AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey :) We're five chapters back into Who Dares Wins now. What are your impressions of the events that have taken place so far? I sure could use some feedback on whether you like things because I value your opinion as a reader and feedback dropped last chapter.
Who Dares Wins
Chapter Fifty-Four: Lockdown: Finale: Close Protection: Finale
A Hotel in Mayfair
London
United Kingdom
Wednesday, 28 November, 2007
01:00 hours (1am)
Chuck and Sarah emerged from the bathroom in their towels, their weapons and dirty clothes in hand, which they moved to discard.
"I don't think I have any clean clothes left," Sarah complained, nodding at their bergens placed next to each other.
Chuck followed Sarah's gaze, locking on their backpacks.
As he turned back to look at her, her natural beauty on full display reminded him of how perfect his new girlfriend was. "Yeah," he said, nodding. "Neither have I. But it's OK, because you'll be able to make a bin bag look perfect such is your breathtaking beauty, so you're fine. I can't really say the same about me, though."
Sarah was caught off guard by the unexpected compliment, and for a moment, she was at a loss for how to react. Her boyfriend had a comforting knack for making her blush at the most unexpected of times. That was one of the two thousand things she liked about him.
Composing herself, she looked back at him. "You know, Chuck, you're a really great guy…" she said, forcing a smile, trying to convey how she felt about him with more than just words. "Even if you were in a bin bag too, I'd still want you as much as I do now…I never wanted you for how you look…even though you're attractive."
As he tried to suppress his laughter, Chuck scoffed and locked eyes with her. "It's okay to hurt my feelings despite us dating now. If not for the army, I would be just another lanky dork."
Purposefully, she strode toward him, shaking her head emphatically as she took her boyfriend's hand in hers. "No, you are beautiful," she said, removing her hand from his and moving it to caress his cheek. "I know you don't think it, but you're attractive. Your eyes, filled with love, and your smile, breathtakingly beautiful, are just two reasons I am so drawn to you. You keep talking about the body the army gave you, but that's just extra perks…Were your face not attractive, I'd trade away all of your toned features below your face for it instead. Luckily, I don't have to make that trade," she finished, joking, with a loving smile.
The words she spoke had a profound effect on Chuck, causing his face to light up with a full, loving grin. "You always make me feel great about myself. You know that, right?"
His reply, and the way he was looking at her, filled her with joy knowing she'd made him feel good about himself. "Good," she said, stroking his face as they held a compromised stare. "Because you give me the confidence that makes me feel like I can be anything."
"You can be anything because you're Sarah," he said instantly.
Sarah gazed longingly at him, the attraction she felt toward him in her eyes as her right shoulder rose in a subtle gesture. "So can you. You can be anything, Chuck. I've seen you in action."
He smiled at her.
She smiled back.
"I really don't want to sound needy, and I know there's nothing we can do, but I hope this assignment ends quickly, Sarah," Chuck said, sighing.
"Why?" she asked as they moved to take a seat on the bed.
"Because I want to be with you," he admitted, forcing a smile. "Sure, I mean this reprieve is great; but it's not just us. We're still on assignment, part of close protection, and we may need to go guns blazing at any moment. And with Carina part of that assignment, that's probably what will happen…"
Sarah snorted. "She's that bad?"
Chuck nodded. "Yeah… You know already that Jamie loves a good time, but she was too much, even for him."
"Is that why he said what he did about Bryce thinking it was a reward?" she asked.
Chuck nodded. "She's crazy. I was with someone last time I saw her and even that didn't stop her, despite me telling her I don't play around in relationships."
"Well, you're spoken for now again, by the woman you turned down because you don't play around, so I know all too well; about everything," she said with a smirk.
"A moment of madness and stupidity when I turned you down that night, which I still regret now," he said, suppressing laughter.
Sarah giggled sweetly.
"I suppose you'll never let it go that I turned you down that one night, will you?" he asked, hiding his amusement.
Sarah shook her head. "No. I'm just as mad and stupid as you for giving you another chance," she joked.
"Ouch," Chuck winced. "But that's fair because anyone foolish enough to turn you down doesn't deserve a second chance."
"You won't get a third one," she said with a smile.
He suppressed laughter. "Oh, trust me, I don't want to need a third chance with you. I intend to grab hold of and keep to this second one with all my might. I'll fight for us until you fall head over heels for me."
Sarah snorted. "I already told you I was head over heels for you on our date in Manchester, and then we had sex all night... And I can't wait to wear heels again. And a dress, so I can see your face filled with desire again for me like you were that night."
"Ah, so you want the assignment over quickly too, huh?" he asked with a grin.
She took hold of his hand again. "There's nothing more I want than that. We have to stay professional for as long as the assignment lasts. But once it's over… I want to be in my apartment alone with you. I want to make love with you. And I want to be with you, just us, doing anything together."
Chuck gave her the biggest grin of the night. "I want all of that, too."
She shared his loving gaze for a long moment.
"If the assignment ain't over in a few days, I'm leaving to form a game company, though," Chuck joked.
Sarah suppressed laughter, looking fondly at her boyfriend. "I'll join you and be your assistant."
"You're worth so much more than that," he said, staring into her eyes as he moved to caress her stunning cheek. "You would have a lead role as the main actress in all of my games."
Sarah's gaze lowered as her cheeks flushed at his latest compliment as she swallowed away lumps and a fire lit inside her for him just fifteen minutes after they'd last made love.
