Chapter Fifteen

Harry

"Hey Ethan - why did Johnny drop his ice-cream?"

Ethan pursed his lips and looked like he was considering ignoring me. He eventually sighed and answered. "I don't know - why?"

I let a giggle burst through my lips before I could finish my joke. "Because he was hit by a bus..." I couldn't help but roar with laughter at my own slightly inappropriate joke.

Ethan, on the other hand, looked away from the road on which he was driving to give me an incredulous look. "That's not fucking funny, Harry - what the actual fuck?!"

I couldn't stop laughing and had to hold up my hand to Ethan, signalling I would be a while. We were on our way to the warehouse having left the hotel five minutes ago and I was starting to assume that I was freaking the fuck out judging by my behaviour. Just slightly though - I was rooting in the back of my head for the most ridiculous jokes to break the tension between Ethan and I. My most common 'I'm freaking out' routine.

Hugh had gone off in his car to the airport to collect my father and whoever was with him. Georgie and Tom were in the car ahead of us, leaving Ethan and I to fester in this soul-destroying journey that was full of tension and nerves.

I knew exactly what was going through Ethan's head right now; Is this the last time Harry and I will ever be in a car together? Is that the last joke Harry would ever tell me that I would get offended by? Is that the last time Harry would burp in my presence without excusing himself?

The list was endless. And to be honest, I wasn't totally innocent of those thoughts either. Which was why, when I felt another morbid thought try and make its way into my head I pulled out my Sally jokes.

I waited until Ethan had gotten over his shock and outrage at my last joke before smiling mischievously. "Hey Ethan?"

"What?" he snapped.

"Why did Sally fall off of the swing?" I held back another childish giggle.

"You know I despise this joke, Harry. Tell another one."

I was taken aback at the fact that he actually remembered that joke. It had been at least a couple of years since I'd said it - he had walked off in a huff the last time I'd told him it.

"I don't have any more jokes," I admitted as I rattled my brain but came up with nothing. I had hundreds of jokes stored in my good old brain-box but it didn't seem to want to open at this particular moment.

"Oh," was all Ethan replied.

"Yep."

Tension enveloped the car once again. I started unknowingly tapping my fingers against my knees, fidgeting in my seat every couple of seconds.

"Stop."

I jerked my eyes away from the spot on the dashboard I had been staring at. "Stop what?" I replied defensively.

"Fidgeting."

"I'm not fidgeting. You're fidgeting!" I know, I know, very bad comeback. But c'mon! I was on the way to my possible death - wittiness wasn't on my mind!

No, I had to stop thinking like that - it wouldn't be my possible death. Because I wouldn't die. Nobody was dying today - not on my watch.

"You're getting nervous."

It wasn't a question but a statement. Ethan's eyes were unwavering from the road ahead of us as the city streets turned into desolate country roads.

"Maybe," I replied. There was no use in lying - not around Ethan. That man was like a human lie-detector. I had often suggested he apply for a position on Jerry Springer if the whole spy thing didn't work out.

"Don't be. We have no room for nerves." I had heard that line so often it was engrained in my brain. During every mission I would get slightly nervous whenever we were about to get down into the tough shit. And every time he would come out with that line.

It meant that he had stopped being nervous. He was like a machine - he could void himself of all emotion and think strategically instead of letting his feelings get in the way. The only times I had ever seen fear flash through his eyes was whenever I was in trouble.

And to be fair, yes - it happened often. But it was only because I was the only one badass enough to do all of the brave stuff!

Ethan claimed it was because I was reckless - he was the one who ran in front of a fucking bullet for me years ago! He was reckless.

"Are we almost there?"

"How am I supposed to know? I'm following those two," he jerked his thumb towards the car in front of us which was going at a considerable speed. Fucking Tom probably showing off in front of Ethan - what an idiot.

I just nodded in response. I was getting an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach. This was the first time Ethan had dismissed my nerves and told me to get on with it. Last night he was begging me to run away with him when I mentioned the mere possibility of my death. I wondered how he would react now if I brought it up again...

