"Why would you get on the truck?"
Hissing the angry whisper from behind the large crate in the middle of the load, Sam swore out loud when the truck suddenly hit a bump and sent her sprawling on her fanny, the back of her head crashing into an adjacent crate.
"Why would you get on behind me?"
Grabbing hold of the large one nearest her, Carly reached her free hand out to help her up, wincing when Sam got to her feet and squeezed hard on the offered hand, glaring her complete disapproval.
"What else was I going to do - watch as they take off with you for god knows where?"
Carly knew she'd bitten off too much by getting in impulsively, but she wouldn't take all the blame for them both making the same split-second decision.
"You could've just planted the tracer, and met me when we got there." Her own hiss grounded through clenched teeth.
"Yeah - sure! Except for the part where they loaded three trucks…two of which took off in two different directions…and there I was with only one tracer!"
Something she hadn't thought of! "Lucky for me you chose the right one?"
"No - not lucky - since I'd already strapped the truck closest to the bay door and watch it take off before I spotted your bobblehead peaking out the back of this one!"
"Then why didn't you just call for help, instead of getting on?"
"You threw me off, dammit, and I couldn't watch you take off alone, not knowing what you've gotten yourself into! Silly me, thinking I'd be able to talk you off before we got locked in here!"
"Shit! We could end up in a different location from where they plan to offload the hot stuff?"
"Yes! Not feeling so genius stowing away now, are you?"
Making a face at how right she was, but not caring to acknowledge it, Carly saw her plan instantly unravel.
"You're here with me - doesn't make your plan so brilliant either!"
"Only because I had to scrap it when you improvised your own! If you hadn't boarded a truck, we could be safely tracking from the warehouse, waiting for Sonny and Jason!"
"Jason? Jason wants no part of Sonny's business anymore - you know that!"
"What?"
"He told Sonny last night - didn't he tell you?"
Sam knew he hadn't been foaming at the mouth to jump back into the thick of mob life, but she wasn't aware a final decision had been relayed.
"Whatever…" Pulling the phone from her back pocket, she rested her back to the crate, bringing up an app, "Let's just see where we're headed!"
Bracing against the increasing jostle of the moving truck, Carly edged closer to peer over Sam's shoulder at the screen, puzzling at the slow moving red arrow.
"We're driving south on the highway - where the hell are they taking us?"
"Not Aurora, that's for sure! Hush…let me think!"
While not pleased at being hushed, Carly got quiet and raced through her own thoughts, appreciative that despite her impulsive decision to hop onto the loaded truck, she wasn't alone in her current predicament. While Jason would always be her number one choice to have in her corner, Sam Morgan was an excellent second, in any situation! She was confident they'd find a way out, and bust some thieves in the process!
"Shit!"
"What?"
"Their phones keep going straight to voicemail - must have no signal in the hills."
"I told you not to call them anyway." Sliding down a crate, Carly spread her legs straight along the bed of the truck, settling in for what could be a lengthy ride.
Sending her a silent stab from reprimanding eyes, Sam mimicked the movement, trying again to place the call, with the same result.
"We need backup, Carly. We have no idea what's waiting for us at the end of this little joyride."
"That's true." She watched as Sam dialed again. "You're leaving a message?"
"No - I have an idea."
"What - the police?"
"Pfft - they'd probably lock us up as stowaways!" When the call was picked up after two rings, Sam put her plan into motion.
"Hey. It's Sam."
"I know. How're you?"
"been better. Listen, I need a favor!"
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"Daddy, this is the best!"
Jason smiled at his boy taking his helmet off, still full of so much energy even after they'd been out for hours. Removing his own helmet, he sat back where his feet planted to the ground, straddling the dark blue bike with the white lightning bolt running its length, Danny seated on a smaller replica beside him. This was exactly the kind of energy filled morning he'd always yearned to share with a son of his own, and here it was, unbelievably happening - the experience so much more thrilling than the dream, filling his heart to utmost capacity. His seed had taken to the dirt like a natural, spilling only a couple times at first, but later started going faster as his confidence boosted and his footing got surer.
"Yes, it is Buddy! How's that arm?" His second spill had resulted in a bruise on his left arm but he hadn't complained about it once during their ride.
"It's nothing…doesn't even hurt much."
