spill.

"Lukas Solveig. Where are the two hostages?"

Lukas turned to see the men in black suits. They were both similar, with their black suits, white shirts, red ties and sunglasses. Lukas opened his mouth, but was interrupted by a guttural snarl.

"You... you throw my brother into that river... you drown my brother!" Joshua put on a limp and stumbled out of the tree-line. The blood was now running into his eyes. Joshua pulled the knife from his arm and pointed it towards Lukas. "I'll kill you!" Running clumsily, Joshua went straight for Lukas. He winked on the side of the face the men in black couldn't see.

Taking his cue, Lukas could only put as much strength as he could to push Joshua in the chest. Joshua was propelled backwards before teetering on the edge of the river. He cast a glare at the two men in black. "I'm glad I wasn't killed by you bastards!" Joshua grit his teeth as he fell back, before his body was thrown into the unnatural wind. Twisting and turning, Joshua was sent in a blur down the almost super-natural current.

The two men in black reached Lukas and looked to him. One raised his glasses, impressed. "You killed them both. Well done. You've done more than expected."

The other one nodded. "We got Dominika's location here." He handed Lukas a paper note. "Just head there in two hours and she'll be with you again."

Lukas could only nod dumbly. The morning's events were almost too much for him. The two men in black looked to each other, before picking up the pistol and leaving the scene. Lukas walked the opposite direction, before falling to his knees and allowing his stomach contents to leave. Something about those men... something about the fear they induced. Leaning back against a large rock, Lukas stayed sitting and decided to stay right in that spot, waiting for Joshua.

A/N: I'm really enjoying writing Lukas AND Joshua. 'Tis fun.

Thanks to Bookreader2010 & Gabe's –Girl-Forever for the reviews! Don't worry, we'll be getting a bit more Dorothy and Jason next chapter, and perhaps, if I so feel inclined, another big twist. And we're nowhere NEAR the end! Hell, we're not even past Act I yet! Oh, I am loving this story, I'm loving you readers and reviewing, so 'till next time!

P.S.: Holy c**p-nuggets, did I really upload this quickly after my previous chapter? 'Tis a bad omen indeed...