"So, um, if I do die will you make sure to get out of there as quick as possible?" I didn't know why I was doing it - I was poking the sleeping gorilla with a shitty stick. It was just that now that shit was getting real, I felt helpless. And I had never felt that way before a mission.

I knew that everything would be okay. But for my own vanity, I needed Ethan to give me reassurance and maybe, just maybe, some lovin'.

"You're not going to die," his jaw clenched.

I frowned and instantly felt guilty for asking the question. I remembered back to last night when he broke down in my arms and I cursed myself for bringing my possible death up again. What did I want? The guy to start bawling his eyes out again?

I was a fucking idiot sometimes. "Yeah, I know," was all I replied.

There was a silence and I had made a promise to myself to keep my mouth shut for the rest of the journey. I was startled out of my own thoughts though when his hand moved from the gear-stick to cover mine on my lap.

As we stopped at traffic lights he leaned over and placed a soft, tender kiss on my lips, lingering there for a few seconds and stroking my cheek. "Everything's going to be okay," he whispered, looking into my eyes.

I swallowed hard and nodded, feeling dizzy. Nobody had ever made me feel like Ethan did - I had never felt knee-buckling dizzy from love before. I loved a lot of things - I loved it when my Coke was extra cold. I loved it when the weather was hot. I especially loved it when I beat Georgie at darts. But never had I loved something so much that it consumed my every fleeting emotion and thought.

When Ethan pulled back after the car behind us honked, he drove off again as if he hadn't just stopped my heart.

"Um... thanks," was all I could reply. It was rare that I was lost for words but through the stress of what I was just about to do, that one sweet moment had meant everything.

Jesus I was turning into a fucking softie.

"They're turning left," Ethan murmured, frowning in concentration as Georgie and Tom swerved to the left down a dusty, narrow road. Ethan and I both perked up in concentration, our eyes peeled for any sudden movements. I was also memorising the way we got here in case we needed a swift exit.

We drove for about ten minutes down the road until we reached a huge steel warehouse. It was tattered and falling apart but it did the job. We parked the cars around the back, following Tom and Georgie as they walked through a back door.

Inside, conditions didn't improve much. There were numerous large wooden beams that held the roof and walls up and looked like they could be snapped in half easily. I wasn't sure the building could hold up if a fight broke out.

The warehouse was made up of four rooms - the huge room we were currently in was empty, apart from three chairs and a table up against the wall. I guessed this would be the room I would be held hostage in.

The other three rooms were of equal size and held storage. The room closest to the huge empty room had a hidden doorway that led to an underground room. Here was where Ethan and Georgie would hide when Tom went to greet Hugh and the entourage. I would be tied to a chair that was already tightly tied to a wooden beam stretching down from the high ceiling.

Ethan and Georgie were given their weapons - two hand guns each. Ethan had also secretly brought another gun with him, as did I. We always came prepared - we couldn't be 100% sure that they wouldn't ambush us once we got here!

I had to hand the gun I'd brought over to Ethan in case Michael or his crew searched me when they got here.

We had sussed the place out to a tee and hidden weapons in various places around the building that were easily accessible if necessary.

Suddenly, Tom's phone started ringing.

"Tom, we're almost at the warehouse - all good?" we were all so silent that we could hear Hugh's slightly trembling voice over the phone. He was in the car with them - that thought gave me shivers.

"Yeah, all good mate. Looking forward to your arrival," Tom replied coolly.

We could hear Hugh talking to someone in the car with him before he returned to the phone to talk with us. "Tom, Mr. Taylor would like to speak with Harry."

My heart dropped and my mouth went dry. I looked to Ethan whose eyes had gone fierce. I knew that I would have to face him one way or another today - I just never prepared myself. I didn't know if I even could prepare myself.

"No problem, he's right here," Tom replied, giving me a confident nod.

I took a deep breath and took the phone from Tom's outreached hand. I placed it up to my ear with shaking hands, gulping. Calm down, Harry. You can do this...

