Chapter 23

It had been three days since Juan Morero's phone call to Nate, Sophie, Parker and Hardison along with Michael had taken their leave and were now safely ensconced in a safe house. Nate and Eliot were in a penthouse in a hotel in central Portland. Nate had objected but Eliot had insisted they be in an area that would be difficult for Bronovich to get at them and if he did come at them he would have more than just them to deal with but also the police who would no doubt respond quickly to any reports of gunfire, especially since the hotel was close to the police head office buildings.

"So when do you think he will make a move Nate?" Eliot asked as they sat together on the morning on the fourth day.

"I don't know Eliot, Hardison can't get a lead on him so we don't even know if he is back in the States yet, but I would bet he is." Nate replied. "You know we can't keep hiding out here, I mean this has to come to an end sometime."

"Yeah Nate but don't even contemplate doing what I know you want to do, make him come at you 'cause I ain't going to allow that."

"Of course not." Nate said smiling disarmingly at the man.

"How is Sophie?" Eliot asked changing the subject.

"Fine, they are all fine, maybe a little antsy, wanting for this to be over too." Nate replied.

Five minutes later there was a knock at the door and Eliot was immediately up and moving quickly he told Nate to move into one of the rooms and out of sight.

"Room service." A voice came through the door.

Eliot moved to open the door and stepped out to meet the man. He checked the passage but saw no sign of any other person then checked the trolley and the tray but saw nothing. He nodded to the man whom he knew as he had been serving them since they arrived and he had had Hardison check him out thoroughly and then left instructions that no other person was allowed to deliver anything to their room. As Eliot turned to lead the man into the room he felt the distinctive burn of the taser and turned around but collapsed his body convulsing from the shock.

"I'm sorry." The man whispered as he dropped the device and then turned and called out to the three men waiting in the emergency stairs.

Nate heard what was happening and grabbed his gun before stepping out. He saw Eliot lying on the floor and looked up at the young, frightened man who he recognised as the man who had regularly brought them their food stood with three men behind him.

"Drop the gun Mr Ford or he dies and so does your man there." One of them said in a heavy Russian accent.

Nate looked from the boy to the prone unconscious figure of Eliot on the ground and then back at the Russian.

"If I go with you, you leave him alone." Nate said.

"I have no instructions regarding him only you." The Russian said.

Nate nodded then dropped the gun and raised his hands surrendering to the man. He stepped forward and roughly searched Nate for any other weapons before pushing him in front of him and then the four of them left.

Eliot came to his senses ten minutes later to find the man who had brought up the food lying unconscious on the floor beside the trolley he had pushed into the room. He was immediately on his feet and calling Nate's name with no response.

"No dammit, dammit…" He cursed himself as he pulled his phone out. How could he have been so careless, he knew Bronovich was coming, he should never have let his guard down.

"Eliot." Sophie answered her phone.

"Sophie…"

"What's happened?" Sophie said immediately picking up on the tone in the man's voice.

"Bronovich made his move and…and…"

"No, no Eliot." Sophie said tears gathering in her eyes and emotion threatening to overwhelm her as she thought she was going to hear Eliot tell her that Nate was dead.

"Bronovich has him." Eliot finished his voice only a whisper. "I'm sorry Sophie I shouldn't have let it happen I should have…I…"

"We are on our way." Sophie said and hung up the phone.

"Sophie?" Parker asked as she and Hardison stood watching her.

"Bronovich has Nate." Was all she said before taking her son from Parker and heading for her room to pack.

Eliot had told them he was going to go make enquiries but that he would have his coms in, and they should let them know when they were close, and they would meet back at the Fords house.

It took them two hours to get back to the Fords house and Eliot was there to meet them as they arrived.

"Hardison?" Eliot asked as they walked through the door.

"I have them leaving the hotel and tracked the car to here, but then I lost them, and I have not been able to pick them up again. Bronovich is also off the radar, I don't know man." Hardison said setting his computer down.

"So we don't know where he is, and we don't know where Nate is."

"Sophie I…"

Sophie looked at the Hitter and then shook her head. She was angry with him, he was supposed to be the best and he had let this happen, she knew she was wrong, she knew that Eliot would give his life for Nate but still, he was tasked with protecting him and he had let Bronovich get to him.

"Let's just find him ok Eliot." She said her voice colder than she wanted it to be but her fear for Nate overriding her sympathy for Eliot.

"Guys…anybody on coms?" Nate whispered as he sat in the little room that he had been placed in waiting for Bronovich to make his appearance.

"Nate." Sophie blurted out as his voice came through the coms.

