Chapter 29
We finally make it out of the shower thirty minutes later. Lazarus, Ash and Vegas are all sitting at the table drinking coffee. Tango is on the phone. “Looks like someone is happy this morning?” Vegas laughs.
“Shut up.” I grin.
“You look different. Could it something to do with that giant mark on your neck?” Lazarus wiggles his brows.
Shaking my head I ignore them. A few minutes later Jessica come in the room going straight to the coffee pot. The guys close their mouths not saying anything else. Sylvia and Jessica are going to sit with Sara while I’m gone. This time they will be heavily guarded, just in case William knows our next move. Sylvia makes her presents know when she and Tango come in arguing. I have no idea what it’s about, but it looks heated.
Lazarus raises his brow about to say something when she smacks him in the back of the head. “Shut it.”
“I never said anything.” He smirks.
“Yes you were. I’m not in the mood.”
“When are you?” Vegas laughs.
“That goes for you too. Shut it.” She throws a pointed look at Vegas.
“That’s enough.” Tango utters.
Jessica looks over to me with a knowing look. She has figured out that these two have something going on. I wink at her and a slight blush creeps over her face. She is so damn beautiful when she blushes.
“Alright. We leave in ten.” Tango informs us.
I head to Sara’s room. I know it’s early, but I want to tell her that I’m leaving. “Sara honey.” I gently push her hair out of her face.
“Daddy.” She says sleepily.
“I have to leave now. I’ll be back real soon.”
“I love you, Daddy.” She wraps her little arms around my neck.
“I love you too Munchkin. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.” She lays back down snuggling in the covers.
I kiss her on top of the head. Jessica comes in the room kissing me one more time. I lead her out of Sara’s room closing the door behind me. “Be careful. Promise me.”
“I promise. I have a few men that will be here as well. For extra protection. William won’t get by them. I don’t want any of you going out. Do you understand?”
“Ty. We can’t stay cooped up in this house.”
“You can and you will. I’m not taking any chances. Please do this for me. Promise me.”
She blows out a breath. “I promise.”
I kiss her again. “Walk me out.”
Grabbing my bag off the bedroom floor Jessica follows me out. I can see the tears in her eyes. She scared. She hugs me tightly. “Come back. Ty.”
“I will.” I whisper in her ear.
Taking one more look over my shoulder at Jessica, I jump in the car. We are head back to Vegas. Tango goes over the plans one more time making sure we are all on the same page. Leo and Sophia are to go in. Lazarus and I have the back entrance. Tango and Vegas have the front entrance and Ash is on communications. Meaning he will only be communicating with Lazarus, Vegas, Tango and me. Leo and Sophia are on their own inside.
Making it to the airport we board the private jet. It will be a lot quicker than driving. Leo and Sophia are already there. Leo rubs his hand over his bald head. He keeps it shaved showing off the tattoo of a dragon on the side. His emerald green eyes are hard as stone. Sophia is sitting on the opposite seat filing her nails. Her long tan legs are crossed. She is a beautiful woman. She looks up and smiles as we board. Flipping her long chestnut hair over her shoulder she stands to hug me. She has always had a soft spot for me. I don’t know why.
She smiles a wide smile showing her white teeth. Wrapping her tattooed arms around my waist she presses her body into mine. If I were a single man I wouldn’t have minded it at all. I push her to arm’s length and step around her. “You’re different.” She pronounces. Is it that obvious?
“He’s in love.” Vegas insinuates.
“In Love?” Her brows go up. Then she laughs. “With who.”
“We take off in five.” Tango declares.
Everyone takes their seats buckling in. I don’t make eye contact with Sophia. She is looking at me narrowing her eyes. “Ty. Is it true?”
“Very much so.” I confirm Vegas’s earlier answer.
“Well hell. Who’s the lucky girl?” She laughs.
“Jessica.” Lazarus answers for me.
“Jessica as in Your Jessica?”
“Not mine as in mine. But yes the very same one.” Lazarus is enjoying watching me squirm.
“Okay enough about me.” I interrupt them.
