There were advantages and disadvantages to a nighttime assault. There was camouflage, both in their clothing and in the trees and shrubs. Save for a sliver of the moon, there was nearly no residual light in the night sky and most importantly, their training. While the energy was taut and thick, it was controlled; fueling the agents as they expertly wove a well honed pattern in their approach to the cabin. Speaking only sparingly on their communication system, they surrounded the cabin with precision and care.
The lights within the cabin were off, having gone off just before permission was given to run the operation, almost as though Thane and Jerry were anticipating such a move. Jack leaned against a tree, peering round it for a closer look at the cozy home with a grimace. Removing any trace of light was standard. It’s what he would have done and he was sure it’s what Jerry did. A vehicle sat tucked near an exterior wall and was confirmed as being empty.
“In position,” Tony said in a low voice. Marcus and the other team leaders echoed his words. Now they waited for Jack’s next command.
They had plenty of good advantages on their side. Their disadvantages were just as relevant.
Thane’s thirst for revenge
Jason’s unpredictability
Jerry’s rogue status
Jack’s emotion
And no doubt, somewhere in the dark, Sonny Corinthos was making a play to fight for Jason’s life as well.
*~*
Jerry watched out the side of the window, silent, his face filled with concentration as he judged the playing field with expert eyes. The phone on the counter vibrated again and again. Jack was probably trying to reach out to Thane one last time. His gaze flicked to Jason, still fuming and quiet, tied to his chair. The man, sensing Jerry’s eyes, turned towards him, his countenance predatory. If given the slightest of a chance, a whisper of an opening, he would kill them both; Jerry’s entire being knew this.
“It’s probably a standard 4 man, 4 team op.,” Jerry said in a measured tone across the room where Thane stood. “If they’re positioned where I think they are, we have a shrinking window of opportunity.” Although he directed his words to Thane, the statement was meant for both men. Defusing the situation was still the best option. Keeping Jason’s jets cooled would only work to their advantage.
Thane gazed out the window, wondering if the dark shadow that peered from behind a tree was his brother. Armed to the teeth, readying his men for a takedown, anticipating a bloodbath. On the counter, the phone buzzed again and with a sigh, Thane absently reached for it, expecting to see Jack’s name once more. A pleading call for surrender, for sense.
But Jack of all people understood what Thane was going through and why there was no going back. He gazed at the screen his eyes wide, his hand shaking.
Emily
With a moment’s hesitation, he answered the call. “Em?” he asked, his voice shaking. Jason’s head snapped in his direction. Jerry winced.
This was either good, or very, very bad.
“Thane?” Emily’s voice was equally frightened. “Is that you? Are you okay?”
In the vehicle, Gia gave her a nervous look and the women clutched hands for a brief moment.
Thane’s heart constricted. “Where are you?”
Emily swallowed hard. “I’m coming to you. To the cabin.”
Thane shook his head. “No, Emily! You can’t!” His voice was thick with emotion as he laid down his loaded glock and placed his hand against the counter, peering out the window. She couldn’t come, it was too dangerous.
“I know everything Thane,” Emily replied, her voice softening. “I know what Jason did to your wife, to Nakia.” Thane flinched at Emily saying Nakia’s name. “I know he murdered her in Hong Kong. I know that’s why you came here.”
Gia swiped a tear from her eye as she turned onto the backwoods lane. The main roads leading to the wooded area were already blocked off, but she knew of a back way in that a local had told her about. With any luck, they’d be able to get closer.
Anything to end this safely. Anything to save Jason.
Thane slumped into a kitchen chair, a gutted expression on his face. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“I know. I understand what you did.” Her voice was strong and sweet, and his lower lip trembled at the compassion in her tone.
Jerry studied the broken man’s demeanor. Whatever Emily was saying was having a positive effect. Discreetly, he eased his small pen sized flashlight from his pocket and began to flick a hurried message to the mobilized crew outside.
Hold. Call from Emily. Positive.
Jack’s heart leapt into his throat as the bursts of light relayed Jerry’s frantic plea. He couldn’t believe that in this entire mess, Jerry Jacks was the lifeline everyone was clinging to.
Thane sighed into the phone, feeling a wash of emotion drain from him. Just hearing her voice, her calm, soothing voice brought a tranquility he hadn’t felt since the day Nakia died.
Gia slowed the car, putting it into park. By her recollection of the map, they were perhaps a 3 minute walk from the cabin. Marcus would be furious and she shivered at the eventual face off with him after promising to wait for his phone call.
But she had to be here. She would not wait.
*~*
“Movement from the West.” Tony’s man announced to him. Tony nodded and turned to Marcus who’s group was closest. “Check it out.”
He sensed the intense man’s conflict at retreating, but both knew there were too many variables at stake. Despite their combined experience and years of training, this mission had been planned on the fly, with much emotion at stake. Finding out that Marcus’ sister was involved with Morgan had only heightened the hazards. To be able to re-direct the imposing man was a relief for Tony.
Because there was no chance in hell he was going to be able to get Jack to pull back.
Inside the cabin, Thane wiped his forehead, the sweat stinging the wound Jason had delivered earlier. “I need you to know,” he said softly. “He took everything from me.”
