A/N – thanks for the comments Wendi – It's fine. It's hard to tell the tone when reading these. Thanks! * Guest re: why do the police want them? Remember, Gabriel put their pictures on tv as missing so cops would investigate that. Also, the cop explained that the PCPD was trying to stop a mob war.

Chapter 12

The next morning, Doreen brought some product to the basement so she could correct the tone of Jason's hair which currently washes out his complexion. She has a bathroom set up like her salon in case a customer comes to the house.

She draped a cape around him and explained what she was doing. "You're still hiding out, so all I'm going to do is tone the color down so it will blend better with your complexion and then I'm going to condition it."

"You know all he hears is blah, blah, blah," Liz said making Doreen laugh.

"He can pretend he's oblivious all he wants, but no man wants to look bad."

Doreen got to work applying it and then took off the gloves. "I'm gonna let that sit for fifteen minutes. It won't take much to make it right."

"Thanks."

She turned to address Liz. "I washed your wig and put a little bump on the ends."

"Well, thank you."

"I can't let you leave my house looking crazy. I do have a reputation to uphold."

Liz grinned. "The only problem with that scenario is that no one will know I was here."

She pursed her lips. "You've got a point."

Chloe yawned and Elizabeth sat next to her.

"Are we boring you?"

Chloe's upper body flopped onto the floor as Liz rubbed her coat.

"She's so easy."

They shot the breeze for a few more minutes and then Doreen directed Jason over to the sink and rinsed all the color out and then shampooed and conditioned his hair. He had almost fell asleep as she rubbed his scalp. Once that was done, she trimmed him and shaped up the nape of his neck before grabbing a blow dryer and finishing up.

"Much better," Liz said. It is still blonde, but the color did blend with his complexion better.

"Definitely," Jason said. He still has his scruffy beard. After this was all over, he is looking forward to shaving.

"I'm glad you like it. I have a few appointments today and then we're going over to a friend's house for dinner. Do you mind if we leave Chloe in here with you tonight?"

"That's fine," Liz said.

"She'll probably sleep anyway."

"I have some lunch meat for sandwiches and I made some sloppy joes for dinner. I put it in the fridge and there are some buns and snacks in the bag over there. Chloe's a beggar dog, but don't feed her because I try to keep her weight in check."

"Thank you," Liz said.

"Jim had to pick up some parts for his truck, so he'll be in and out."

She left and Liz put in a movie and they watched it, pausing occasionally to check the monitors.

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Gabriel had stopped at a little town and they are staying at a small hotel. Buffalo is crawling with law enforcement, but he has a feeling that will change soon because he has arranged for a fake sighting of Liz and Jason in New Jersey. His business partners are actively searching for him, so they are laying low.

His men had intercepted one of Julian's shipments and destroyed it. If he couldn't find him physically, then he is going to break him down in other ways. At the same time, he is trying to fix his reputation, but it is like trying to stop the bleeding from a gushing wound.

He turned on the television and is stunned to see his picture. "Fuck!" he yelled. The insider trading had been leaked. His body shook with rage. He now has nothing to lose. Everything he had worked so hard for will be gone within hours. He will now take out all his vengeance on Jeromes. There will be no mercy. He began to put a plan in motion that will take everyone by surprise.

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Chloe settled at Jason's feet as they watched another movie. She had made him laugh several times because she'd plop down in the weirdest spots and it was hard to get around her. He swore in her mind she thought she was small. Elizabeth cuddled into his side and he threw his arm around her. Nothing could prepare them for what came next. He paused the movie and then flicked on the monitors and saw Jim getting out of his pickup truck and then a couple of men walked up to him. Jason's head tilted. "Gabriel."

The word sent chills down Liz's body. "How?"

"I don't know." He stood. "Come on Chloe," he said.

She yawned and stood and followed Jason into the makeshift bedroom along with Liz.

"Stay in here with her please. I need to get the guns ready and I don't want her to bark at the television. If they hear her, we're screwed."

"Okay," Liz said nervously. She sat on the floor, using the bed to lean against and Chloe laid her head in Liz's lap.