“I though you said you would never get involved again?” Sophia ignores me.
I groan inwardly. She will not let it go until I answer her. “She’s different. Now can we please drop it?”
“How so?”
“Sophia drop it.” I demand.
“Fine.” She huffs out.
We finally take off. Everyone is talking and laughing. I’m sitting with my head propped against the window. I’m just counting the hours until I get back home. I already miss Sara and Jessica. I wonder what they are doing right now. Smiling to myself I can’t help, but think back to this morning in the shower. Jessica’s soft body and her hands everywhere. I feel myself grow hard just thinking about it. I can’t wait to wake up to her every morning and fall asleep with her by my side every night. I never thought I would ever fall in love again, but I have. Jessica is everything to me. I will protect her and Sara with everything I have. I will not let William get away with what he has done.
Right before we land Tango goes over the plans one more time. He is as egger to capture William as the rest of us. Descending off the plan and getting into separate cars we all head toward William’s casino. Once there we watch as Leo and Sophia walk toward the entrance. Once they are in, Tango and Vegas head to their positions. Lazarus and I go to the back entrance and Ash stays on communications. Now we just have to wait. None of us are really sure how well Sophia will take orders. Tango has repeatedly informed her that she had to do exactly what Leo says. If not, then all the planning will be for nothing.
Lazarus and I are in the shadows. Two men come out of the back entrance. They are speaking in French. “M. Stiles sera très heureux.” Mr. Stiles will be very pleased. One of the men says. Lazarus nods and we both stalk over to the two men. They turn at the sound of our feet against the pavement. “What do you want?” The man asks in a very thick French accent.
Lazarus kicks the guy in the chin. His head snaps to the side. The other guy tackles Lazarus to the ground. Both men are now beating the hell out of him. I step in pulling one of the men off Lazarus. He dives at me knocking me to the ground. He’s big as a damn tree. He gets me on my back punching me in the face. Jessica isn’t going to be happy when I come back with a black eye. I get my knee up enough to connect with his stomach. He lets out a breath of air. I flip over to my side elbowing him in the face. Making it to my feet I kick him in head. He falls back for only a moment.
“You having problems, Ty?” Ash laughs over my ear bud.
“Nothing I can’t handle.” I say breathlessly.
The man rights himself charging toward me. I side step tripping him in the process. He fall to the ground hard. I punch him three more times in the head. His foot comes out kicking me in the groan and I fall to my knees. This bastard wants to play dirty. Lazarus isn’t doing so well either. The guy is kicking the shit out of him. I cough trying to catch my breath when the man kicks me in the side. I Roll over and he tries to kick me a second time, but I grab his leg punching him in the thigh. This shithead has got to have a weakness somewhere.
I keep punching him in the same spot until he falls. Raring back a booted foot and kicking him in the head. Lights out asshole. I bend over to catch my breath and try not to throw up. Lazarus finishes off his guy. “What the hell was that?” He refers to the now unconscious guy lying on the ground.
“Have a little trouble there Lazarus?
” Ash laughs.
“Fuck you.” Lazarus says also trying to catch his breath.
“Was that French they were speaking?” Tango comes over my ear bud.
“Yeah. He said Mr. Stiles will be very pleased.”
“Did you kill them?” Tango drawls out. He knows us too well.
“No. Want me too. The bastard kicked me in the junk.”
“Poor baby. I’m sure Jessica will be pissed.” Vegas chuckles.
“Kiss my ass.” I laugh.
“No I want them alive. Ash you’re up. Bring the car to the back.”
“Yes. Sir.”
We wait for Ash to pull the car in the back. Tying their hands and feet together we load them in the trunk. Ash drives off going back to his post. Lazarus and I fade in the shadows at the back entrance. “Simon or William are heading in now.” Tango announces.
“Copy.” Lazarus says.
“Car coming.” I say.
A figure dressed in black steps out. “Got one coming in the back. Definitely William. He’s limping.”
“Stay put. I repeat do not encounter.” Tango demands.
“Let me take him now Tango.” He’s so damn close. It would be damn easy to grab him now.