Finding it difficult to look at him again, with her breath flustered, she said, "God, I feel so embarrassed right now because I want to have sex with you again."
"Don't be embarrassed," he said, moving his hand from her cheek to under her chin to raise her gaze to stare into his eyes. "I would have to be the biggest fool to say no to that."
Sarah swallowed additional lumps. "But we have to keep professional until it's over."
"We are," Chuck said, softly stroking her beautiful face. "Nobody knows we are here, I'm 100% sure. The close bodyguarding thing is just for when we're out in public if Amy goes out and about, which I'm sure she will. Barring Carina doing something crazy like taking off with Amy somewhere, this assignment won't go wrong. And if that happens, it won't be because we're having sex."
Sarah became lost in thought as she weighed up her options.
Soon reaching a decision, she moved to remove the towel from around her, exposing her flawless naked body to her boyfriend's gaze again.
His gaze instantly lowered, taking in her perfect figure, from her neckline to her most prized feature, on full display, where he became lost.
"Hi-yo!" he exclaimed, his gaze locked down at her.
She soon moved a hand to under his chin, redirecting her boyfriend's gaze to her eyes. "Let's make love again, then. If you're ready for me?" she asked, biting her lip.
"Oh, I'm ready! I was ready as soon as you removed the towel," he said, his glance locked on her.
With a giggle, Sarah took control, moving to straddle him where she pushed him onto his back.
"If anything goes wrong, I'll blame you," she teased, looking down at him as she backed her hips into his groin.
He narrowed his eyes up at her. "I see how it is. I'm not so sure I want this anymore."
"Tough!" Sarah laughed back, moving to connect her lips with his own. "Because I've reached the point of no return, and I need you inside me right now," she whispered against his lips.
Chuck suppressed laughter. "If you tell anyone I'm the submissive one…"
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Sarah giggled sexily, which increased Chuck's arousal for her. "It will be our little secret."
He nodded. "Our little secret."
The lover's playful moment ended as Chuck reached out and held onto the side of Sarah's chest while she removed the surrounding towel from his person.
The young lovers, now both naked, made the most of the bed, which protested loudly with groans and creaks as they lost themselves in the throes of passion.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O
A Police Station in London
United Kingdom
Wednesday, 28 November, 2007
02:00 hours (2am)
The room was silent—save for the only sound, a soft buzzing of the fluorescent light—as Chris and Big Dan entered the police custody room to see Lester.
Closing the door after them, Lester watched on as Big Dan went left, and Chris went right until they disappeared behind him.
From there, Chris and Dan shared a smirk before they turned to face Lester, and they moved to hover over either side of Lester.
Lester was unsure which of the two to look at.
The stench of fear was unmistakable to the two veteran soldiers as they approached him.
Deciding it was time to start on the beasting, Chris suddenly turned hostile. "YOU'VE BEEN A NAUGHTY BOY, LADDIE!"
Lester instantly jumped in immense fear, which caused Big Dan to have to hide all amusement.
Now scared to look at Chris, Lester glanced at Big Dan.
Big Dan knew it was time for him to start, too. "People go to jail for a very, very long time for what you've done, fella!"
"It was all Jeff!" Lester shrieked in fear, ratting out his friend in the blink of an eye.
Chris and Dan shared a glance, fighting off smirks at how easily Lester talked in less than a few seconds!
Some men were born winners capable of withstanding interrogation to a point, such as the two men now standing in this room.
Others, not so…
Turning their attention back to Lester, Chris shouted, "WE HEARD YOU IN THE VAN, LADDIE!"
Lester jumped out of his skin again, convulsing in fear as his glance turned to his left to look at Big Dan.
"He's right, fella!" Big Dan said, nodding. "There's no positive outlook left for you! You're finished!"
"It was all Jeff!" Lester cried in panic. "He made us plant the trackers on your vehicles! He was in charge of everything! I was his loyal servant, but only through intimidation!"
"STOP THE EXCUSES, LADDIE!" Chris roared, thoroughly enjoying Lester's fear for all the grief he'd caused Red Team and their personal lives for the past month. "IT'S TIME TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND OWN UP FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!"
"But it was all Jeff!" Lester's eyes welled up with tears, and he let out a choked sob.
"As my mate said, we heard you on the tapes, fella!" Big Dan said. "And not only that, Jeff in the other room has said that it was all you! He said you were the mastermind. It's not looking good for you, fella!"
Lester gasped in horror. "How could he do this to me?!" he cried. "After everything I did for that fool! I loved him, as a brother, and he has betrayed me!"
"YOU BETRAYED YOURSELF, LADDIE!" Chris roared, fighting off amusement.
Regardless of Chris and Big Dan's actions here, they were irrelevant because the fact of the matter was that both Jeff and Lester would go to jail for their actions.
Red Team already knew they were both equally responsible for all of the actions they'd undertaken against the SAS, starting in Birmingham, and culminating in a shootout with the Russian mafia which endangered the public.
The reason Chris and Big Dan were in here now was payback for all the grief and damage Lester and Jeff had caused them and their families living under constant threat and tension for a month for nothing.
And they had to admit, payback felt pretty good right now!
Their only regret was that the rest of their team couldn't be here to jump in on it.
"I'm so doomed!" Lester shouted in dread. "My parents will kill me!"
"I HAVE A GOOD MIND TO KILL YOU, LADDIE!" Chris roared.
Lester's high-pitched shriek pierced the room once more.
Big Dan couldn't fight off his amusement this time as he turned away to silently chuckle.
