Chapter 18: Saving Willow

Liam's perspective:

In the cover of night the five of us make our way towards the cabin. A scream echoes through the darkness. A familiar voice. I look over at Tom.

Liam: Willow!

I whisper.

Tom, Kevin and I close in faster, approaching from the back side as we hear a door slam shut. Moa and the twins head around front. Tom crouches below a window as I come up along the door with Kevin at my 6. Peaking in through the ice frosted window I catch a glimpse of movement. I can make out the back side of a mans coat kneeling over a smaller figure. It must Willow. Tom signals to me that he sees a gun. Moa whispers over the ear piece confirming its our target and that he does have a gun.

Moa: I have a shot.

Tom looks over to me for approval and I nod.

Tom: Take it.

A gun shot rings out and we all take cover. Another shot fires and everything falls silent.

Willow: Mick!!!

I hear Willow cry out.

Moa: Micks down.

Mick: Just a flesh wound.

Mick grunts.

My heart pounds in my chest. A part of me wants to rush in tear that fucker in two. Kevin's hand grips my shoulder as if sensing my urge.

Tom: I can't see him. Moa, Mike you got eyes on him?

Moa: Negative.

Kevin pulls me back and takes the lead bum rushing through the door with his gun drawn. Tom and I follow. Moa, Mike and Mick all fall in from the front. There's only one other door.

Mark: I'm impressed.

His voice shouts out calmly through the closed door.

Mark: Guess Eagle eye does live up to its reputation. Though I find it hard to believe a fireman, an army reject and a retired old cop could have figured out where we were with out the help of a certain little bird I currently hold in my arms.

Liam: What's your point Mark. We have you surrounded.

Mark: If you think I will surrender myself willingly to you and this will end well you are surely mistaken. No matter the next move this will end most unpleasantly for all involved.

Liam: If you hurt her, I will kill you.

Mark: I could never hurt the mother of my child. But you will. Tell me Liam, will you still love her knowing that I gave her what you can never.

With a rage I never felt before I lunge for the door. Neither Kevin or Tom could hold me back. As the door flies off the hinges a gun shot goes off. Silence falls as I see Willow collapsing in his arms.

Mark: No...

Mark screams as she slips from his arms, with out hesitation I fire my gun. Simultaneously Kevin and Tom both fire. Marks body hits the wall impaled by bullets.

Liam: Willow.

I fall to me knees behind her rolling her into into my arms. Her hands are covered in blood over her abdomen. I press a hand over hers to try and stop the bleeding.

Liam: Willow.

I cry as I watch her beautiful sky blue eyes look deep into mine with a deep sadness.

Willow: I'm sorry.

Tears fill my eyes.

Liam: Shhh. Baby I got you. I got you.

My ears are ringing my heart is palpating. My lungs feel suffocated as I feel her body go limp.

Liam: Willow!

I give her a small shake.

Liam: Come on baby. Don't you dare die on me.

Tom: Liam.

I barely register Tom calling my name. He kneels in front of me with a towel, slipping it under my hand.

Mike walks in and whispers. I hear the name Santino but it's like my head is under water. All they're voices are muffled.

Tom: We need to go. There's a place not far from here where there's a doctor that can help.

Kevin pats my shoulder after helping me get Willow in the back of the SUV. While Tom

Jumps up front.

Kevin: She'll pull through.

Mick peels out and everything becomes a blur as he speeds down the dark snow covered road. But every second that passes I feel her slipping further away.

Liam: Don't leave me.

I whisper as my lips find her cold pale cheek. Tears stream down my face at the thought of losing her. No matter what that piece of shits done to her I would never stop loving her. I've lost a lot of men, seen a lot of fucked up shit yet I have never been more scared than I am right now. I'm aware that the SUV has stopped it's not till the back door flies open that I realize we were at a house. A small older Asian women is standing waiting accompanied by an older ex military Jason Statham looking guy with a light beard. Two other men in black suites exchange words with Mick. A young blond guy gives Mick a hug before ushering us out of the car. The Asian woman rushes to me with a stethoscope while the Jason Statham guy hovers protectively over her.

