Sorry it took so long to update. Hopefully it won't take as long next time seeing as how I've got millions of ideas flowing through my head.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The steady tap tap tapping of the computer keys filled the hotel living room. Chloe sat, her eyes riveted on the screen, trying yet again to decipher the meaning of all the numbers and names that covered the screen. Biting her lip, her brow furrowed in thought, Chloe moved her fingers over the keyboard. She scrolled down page after page of numbers, each column nearly identical to the one before. Then, for no reason at all, the numbers began to make sense, they formed a sequence, they had a meaning. With renewed vigor, Chloe's eyes flew down the pages; she reached over for a piece of hotel stationary and a pen and began to write things down.
Looking over the numbers she had written down, a smile crept up Chloe's face. She quickly exited out of the page and clicked onto the net. Making quick work of the security set around several restricted sites, she finally found what she was looking for.
"Julian," she shouted, "I know what this is!" the bathroom door flew open and Sark ran into the living room, a towel wrapped around his waist and water falling off his body and dripping onto the floor. He hurried to her side, and Chloe found it hard to take her eyes off his chiseled body. She heard him clear his throat, a small laugh bubbling up from his lips, and she blushed deeply before turning back towards the computer screen.
"Look," she said pointing to the rows of numbers, "these are bank account numbers."
"Are you sure?" Sark asked, turning the laptop so he could see the screen better.
"I'm positive." Chloe replied, clicking the mouse so that the page that held the disk's information came back up. "Look," she pointed out the column of bank accounts; "I ran all these through the computer and all the names came back as ghosts. Which means, that the people who set them up didn't want to be found."
"So you're saying this is some sort of Black Market transaction list?" Sark asked, his eyebrows arched in question. Chloe nodded.
"I'm just not sure what it's all for." She said.
"Who cares," Sark said pulling her close to him, "Chloe, you did it." A slow smile spread across Chloe's face as she felt Sark's damp arms around her waist and laid her head on his bare shoulder. His finger slid beneath her chin and lifted her face. His lips descended on hers and Chloe lost herself in the feel and taste of his mouth. Her hands slid over his bare chest as his own hands slipped up inside her shirt. They soon became lost in the moment.
He stood in the shadows, watching the window of their suite. People passed him on every side. The tourists with their maps, the natives who were patiently (and sometimes impatiently) giving them directions and answering their eager questions. Nobody seemed to notice him, so intent on their own tasks.
"We're ready to move in on your word sir." Said his companion. He looked over his shoulder at the man who, like himself, was dressed in a black suit and wore dark sunglasses even though it was nearing night.
"Excellent," he replied, "give the others the word. We move in as soon as the boss says so."
"Yes sir." The other man replied and quickly melted into the growing shadows. The city was winding down for the night. Lights were coming on in the shops, and flooding the streets with their soft glow. His cell phone began to ring, interrupting the quiet serenity of the city.
"Yes." He said, quickly pulling the phone from his pocket and answering.
"Move in," the voice on the other end said, "and Frankie if you hurt the girl I will not hesitate to kill you." the dial tone sounded in the man's ear and he hung up. Placing the phone calmly in his pocket once more he pressed the small transmitter in his ear.
"Let's move." He said.
Dinner arrived in their room, and the smell of the lobster underneath the silver lid of the tray made Chloe feel nauseous. She had felt sick that morning when she woke up, and had had to retreat to the bathroom more than once that day. It was probably just one of those twenty-four hour things. At least that's what she was hoping.
Sark took the lids off their food and Chloe had to fight back the bile that rose in her throat.
"Are you alright?" Sark asked, taking in how pale she had become.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." She said hurriedly, standing up and running to the bathroom. Leaning over the toilet, Chloe released the contents of her stomach. Sweat beaded on her forehead and she brushed it away with the back of her trembling hand. When she was certain she wouldn't throw-up anymore, Chloe flushed the toilet and rested her head against the cool porcelain. Breathing heavily, and her stomach abnormally empty, Chloe struggled to her feet. Her knees were weak beneath her and she was grateful to feel Sark's steady arms wrap around her and lift her up. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and breathed in his clean scent.
Gently, Sark laid her down on the bed and covered her. Chloe's eyes felt heavy and she felt herself slipping into easy sleep.
A sudden banging on the door broke through the blanket of sleep that was slowly covering her, and Chloe's eyes flew open. She looked around the room and did not see Sark. There were noises outside the bedroom, voices. Sitting up in bed, she cast a glance out the window and was startled to see the stars twinkling back at her. She had slept longer than she thought. Pushing the covers back she stepped out of the bed, her stomach rolling unpleasantly as she did so. Holding back the bile that rose in her throat, Chloe made her way towards the door that opened into the foyer.
The voices were louder. Someone was yelling and cursing while someone else spoke in a soft, harsh voice that was just above a growl. She couldn't make out what was being said, so she stepped closer to the door and inched it open.
A man stood in front of her, his profile illuminated by the bright lights of the living room. His greasy black hair was swept back in a ponytail and hit against his back with each mocking shake of his head. His nose was long and crooked, like it had been broken many times, and his eyes were slanted and a steely gray. He was beefy, well muscled and large. His mouth was set in a sinister smirk, more evil than the one that Sark had once used when addressing Chloe.
"Where's the disk Sark," he said, his voice gravely and low. His had been the one she could not make out. "I know you have it."
"I don't know what you're talking about Frankie," Sark replied. Chloe couldn't see where Sark stood; she could only see the gun that Frankie held pointed at him. The evil steel glinted in the light, making it look like it was alive.
"Don't you lie to me you son-of-a-bitch," Frankie cursed, "If you don't tell me where the damn disk is right now I will kill you."
