Melanie is getting more emotional in this story which is what I'm aiming for, I hope you guys like it.
Chapter Five: Morning Meet
Lee's POV
I woke up when I heard a clattering noise coming from downstairs, I turned over to find Melanie's side empty. I through back the covers and headed dowstairs to see what was going on.
Melanie was sitting at the island with a mug on the counter and some kind of book in her hands. I went over into the kitchen and said, "When you said see you in the morning, I didn't think you meant three in the morning."as a joke and smiled, she turned away.
"What's wrong sweetheart?"I asked gently sitting on the chair next to hers.
"I'm scared Lee."she admitted her voice just above a whisper I almost didn't catch it. "I'm scared for Nicole anything can happen to her, and I'm still scared of Hunter. He hurt me so bad, now he has a chance to do it again."she explained a little louder and turned to drink from her mug.
I could sympathise with her, trusting in someone so much with your heart believing they'll do the same back only to have them break your heart and pound on you physically. It leaves its mark, and it takes some time before it heals too.
I hugged her before telling her, "It's alright to be scared just know that we'll get Nicole back soon and he won't touch you with all of us around."I stroked her hair to give her some comfort.
"Thanks Lee, that helps."she told me after we let go of each other, I caught a glance of the title on the book, 'Top Tips For Troubled Sleepers.'
"Does that work?"I asked pointing to the book, she looked down at it and shook her head.
"Not really, you helped me more than the book did. Lets go back to bed."she told me getting off her stool.
I got off mine and followed her up to the bedroom, we crawled in and hoped for some sleep before the alarm would go off.
Melanie's POV
The alarm sounded at seven startling me awake, I turned it off as Lee sat up and rubbed his eyes. I got up and headed to the shower after grabbing my bag of clothes, I needed one more than Lee did.
After dressing in black jeans and a green shirt with my hair in pigtails for a change, I went downstairs to the kitchen and gave Lee a hug from behind as he flipped our omlettes.
"Morning, how are doing?"he asked watching the eggs so they wouldn't burn while I set the table.
"Better, I'm sorry about yesterday."I told him, he turned from the pan and turned off the element.
"No need to apologize Cole, we all have rough days."he told me.
We got our food and sat down to eat when Lee flat out stared at me, "Something wrong?"I asked shoveling my breakfast into my mouth.
"What did you do with your hair?"he asked finally done starring and started eating.
"I put it in pigtails, don't you like it?"I said my hand going to my right one nervously.
"Like it,"he echoed and came over to me lifting them up. "I love them babe, you look cute."he told me and kissed my cheek.
We finished eating and Lee ran up to shower before we left for Tool's while I did up the dishes.
Lee's POV
All the guys looked at Mel when we arrived and she sighed in frustration beside me. "It's just a hair style."she snapped at them as we walked over and stood next to Barney.
"The old barn we're meeting at doesn't have much cover if things go sour so Toll, Hale and Gunnar you take the jeep and wait off the road out of sight. Yin, you'll be by the house to give us cross fire while Lee, Mel and I meet with this guy." Barney told us.
Each of us nodded, and we went out to the jeep and truck to head to the meeting place. "Why'd Hunter pick that location?"Barney asked Mel as she sat in the passenger seat.
"We used to meet there all the time, the place has been abandoned for a long time."she told him.
Barney didn't say anything and kept driving, I didn't say anything either but in my mind I was thinking, 'Why did they have to sneak out to an abandoned farm to get together?'
We arrived at the barn a little while later and Yin went to the house to take his position as we got out and leaned against the car to wait.
Melanie's POV
I hated waiting but we had to play this thing smart, Hunter was clever and could easily set us up.
"Car's coming up the road, good luck guys."Toll informed us through the radio.
"Thanks."Barney responded and put the radio back in his back pocket.
Lee looked to me concerned and I reached out and squeezed his hand with a firm nod that I was ready; before letting go and watching the car pull up a little ways away.
A male figure exited the car dressed in black jeans, cowboy boots, and a red dress shirt leading up to his sunglasses that covered his cold eyes.
He removed them and placed them on top of his short blonde hair, grinning at me. "Hey Melanie, you look good and its nice to see you got some bodyguards for yourself."Hunter said chuckling to himself.
I gave him a cold stare as Lee and Barney crossed their arms and glared at him. "Cut to the point of this meeting."I snapped at him, not caring if I was rude or not.
"Still mad at me? That's cute cupcake."he mused baiting me, I put my hands on my hips showing my impatience but at the same time wanting to grab my gun from my back and just shoot the guy on sight.
"Alright, Nicole is fine my friends are taking good care of her."he told us and showed us a picture of her in a bedroom.
"What's the deal?"Barney asked the whole point of the meet was to find out what he wanted and why he needed Nicole.