"LET THE TIME YOU SPEND IN JAIL BE A REMINDER NOT TO BE A BLOODY FOOL AGAIN, LADDIE!" Chris roared.
"He's right, fella!" Big Dan said, nodding as he turned back to glance at a now petrified Lester. "What you and your mate did was incredibly reckless. You can't go around bugging cars that you have no right to bug. And as for the rest of your actions, we all enjoy a good laugh, but both of you need to get your shit together and grow up! My kids are a lot younger than you and even they behave with more common sense, which is saying something!"
Chris fought off a smirk over Big Dan's comment but composed himself to roar, "A COUPLE OF MONTHS IN A CELL, SHARING SHOWERS WITH MEN WHO MAY TAKE A FANCY TO YOU, LADDIE, IS WHAT YOU NEED! AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK, I'LL BE BACK FOR ROUND TWO, LADDIE!"
Lester wailed in sorrow and fear of the intimidating soldier shooting him a scornful stare with rage in his eyes.
"I'd spend the time in jail to take up Boxing or Taekwondo or something, fella, 'cause you never know when you might need it because there are some right crazies in Her Majesty's Prisons!" Big Dan said.
Lester shot Big Dan a horrified glance.
Satisfied with their payback for now, Chris finished, "WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH SOME QUIET TIME IN REFLECTION OF YOUR MISTAKES, LADDIE!"
With their remarks delivered, Big Dan and Chris moved to depart the custody room, closing the door after them.
As the door closed behind them, Big Dan and Chris couldn't help but share intense laughter.
"He's fucking proper shitting himself in there, fella!" Big Dan said, snorting.
"I'm only getting warmed up with him for what he's done to us, laddie! There's more in me yet," Chris said with conviction.
Big Dan pointed at himself. "And I, fella. He won't last five minutes in jail, but I've no sympathy for them because if you do the crime, you do the time."
They continued chuckling as Morgan exited Jeff's room, closing the door after him.
"He's all yours, fella!" Big Dan said, nodding at Lester's room. "Anything you want, he'll give it after what we've just done with him."
Morgan chuckled and said, "Have a go on Jeff, if you guys want."
"We intend to, laddie!" Chris said, his tone chirpy.
"Lead the way, Chris, fella," Big Dan said in glee.
Chris and Dan chuckled as they moved to enter Jeff's room.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O
A Police Station in London
United Kingdom
Wednesday, 28 November, 2007
03:30 hours (3.30am)
Chris came off the scheduled call with Bryce for a situation report as to the protective detail of Amy.
The call was fine, with nothing useful from an operational point of view to report.
With a few hours to kill until the next status update at 06:30, Chris went to get coffee in the police canteen.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O
A Hotel in Mayfair
London
United Kingdom
Wednesday, 28 November, 2007
06:32 hours (6.32am)
The incessant ringing of Chuck's phone abruptly disrupted Chuck and Sarah's peaceful sleep.
Taking the briefest of moments to fight off sleep, the lovers and teammates became alert because of the operational status as close protection of the Prime Minister's daughter in the next room.
Sitting up, Chuck answered the call and heard Chris as soon as he picked up.
"Bryce failed to report in at 06.30. It's now 06.32, and he's unreachable," Chris said. "Jamie and Cole are on their way up."
"Ok, we're on it," Chuck said as Chris disconnected the call.
Chuck turned to face Sarah. "Bryce failed to check in. We need to move."
With a nod, Sarah and Chuck climbed out of bed, reaching for their sidearms.
They'd got dressed after having sex again and drifted off to sleep in their clothes. Since they were on a close protection assignment, they felt it necessary to sleep clothed so they could be ready and waiting to respond at a moment's notice if they heard anything untoward or received the call.
In a rush to leave their room, they made their way into the hallway and came face-to-face with John Murray as he exited his room.
Chuck and John wasted no time and went to the door of the room where Bryce, Amy, and Carina were.
The door burst open with a loud bang as they kicked it with all their might.
Entering the room, they raised their sidearms to sweep and clear and get the status of Bryce, Amy, and Carina.
They located Bryce's position and found him lying unconscious, bound to the bed.
Chuck, John, and Sarah worked together to search for Amy and Carina in the other two rooms, temporarily disregarding their teammate.
Returning to each other, they looked at each other and shook their heads, confirming that Amy and Carina were nowhere to be found when suddenly, Cole and Jamie arrived at the position of the broken door.
"They've scarpered," Chuck said, glancing at Cole and Jamie's arrival.
"Aye, and left that wee tosser unconscious on the bed," John Murray said, nodding at Bryce.
Cole and Jamie stepped into the room as the five teammates all observed Bryce's position.
Bryce's arms were bound to the headboard with restraints, and his mouth was gagged with what appeared to be a pair of panties. His body lay still and unresponsive, giving the impression that he was unconscious.
The five teammates drew a collective sigh in sync, knowing what had happened.
They had drugged him.
And god was the only one who now knew the whereabouts of Amy and Carina, free and on the run!
"I need to report this to Chris," Cole said, grimacing. "Heads will roll from command."
With each nod of agreement, the tension in the room seemed to ratchet up another notch.
"We need to wake that wee gobshite up!" John Murray said, nodding at Bryce.
"Yeah, but first, I'm taking a piccy of the idiot!" Jamie laughed, shaking his head as he took out his phone and took a picture of Bryce.
The teammates snorted as Cole reported the dire situation to Chris.
