ISAAC

 

“What the fuck, Toby,” I growl as the door opens. All I can see is Via on the ground with blood running along her arm. I scramble down, and Toby’s muttering fades out like white noise as all my attention shifts to her, my fucking everything.

“Ambulance.” I glance up at Shelly, she’s all action now. Shelly passes the phone to a shocked Toby and crouches down next to me, grabbing Via’s arm and holding it up. “Give me something to put pressure on it,” she grunts at me while trying to rouse Olivia.

Wake the fuck up, dipshit. I curse myself internally then snap into action. First things first. I look at Toby. “She better fucking be okay,” I hiss, but his eyes don’t move from her body. I pull my shirt off, thankful that I have a thermal on underneath—although that wouldn’t have stopped me—and tie it around her wrist, running it through her fingers and putting pressure on her palm. Leaning over her, I push Shelly to one side as Via’s eyes flutter open and shut again. “Via, baby,” I murmur low, trying to exhale my fear along with her name.

“Isaac?” she rasps. “W-What…” Blinking, Via’s eyes move around the tiny space. I can almost see her thoughts frantically working, trying to piece the night back together. I take a second to wonder why my brother and my… my… Via, were in a disabled toilet, but push it away as my teeth crunch against each other.

“Shit, Liv, I’m so sorry,” Toby chokes out, kneeling next to her.

“Back the fuck away,” I snarl, and his eyes flit to mine, wariness and pain shimmering on the surface, but right now I don’t care. All I know is Via is bleeding, in pain, and he was the only one in here with her, I can’t think past that. I know my brother would never hurt her intentionally. I love him. He’s my brother and my best friend, but she owns my heart. Even though I’ll never tell her, she is my world, and if someone tries to hurt her, I will stop them, hurt them. I’ll stand in between her and anyone.

Anyone.

No matter who they are.

“Excuse me, sir.” I drop my head back and turn toward the voice. I quickly move when I realise it’s a paramedic, but I thread my fingers through Via’s on her good hand.

“Olivia!” I hear the shout and close my eyes. I had forgotten where we were for a moment. This shit has to stop. I know everything. Every inch of my surroundings, and every person in the vicinity, the escape routes and all the instruments around me that I could use to kill someone. Getting within ten feet of Via and everything I’ve learnt, everything I know, fades away, leaving only my feelings, my heart. Nothing exists beyond her, and when she’s near I forget who I’ve become—who I really am.

“Shit.” I pull my hand away and wipe it down my face. I catch her sad eyes and lean over kissing her temple as the other paramedic huffs. I twist my head toward him and glare, he jerks away, and I turn back to Via, my eyes softening. “I need to go talk to your mum. Do you want me to come to the hospital?”

“No. I’ll be fine.” She pushes the words out through gritted teeth, and I don’t know whether it’s because she’s in pain physically or emotionally.

“Isaac,” Shelly urges with a controlled frustration.

Ignoring her, I stare at Via. “I was gone, Via, and I know that I hurt you… but please believe me when I tell you that although I was gone, you never were. Not from me. Not for a second.” Her sharp inhale causes a penetrating, stabbing sensation in my chest as her eyes fill with tears. I don’t know why I had to tell her that, I just did.

Dragging my body away from hers, I push past the paramedic, Toby, and Shelly who have all filled the small space. Once I’m in the hallway I lean down and brace myself on my knees catching my breath. Glancing up, my eyes meet my dad’s and then Uncle Dane’s next to him. They wear a matching look of concern, and I can clearly see their brotherly resemblance. The other paramedic is now talking to Uncle Con and Aunt Pea. My dad edges toward me, but I stand and shake my head sharply before striding outside.

I need a moment, there’s an anger inside, and if I don’t pull it back into check, I might combust. Marching down the back alley through the darkness to where my car is parked, I stop and take in a lungful of the crisp night air. It pierces my chest like an alien invasion, and I cough trying to regain some composure.

“Isaac.” Shelly breaks the quiet moment. I squeeze my eyelids shut and pull my scattered thoughts together. “You’re too close,” she pauses seeming to weigh up her words. “We’ve worked together for years, Isaac, I’ve never seen you like this, so… messy.”

My head dips, and I lock our eyes. “Don’t.” The word burns through me.

Shelly sighs and lowers her head, but then her eyes meet mine once again, and there’s a fire in them, which means she’s going to say what she wants. I clamp my teeth together, grinding my molars, but I let her say her piece. She has saved my arse on numerous occasions, so it’s the least I owe her.