But Jason knew it would be an ugly purple later that he would have to explain to momma bear, given his assurances the night before that nothing like it was going to happen. It was no worse than a scraped knee that children got from playing ball outdoors - yes, he'd use that analogy - she'd be less mad at something she'd had plenty as a kid.
They'd just gotten off to stretch their legs, catching sight of the breathtaking view of the town from up high, when they were met with the sounds of Michael and Sonny riding up.
"Hey, Danny." Michael stopped next to his little cousin and rested one foot to the ground, his outstretched arms still revving the bike for effect. "You were going so fast I thought I'd never catch up. Who taught you to ride like that?"
Danny smirked like his father, shiny, riveting blue eyes filled with mischief and pride. "Daddy let me lead - did you see that?"
"See it? I've been trying to catch you for twenty minutes!"
They were laughing together when the sound of an approaching vehicle caught the attention of all four.
"Who's that?" Sonny exhaled as he removed the black helmet and looked over at Jason. "You invited somebody?"
"It's Linden - Sam and I hired him as a PI a few months ago." Curiosity reared its head as the black F250 braked to a stop near the group. "Wonder what he's doing here?"
Five minutes later, he had his answer, the bikes were hitched to the SUV, and the team of men were headed downhill. Sam was in trouble.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"It's been hours - how far are these idiots taking us?"
With eyes closed as her head rocked against the crate in conjunction with the jarring movement of the truck, Sam listened to the same question that had been pouted repeatedly throughout their journey.
"Why don't you knock on the panel and ask them?"
Carly held on as she moved about, finally easing back down next to Sam. "I don't know how you can sleep at a time like this."
"I'm not sleeping, but I'm not up in arms either…there isn't anything we can do until we get there, is it?" She'd been trying to think but the blonde's constant nervous interruptions kept breaking into her thoughts.
"We need a plan. It's good that you sent someone to Jason, but he won't know where to find us. We need to be prepared to get out before they know we're here."
"You're right about being prepared…but Jason will know exactly where we are."
"How? We, don't know where we are!"
With her eyes still closed, Sam waved the phone in her hand, then lowered it back to her lap. "In our line of business we find it imperative to keep tabs on each other…never know when one of us will need the cavalry."
Just then the truck slowed, drawing both their attentions to it veering off the main road onto a rougher path before coming to a crawl, and both realized that any minute they would be discovered among the stolen load.
Tapping Carly on the shoulder when they both rose into a crouch, Sam gestured for them to move to the very back. "Remember, we have the element of surprise." Easing the small caliber gun from the waist of her jeans, she motioned for Carly to move behind her. "We see how many there are, then we wait for the opportunity to get our asses off this truck, and we run!"
Carly nodded, then realized it hadn't been seen, so she orated, "I can do that." Curling and spreading her fingers to release itchy nerves, she braced her shoulders and prepared to fight.
Ten minutes after they'd stopped, everything was completely quiet, with no indication of anyone coming to the back of the truck.
"What are they doing? Where the hell are they?"
"Something doesn't feel right."
"Maybe they left it in the middle of nowhere for somebody to snatch. I say we make a run for it now, while we're alone."
Still listening for any movement and hearing none, Sam shook her head in wary doubt. "I didn't hear any other car leave…they didn't go anywhere."
"We can't just sit here and do nothing, Sam."
"I know you prefer to charge full steam ahead, Carly - act first think later, and I agree at times, but Jason's taught me the benefit of the opposite too. I still say we wait…at least until we have some idea of what we're dealing with."
"We can't see anything, so there's no way for us to figure that out! So now what?"
Before Sam could answer, the rolling door of the truck rattled loudly in its rise upward, sending both women scampering down behind large crates.
"You might as well come out! Both of you!"
Sam looked at Carly in surprise, whispering through her teeth, "How the hell do they know we're in here?" But Carly shrugged her shoulders in as much surprise, as they heard the stern voice repeat the command.
"There's nowhere for you to go, so come out peacefully and you won't get hurt!"
Sam didn't recognize the voice - it wasn't the man who'd tried to convince them all he was Jason. They were in a bind…they could try to shoot their way out but without knowing exactly how many and where they were, that could prove futile. Better to do as they said for now and take their time getting a lay of the land, enough to form a plan.
"What are you doing?" Carly whispered and grabbed at Sam to stop her midrise to her feet.