Jason shut the curtains and got to work, occasionally checking the screen. If he called Johnny, he knew they wouldn't get here in time, but he decided to do it anyway.

"Hello?"

"It's J. I need you to come to this address. Gabriel is here."

Johnny sucked in a breath. "Go on."

Jason rattled it off. "We're underground. He doesn't know we're here."

"We'll be there as quickly as we can."

"Be careful. There are lots of cops around."

Jason ended the call and prayed that Jim and Doreen wouldn't be hurt.

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Jim looked at Gabriel warily. It is dark and he had seen the light from their flashlights when he first pulled in. "Can I help you?"

"Yes. Our car broke down. Are we far from town?"

"About a mile in the direction you were headed in, there are some stores, a gas station, and a motel."

Doreen stayed in the car, wishing she hadn't forgotten her phone in case the men aren't friendly.

"Jeez," Gabriel said. They are in the middle of nowhere and are sitting ducks. Making a quick decision, he pulled his gun. "We're going to stay with you tonight and leave tomorrow."

Jim swallowed hard. "Will we be alive when you leave?"

"That's up to you. Lead the way."

One of the guards pulled Doreen from the car and they headed into the house.

Jason muttered under his breath. There is no way he can leave the room. He is outnumbered and he knows that if he screws up, Gabriel won't hesitate to end them.

"Where's the dog?" the guard asked.

Jason saw where he is looking. "Shit. Chloe!"

Chloe came running and Jason petted her. He led her to the door and quietly unlocked it before letting her into the room.

"She's probably in the basement," Jim said, hoping Jason had let her out. If they weren't watching the monitor, then everyone is screwed.

A man moved to go downstairs and Chloe came barreling through the door and stopped and started to bark at the intruders. One of the other men starts to raise his gun and Jim shouts Chloe's name. She ran to him and whines as he pets her.

"She has a loud bark, but she's a sweetheart."

Gabriel smiled. "Come here, Chloe."

She eyed him warily before Jim encouraged her to go.

Gabriel petted her. "She's beautiful. I would hate for anything bad to happen to her."

"Please…," Doreen said.

"As long as you cooperate, Chloe will be fine. Isn't that right girl?"

Chloe is still a little suspicious of the stranger because she could sense Doreen's distress.

Jason watched, wishing Johnny would hurry up. They are a little over an hour away.

Gabriel grabs a steak knife that is sitting on the table and twirls it between his fingers. "I'm hungry. What's your name?"

Doreen nervously fidgeted. "Doreen. Do you like pasta and red sauce?"

"Yes. Make enough for my guards too."

Luckily, Doreen had frozen the extra sauce she had used in their meal before. She nervously got up and took it out of the freezer and put it into a saucepan as Chloe followed her and laid at the entrance.

"What's your name?"

"It's Jim. What happened to you, man?"

"What do you mean?"

"Something must have made you like this." He could tell that Gabriel is desperate.

Gabriel's eyes flickered with anger and Jim could tell he was finding it difficult to keep calm because the muscles in his neck are taut. "I was invisible and now I'm not. People thought I was nothing, but I changed all of that and I had it all. Would the details make this any less stressful?"

Jim sat back in his chair. "No."

"You think you're better than me, don't you?" Gabriel sneered. "You probably think that I'm a monster when I'm just protecting what is mine."

Doreen held her breath as she turned to look at her husband, hoping he wouldn't goad the other man.

"You are sitting in my house, against my will, with men holding guns all around me. Do you really think you'll get an honest answer to that?"

Gabriel smirked and his shoulders slightly relaxed. "I like you Jim. You're a take no shit kind of person. Let me ask you something. What do you do for a living?"

"I have a rig. I mostly drive back and forth from Canada."

"If someone tried to take your rig—your livelihood, would you just let them?"

"For the most part no, but it's not that simple is it? The question is why is someone trying to take it from you in the first place? Are they just criminals or did you do something to them to make them take that stance?"

"I thought we were talking about you?"

Jim sighed. "The bottom line is that I worked my ass off to get this house and my rig. It might not be much to you, but to me, it's everything. I'm helping to provide for my beautiful wife. I'm not trying to die." He is trying to keep Gabriel's attention off Doreen who look frazzled at best.

