Chapter Thirty-Four

His gun drawn, Mitch looked angrily between John and Natalie but finally went over to stand beside John. "Where is your gun?" he demanded aiming the gun at Natalie's head.

Thankful that he had thought enough to grab his ankle holster, John put his leg out. "On the ankle."

Still aiming the gun, Mitch leaned over and grabbed the weapon from John's leg and pocketed it. "On the floor, both of you," he shouted.

Knowing they had no chance but to do so, they both John and Natalie lay down on the floor and watched as Mitch went over to Jessica. "Michelle?" his voice became soft, and he used one hand to brush the hair from her face. "Are you all right?"

Groaning in exaggerated pain, Jessica sat up and began rubbing the side of her face. "The bitch hit me."

Satisfied that all was well with his daughter, Mitch nodded and patted Jessica's shoulder. "Don't worry my child, she will be taught a lesson for her actions."

Standing up, he moved back over to John and Natalie and peered down at them. "Well, Lieutenant McBain your arrival is quite a surprise. I have to ask, how did you manage to find us?"

When John remained silent, Mitch moved closer and pointed the gun at Natalie's leg. "Answer the question or I will shoot her."

"I put a tracking device on her." John mumbled knowing he had no choice but to do as the other man asked.

Throwing his head back, Mitch erupted in peals of laughter. "Well, then, I have to admit I underestimated your capabilities. Never entertained the possibility that you would be that possessive, but then again I remember what trouble this one can be. Oh, but she's well worth it wouldn't you say?" he asked as he glanced appreciatively over Natalie's body. "We haven't been properly introduced; I am Mitch Laurence, Natalie's husband."

"From what I understand she annulled your sorry ass." John snapped hating the way Mitch's was looking at Natalie. It was taking all his self control not to jump up and try and take the guy himself.

Mitch sighed. "Yes, legally that married was dissolved but I don't need a piece of paper to tell me that Natalie Buchanan belongs to me."

"Like hell she does…"

Laughing, Mitch crouched down so he was in front of Natalie. "My dear, didn't you get a chance to fill the Lieutenant in on our plans of living happily ever after? Or did you think because your boyfriend arrived you were saved? Well, sorry to disappoint you both but the Lieutenant's arrival only makes my plan so much sweeter. Not only will he get to see the end results, but he can watch the entire process!"

"You have some sort of issue with me, Mitch? Then why not let Natalie go and we can deal with it?"

"You are quite right, John." Mitch all but spat out his name, "I do have a problem with you since you were responsible for the death of my brother, but I will deal with that all in good time. As for Natalie, well, she's not going anywhere."

"Flynn was just as pathetic as you are, I did a deed for humanity by getting rid of that loser."

Seeing that John was trying to bait Mitch into losing it, Natalie glanced over at Jessica. Noticing that her twin was just starting to rise to her feet and move into position, Natalie decided to jump as she wanted to make sure Jessica managed to get the perfect shot. "Why involve Jessica?"

"I don't want to hear that name ever again - Jessica has been destroyed." His voice was angry, but he appeared calmer then he was when John had been baiting him. "Jessica Buchanan is no more my daughter then you are. Vicki and Clint have had too much influence over her." Mitch let out a small chuckle. "And she even managed to inherit her mother's multiple personalities. No, Jessica is not at all my daughter, but Michelle? Michelle is everything she is not. Strong, respectful, doting, unfeeling. Her purpose has always been to serve me and that's how it will always be. Right Michelle?"

Forcing herself to hide her feelings of disgust, Jessica kept her voice steady. "Right father."

"As much as I would love for the three of us to continue our little chat, I believe it is time to go. As much as I may have underestimated the Lieutenant here, I highly doubt he was stupid enough not to call for back up. It's time for us to move. Both of you get up right now!"

Glancing over at Jessica, John gave a quick nod and the room erupted into chaos. As the gunshots rang out, John threw himself at Natalie and shielded her body with his own.

"Tactical are you guys in position inside the building?" Bo yelled out over the two way radio he was holding.

"Yes sir, we are…"

BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG."

Gripping the radio tightly in his hands, Bo began to shout into it, "Tactical team do you copy? Tactical team what is your status?"

Throwing down the radio he motioned to the other officers standing around. "All men inside that building now!"

As he took off after his men, Bo's mind was racing. He had been on the job long enough to know those were gunshots.

He just hoped he wasn't too late.