A clap of thunder crashed violently, it felt so close to the boat that I jumped startled and knocked a mug off the table causing it to shatter into fragments about my feet. I looked at the shattered remains and an idea hit me. I bent over to pick up the mess and secreted a section into my hand.
‘Leave it.’ a harsh voice told me. I sat up dropping the fragment into my lap so he couldn’t tell I had it. It might just come in handy. I placed my hands in view of him on the table.
‘I was only cleaning the mess up.’ I snapped.
‘I’ll do it.’ he said. ‘You sit right there, nice and still.’ He leant over and began collecting the fragments up. I quickly grabbed the piece from my lap and slid it into the pocket on the leg of my trousers. Combat fatigues came in handy for something I thought to myself. I put on my best innocent face another thunderclap sounded and a burst of lightening illuminated the boat. I could hear the wind howl as it rose in tempo.
He let out a barrage of cursing and raced to check the instruments. ‘Shit that storm has come through earlier than I thought, it’s going to delay our departure.’
‘How tragic.’ I said witheringly.
He turned and glared at me. ‘Delayed, not prevented.’ Then a malicious light appeared in his eyes.
‘This gives me more time for that seduction I told you about.’ He made his way over to me and pulled a bit of rope from his pocket. He grabbed hold of my wrists and tired them up, and bent down and did the same with my ankles. ‘But not just yet. Now I want you where I can see you. Now sit still like a good girl Jacqueline. I want to check out the boat.’ He dropped a kiss on top of my head and I struggled with my bonds as he left me alone in the galley.
*******************************
Steve chucked Carlos and Kevin some wet weather gear as they made their way over to the staging area. The rain hadn’t let up and it looked like it wasn’t going to cease anytime soon, the dark heavy sky was broken by the occasional lightening strike. Kevin pulled up the hood of his cape so it at least offered some protection from the elements. He wished he could rid his stomach of the nerves and the nausea that had him in its grip. He knew his agitation about this operation succeeding was the cause.
The teams were getting ready, giving their equipment one last check. It looked like something out of an action movie, but it was all too frighteningly real for Kevin. Dressed in their dark uniforms, helmets and infra red goggles, camouflaged against the night’s darkness, the SWAT teams looked out of place against this sleepy harbour’s backdrop.
Pete gave the word and the men swarmed quickly to their designated positions around the wharf, and into the boats that would flank and board the vessel Jac was held captive on. With a minimal amount of noise, they disappeared on the water into the night undercover of its darkness.
‘And now it’s begun.’ Kevin whispered.
******************************
‘Well the boat is ok, she’ll be fine.’ He announced as he re-entered the galley. He squatted down in front of me and lifted my bound hands in his. ‘Seems we have some unfinished business to attend to.’ He spoke calmly and that scared me more than his unstable rages did. ‘It seems I have you where I want you.’ He laughed softly, chilling my blood. He traced a finger along the side of my face stopping at my bruised and blackened eye but I pulled away. His very touch was like a snake slivering on my body. It made my skin crawl.
And I was running out of ways to keep him at bay. The inevitable would surely happen, that violation of self and subjucation that was every woman’s nightmare. And for him, he thought it would be a deed done in the name of love.
He laughed at my unwillingness to let him touch me in any way.
‘What my lady, don’t you like the feel of my touch? Shall I kiss your bruises better?’ As I averted my eyes he laughed coldly. ‘Well we have all night for you to learn to like it.’
I sat silently, stubbornly refusing to show any emotion, maybe if I could make him lose his temper again I could distract him. But he just placed a kiss against the corner of my split mouth and trailed his snake like tongue across my lips. ‘Now play nice and I won’t have to hurt you.’ He reached down and pulled me to my feet and pressed against the length of him I could feel his growing arousal. He laughed as he ground his hips against mine. ‘Oh look junior wants to come out and play.’ And because he held me tightly against him I couldn’t move.
Then suddenly we heard a sound above the noise of the storm outside. He released me from his grasp and pushed me back down into the chair. ‘Sit down. I’ll be right back to keep you amused.’ He pulled out a gun from his holster and sidled furtively up the stairway that led to the boats’ deck.
I strained my hearing, but couldn’t make out anything above the storm’s wild howling. I got off the chair and waddled as quickly as my bound ankles would allow over to the stairway, and listened for any sound. A crash and a thump of something falling made me jump, and it was followed swiftly by the sound of a gunshot.
‘Shit.’ I jumped back from the stairs as the sound of more gunfire rang out. I risked another peak around the wall, but I couldn’t see a thing, just the blackness of the night’s sky and the occasional flash of lightening. Then I heard shouts as all hell broke out on deck.