"Yes?" I said dully into the phone.

There was some rustling and I could hear breathing down the phone. His breathing.

"Hmm... Good to see you're here, my boy. I'm looking forward to our reunion." It had been almost twenty years since I'd last heard my father's voice but it still had the same effect on me now as it had back then.

My face whitened and my hand shook even more.

"I can't say I hold the same enthusiasm," I replied coldly.

"Ah now, we'll see, we'll see!" he chuckled nastily, "Hugh, hang this up," I heard him instruct Hugh.

I handed the phone back to Tom and felt this morning's breakfast start making its way up my throat. I ran for the back door, running to the area of forest that surrounded the warehouse and vomiting my guts up behind a secluded tree.

I felt a hand on my back and I jumped up, scrambling back. My wild eyes focused on Ethan who looked distraught.

"Harry, you can't do this!" I couldn't believe what I was hearing - he never lost his focus on a mission. What had happened to his confidence in the car?

"I have to," I grumbled, wiping my mouth.

"You haven't even set eyes on him and you're already a wreck!" Ethan reached out to straighten my shirt that had gotten ruffled from all of my retching.

"That's the very reason I have to do this - I will not let him dominate my life any more. And besides, where are we going to run? They're almost here and that's the only road out of here," I smiled bitterly. I was never going to change my mind about this but now that I knew that I couldn't, I felt like a deer in headlights.

"Guys, I'm sorry, but Harry I have to tie you up - they'll be here in less than ten minutes." Tom looked genuinely saddened by the sight of me. I didn't need his pity, though. I needed his confidence and tact.

I looked to Ethan and felt my heart still. We walked back, hand in hand to the back door. We didn't let go of each other's hands when Tom started strapping me to the chair with ropes. He made sure to tie them just as we had rehearsed - with one quick movement of my hand I would be free when I needed to be.

It wasn't until he had to tie my hands that Ethan let go. He looked at me, trying desperately to hide the fear in his eyes. It wasn't working, though. I tried to smile cockily and give him some hope but all I could manage was a tiny tug of my mouth.

"It's going to be fine - if we all just stick to the plan," Tom said, his domineering tone taking our attention immediately. He locked eyes with me and gave me a nod. The determination he held was enough to rub off on me, no matter how little.

I had to get a grip and stop acting like a little fucking sissy!

"You're right - he's right, Ethan. Stick to the plan. Nothing is going to go wrong." I didn't know that for certain but I was sure that if I said it to myself enough, it had to be true.

Ethan took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a second, gathering himself. "Yes," he cleared his throat, "Yes, you're right." He spoke gruffly, all emotion wiped from his face.

How the fuck was he able to do that? I would get him to teach me once this was all over.

Georgie came running over to us, his game-face on too. He had been surveying the road leading up to here with binoculars. "They're thirty seconds away."

I nodded to Ethan. "Go."

He gave me one last look before turning and striding off. He was almost halfway to the door that led to the room where him and Georgie would hide before he turned and came back, planting a passionate kiss on my lips.

When he pulled back he wrinkled his face slightly. "I forgot you just vomited."

I started laughing and was grateful to all of the Gods out there for that moment - that moment of sheer comic relief.

He gave me a wink and turned to run over to Georgie who was holding the door open for him.

"Harry - I'll see you on the other side my man."

"Love you Georgie!" I called, blowing him a kiss but without the use of my hands.

And then the door was closed.

Tom went over to grab one of the other seats in the room, placing the chair in front of me. He took out his gun and kept it on his lap.

"Just for show," he reassured me.

I nodded faintly. I was waiting to hear the sound of a car pulling up outside - the car that held my worst nightmare. I wished I was being melodramatic.

Tom looked like he was about to say something to me when we heard the rustle of an engine and the crunching of tyres against the gravel. I squeezed my eyes shut. Why did I put myself in this situation? I should have run - Ethan and I should have gone last night.

No. I would not spend the rest of my life running.

I opened my eyes and felt my blood boil. He had made me feel cowardly and damaged for too damn long.

