CHAPTER FOUR
While the rest of the team caught the commercial flight home, Logan, Forrester, and Menzies took a taxi to the nearest hotel. As they were leaving the taxi, a black SUV, its windows blacked out and license plate covered, pulled up at the curb.
“Get in,” said a man with a gun.
“Fuck you,” said Menzies.
With a silencer in place, he fired two bullets into Menzies abdomen. Lying on the curb, bleeding to death, two more men jumped from the vehicle, shoving Logan and Forrester into the SUV.
Hooded and unable to see their attackers, they knew they were being driven somewhere, they just didn’t know where.
“You just had to fuck everything up, didn’t you Anders.” Logan knew that voice. It was General Fitzwilliam. “You always fuck things up in your own angelic, gotta-do-good fucking way.”
“Sounds like you don’t like me much,” said Logan. “Why the hoods when I already know who you are.”
Someone yanked the hood off his head and his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the interior of the vehicle. Beside him, Forrester was leaning against the door, his face ashen and sallow.
“What did you do to him?” he asked.
The SUV stopped near a canal and Forrester’s body was pushed out of the vehicle, rolling downhill into the shallow water. He looked away and looked back too late as the long needle was pushed into his thigh.
“You’re going to die Anders,” smirked the old man. “You’re going to die and I’m going to be a rich man. You can’t stop me. You won’t stop me. No one in your whole fucking family will stop me.”
The SUV stopped and they shoved him out, onto the sidewalk. He sat up, staring at the general’s face.
“You’re the one that caused those sweet, juicy little girls to die.
You. If you’d just minded your own business and stayed away, this wouldn’t have happened.
Now, well, now I’m going to find a new school for girls that can please me and my partners who enjoy these sort of indulgences.
And you? You’ll be dead. That poison will begin by paralyzing your body in a little bit.
It’s a bit slower than the dose we gave Forrester.
I want to see you suffer and I know you will.
I just hate that I won’t be here to watch it. ”
The door closed and sped away as Logan attempted to get his bearings. He was in front of a neighborhood pub. Standing, he stumbled inside and found his way to a corner table.
“Hey, you okay buddy?” asked the bartender.
“Peachy,” he slurred.
The bartender brought him a water and Logan couldn’t even lift his arms to drink it. His phone was gone from his pocket and he felt himself beginning to slip. Fast. The general at least had been right about that. This was going to happen fast.
Just a few weeks ago he was home and he could have told them. He should have told them. Instead, he’d made an ass of himself with one of his best friends.
“Logan? Brother it’s good to see you,” said Mitch.
“Oh, hey Mitch.”
“Oh, hey Mitch? We haven’t seen you in three years other than a hot minute at Brooks’ wedding, Logan. I’m glad you’re home. Are you getting out?”
“I-I don’t know,” he said standing.
Mitch reached for his shoulder and Logan gripped his wrist, twisting his arm and forcing him face down to the table. There were gasps and several men stood, including his own father.
“Logan. Son, what are you doing?” he asked. He stared at his father, then down at Mitch who was incredibly calm.
“I-I’m sorry, Mitch. God, I’m so sorry. I need to leave,” he said shaking his head. “I need to leave.”
He released Mitch’s arm and ran from the cafeteria. Literally ran.
I’ll die right here, he thought to himself. I deserve it. I should have reported what I saw sooner. I might still be dead but maybe those girls would be alive.
“Hey,” frowned Tanner, “that’s Logan. Logan Anders.”
“Shit, you’re right,” said AJ. He walked over to the table in the corner and pulled out a chair. Logan never lifted his head.
“I’m not in the fucking mood,” he growled.
“Well, I’m not in the fucking mood either,” smirked AJ. Logan slowly lifted his head seeing the four familiar faces. Wyatt stared into his eyes and knew something was drastically wrong.
“Logan? Logan, brother what did you take?” he asked. He opened his lids, staring at the pupils, then began taking his vitals.
“What did he take? What the fuck are you saying?” asked Tanner.
“He’s taken something. His pupils are dilated, he’s sweating even though the air conditioning is blasting, and his nail beds are turning gray.”