“You’ve never been anything but professional, Isaac.” Shelly slumps back against the car as I watch some of the fight drain out of her. “Cold. That’s how you’ve lived. I’ve only ever seen a softer side to you on very rare occasions. Then we come here... ” flinging her arm out, she gestures to the darkness, the nothingness that surrounds us, “… you’ve changed, Isaac.”

I look at her, some of my anger simmering down.

“I’ve seen you happy since you’ve been here, not glimpses… not just glimpses.” The words die on her tongue as she looks away again. Leaning forward, Shelly wraps her arms around her stomach and grips on tight. I watch the knuckles on her hands as they blanch under her clenched fists.

“I like you happy, Isaac.” I frown, not sure why her words surprise me. Twisting her neck, she stares up into my eyes. “But this isn’t who you need to be if you want to continue being one of us.” Shelly reminds me who I am and it feels like ice chips being shoved down my throat.

Pulling the car door open and gesturing to the other side, telling her non-verbally to get in, I throw her words back at her, sensing I’m not the only one conflicted. “Who are you trying to convince Shelly? Me… or you?”

Pursing her lips and narrowing her eyes, she glares at me, but then, without even blinking, she disappears into the car leaving my question hanging in the air.

 

 

“How is she?”

“She’ll be fine, her hand is stitched up, they only want to keep her in overnight because of her mild concussion,” my dad answers down the phone.

“Good.”

“Isaac—”

“Don’t.”

“Isaac, you will hear me,” my dad orders. I don’t reply, I just wait on the phone trying desperately to bite my tongue. “You need to speak to Toby.”

“No,” I spit.

“Yes. He’s really upset with himself.”

“He fucking should be.”

“Isaac, he’s your brother, he loves you.”

I stop cleaning the pieces of my gun and shake my head. “Fine. Where is he?”

“He’s still at the hospital.”

“He’s there?” I slam my fist down.

“He’s family, Isaac. You know full well that no matter what happened, Liv will want to see him. Anyway, I hate to remind you of this, but he’s been her constant for the last five years… him.”

Fuck me, it hurts so damn much to know that my brother took care of my girl… my cousin, dammit. I shake my head trying to ward off the unwanted thoughts.

“I know, Dad, I’ll talk to him, okay?”

My dad’s audible relief unlocks something inside, and I feel like shit for making him worry.

“Gotta go.” I rush out, cutting off the call when I see Shelly hastening her step toward me.

“What is it?” I demand, completely alert and primed, ready for action.

“There’s been movement at Crackers. Darwin called, they’ve spotted Milton’s men entering and leaving over the last six hours.”

“Fuck, why didn’t someone tell me?”

“They have, just now. We were busy, and nothing happened so they kept watch.”

“What’s changed?” I put my gun back together and gather my favourite knives.

“The assignment has been spotted. They took him in a few minutes ago.”

“Fuck.” I close my eyes and slow my mind down.

“This is good, it’s what we’ve been waiting for,” Shelly tells me something I already know.

Opening my eyes, I mumble out my orders, “Tell Darwin not to move. I’ll call him shortly, and I want a blow by blow if anything happens. Tell Victor and Clint to watch the house, if this is a trap, I don’t want them getting to Craig and Nicola.”

Shelly nods and rushes out to relay my instructions.

Taking a second to box away all the fucking clutter currently clogging my mind, I pull out my phone. I need to be clear, completely. If I’m not totally on my game, I die. Others die. It’s that simple in my line of work. “Right,” I murmur, and as the word slides off my tongue, my head is back in the game. I’m Kane again. Black Ops. The killer. I’m fucking ready. Pressing the touchscreen of my phone, I place it next to my ear.

It barely rings. “Arlo.”

“Go to Crackers, wait out back and bring King. You’ll know when you’re needed.”

“Got it,” he replies, and I cut the call, immediately dialling again.

“Darwin,” is murmured low.

“Can you see the assignment?”

“Yes.”

“How many are around him?”

“Two. Another four out back. Two in front and four having a heated discussion just inside the entrance,” he explains.

“On my signal, you’ll be able to get to him, extract him safely?” I question.

“Do you need to ask me that?” His soft growl makes me smile.

“See you in ten,” I reply and cut him off.

I double check my gun and walk back into the main house grabbing my leather jacket.

“You’re taking the bike?” Shelly asks, a look of surprise passes over her face.

“Yeah,” I reply grabbing my helmet.

“And me?”

“There’s four out back. Arlo and King.” She nods. “Two with the assignment. Darwin.” Once again she nods. “Two out front. You.”

