by Unknown
TAMMY
"They cut the feed," Aaron yelled out in frustration.
Jack picked up the chair that he was sitting in and hurled it across the room and howled out in pain. Tammy's heart went out to him as he sobbed uncontrollably.
"Oh God... Oh God... Oh God," he cried over and over again.
Seeing his sister get knocked out, his wife being savagely beaten, and watching his mother use herself as a human shield to absorb Victoria's beating must have been crippling for Jack. Amy was so distraught that she had to be carried out of the room. Tammy looked over at Joseph and, he too, was inconsolable. She had never seen anything but a smile on his face, but now he looked as if he was ready to die. Natasha and Tracy did their best to comfort the family, but Tammy had no idea what to do. So she did her best to stay out of the way.
"They're in Chicago!" Aaron blurted.
"Where?" Jack asked, hurrying over to Aaron.
"They cut the feed before I could get their exact location. But, I was able to hack into their security feed. I can see everything that they can see."
Everyone walked around the table to look at Aaron's laptop. There were eight boxed videos with different views of the inside and outside of the building where the ladies were being held. Tammy recognized the outside of the building.
"I know that place!" Tammy shouted.
"What?! Where is it?!" Jack asked.
"It... It's an old glass factory on the Westside. Um... um... on Madison and Leavitt. I did a ring girl gig there once."
Francis and Luca hurried out of the room, Gianni, Jack, and Joseph were huddled together, and Natasha was on her phone. Everyone had sprung into action, with newfound purpose.
Natasha ended her call and walked over to Jack.
"Jack, I need you to get on the phone with the mayor. I need my team."
"What?!" Gianni asked, looking at Natasha as if she was crazy. "Have you gone mad? You're not a cop anymore. You're not going anywhere. We..." Gianni said, gesturing between himself and Jack. "...will go and get them back."
Natasha studied Gianni for a few seconds before turning back to Jack.
"Make the call," she repeated before walking away.
Tammy had never seen Natasha defy Gianni, and judging by the look on Gianni's face, he didn't see it much either. He stood glued to the spot where Natasha left him and watched her walk out of the room. Tammy turned to follow her, but before she cleared the threshold, she heard Jack on his phone. He was asking for the mayor.
Chapter 23
JACK
Jack kissed his sleeping daughter on the forehead and walked out of her bedroom. It was two in the morning, and he planned on having his family home by dawn. He grabbed the bag that he'd left by Jasmine's door and headed down the stairs. Having already said his goodbyes to his family, Jack walked out of the front door and down the walkway. He threw his duffle bag in the back of the SUV and climbed into the back seat. He was going to get his family back, or die trying.
Gianni and Natasha, with little Gio in her arms, walked out of the front door just as a big black F150 pickup sped up the driveway. Jack pulled his .38 out of the holster and hopped out of the backseat. The truck rounded the fountain and pulled in behind the SUV that Jack had abandoned. Jack recognizing the driver, walked over to the truck to greet him.
Gianni left Natasha standing in the doorway and walked over to the truck's driver's side. Frankie climbed out of the pickup and embraced Gianni, and then Jack. Frankie was Victoria's, and then later, Natasha's teammate when they worked as undercover officers in Vice. He was the comedic Italian-American enforcer that was instrumental in saving, both, Victoria and Natasha when they were taken, on two different occasions while performing their duties as undercover officers. And he'd proven himself to be loyal and trustworthy.
Hank, their other ex-teammate, hopped out of the truck, looking more like an outlaw biker than a cop. He walked around to the back of the pickup and lifted a rifle case from the bed of the truck. Natasha walked over, placed Gio in Gianni's arms, and hugged Frankie.
"That's a big sword that you're wielding," Gianni commented.
"Yes, but this big sword, as you call it, belongs to your wife."
Natasha released Frankie and walked over to Hank. She planted a kiss on his cheek and grabbed the rifle case. Gianni and Jack looked at Natasha, silently demanding an explanation. Natasha noticed them staring.