Some how I end up in a small house away from the big Scottish villa looking place we pulled up in front of. Statham guy leads us into a small room that looks like an emergency room in a hospital. One of them says something to me but I refuse to let go of Willow.

Mick: Liam!

Mick snaps at me.

Mick: This is Dr. Lynn she's going to help Willow, but you need to let go of her. Come on she's in good hands.

Dr. Lynne is barking orders at Statham guy and pauses giving me a pleading look to let her do her job. Mick and Tom practically drag me out of the room. I shrug them away giving Mick a death look.

Liam: What the fuck is this place. Who are all these people.

I shout taking notice of the two guys in black suits standing in what looks like a living room.

Mick: The blond one is my cousin Trevor. The other one is Erik. They both work for Mr. and Mrs. Santino. The guy helping Dr. Lynne is her husband Gram and happens to be Mrs. Santino's personal body guard.

Liam: Why have I heard that name before.

Mick: The Santino's use to be well known as the last of the modern day mafia. But after Mr. Santino senior died his son Dante and his wife Rylee took over.

Liam: You brought us to the mafia.

Mick holds his hands up and laughs.

Mick: No. these guys are more like mercenary's. Their the ones you call when you need to get rid of the real bad guys like mafia.

Liam: I don't want to be in debt to some criminal war lords.

Mick pats my shoulder as he walks past me.

Mick: Trust me. It's nothing like that. This is what they do.

A beautiful young woman with black silky hair pulled back tight into a tail and milky white skin runs through the house past me disappearing into the room. Not a second later a guy as tall as me with slicked back black hair walks in causally wearing jeans and a sweater. The two black suites and Mick all stand attention. He holds out a hand to Mick with a smile.

Mick: Dante

He shakes his hand.

Dante: Good to see you again Mick.

Mick: This is Tom head of Eagle eye in California and this is Liam Willows husband.

He shakes Toms hand and then mine. Though he holds mine for a few seconds longer and offers a look of understanding as he sets a hand on my shoulder.

Dante: I know all to well how you must feel right now. It seems like yesterday I went through the very same thing but know this. She is in the best hands.

This guy doesn't seem at all mafia, aside from the pure alpha presence that puts mine to shame. I simply nod and mumble a thank you.

Hours pass with out a word. Kevin and the rest of the team have all arrived and gathered in the small living room. At some point I find my self taking a walk, pausing for a moment at the edge of the frozen lake as the sun begins to rise. The black sky catches on fire with the morning blaze and some how it brings a sliver of comfort to me as does a cold wet nose nudging my hand. I look down at the large German Shepard who whimpers and paws at me. Unable to turn down his charming head tilt I give in and scratch the back of his ear.

Rylee: He's good at knowing who the good guys are. Aren't you Leonidas.

A sweet soft voice speaks from behind. The dog runs to the woman with the black silky hair who comes to stand beside me.

Liam: Mrs. Santino.

She nods looking out over the lake.

Rylee: The sunrises here are beautiful this time of year.

She looks up and over at me with a smile. There's evidence of blood still under her nails and a tiredness in her eyes but she composes her self well as she speaks, like she's done this before.

Rylee: Dr. Lynn's an amazing doctor, and we have everything we need to care for Willow through her recovery here which we are certainly more than happy to accommodate, but if you want we can transport her to the hospital now that's she's stable.

Now that she's stable is all I hear.

Liam: So I can see her now.

Mrs. Santino nods her head with a big grin. I run for the small house nearly barreling over Mike and Mick who were standing in my path on the stairs. I come to a stop at the door of the room they had taken her into frozen. It was empty.

Kevin: They moved her to the main room down the hall to recover.

Kevin points in the direction from where he just came. Tom walks out of the room as I head in. He squeezes my shoulder as he passes by and we exchange a mutual look of respect and appreciation. The beeping sound of the heart monitor has my own heart rate racing. What little light piercing through the half slotted blinds dusts over her like a golden mist. Her black hair was brushed out over the dark blk pillow. Her pale skin looked as white as snow against the dark sheets. Though I feel nothing like a Prince Charming I stride to her side hoping there is some truth to fairy tales as I kiss her pale pink lips.