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Chapter 28- Random Acts.
Her nerves were shot.
Completely, totally, utterly, and in every way imaginable.
Her insides were shaking, her thumb jammed in between her upper and lower jaws as her teeth chiseled away at skin and nail.
Her emotions were a roller coaster too, she felt calm and patient one moment, and highly panicked and on edge the next.
Sam's idea of running off into the demon's domain on his own had been a charming and sweet dream; but there was no way that he was ever walking out of there alive.
As soon as she was dressed and heading down the stairs, Andy heard the key in the lock and the door swung open to reveal Noelle and Oliver.
Inhaling a calming breath Andy rushed over to Oliver who cradled her in a warm hug. She felt like crying, but somehow the watery sign of emotion was kept at bay.
"He left didn't he?" Noelle asked after Andy managed to gain some of her composure.
Andy nodded, but didn't say anything. A look passed between Noelle and Oliver that Andy didn't miss. "What?" She asked openly looking between them. They knew something.
"We guessed that Sam would do this, so we had a plan B in play since you came back." Oliver explained, a wicked smile on his face.
"Plan B?"
"Sammy's... Well he's kind of predictable when he has his heart set on something." Noelle let out a light chuckle as she shook her head before walking away and Andy heard the telltale signs that she was setting out to make coffee.
"Um, like?"
"Andy, Sammy's complicated but he's also transparent." Oliver said rubbing a hand across his forehead.
"What?" Andy was lost.
"He wants you and Jared out of harms way, that's what he's gone to get and he won't stop until he knows that it's guaranteed."
"Arg," Andy sighed.
It wasn't like she didn't know that already, she didn't need to hear it.
"So, what exactly is plan B?" She changed the subject.
"Sam isn't alone so he'll be okay." Noelle said coming back into the lounge.
"Who's with him and how did they even know he left?"
"We had eyes on the house and Sam was followed. We also have eyes on him inside the club that we confirmed Boyd's at."
"Who Oliver?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes," Andy answered before she had time to think it over. How did Oliver know if whoever was with Sam could be trusted?
"They can be trusted, they've know Sam a long time Andy." Noelle smiled. Crap, she had said that out loud.
"He'll be okay, Andy"
Oliver gave a chuckle at that moment and Andy could only guess that it was because she was scowling at him like a spoiled five year old would.
...
"Son of a ..." Boyd dumped half his beer out next to his glass as he slammed it down on the table and stared through the glass at a face that was staring right back like it knew that he was here.
It had been a while, but yet the years hadn't changed Swarek at all.
"Vaat?" Boyd sounded like he asked when it was actually "What?" Laced with a thick Russian accent. His back was facing the glass so he wasn't looking at what Boyd was seeing.
Boyd found his feet as Boris whirled around and time froze as the past caught up to the present.
...
Sam was a patient man.
He could stand here all night if that's how long it took.
He counted a rough ten, maybe twelve minutes that passed as he stood looking at the mirrored window and waited.
A hand placed itself on his shoulder from behind and something jabbed him in the ribs as a rough voice whispered a "Walk" with a rough V indicating it's Russian heritage.
The voice was familiar as so was the tall length of the man behind him, Sam guessing that it was Iaan, Boris' right hand man behind him pointing a gun into his side.
Sam turned to the right and proceeded to cross the floor and he walked the few steps it took to cross the floor before his shoes met the dark carpet and his eyes a closed door.
The object in his side jabbed him so he opened the door and found a staircase.
Ascending the stairs Sam took a deep breath and tried to picture Andy as she slept and Jared as he let out a boisterous laugh.
At least if this was how he went, he'd have a few final, good memories on his mind.
Reaching the top of the stairs a bouncer had the door open waiting for them. Sam stepped through followed by Iaan into the room, eyes glaring at him.
Iaan let go of Sam and he stepped forwards some more showing no fear and no remorse at making the decision to come here alone.
The three women in the corner watched him with interest, Boris, Boyd and another guy to his left.
"So, we meet again my friend." Boris' tone was sarcastic and Sam's hand clenched into a fist, the urge to punch Boris in the face rising within him from deep inside.
"What? No pleasantries Sammy?" Boyd sneered as he took his turn to jab at Sam's silence.
"It's not a pleasure, and we're not friends." Sam managed to voice without losing his temper. He even managed a cocky smile.