"What? We're gonna need protection once you guys leave."
Gianni’s eyes narrowed, but he remained silent.
"Frankie, Hank, it's good to see you," Jack said, attempting to switch the subject.
"Where else would we be?" Frankie responded.
"Well, the mayor is out of the country. I couldn't get ahold of him, so I was unable to request your team specifically."
"Naw man, we ain’t here to represent the city of Chicago. We're here to get our baby girl and the rest of your family back. Anyway, I'd bet my left nut that you, or this motherfucka..,." he said pointing to Gianni. "... is gonna wind up killing somebody. It's just better that we fly under the radar."
Frankie smiled and looked beyond Jack.
"And here comes the deadliest of the bunch now. What's up mob boss?" Frankie shouted as Luca walked out of the house with a crew of soldiers following him.
Luca only chuckled and climbed into the SUV. Frankie laughed, and he and Hank got back in the pickup. Jack hugged Natasha and kissed the top of her head.
"Take care of our family."
"I will. I promise."
Jack handed Frankie and Hank earpieces through the window and walked away, leaving Gianni to say his goodbyes. He slid in the back of the SUV beside Luca. He watched as Gianni kissed his son and his wife and thought of Victoria. Jack would do anything to be able to kiss his wife again. He was going to get his family back and make that bitch pay with her life.
"We'll get them back," Luca assured.
"I know."
Gianni slid in the front passenger's seat and closed the door. Gianni's eyes never left Natasha as Lorenzo drove away. Jack waited until she was no longer in view before asking,
"How exactly did you talk Natasha out of arming herself and coming with us?"
"Natasha is not like Victoria, Jack," he responded, without turning around. "She knows how to stay in her lane. We openly discuss our disagreements, but she knows that I have the final word."
"You're right," Jack chuckled. "She's definitely not like Victoria."
LUCA
Even with no traffic, it took them almost forty-five minutes to get to the Westside of Chicago. They assembled inside of the abandoned underground parking garage across the street from the glass factory. According to Aaron, there was a tunnel that lead directly into the factory. Once the tunnel was located, Luca reminded the men that if they had to kill, it had to be a quiet kill. He also reminded Aaron, through an earpiece equipped with a microphone that he was to be their eyes, guiding them with the vantage point of the security cameras.
"Aaron, we're going in."
"Roger that. I'm looping their security cameras now. When you reach the end of the tunnel make a left."
"Got it."
They entered the tunnel without Hank and Frankie, who were posted up just beyond the tunnel, prepared to provide cover fire if needed. Walking close to the wall, they reached the end of the tunnel. They went left as instructed. There was another short hallway that led to a doorway. Jack and Gianni approached the door. It was propped open by a brick.
"Aaron, what's on the other side of that door?" Jack whispered.
"Two guards. One on each side of the door. They're both armed."
Jack slowly eased the door open wide enough for Gianni to slide through. When Jack followed him inside, Luca held the door in order to keep it from slamming and alerting the guards to their presence. They struck quickly. Gianni placed an easy chokehold on one of the guards until he was down. But Jack wasn't as kind. He grabbed the other guard from behind, covered his mouth an
d cut his throat. It was clear to Luca that Jack had intentions of killing any and everyone that had any involvement in the kidnapping of his family, and Luca couldn't blame him.
"Damn," Aaron gasped in everyone's ear.
"Aaron, which way?" Jack asked, without emotion.
"Umm... right. Make a right."
VICTORIA
Victoria's eyes flew open, and she attempted to lift herself, but debilitating pain sliced through her, causing her to fall back against the mattress. She could feel someone rubbing her head.
"Shhh. Just rest child," she heard Katherine say.
"How long have I been out?" she struggled to ask.
"A few hours."
Suddenly, Victoria remembered being kicked repeatedly before Katherine used her own body to protect her.
"Oh my God. Katherine, you... are you okay?"
"I'm fine dear; just a little sore."
