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Chapter 2: Decision

Jack ran downstairs two at a time in search of the B52 gym. He knew exactly who he needed for this job. He stopped for a minute. Maybe he should send someone a little more…what? He shook his head mentally. Lee needed the best and Jack would give her that. So, Sean O'Connor's people skills left a little to be desired but he would keep Lee alive. That was the point.

He found Sean doing weights. He looked him up and down and saw a vision of himself in the younger man's eyes. Good.

Seven years ago, Jack had been sent out to recruit raw new talent because he had an eye for them. Sean O'Connor had been his best find. Normally, the potential to become real soldiers was there, in them. Sean displayed no emotion, appeared to feel no pain at all.

He was exactly what Jack was looking for.

So, Jack had given him a chance: come work for us and we'll wipe your criminal record clean. It was an offer Sean wouldn't be able to refuse. Jack sent him to the SAS, the most elite Special Forces unit in the world. At SAS selection, Sean worked his way through, though around him some of the toughest and most respected soldiers had dropped like flies. Jack had been through it himself, and he knew that the selection was one of the hardest and most gruelling in the world. He had been intrigued by Sean from the beginning, so had kept tabs on his progress over the years. The reports were glowing. He spent a few years with the SAS and had quickly distinguished himself as a competent agent. From there, he had done a stint as a bodyguard, before transferring on contract to MI5. Jack had met him last year briefly. The man was cold, calculating and completely in control of himself. Jack had met many like him, damn he had been one of them himself, but Sean was on another level. He appeared almost robotic, and his eyes were hard and intense.

He certainly wouldn't be there to lean on and wipe Lee's tears away.

But, he had extensive knowledge of the French groups threatening the Townsends. He would keep her safe, as long as he was paid.

Jack shook the man's hand and settled himself down while Sean grabbed a nearby towel and draped it around his shoulders.

'Torrance, how's it going?' Sean greeted him informally. It was impossible for two men, so similar as they were, to become close but each had a healthy respect for the other. They were professional killers and had the same steal in their eyes and determined set to their jaw. And they both knew the score.

Jack got straight to the point, 'O'Connor, I've got a job for you. You're the best for this so I'm not really prepared to take no for an answer.' He explained the basic outline of the job, while Sean listened, unmoving.

'So, basically, you want me to keep some girl from being blown up. Is that right?' Sean asked when the older man had finished.

'Lee is a personal friend of mine, O'Connor. I take her personal safety very seriously.' Jack had never liked Sean's flippant attitude towards the people he was meant to be protecting. It was a common mind-set for ex-SAS men, where all life is regarded as expendable, but Jack tried to discourage it as much as possible.

Sean raised his eyebrows, 'Okay. Let's get to the important part. How much are we talking?'

Jack named the sum. Sean was too well trained to show surprise but Jack knew the sum was nearly triple the usual fee, and not to be beaten with a stick.

Sean nodded, 'Okay, I'll do it. Where's this girl then?'

Jack breathed an internal sigh of relief, 'Sardinia. You have to leave straight away; we'll get you on the next flight out. Where are you planning on taking her?'

'Don't know. Any suggestions?'

'Up north somewhere. Do you know the country up there?'

Sean nodded, 'I'll think of something. But I think some posh little princess might stick out there.'

Jack got up, 'Take her there. Now, get yourself together, you'll be flying out asap.'

Sean rose too, snapping into business mode, 'Good. I'll call you when I get there, Torrance.' And he was gone.

LEAH

The phone rang shrilly, breaking the silence into a thousand pieces. I jumped in shock, then tried to calm my nerves before picking up the phone.

'Leah Townsend?' the voice was clipped and strange.

I hesitated, 'Yes?'

'Run, Leah. Run.' The phone went dead and I automatically put it down, my hand shaking.

So, they were coming. It was real and my father was wrong. They were going to try to hurt him, through me. How little they knew.

The phone rang again and my heart shrivelled up inside.

'Go away,' I whispered into the receiver.

'Lee?'

It was Jack. 'Thank God.'

'Lee, what happened?'

The tears were rolling down my cheeks and I furiously wiped them away, 'Phone call. Telling me to run.'

He paused, 'They won't come after you just yet, it's too risky. They're just trying to scare you. Stay put, I've sent someone out there. He should be with you in two hours.'

Two hours? Too long. But I thanked him anyway.

'Lee, I've sent out Sean O'Connor. He's the best and he will make sure you stay alive. But, Lee…are you there?'

I made a grunting noise to reassure him.

'He's a very dangerous man, Lee. Sean O'Connor was SAS before and he's a real pro. I'm sending him to you because I know what he can do. But, Lee, he's dangerous. Don't mistake him for a normal type of guy because he's not. He's a professional killer and he feels nothing. Can you remember that?'

I almost laughed, 'I'm not planning on making him my best buddy, Jack. I just want him to keep these people away from me. As long as he does that, I couldn't care if he's a three-legged dwarf.'

'Fine. He'll be there in two hours. Sit tight, okay?'

I thanked Jack again and hung up. The clock above me ticked by each second.

Two hours, two hours. Would I last?

LEAH

I jerked awake. Quickly, I looked up at the clock again. Damn. Only an hour had passed. One more to go. I wondered what had woken me up. I suddenly realised I was hungry. The feeling was strange…so normal. I got up and moved quietly to the kitchen. I wouldn't turn the lights on because Jack had told me not-

Terror. Pure. Unadulterated. Blind. Terror.

I hadn't even heard him. He hadn't made a single sound. Yet, somehow he had come up behind me. I blinked as my vision began to swim.

Don't faint. Don't faint.

I was in the hall, facing the kitchen. Behind me, stood my unseen assailant. I couldn't hear anything but the roaring in my ears. I wouldn't have even known he was there if it wasn't for the cold steel pressed into my neck.

That I could feel. It was more real that anything I had ever felt before.

With a flick of his hand, I would be dead.

That was real.

Oops, I'm sorry, it's a bit of a cliffhanger! But, please review if you read it! Thanks, Amelie xx