"We have no choice. Come on." Sliding the gun back inside her jeans, Sam stood up and raised her hands as she stepped forward.
Observant PI eyes soon made three big guys with dark hair, dressed in all black, each palming a handgun, but only the one immediately before her aimed at the truck as they waited cockily. The lanky one to the side, whom Sam recognized as the driver from the warehouse, kept looking around nervously, as if he was expecting company, while the third, stood directly behind them, his muscles bulging beneath a t-shirt two sizes too small. The one with the trained gun waved it to indicate they should climb down, then addressed Sam coldly when they complied.
"Mrs. Morgan - welcome! I'll take your piece now."
"What makes you think I'm carrying?"
"You're always carrying. Give it to me, or I'll really enjoy taking it."
Currently outnumbered, Sam knew the time to react wasn't then, so she moved slowly to reach the gun in the dip at her back, laying it flat in her palm to hold out to him.
"Atta girl. Keep being obedient and this will go smoothly for you." He stepped to the side and motioned them to precede him. "Move! You too, Mrs. Corinthos!"
Carly fell in line behind Sam, darting a look to the man to her right. "How do you know who we are?"
"Everybody knows who you are."
Looking around as they moved, Sam made out they were in a wooded area - the truck had been driven along a narrow graveled path to a lone concrete structure, surrounded by bushes on all sides. She remembered from when they turned off that they drove about three miles from the main road. Two pickup trucks were parked off to the side and there was nothing else around as far as she could see.
They were shoved inside the building, an empty, one-room structure with low beams and several concrete panels erected throughout, with a sole large window on one side. There were folding chairs strewn throughout, and a long table at one end, where the women were directed.
"I'll take your cell phones too."
Without a word, Sam handed the phone over, and the man turned to Carly, who widened her eyes and scoffed as they rolled, "I left mine at the warehouse."
"Nice try." He raised the gun directly at her face, and Sam could tell from the coldness in his eyes he was the deadliest of the three. "Hand it over - I'm not kidding around!"
"She's not lying…she dropped it climbing into the truck."
But he wasn't going to take their word for it, grabbing and groping at Carly while he held the gun on her, he ran rough hands over her dress and bosom before leering in satisfaction, shoving an angry Carly to the chair behind her.
"Sit!"
The one guarding Sam motioned her to do the same, slapping her hard across the face when she hesitated to comply.
Son-of-a-bitch! The smart, reddening her cheek, was nothing to the ringing the hit set off in her left ear, causing Sam to close her eyes shut and grit angering teeth to temper an ill-timed response. The third pig was busy digging through a cardboard box on the floor, his gun rested on the ground right next to it. Sam knew he was looking for something to tie them up, so she ran her brain to engage them before that happened, sitting gingerly on the ordered chair, as she mastered her voice to a learned calm.
"So, how did you know we were in there anyway?"
The two still standing, smirked at each other then looked back to Sam, "If you're going to stow away in a truck, don't choose one fitted with a camera to keep an eye on valuable cargo."
Pursing her lips in an agreeing nod, Sam relented, "I give you that. But, while we're on dos and don'ts…you probably shouldn't steal from a mobster, and you probably shouldn't take said mobster's wife hostage if you do…could spell a short lifespan for a thief."
"Not as short as one for an enforcer's bitch, who should learn to keep her mouth shut and her ass out of other people's business."
"Ah, come on…we're just talking here! For instance, I'm willing to let you in on a little secret…if you and your friends want to get out of this in one piece, you should leave now, and get a headstart. You're gonna need it!"
"Why is that? Because you called somebody from the truck - told them where to find you?" He snapped his fingers at the man still bent over the box, who stood up just then and approached. "Way ahead of you! See, somebody wanted us to leave you a little present first, since you chose to invite yourself to this party."
Sam looked over at Carly seated close to her, relaying with her eyes they needed to move. They couldn't afford to be incapacitated with these guys in a hurry to leave…that only meant they didn't plan on leaving them alive. Had to move now, before they were restricted. With a discrete nod to Carly, Sam used the man's momentary distraction with taking the ties from his accomplice, to reach down to her boot, snaking her trusty companion they never know to check for, surprising her assailant the moment he turned back around to a knife stabbing through his scrotum. At their companion's bloodcurdling howl of pain, the other two gaped, giving Carly the distraction she needed to rail to her feet, catching her guard by surprise when she grabbed him by the shoulders and brought a hard knee up to meet his testicles, shoving him to the ground when he doubled over in pain, adding a harsh, heeled stomp to his neck.