07:15 hours
Bryce was just about conscious. However, he was still reeling from the effects of the potent drug that Carina and Amy had given him; his head was spinning, he felt groggy, and he couldn't focus.
Chuck, Sarah, John, Jamie and Cole were all near in wait for Chris and Big Dan so they could plan how to get out of the shit that Carina and Amy had now tombstone piledrived Red Team into.
"Yet again, she's done something to us!" Jamie complained, shaking his head in anger. "I'm sick to death of that bitch now! She needs a good slapping!"
"It sounds like she gave Speedy one, fella," Big Dan said, signalling his and Chris's arrival as they entered the hotel room.
However, none of the team were in any mood for laughing.
After a long and arduous month in lockdown, the last thing they wanted was more chaos.
But now they'd been handed more, in spades, and because most of them knew Carina, they knew it was FAR from over yet!
"Right, I want an update on where we're at because Wallace is calling in a few minutes and he and the rest of command are seriously pissed and this situation right now is FUBAR!" Chris said, glancing around the team.
"Chuck and I went to view security footage a few minutes ago. Carina and Amy took off just after 5am. The hotel's exterior cameras picked them up, entering a vehicle with the registration JR56 OQP," Sarah said.
"Right, I want to know who the driver of the vehicle is! We'll use Morgan to help us with that. I want whatever games Carina is playing over with before it even starts," Chris said.
Everyone nodded.
"Is there anything else?" Chris asked, looking around.
"Not until we get him alert and responsive," Chuck said, nodding over at Bryce before he shook his head.
"Then do it. Whatever it takes. We don't have time to piss around because otherwise, our heads are all on the block," Chris said.
Everyone nodded.
"John, Dan, drive Jeff's van to the police station where they're in custody. We'll leave the tasking of those two idiots in the hands of MI5 employees already at the station. As of now, our only priority is finding Amy and Carina. Chuck, phone Morgan in the meantime and get him started on finding us the driver. I'll deal with Wallace. The rest of you get that soft bollocks conscious and alert, and once he is, we'll move out," Chris said, glaring at Bryce.
Red Team nodded as they set about their tasks.
Chris left the hotel room, taking out his phone as he dialled his OC, Captain Wallace.
The Captain answered after a few rings. "Status, Staff Sergeant?"
"It's not good, boss," Chris said. "Carina Miller and the PM's daughter drugged Trooper Larkin before zero-five-hundred hours. Once he was disabled, they fled and were picked up by a vehicle, registration JR56 OQP. As of now, we do not know where they are."
"Bloody hell, Staff Sergeant!" Captain Wallace said in scorn. "As tired as I am with issues flaring up from Red Team, I'm more sick of that nuisance MI6 Agent who causes trouble everywhere she goes!"
"Boss, we need to declassify what the attempted attack on PM's daughter was about. Carina gave us nothing and time is everything, because if we don't find her before they do, it won't be good. MI6 needs to rein in their out-of-control agent and stop playing games and pissing us around before people get hurt."
"You'll have the information you need by the end of the day. The Colonel is as tired as I am with Agent Miller's conduct," Captain Wallace said. "Keep me apprised of Box 500's efforts to trace the vehicle owner."
"Boss," Chris said.
And with that, Captain Wallace disconnected the call.
Chris drew out an enormous sigh.
He wasn't sure how much more he could take in this series of consecutive nightmare operations for his team.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O
08:30 hours
Chuck, Sarah, Jamie, Cole, Chris and Bryce entered their surveillance van outside the hotel.
Sarah was in the driver's seat, with Chuck sitting beside her in the front, while everyone else piled into the back.
Once everybody was inside, Chris turned his attention to Bryce. "You have some explaining to do, laddie!"
"I was just doing my job for Queen and country!" Bryce protested, still not one hundred percent from the drug used on him.
"And a shit job it was," Cole said, shaking his head. "You can't remember a thing. You got played hook, line and sinker, but I guess it doesn't matter that we're now all in the shit again because you got laid, so everything is fine."
"Fellas, I was vigilant!" Bryce protested, looking around at his teammates. "One of them must have distracted me while the other slipped something into my drink!"
"Yeah, I'm sure it didn't take much for you to be distracted as well," Chuck said, shaking his head, unimpressed. "A bit of leg and a flashing of their chest would do it."
Jamie, Cole, and Sarah snorted in unison.
Chuck shared a glance with Sarah next to him, who was looking at him in amusement.
Once the humour calmed after a moment, Sarah said, "Maybe Bryce has a point in there somewhere, though. Maybe myself or Chris should have gone in and kept a watchful eye on them."
"He would have been just as bad as Speedy Gonzales!" Jamie chuckled.
Everyone except Chris snorted, who pointed at Jamie and said, "I'm warning you, laddie!"
"Joking aside, Sarah's right," Chuck said, glancing at everyone in the van. "We all found it funny and got off on sending Bryce in, so we can't exactly blame him now that everything's gone to shit because of it."
Everyone nodded.
"Fair point," Chris said in concession. "So let's get mobile, pick up Morgan, Dan, and John, and then find those two rebellious wretches with serious daddy issues before all hell breaks loose!"
09:00 hours
Morgan, Dan and John entered Red Team's van.
"I have good news, guys," Morgan said, looking around the team. "We've found the driver. The car belongs to Rachel Wilson, and she has a registered address, an apartment on 14 Godfrey Street in Chelsea."
"Right, let's give them a rude appearance from us before Wallace and the Colonel have our guts for tea!" Chris said.