The doors to the car opened and shut simultaneously, almost as if they had rehearsed it. The crunching of tyres on gravel altered to feet on gravel. They were getting louder and more prominent by the second. I felt my hands begin to sweat.

Was it too late to back out? I almost chuckled at the thought but decided against it.

The main doors screeched open - we had taken the back doors and it seemed the main ones hadn't been used in quite a while.

Hugh led a group of four men into the room. He looked particularly shaken and his eyes widened slightly when he took in the sight of me. I could imagine that actually seeing me tied to a chair with Tom standing beside me, a ready gun in his hand, would be quite a shock.

Three of the men were clad in all black suits. The only exceptions were Hugh, who donned a white shirt and grey dressy pants and the man standing in the middle of them all - my dearest father.

He wore an expensive pair of denim jeans and a bright blue Tommy Hilfiger jumper. His choice of clothing screamed 'I'm rich' and I'd never hated the sight of him more.

I jutted my jaw out in defiance as he set eyes on me, pushing the pair of sunglasses he was wearing onto the top of his head. It wasn't even sunny out - what a fucking materialistic prick.

"Harold my boy - long time no see, eh?" his voice filled the room and I wondered how Ethan and Georgie were reacting. We had established that you could hear every single movement and sound from down where they were. I could imagine the pain in Ethan's eyes at the thought of this man being so close to me - he wouldn't have that pain in his eyes for much longer, though.

"Not long enough," I spat, narrowing my eyes. I was glad that our plan didn't involve me having to be nice to him - we all ruled that out instantly. It would be obvious that I was faking it and I downright refused to do it anyway.

"Now, now, now, why so angry?" he made a pouty face, taunting me. He continued walking towards me, Hugh and his posse of apparent body guards following until he was standing beside Tom.

I glared up at all of them.

"How could you, Hugh? I should have known - I fucking trusted you, man!" I snarled.

Hugh gave a crisp laugh. "That shows how naive you are, Harry. God it feels so good to actually say your actual name." According to Michael, I had no clue of Hugh's deceit until now. It was Tom who 'kidnapped' me and brought me here. I was to have no idea what Hugh's part in this was.

Everyone in the room chuckled quietly apart from me.

"So what's the plan here, Michael? You've killed my partner so what's stopping you from killing me already?" It wasn't difficult putting the necessary emotion into my voice - I was already extremely agitated.

"Patience, my darling boy. Why assume I want to kill my own son? My own flesh and blood - surely that would be a betrayal. But then again, you would know all about that, wouldn't you?" His tone turned nasty towards the end and I could tell that he had been waiting for this moment for years. He didn't give a shit that I was his own son. He blamed me for his arrest and the years he spent in prison.

"Son?" I laughed harshly, "When did you get the right to call me your son, you fucking low-life drug dealing bastard!" Okay, I went a bit far with the name calling - my mouth had a mind of its own, though. It was difficult to keep it quiet when all I wanted to do was put a bullet between his eyes.

Michael's eyes narrowed evilly for a couple of seconds before he started forcefully laughing again.

"My boy, he's got a mouth on him, doesn't he?" he said to the group, looking around, "No respect - that was always his issue. He was never taught any respect!" I felt the sting to my cheek before I knew what was happening as he lunged forward and punched me in the face, his lip curled. The laughter had stopped.

"By the end of this you will have gotten some manners," he snarled.

I spat out the blood that had filled my mouth. "What's the point, Dad? If you're going to kill me anyway I must say I'm not inclined to learn."

He looked around at the group and started laughing again. Hugh looked like he was about to vomit every time I spat blood out. Tom was unfazed - he had good training. Hugh would have to get his shit together.

"Tell me why you assume I'm going to kill you?" he said between snorts. I didn't see what he found so funny.

"Why else am I here?"

"I wanted to see my son again after all of these years! I've heard good things about you - very good things. It seems that your lack of manners hasn't stopped you from developing a backbone," he smiled smugly, as if he could take some credit for that.