Gabriel studied Jim for a long moment before answering. "I can respect hard work. I worked hard to build up my business too. Nothing was ever given to me. Do you have kids?"

"No."

He sniffed the air. "Smells good. I can't wait to taste it."

Doreen gripped the edge of the counter as she tried to calm herself. Her hands are shaking and her pulse is racing. Listening to them banter was driving her nuts. Gabriel smacked the table with his hand and she jumped a mile, causing Jim to look over at her with concern.

"Do you have any music, Jim?"

Jim nodded and got up and a man followed him into the living room and he turned it on.

"That stations good," Gabriel said.

Jim rejoined him.

Gabriel closed his eyes and hummed while Jim mouthed, "I love you" to his wife. Tears sprang into her eyes as she returned the sentiment.

"Isn't it amazing how we can remember lines to music, but forget important things?"

"I guess."

"Do you want to hurt me Jim?"

Their eyes are locked onto each other and Jim didn't flinch. "I don't like that you're making my wife so nervous and I certainly don't like someone coming into my house and holding guns on me. Does that make me want to hurt you? Maybe, but mostly I loathe you. I don't think you really care though. You don't seem like the type to let other people's emotions sway you."

Gabriel smiled. "You're right. I don't care if you like me or not. I only care that you will respect my authority because I am a very dangerous man. I don't value life like you do. I had a girl and she is the reason that everything in my life has gone to shit. Have you ever killed before?"

"Animals."

"To me, my enemies are just animals. They take from me, so I will take from them. It's that simple. If you cooperate and don't try anything stupid, then I will have no need to take from you."

Doreen dished out some food onto some plates. Her husband and the conversation were about to give her a heart attack. She put a plate of pasta down in front of Gabriel and one of his men while the other stood watch.

"This is delicious," Gabriel said as he wolfed it down. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Doreen said.

He studied her as he wiped his mouth. "Do I make you nervous?"

"What do you think?"

He smiled at her snarkiness. "If it weren't for the guns, would you still be intimidated?"

"I don't know, that would depend on how you approached me."

"May I have something to drink please?"

She jumped to her feet. "I'm sorry. I should have asked. I have iced tea, water…"

"Iced tea is fine." He likes that she was so edgy and eager to please. It makes him feel powerful.

She looked up at the other man and he nodded. Hurrying into the kitchen, she grabbed a couple of glasses and then put some ice in them.

"You must hate me for making her feel so skittish."

"It certainly isn't winning you points."

Gabriel smiled as he put the fork down. "I needed shelter and your house was available. As I said, as long as you don't disrespect me or try anything, we're good. I'd rather save my wrath for those who have earned it."

The chilling way in which he spoke is a little unnerving. Most of the time, his face is devoid of emotion which is when Gabriel is the most dangerous. Jim could tell he had Gabriel's respect, so he wouldn't push things. "I appreciate that."

Gabriel glanced at his watch, his ride is almost here. At first, he thought he'd have to stay until the next day, but his men were able to find a discrete pilot. "Do you hunt often Jim?"

"Maybe once a year..."

"There's a certain thrill in hunting your prey and seeing them squirm before you end them. I live for that." His guard smiled. He thinks Gabriel is entertaining.

Jason wished that he could hear what was being said. He can tell that Gabriel is making Jim a little nervous. A scared Elizabeth sits next to him and grabs his hand. The man who caused all of this is sitting upstairs with her new friends and could kill them in an instant. It is hard to watch.

"Shit," Jason muttered. A police car had pulled up in the driveway with its lights on.

A guard ran into the room. "We need to get out of here. The cops are outside."

Gabriel drove the knife into the table. "We were never here. If I find out that you gave us up…"

There is a knock on the door as Kyle yelled Jim's name. He spots one of the guards who let Gabriel know they were spotted and they ran towards the back door. Kyle threw his shoulder against the front door as his partner ran to the side and shot at them as they ran towards the woods. They returned fire and he had to duck to avoid getting hit by the rapid fire.

Kyle fell into the house as the door finally gave way and ran inside as Chloe barked and Jim grabbed his shotgun.