KIDNAPPED
Donovan stood at the foot of the bed and watched Pax with an amused look on his face. She was decked out in her tiny mini-skirt and fucking spike heeled boots. He had forgotten to sneak them out of her luggage and burn them. Oh well. Perhaps at another time. Would there be another time? When they took care of Ahiga, where would they go from here? When they had been in bed together yesterday, he had come extremely close to flat out asking her to marry him, not just fucking around, but actually saying the words. If he knew her as well as he thought he did, she wouldn't have accepted anyway. Then again, there were other factors to consider as well. One of those being his daughter. Pax's relationship with Stasia was still tentative at best. Her heart was still aching for her son, and he was certain his little girl sometimes made the ache a little worse. However, they had had their moments. Pax actually seemed as if she were trying with Stasia. His daughter didn't quite trust the strange woman yet, but she was fascinated by her tallness and her affinity for giving her spoons. Pax looked up at about the same time he had gone into his thoughtful reverie. He was lost in thought and for a moment, she was tempted to scream at him just so the look would go away. She didn't want to know what he was thinking about, but if she thought about it long and hard enough, she would know. Donovan had actually asked her to come in here so they could talk about something that Alex had discovered the night before. He wanted to tell Pax directly and not have her hear of the plan from the outside fringes. He didn't think she would like it, but it was the only thing that would draw Ahiga out.
Pax stood and walked over to the mirror. She went to work on taming her hair, attempting to whip it into a hasty French braid. She stopped only when she heard Frankie's command: "leave it down." She shook her head in exasperation and did as he asked. She took her brush in hand and began working it through her hair. He noticed she was taking her sweet time, and he wondered if she weren't doing it on purpose. Had she heard them talking earlier? The plan would be carried out with or without her blessing, but he wanted her to know about it in advance. When she finally had her hair in some type of respectable order, she turned toward Donovan and noticed that his worried/concerned look hadn't left his face.
"Something is going down tonight, and I need you to know," he began. She said nothing, simply stood staring at him. He swallowed hard, feeling like a coward. "Alex found out last night that Ahiga's weak spot is his wife and children. He is very taken with them. She said that he spent a lot of time talking about them just in the few moments she was auditioning."
"Oh fuck, Frankie," she moaned. "You're not saying what I think you're saying? You're going to use his family against him? What the fuck are you thinking? As much as I fucking hate his guts, his children are innocent, his wife is innocent. Don't fucking do it, Frankie, I'll fucking walk right now. My thing is with him, not his family."
"Would you let me finish," he said. "No harm will come to them. We're going to do nothing more than divert traffic after she picks up the older children from school. I promise you that we won't harm a hair on their heads. Do you think I'd hurt them after what happened to you? Do you? Once we have traffic jammed up, I'll make the call to Ahiga about this family, and we'll have a confrontation. He won't come out on his own, but we can draw him out. This is the only way I see getting to him. He's been dodging us fairly well, even at his home. You know that yourself."
"I don't like it," she said. "I don't fucking like it at all. You're still using them, still causing stress of some kind, and I cannot fucking support that."
"It doesn't matter if you support it, it will be done. I repeat, no harm will come to those children. The only stress they'll suffer is that of being in a traffic jam. If I had another route, I'd take it, but right now, this is all we have. I'm doing this to get this guy for you, Jonella. Don't you understand?"
She didn't say whether she accepted that or not, her mind was somewhere else. "When you face off with Ahiga, are you taking me with you?"
He wanted to refuse, to say absolutely fucking not, but he bit it back. He would take her, but keep her in the periphery as with everything. They could not move on Ahiga until he moved on them. At the same time, the FBI would tear his records to shreds. They had enough to sink him for several years, but they had to move soon. "You'll be there, but you won't make a move, Jonella. You can't. You won't be in, but on the periphery as always."
She nodded. "I know. Don't you think I get it by now?"
* * *
Before the team put the plan into action, Donovan took Pax back to his parents' house to check in with them. Since hearing of Ahiga's connections in Miami, Donovan was a bit on the paranoid side and afraid something would happen to his daughter. He had no worries as he walked up on the porch and saw his mother and Stasia in the living room. He left Pax in the car, which was immediately noticed by his mother. She stood staring at the car curiously. Unusual. For days, the two of them couldn't be apart longer than an hour without one looking for the other. Yet, she sat in the car, looking disturbed and her son didn't look all that great, either.