"Oh yeah? Heard from whom?" I challenged.

"Let's just say, you know him extremely well."

He thought he was being so smart - that I was a naive little boy who was messing around with the big guys. I wanted so badly to reveal everything to him. To tell him that we had caught him by the balls and we weren't letting go.

"You know what, I'm sick of your mind games. Just kill me already," I said with a bored tone.

He sighed and threw his hands up in the air. "Why the fuck do you keep asking me to kill you?"

I raised an eyebrow at him. I was getting confused.

He calmed himself down before speaking again. "I have decided that it's time for you to start learning the ins and outs of the family business."

To say I was shocked was an understatement.

"You what?"

"Yes. It's no secret that I'm getting older and I would like you to take over this business once I'm gone. Hugh here is extremely intelligent and can take care of the books and all of that boring shit," Michael slapped his hand onto Hugh's shoulder, causing him to stumble slightly. He looked disgusted to have Michael even touching him.

"What does Hugh have to do with this?" I pretended to be more confused than I actually was.

"Oh yeah, forgot to mention - Hugh's your half-brother. Surprise!" Michael waved his hands in the air comically, a wide manic grin on his face.

My jaw dropped as I stared at Hugh. "W-What?"

"It's a long story and for another day - now, before I get into the rest of manner teaching, et cetera, Tom - give me a low-down."

Michael took the chair Tom had been sitting in and sat down, crossing his legs. This was our time. Tom had ensured us that Michael demanded a low-down at every job before killing the person who was kidnapped. Tom had said it was a sick game that Michael played, lulling the victim into a false sense of hope and relaxation until bam! A bullet to the head.

This was different, though - it seemed that Michael genuinely just wanted to torture me again and then recruit Hugh and me as his slave-workers until he eventually died of old age and made us takeover his vicious drugs-trade!

What a decent man.

I flashed my eyes to Hugh as Tom fed Michael the gruesome story of how he had murdered Ethan and buried him in a hole, miles into the forest that surrounded this warehouse. Michael was nodding and smiling sickly.

I nodded my head subtly to Hugh. It was time - instead of tricking me into relaxing, we would be tricking Michael. It was our best window of opportunity.

Hugh started coughing loudly and violently for exactly seven seconds. That was Ethan and Georgie's heads up.

Tom remained focused on informing Michael and Hugh was sweating buckets. I eyed the three muscular men who stood close to Michael. They wouldn't be hard to take out - I mean, Georgie, Ethan and Tom would easily be able to take them.

I was sure I could too but I would sit this one out - I think shooting from a distance would be my line of action. Once I gunned my father down, it wouldn't be hard. I had informed them all that I would be the one to kill my father. I was not leaving this place until he was dead at the hands of me - they had all promised me that they would stick to this.

I urged Ethan and Georgie to hurry up as Tom neared the end of his low-down to Michael. When I thought we were about to lose our opening, the door to the room they were in opened marginally. Everyone was facing me so myself and perhaps Tom were the only ones who had eyes on that door. I had underestimated how stupid the security would be - surely at least one of them should be on the lookout?

Then again, Tom and Hugh were the people Michael trusted the most in this world. They probably didn't feel threatened one bit in this place. We had assumed they would search the place, which was why Ethan and Georgie were underground, the underground doorway hidden well. It seemed Michael's trust was unwavering with Hugh and Tom.

Ethan and Georgie now emerged into the room we were all standing in. Myself and Tom were the only ones who could see them approaching the group, guns poised, as everyone else's backs were to them.

"Everyone turn around and put your fucking hands up," Ethan snarled. He was looking at me with such ferocity in his eyes. He was looking in particular at the possible cheek fracture I had and the blood that was still slightly seeping from my mouth.

Michael and his groups faces all went white as shock filled their features. One of the guys reached for his gun but bang. Ethan had him taken out with one quick shot.

"I won't ask you again - turn around and put your fucking hands up!" He was livid.

Michael shot a filthy, accusing look at Tom and I. It seemed he didn't know that Hugh was part of this, too.