Sarah, who already knew the area like the back of her hand because she grew up less than a mile from the address, nodded and set Red Team's van in motion.
A few minutes passed until most of Red Team's phones went off in quick succession all around the van.
The team—minus Sarah, who focused on driving—took out their phones to read the alerts.
After a moment, the sudden sound of discontent filled Red Team's van as the teammates shared a collective angry shout. "Bastards!"
"What is it?" Sarah asked, glancing around but not knowing where to look because almost everyone cursed.
"Joe Lewis just sent me a text gloating that command has finally lifted lockdown in the early hours of this morning. He's sent me a fresh picture of him outside my place and wished me luck on this nightmare assignment that we're now all on while he's off to live it large and get pissed out of his head tonight!" Jamie fumed in anger. "The little slimy rotten scoundrel excuse of a BASTARD! Wait until I see him! I'll give him this!" he said, raising his fist in anger and imitating a punch.
Sarah snorted at Jamie's answer, but Chuck said, "Nah, Sarah, this one's not funny. I got one from that misogynistic prick Kyle Rogerson as well. He's sent me a picture of him outside mine and he's said the same as Joe Lewis."
Sarah couldn't help but laugh at her lover's remarks, finding humour despite the immense adversity the team was now facing.
Again.
"Are we sure Sarah isn't undercover and secretly part of Blue Team?" Big Dan asked, looking into the front. "Because she's finding this funny while we're all being poked at by that load of shite on Blue Team. She didn't even get a text either."
"Because they like me," Sarah joked, laughing.
"You weren't saying that when they put condoms in your room, Sarah," Big Dan said back.
Sarah stopped laughing. "You're right."
"Right!" Chris said suddenly, pointing around his team. "As soon as this assignment is over, and we all get back to Hereford. We're having that lot somehow, and I don't care how we do it. Now, are we agreed?"
"Agreed!" Red Team said in unison, determined to get Blue Team back for this.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Red Team arrived outside the address of Rachel Wilson, the owner of the car that collected Amy and Carina after they made their escape from the team's protection.
"Right, I want this clean with no issues! We get in there, get them out, carrying them by their hair if we have to, and then finish this once Wallace gives us the information we need about who was behind last night's attempted attack."
"Don't worry about it, Chris, mate, there won't be any problems!" Jamie said with conviction. "I'm in no mood for messing about today! Blue Team are now living it large and taking the piss out of us while these two stupid cunts think they're right clever coked-up party girls and think they can join in with taking the piss out of us! Well, they can think again! 'cause I'm not having it!"
Jamie's teammates could sense his frustration as they all looked at him, which was already simmering before 10am.
"See to it that it happens then, laddie," Chris said. "Cole and John, you go with him."
Cole and John nodded as they stood and followed Jamie, who paced with purpose to exit the van.
Soon out in the street, they hurried after Jamie as he stormed toward the door of Rachel Wilson.
The loud, rhythmic pounding of his fist announced Jamie's arrival at the door as he shouted, "Open this fucking door right now!"
Cole and John shared a smirk at their teammate's rising frustration.
He was never one to contain it well once he'd had enough.
Jamie's hammering grew louder and more forceful as he became more frustrated by the second, when all of a sudden, he saw bodies moving through the glass inside the apartment.
The movement only intensified his anger.
On the team, Jamie was one of the most approachable members, but he was by far the member of the unit with the shortest fuse.
"I can see you in there!" Jamie shouted, his pounding on the door increasing. "If you don't open this door in the next three seconds, I'm coming in! One, two, three!"
Despite Jamie's warning, the occupants of the apartment ignored him.
He stopped pounding on the door, arched his back, and with one swift motion, kicked it open.
As he stormed inside, his eyes locked on a stunning woman in her twenties with black hair.
But the frustrated soldier was in no mood to take in her beauty.
"Where the fuck is she?!" he shouted, glancing around the apartment, looking back at the woman. "Where's Amy?!"
"She's not here!" the woman shouted back.
"Bullshit!" Jamie shouted, still scanning around. "I know she's here! Where is the twat?!"
The woman didn't utter a word, and the hallway remained muted until a noise interrupted the silence from the kitchen area.
Jamie was onto the noise in an instant. "She's in there, isn't she?!" he shouted, stepping forward, though he had to get past the woman first.
The woman still didn't say a thing, which caused Jamie's frustration to reach its climax.
Jamie's forceful stride propelled him towards the woman, and he flung her aside towards Cole before storming into the kitchen.
As he entered, he caught a glimpse of Carina climbing onto the street below. Amy had already bolted it before her.
"OI! COME BACK HERE! YOU FUCKING LITTLE…!" he shouted after her as he ran to the window, watching Carina and Amy running down the street.
Pressing his communication device, Jamie shouted, "They've bailed into the back street and are running north!"
Jamie heard the screeching of the tires of Red Team's van as Sarah responded to the information.
A few minutes later
"We've lost them!" Sarah groaned into comms. "We've actually bloody lost them!"
"I'm disappointed in you, Jamie, laddie!" Chris said on comms in scorn.
"It's not his fault," Cole said. "Her friend bought time for them to escape and once more, they've given us the slip!"
"I'm going to kill someone before this assignment is over, I swear it! And if she doesn't pack it in, it's going to be that TWAT Carina!" Jamie fumed, his face turning red with fury as he punched the wall, feeling the pain shoot through his hand as he did so, which caused his anger to build even more.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O
"POOR BLOODY WORK, STAFF SERGEANT!" Captain Wallace roared in scorn at Chris's reporting that they'd located Amy and Carina, only for them to evade them without capture. "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE PROFESSIONALS, NOT THEM!"
