Two Updates back to back whoo! And Chapter 17! anyway... on with the story. :) R&R and of course enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot and OC
Chapter Seventeen
ASHLYNN'S POV
I finished my shower and laid in bed waiting for Carlos to get out of the shower. I rested my head on the pillow and thought about how wrong everything went today. Poor Aisha her funeral was ruined, that makes me so mad, but I guess not mad enough to do what Johnny and Roland did. I closed my eyes trying ignore the memory of his screams and pleas. I guess he deserved it but I almost feel bad.
The water shut off and Carlos quickly joined me in bed. I curled up next to him and laid my arm over him. He caught my wrist and gasped. I turned to him puzzled then followed his gaze to my arm. My wrist had bruises.
"It's okay." I said pulling my wrist away and kissing him
"I'm sorry, you know I would NEVER intentionally hurt you right?" He asked in a pleading tone. I nodded my head.
"It's okay, you only did it to keep me from getting hurt. I was unarmed and probably would have gotten myself killed, it's my fault anyway, you weren't holding on that tight it was all that pulling I did. " I said giving him another kiss.
"Don't do that" he says, almost in a yell pulling away. I look up at him startled and completely lost.
"Do what?" I ask quietly looking away. He puts his put his hands on my face and guides me back to looking him.
"Blame yourself nena, not everything is your fault babyirl." he says in a softer tone.
"I'm sorry. It's just... a habit." I say closing my eyes. He kisses me lightly and rubs small circles on my arm. I snuggle closer to him and lay my head on my chest letting him play with my hair. I closed my eyes.
THE NEXT MORNING
I sat up in bed and stretched wondering where Carlos was. I got out of bed and showered and changwed into sweats and a tank top. I threw on some shoes grabbed my gun tucking it in my waist band and walked downstairs. I heard the sound of voices coming so I followed them. I walked down the hall and found Johnny, Carlos, Roland and several other saints sitting around and talking. I smiled and walked up to them and sat next to Carlos.
"I brought someone to see you" pierce says strolling into the room and addressing Roland.
"You brought them here?!" Roland asks glaring at pierce.
"Well ye-" pierce starts to say.
"How do you know it wasn't a trap?!" Johnny demands. Pierce looks shocked he probably didn't even think of that, and yet he claims Shaundi steals his ideas... right. An elderly Chinese man walks into the room and I start grinning immediately recognizing him.
"How is my favorite assassin?" Wong asks. Roland bows respectfully and stands up straight with a smile on his face. The sound of engines revving in the distance captures all of our attention.
"You were followed!" Johnny yells accusingly at Pierce.
"I didn't know." he says shocked. A saint member runs up and yells Ronin before he is ran over with a yellow motorcycle. All hell breaks loose. There are ronin everywhere.
I pull out my pistol and start shooting.. or at least you know trying. I manage to get a few lucky shots but most of the Ronin are handled by Roland, Johnny and Carlos.
The biggest concern is that the ronin are trying to attack the support columns and that can make the whole hideout crumble. We run back and fourth to the support areas killing the ronin members that are trying to bring the hideout down. I start to get discouraged thinking that there are too many ronin for us to stop them all.
The gun shots become fewer and I start to notice that most of the Ronin are starting to retreat, I breathe a sigh of relief. Akuji rides by on a bike and Roland fires at the wheels making the bike loose control. Akuji got up and started to run but stops in his tracks and glares at Wong.
"WONG!" Akuji yells
"AKUJI!" Wong yells in return.
My brother raises his gun to take aim at Akuji. A ronin member quickly gets him on a bike and they speed off. My brother curses under his breath.
"I'm going to get to cleaning up, Johnny way don't you take Mr. Wong down to the festival." Roland says in a tone that is not a request. Johnny grumbles about not wanting to be a babysitter but leads Wong and his translator up towards the parking lot.
Roland starts to pick things up and Carlos and I Join him. We return all the furniture to it correct places and rehang all the pictures that were knocked down. We finally have the hideout at least looking decent.
TRANSLATOR POV
It is a beautiful day out. The sun is shining and we get to go to a beautiful festival. I will never understand Master Wong. He speaks almost perfect English, but he still insists on having a translator. I will not complain however because I am being paid and I am able to see many wonderful sights around the world.
The boats are decorated perfectly. They are selling beautiful paintings and Chinese Art. They are serving carefully prepared Chinese meals. I look around, almost everyone is having a good time, except that Johnny person. He should try to lighten up it is a beautiful day, he should enjoy learning more about his heritage.
I am ripped from my thoughts as many yellow cars and motorcycles turn down the street heading straight at us! Johnny cracks his neck and pulls his gun out. Master Wong pulls out a gun and I quickly take cover behind a fruit stand. I open the cellular phone and call Master Wong's former assassin.
ASHLYNN'S POV
Roland Carlos and I were sitting around and talking when Roland's phone rings. He answers it without looking.
"Yeah?" he asks. He listens for a moment and narrows his eyes.