Victoria closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and braced herself for the pain. She was going to make another attempt at sitting up. She rolled slightly on her side and pushed up on her elbow. Emily ran over to help. She placed her hands on Victoria's shoulders and helped her to the sitting position.
"You are as stubborn as everyone says," Emily chuckled.
"Help me stand. We gotta get outta here. They want us dead."
"There's no way out Victoria."
Victoria could hear the sadness in Emily's voice. She had resigned herself to the impending doom.
"Emily, look at me. We ARE NOT going to die in here. Now help me to my feet."
Emily nodded, then stood in front of Victoria, and held out her hands. With her help, Victoria stood.
"Oh God," Katherine gasped.
Victoria turned to Katherine, who was still sitting on the mattress. Her hand was covering her mouth, and she had a horrified look on her face. Victoria looked down at what caused Katherine to gasp. It was a large bloodstain on the mattress. Victoria could feel an instant tightening in her chest. She closed her eyes and placed her hand over her stomach. Emily looked around Victoria at the bloodstain.
"Oh no, Vic," she whispered, pulling Victoria into her arms.
Victoria cried silent tears because physically sobbing would be too painful.
"Victoria, you need to sit," Katherine insisted.
Victoria wiped her face and shook her head.
"No. We gotta..."
"Sit!" Katherine demanded, rising to her feet.
She covered the stain with a blanket and grabbed Victoria by the shoulders. She slowly eased her down on the mattress. Emily sat next to Victoria and took her hand.
"You're right Vic. We're not going to die in here. We're going to kill that bitch," Emily hissed.
Victoria squeezed Emily's hand and nodded in agreement.
JACK
"And you're sure that all three of them are in here?"
"Yes, sir. I saw them being carried into that room. They never came out. The only problem is... there are no cameras in that room, and I don't know who's in there with them."
Jack kneeled down pulled keys off the dead man's belt loop. So far, they were able to move around undetected. After a few tries, Jack located the key that unlocked the door. He opened the door slowly. When Victoria and his family came into view, Jack exhaled a sigh of relief. Victoria looked at Jack as if she were trying to convince herself that he was really there. She looked as if she'd been in a war, but she was alive. Jack ran toward Victoria, wanting to embrace her. But as he got closer, she cringed. Her physical pain was evident. Jack lowered to his knees and gently caressed her face.
"Can you walk?"
Tears fell from her eyes as she shook her head to indicate that she couldn’t.
“Okay."
Jack stood and hugged his mom and sister. Two of Luca's soldiers entered the room and assisted Emily and his mom out of the room. Jack did his best to be gentle as he lifted Victoria off of the mattress. As he carried her out of the room, Gianni and Luca stayed close behind. Jack stepped over the path that they made from the dead, as Aaron's voice resonated through the earpiece.
"Someone has just spotted a man down and he's on the radio. You guys need to get out of there."
Jack began to trot. He knew that the jarring was causing Victoria pain, but he needed to get her to safety as quickly as possible. They entered the tunnel just as Aaron announced that at least ten armed men were bursting through the doorway that connected to the tunnel. Jack noticed that his mother was limping and having a hard time keeping up the pace. After all, she had endured a horrible beating while trying to protect Victoria. Gianni, obviously reading Jack's mind, flew past him and scooped his aunt into his arms. Emily, having no trouble running, safely cleared the tunnel.
"They're in the tunnel," Aaron yelled into their ears.
When Gianni and Jack cleared the tunnel, Hank and Frankie, along with a handful of Luca's soldiers opened fire at the men charging behind them. Jack and Gianni carried their loved ones into the morning light with Luca leading the way. Jack saw movement in his peripheral seconds before he heard the sound of gunfire.
"Take cover! Luca shouted, before firing his own weapon.
