Jackson rolled his eyes at Lisa's dramatic sobs. Why did she have to do that, this woman is way to bold for her own good. He felt a fleeting flutter in his stomach as he thought of the way-to-close encounter, he did had to admit this had been the third time Lisa had given him a good scare, she was different.

Jackson jumped as the silence of the car was broken by the mechanical ring of Jackson's cell phone. Lisa didn't even look up as he answered the phone with a smooth "Hello."

"Jackie! Hey buddy how'd all the connections go at the hospital?" the voice on the other line said.

"…Well it worked." Jackson replied sarcastically. He recognized all to well the heavily accented New York voice he had just heard. Manny Pollis had throughout Jackson's career made himself like a partner to him. Jackson really couldn't complain he was good at what he did, he got what needed to be done, done, but Jackson often wondered how Manny had gotten mixed up in this business in the first place, he didn't really come off as that kind of guy Jackson always thought. He was the kind of guy that was everyone's friend in high school, the chubby, sweaty, fun-loving guy that just wasn't good at anything. And he had that ridiculous Jersey accent, Jackson couldn't help but smile.

"Good, good, man, that's real good." He sounded worked up. Jackson could perfectly picture him, he was sitting in his beat up car with only the company of a precious foot long sub, he had that nervous expression that would show up when he told Jackson bad news, his tubby face would get all sweaty and red. Jackson always thought this particular face was hilarious.

"Everything okay Manny."

"Oh, oh, yea I just have some bad news."

"Oh okay, but everything is all right." Jackson said sarcastically.

"Yes," he replied, oblivious to the sarcasm.

"What is the bad news Manny?"

"Er… well... Okay well you're really not going to like this."

"…What is the bad news Manny?"

"All right, about that Philly your gonna snuff out, well let's just say she' well-liked…you haven't...you know…"

"Killed her yet? No I have not." Jackson glanced with satisfaction at Lisa; he smiled at the ever-so-soft whimper she let out.

"'Kay, that's good. Well, like I said she is very liked, especially by the guy that you were 'sposed to kill in your last job, you do know she saved him and all of his family, right? Well, somehow he's all ready found out about your little plan. Not surprising though, you made quite the exit at the ole' hospital! They are playing footage of your escape from the parking lot, man, I almost thought you died, you like destroyed three cars! Completely smashed up-"

"Manny! Manny! Shut up, I don't need you freaking out, besides it doesn't matter if that bigshot doesn't like this. What is he going to do, huh? Drive out here and stop me?"

"That's the thing man, this guy I loaded, I mean he's got twenties comin' out his ass!"

"…Thank you for telling me that Manny." Jackson said in confused annoyance, "I'll store that one away."

"Now hold on, your not seeing my point. This guy dose not want this chickie to die and everyone we are working for want her dead, just as much as you do."

"Okay…well what is the problem Manny?"

"Jack, this guy has offered me over a million dollars for her safe return." There was deafening silence from Jackson. "Jackie, you still breathing bud."

Jackson put his foot on the break and the car jolted to a halt, Lisa flopped forward with a shriek and hit the dashboard, Jackson stared ahead, "what?"

"You heard me big guy."

Jackson hand creeped up and wrapped around Lisa's neck. He wanted to make her pay for what she did, with all his heart, but… He felt her shudder as he tightened his grip, he heard Manny's far off voice trying to get his attention, he started to think, "over a million dollars," he said out loud.

"Yea, and just so you know man you are not killing that woman."

"Excuse me."

"You heard me man, I need this, besides revenge is an idiotic thing, no point in it….don't you lay one hand on her," he added as if he could see where Jackson's hand was.

"Since when do you tell m-"

"Shut up and just listen to me, number one you are not going to kill her, your new job is protecting her, savy?"

"Protecting? Fine I won't kill her but that is all I'm doing, she can quietly step out of my car and try to find her way back," Jackson said with a voice laced with malice.

"Ya, well you could do that but do you really think that this guy will pay us if we don't deliver her. Oh and yes you will be protecting her, because everyone we are affiliated with want this girl dead for ruining our last deal and somehow they have found out about our little deal, so..,"