“No. I want them both in the same place.”
Lazarus doesn’t listen, he attacks William. I’m right behind him. I take out Williams’s man and Driver. Lazarus has William on the ground. Tango is roaring in my ear to not attack. Too late. Before I can get to them a gun goes off. William pushes Lazarus off him. I run to William punching him in the head repeatedly over and over. Suddenly Vegas is there pulling me off of him. He doesn’t make a move. Ash and Tango are screaming in my ear, but they sound far away. A lifeless William lies on the ground not moving. I stand up rushing over to Lazarus still body.
“Lazarus is down. I repeat, Lazarus is down.” I kneel down checking for a pulse. It’s there, but very faint.
“Ash get your ass here now!” Vegas roars.
Ash pulls in rushing over. I rip Lazarus’s shit off him. He is bleeding from his chest. Not good. “Lazarus can you hear me?” I yell.
Nothing. Lazarus doesn’t make a move. Ash and I load him in the car. “Take him to the nearest hospital. Now.” I order.
“I’m going in.” I inform Tango.
“No go. Leo and Sophia are out. Leave it. We are coming around to pick up you and William.”
Five minutes later we have William in the trunk. Tango drops me off at the hospital where Ash and Vegas had taken Lazarus. Dr. Bailey is in Colorado and Lazarus wouldn’t make it there in time, he’d bleed out. I rush to the nurse’s station where I find Ash and Vegas. “How is he?”
“Not good man. Not fucking good. They won’t tell me a damn thing.” Vegas paces
“How is he?” I demand the nurse at the desk.
“I’m sorry Sir. If you’re not family we can’t give you any information.” You have got to be kidding me.
“I’m his brother.” I lie.
“I need to see some ID.”
I pull out my wallet handing her my fake ID. We all have them. “Mr. Conway?”
“We’re half-brothers.”
She looks skeptical. “Follow me.” She finally says.
Ash, Vegas and I follow her down a hallway and through double doors. “Wait here. The Doctor will be in shortly to talk to you.” She says leading us to a seating area.
I pace the room. Ash looks out the window. Vegas sits bouncing his leg. It isn’t long until the Doctor comes in. “Mr. Conway?”
“Yes.” I turn.
“Have a seat. I’m Dr. Graham.” I feel myself go pale. A ball forms in my throat. “He’s alive. The bullet pierced his right lung and lodged in his lower spine. We are going to take him to surgery I must warn you. This is a delicate procedure. He may never be able to walk again. We are going to do everything we can, but the odds are not favorable.”
“Thanks.” I whisper.
“I’ll keep you informed.” The Doctor walks out of the room.
I drop my head in my hands. This can’t be happening. This is my fault I hesitated. It should have been me in there instead of my best friend. I should have been the one fighting for my life. Leo and Sophia show up a bit later. No doubt telling the nurses that they are also family. “Any word yet?” Leo asks.
“They are taking him into surgery. He may never be able to walk again.” Ash states.
“Oh no.” Sophia cries.
We all pace like caged animals waiting. Hours pass and still no word. “Anybody want coffee?” A nurse asks.
“No thanks.” Sophia answers for us.
“Let me know if you need anything.” She leaves.
Three more hours pass before Dr. Graham comes back. “Mr. Conway.”
I stand. “Yes. How is he?”
“He’s in recovery. The surgery went well. He had lost a lot of blood. He’s lucky. Most people don’t come back from something like this. He isn’t going to be able to move for a while, if he can at all.”
“Can we see him?” I rush out.
“Sure. Only one at a time. He still out. We have him hooked up to a machine breathing for him.”
I follow Dr. Graham to Lazarus’s room. Sure enough he is out like a light. I sat in the chair beside his bed. He doesn’t look the same. His face is pale and there is a machine breathing for him. Closing my eye I thank god that Lazarus is still alive. “I’m so sorry man. It should be me lying there instead of you.” I whisper. This isn’t right. William is going to pay for what he has done. “We have him now. I will see that he gets what’s coming to him. No way will I let this go. I don’t care what Tango says. William is at my mercy now. I promise I won’t let him get away with this.”
