Chapter 32 - I Wasn't Expecting That

Thursday 15th March, 00:50 am

Inside Lachlan's Mansions

The floor wasn't fully retracted; Lauren stopped it just shy of the end. The gap was still big enough to get down or out but small enough to jump over. Lauren leapt up and jumped the gap, concluding that she could finish that task later. She didn't have the time to close it and get changed. Lauren quickly exited the office. With less than thirty seconds left, she prioritised her next move; and that was to make sure the security left without checking on Lachlan.

Time was running out.

Lauren grabbed her red wig and placed it on. Next, her outfit she pulled from the bag and stared at it. There wasn't enough time to change out of her clothes and into her dress.

Time was up.

The front door swung open. Security and Bo stepped inside. "Hello, Sir."

Bo looked around. The room had lit candles and on the table was an empty bottle of wine. She continued to roam the room, looking for Lauren or Lachlan but finding neither. A coral dress was hanging over the back of the couch, the same dress that Lauren was seen wearing earlier that night. Bo's heart sank.

Lauren stepped out of the kitchen barefoot, wearing nothing but her skimpy coral underwear, consisting of a lace push-up bra and matching thong. In her hands was a bottle of wine, fresh from the fridge with droplets of condensation trickling down the neck. "What the hell," Lauren screamed in her fake American accent.

The bottle of wine toppled past Bo hitting the security guard square in the face. He dropped to the ground next to her in a heartbeat. Lauren smiled, perfect execution and fitting with her plan. Her cover would not be blown because Lachlan would understand throwing a bottle. She would put it down to dumb luck that she hit him, and all would be okay.

Bo bent down; the bottle was spinning on the floor. She checked over the guard, but he wasn't moving. "Is he dead?" Bo looked up.

Lauren was putting on her dress. "No, just unconscious."

"Lauren." The way Bo said her name made Lauren freeze. Bo stood and walked over. "You are probably wondering why I am here. So will tell you, then I'll leave."

Bo's face was expressionless and panic set in with Lauren. Lauren had expected a fight. She had already considered her scenarios where Bo would be angry, silent or upset. Lauren would reassure her, hug her and ask her to trust her. But Lauren didn't consider a scenario where Bo would conclude five seconds in to dump her. But this felt like that one. "Bo, before you say anything, please let me explain this. It's not what you think. Please trust me."

"I do trust you. I know you can't tell me what's going on. The clue is in the name, Secret Service. Stay safe." Bo kissed Lauren, which was so utterly unexpected that Lauren just stood there. Before she could kiss her back, Bo pulled away. Back to business. "Mass sussed out that you were Lola and is on his way here. I thought you should know."

And with only a smile, Bo left.

As soon as the door closed, Lauren's head spun. There were too many variables for the original plan to work. Massimo would ruin all possibilities. As soon as Lachlan found out from him who she really was, the mission would be over anyway. Then the women would be moved and put in danger, and the agency would lose the jump. Then there was Bo. All that faded into the background, and all Lauren could see was Bo's face. That pinned expression of hurt that Lauren knew she had caused. This idea meant risking losing Bo for nothing, and she wasn't prepared to do that. Not for a job, not for anyone. Bo was her main priority now, and she needed to find her. Quickly she finished getting dressed, grabbed her bag and ran out of the house.

Hitting the streets outside, Lauren had avoided the second security guard by wall-jumping to the side of the gate. She searched for Bo, looking up and down the road, but she was nowhere to be seen. All directions were empty. Lauren kicked herself for not leaving sooner. Her need to protect Bo made her feel like she didn't care. And that wasn't true, as Lauren did care. She cared so much for Bo. Never before had she felt the way when she was with Bo. Just being with her made her feel whole. Lauren promised herself that she would tell Bo her feelings the minute she could. Walking down a bit further, hands clenched, Lauren resided. Bo was gone.

"Were you looking for me?"

Lauren spun around to see Bo standing in the middle of the road.

"Bo, I'm sorry," Lauren hurried towards Bo, pulling her into a hug, "You're my everything, and I don't want secrets between us. Lachlan rose to fame far too quickly. We expected he was exploiting or blackmailing his actors and coercing them into insane contracts. Thanks to you getting his phone, I discovered it was much worse."

Bo exhaled. Lauren had hold of both of her hands, opening up like she never had before. Bo saw the sincerity in her eyes. Her words of no secrets made her heart burst. Bo was ready to give all of her to Lauren.