I squatted down and with some difficulty took the china fragment out of my side leg pocket. Concentrating on what I was doing, I sawed at the rope that bound my hands. The need to move fast made my hands unsteady. I stopped, forced my self to take a deep breath and remain calm. The rope ground into my wrists cutting and burning the delicate skin there as I twisted my arms and hands each and every way in the race to free them. Every now and again I would give the bonds a tug to see if they could be snapped, making them cutting into my skin even further. Swearing words that would have made a seasoned soldier proud of me, I gave them one last desperate tug and gasped with the pain as they gave way. I never looked at the damage to my wrist. My first thought was to free my ankles.
‘Come on Jac, stop shaking.’ I willed myself as I fumbled with the knots. The sound of gunfire filled my ears, as I wondered what on earth was going on. Men were calling to one another above the noise. I needed to get out of here. I crept slowly up the stairs, keeping my head and body low. I gave a quick look around the side. He was nowhere to be seen, but the heavy downpour was making visibility hard. Out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a man in a SWAT uniform laying on the deck groaning from a bullet wound. I crawled over to him getting drenched from the incessant rain. A loud crack of thunder and another burst of lightening split up the darkness of the night sky. As it did so it illuminated the deck and I could see the silhouettes of men struggling against the raging storm and the continual gunfire. Its noise was constant and deafening. And I kept ducking my head in fright. As I reached the downed police officer he opened his eyes and groaned. He made to sit up, but I pressed him back onto the deck. He had a nasty bullet wound in his shoulder that was bleeding profusely.
‘Ms Ryecroft?’ he gasped. He took one look at my swollen eye and split lip and asked in a strained voice. ‘Are you ok?’ I nodded and I moved to staunch his wound, but he waved me away. He spoke in short sharp breaths ‘I’ll be ok, it’s not too bad, listen do you think you can get to the steering wheel. I think we’ve got him pinned downed up there.’
‘I can try, what do you need me to do?’ I jumped as another burst of gunfire burst out deafeningly and I flinched and ducked down beside him.
‘Just point the boat at the wharf and let it go, we’ll have a better chance if we can run the boat around. That way he ain’t going nowhere.’ He struggled with his holster and pulled out a gun. ‘Can you use this?’
I took it off him gingerly. ‘I dunno, but I’ll guess I’m going to learn fast, I’m a quick study.’ I grinned at him. I blew a drip off water my nose. My thin short hair was plastered about my face and I was soaked to the skin, but I didn’t have time to think of any discomfort. He gave me a few instructions and I repeated them.
He grinned back. ‘Good girl, and be careful hey.’
I nodded. ‘Are you sure you’re going to be ok?’ he nodded weakly and I patted his shoulder and brought myself into a crouch.
‘Well guess it’s come full circle, this whole thing started with a stormy night and one way or another it’s going to end with one.’ I muttered to myself. Taking a deep breath I launched myself across the deck and dove for some cover near of a pile of sails. I hit the deck and rolled with a grunt. I dragged myself up and squatting down behind the canvas barrier I looked across at the doorway of the small cabin area that housed the wheel and the ignition to start the boat’s engine. I needed to get in there to start the boat’s motor. Counting to three, I held myself in readiness to jump and run across the short space. As I leapt out gunfire again erupted and something ricocheted of the sidewall of the boat and hit me in the upper arm. I staggered into the doorway clasping at it in pain. My fingers came away bloody and I wiped them on my shirt. ‘Just a flesh wound Jac.’ I told myself as I fought off the dizziness. ‘Come on Jac, no fainthearted stuff now.’ Biting my lip again the pain, I shut the door of the cabin and locked it. I spied the keys in the ignition. ‘That’s your first mistake arsehole.’ I whispered as I turned the key and kicked over the engine. The boat was moving. I looked out and got my bearings through the window and the storm and taking note of the lights on the wharf, I steered the boat around to face it. Then I pushed the throttle up to full as the boat moved at top speed directly on collision course for the wharf.
**************************
Kevin jumped as the sound of gunfire carried across the water. He shot a panicked look at Steve, who was looking out biting his lip as he strained to see what was happening through the storm. Besides the crescendo of noise and the strikes of lightening, they could see the continual flashes of gunfire that streaked through the darkness.
‘Gunfire ‘ he said needlessly.
Kevin pushed back the cowl of his wet weather cape so he could try to get a better view. Squinting his eyes he strained to see through the rain. ‘I wish I knew what was happening out there?’ he said as he raised a hand to shield his eyes. Just be ok Jax he thought.
‘Me too.’ Steve said as he picked up his radio. ‘Wharf to command, seems to be heavy fire coming from the boat. Has Pete reported in yet?
