CHAPTER ELEVEN

Martha's breath was coming out in sharp gasps. She didn't think she'd ever run so fast in her life. Of course that may have been due to the fact that Jack was practically hauling her through the muddy bush.

It was pitch black dark and she could barely see a thing in front of her. The rain was pelting down hard; making the ground muddy and slippery. If it wasn't for Jack, Martha would be laying face down in the dirt.

As Jack tugged on her hand; urging her to continue, Martha twisted her head and squinted in the darkness; looking for a shadow or some type of movement from Johnny.

"I can't see him," Martha cried out to Jack. She pulled on his arm; wanting him to slow down. "I need to stop," she gasped.

Jack stopped immediately and wrapped his arms around Martha's waist and dragged her behind a bush. He covered her mouth with his hand; telling her to be quiet. They squatted down behind the bush; hiding from sight.

"Don't make a sound," Jack whispered as he removed his hand from her mouth.

"What are we going to do?" Martha hissed at him.

"Not so loud," Jack scolded her as he brushed her wet hair away from her face. Jack noticed her shivering and her teeth chattering. "You cold?" he asked her.

Martha nodded. "It's pissing down with rain and we're in it," she was shaking. "We're gonna catch pneumonia and we're gonna die," she panicked.

Jack cupped her face and tried to calm her. "We're gonna be fine. We've just gotta get back to the car," he told her.

Ignoring his soothing words, Martha continued with her rant. "I fucking hate this," she spat out. "All I ever wanted was the perfect life, with perfect husband and perfect children. But nooooo, here I am; running for my fucking life," she growled.

"Shut up," Jack shook her a little. "Get up, we're going," he grabbed her hand and reefed her onto her feet.

"Going where?" Martha threw her arms in the air.

"Just don't let go," Jack snapped at her as he grabbed her hand and started to drag her back in the direction that they had just came.

"I can't help but think we should be running in the other direction," Martha yelled out sarcastically.

"You can stay here by yourself if you like," Jack turned and glared at her.

Martha winced a little and shook her head. "I'm good," she exclaimed.

"Let's go then," Jack said as they started to make their way back to the car.

They'd only been running for about a minute when they crashed straight into another wet body. They both fell backwards; landing in the mud.

"Oh god," Martha cried as she looked up into the face of Johnny Cooper.

Johnny laughed down at them. "I told you that I would get you," he exclaimed.

"Whatever Corey and Ash are paying you; I'll double it. Even triple it if you want," Martha tried to bargain with him.

Johnny shook his head. "I don't betray family," he smirked. "Now get up," he leant down and scruffed Martha by the arm.

"Get your hands off her," Jack yelled as he lunged at Johnny; knocking him to the ground. "Run Martha. Get out of here," he called out as he struggled on the ground with Johnny.

"I'm not leaving you here," Martha cried as she tried to help Jack.

"Go," Jack screamed at her.

"No," Martha screamed back as she lifted her foot and slammed it into the side of Johnny's face.

Jack pulled himself away from Johnny as he felt his body go limp above him. He let out a deep breath as Martha helped him to his feet.

"Steel capped boots can be a girls best friend, you know?" Martha laughed a little.

"You fucking bitch," Johnny groaned as he tried to pull himself up.

"Let's go," Jack grabbed Martha's hand and they took off towards the car.

Martha pulled the car keys from out of her pocket and unlocked the car. "I'm still driving," she panted; trying to catch her breath.

"Whatever," Jack exclaimed as he jumped in beside her. "Let's just get out of here," he urged.

Martha nodded and started the car. "Good idea," she then pointed out the window. Standing about fifty meters from the car was Johnny. Martha revved the engine as she watched Johnny pull a gun from his Jacket. She wasted no time in accelerating.

"What are you doing?" Jack yelled at her as he grabbed hold of the dash.

"He is really starting to piss me off," Martha said through clenched teeth as she drove the car straight towards Johnny.

The impact of his body hitting the windscreen was pretty strong and a large crack started to appear in the glass. Everything seemed to go in slow motion as Martha and Jack watched Johnny's body flying through the air. He hit the ground with a loud thud.

"That'll teach him," Martha sniggered. "You think he's dead?" she pondered.

"It's very possible," Jack was stunned. He looked at Martha; a small smile appearing on his face. "How many people have you killed?" he was curious.

Martha shrugged. "Well, there was Zoë, and now Johnny. So, two; just the two," she answered with a nod.

Jack laughed. "You're a natural," he remarked.

"I try," Martha winked at him.

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"We've searched the place high and low. There's nobody here," Kim said as he walked into the foyer of Corey's mansion. "It's deserted," he exclaimed.

Charlie let out a loud groan. He had really thought that they were going to get Martha back. "They must have only just left before we got here," he concluded.

"What next?" Macca wanted to know.

Charlie shrugged. "I don't know," he was honest. "We haven't come any closer to finding out where Martha might be. All we know is that Jack might be with her. We don't know if they're with Corey now or if they're with someone else. They could be dead for all we know," he sighed.

"But if they are alive, then at least Martha has Jack with her," Robbie pointed out. "He'll protect her with his life. That I know," he added.

"Yeah, I guess," Charlie sighed.

"Charlie," a voice from down the hall called out.

Charlie moved away from the group and looked down the hall; spotting Bruiser. "What is it?" he asked.

"You'd better come see this," Bruiser's voice was low.

Charlie was curious as to what Bruiser wanted him to see. He just hoped that it wasn't Martha's dead body.

"Sorry mate," Bruiser seemed sympathetic.

"Why? What is…..," Charlie's voice trailed off.

He couldn't believe his eyes. There, lying in a puddle of her own blood was Amanda Vale. He raised his palm to his mouth; holding the bile that threatened to spill from his lips.

"Leave me," Charlie ordered.

Bruiser nodded in understanding and left the room; closing the door behind him. Charlie still stood in the same spot; taking in his surroundings. By now he'd noticed that Amanda's body wasn't alone. He recognized the person as the man from the video tape. It was the man who had abducted Martha. Josh West.

Charlie took in Josh's appearance. It was clear that he had been tortured. He wondered why. Josh had done his job correctly. He had gotten Martha. But now it seemed as though he had been punished. Obviously some way along the line, he had stuffed up.

But right now, Charlie didn't care about Josh West. He held no sympathy or remorse for the man. He took Martha. Charlie believed that he deserved everything he got. If only he had gotten to him first. He would have made him pay for his sins. And he would have paid for them dearly.

Charlie leant down next to Amanda's cold body. Her eyes were still open; glazed over, but still so blue. He reached a hand across her face and brushed her eyes closed; it was the least he could do.

"Oh Amanda, what did you ever do to deserve this," he said in a soft voice. "There was so much good in you, but you were just burdened with the wrong family. You should have gotten out and left with Peter when you had the chance. I would have helped you," he stroked her cheek.

Even in death she still looked like an angel. Sleeping beauty he used to call her. She'd be his Sleeping beauty forever now.

Charlie stood up and walked back towards the door. He turned around and took one last glance at the now peaceful and free Amanda Vale. He hoped that wherever she was now; she was happy. She deserved it.

"I had fun Amanda," Charlie exclaimed. "It was good while it lasted," he whispered his final words to her before exiting the room.

He calmly walked down the hall and back out into the foyer where the other men were waiting.

"Let's go……"

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