"Boss," Chris said in reply, taking the rebuke on the chin.
After the last month, he felt completely drained and unable to do anything else.
"What leads do you have?" the Captain asked.
With a tense expression, Chris said through gritted teeth. "None. We're back at square one."
"WHAT ARE WE PAYING YOU FOR?!" Captain Wallace asked in anger.
"You're paying us to protect people who don't want to be protected-"
"Don't get coy with me, Staff Sergeant!" Captain Wallace warned, interrupting him before he could finish.
"It wasn't my intention, boss. But it's a fact. We're all too tired for this right now after an exhaustive month of tension and ops. We can't protect people who incapacitate my men and lead us on a goose chase over London! We need to know what the attempted attack on the PM's daughter was, and we need to know it now! We also need hard information regarding known associates of Amy Monroe and places she is most likely to visit!"
Captain Wallace drew a sigh to compose himself. "I'll see what I can do, Staff Sergeant. Regarding the attack, after a stern reprimand of MI6's conduct to the Foreign Secretary from the CO, we have information about the trouble the PM's daughter is embroiled in. It would appear she's upset the wrong person in the form of Viktor Ivanov."
Chris scoffed in disbelief. "What, the same Russian mob boss as the one we encountered at the wedding a few days ago?"
"The very same one, Staff Sergeant," Captain Wallace said. "It appears Mr Ivanov is not having a pleasant week. MI6 recently picked up chatter amongst Russian crime circles about a score to settle against the PM's daughter, who has stolen a large quantity of drugs and ripped off Mr Ivanov. Six got wind of it, and in a hush-hush operation, to avoid a scandal, sent in Agent Miller to resolve it."
"She hasn't done a good job of it, boss," Chris said.
"Quite, Staff Sergeant," Captain Wallace said.
"I could resolve this dispute easily. It's what we do best. All I need is the order to take action, boss," Chris said.
"You have it, Staff Sergeant. We're not here to run around playing silly little games at the beck and call of a party girl and a troublesome agent who each thinks it's amusing to waste our time that could be put to much greater use. The CO has had enough. Your orders are to bring Amy Monroe in. As for Agent Miller, she is now considered expendable, but if you can capture her too, you get the gold star. We'll turn her over to MI6 and press for disciplinary action. Once the PM's daughter is safe in your custody, move on Viktor Ivanov and dissuade him from pursuing his score against Amy Monroe by any means necessary. That's all."
"Boss," Chris said as the call disconnected.
Chris took a moment to compose himself after the arse chewing from his OC, and once composed, glanced at his team. "Right, lads! We have one last chance to resolve this and restore credit to ourselves with command. We'll undertake extensive efforts to find the PM's daughter, turning over every stone if necessary to find the bitch and once we've found her, we're moving on the head of the Russian mafia in London, Viktor Ivanov, to dissuade him from pursuing a score against Amy Monroe who ripped him off for a substantial quantity of drugs!"
O-o-O-o-O-o-O
London
20:00 hours
Chuck and Cole stood idle outside Red Team's van, taking a breather after extensive searches for Amy Monroe at known locations and her contacts without success.
"After all the trouble Carina has caused us today, Cole, it will be too soon if I ever see her rotten no-good face again," Chuck said, shaking his head.
Cole chuckled, but more in disbelief than amusement. "She's led us all on a merry-go-round chase around London like fools. We could have moved on Viktor Ivanov and been back at Hereford getting pissed by now if the stupid idiots hadn't taken off."
Chuck nodded. "I know. We've come into this assignment on the back of the most stressful month we've undergone, while these two are taking the complete piss out of us to compile on our misery. I'm almost as pissed off as Jamie!"
Cole chuckled as he and Chuck glanced over at Jamie, who was ranting and raving to himself, pacing backwards and forward to cool himself down, to no success.
They'd never seen him this wound up before, though it was understandable with all the shit Red Team had gone through this past month, both professionally and personally, not least for Jamie!
Add to that two of the biggest idiots the team had ever encountered in Jeff and Lester.
Then there was Blue Team rubbing Red Team's face in it, their messages ongoing and constant since the start of the day, to the extent Red Team were close to blocking their numbers after the intense barrage of grief they'd all received for most of the day.
Finally, two party girls thought it funny to lead Red Team—a team of exhausted soldiers—on a merry goose chase around London as they lived it large and had a good time at their expense.
Cole and Chuck were sure that if they lumped any additional frustration on Jamie, he'd probably spontaneously combust!
However, Chris disturbed the attention of his teammates outside the van, calling out, "Right, we've got them!"
Everyone paused their actions, shooting their glance at Chris in the front seat of their van. "Command, pulling many strings, has obtained that they're heading to the Wyld Club in Mayfair. This is the last chance we have to grab them before our heads roll. I DON'T WANT ANY MISTAKES!"
"There won't be any mistakes this time, fella," Big Dan said, pointing at himself. "Because I'm going in to drag them out by their heads!"
Snorts erupted over Big Dan's remarks, which turned into sighs both in relief and rash attempts to compose themselves after a long day.
"Let's go and get the twats, pull them out by their ears, then we're going back to Hereford to give those gobshites in Blue Team a good seeing to as well!" Jamie said, shaking his head in anger.
The team shared laughter as they re-entered their van.