"Son, is everything okay? Isn't your wife coming out?"
He glanced back at the car. Pax had her arms crossed over her chest and she was gazing blankly out the window. Normally animated, she wasn't moving at all. Donovan felt horribly about the play-acting and he would have a lot of explaining to do. He had had this woman in their home, had made endless love to her right under their noses, and she was nothing more to him than his lover. She wasn't his wife, would probably never consent to be, and he was more than certain his parents would be very hurt. He felt lower and lower the longer he stood there. He ached to tell her right then and there, but he couldn't. They had shit to do and not a lot of time to do it.
He shook his head, feeling like such a liar. "No. We can only stay a few minutes. We'll be back late. When we return, there are some things Jonella and I need to discuss with you." Without another word to his mother, he turned and went back to the car. As he climbed inside, he noticed that she was playing with the silver ring again, seemingly lost in thought. "When this is over, we're telling my parents the truth." She said nothing, just kept staring straight ahead. What the hell was in her mind? "Jonella, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said. I just wish I could keep you, that's all. "Just thinking." She began working the ring over again, sliding it on and off, twisting it around her finger. She wasn't necessarily worried about the plan or even angry about it anymore, but she wondered what would happen after tonight? It was a fucking scary thought. "I really hate breaking it to them, your parents are really nice. They're good people. You're very lucky."
He wanted to say something to her, but she had an odd look on her face. She didn't want to talk about it anymore. Goddamn it, but he did. He wanted this shit out in the open, wanted to bang it out until neither of could talk. Yet, this wasn't the time for it. It would come later, after the showdown with Ahiga. The only thing he could do was reach over and grasp her hand. At first, she tensed and refused to allow the touch. After a moment, she gave in and held his hand tightly in hers. Their relationship had grown and developed into something neither of them expected or wanted. Now, it was coming to a bizarre close. It doesn't have to end, can't you see that? It doesn't have to end. All you need is a push, just a little push. He couldn't. She'd laugh in his face.
* * *
Ingrid Raynor was completely exhausted. Her gigantic belly hardly fit behind the wheel of her SUV any longer. In a few weeks, someone else would have to pick up the children. She had a horrendous headache that wasn't helped by her squalling two-year-old in the back. If Keith would just stop crying, she might feel better. She waited patiently for her other two sons. She smiled and waved them other. Six-year-old Josef and eight-year-old Klaus were almost twins. They ran out to the SUV happily, completely oblivious to the fact that their father had murdered their half-brother in cold blood. Josef jumped in the back seat with Keith and Klaus in the front with their mother. They had to get home early tonight. Tore wanted to take them to dinner to celebrate one last time before the new baby came. Once he was born, family outings would be a thing of the past for a while. Her husband insisted that she stay home with the boys. She didn't mind. She just figured that it was her lot in life.
She made her way through busy traffic. It was much worse during drop offs and pick-ups, and Ingrid was a bit irritated. The heat and the added strain of the new baby was weighing her down, tuckering her out. She sighed as she maneuvered through the sea of cars and shielded her eyes from the blinding sun reflecting off her hood. She cursed herself for forgetting her sunglasses. For once, the children were relatively quiet and the movement of the vehicle had lulled Keith to sleep. She groaned out loud when she saw the large detour sign. She didn't need any delays today. She took the detour, barely looking at Officer Alex as she passed. If she had, she would have seen the young woman muttering into her blouse. However, she was irritated and distracted. Tore would not be pleased.
When Donovan heard Alex's signal that it was a go, he nodded toward Cody who touched a button on his computer. After a moment, he heard the distinctive beeps and blips made as the number was being dialed. He listened to the ringing with impatience. Pick up, you fucker, I know you're there. After six rings, a gruff voice answered the phone. Just by Pax's reaction alone [she jumped and yipped], he knew it was Ahiga. Before he spoke, he began to pace a bit. "Good afternoon, Agent Ahiga. It's okay if I call you that, isn't it? How are you doing today? Good?"