I sat there for a long time. Just watching the machine go up and down, each time it does Lazarus’s chest expands. Dr. Graham says he’s in an induced coma. I’m not sure if he will ever wake up. The doctor assures me that this is necessary. That he will be fine as long as he doesn’t take pneumonia. They are doing all they can for him. Finally a nurse comes in checking his vitals. I step out so Vegas and the others can visit with him.
Chapter 30
It’s been a week and Lazarus hasn’t woken up yet. I’ve called Jessica telling her what has happened. She broke down crying. I’m having her and Sara brought out. I want them by my side. Tango has come in a few times checking in. He has William and he promises me that I can do the interrogating as long as I didn’t kill him. I promised I wouldn’t, but when I get done with William he will wish he was.
“Want a cigarette?” Sophia asks coming to stand beside me. She and Vegas has been sitting in with Lazarus.
“No thanks.”
We stand on the sidewalk outside of the hospital. I needed to get some fresh air. I’m going crazy in there. I hate waiting and that’s what we are all doing. Waiting on Lazarus to open his eyes. “It takes time you know. He will come around.” She sounds hopeful.
“I hope so. It should have been me. I hesitated. I should have been the one lying there. Not Lazarus.”
“Stop beating yourself up. He knew what was going to happen. I think he knew what you were going to do.”
“What are you saying Sophia?”
“I’m saying he knew you were going to go for William and he knew that it was a possibility that one of you could have taken a bullet. He didn’t want it to be you. Look at what you have to live for. You are in love and you have a daughter now. No way was he going to let you risk your life.”
“So he decided to risk his own. That’s bullshit.”
“No it isn’t. Lazarus does what he wants. Just like the rest of us. He wanted you to live for your girls.”
“Maybe so, but at what price, his own life?”
“You’re a hard headed, stubborn man. Ty.”
I look down at the wet ground, it had rained last night and the streets are still wet. “He’s a good man. He doesn’t deserve this.”
“Your right about that, he is a good
man and he doesn’t deserve this, but I think It was meant to be, Ty. Stop beating yourself up.”
“How the fuck can you say that?”
“It makes us think of how precious life really is.”
She’s right, life is precious. I walk back in the hospital my heart just as heavy as it was when I walked out. Vegas is sitting in the chair beside Lazarus’s bed. “Any change?” I ask knowing I will get the same answer.
“No. Why the fuck isn’t he waking up?”
“I don’t know.” I stand at the foot of his bed.
“I think Dr. Graham is full of shit. Is Dr. Bailey coming with Jessica and Sara?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Maybe he can find out more information.”
It isn’t long until Jessica shows up. Sara is with Sylvia in the hotel. She walks in going to Lazarus’s side. She holds his hand trying desperately not to cry. She turns toward me tears leaking down her face. I take her in my arms holding her tight. She cries softly. “It’s okay honey. He will be fine.” I assure her.
“He looks so different.”
“I know. Where is Dr. Bailey?”
“He’s taking to Dr. Graham. How did this happen, Ty?”
“William shot him.” I’m not going to lie to her.
“It could have been you.” She cries harder.
It should have been me, but I don’t voice it. I don’t want her anymore upset than she already is. We stand there holding each other until Dr. Bailey walks in. He walks over to Lazarus looking at his vitals. He checks his heart beat and blood pressure.
“He’s lucky. I talked to Dr. Graham. Lazarus may not be able to walk again. He will have to go through some rehabilitation, no doubt about it.”
“It’s been a damn week. Why the hell isn’t he awake yet?” Vegas stands.
“He has to come out of the coma on his own. His brain is showing activity. So no damage there. His lung collapsed when the bullet hit. His spine was severely damaged where the bullet lodged. Tore some nerves and vertebras. He has a cracked rib.”
“Dr. Graham didn’t give us all the details.” Vegas explains.
“I figured as much. He is kind of terrified of all of you.”
“What the fuck?” Vegas roars.
Secret Ops: Ty's Revenge Page 23