"Bo, he prisons them in cells under his office. There are three women under there now-"

Suddenly the screeching of tyres behind her caught both of their attention. The doors opened, and three men jumped out, pulling them into a van.

Despite Lauren's struggle, she was bound, gagged and blindfolded. Within seconds everything went dark.

Thursday 15th March, 01:00 am

Unknown Location

Lauren woke but dared not make any sudden moves; she didn't know where Bo was or what whoever had taken them would do to her. She needed to think. The van stopped, and she was dragged across hard concrete before being placed onto a wooden seat. The blindfold was ripped off, and Lauren had to squint to see. The floor was dusty, and the smell was a mixture of oil and paint, deducing that they were in a warehouse.

"What's happening?" Lauren asked, keeping up her American accent.

"Stop the accent, dearie." Massimo stepped forward, laughing. "I knew it was you as soon as I walked into that bit of action in the bathroom. I've witnessed many of Bo's sexual conquests, but as soon as she was protective of you, I knew something was not quite right."

Lauren puffed out her breath, "So what's next?"

"A bit of payback," Massimo pointed his gun at Bo's head, "You fucked up my life. Now I will fuck up yours."

Lauren panicked, Bo was still gagged and tied to the chair, but she could see as her eyes widened and from her feeble attempts to move that she was scared. "Move that gun away, put it on me. I swear, Mass, I will kill you if you even point it at her again."

"Full of confidence as always. But I am not ready for this to be over just yet." Massimo slapped Lauren hard across the face. The blood rushed, and Lauren felt the immediate sting. She knew that would leave a blood blister.

As much as it hurt, Lauren didn't wince or cry out. "If this is about payback, then untie me and end this once and for all."

Massimo stroked Lauren's cheek, "Oh, I will have my turn if you are still alive. Come out, boys. She's all yours."

Lauren's eyes widened as four men stepped out in front of her.

One of them leaned down, landing several punches to Lauren's ribs. This time she winched. "That was for breaking my arm."

A second stepped forward and punched her jaw, followed by several slaps and blows to her head. "That's for stamping on my face."

The third kicked Lauren in the chest, winding her and making the chair fall back to the ground. "And that's for cracking my ribs."

The fourth stepped forward, and Lauren looked up. "Hey, big guy, what are you gonna do to a woman tied to a chair, you fucking pussy."

He laughed, picked up Lauren, and positioned the chair on its legs, "You have some balls."

"Yeah, I took yours, found them in your mum's purse." Lauren spat blood on the floor. "What's wrong, too afraid to have an actual fair fight with one woman?"

The older brother held back one of his younger ones, "Calm down, Stu."

"Ahh, so the face slapper is Stu." Looking around at the other brothers, "who is the kicker and puncher? And tough guy, who are you?"

"Grant brothers, not that it makes a difference to you. You'll be dead soon."

"Will I?" Lauren chuckled, "your plan is tying me to a chair and beating me to death. That's a new one, but it won't work."

The oldest brother leaned down and, through gritted teeth, asked, "why?"

"Because of that cretin over there." Lauren motioned to Massimo. "Are you his bitches from prison? Did he make you hold his pocket too, or just rim him clean?"

The last comment angered all four brothers. Lauren had then riled up.

"Fucking shut it. We have never been in prison or anyone's bitch."

"So what, did he just google dumb fuckers willing to beat up a defenceless woman?" Lauren teased. When the chair rocked over, it loosened the back panel. Only a few more minutes or one more fall would ensure her escape.

"Don't you remember us? Years ago, he hired us to hurt you and your brother outside East Croydon train station. And you put us all in hospital."

"Ahh, makes sense. So was Massimo there when I kicked your arse then too? Did he stand back and watch like he is doing now?"

"It doesn't matter". Massimo moved the gun back to Lauren, pressing it against her forehead instead.

"It does, as no one will do me any actual harm, same as all those years ago. I will walk out of here with Bo, and you will forever look over your shoulder."

"And why's that?" Massimo pressed his gun deep into Lauren's chest.

Lauren smiled, "Evony." And there it was, the moment she hoped for. The realisation that Massimo had fucked up, and he knew it. "Bo is her biggest star, and I believe she does care for her. So you won't dare harm her as Evony would never forgive you, and you would be disowned. So even if I was killed, Bo would make sure justice is done for me, so all five of you will eat from plastic cutlery and become prison bitches for real in less than a year."

