Chapter 3
Amanda's POV
I can't for the life of me tell you what those noises I heard coming from the house were, but it frightens me even more now since I know some what of what we are dealing with.
Okay, so talking wasn't a good thing, cause now I can feel a deep throbbing in my jaw where Ronkovik almost knocked me out cold, and there seems to be a knot on my forehead giving me the worst headache I've had in years. Oh great! What is this? I seriously don't remember getting water on my...wait a minute, that's blood. What the...gosh it must be coming from my mouth, cause now that I think about it I can taste it too. Well, at least when Francine takes in the sight of me, she'll have no reason to not believe something's up.
As I slowly and cautiously make my way back to the house, I notice the silence around me is becoming quite deafening. Owww...hmmm I guess that's another injury I didn't know I had. Man my side sure does hurt.... Okay Amanda, just breathe and relax...Breathe...We need to see that Lee's okay before we meet Francine. Okay...almost there... Cute Amanda, leave the keys in the Jeep. Oh forget it, I know my lock pick is around here some...Ah Ha, there it is. Now let see, just to the left, and....click. Gosh I hope that mans not near the door. Slowly...turn...the knob. There we go, now just push it open ever so slightly...Hmm that's odd, I could have sworn all the lights were on a minute ago.
Now if I just stay low, and peak around the corner. Shoot, I don't see Lee anywhere.
"Mmmmm ohhhh...."
What the heck was that? "Lee... Leee..." I say at a soft but urgent whisper.
"Ohhhh Amaa...Amanda...go!!...Leave, please...owww... Bef...Before he comes.."
Oh my gosh. I knew that sounded like Lee. They must have had a nasty fight. I bet that was what I heard. Damn I need to get him out of here.
"Hell no Lee...I'm not leaving you...Now I'm going to somehow drag you out of here, and please feel free to help me out, cause your not exactly light." I must say this is going to be interesting, me dragging Lee out of here while my body feels like I went through a battering ram. Okay, got him. Oh gees, Lee your heavy...
"Amanda, no."
"Lee… hush...now help me get you to the Jeep…please..."
"Uhhggg"
Okay, either that was his version of giving in or I hit a sensitive spot. Come on Lee just a little bit further, I don't know if I have the strength to drag you.
"Were almost there...Just a few more steps...Okay I know this is going to hurt, but you need get in, quickly...There..."
Shoot, it might not be a good idea to start the vehicle this close to the house. Thank God we live on a flat street because I'm going to have to push... Wow this is painful...Just a few more feet and I can get in and get the hell out of here.
That's when I couldn't take it anymore, I hop into the driver seat, throw it into park so I can start the engine, and just as quickly put it into drive. When I look over at Lee, I see him looking right at me. He has both a pained and scared look on his face, but he just sits there and says nothing. I must have known what he was thinking cause I responded as if he said the question out loud.
"I don't know why Lee, but something wouldn't let me leave...maybe it was just cause I was lightheaded, but for some reason it feels like something more...Then I heard about everything that was said and I knew then I couldn't leave you behind."
For once in our lives he actually sits there and again says nothing. His eyes were locked on me the entire time, soaking up every word I say as if this was all a dream and he was about to get a rude awakening.
No Longer in Amanda's POV
"Amanda?"
"Shush Lee...let me finish... So I sat there for a moment and tried to figure out what had just happened in there and how on earth we were going to get out of this. I remembered I had left my cell phone in the Jeep, took my chances, and called Francine."
"Oh no, not The Agency...Amanda how cou..."
"Lee, listen to me. We have a much better chance getting out of this alive with their help than without it. Besides, Francine is our friend, and she'd do anything to help us if we need it...So don't be angry with me for wanting you in my life, alive, and for asking her to help us.."
"I'm not mad at you Amanda! I just don't think you understand the full implications of what you just did. This is the Mafia, Russian Mafia at that. These guys make the KGB look like school children with toy water guns. We…"
"Lee I know full well what I've done, and I'm not going to give into these guys. I love you too much to be without you, so forgive me if I want to try to save our lives." Her grip tightened on the steering wheel as the pain in her head increased, and the frustration to make him understand grew.
She then looked up at her rear view mirror a few more times to make sure there wasn't a tail and turned right on to D St. Lee shifted his body around the seat a few more times, trying anything to get comfortable, but the pain was all over. Finally giving up, yet again, he placed his left hand on top of her right one, and tugged at it until she released her death grip from the wheel and interlaced it with his.
Reaching their destination, Randy's, and old 'Bar and Grill' Billy had at one time frequented, Amanda checked one last time for a tail and exited the Jeep. She came around to the passenger side, opened the door, and helped Lee ease his way out. The bright glow of the street lamp highlighted every detailed feature on Amanda's face, and the second Lee turned to look into her eyes he fully understood what Ronkovik had done to her. He reached up, placing his fingers under chin and smoothed his thumb over the deep bruise and drying blood.
"Oh my...god." he said, with pain evident in his voice.
"Lee...It's alright...I…I understand."
"No Amanda...It's not alright..." Fighting back tears, "… He hurt you, badly...I did nothing...but let him. Oh god! I'm so sorry..."
"It's not your fault Lee...I'm...Uh...I'm okay"
Lee couldn't take it, he needed to touch her, to hold her and know she was really there. So he wrapped her up into his warm, but aching arms, and nuzzled his face along her neck.
"You are not okay Amanda. I can see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice...Please...forgive me..."
"You are right Lee. I'm not alright...But this physical pain right now means nothing to me...You're here, with me, and that's all that matters...Now we better get in there before Francine really starts to panic."