Hunter smiled, "I get two full days and nights with Melanie in return for Nicole."he told us.
"No deal."Lee said firmly stepping closer to me, my hands shook I wanted my gun.
"Fine then Nicole will be dead within the hour."he threatened completely serious now.
I thought quickly about my options; do as he said and let the guys save Nicole, or let her die. The latter wasn't an option so I stepped around Lee and addressed Hunter bitterly.
"I'll go with you but Nicole gets released first."I told him.
"Melanie, we'll find another way."Barney told me.
"He's right Mel, you're not going anywhere."Lee said taking hold of my arm.
Hunter put his hand under his chin to think on this, he probably had a plan already made but it looked like he might change it. Judging by the fact that he thought about it for several minutes and smiled before speaking to us.
"I've got a better idea here's my offer; I'll give you twenty-four hours from eight tonight to rescue Nicole, if you fail Melanie goes with me and Nicole stays as well."he offered. "Is it a deal?"he asked after letting it sink in.
I looked back at Barney, he nodded and then to Lee, he gave a firm nod and I spoke. "You've got a deal Hunter, where is she being held?"I said knowing we needed a location.
Hunter grinned again, "You should know cuttie pie, we used to spend a lot of time there."he taunted.
I thought about it and said, "See you at Rocky's."
He nodded and climbed back into his car leaving in a cloud of dust.
Lee's POV
I cracked my knuckles in frustration, "How can you stand that guy?"I asked bitterly.
"That's the way he is Lee, I got used to it." she replied as Barney pulled out the radio and told the guys it was safe.
I shook my head in disbelief she shouldn't of had to get used to him in the first place.
"What is Rocky's?"asked Barney knowing that the sooner we came up with a plan the sooner we could get moving.
"A bar on Bark Road outside of Jerrystone. It's not too far from here a twenty minute drive, and an extra ten to reach the bar." Melanie explained.
"I've been to Rocky's before, big place with pool tables, sports bar and the lounge. Upstairs is bedrooms, six right Mel?"Toll told us.
Melanie nodded in comfirmation, "We stayed in room four a lot."she said rubbing the bridge of her nose.
I put my arm around her as Barney spoke, "It's a public place so we'll have to go undercover and without you Mel."
Melanie glared at him, "This is my cousin we're rescueing."she argued.
"I know Cole but everyone in the place would recognize you within minutes, leave this one to us."he told her and I nodded knowing he was right.
"Lee, you'll make your way upstairs and find Nicole while the rest of us circulate the bar and keep an eye out for Hunter and his boys."Barney explained.
"You got it."I told him and he looked to Mel.
"You wait in the SUV behind the bar ready for a quick exit and will be in radio contact with each of us."he said.
"Sure I'll do it."she said and I could tell she was happy to have a part in the plan and not be benched.
We left the barn and got our separate vehicles to go home and relax before we'd be hitting the bar at eleven that night.
Barney's POV
While the team was relaxing before the mission, I went to the bar to stake it out.I wanted to be prepared for this mission and that meant knowing what you were getting into.
Rocky's sat in a field with a huge parking lot to the side,and a paved path out back for the big trucks to dock and unload their shipments. The bar itself had a big glowing sign with its name and a smaller open sign barely showing up in the daylight.
I parked my truck among the few there and went inside; it was just like Toll said.
The bar was long on the left wall and extended down into the sports bar area. Tables and chairs of the wooden variety filled most of the room except the area at the back wall where the pool tables stood. The stairs were to the right of the door wooden and curving upstairs, around that was the rest rooms.
I sat at the bar and ordered a beer while using the mirror behind the bartender to watch a group of men at a table not far away.
They moved closer together and started talking after noticing me, I got up and moved to the table next to them. I listened in on their conversation.
"Hunter's being stupid giving them a chance to take our bargaining chip away from us."said the first man bitterly, obviously he was unhappy with his boss's choice.
"It's not a bad idea, especially that he gets two prizes if they don't succeed. I'd like to get to know Nicole."said a second man, and I held back the urge to punch him out right then and there.
A beer mug thunked the table before another man spoke this time with an accent I couldn't quite place. "The big boss won't like that Hunter changed plans without his permission. He wants Miss Cole for himself and no one will stand in his way; not her team, not her boyfriend, and certainly not Hunter. I'll follow the big boss before following Hunter."he told them.
"I'm with you Erin." said the first guy, and the second guy said, "Forget it Hunter knows what he's doing."
They left shortly after that and I finished my beer before leaving and hurrying for Melanie's house texting Lee to round up the boys for another meeting.
Hmmm someone else is pulling the strings here besides Hunter, throwing in a wrench for the team. Review and I'll update as soon as I can.