"Sophie." Nate said closing his eyes as he heard her voice.

"Where are you?"

"Don't know Sophie. Bronovich's men brought me to a, well I think it is a house somewhere outside of town, not sure exactly where, we are waiting for Bronovich to arrive."

"Have they hurt you?"

"No." Nate said.

"Got the GPS, we are coming Nate." Hardison said as he grabbed his phone and the keys and headed for the door.

"Sophie, stay here with Michael."

"No I…"

"Sophie please take care of our son." Nate interrupted her. "There is nothing you can do here."

"Nate…"

"Please Sophie."

"Fine." Sophie said. "But you better not die on me Nate because…because you just better not."

"We'll bring him back." Eliot said as he passe her headed out the door.

"You better." Sophie said as she watched the three leave. "Nate."

"I'm here Sophie." Nate said softly. "How is my son?"

"He misses his dad." Sophie told him. "Just like his mother does."

"I miss you too my sweetheart." Nate said. "Somebody is coming Soph I have to go…"

"No don't take the coms out Nate please." Sophie said knowing he wanted to take the coms out so that she could not hear what happened especially if he was going to be executed.

"Stall Nate we are on our way." Eliot's voice came over the coms.

"Mr Ford." Bronovich said as he entered the room and coming to stand in front of Nate.

"Bronovich." Nate said locking eyes with the man.

"You are supposed to be dead."

"Yeah well…"

"Did you really think Mr Ford you could come to my country, to my home and try to con me, to take something that was mine."

"The boy was not yours." Nate interrupted him.

"Take that which was mine to do with as I please just as you are now." Bronovich continued ignoring Nate. "He interfered in my business and nobody Mr Ford nobody interferes in my business without consequences."

"So now…"

"Now Mr Ford you must die. Not only for interference in my business but for taking the life of my sister's husband."

"Novich."

"Yes indeed. So you see Mr Ford I have no option but to end your life, understand it is not personal it is business, I cannot allow you to live, just like I could not le Morero live and I will find the boy too, my friends would take me for a fool if I did, they would expect nothing less than complete retribution for your and his actions."

"Nate we are five minutes out you have to stall." Eliot's voice came over the coms.

"So how is this going to work?" Nate asked.

"Now you die Mr Ford." Bronovich said and then he nodded his man who then stepped behind Nate.

"Can't do it yourself?" Nate asked as he drew himself up.

"Stall dammit Nate." Eliot said desperation in his voice.

"I do not soil my hands on scum like yourself Mr Ford." Bronovich smiled at him.

Nate was about to say something when the man behind him moved and a rope was placed around Nate's neck and tightened. Nate struggled trying to get his hands in between the rope and his flesh as his air was cut off. The man pulled tighter and Nate's eyes started to water and he could taste sourness as his vision started to fade, then he felt as if his chest were on fire as the man pulled even tighter on the rope.

"Sophie…" He rasped out as he felt death approaching. Darkness started to envelope him and then he felt nothing. He was not aware when the doors burst open and Eliot entered.

Five minutes later Eliot knelt beside Nate looking down at him he felt his heart clench and his gut churn.

"Eliot…Eliot talk to me." Sophie's anxious voice came over the coms.

Eliot ignored her as he started CPR on the Mastermind willing him to breathe. Parker and Hardison stood and watched as Eliot worked.

"Breathe Nate please." Parker whispered as Eliot continued CPR.

"Dammit Nate your wife needs you, your son needs you, damn you I need you, don't do this…breathe damn you." Eliot said looking down at the open eyes of the Mastermind as he pressed down on his chest.

Finally he was rewarded with Nate taking a raspy breath.

"That's it Nate breathe…" Eliot said.

Nate blinked a few times looking up at Eliot wanting to say something but finding it difficult.

"We got to get him to a hospital." Eliot said as Nate fell into unconsciousness again. "Get the van."

"Eliot?"

"He's alive Sophie but I don't know if there has been any damage done and his breathing is difficult, so I am going to take him to Portland General."

"I'll meet you there." Sophie said as she grabbed her keys and bag then she left with Michael heading to the hospital.

"Parker make sure they are securely bound." Eliot told her. "We will get Sterling involved I am sure Juan will testify to the murder of his father, he'll go for it, they have wanted to get Bronovich for quite some time."

Within ten minutes they were on their way to the hospital with Eliot watching Nate closely. The Mastermind was struggling to breathe, his breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. Eliot was not sure what damage might have been done but there was a lot of things that could happen after strangulation, they needed to get him to a hospital as soon as possible.