The simple statement nearly broke Emily in two. “I know Thane, I know he did.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “But this isn’t going to help you. This isn’t going to heal you,” she implored, her voice strained.
“I know that.”
Emily trembled at the certainty in Thane’s voice. “Then please, stop this. Stop it now.”
Deep in the woods, a man breathed deeply, completely concealed in his position. Through the lens on his rifle, he watched patiently for a mistake. A low voice entered his earpiece, reminding him of the price tag at stake.
“You get a clean shot, you take it. You hit the wrong man, and you start running.” Sonny’s voice, while just above a mumble, was cold as ice and hard as steel.
The man’s lips curled at the threat. “I never hit the wrong man,” he answered as his eye dropped to the scope once more, trained on the main window. While a powerful man, Corinthos simply didn’t know what he was dealing with.
“You’re fucking right about that,” a voice hissed from behind him, a fraction of a second before a cold cylinder shape pressed to the back of the man’s head. He stiffened, clenching the trigger ever so slightly.
“Finger off of the trigger before I blow your mother fucking head to pieces,” Marcus ground out as he pressed the barrel of his weapon against the man’s head harder. “Nice and slow.” Ripping the plastic earpiece from the man’s left side; he brought the microphone up to his mouth.
“Stay out of grown folks business, little man,” he jeered with a growl as his men immediately began to search the hired killer. He heard nothing on the other end. “Asshole,” he muttered.
*~*
Things happened in the blink of an eye. Tragedy and triumph. Miracles and devastation.
Jerry had seen it all with weary eyes.
Tonight was no different.
Thane closed his eyes. “I-I don’t know Emily.” He wanted it to be over. All of it.
“I’m coming to you. Stay on the phone with me,” she asked and he could hear movement as she moved, probably from a car. “I’m a minute away, I’m coming to you Thane,” she promised. “Don’t do anything until I get there, okay?”
Emily swallowed the lump rising in her throat as she fought the swirling emotions within her, fighting to keep control of herself. She wanted so badly to speak to her brother, to know he was still okay and there was still a chance.
“Thane?”
There was no answer.
“Thane?” Panic entered her voice.
In the cabin, Thane leaned forward in his seat, dropping his head down, feeling the tension in his neck ease somewhat as he relaxed them. She was coming. Yes, to save her brother, but she was coming nonetheless.
She was a doctor. She was Emily.
It was in her blood to help people.
“Okay,” he whispered. He would wait for her.
Jason Morgan was made of solid muscle and instinct. His reflexes were striking and his tenacity was ferocious. If Jerry had gotten his hands on the man when Morgan awoke, instead of Corinthos, Morgan would have been a formidable agent.
The streets had trained him for plenty.
But the school of hard knocks did not outplay the world of intelligence training.
So when Jason suddenly leapt from his chair and took two giant steps to the counter for the gun, it was Jerry who tackled the younger man, sending both over the counter, crashing into the kitchen alcove, the gun clattering to the floor.
Thane saw red as he watched the two hulking men crash together as they flew over the counter, the noise a terrific screech as a plate and glass crashed onto the floor after them.
No.
Jason would not get away this time. Dropping the phone, he felt adrenaline kicking into high gear; and he gave a roar of anger and flung himself onto Jason, who was now grasping for the precious loaded gun that landed inches from his outstretched hand.
Outside, Jack heard the commotion and immediately signaled the group to move in.
*~*
“Thane?” Emily demanded, her voice echoing in the woods. Hearing the panic, Gia broke into a run.
Marcus heard the short bursts of information Tony and Jack relayed to the teams. Something was happening. “Stay here,” he ordered his men and took off towards the rest of the team.
As each person outside the cabin converged closer, inside, Thane reared a fist back and delivered a satisfying punch to Jason’s face, breaking open the neat row of stitches Jerry had done up. The dark blood splashing across the light linoleum floor was a welcome sight as he drowned out everything else and focused only on the man he hated.
He could see nothing else. He could hear nothing else.
There was only Thane and Jason as Thane’s white knuckled hands settled around Jason’s throat.
Sensing Thane’s descent into sheer bloodlust, Jerry scrambled for leverage, any kind of leverage as he lowered his shoulder to push Thane off Jason, or at least loosen the grip around the hitman’s throat.
Time seemed to slow to an agonizing pace, one heartbeat after another after another.
A shot exploded from within the cabin, and then another, both sending a burst of light into the interior.
Gia paused, hearing the horrific sound.
Jason.
Marcus.
She let out a grief stricken scream and began to run.
Nearing the scene, Marcus’ blood ran cold as he heard the shots reverberate through the woods.
And then the scream that followed.
Gia’s scream.
A third shot, this one striking the window of the front door, sending glass in all directions. Then a fourth, this one out the kitchen window.
“Take cover!” Tony shouted and immediately, the remaining agents complied, halting their progress and retreating towards safety.
Save one.
Jack.
Sprinting towards the door.
Tony’s worst fears were realized before he’d had time to think.
Everything had fallen to absolute chaos.
And it wasn’t even close to being over.
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