"I want all entrances and exits covered. And if any of you let them give you the slip, you're off the team," Chris said.
"Don't worry, fella, leave it to me," Big Dan said assuredly.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Wyld Club
20:45 hours
Red Team arrived in positions surrounding the club.
"Right, Dan, John, Cole and Jamie are going in to drag these bloody nuisances out and deal with the bouncers while the rest of us stay in your positions and keep on your toes."
"With pleasure, fella," Big Dan said, rubbing his hands together.
"Let's move," Chris ordered.
On receiving the command, Dan, John, Cole and Jamie paced towards the club where bouncers moved to greet them.
In no mood for any nonsense, Big Dan said, "Right, fellas, we can either do this the easy way or the hard way. But one way or another, we're heading in there to remove two people who have led us on a goose chase all over London today like mugs. We'll be only five minutes. You have my word. The alternative is that you all go to hospital, and we still get them, anyway."
The bouncers looked amongst themselves, and between Dan, John, Cole and Jamie, weighing their options a moment before one said, "Five minutes. But that's it."
"Cheers, fellas," Big Dan said, nodding before he looked at Jamie. "In we go then, fella."
"You go in first, mate!" Jamie said, shaking his head. "Because if I see them first, I'll probably take out my sidearm and shoot the twats for the grief they've caused me today!"
The bouncers turned excessively nervous at the mention of firearms, while Big Dan, Cole, and John snorted.
Moving on away from the bouncers and inside the club, Big Dan paced with purpose with Jamie close behind.
They walked at a quick pace as they navigated through the club to get to the main area.
After a minute, they arrived in the central part of the booming nightclub, scanning their glances around until they located Carina and Amy, seated at a booth with three men in their company.
"Right, mate, there's the stupid twats over there!" Jamie shouted, pointing in anger at their position.
Big Dan snorted. "Ok, fella, let's go and ruin their party."
"With pleasure!" Jamie said, locking his eyes on Carina as he stormed towards her. "OI! YOU! COME HERE, YOU CUNT!"
Jamie's hostile scream attracted attention to him all around as he paced towards the booth housing Carina, Amy and three men.
Two of the men moved to stand to confront Jamie as he approached.
Jamie—long since passed niceties—went for the first man to approach him, unleashing pure built-up aggression.
"You're not welcome here," the man tried to say to him.
However, the reply he got from Jamie was not one he expected. "DO I LOOK LIKE I GIVE A FUCK?!" Jamie screamed, glaring at the man with rage.
With Jamie's reply delivered, he took hold of the man and delivered a brutal headbutt, sending him tumbling to the floor of the club, where all activity ceased as everyone turned to stare at Jamie in shock at his violent outburst.
"I'M NOT HERE TO MESS AROUND!" Jamie screamed in warning, looking all around him. "THE NEXT ONE WHO COMES AT ME GETS THE SAME AS HIM!"
Big Dan, glancing around at everyone looking at Jamie, snorted as he watched them all poop themselves.
Carina, meanwhile, was looking on in amusement and appeared exceedingly turned on by Jamie's actions.
With nobody else having the bottle to confront Jamie, he turned to look at Big Dan. "Get them two cunts out of here right now before I give them what for as well!"
Big Dan snorted. "With pleasure, fella," he said, purposely striding towards Carina and Amy, where he reached out and dragged them out of the booth, putting each one under his arm in midair, and he walked to exit the club.
"Help us!" Amy cried out as she tried to kick out of Big Dan's hold.
"They're crazy!" Carina shouted as she fought from the other side of Big Dan, too.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP OR I'LL GIVE YE BOTH THE GOOD SPANKING YOU DESERVE AND THEN I'LL FEED YOU TO THE RUSSIANS MYSELF!" Jamie roared back, walking just a few inches behind them.
"So you know then," Carina said with a smirk as Big Dan led her and Amy out of the club without a choice.
"OF COURSE WE KNOW, YOU STUPID COW!" Jamie blazed, seething in anger at the actions of Amy and Carina and for what they'd done to him and his teammates today, including violently drugging one of them, which could have killed him. "What you've done to all of us today is bang on out of order, you crazy bitch! We were trying to help you AND YOU PISSED US AROUND ALL DAY!"
"You're hot when you're angry, Jamie," Carina said with a seductive glance back at him.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Jamie screamed in anger, unwilling to entertain Carina.
Looking at Carina at the moment, the only thing Jamie saw was rage.
Big Dan snorted as he came to the exit of the club. He glanced at the bouncers, then said, "In a bit, fellas."
The bouncers narrowed their eyes at the sight of Amy and Carina being carried out midair under each arm of Big Dan, but they still didn't intervene.
Continuing on past, Big Dan soon arrived back at Red Team's van, where the team gathered.
Arriving at the rear, Jamie pushed Carina and Amy inside from out of Dan's arms.
"Any more nonsense out of either of you!" Jamie warned, jabbing his finger intensely at both of them. "And watch what happens to ye!"
Red Team erupted in chuckles as they converged back at the rear of the van.
Chris nodded at Big Dan. "Good job."
"I was just doing my part, fella. Jamie did most of it. He butted someone in there who thought he was big and hard," Big Dan said.
"I'll be doing the same to Joe Lewis when we get back to Hereford as well!" Jamie said, shaking his head.
The laughter continued as Chris turned to Jamie and said. "Good job."
Jamie simply drew out an enormous sigh to try to calm down, feeling drained after a stressful day.