Now on her feet, Sam grabbed at Carly's arm and shoved her to bolt towards the window, pausing to grab the forgotten gun on the floor as she joined to zig between the concrete columns. Grabbing a folding chair on her way, Sam hurled it through the glass to send it shattering.
"Go, Carly - go, go, go, go, go!"
Knowing they'd only taken down two and the other would recover from his surprise any second, the ladies wasted no time reaching the window and Carly was halfway through it, with Sam just at her back, when a shot rang out behind them. Jumping to the ground outside, Carly spun to reach for Sam to help her out, her heart crashing in horror when she missed her hand by inches as she fell to the ground inside the wall.
"NOOOO!"
Carly's head shot up when gunshots rang out in a flurry, a hail of bullets that sent her ducking to cover her head behind the wall, and then she realized what her eyes had caught before she'd ducked. That anguished sound had not tore from her, but from Jason, who'd burst through the door ahead of Linden and Sonny, just in time to see Sam fall to the floor from the bullet that tore through her.
When the thunder stopped, Carly eased up again, hurrying over the windowsill to get back in, just as Jason dropped to his knees at Sam's side before her.
"Sam! Baby, open your eyes! Sam!"
Kneeling quickly at her side, Carly joined Jason trying to wake Sam up, her eyes suddenly filling with huge tears that choked her urging voice.
"Sam Morgan, open your eyes! Sam, I'm not kidding around - we have to go home, Sam - get up!"
Jason's heart literally hurt! When he'd torn through the door and his eyes swept the room to find two assailants down and a third aiming at something moving rapidly to the window, it had beat so fast he thought it would jump out of his chest. Then when the shot sounded before his gun could go off, he'd died in the seconds it took him to tear the gunman's torso open with a hail of bullets from his own gun, seemingly leadened feet speeding him in her direction, to send his knees crashing to the ground by her fallen body. She was still as board, crimson seeping through the grey fabric of her shirt and spreading brightly across the floor. Panic unlike anything he'd ever known, made his head light and his breathing shallow, as gingerly, he sought the base of her throat, praying to any god there was to let there be a pulse. Light, but there, he felt himself breathe again as he backed the riding jacket and then his t-shirt off and pressed it hard against the gushing at her shoulder.
"Jason, Jason - help is on the way." Sonny was standing behind Carly with the phone at his ear, looking down to where they both had hands pressing at the cloth against Sam.
Shaking his head, Jason braced down on his knees and ran his hands beneath her tiny body, scooping her to his arms as he rose to his feet, Carly coming up with him, still clamping his t-shirt to Sam.
"I'm not waiting. I'll take her myself."
He was already on the way out the door, oblivious to any rebuttal to his decision. No way would he watch her bleed to death while they waited who knows how long, for some ambulance to find them. She was thankfully still breathing, and he would keep it that way.
Carly, who'd run ahead of him, threw the SUV door open for him to place her gently on the backseat, where she jumped in and set her hand back to bracing against the wound. "Let's go Jason - come on!" But he was already opening the driver's door, needing no urging to get him moving at a demon's pace to get her help. Please God - I know you don't owe me anything, and I've used up more miracles recently than I have any right to, but please, I CANNOT lose her. My son CANNOT lose his mother. I beg you - please - do not take her from me!
"How is she, Carly?"
"She's going to be fine, Jason - just drive!" Looking down at her friend's ashen pallor, Carly swallowed the lump with the lie in her throat. "You heard that, Sam? Jason found us, just like we knew he would, so don't make me lie to Jason!" She leaned down to Sam's ear and whispered harshly, "I'll kick your ass you dare leave this family, you hear me? Wake your ass up and give me a hard time for getting you shot!" She was praying as hard as Jason was, but she had to stay strong for them, even as her heart broke at how pale and weak Sam appeared, terrified that she wouldn't wake up.
"Just keep talking to her, Carly." Jason was following the map on his phone to get them to the nearest hospital, refusing to give in to the terror silently raging within him. "We're almost there!" Zipping past everything on the way, ignorant to honking horns and the last car that veered a hard right to avoid getting hit, he glanced in the rearview mirror, then back to the road. Please God save her!