Lauren watched as all the men's jaws dropped.

"Evony told me that Bo was leaving her. So a dead ex-employee won't rattle her too much." Massimo prayed, but he knew he would call Evony and check first.

Lauren went from confident to frightened for the first time in her life. She had never even considered that Bo would be in danger also. This changed everything, the shit got real, and she would kill every one of them before seeing Bo hurt.

Lauren and Massimo locked eyes. Both did not want to back down, but both knew someone would have to.

Seconds later, Lauren was freed from the chair, and the gun Massimo was holding was kicked clean from his hand, and he was sent flying backwards. Landing hard against a pillar, he slumped on the floor. Lauren's hands were still bound behind her back, but that didn't stop her drop kicking two of the brothers with ease. The third and fourth attacked her. Lauren dodged any blows, kicking hard behind one of their legs, making them kneel and delivering a blow to the kneecap. The sound of the patella popping out echoed around the warehouse. He was staying down. His screams were a fair warning to the other brother, who backed away slowly, looking at his three brothers on the floor. All by a woman with her hands tied behind her back and who had taken their best beating first.

Lauren had a fire in her eyes. Bo was her only priority, and anyone who stood in her way would go down. Running forward, she jumped and kicked the brother backing away. He fell. She straddled him, pressing her knee into his neck. His face started to go red with the immediate cut off of oxygen. Lauren watched as red turned to purple, which would soon be blue.

A gunshot stopped her in her tracks, and her eyes went to Bo. She was unharmed, but Massimo had got up and found his gun.

Lauren turned her body and stood in the line of fire to Bo. Massimo wiped the blood from his split lip and lined up his gun.

"Mass, stop," Bo shouted. "Tell Evony I will sign a year's contract with her."

"What?" Lauren and Massimo said in unison.

"My contract. Tell Evony that I will sign it if you let Lauren live."

Massimo lowered his gun and rubbed his hands together, "Deal, but no going back, or I will kill her next time."

"Deal," Bo looked at Lauren. She would have given anything to stop her from being hurt.

The brothers had all rallied around the one with the popped kneecap. The eldest was coughing from his chokehold while the other two were helping the other onto a chair.

"Lock them up, this time to a metal chair and wait till I get back. I have a copy of that contract back at the hotel-"

"That is not our deal, "The eldest brother interrupted.

"Jonny plans change—"

"Don't use our names."

"Does it matter? You already told her your last name, and she knows Stuart's name. You had your payback. Besides, it would only be a matter of time until she found out who you were. She works for the Secret Service."

The second brother stepped forward, "You never told us that."

"You didn't need to know. Now, do as I said." Massimo pointed his gun, this time at one of the brothers, who nodded his agreement. Massimo walked away, pleased with his plan. He couldn't wait to see Evonys face when he returned with a signed contract. She would finally give him the respect he deserved. The car started up, and Lauren watched as it sped away, with Massimo inside. The brothers did as they were told, and Lauren and Bo were ushered, locked in a room, and handcuffed to chairs. This time they were metal. One of them stood outside.

"Are you okay?" Bo whispered.

"Thank you, Bo. Your quick thinking has bought us some time." Lauren searched the room, but the only way out was the door and past.

"I meant it," Bo replied.

"Don't be daft." Lauren looked up to see Bo's serious expression, "What really? You would commit to a year with Evony?"

"Yes, to protect you," Bo replied.

"Thank you, bubba, and I am taking you out for dinner to the best restaurant in London. But you won't need to sign anything as we are getting out of here." Lauren replied. "Can you bend your head down into my lap?"

"Really?" Bo lifted an eyebrow but did as she was told.

Lauren felt around her hair until she found what she was looking for, a bobby pin. Using one hand, she opened her handcuff and wiggled herself free. She opened the other handcuff before releasing Bo from her restraints. "Stay seated."

Bo nodded.

Lauren moved to the door, opened it and tackled the guard. She quickly took him down and held him in a lock until he lost consciousness. Walking back inside, Lauren held her hand out for Bo to take, and they crept past the second brother on the chair with the popped knee and went outside. Lauren lifted her dress and removed the gun taped to her leg.

"Erm," Bo pointed.

"Yes, well, they didn't search us, and I strapped on after I dressed."