"Let's be off to deal with this Russian then, and then back to Hereford for a nice cold alcoholic drink and our own beds," Chuck said, looking around his teammates.
Red Team filled the van with the sounds of eager chatter as they climbed in one by one, their joy at Chuck's ideas immeasurable.
While they waited to enter, Chuck and Sarah shared a glance.
Deciding he wanted to whisper something to her, he leaned in close. "It's almost time for us."
Sarah donned him an adoring gaze. "I can't wait," she whispered back, her lips brushing against his ear, and she gave his hand a gentle squeeze with her thumb.
Now clear to enter, Chuck and Sarah moved to take their positions in Red Team's vehicle as they departed to deal with Viktor Ivanov.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Knightsbridge
London
Thursday, 29 November, 2007
02:00 hours (2am)
Viktor Ivanov arrived at his opulent apartment in one of London's most exclusive neighbourhoods.
The fifty-two-year-old had not had a good day today.
Every day for the past five days had been a terrible day for Viktor Ivanov.
Not only was the wedding of his beloved daughter ruined, but his mafia organisation was now under enormous scrutiny amongst the British public, journalists, law enforcement, and concerned branches back within Russia over the attention that had been drawn to one of their organisations.
Viktor had been locked in crunch talks all week with partners through middlemen, because of an increased need to stay in the shadows for the time being until this tremendous storm blew over.
The most puzzling thing of the entire ordeal for the Russian mob boss was he couldn't for the life of him figure out how events came to transpire at his daughter's wedding reception, and that's what unsettled him.
Feeling in low spirits, Viktor made for his lounge area in desperate need of a calming alcoholic drink.
Opening the door to the lounge, he entered inside, reaching his hand to turn on the light in touching distance.
With the light illuminating the room, Viktor was about to walk deeper when he froze in place, his gaze connecting to his worst fear. "Blyat!" he cursed, his glance locked onto numerous armed men positioned around his living space, all wearing balaclavas, a probable hit squad.
"Never mind any of that, laddie!" he heard someone say, their tone a deep Scottish. "We're in a rush, so we'll be brief. But first, he needs a seat."
No sooner had the man finished speaking, two men approached Viktor, grabbing him, and dragging him to take a seat, where they held him in place.
From there, the one who'd been speaking to him moved to his position, stopping a few inches away.
"Your score with the Prime Minister's daughter, Amy Monroe. We're here to tell you it ends here," he said.
Viktor laughed in defiance. "The moment we drop our scores against those who wrong us, we lose our fear. And without that, we have nothing."
"I don't think you're listening, fella," another of the men said as he approached and hovered a few inches away. Viktor had seen nobody built so well. He was an intimidating presence for the usually unfazed mobster. "You have no choice. Either you walk away and write it off as the one that got away, or we don't leave here with you still being alive."
"We're also very good at making your sudden death appear to be natural causes or suicide," another masked man in the room said.
"I do not doubt it," Viktor Ivanov said in perfect English, having a fair idea who these men were: British Security Service, or Special Forces. "But if you kill me, another one replaces me. That's how it works. You know that."
"Aye, but you'll be dead," another masked intruder said.
"Is one unpaid debt and a wrong of you worth your life, fella? Because it sure wouldn't be worth mine if I were in your shoes," the physically intimidating intruder said.
Viktor took a long moment to think before he shook his head. "No."
"Then we have a deal?" the Scottish intruder who spoke first asked.
Viktor nodded. "As of now, Amy Monroe owes me no debt. But if she ever comes near me or an establishment of mine again…"
"You're in no position to make demands, laddie," the Scottish intruder said. "But in the spirit of a deal, you have our word that she will trouble you no further, and if she does, her actions will be exposed publically and she'll be dealt with."
"Then we have a deal," Viktor said.
Viktor noticed a subtle shift in the intruders' demeanour as they relaxed from being completely hostile.
"A pleasure doing business with you, fella. We'll be on our way now. And if you even think about calling for help or mentioning that we've been here this evening…" the large intruder warned.
"I'm not stupid," Viktor said, glancing around. "I know how this works. Leave now, and we say no more."
The Scottish intruder, obviously their leader, nodded around the group before, one by one, they departed the room until it was just Viktor left.
He listened for their exit, but he heard nothing.
Like a whisper, they vanished into the darkness like ghosts.
It took him several minutes to gather the strength to stand up, his body trembling in fear.
He stumbled towards the drinks cabinet, his body still shaking from the intense scare.
The clink of the vodka bottle against his arm was a jarring reminder of the near-death experience he'd just faced.
Once he could control his shaky nerves, he poured himself a much-needed drink.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: As one arc ends, another begins. This new arc will exclusively cover Chuck and Sarah's relationship (as well as missions they get sent on, but Charah's relationship is now core), as you have seen in this chapter. So Charah lovers strap into your seats because you're about to get it constantly for many months in the story until the next arc begins. The coming chapters will centre around intense post-lockdown celebrations. I've lots of goodies prepared for you :)
FOOTNOTES: I have a very important message about your interaction and feedback with Who Dares Wins. Because WDW is a niche fiction with a limited readership (it's my least viewed, followed, favorited, and reviewed per chapter story) where only a minority of Chuck readers enjoy this story, it's critical for those who do like it to stay loud and vocal about it with me. All I have to support and rely on in this fiction is you guys. I can understand those who don't review often. However, in a very limited audience fiction such as this, your feedback means all the more to me. It absolutely matters more! So I ask: please help me with that by leaving a brief review :)