Search and… #3
With an embarrassed sigh, he turned to her and ripped open the Hemcon package.
He realized she was shot through her side ribcage and the exit wound was right below the side of her breast; he didn’t know how deep it was, but she wasn’t bleeding badly externally.
Xander guessed her rib might be clipped; that’s when he saw two old bullet wound scars: one on her side and another above her breast, right about where his own chest wound was.
He peered behind her, looking at her back, and saw the soft, white skin of her back was full of red, angry welts that were beginning to bruise.
Jessie chuckled and whispered, “I know you like what you see, but hurry up already…” she tried to joke.
“Dammit, Jessie…” he mumbled as he pressed the first bandage in place. “This next one is gonna hurt…”
She nodded, and he pressed the second bandage over her rib. She winced but took it. He helped with her shirt, then laid her down behind Simo. “If you are finding it hard to breathe…”
“I know the drill, handsome.”
He pressed her hands over her wounds. He turned to Simo, who was intently watching the door.
Lee’s voice called out to them. “Hey, fuckhead, you kill yourself yet? Best advice I can give you!” Lee laughed.
Simo laughed in return. “Hey, Lee, you’re going to die, and I’m gonna enjoy every second of it.”
They all heard a commotion outside, including someone yelling about the basement.
Lee laughed. “Time's up! All you fuckheads are dead!”
Just then, muffled shots began ringing outside. To Xander, it sounded like a war movie.
“Ahh! Too late for you, Lee!” Simo laughed.
They saw Lee quickly peek through the door, and Simo sent a burst of bullets through it. “Your boss gets it first, fucker,” Simo laughed.
Then they all heard Lee’s shocked voice. “Alabama? Fuck… c’mon, man! Shoot these dipshits and let’s get the cash and get out.”
Xander nearly jumped out of his skin as Lee came crashing through the splintered door.
Alabama was all over Lee. A flurry of punches, then a kick spun Lee around, crashing him against the concrete wall.
Alabama stepped up and flipped Lee, judo style, hard onto the concrete.
Then, he smashed his fist into Lee’s shocked face.
“Clear!” Alabama yelled.
Xander’s mouth came open as Ari Ascher himself stepped into the room, fully decked out in black commando gear and carrying a mean-looking handgun.
He looked at Simo and smiled with relief.
“Chen is with Eleni, Stealth is on point. It seems Joel is presently elsewhere.” Ari looked at Xander and shook his head.
“Perhaps it was beneficial that you didn’t stand down as I ordered. ”
“Sorry?” Xander shrugged. “How—how are Athena and Halo?”
“They are fine.” He noticed Jessie. “How is Jessie?”
“I’m fine, too…”
Xander interrupted her. “Side, in and out. She needs a doc and soon.”
“We have another helicopter inbound as we speak.” Ari kneeled in front of Harding and slapped his face hard. He watched as Harding began to come to, and slapped him hard once again. “Good evening, Mr. Harding.” Ari grinned evilly.
“Wha…” Harding sputtered.
“Mr. Harding, Eleni explained to me how you took pleasure in torturing my family here. Then you attempted to murder Miss Raines and destroy my home. This does not bode well for you, I fear.”
“Fuck y…”
Ari delivered an instantaneous, viper-like strike to Harding’s throat, shutting him up as he gagged and coughed on the vicious strike. “Mr. Harding, please do not interrupt me while I am speaking. It is dreadfully rude.”
Hearing the tone in Ari’s voice and seeing that lightning-fast strike sent a chill down Xander’s spine. Ari Ascher’s Hollywood producer veil was lifted.
Ari stood up and shot Harding a cold smile. “Xander, please help Jessie upstairs. Alabama, please escort Mr. Harding upstairs into the kitchen.”
“Sir.” Alabama nodded, then he politely replied in his Southern drawl, “What would y’all like me to do with Lee?”
“Leave Mr. Lee to me, thank you, Alabama. If you would please?” He gestured to Harding.
Xander felt the chill again and helped Jessie up. Alabama jerked Harding to his feet as he yelped in pain. As they all neared the door, Ari asked them to stop.
They turned around and saw Harding’s machete-like knife in Ari’s hand, with Ari examining it carefully. “What was this all about?”
Simo chuckled and shot Xander a wink. “Hero Boy here gave Harding a Iaido lesson.”
Ari searched around, smiling. “With his own blade?”
Simo pointed to the broomstick by the door.
“A broomstick, you say?” Ari chuckled and looked at Xander, smiling. “Maybe you and I should have a go someday?”
Surprised, Xander replied with confusion, “Uh, sure?”
Ari nodded and noticed Lee was coming to. Ari turned his attention to him. “Ah, Mr. Lee. Here, let me lend a helping hand.”
Xander felt the chill again as Ari reached down for Lee’s extending hand. Suddenly, Harding’s machete, which Ari was gripping, flashed out, sending Lee’s severed hand flying across the room. The cut was incredibly fast and efficient. Lee’s scream and Harding’s yell bounced loudly around the room.
Ari’s voice cut through the screams. “Please, Xander, if you will, take Jessie upstairs while I attend to Mr. Lee?”
Xander nodded and swallowed hard, but it was Jessie pulling him out of the door. As they began down the hall, he heard another gut-wrenching scream.
“C’mon, handsome. You’ve seen enough for one night.”
“Uh, yeah.”
They came upstairs, where Chen was starting an IV for Eleni. Chen turned to him. “Hello, Xan. It’s good to see you alive. I think Halo is very worried…”
“Simo, Jessie, and Eleni were in trouble. I was going to wait for you all, but I heard shots…”
Jessie snickered as she eased herself down onto a chair. “Hey, I’m thankful! You all know I like it rough…” She grinned. “…but Harding was intent on beating me nearly to death. Then the fucker said he was going to bury me alive.”
Chen shook his head. “He will get his… here, let me examine you.” Chen began checking Jessie as Eleni motioned Xander over.
“How are you?” Xander asked.
“I’ll live. How did you find us?” With that question, Jessie and Chen looked to Xander.
“Well… when Jessie told me that we were compromised, I left my phone in the hotel room. I had a hunch they may have taken it with them. So, I did a lost phone search. I’m surprised they didn’t turn it off.”
Chen chuckled and shook his head. “Well done, well done.”
They all turned as Harding was being dragged into the kitchen by Simo, looking defiant and angry at everyone. Ari followed, clapped Xander on his shoulder, and handed him his iPhone. “I heard that, which means this must be yours?”
Xander accepted the phone, depressed the home button, and saw his home screen picture of Halo and Athena. “Thank you for finding this, Ari.”
“My pleasure, and I must concur, well done.” He pulled Xander over to the kitchen doorway. “Xander, my dear friend… you have experienced and seen much too much here today. Apparently, you haven’t taken a life… and I am relieved you have not. It is a distasteful thing to have to live with…”
Xander stared at him for a long moment and nodded. “What happens to Harding?”
Ari sighed and shook his head. “We will have to… persuade him to talk.”
“You mean like pliers and such?”