Page 71 of Jobe

“Tank?”

Mackenna could not see the man called Jazzie’s face, but realized that they had no idea that Tank was undercover.Oh, Please God. Let him get her to safety.

“You think he’s taking her to Tito?”

“Don’t know. When I came running here, there’d been firing at the front of that bitch’s place. Cops may have gotten him.”

“Motherfuckers! This is going to shit, man. Tank wasn’t supposed to be in this. He takes that bitch back to Tito and we’re no better off.”

Jazzie turned his angry visage back to Mackenna, still on the ground.

* * *

Jobe and his friends moved swiftly through the trees, the slippery ground and dim light not impeding them at all.

Hearing voices in the distance, they separated silently and began to circle the area. Vinny moved in front of Jobe, just long enough for him to make eye contact. Even through the goggles, Jobe knew what Vinny was looking for.Needs to see I’m not losing my shit.Understanding the action of squad members keeping a pulse on each other, he gave a curt nod. His heart pounded and he knew he was not in control. And for the first time in his life, he understood that that was okay. Another nod and Vinny shifted to his right.

Tony radioed, “Visual. Two females. Two males.”

As they crept closer, they could hear the male voices raised in anger. Continuing to circle, they each signaled to the others when they were in place. Vinny, as the most accurate sharpshooter, moved to a position where he could take a shot when needed. As a civilian, he knew he had to wait, unable to just fire because the suspect was a killer asshole. He gritted his teeth, wanting to go ahead and take the shot he knew he had.

Jobe moved between two trees, still in the dark shadows, but able to see Mackenna on the ground with the other three standing nearby. The other female was looking down while the two males faced each other, one with a gun in his hand still pointed at Mackenna. Jobe nodded once toward Vinny, both understanding the silent code. Blinking his eyes once, he fixed his eyes on the target, slowing his breathing.Come on fucker, make a move and you’re mine.

* * *

Mackenna watched as Jazzie turned back to her, and could see the desperation in his eyes even in the dim light. Adrenaline still pumping, she felt her muscles quivering, unable to stop the shaking.

A flash of movement to the side had her gaze jerking over in a panic, as Paulina dropped to the ground. Before she could understand what was happening, she saw the young woman kneeling with a gun in her hand.Tanks’ gun! Fuck!But Paulina was not pointing the weapon at her…she held it in front of her…pointed straight toward the man with the gun.

Jazzie’s fury was evident as he growled, “You better use that bitch, ‘cause you ain’t worth my spit now.”

With his focus on Paulina, Mackenna roared while swinging the tennis racket toward his gun hand, which had lowered in his anger. The gun fired, sending a blast of light in the dark night, as Jazzie screamed in pain. Another shot rang out, he dropped to the ground and Mackenna tried to scramble away.

“Police!” Shane roared. “Drop your weapons,” he ordered to Paulina. She shook in fear, but slowly knelt, placing the gun on the ground.

“Hands on your head,” he ordered next as the others stepped into the dim light, showing themselves. Paulina immediately obeyed, as she stayed on her knees.

Waldo looked around as the detectives moved forward, then back to the area where Jazzie lay dead in the grass. He knew his life was worth nothing now. He had gone against the leader. He was dead if he went back…dead if he went to jail. Pulling his gun out of his pants, he aimed at the bitch still sitting on the ground. The last thing he heard on this earth was a shot being fired. Right before he dropped to the mud next to his brother.

Mackenna flung herself down as she instinctively covered her head. Vinny stepped from the trees, his weapon still in position as Shane pulled a handcuffed Paulina to her feet.

Jobe, throwing off his goggles, raced to Mackenna still huddled on the ground. Scooping her up in his arms, he pulled her into his embrace as he sat on the wet dirt. “Are you hurt?” he cried, trying to see if she were injured, but her wet, muddy clothes made that task impossible.

“No, no,” she answered, her voice shaky as she twisted around to see his ravaged face. Lifting her hands, she cupped his jaw pulling him in close. “I’m fine. Honest, Jobe. I’m fine.”

He lifted her up in his arms, but she insisted on standing. He placed her feet reluctantly on the slippery ground but held her tightly against his side. Her hand wrapped around his waist, thick with the Kevlar vest, glad for the protection but wishing she could feel him instead.

The area quickly filled with others as the police closed in, some with heavy lights to illuminate the crime scene. Jazzie and Waldo’s bodies lay twisted on the ground as they had fallen and Matt ascertained that they were both dead.

Paulina stood, staring down at the two bodies, her hands behind her back in cuffs. Her shocked gaze lifted to Mackenna’s, a tear sliding down her cheek. “I…I’m sorry,” she whispered. Shaking her head slowly, she looked over at Shane standing next to her. “I’ll tell you anything. Anything.”

A policewoman stepped over and, taking Paulina by the arm, led her away. Mackenna watched her silently as the sight of Paulina disappeared into the night. Suddenly, her legs gave out as the adrenaline no longer pumped, leaving her weak.

Jobe’s body took her weight as she slumped against him before he scooped her up once more. Stalking over to the EMTs that had appeared on the scene, he gently laid her down on the stretcher.

“I'm all right, honey. Just tired,” she said, her hands still holding tightly to his arms, unwilling or unable to let go.

He turned to the EMTs, barking, “She’s pregnant.”

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