The answering crackle of the radio echoed as Dave answered. ‘Yeah Reid is returning fire, seems he’s quite well armed, but they think they have him cornered, but that’s no guarantee. We’ve taken a few hits so far, but none fatal. Woods has radioed in a confirmed sighting of the hostage Ms Ryecroft. He’s down wounded but ok. It seems that she’s in possession of one of his weapons, and is under instructions to try and drive the boat into the wharf to run it aground.’
‘She’s doing what? Is Woods out of his mind, she could get hurt.’ Steve exclaimed angrily.
‘Just passing on the info Steve, and if what I’m seeing on the screen in front of me, it seems she’s succeeded Steve. There is a boat coming at full throttle straight at you.’
‘Fuck.’ He breathed not sure he was hearing right. ‘Please repeat that command.’
‘Steve the boat is coming straight at you.’ Dave said.
‘Jesus Christ. Did you hear that Kev? Jac’s crashing the boat into the wharf. Woods and his crazy ideas.’ He looked at Carlos and Kevin who was wearing a look of fear, pride and exasperation on his face.
‘ I always knew she was nuts.’ Kevin muttered as he impatiently pushed a lock of dripping hair away from his face. He strained to see through the gloom. ‘Coming right at us you say?’
‘She’s armed with a gun.’ Steve continued.
‘Does she know how to use it?’ Carlos asked Kevin.
‘God knows, nothing surprises me with Jax any more.’ He spoke with a certain amount of relief that she was still ok, but he knew it wasn’t over yet. He wouldn’t relax till he had her safe in his arms.
‘Good God, here it comes.’ Steve yelled as he ran and dove from what he hoped was harms way.
‘ Take cover everyone.’ he screamed
And out of the darkness and through the storm, like an avenging angel the boat emerged from gloom of the harbour full steam ahead hitting the wharf with a tremendous crash that sounded like a bomb going off around them.
‘Jax you crazy woman.’ Kevin yelped as he dove behind a barrier. Arms and limbs flying in a tangle as he landed. He hit something hard and rolled to a stop against it. He heard a grunt and he realised he had careened into Steve and winded him. All about them sounds of wood splintering, cracking and groaning filled their ears as it joined the wildness of the storm. Debris from the destruction was tossed into the air and fell about them. The sound of men shouting and gunfire still filled the air and chaos reigned.
*****************************
I staggered back as the boat took off at full speed towards the wharf. ‘Shit Jac this could be interesting.’ I spoke aloud as I regained my footing. The wharf was coming up awfully fast. I hoped I had done the right thing. A loud crashing at the door frightened the life out of me and I jumped.
There was my kidnapper banging at the door of the cabin.
‘Shit oh god.’ My heart jumped as I watched him trying to break through the locked door. He was wounded in the shoulder. A reddened stain coloured his shirt, spreading outwards, no doubt helped with the amount of rain that was falling. He aimed his gun at the lock and fired. The lock shattered and he burst through the doorway. I yelped and went to grab the gun that the wounded police officer had given me. I had placed it within reach while I started the engine. But he was quicker hitting it out of my grasp. He grabbed hold of my injured arm and started to drag me out of the cabin and I yelped in agony as he twisted my arm. I noticed a wrench on lying about near the steeling wheel and I pulled against him, my outstretched hand grasping it within desperate fingers. I snagged it and brought it down, smashing it across his forearm. He screamed in pain and collapsed against the door, I didn’t know whether I had broken his arm with the blow, but I wasn’t hanging around to find out. I snatched up the gun from the floor and leaped out of the door, he made a grab for my ankle but I managed to elude his grasping hand. I ran towards the bow of the boat and swore as I realised this wasn’t going to be a great parking job, I was going to do some major damage and not only to the wharf. I could hear the frenzied shouts of the SWAT team as they realised we were going to hit full steam ahead. On the wharf I could see people running about like ants, ducking for cover. With a shuddering crunch the boat raised itself out of the water and I found myself flying through the air.
I hit the ground with a sickening collision. A blinding pain shot like an electrical current through my leg. I felt rather the heard the bone give way and the agony was incredible. Waves of faintness and nausea washed over me as I lay breathing raggedly on the ground unable to move for that moment. I couldn’t believe I was still alive. The torrential rain still fell, but I could barely move, the pain from my leg was so intense. I just lay still face down lying in a puddle of water willing the hurting to subside. Just out of reach I could see the gun where it had fallen out of my hand. From somewhere in the distance I heard Kevin frantically screaming my name. I raised my head at the sound of his voice. ‘Kevin’ I managed to shout weakly. ‘Kevin I’m over here.’ I could see Steve and Kevin through the downpour as they carefully made their way from behind the barrier they had hidden behind. I heard a shot ring out and Steve grunted and fell backwards in a heap at Kevin’s feet. Kevin reached down and dragged him back behind the barrier. He was screaming at Carlos to provide cover, and several of the wharf based SWAT team returned fire in the direction of the shot. I lifted my head and saw Kevin work his way along the wall. He looked at me and I could read his mind. I shook my head and waved a hand motioning him to stay put. But even at this distance I knew that stubborn determined look he would be wearing would be all over his face.