They were out in the open. There was no cover, and their enemies were closing in on them from more than one direction. Luca pulled Emily behind him, and Jack turned his body in order to keep Victoria from taking a bullet. He heard the sound of screeching tires. He was happy to see that it was Lorenzo behind the wheel. He had pulled close enough to put a barrier between them and the men that were shooting at them. Jack sat Victoria down behind the tire and wheel well and pulled out his .38. He could hear that Frankie and Hank were still taking fire inside the garage, and while they took cover behind the SUV, Luca's men were out in the open taking heavy fire. He could hear the voices of their opposition yelling for them to move in. They were pinned.
"We gotta hold them off," Gianni shouted firing over the hood.
Jack kissed Victoria’s lips and pulled her 9 millimeter out of his waistband. He pushed it in her hand.
"Stay put and protect our family."
Victoria nodded and wrapped her fingers around the grip.
"Jack, be careful."
Jack nodded and crept to the rear of the SUV. He pressed his body against the liftgate and to his dismay, there were at least fifteen shooters advancing on them. Jack aimed his weapon, lined the sights, and prepared to drop as many of the Russian soldiers as possible. He placed his finger on the trigger and squeezed, but before he could get one shot off, his opponents began to fall. As a matter of fact, they were dropping like flies. Jack ducked behind the SUV and looked over at Gianni. He was aiming his weapon, but he wasn't firing. He looked over at Luca, and neither was he. Luca shrugged and shook his head.
All of a sudden, there was complete silence. Jack carefully peered around the SUV; amazed by the sight of their dead enemies in the street. Gianni slowly stepped away from the truck and looked around. But it was Jack that first noticed movement.
"Gianni!" Jack shouted, pointing to the rooftop of a church, just north of them.
Gianni squinted in the direction that Jack was pointing. Someone was perched on the roof. It was a sniper. It had to be a friendly, because their enemies were down; they were no longer taking cover, and they hadn't been shot.
So preoccupied with the sniper, Jack hadn't noticed that Hank, Frankie, and the rest of Luca's men had emerged from the parking garage.
"Find the Russian cunt!" Luca shouted to his men.
They wasted no time running back into the parking garage. They would, no doubt, make their way back into the factory to find the Russian.
"Who's that?" Frankie asked, pointing to the church.
"It's Natasha," Gianni responded, through gritted teeth.
Jack tucked his weapon in the back of his pants and lifted his wife off the ground.
"Nooo... that can't be Natasha. Being hardheaded is Victoria's MO," Jack snickered.
Victoria laughed as Jack placed her in the
front seat of the bullet-ridden SUV.
"Well, she saved our asses," Victoria acknowledged.
"She wasn't the only one," Frankie pointed out. "Look over there."
He gestured toward another sniper south of them. Jack's mouth flew open when his father stood atop the roof of an apartment building holding a rifle.
“Oh my God," Katherine gasped. "Joseph."
"Who’s gonna clean this shit up, you or us?" Frankie asked Luca and Gianni.
"My men will take care of it. You guys can take off," Luca responded.
NATASHA
Natasha and Joseph walked through the emergency room doors and looked around for one of their family members. When she spotted Gianni and Luca, Natasha walked over to them. She was totally prepared for the tongue lashing that she was sure to get. But when she reached him, he only pulled her into a hug; a tight hug with a sense of urgency. Natasha, thankful that he was alive and well, hugged him in return. When Gianni released her, he gave her the "We'll talk when we get home” look. However, Natasha wasn't intimidated. She did what she had to do to keep her family safe. If she had to, she'd do it again.
"Did you find the Russian?" Joseph asked.
Gianni shook his head.
“Not yet."
Joseph, obviously disappointed, asked, "How are they?"
"Katherine's got a few bumps and bruises, but she's doing well. Emily has one hell of a shiner, but she's okay."
Gianni paused briefly before adding, "Victoria was pregnant."
"Was?" Natasha asked.
"She miscarried," Gianni's responded.
His voice was filled with sadness.
"Oh God in heaven," Joseph groaned, before walking over to the nurses station. Gianni grabbed Natasha by the arm, not enough to hurt, but enough to irritate her.