Amanda's POV
I can't for the life of me tell you what those noises I heard coming from the house were, but it frightens me even more now since I know some what of what we are dealing with.
Okay, so talking wasn't a good thing, cause now I can feel a deep throbbing in my jaw where Ronkovik almost knocked me out cold, and there seems to be a knot on my forehead giving me the worst headache I've had in years. Oh great! What is this? I seriously don't remember getting water on my...wait a minute, that's blood. What the...gosh it must be coming from my mouth, cause now that I think about it I can taste it too. Well, at least when Francine takes in the sight of me, she'll have no reason to not believe something's up.
As I slowly and cautiously make my way back to the house, I notice the silence around me is becoming quite deafening. Owww...hmmm I guess that's another injury I didn't know I had. Man my side sure does hurt.... Okay Amanda, just breathe and relax...Breathe...We need to see that Lee's okay before we meet Francine. Okay...almost there... Cute Amanda, leave the keys in the Jeep. Oh forget it, I know my lock pick is around here some...Ah Ha, there it is. Now let see, just to the left, and....click. Gosh I hope that mans not near the door. Slowly...turn...the knob. There we go, now just push it open ever so slightly...Hmm that's odd, I could have sworn all the lights were on a minute ago.
Now if I just stay low, and peak around the corner. Shoot, I don't see Lee anywhere.
"Mmmmm ohhhh...."
What the heck was that? "Lee... Leee..." I say at a soft but urgent whisper.
"Ohhhh Amaa...Amanda...go!!...Leave, please...owww... Bef...Before he comes.."
Oh my gosh. I knew that sounded like Lee. They must have had a nasty fight. I bet that was what I heard. Damn I need to get him out of here.
"Hell no Lee...I'm not leaving you...Now I'm going to somehow drag you out of here, and please feel free to help me out, cause your not exactly light." I must say this is going to be interesting, me dragging Lee out of here while my body feels like I went through a battering ram. Okay, got him. Oh gees, Lee your heavy...
"Amanda, no."
"Lee… hush...now help me get you to the Jeep…please..."
"Uhhggg"
Okay, either that was his version of giving in or I hit a sensitive spot. Come on Lee just a little bit further, I don't know if I have the strength to drag you.
"Were almost there...Just a few more steps...Okay I know this is going to hurt, but you need get in, quickly...There..."
Shoot, it might not be a good idea to start the vehicle this close to the house. Thank God we live on a flat street because I'm going to have to push... Wow this is painful...Just a few more feet and I can get in and get the hell out of here.
That's when I couldn't take it anymore, I hop into the driver seat, throw it into park so I can start the engine, and just as quickly put it into drive. When I look over at Lee, I see him looking right at me. He has both a pained and scared look on his face, but he just sits there and says nothing. I must have known what he was thinking cause I responded as if he said the question out loud.
"I don't know why Lee, but something wouldn't let me leave...maybe it was just cause I was lightheaded, but for some reason it feels like something more...Then I heard about everything that was said and I knew then I couldn't leave you behind."
For once in our lives he actually sits there and again says nothing. His eyes were locked on me the entire time, soaking up every word I say as if this was all a dream and he was about to get a rude awakening.
No Longer in Amanda's POV
"Amanda?"
"Shush Lee...let me finish... So I sat there for a moment and tried to figure out what had just happened in there and how on earth we were going to get out of this. I remembered I had left my cell phone in the Jeep, took my chances, and called Francine."
"Oh no, not The Agency...Amanda how cou..."
"Lee, listen to me. We have a much better chance getting out of this alive with their help than without it. Besides, Francine is our friend, and she'd do anything to help us if we need it...So don't be angry with me for wanting you in my life, alive, and for asking her to help us.."
"I'm not mad at you Amanda! I just don't think you understand the full implications of what you just did. This is the Mafia, Russian Mafia at that. These guys make the KGB look like school children with toy water guns. We…"
"Lee I know full well what I've done, and I'm not going to give into these guys. I love you too much to be without you, so forgive me if I want to try to save our lives." Her grip tightened on the steering wheel as the pain in her head increased, and the frustration to make him understand grew.
She then looked up at her rear view mirror a few more times to make sure there wasn't a tail and turned right on to D St. Lee shifted his body around the seat a few more times, trying anything to get comfortable, but the pain was all over. Finally giving up, yet again, he placed his left hand on top of her right one, and tugged at it until she released her death grip from the wheel and interlaced it with his.
Reaching their destination, Randy's, and old 'Bar and Grill' Billy had at one time frequented, Amanda checked one last time for a tail and exited the Jeep. She came around to the passenger side, opened the door, and helped Lee ease his way out. The bright glow of the street lamp highlighted every detailed feature on Amanda's face, and the second Lee turned to look into her eyes he fully understood what Ronkovik had done to her. He reached up, placing his fingers under chin and smoothed his thumb over the deep bruise and drying blood.
"Oh my...god." he said, with pain evident in his voice.
"Lee...It's alright...I…I understand."
"No Amanda...It's not alright..." Fighting back tears, "… He hurt you, badly...I did nothing...but let him. Oh god! I'm so sorry..."
"It's not your fault Lee...I'm...Uh...I'm okay"
Lee couldn't take it, he needed to touch her, to hold her and know she was really there. So he wrapped her up into his warm, but aching arms, and nuzzled his face along her neck.
"You are not okay Amanda. I can see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice...Please...forgive me..."
"You are right Lee. I'm not alright...But this physical pain right now means nothing to me...You're here, with me, and that's all that matters...Now we better get in there before Francine really starts to panic."