Michael and his remaining two men turned to face Ethan and Georgie, their arms in the air. Michael frowned and looked at Hugh who stayed put.

"Hugh - turn around or you're dead meat," he advised in a low voice.

Hugh turned around and Michael nodded in approval. However, when Hugh turned around he started walking towards Ethan and Georgie. Michael, thinking that Hugh was trying to act the 'hero' started shouting at him to come back.

It was when Ethan threw a spare gun to Hugh that it dawned on Michael. "No - not you!"

Hugh smiled smugly and I couldn't help but feel proud of him. "Yes, me. You've underestimated me for long enough. You won't be hurting me or my brother anymore."

I felt like it was finally my time to shine so I performed the quick hand movement that Tom had shown me and was undone from the ropes in seconds. I stood and walked around Michael and the men. Tom stayed where he was, his gun poised on them too, ensuring that they were covered from every side.

I tried to smile at Ethan as I took my gun off of him but felt my cheek burn at the action so decided on staying intimidating and furious looking in front of my father.

"My two most trusted friends and family, both turning on me - I never thought I'd see the day," Michael seemed to be in a state of disbelief and shock.

I started laughing, mimicking his earlier actions. "And I never thought I'd see you again. But now that you're right here in front of me like the coward you are, I couldn't be happier. I'm going to enjoy this," I snarled, lifting the gun.

I had contemplated giving a big speech on everything he had done to me - how it had affected me. But I decided against it. I didn't want to show him how much he'd ruined my life over the years. I wanted him to remember me as strong and fearless - I wanted him to be so afraid he regretted ever being born.

I took the safety off of the gun and poised my finger over the trigger. Bang.

But it wasn't my gun that shot. Glass shattered through one of the windows of the warehouse as a bullet came flying in. It seemed to be directed towards me but missed, instead clipping the arm of one of Michael's body-guards who roared in pain.

I looked wildly around the place. "It's an ambush!" I shouted.

There didn't seem to be anymore at the windows but as I turned I saw just in time five men, all in black suits identical to Michael's bodyguards rushing in the main and back doors, guns poised. We had been naive to think it would be this easy - naive to believe that Michael trusted Hugh and Tom as much as they had thought.

Of course he would bring extra back-up, just in case.

I started shooting at the men who had run in and scattered all over the room, taking behind the table and wooden beams as cover.

"Hugh, get out of here!" I roared, standing in front of him to cover him and shooting. Bullets were flying from every direction but none were hitting. It was a frenzy of the initial fight but I knew the frenzy wouldn't last and that bullets would start meeting their target.

Hugh had never been in a shoot-off in his life - he was only holding the fucking gun for show! We never intended for him to use it!

I started backing up with Hugh behind me, his face as white as sheet and trying to unclip the safety of his gun with shaky hands. I pushed us both behind a beam, panting.

Where was Ethan? I hadn't heard him cry out in pain so I assumed he wasn't hit. I could hear Georgie shout profanities as he shot at the bodyguards.

"Hugh, you have to make a run for it," I panted, trying to look behind the beam to see where everyone was. I dodged a bullet that flew past my head.

"No! I'm not leaving you all," he said stubbornly, still struggling with the latch of the safety.

"Hugh!" I growled.

"No."

I threw him a glare but knew that we had no more time to argue. "Fine - stay right here."

I flung myself to the beam a few feet away from where Hugh was, taking cover. I was close to one of the body-guards, I just knew it. I had my eye on the doors to the place so I knew that nobody had entered or left - that also meant that Michael was still here... somewhere.

I heard an unfamiliar voice swear near the right of the beam I was behind. Bingo.

I swung to the right hand side, eyeing my target and shooting him down with one shot. As I said before - Ethan was the strong one. I was the weapons one in this relationship.

"Ethan?" I shouted, rolling for cover behind the table where the guy I had just killed was. He was slumped back against the wall, his gun limp in his hands. I took it and attempted to survey the room.

"Ethan!" I roared. I didn't care that I was giving away my position - I had to know that he was okay.