"What else have you strapped on under that dress?" Bo smiled.

"Behave," Lauren pulled Bo into a hug, "Come here."

They kissed for the second time that day. This time Lauren was ready. After weeks of avoiding kissing, this may not have been the best place, but neither cared. Hands tore through hair, lips poised and positioned perfectly on each other. Tongues dancing to their own tune. Urgency, want, desire, softness, and intimacy tango together in harmony. For what felt like an eternity passed before they pulled apart. Not speaking, but so much was said when eyes met. A million apologies, a million regrets, and a million unspoken words of love.

Lauren saw her future, her jaw tight, a small smile she exhaled, "Bo, I promise—"

She was cut off by Bo as she lightly kissed her again, "Sshh baby, no promises. No day but today."

"No day but today," Lauren repeated, cheeks slightly flustered. "I'll go back in, get the keys for the van. Wait here, hide if you see anyone coming. I'll be back in a few minutes."

"No," Bo held Lauren's arm, "we stay together."

Lauren knew that look, and it would be pointless to argue, "Okay, but stay close."

"Please don't kill anyone," Bo pointed to Lauren's gun, raised at her eye level.

"You do know that they want to kill me, us", Lauren replied.

"Please, Lauren."

"Okay." Lauren reholstered her gun and held Bo's hand as they walked back inside. Lauren protectively in front of Bo. They climbed the stairs to where they were being held in the office. The guard that Lauren immobilised was still unconscious. Lauren checked his pockets for keys but found nothing. They walked to the end of the corridor and crouched down.

Lauren held her finger to her lips, and Bo nodded. Tiptoeing over the balcony, stopping when she heard footsteps just in front of them, "The staircase Bo, quick."

Bo stepped onto the metal staircase, turned and asked, "Up or down?"

"Always down." Lauren turned back as shots were fired. They had been spotted, and this time they had guns. The fight would have evened out if Lauren hadn't agreed that she wouldn't shoot hers.

Lauren pulled herself back behind the wall seeing that Bo had already started her descent.

The brother edged nearer, and just as he was close enough, Lauren punched him hard, knocking him backwards. His gun landing on the floor between them. Lauren was first to grab it. She felt at a disadvantage on the ground as his foot came crushing against her face. Falling back, he lunged at her.

Lauren fired a shot from his gun, hitting him in the arm.

Blood spattered on the back wall, and his body fell onto Laurens. She pushed him off and checked his pulse. Bo was halfway down the stairs, looking at her.

"He's fine." Lauren pushed her finger into the bullet wound, and he winced, "See. Fine"

Lauren sat him up, "Keys for the van?"

He laughed, "I don't have them."

"For fuck's sake." Lauren pulled him to the other brother, "Bo, can you get the handcuffs from the office, please."

Bo stepped over his body, collected both sets of handcuffs, and passed them back to Lauren, who cuffed the brothers to the railings and each other. Knowing only two brothers remained, they descended back to the lower floor and headed toward the van.

The eldest brother, Jonny, was identified and pounced on in quick succession. Lauren reigned blow after blow down on him until he hit the floor. "That's how you hit, bitch." Lauren added after the final blow had landed.

The last brother looked at Lauren as she slowly walked toward him, kicking Jonny's gun out of reach. "Stuart, is it?" Lauren asked.

He nodded, the gun shaking in his hands. Being the youngest, Lauren suspected he had never shot a gun.

"Give that to me," Lauren held out her hand.

"Shoot her, Stu," Jonny yelled.

He lifted the gun and pulled at the trigger. The weapon bucked back, and a bullet hit the roof. Lauren ran forward and grabbed it. Flipping it around, "Now, Stu, are you going to try anything else, or do I need to break your other kneecap?"

"No, no, no," He pleaded.

"Good, now where are the van keys?" Lauren rested the butt of the gun into his groin and applied a bit of pressure.

"I don't have them," He quickly replied, "I promise."

Lauren studied him. He was telling the truth.

The older brother screamed, "Fuck you."

"No, fuck you. Now listen, boys, this is our last tango. If I ever see you again, I will kill you before you can react."

"Not if we find you first?"

"Jonny, is that your name?" Lauren knelt on his bullet wound, making him yelp in pain. Bending down, she whispered in his ear. "You don't want to mess with me. If I even find out you're thinking of doing something, I will round up everyone you know, kill them in front of you, and then leave you in a pseudocoma."