"And if I do give it to you what's to stop you from killing me then? Sark asked, his voice calm and steady.
Chloe's heart was pounding loudly in her chest, drowning out Frankie's reply. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't move. What was she going to do? She had to do something or those bastards would kill Sark!
"Yo Frankie," Frankie turned slightly and Chloe caught sight of a long gash down the side of his face.
"What?" he barked.
"I think I found somethin' over here." The other man said.
"Move one muscle and I'll blow your brains out Sark." Frankie threatened as he moved out of sight and walked towards the other man.
Chloe slunk away from the door and moved into the bathroom, making sure not to make a sound as she opened the bathroom door and peered out into the living room. Four men, including Frankie, were tearing the room apart, pulling out the stuffing in the couch and chairs and over turning tables. Sark stood off to the side, his face a mask of calm. It helped to calm Chloe to see him so sedate, but at the same time it frightened her that he could seem so indifferent to the whole situation. She watched each of the men carefully, calculating their movements, studying the way they moved and acted. If she was going to do anything it would have to be soon, while they had their guard down.
When Sark had gone to answer the knocking on the door, before it could wake Chloe, Sark had not expected to be knocked across the jaw and pushed into the living room with a gun trained at him. He knew instantly that he couldn't take all four men on his own. Sark was a good fighter, but he wasn't that good. He would have to bide his time and wait for the opportune moment.
Frankie turned back towards him with a scowl on his face. Sark had known Frankie for three years; they had worked one or two missions together for the Covenant. Back then the man had been enjoyable company to Sark, now it seemed as if he had a score to settle.
Out of the corner of his eye, Sark caught sight of Chloe peeking out of the bathroom. He tried to signal to her to get out before they found her. But she wasn't looking at him. Her eyes were riveted on the four men that had taken over their suite. He could see the calculating look in her eyes and knew that she too was coming up with a plan. Sark didn't want Chloe hurt, he wanted her to get out and be safe. He knew that if they found her...well, he just wouldn't be able to deal with what they would do to her. Slowly, so as not to attract attention, Sark moved closer to where Chloe was.
"Hold it right there Sark," Frankie said, immediately turning on the English man, "Don't move a muscle." Sark froze. Discreetly, he looked over towards Chloe, who met his eye, but Frankie noticed his movement.
Chloe's breath caught in her throat as the bathroom door was flung open and she came face to face with those steely gray eyes and crooked nose. The gash on his face was even deadlier and menacing looking up close. His hand wrapped around her wrist in an iron grip and he pulled her out into the living room.
"Look what I found boys." He said, throwing Chloe onto the floor. She saw Sark move towards her, but Frankie held him back with a flash of his gun. She looked up into the leering faces of his companions and her heart leapt into her throat. Taking in a deep, calming breath, Chloe's racing mind began to formulate a plan.
Frankie advanced, his eyes flashing lustfully. She waited until he grabbed her arm once more and quickly pushed her foot into his stomach, grabbed his hands, and threw him up and over her. He landed with a crash, knocking over an end table and breaking a lamp in the process. It was complete mayhem after that.
Sark flew towards her, punching out one of Frankie's goons on his way. Reaching her, he quickly pulled her to her feet. Chloe released herself from Sark's grip quickly and dove for the gun that Frankie had dropped. Her hand closed over it, and Frankie's hand closed over hers. Chloe looked into his eyes, their empty coldness paralyzed her for a moment before she gathered her wits and punched him across the jaw with her free hand. Instead of releasing her, his hold tightened. Her eyes opened wide when she saw the flash of steel as he pulled a flip knife from his jacket. He snarled, released her hand and stood in one fluid movement before stepping on her hand, keeping the gun pinned to the ground.
Chloe winced. Frankie pointed the knife down at her, ready to throw it into her. Thinking quickly she kicked her leg over to the side and hit him behind the knee, causing him to buckle slightly and lose some of his balance. It was just what she needed. Chloe picked her trapped hand up quickly and was able to get it out from under his foot. But she had to let go of the gun in the process.
Casting a quick glance over at Sark, Chloe saw he was not doing too well. Three against one was not fair odds. She winced as he fell to the floor and stayed there, unmoving. As she watched him, she was unaware that Frankie had regained his balance. Suddenly, something hard clipped her across the temple, making the world spin and her vision to go dark temporarily. Shaking her head to clear it, Chloe stumbled to her feet, only to be knocked down once more by Frankie pushing her over. She stumbled, her feet tripping over the up-turned coffee table, and fell down on top of Sark.
Above her Frankie sneered. He reached down and picked up the gun that she had foolishly let go of. Everything moved in slow motion. Frankie trained the gun on Chloe and pulled back the hammer with a loud resounding click. She shut her eyes tightly, waiting for the bullet to lodge itself in her heart and kill her. There was a moment of long, agonizing silence, then a sudden bang.
Oh I love leaving you all hanging. Lol. Well, y'all got the action you were so desperate for. Hope it was enough. Anyway, please review and tell me what you thought.
Sarks-Girl-89: Sorry 'bout all the mushiness, I'm trying to stop it from being so sickeningly sweet, but it might take some work. I'm such a hopeless romantic.
Pink Flamingos Are Tacky: Thanks for the long review, I love recieving really long ones. And I'm glad to have new readers. I hope you'll keep reviewing. Oh yeah, love your screen name.
sarkalias12: Thank you so much for the compliment.
intriKate: Yes, Jesus certainly does rock! You might be onto something there with the whole Christian fan fic sight. It sounds like an awesome idea.
Csk8-20, neptunestar, majesticness, Zeriae, Eyghon, Beethoven, freakygirl, Reesie06, Alias-Addict-4-Life, and wicked-sista: Thank you all for reviewing and I hope you will continue to read and review this story as it progresses.