"God, I'm here - okay?" he roared back in annoyance. We had all stopped shooting and had taken cover. I knew that Ethan was pissed that I'd just given away both of our positions. Whoops.

Five men had entered the room initially. I think I took one down when they first came in and I had started shooting and I just took another one down there. That meant that there was a maximum of five guards left if nobody else had shot one down, which I was assuming they had. One of the guards was injured too from the first bullet shot through the window.

And then there was Michael, cowering somewhere.

"Harry, you might as well come out right now and face me," Michael's voice surprisingly echoed throughout the room.

I snorted. "Oh yeah? And why would I do that?"

There was a pause. "Because if you don't, I'm going to put a bullet through your big brothers skull."

I rolled my eyes. "You'll have to find him first."

Another pause. I was sick of his empty threats.

"He already h-has."

The shaky voice rang through my head as painfully as a hundred screeching cats would. I felt my stomach slump and my blood run cold. Hugh.

"Nothing to say now, Harry?" Michael's amused voice filled the room.

I lifted my head marginally to look around the room but I couldn't see them. I ducked behind the table again just as a bullet flew against the wall behind me. Two seconds earlier and that would have been lodged in my head.

"Stop shooting at him!" Michael snapped, "I want this for myself. Fuck the business - you've burned your bridges with me, boy."

I couldn't make a plan if I couldn't see where they fucking were. I assumed they were behind one of those fucking beams but which one? The room was full of them.

"Ethan... Georgie... Tom! Does anyone have visuals? Only speak if you do," my voice was rattled. I didn't want to give away their positions again.

There was a deafening silence.

Fuck!

"H-Harry stay where you are! Don't -," Hugh roared in agony as a shot was fired. I felt my blood boil and jumped to my feet automatically, my crazed eyes surveying the room.

I heard Ethan curse as he saw my figure rise from my cover position. "What have you done to him?" I roared.

I heard soft whimpers, but from where?

"Where are you?" I roared again, about to take a step from where I was standing at my cover position.

"Here," a deadly voice said from behind me.

I spun around just in time to get a blow to the face from Michael. It seemed that he was out for blood alright - but with his bare hands.

"Keep the rest of them off us!" he shouted savagely to his bodyguards. They immediately started shooting when Ethan, Georgie and Tom began running to my aid, forcing them to retake their cover.

I received another blow to the face and it was as mind-numbing as the previous one. The element of surprise had caught me the first two times but now, I had to gain control.

He was standing too close to me to shoot him so I resorted to blocking his punches and attempting to kick him backwards so I could put a bullet in him. It was no good, however. He was stronger and tougher than he looked - shockingly so.

One harsh blow to my right arm resulted in me dropping my gun.

I didn't dwell on it and continued to block his punches, finally landing one into his throat. He gasped in surprise, backing away and clutching it.

"You fucking bastard, you deserve to die!" I snarled, throwing another bone-crunching punch.

The sound of shootings were increasing behind me and I couldn't keep up with it. I couldn't see what was happening so I didn't know who was hurt and who wasn't.

I couldn't think about that now - I had to deal with the snake in front of me.

I landed another punch and another punch until he eventually fell onto his back. Yes, he was strong. But he had underestimated my strength and skill. I wasn't a boy anymore.

Blood splattered all over the floor as I threw merciless punches. The shooting stopped behind me and I heard someone shouting my name.

"Harry, we're all out of bullets! We have to run," I heard Ethan roar. I could see that they were all fleeing for cover behind beams, getting closer and closer to the exit. It seemed the remaining bodyguards were reloading.

Michael was still very much alive beneath me, however. "Not before I kill him!" I shouted back.

"There's no time, Harry!" I heard Tom shout.

"No!" I roared.

My gun was only a few feet away. I stood and ran to get it. Once I had my hands curled around the steely exterior of it, I turned to take one final fatal shot at Michael who was lying pathetically on his back, almost choking on his own blood.

