Page 55 of Digital Desire

He felt a slight nudge to his leg and tried to stop himself from looking down as he felt Jack push something into his hand that was sharp. Camila looked away and started speaking to Chopper in low tones that he couldn’t hear. But he didn’t care, he was intent on breaking free of the zip ties so that he could help Jack with whatever he had planned.

He was so intent on sawing through the plastic without fumbling the sharp metal, he jumped when a shot was fired, and Camila slumped dead in her seat as Chopper swerved sideways as the tires went flat. He just needed another second before the ties were cut, but he had run out of time, and Jack jumped up, taking advantage of the situation.

Diving through the front over the seats, Jack grabbed Chopper in a headlock as they both wrestled for control of the van. Will’s body was thrown across the truck, the force snapping the last of the plastic at his wrists.

He could hear grunts of pain as the two exchanged blows even as the van still moved, shuddering along on flat tyres, the sound of the metal on the wheels screeching in his ears. The driver’s door was opened, and Chopper jumped out wrenching Jack after him. Something was wrong, even though Jack was fighting as Will knew he could, he was pulling his punches and letting Chopper get the best of him.

Will scrambled through the front trying to catch sight of a weapon he could use when he saw his brother on his knees in front of the van and Chopper with a gun to his head. Will froze at the sight as Chopper looked him dead in the eye.

“Time to take from you what you took from me.”

“I never took anything from you, Derek,” Jack snarled staring back at Chopper.

“You took everything. You, Zack, all you self-righteous pricks did. If you had just left me alone to make a bit of cash from those rag heads in the sandbox, none of this would have happened. But oh no, with the information your team gave Zack, I had to go on the run. I lost everything.”

“Nobody made you break the law, asshole,” Jack said calmly as Will felt his heart spike in fear at the hatred on Chopper’s face.

“Everyone was doing it and they owed us.”

“Everyone was not doing it, and nobody owed us a God damn thing,” Jack answered.

Chopper shoved the muzzle of the gun closer at Jack’s words. “How the fuck do you pricks manage to live with such smugness? Always prancing around like you’re so much better than everyone else. You make me fucking sick. But now you die and then I’m going to kill the rest of your team and the Fortis wankers too, starting with Zack.”

“Yeah, like you’re good enough an operative to kill me or my team. You don’t deserve to kiss their boots, so thinking you can compete is a joke,” Jack said as he glared at Chopper.

“You fucking asshole,” Chopper spat as he released the safety.

“No,” Will bellowed as a shot was fired and a body fell to the ground. Chopper’s brain had splattered along the road from the force of the bullet that hit him.

Jack stood and moved closer to the van as Will exited, before throwing his arms around his brother in a hug.

“Fucking hell, Jack. I thought you were dead.”

Jack slapped him on the back and grinned as he pulled back. “Yee of little faith,” he said with a shake of his head and a chuckle.

Will looked from Chopper’s dead body to the incredibly beautiful woman in front of him and felt more confused than ever. “Siren, what are you doing here?” Will asked as his brother turned to face her too.

“Is that any way to thank someone for saving your brother’s ugly mug?” she asked with a stern look.

“Thank you for saving his ugly mug.”

“You’re welcome,” she said with a small smile.

Two vehicles sped towards them, and they tensed before realising it was the cavalry. Aubrey, Blake, Daniel, Jace, and Lucy jumped out, weapons drawn as they looked around. Siren looked up calmly as if having five guns aimed at her was an everyday occurrence, and Will looked down and shook his head. He felt like he had fallen through the rabbit hole.

Aubrey rushed to him and gripped his head in her hands as she kissed his face before pulling away and running her hands all over him. “Are you alright?” she asked worriedly.

“Yes, Brey, I’m fine, but if you want to run your hands all over me you don’t need an excuse.” He winked trying to ease her worry with humour.

“Wiseass,” she said with a frown that turned into a smile.

“Well, that’s a fine welcome,” Siren said and then smiled as she held her arms out to Lucy.

“I missed you so much,” said Lucy as she launched herself across the distance and grabbed the woman in a tight hug.

“I missed you too,” said Siren as her eyes moved behind Lucy and up as Will looked on.

Alex stepped forward and looked like he had been hit by a truck. He stumbled forward like a drunk, pushing past the others until he was standing directly in front of Siren. Evelyn?!” he asked in a voice shaky with emotion and uncertainty, and Will didn’t know if it was a question or a statement any more than he apparently did.