Renegade Runaways :: Chapter Twenty Three
Bo stared at the abandoned warehouse that loomed across the river. They were on the outskirts of Salem. He inhaled the air. Home sweet home. The air was cold. It wasn't quite the homecoming he'd been expecting. It was the middle of the night. He inserted a wireless ear piece in preparation for the pending mission.
"Hey," Steve approached slowly, "You ready?"
Bo nodded, "Let's get this over with."
"How much do you want to bet the place explodes by the time we're done with it?" Steve questioned as he handed Bo a second gun.
Bo smiled, "Please. This has Dimera written all over it."
"You never have been one to take a losing bet," Steve grinned and adjusted his own earpiece.
Shane's voice suddenly filled their ears, "My infrared screen shows five bodies. Looks like four guards and Caroline if I had to guess by the size and stature."
Steve chuckled, "What the hell man? Apparently they think Mrs. Brady is superwoman. They got four guys on her?"
Bo smiled. In his eyes, Caroline was superwoman, "They know we're coming."
"Well, they asked for it," John added. He was on the other side of the river scoping out the perimeter of the building, "I've got three possible entrances."
"One for each of us?" Bo questioned.
"Sounds good," Steve agreed.
"The bodies all seem to be congregated in one room," Shane informed, "You should be safe until you get there."
"I can't tell if there's any type of security to this building," John replied, "There could be cameras. Alarms. Booby traps."
"It's an abandoned warehouse," Steve scoffed, "That's a lot of hassle for one kidnapped victim."
"Yeah, I don't buy it," Bo replied, "This was a spur of the moment job."
"Just watch your back," Shane advised.
"You never know with Dimera," John agreed.
"See you on the inside," Bo sighed. He looked at Steve. Steve nodded.
"I'm going in the second story window," John announced, "You two can take the front and back entrances."
"I'll take the front," Bo replied.
"I've never had a problem coming in the back," Steve grinned.
Bo rolled his eyes, "Stop."
"I love bringing up the rear," Steve added.
Bo shoved Steve's shoulder, "That's my sister…"
Steve laughed out loud, "Never mentioned your sister you perv."
"Will you two focus?" Shane ordered, "Let's get this show on the road."
Twenty minutes later, Bo was entering the front door. The hallway was dark. He drew his gun.
"Second story is clear," John announced.
"I've got a visual on Caroline," Steve whispered.
Bo was silent. He was still in the dark. He continued down the hallway until several gunshots rang out and stopped him in his tracks. Yelling ensued.
"Give me something here," Bo growled, "What's going on?"
"Two down, one wounded," Steve replied, "I need back up. The fourth one is using Caroline as a shield."
Bo continued his way down the hallway. Soft light glowed under a door as rounded a corner.
"What am I walking in on here?" Bo whispered. Silence greeted him on the other side. He waited. He listened. It didn't seem like much was happening on the other side of the door.
"Steve?" Bo questioned.
"Steve's down," Shane finally replied.
"What?" Bo almost yelled.
"There's a fifth person," Shane replied, "He came from behind. Caroline is still being used as a shield."
"I've got a shot," John whispered.
"Don't take it," Bo replied.
"I've got a clean shot," John argued.
Bo's heart raced. Steve was down and Caroline was in the line of fire.
"Take it," Shane replied.
Before Bo could protest, he heard another shot ring out. His heart stopped when he heard Caroline cry out in fear. He burst through the door, not knowing what would greet him on the other side. He saw his mother alone and shaking in fear. She stood surrounded by dead bodies and Steve. Bo gulped. He ran to her.
"Ma," Bo greeted and pulled her to his chest. His heart pounded as his arms wrapped around her. She was unharmed.
"Oh, Bo!" Caroline grinned through tears of fear and relief. She clung to his strong frame.
"Get out," John ordered, "There's still one on the loose."
"What about Steve," Bo questioned. He picked Caroline up, "I'm not leaving him behind."
"Get her out Bo," Shane urged, "I have a bad feeling about this. He left too easily."
Bo raced Caroline out of the room. He was on a mission. He would save her and he would save Steve. Leaving Steve behind was out of the question. The man had saved his life. He was his best friend. He raced Caroline down the dark hall he'd entered from. He didn't know another route, and he prayed with each step that nothing would surprise him on the way back out.
He delivered Caroline safely to Shane, who stood outside of the warehouse.
"What are you doing?" Shane asked as Bo turned back towards the building.
"I'm going to get Steve." Bo replied, "I'm not leaving him."
Shane couldn't argue, but his face showed signs of disagreement. He held Caroline close to his body and bit his lip as he stared at Bo, "Be careful."
"There's a bomb," John announced.
"Where are you?" Shane asked. He backed Caroline away from the building. He turned around to try to talk Bo into staying out of the doomed building, but Bo was no where in sight. Shane's heart fell, "John, get out."
John didn't reply.
Bo sprinted down the hallway as fast as his legs could carry him. He reached Steve with a racing heart and a layer of sweat covering his body. He shook his best friend's shoulder, "Steve. Steve?"
Steve was lifeless, but Bo could see shallow respirations.
"What happened to you man?" Bo grunted as he struggled to lift Steve over his shoulder, "John, where are you?"
John didn't reply.
"Bo, you have to get out." Shane begged, "Who knows how much time is on that bomb."
Bo trudged towards the door. His mind wandered to Hope. She knew his life was on the line. She was right. He was in a building that was about to blow. This was the exact reason she didn't want him to go. He longed to hold her. To kiss her. To tell her goodbye. He held Steve's body close to him and tried to hurry. He had to get to her.
As he raced with his best friend down the dark hall for the fourth time, the warehouse exploded.