Glancing swiftly over to the corner Sam surveyed the faces of the women, one in particular holding his focus.
"So, what brings you here Sammy? Come to bury the past?" Boris was the cooler of the two, Boyd's face told of his unspoken anger and his fowl mood.
"I want to buy their freedom." Sam deadpanned because if that's what he had to do, then that's what would happen.
"Buy their freedom? Really Sammy? What makes you think that there is a price on their freedom?" Boyd asked.
"Oh come on Boyd. Everyone has a price, or something they want," Sam tilted his head to the side, his dare making its presence known out in the open.
"And what would you have that I want?" Boyd snapped even though the conversation had turned serious and the temperature in the room soared.
Sam's hand swept to his pocket, a gun suddenly appearing at the side of his head with Iaan moving like lightning.
Iaan looked at Boris who nodded, Sam's hand continuing to his pocket before holding up the flashdrive. "This,"
"And the rest of your coke and a few other things," Sam wiggled the flashdrive around now that he had Boyd and Boris' attention.
"What other things?" Boris demanded.
Sam had successfully been able to draw both men into a position to bargain, now he just needed to keep them interested long enough to buy a little more time.
"Me." Sam managed a weak smile, but it was only because he knew that he now had their full attention.
"You?" Boyd laughed out loud like he found the single word the funniest thing he'd ever heard.
"Shut up." Boris bellowed and Boyd jammed his mouth closed, an intensified stare tossed Sam's way.
"And you believe that I have need of your services?" Boris asked, his hand moving up to tug on the lapel of his suite.
"Of course you do, how many people have you got in Witness Protection?"
Sam winced internally as he offered himself up in exchange for Andy and Jared to be forgotten about. Saying that, tabling that, went against everything he stood for, everything he believed in. It was in contradiction to what he stood for, and what he was working towards, but he offered it with ease because they deserved it.
Boris cracked a smile and held out his hand to Sam who's stomach was churning. He felt sick knowing hat he'd made a deal with the devil but that's just how it had to be right now.
...
Noelle's phone rang and Andy watched her breathe a sigh of relief as she listened to what the caller said.
After a brief exchange of only a hello and goodbye on her side Noelle hung up and smiled intently Andy's way. "He made it out."
Andy breathed a sigh of relief as she sat down. Her insides were back to shaking and her legs felt like they wouldn't hold her up any longer.
A second call followed causing Noelle to frown and leave the room as she whispered hushed words to the caller this time.
Oliver had stayed with them and found a seat next to Andy. "Told you he'd be okay."
"You did." Andy managed to let out on a sweet note as the weight of the world wafted away.
"Um, got a minute?" Noelle looked directly at Andy when she returned to the room and Andy felt her heart drop.
She nodded and Noelle just jumped right in there "I.A will have a SUV here to pick you up in fifteen. They will be taking you to Ontario where you will be briefed, and Jared will meet you."
"What about Sam?" Andy asked knowing that something was wrong if they were moving her out of state and by I.A, her own department.
"I dunno Andy, I'm sorry. That was the A.D.A, so it's come from high up."
"The D.A's office? Why would they send me out of state? Noelle if you know something," Andy pleaded but Noelle shook her head, she really didn't know any more.
"Hey Kiddo, it's not important now. Sammy's okay, and they're bringing Jared to you." Oliver interjected into the conversation.
Andy nodded although she had the feeling that things weren't as okay as they seemed. Something had changed, in a big way and it didn't take rocket science to know that it had something to do with Sam.
Sam opened the throttle and increased his speed. Riding Betty had always given him a sense of freedom, now he just felt the suffocation of his choices.
He pulled over at the end of the block and killed the headlight but left the engine running.
A black SUV pulled up outside Noelle's house and two suites got out and made for the door.
Noelle opened the door and Sam caught sight of Andy as she stepped outside before she stopped and spun around to give Oliver a hug and then Noelle.
She was ushered to the waiting car, her hands empty. It made him wonder if she had chosen to leave everything behind or if she had been rushed to forget it, or forced to leave it.
She climbed in when the door was held open for her, the suite climbing in the back beside her, while the other got into the passenger seat and the driver sped away.
Sam watched the street until it looked like a normal street, one with no secrets before he kicked into gear and turned the headlight back on.
Pulling away, Sam felt like a large piece of him was missing, like something was wrong and he knew exactly what it was.
He let Andy go...
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Jbj.