‘You stubborn sod, stay there.’ I shouted at him as I sensed he was about to move towards me.
‘Jax, I’m coming to get you.’ He called above the gunfire. I heard a noise behind me, and I struggled to lift myself off the floor. It was a police officer, crawling on his stomach towards me. But another shot rang out, and I heard a muffled grunt and his movement stilled, despite my pain I could see the pool of blood run out from beneath him. I heard someone call out Pete and the radio scream officer down.
Movement to the left of me caught my eye and there was my tormenter, my nemesis. He was looking straight at me with that feral grin plastered evilly across his face. He raised his pistol at me. Kevin screamed and started to move. ‘Jax!’ he started to move towards me.
‘No don’t Kevin, baby stay put, you’re in his direct line of fire Kevin… NO! See to Steve, staunch his wound.’
‘Jax’ he looked torn. ‘Jackie……’ I knew then he was in a panic, he never called me Jackie…’
‘Baby stay put, see to Steve.’ I yelled. He took a step closer. My kidnapper trained his gun from me to Kevin. I didn’t like the look on his face, if I hated him, the hatred he felt for Kevin was doubled.
I screamed ‘KEVIN! Get down!’
But he just turned slowly towards my voice. It was so hard to hear over the raging tempest. My heart flew to my mouth as I panicked that Kevin was in danger.
Despite the pain from my leg I crawled and grabbed hold of the gun, only to find it wasn’t the one the police officer had given me, but it was a flare gun from the boat. It must have fallen off as we crashed, the gun I had was no where to be seen. I saw Carlos lift himself from under a pile of debris, blood was streaming down his face.
With heart thumping I screamed at my kidnapper, despite my leg, I raised myself up by sheer will and the adrenaline rushing through my body. ‘No! Stop or I’ll shoot you.’
‘You won’t shoot.’ He sneered derisively ‘You haven’t the guts, say good bye to lover boy my lady. If I can’t have you he sure as hell won’t’ He raised his gun and aimed at Kevin. I saw the look of horror on Carlos’s face as he realised what was happening, he wouldn’t be able to reach his gun to help Kevin in time but his eyes caught mine and he nodded at me.
‘NOOO!’ I screamed. I raised the flare gun and pressed on the trigger, the kick from the gun making me fall backwards. The flare shot out and he took the hit full in the chest. His eyes blinked and widened in surprise, his mouth gapping open with shock as he staggered slowly back. It was like watching in slow motion. The gun dropped from his hand, hitting the floor it bounced out of reach, clattering into a puddle of rain. Then his chest imploded with a flash of light as the flare did it’s work and burst into life. Flames, flashing orange, red and gold spurted out as his body flailed back and he threshed about on the ground till he stilled and there was no movement. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air making me want to gag, I never wanted to eat meat again.
I lay still my chest heaving, trying to breathe as the shock at what I’d done hit me like a ton of bricks falling on top of me and laying me flat.
Kevin skidded to a halt beside me, falling to his knees he gathered me in one motion into his arms as he knocked what little breath I had left out of my body. I moaned as he dragged me onto his lap, my leg, arm and face feeling like they were on fire. There wasn’t one part of my battered, bruised body that wasn’t hurting, that didn’t feel pain. But still I was oblivious to everything once I looked into his eyes. The world stilled and nothing seemed to exist but us. Tenderly he touched my face and he gathered me close so his cheek rested against mine. He didn’t need to say anything those expressive eyes of his told all but he rocked me gently in his arms. We didn’t notice those who started to clean up the destruction I had created, or Carlos as he helped Steve to a waiting paramedic, or when having done that, the fact that he stood guard and stopped anyone from intruding in our reunion.
Kevin clasped my face gently in my hands and his lips gently kissed my bruises. ‘God what did he do to you?’ he whispered huskily when he finally managed to speak.
‘Nothing that can’t be mended, nothing for me to fear anyway, I’m safe now, I’m home with you.’ A few tears escaped. ‘I bet I look a wreck though?’
He smiled that rare smile that set my heart beating and shook his head before kissing my forehead softly before wiping my tears away gently with his thumbs. ‘Never have you looked more beautiful to me Jax.’
His fingers traced the deepening bruise about my eye and ended at the cut on my lips, before his mouth tenderly claimed mine. It was an intoxicating kiss, sweet gentle, tender. As heady as downing a glass of fine champagne in one gulp, my senses reeled, the emotional pendulum had swung far and wide, spanning sheer terror to euphoria at being safe within the arms of the man I loved. But he was here, my past and my present reality, and I was loved as I loved him, truly madly deeply.