"On my way." he answers hang up the phone and rushing out the door to the parking lot. I look at Carlos and he shakes his head at me.
"Please?" I ask. Carlos stares at me for a moment before sighing and giving in.
"Alright but get a different gun" I nod my head and follow him to the weapons picking out an SMG and running up towards the car. I hop in and he follows suit getting in the driver seat.
"Where are we even going?" he asks.
"Go to the main road and see if we can see Roland's car." He does what I say and we easily spot my brother in his signature Hammerhead. We quickly start to follow him.
He suddenly turns a sharp corner and Carlos follows barely making the tight turn. I watch as he speed further ahead. Carlos finally gets the car back facing the right way and follows after. Roland comes to a busy intersection but speeds up and quickly gets through. Carlos comes to a stop before crashing into oncoming traffic. I quickly make a note that Roland turned left at the first stop sign.
When the road clears Carlos crosses the intersection and I tell him to take the first left. We look around but Roland is no where in sight.
"Well now what?" Carlos asks putting the car in park.
I look around and get an idea.
"I bet he went to the pier!" I say getting all excited. Carlos nods and puts the car in drive and heads for the pier. I smile when I see the hammerhead halfway parked. We park along side it and get out of the car. Looks like Johnny's been here I think to myself noticing all the dead Ronin members. We see Wong farther down the pier and head towards him.
"Where's Roland?" I ask staring at the burning boats. Wong's answer makes me go numb.
ROLAND'S POV
I finally lost that car I don't know who the hell that was but no one will follow me. I mean come on I'm not pierce.
I get to the pier coming to a stop not bothering to really park. I get out and check my gun. I frown at the bodies, Well that makes this easier, although it would be nice to have a little fun. I step over the bodies and walk up to walk.
"Is Akuji here?" I ask he points at the festival boats and I nod hurrying towards them. I step onto the first one and smell the smoke. Great a burning boat, here we go again. I almost get back off of the boat. I make my way through the boat and kill any ronin that get in my way. I groan as I see the flames. I quickly take the outside stairs and get to the top of the first boat and hurry to climb to the second one. I make my way through the second boat pulling my shirt off and tying it around my mouth and nose.
The flames are getting higher and I start to sweat. I try to breathe shallowly and quickly make my way to the last boat I smile under the shirt when I notice that this one is only just starting to burn. I see a sword laying across the table and I pick it up turning it in my hands. Someone clears their throat and I whip around coming face to face with Akuji.
"We fight to the death" he says pulling out his sword. I move back a little to give myself some room and aim the sword towards him. He swings at me and I move to the right. He quickly swings again And I bring my sword up to block his. I try to ignore the growing flames as I wait for his next shot.
Like clockwork he pulls back and quickly lunges back toward me. I counter his sword with my own and force it down and thrust mine out and get a good shot in. He brings his sword up and I feel a sharp pain in my leg I make another mistake, one that could have been fatal. Like taking the money Aisha's house. I think to myself looking at the growing bloodstain. I look up in time to see his sword clash with mine sending my sword across the room.
"You thought you could beat me?" He says mockingly.
"No I thought I'd Cheat" I say pulling out my gun and shooting. He falls to the ground and I grab his sword jamming it down into his spine. I pull out my phone and call the translator and have him give it to Wong. I hold the phone down to Akuji but he stays quiet. I twist the sword making him cry out.
"You hear that?" I ask Wong I'm Answered by several cheers.
"You will pay for this" Akuji says glaring up at me. I hang up the phone.
"Well lucky for me your going to die here" I say grinning. The grin falls right off my face as the room is filled with the deafening roar and cracking sound. I look around and notice that the boat is nearly covered in flames. Fuck! Not this time!
I run out to the edge of the boat and ignore the pain in my leg and pull myself up to the rail. I look down into the dark water and curse. The boat starts to shriek and Rock I make my choice and jump off the side of the boat.
ASHLYNN'S POV
Wong hung up the phone as we all still cheered. Our cheers were covered by the sound of splintering wood. I looked up in time to see the first boat collapse in on itself and sink. I gasped as the second boat followed suit and the third quickly after.
"ROLAND!" I screamed, terror gripping me from the inside out, my mind flashing back to that night in the hospital watching Jane Valderama announce the story. I dropped to my knees and crawled to the edge of the pier I can't loose my big brother again. I try to brush the tears away and search the dark water, desperate for any sign of Roland. Carlos wraps me in his arms and starts rocking me back and fourth and I hold him tight as the tears come faster. I hear running steps and I look up and see Johnny diving into the dark water.
"JOHNNY!" I scream panic gripping me all over again. I hold onto Carlos tighter putting my face in his chest and crying harder. He tries rubbing my back but it brings me no comfort I don't know what to feel or think.
My head snaps up at the sound of splashing. Johnny pulls Roland back onto the pier. They both are breathing heavy. I look them over noticing Roland bleeding from his leg but I'm just glad their both alive.
"Two down... one to... go" Roland says trying to regain his breath.