AJ knelt beside him, gripping his jaw. He heard Tanner behind him calling for the Osprey.
“Logan? Logan, what did you take?” he asked.
“N-nothing. I was poisoned. Not my choice mind you. I would have preferred something else but here I am. Dying.”
“Poisoned? What the fuck dude? We need to get you to the hospital,” said AJ. Logan shook his head.
“They won’t know what to do. It’s top secret. Everything is fucking top secret.”
“Logan, what happened?” asked Wyatt.
“They killed a bunch of kids. They fucking blew up that school knowing it didn’t have anyone in it other than kids and teachers. You know why? Because that fucker is sick!”
“He’s not making sense,” said Hiro. “Let’s get him to the runway.”
“I’ll be dead before I can get home. They made sure of it,” he smirked. “It’s why I didn’t call anyone. I’ll be dead anyway. Will you tell my parents, grandma and grandpa, that I love them?”
“No, I will fucking not!” yelled Wyatt. “Get up!”
Logan was like his father and grandfather. He was big. Viking big. Tall, broad, heavy, blonde, and big. But so was Wyatt and so were the other men. Gripping his arms they lifted him from the chair and shuffled toward the door.
“Hey, is he okay?” asked the bartender.
“No, he’s sick. Did someone come in with him?” asked Hiro.
“Not in with him but someone dropped him at the door and left him. I thought he had someone coming to take him home or something.”
“Fucking idiots,” frowned AJ. “Base what’s the ETA?”
“Five minutes. Evie was in Baltimore for the fuel line. Get him to the runway. Doc is with her.”
“Good news, Logan. Looks like your fucking luck just kicked in. You’re gonna live, brother,” said Wyatt.
The entire drive to the private runway, Wyatt was relaying the stats for Logan. Although they wouldn’t know exactly what happened or what caused the poisoning, Doc knew he could keep him alive until he got to the pond.
Safely on the plane, the door closed before they could even wave goodbye, the four men stared at one another, wondering what the fuck happened to Logan Anders.
“Don’t fucking die on me, Logan,” said Doc. “What did they give you?”
“Don’t know.”
“We’re almost there, Doc,” said Evie. “Damn sure glad I got that fuel lined fixed in a hurry.”
“Evie, I need you to hover over the pond.”
“What?!” she gasped.
“Evie, please just do as I fucking say! I need to drop his ass into the pond. Ham? Gator? Get to the pond. I’m going to drop his big ass from the plane. We don’t have much time.”
As Evie lowered the Osprey toward the pond, Doc opened the door, seeing the others already in the water.
“God, I hope like hell this works,” he whispered.
“What is it, Doc? What did they give him?” asked Evie as she placed the Osprey on auto-pilot, trying to help him disrobe Logan.
“Some kind of nerve agent to paralyze him. His lungs are failing and if that goes, his heart will be next.” Evie stilled, then took out her knife and sliced through his clothing, not caring any longer about being gentle.
With great effort, Doc lifted Logan, all of his weight laying against him. He looked over the side one more time and shoved the big man out of the Osprey. Turning, he nodded to Evie.
“Get us on the ground.”
A few minutes later, they were racing toward the pond. When they arrived, Logan was still in the water, Wilson, Cruz, Rush, and Noah all surrounding him.
“I’m okay,” he nodded, “I’m okay. Thank you, Doc. Thank you, Evie.”
“Logan, what the fuck happened son?” asked Rush.
“Fitzwilliam. He took the three of us at gunpoint. Killed Menzies right there on the curb by the hotel. Injected Forrester and tossed him down a ravine into a canal. He said he wanted me to suffer. He said he was planning to find more schools and orphanages for him and his friends.”
“How are you feeling?” asked Cruz.
“I think I’m good,” he said nodding. “I don’t know what the fuck it was, but it was damn sure powerful. I couldn’t think clearly.”
“I took plenty of blood on the plane,” said Doc. “We’ll analyze what he gave you so we can better understand any potential long-term effects.” Logan nodded, pushing himself up and out of the water at the dock. He felt stronger and healthier than he had in years.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, he started to walk down the path.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” asked Ham.
“I’m going to kill a general.”