The man on the other end of the line listened to the voice. He knew he should recognize it, but he didn't, not immediately. This person was one whom he knew in his past life. "Only the CIA refers to me as Ahiga, my friend. Who are you and why do you bother me," he demanded gruffly.
"I'll get to that in time, Agent Ahiga. Let's talk, shall we? I understand you have a beautiful pregnant wife and three equally beautiful sons. I also understand that you love your family very much. Am I correct in those assumptions, Agent Ahiga? If not, please correct me."
"What of my wife and children," he shouted. "What the hell have you done with them? Who are you? Tell me or I will kill you."
Donovan chuckled bitterly. "Impatient, aren't we? Do you remember a woman named Jonella Paxton? I think she had a son, didn't she? He was two when you killed him. Anyway, ancient history, right? Let's move on to who I am and what I want. It's Frank Donovan, Agent Ahiga. I was Agent Paxton's partner some time ago. We've had more than one run in, haven't we? I thought it was time for a little payback for Jonella and her son. I have your wife and your children with me right now. Does that interest you at all?"
Ahiga began to curse at Donovan in his native language. "You lie, you bastard, you lie," he screamed. "They are not with you. She is at home right now with the boys, preparing for dinner."
"Are you sure about that," he asked pointedly. "When was the last time you called to check on them? Did you call today? I'd suggest that after you finish the conversation with me, you call home, but don't do it yet. If you hang up, I won't call back, and you'll never see them again." At the far corner of the room, he could hear Pax crying. God. He hated hurting her. He tried to persuade her to leave the room, but she refused. "So, do you think I'm lying now? If you want proof, I can give it to you." He nodded toward Cody who pushed another button. It was the squalling of a child, not his, but it was effective enough. Ahiga began cursing again. Another chuckle left the depths of Donovan's throat. "From the tone of your voice, I think you're convinced, aren't you? Good. If you love your children as much I think, you'll agree with my deal. Even exchange, Ahiga. You for your family. I'll accept nothing else. Make your decision, I'm giving you twenty seconds." He began to pace as he counted down. "Twenty…nineteen…eighteen…seventeen…sixteen…you're running out of time, my friend…fifteen…fourteen…thirteen…"
"Stop, stop it, you bastard," he yelled.
"I thought you would see it my way, Ahiga. Why don't we meet at your club in two hours? Bring no one. You know the club; it was where you insulted my partner. I really hate it when people close to me are harmed. Makes me a little jumpy. I'm sure you understand, don't you? If you don't show up within two hours, you'll be back on the singles market before you know it. The clock starts ticking right now." He made a slicing motion at his throat, and Cody disconnected the call.
Pax glanced at him. "Goddamn, that was vicious," she said from across the room.
"I'm sorry, Jonella," he said softly.
"No, don't apologize. I liked hearing the pain in that fucker's words. He deserves every fucking bit of it."
"Can you do this," he asked as he approached her. "Can you face this man? Just hearing his voice sent you over. What will you do if you're close? I almost don't want to take you."
She lifted her chin defiantly. "You said I could be on the periphery. I've kept my promise, and you'd damn well better keep yours. You won't fucking leave me behind. I'll follow if I have to. Take me with you, I can fucking take it. I'll take anything to see that twisted asshole taken down."
"You don't move unless he moves first," he told her. "Remember."
"I've got it, I've got it," she said impatiently.
They sat outside in the van quiet and apprehensive. The rest of the team was behind them for backup. Alex had lifted a key and in a few moments, they'd make their way inside. Donovan watched Pax closely. She was tense and wired up. He'd seen her like this dozens of times. She was going into full 'agent' mode. He needed to distract her. If he didn't, she would run in with fists and teeth at the ready. He grabbed her arm and she jumped. She gazed down at his hand. She was tempted to smack it away, but she understood what he was doing. She sighed a little, grateful for the touch, grateful for the push back into reality.
"This will end it, Jonella, I promise you," he said.
She nodded. "I know. Can we do this?"