I never got the chance, though. Behind me was a large wooden beam where I was dragged behind as a shot went whirling passed me once again. I looked to see Georgie, panting.

I knew that without him I would have been shot so bit my tongue on the fact I had been so close to shooting Michael.

"We need to leave," he said, panting heavily.

"I know... I just have to get one last good aim at Michael! I'm so close!"

Georgie shook his head. "You won't get another shot at him - his boys have him covered to a tee. You'll get your head blown off!"

"He's right!" I heard Ethan hiss from the beam right next to us.

"I'm not leaving until he is dead!" I growled. "And we have to find Hugh."

"We already found him - Tom has him just over there," Georgie nodded his head towards the beam furthest away from the exit.

A shot was suddenly fired towards our direction, connecting with the beam that myself and Georgie were behind. I heard cracking and snapping and knew that those sounds weren't anything nice.

"The place is going to collapse," I gasped. The others seemed to have this realisation too.

"Tom, Hugh! Run!" I roared towards their direction. Georgie and I jumped out of the way of the beam we had been behind which snapped into pieces and collapsed with a thundering thud. It seemed to be raining brick and metal as they fell from the ceiling with another beam collapsing on the other side of the room.

Georgie and I had ducked to the wrong side of the beam with Ethan and the door being on the other side.

"Harry... Georgie - come on! Hurry!" Ethan shouted. I turned to Ethan and was about to run when I saw a figure try and crawl behind the table I had been behind before - Michael.

"No, Harry - there's no time!" Georgie warned as he saw the look in my eye.

"I'll make time," I replied, running towards Michael, trying to dodge the falling wood and metal. The entire place was collapsing on itself and the dust was clogging my system.

It was also a huge hindrance on my eyesight as I squinted, trying to locate where Michael had hidden.

"Where is he?" Georgie roared. He had followed me.

"I don't know!"

I saw a movement on my left. I turned, ready to shoot, only to see Ethan. He was coughing heavily from the dust and had a large cut to his forehead from falling debris.

"What the fuck are you doing, you idiot? Come on!" He was livid and started dragging me towards the exit.

"No, Ethan! I have to find him!" I shouted.

"There's no time!"

I knew he was right - we were running out of time.

"Go! I'll follow you out!" I ordered.

"No - not without you."

We had to shield ourselves from the slowly falling debris from the roof and it was only a matter of seconds before it all caved in. Having an argument in this situation was a first for us.

Before I could respond a new voice piped in. "Let's get out of here - what are you guys doing?"

Tom had one of Hugh's arms slung over his shoulder and was half dragging him out. It seemed Michael had shot Hugh in the foot and he was seriously struggling to walk.

"Harry, please. You won't find him - not in here!" Ethan pleaded.

I couldn't leave it though - I couldn't let him get away! I was so close.

I wasn't given an option in the matter however when they started dragging me out. A large beam fell just behind us, restricting me from turning back. Damn them!

As we raced out I kept my eyes peeled, ready to chase Michael if I saw him. We were so close to the exit, coughing and struggling our way through the fallen and falling debris, when he appeared to the right of us, only a few steps behind.

I don't know how I saw him through the dust and debris but I did. I turned, a snarl on my face, ready to attack.

But I was once again not given the chance. I was pulled harshly back by someone in front of me and stumbled outside into the cold air and onto my back.

My head connected with the ground but I lifted it up immediately. The last thing I saw was the bullet flying through his head - he was standing in the exact spot I had been before I was pulled out of the way.

His eyes remained open in a deadly stare as he fell face first onto the ground.

Dead.

I'm mentally drained after writing this chapter but I enjoyed every minute of it! I would love to know your thoughts - it is definitely the most exciting chapter so far, I would say!

Also, I've changed the cover photo of the book - would love to know your opinions! I'm crap at making covers so I did my best with my limited abilities!

As always, I looovvveeee reading comments and do my best to get back to them... Vote if you feel it is worthy of it and finally, I hope you enjoyed!

I've also chose 'Fix You' by Coldplay as this chapter's song :)

-O.