“Right. And you?” she replies.

“Four inside the entrance.”

“Okay, I’ll do my two then come help.” She smirks.

“Appreciate it.” I grin back, then stride to the garage. Looking between my Kawasaki Ninja and my Honda CBR1000, I sigh. “Sorry, old friend.” The apology makes me grit my teeth as I know what I’m going to do to my Honda. I love my bikes, both black—both dark—just like me. I hate this, but I’ll do what’s needed. Always.

“You ready?” Shelly asks, pulling up next to me on her Ducati.

I nod. “When we get there, watch for my hand signal, then hang back for a moment. When you see me go, take five seconds then you’ll be up, full throttle, to take those first two guys out.” She nods back at me, and I pull on my helmet before riding off.

As I close in on the dark warehouse, I know I’ll only have one chance. It’s late, most of the industrial area around us is quiet. However, the mill next door runs constantly, making a low humming noise. It’s enough to disguise my bike, but in a moment, they’ll hear me. Shelly rides close behind, and we navigate as one, both having already turned our lights off. Just as I come up to the opening, I know they’ll spot me any second, so I wave my right arm out. Shelly backs off slightly, and I pull forward full throttle.

I can’t hear much over the sound of my bike and my helmet, however, I can see the two guards now shouting, running, and their guns are up. I’m about eighty feet from them now applying the break as the bike starts slowing, and as the back end steps out. I lean back until the bike slides out from under me. I can’t see much as I tumble, but I hear the crash of the bike smashing through the huge wooden doors of the building. As the momentum starts leaving me, I reach for my helmet pulling it off. I hear shooting and noise everywhere now. Coming to a stop on my back, I pull my gun out and up and am about to kill the man running toward me when he’s shot from behind, immediately falling to the ground. Shelly tips her imaginary hat at me.

I jump up and run inside the building. Shelly has two men on her, and two approach me. There’s a third at my back. He thinks I’m not aware of his presence, but he’d be wrong.

“You made a mistake coming here,” one of them shouts.

I point at his head and shoot. My aim is true, and I don’t know what these dickheads expected as their eyes widen. Twisting sideways, I shoot the one behind me with my right arm, while pulling my knife out and throwing it at the other guy with my left. It lands in his thigh, and he retaliates firing his gun twice, missing with the first bullet but grazing the side of my face with the second. I throw my spare knife, and it impales him in the gut. As he drops, I spin to the man behind me. I know I didn’t kill him, and I need to clean up. Taking the four steps to reach him, his breathing is shallow as his lungs fill with blood. I don’t blink as I put a bullet in his head and walk the other way, intent on doing the same to his friend. I lean down and pull my knives from his body, cleaning them on his shirt before tucking them away.

I look around, my team are all huddled now, and a few dead bodies litter the area.

“Shelly, call Dean and Brand. Clean up,” I state as my eyes travel further across the expanse of the open warehouse. She nods and moves away pulling out her phone.

“The Assignment?” I ask Darwin.

“Here,” he says, revealing a seven-year-old boy behind him. The kid looks scared shitless. He has a few scrapes and is a little dirty, probably undernourished from being with these bastards for four weeks, but otherwise, he looks okay.

“Get him to base, call Clint and Victor, and tell them to bring Craig and Nicola. He’ll need his parents. They don’t need to know that we’ve found him yet, though. Just take them there but keep them separate from him until I get there.” Darwin nods and moves away flanked by King and Arlo, who’s now speaking into his phone, no doubt relaying my orders to Clint.

“Are you okay?” Shelly asks glancing at my bleeding cheek now the others have left.

“Yeah, it’s just a graze,” I tell her still looking around the space.

“And the rest of you? That wasn’t a small tumble from your bike, which is wrecked by the way. I know you meant to do it, but still…” she leaves her sentence hanging.

“The adrenaline is still pumping, I’ll be fine for a while, then I’ll rest.”

“Crazy fucker,” she mumbles before walking toward her bike.

“Shelly.”

She turns and waits for me to speak.

“Keys,” I demand and hold my hand out.

She rolls her eyes and throws her bike keys at me which I catch while making my way to her Ducati. It’s a woman’s bike—that just my opinion—but I can’t deny, as I slide on and she jumps on behind me, that even with it just sitting idle, it sounds nice. As I pull on the throttle, and we rush forward, I concede I like the power. Maybe I’ll consider a Ducati as my next buy.

I drive back to our house first, needing to get my Kawasaki and give Shelly her bike back because when this shit is done, I need to go see my brother.