He nodded and took her arm. Together, they left the van and walked toward the back entrance. Donovan unlocked the door and the two of them slipped inside. The interior of the club was darkened, but that problem was solved as soon as Pax hit the lights. Both of them saw an advertisement for their new singer: Gyllene. They had to smile at the irony, but soon grew serious. Any slight distraction could make the difference between life and death. They stood close together, Donovan holding onto the back of Pax's shirt tightly. If she ran off, she'd leave her shirt with him. They waited, every now and then, calling back and forth amongst the agents. Nothing. There was no movement. Ahiga had yet to arrive. He was running out of time, and they were both becoming antsy. One more minute, and this plan was history. However, a noise from the back broke out, and they were sure Ahiga had arrived.
When Ahiga showed himself, Donovan felt Pax's body quivering with anger. She wanted to break free of his grasp so badly that she couldn't stand it. He held onto her shirt even tighter. Calm down, Jonella; don't let him do this to you. "Glad you decided to show up," Donovan said with a smile. "You apparently called home first, didn't you?"
Ahiga wasn't looking at Donovan; he had fixed his black eyes on Pax. "Jomfru [virgin], you have a new lover now. If he gives you a child, you won't have to grieve over the one you lost."
Pax closed her eyes tightly and gritted her teeth. She was straining desperately against Donovan's grip. He held on even tighter, perhaps grabbing skin. Don't play his game. Don't talk to him. Don't say a word. "We didn't come to talk," Donovan said. "We came to bargain. You for your family." Donovan carefully slid his gun from its holster and took aim. "Jake, Alex, move in." He glanced at Ahiga who appeared confused and a little betrayed. "Tell the agents to descend on the office."
"You play a fucking cruel game," Ahiga said.
"Yes, I did," Donovan said with a nod. "However, you've played your own, haven't you?"
Of course nothing was ever as easy as it needed to be. Ahiga was trained, just like Donovan and Pax. He rushed forward, dodging the bullets from Donovan's gun and managed to knock it out of his hand. At that point, Pax dived down to grab the gun that had skittered across the floor. Ahiga's attention should have been focused on eliminating Donovan, but it wasn't. He went after Pax instead. Fighting quietly, the CIA way, he grabbed Pax around the waist and squeezed hard. If he managed to get his hands around her throat, the jomfru would never harm him again. He was throwing her around like a rag doll and some way, she managed to elbow him in the ribs. The blow did nothing to him. His stomach was hard muscle. Well, if he wanted to fight dirty, she could fight right back. She dug her nails into his arms and began clawing him, digging deep grooves into his skin. He released his grip only slightly to allow his hand to move upward. He was intent on snapping her neck. She felt his arm going up and up. His hand settled around her throat and she felt the crushing and was waiting for the snap. Just when she thought it was going to happen, he dropped her. On her hands and knees now, taking deep, hitching breaths, she glanced behind her. Donovan had whacked the bastard between the shoulders with the butt of his gun.
Ahiga wasn't down by any far stretch of the imagination, but he was hurting. She looked up at Donovan. He didn't move or say a word. Without hesitating, she turned to Ahiga and kicked his chest, knocking him over to his back. Splayed out before her, he was looking up and smiling. She would wipe it off his face. She kicked him again, rolling him into his stomach. The fucker was laughing. We can't have that now can we? She kicked him on his ass, digging her heel in. He didn't like that much and he roared out in pain. He turned to his side, ready to grab her leg, but she dodged his paw. It was low and dirty, but she didn't give a fuck. It gave her massive satisfaction when she gave him a swift hard kick between his legs. He howled in pain.
"Don't like that, do you," she cried. "How does that feel? I'll bet it feels nothing like the pain my Lee suffered at your fucking hands! I hope you're sterile, you fucker, I hope you're sterile like me. I hope you rot."
She kicked him again and then again. She was readying to grind her needle like heel into his groin when Donovan put a stop to it. He reached for her, grabbing her around the waist. Lost in a blind rage, she began kicking at him, clawing, biting. He held onto her tightly and brought her down to the floor. She struggled against Donovan, trying to get away from him. But he held her, held her until the haze faded.
* * *
A/N: Thanks for sticking with me, you guys. Just one more chapter to go!!!!
