Chapter 9:

"Don't move." Boyd ordered Becker as Squires took out his knife and untied Jake. Rubbing his hands, the skin was open and sore where the cuffs had been chaffing and he had tried to break out of them over the last few days.

"Thanks I owes you one." He nodded gratefully at Squires. "Sorry to ruin your day Becker."

"Oh this aint over Jake." Maurice promised, as another seven men came out of nowhere. Boyd didn't flinch, he still had another card or two to play aswell. Standing firm, they each waited for someone to make the next move. As they waited, the room was shaken and everyone lost their balance momentarily as a bright orange light filled the room.

"What was that?" Squires asked Boyd.

"I'm not sure…" Boyd stopped talking and listened to his earpiece. "Copy that."

"What is it by?" Jake asked concerned.

"Carlos is here, somebody blew up his jeep."

"Not such a great idea." Becker warned him, "Carlos doesn't take kindly to people who do him wrong. I'm the picture of a perfect gentleman compared to him."

"Secondary positions now. I have the package." Boyd ordered as he heard Carlos and his men approaching from behind.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Carlos screamed as his men trained their weapons on Boyd and his men.

"I was just tying up some loose ends here."

"You brought the Feds down on us. What were you thinking?"

"It's not a problem Carlos. I was just about to show our guests to the door. Boys." He smiled as each man was shadowed by one of Beckers men. Boyd, Jake and Squires looked at each other quietly.

"Great rescue guys. Just let me know what the plan is now and I'll play along."
"I have them right where I want them." Boyd grinned, then turning around sharply, he grabbed the gun from the mercenary behind him and forced him to his knees before knocking him out cold with the butt of his gun. Squires and Jake did the same. Then Jake set after the man next closest to him, kicking him in the knee then trying to knock him out with a blow to the head. The guy stumbled uneasily on his feet but not enough to knock him out. Throwing a few punches of his own, Jake shook his head to try and stay on his feet. He was in no condition for a fight right now.

Boyd blocked punches of his own as the six foot nine and built like a professional wrestler. It wasn't an easy task, and if it had been a normal mission he could have used his weapon by now, but as this was an off the books case, he had to ensure that no one was killed during their escape. It wasn't long before back up arrived. Mal, pleased to see Jake alive, raced to his side and helped him to subdue his assailant. "Good to see you son."
"You too pops." Jake gave him a pat on the shoulder and made a mental note to give him a great big hug when they were all safe. He was a good father and jokes aside, he was grateful to be able to have the opportunity to tell him so. "Now where's Becker. I have some business to finish with him."

He looked around and saw Becker hanging by the rear exit. Making his way across the room, He had to duck and weave as Wolf and Squires took out two more guys. Jimmy held one at gunpoint against the wall as he spotted for the other two. Carlos was hiding just in the shadows watching everything go down. He held his gun up for protection, but like Boyd and his men, the last thing he needed was to be implicated in a murder that had nothing to do with him. His men did all they could to get rid of their intruders, but no one was keen to fire.

"Maurice you stays where you're at by. I'm coming for you." Jake called out as Becker started to flee.

"Better luck next time Jake my boy." He waved as he opened the rear door and prepared to disappear into the night.

"NO!" Jake looked deep inside to find as much speed as he could. There was no way that Becker was getting away this time. But as he opened the door, and the night breeze blew across his cheeks Becker came face to face with Leslie's weapon.

"Leslie no!" By now Jake had caught up and Wolf and Boyd had managed to creep around the rear. Becker was blocked in and he knew it.

"Give it up Becker."
"Jake. Are you ok?" Leslie asked, relieved to see him on his feet.
"I'm fine." Jake smiled at her, glad to see her with his own eyes again she was even lovelier than he had remembered.

"Maurice Becker you are under arrest. Drop your weapon and kneel on the ground."

"Well." He chuckled. "It looks like the better man one after all." Becker lowered his hands and went to give Leslie the gun. Their guns also raised, Wolf Boyd and Squires stepped closer to back her up. Boyd wanted to warn her to stay back, but that would give Becker a weakness to focus on. They had to keep her position strong. Trying to get close enough to pull her away as soon as the exchange was made. Boyd stretched forward and grabbed the gun as Wolf grabbed Leslie and pushed her behind him. Becker was on his knees in no time and under guard by Boyd and squires. His men subdued, Leslie turned around and threw her arms around Jake.

"My god Jake. You had us all worried. It's been weeks."

"I know. Sorry about that."

"Damn right you should be." She kissed him.

"Owe." He groaned as the sores on his lip stuck to hers.

"Sorry." She rubbed her finger gently over the sores as he held her tight, feeling her skin, smelling the scent of lemon in her hair from her shampoo. God she was beautiful.

"We need to get out of here now." Boyd ordered.

"Where's Carlos?" Jimmy asked looking around.
"His not our concern." Mal interrupted, "We have Jake and Becker it's time to go." Boyd lifted Becker back onto his feet and marched behind him. Leslie and Mal helped to hold Jake up as Squires and Jimmy took the lead. Wolf took up the rear.

"You know Jake, it's been a hell of a ride and I think you were right. Killing you wasn't the right move." Becker laughed as he tripped, falling forward he fell into Jimmy. Grabbing Jimmy's gun as he spun around and faced Jake he took no hesitation, pulling the trigger. "Killing those you love is."

Jake fell back and landed on the ground, as Leslie's body flew backwards and slammed into the dirt behind her.

"Oh my god Leslie no" He crawled over to her on hands and knees as fast as he could. "Don't you leave me Leslie." Wolf ripped her coat off so he could see how badly she was hurt. Jimmy looked on stunned as Boyd and Squires tried to gain control of Becker again. He had slipped into the container yards nearby and they couldn't find him.

"We need the car. Now!" Mal called for Rose.

"Leslie you hold on you hear me." She wasn't responding. Jake had never seen her lying so still.

"I've got a pulse. It's weak but it's there." Wolf heard the car coming, and picked Leslie up in his arms. Mal tried to hold Jake back as he opened the rear door of the van. Wolf put her inside and Jake leaned against the rear wall and cradled her in his arms.

"We need to get her to a hospital now." He cried.

"We can't." Wolf knew how bad it was, but they couldn't risk it.

"What do you mean. This is Leslie we are talking about."

"We're here illegally Jake. We have no jurisdiction."

"I don't care."

"Don't you leave me Leslie. Don't you dare leave me." Jake cradled her in his arms, praying she would be all right as Mal, Rose and Wolf looked knowingly at each other.