The next couple of chapters handle serious topics. This one can be seen as graphic: read on your own accord. I'll remind you the next chapter as well
Standing in the middle of a 6 by 6 closet, Deacon felt more stuck than ever.
What a terrible couple of days he thought to himself.
First he hurts someone who is like a daughter to him a him. Now everything he does will either kill or save her. When thinking of ways how he was going to make it up to Chris, saving her life was not on the list.
"What's your name?" Deacon asks, fighting to stay professional
"My name is Owen Muier" he says with a smirk
"What do you want?"
"I want to be cleared of all charges" he snarls, Chris numbly jerks her head
"That isn't happening" Luca says, reading her cue
"Do you know her?" Owen asks, pushing the gun into her temple
"She's a friend" Deacon answers
"Well she will die if you don't agree to my terms" he snarls
"Liv" Chris chokes out
"Shut up!" Owen snarls "not another word. You two, immunity or she's dead" the two back up in the hallway as Hondo comes over
"I'm here" Hondo says "we found Liv and other girls, now we just need this guy"
"Owen Muier" Deacon informs, still pointing his gun at Muier "he refuses to let Chris go unless he has immunity"
"Well that isn't happening" Hondo says "any chance of Chris hitting him?"
"Not for a bit" Luca answers "I think he drugged her, she can barely move or talk"
"Let's get this sorted out" Hondo says and the guys go back in "Owen, I can't give you immunity, but you're smart, you know that"
"Then I guess we are at a stale mate"
"Is there anything we can get that is a little more realistic" Hondo asks
"I want immunity, I won't settle for anything less"
"And I want to go to space" Hondo says sarcastically "it's hard to negotiate when you have a civilian's life in your arms"
"Don't play that card. I know she's a cop"
"Is that a bluff?" Hondo asks, hoping that it is
"I've seen her around. First I met her at the bar, then again in this nice shack. You remember that don't you Chris?" He asks Chris, she tries wiggle free, her face becoming red with effort "I doubt you know who I really am"
"An ass" Chris whispers, Owen hits her in the head with the gun, her eyes close
"I've known her for a long time" Owen continues, smiling "We formally met when she was walking home. Even before then, I knew I had to have her. Chris was a piece of work, no doubt, but she created a great foundation for my business. After awhile, she became a waste, so I let her escape. Chris was a coward and I knew she wouldn't talk. I haven't made the same amount with anyone else since her. Clients liked her kick ass attitude, then if they wanted and paid the right price, could beat her into obedience. She fought me every step of the way, kinda made her cute. No one else has done that"
"You're disgusting" Luca says
"Do you want to know how I did it?" The guys remain silent, not really wanting to know. But the confession would nail him harder in the long run "whipping, it was the most pleasurable technique for me. The screaming, it's exhilarating. The clients who paid were given a riding crop. When I watch the footage again, the rush of seeing her scream then take off her clothes is unprecedented. The scars are there, have you ever seen her back? Maybe you can look when you look at her corpse"
"Owen" Chris whispers, eyes open and hard and determined. Despite the tears in them
"What?"
"You're so stupid" she says, head butting Owen, making him drop Chris. She tries to stand, but doesn't have enough feeling in her legs to stand
"Nobody move" Owen calls out, taking a grenade "you three leave or else" he pulls out the pin and holds the grenade above his head. Time freezes, the guys look at Owen, then back at Chris. She looks at the ground. Chris knows that things are going south because she hit him. And she knows she has to make it right
"Owen" Hondo says "I'm sure we can come to understanding"
"Do you want her to die?" He snarls "I suggest you give me immunity or all of us are dead. I'm not spending a day of my life in prison"
"Hondo" Chris begs "go, get to safety"
"We are not leaving you here" Deacon argues
"What choice do we have?" Chris says breathlessly "think about your chances" the three guys look at each other
"Hondo, we cleared the rest of the building, do you need help?" Street asks over the coms
"No" Hondo says "we have a suspect holding a grenade, you and Tan, get out"
"Roger that" Street says
"Make a choice" Owen says "or I'll blow us all to pieces"
"Luca" Hondo says "walk back slowly"
"But-" Luca protests
"First you" Hondo whispers "Then Deacon then me"
"Hondo" Deacon says
"She's right" he whispers "we have a better chance of saving her afterwards. We can't save her if we are all dead. There is a perimeter around this entire building, we will get her back" Luca moves back, then Deacon, finally, Hondo starts to walk back. Owen eyes them "ok Owen, you get what you want, this time"
"I'm not stupid" Owen whispers to Chris watching them inch back slowly "they are" he pulls his arm back to throw the grenade at Hondo, Luca, and Deacon. Chris sees this, and with all her strength, jumps onto Owen. The impact causes him to drop it on his foot. The two crash to the ground, Owen kicks Chris in the face as he tries to get up.
"If I'm going down so are you" she says, tackling him. The feeling in her leg returning finally. All her anger is taken out of the guy as he starts hitting her as well. The two are both still fighting when the grenade goes off.