"A fucking what?" Jonny croaked back.

"Pseudocoma is where you are completely non-verbal with total paralysis. You will live your remaining existence knowing everything but unable to do anything but live in your head with regret."

Jonny's eyes widened, and he swallowed hard. It had worked.

Lauren stepped off him, "Stick to being a big fish in a small pond and get better acquaintances."

He nodded.

"Now, keys for the van?"

"We don't have them. Massimo must have taken them. He was the driver. We were there to grab you only."

Lauren sighed and walked to the van. Holding the top, she climbed up it and cracked the window using her weight and the heel of her shoe. Shattered, Lauren pushed the glass in, opened the door, and tossed the glass from the seat to the floor. Sitting in the driver's seat, she felt for the wires under the steering wheel and disabled the alarm, then hotwired the engine to start. Bo was impressed. It all took place within twenty seconds.

"Jump in" Lauren opened the passenger door, and Bo got in and was handed the rifle. "If anyone moves, shoot them."

They sped off from the warehouse, confident that no one would dare to follow. Lauren knew it was worthless to ask Bo if she could drop her off anywhere, and she needed to get back to Lachlan's mansion and rescue the women.

"Where are we going?" Bo asked.

"I need to get those women from Lachlans. I will be in and out. Then your hotel and bed. I've had a long arse day." Lauren smiled. Happy that Bo hadn't rejected Lauren's presumptuous sleepover.

"Great, me too. I need my little spoon tonight." Bo smiled. "But before we get there, can you show me how to shoot this?"

Lauren considered the idea and liked it. It meant that Bo could protect herself while Lauren went into the mansion and got the women out. And if she was followed, Bo could fire shots at the brick wall, giving them a better getaway. Lauren swerved the van and parked up, finding a layby on the road. Either side of them had been fields stretched out for miles, and it seemed a perfect place to practice. Reaching behind her seat, retrieving empty soda cans, she grabbed them and exited with Bo in toll.

Moments later, Lauren had set up the cans on a fence about thirty meters away. Walking back, she held out her hand for the rifle.

"Whoa, bubba. Never give a gun the pointy end. Always hold the barrel."

"Sorry." Bo smiled and was instantly forgiven.

"It's okay. The safety is on," Lauren pointed to it. "This is a pump-action shotgun with a spring-loaded magazine, front sight and trigger, here, here and here. You pull back on the magazine to load. You'll hear a click as a bullet moves into the chamber. If you don't, you have run out of bullets. This can hold five, but I've spotted more in the van if needed."

Lauren handed the rifle back to Bo, "So firstly, make sure the butt plate is tight in your shoulder, or it will kick back and shoot the air, like what happened back at the warehouse with fuckwit Stu. Also, it could dislocate your shoulder if not careful."

Bo took in all the instructions and held the gun tight to her body.

"Right next, you see the front sight. Line up what you are aiming at."

"Like this?" Bo asked. Lining up the sight, struggling to keep one eye closed.

"No, Bubba, close your left eye."

"Ahh, that's easier." Bo smiled. "So, do I shoot now?"

"Not yet," Lauren walked behind her, placed her hands over Bo's and slowly moved the sight to the can on the fence. "You see the can? When you're ready, shoot."

Bo cocked an eye, it was a determined look, and she concentrated hard on the cans. Pulling the trigger, nothing happened.

Lauren softly spoke, "the safety is still on," suppressing a smile.

Bo released the safety and aimed back and shot twice, hitting both cans within seconds of each other. Replacing the safety, she handed the rifle back to Lauren. "Seems easy enough."

Bo walked back to the van leaving behind a stunned Lauren in her wake. Inside she wanted to jump, fist-pump the air and congratulate herself but thought this was funnier.

Lauren got in the van, "Is there anything you can't do, Bo Dennis."

Bo simply smiled and said, "with you by my side, no. Now let's go rescue those women."

Lauren agreed, "Can you drive?"

Bo nodded.

"Good, swap seats and follow the phone's sat-nav. I spotted my bag in the back, and I need to get out this dress."

"I just saw you drop five men, with your hands bound behind your back in that dress." Bo laughed as she shuffled over into the driver's seat.

Lauren lifted it over her head, biting down as Bo's eyes flecked blue, "It's not the dress that's the problem; it's the fucking shoes."

They both laughed as Bo sped away.