Chapter 58
Angela walked over to the broken vase, "this used to be my mom's favorite vase. She was always around it."
"What do you mean your mom's favorite vase?"
"Well, it was an import from Italy." Angela picks up the broken pieces, "But yes, this is as broken as my family."
Claire walked up to Angela placing her hand on Angela's shoulder, "it may be broken, but you can still glue the remaining pieces."
Angela smiled at Claire's gesture, "it's okay. Let's focus on what's here."
Angela looked around for clues. It had started to rain, "who would have expected that? The sky was clear when we got here."
"Come over here and help me."
"Help you with what?"
"To move this table."
They moved the table, lifted the carpet, and opened the door, "Marcus and Nicole." they shouted down.
There was no answer, "don't tell me we have to go down there again."
"Well, unless you want to stay in the safe house forever. I would say we move around and try to find Jack."
There was a sudden light on them from the other end of the room. Claire and Angela, "I am glad you guys are safe. I came back for you."
"Jack, is that you." Tears rolled down Claire's cheek.
"Yes, it's me."
Angela walked over to her brother and hugged him, "I knew you would be okay."
"It was a narrow escape, but I made it."
Claire walked over to Jack, placed her hands on his cheek, and kissed him, staring into his eyes as tears ran down her cheek, "I am glad you are safe. Please don't leave us again."
Claire had this sudden fulfillment of overwhelming joy.
"Where are Marcus and Nicole?"
"They are down there."
"It's fine. I will get them. You guys wait here. We will have to move from this place."
"What do you mean."
"Well, they killed most of the people we know."
Claire looked at Jack, "like who?"
Jack ignored her question and went down the stairs, it was dark through the tunnel, and Jack made his way into the safehouse, where he saw Marcus and Nicole asleep. He walked over to Nicole, placed his hand on her shoulder, and woke Nicole. She opened her eyes, "Jack, I was waiting for you."
She threw her arms around him, holding him tight, then she pulled him downwards and tried to kiss him, but he pushed her away.
"We have to get going, Nicole." They walked over to Marcus's room and woke him up.
"The rest is waiting for us upstairs. We need to keep moving."
They went upstairs, finding Claire and Angela. Nicole ran to Angela, "I thought you had abandoned us."
"Not in a million years," Angela responded, and they walked out of the house.
"Jack, where did you get this BMW?"
"It's a friend's car."
"Do you have any idea where we are heading to?"
"We are going to Claires and dropping her off from there. We will have to try and get away here as far as possible."
"Why drop me off? I am coming with you guys."
"Claire, if you come with us, there is no turning back. You do still have your whole family."
Claire looked around, "if I go back, I will be putting them in danger."
Marcus glanced at Claire. All of this that is happening was because of her.
"What about your family Claire."
"They are better off thinking I am dead."
Out of a passage, a guy came walking up to them. Jack placed his hand in his leather jacket's back, gripping his gun. Marcus stepped in front of Nicole. With it being so dark, they couldn't see the face, "stand still, whoever you are." said Jack.
The person kept walking up to them. Jack pulled out his gun, pointing it at the person coming across the street. The unknown voice said, "I am not your enemy." Jack looked over at Angela, and she nudged her shoulder, "I am Mark, and I take it you are Jack and Angela?"
"Who are you?"
"I just told you who I am. I am Mark," a five-foot-seven guy with sleek black hair and black eyes light in complexion looks like his in his early twenties, "You're Mark? The guy I spoke to on the radio with?"
Mark removed the radio from his coat; he wore torn blue jeans, a body-fitted black t-shirt, a black coat, and a pair of black glasses. He looked like he just came out of a winter photo shoot.
"Your nothing like I expected?"
"You had an expectation of me?" Mark Joked.
"No, that's not what I meant."
They all turned and looked at Angela, "What I mean is that you sounded more mature."
Mark frowned, then smiled, revealing his dimples. Claire and Nicole found themselves drowning in his eyes, "ladies get a grip," Marcus said.
"Anyway, I am Mark, and I know the guys that are after you. You can change your identities and hide as much as you want. They will find you."
"How do you know all this?" Marcus asked.
"Because I know who we are dealing with."
Claire had started to panic. Was he about to tell them who she was?
He snapped his fingers at Marcus, "what is it you want?"
Claire looked over at Marcus, "That paper Claire handed you."
"What paper is he talking about, Marcus?" Said Angela.
"I don't have any paper."
"Now is not the time to play stupid. I know who you and Claire are."
Jack remained quiet, looking at them. Marcus removed the paper from his pocket. "This is a map to a drive to bring them all down."
"You had this the whole time?" Angela pushed him, "and you, Claire, are nothing but a backstabber."
"Now is not the time to be fighting. You can sort out your issues afterward."
Jack grabbed the paper. "what are you doing, Jack?" Said Angela.
"Who is he? How does he know all this? Who is he working for? How do we know we can trust him?"
"Well, it's clear you have questions. It's either you trust me, or you will put everyone's lives at risk."
"I will hold onto the paper."
Mark pulled out a gun, pointing it at Jack; within a split second, Jack grabbed the gun out of his hand.
"I see you were well trained, Jack, but you are making a big mistake, give me back that paper."
Jack walked up to him, "if you want it that bad, you will have to prove yourself."
"Fine, that won't be a problem. Since you won't trust me, you might trust someone else."
"Who will I trust? Do you really think I will just hand over the only thing holding us alive?"
"No, Jack, but you and I know you have no idea what to do."
"You right, I don't, but what I do know is this paper is keeping us alive. As for you, Marcus and Claire, I want you all gone."
"Jack, what are you doing?"
"Do you trust them after what they have done? Who says they won't just pull the gun on us?"
"If they wanted to, they would have." Angela answered, "and besides, Nicole needs her brother."
Jack thought for a moment when his phone rang. Claire looked down and saw it was Tanya who was calling.
"I get it. He is with Tanya; that's why he wants us out of the picture."
Jack smiled and shook his head, "do you know how dumb you sound right now?"
Marcus was about to grab Jack by the chest. Jack stepped to the side, gripped his hand pulled him forward, dropping him to the ground. Jack then pulled out his firearm and pointed it at Mark, "I'll tell you, boys, what. You, Claire, and Marcus can take the BMW, and we will contact you."
"Jack, don't do this, please." Claire pleaded at him, "drop the act, Claire. You and Mark can leave in the BMW, and Marcus can come with us," Jack turned at Nicole, "he is as guilty as they are."
"His your friend and my brother."
"Okay, we will contact you when we decide what to do."
Claire looked over at Mark; she felt angry and hurt that Jack could do this. "Let's go, Mark."
"I'm not going anywhere. You are on your own."
"That suits me fine." Claire took the car key, then climbed into the car and pulled away.
Angela walked up to Mark. When my brother is calmer, we will contact you. Mark stared at her in her eyes, then lifted his right arm, and a car light went on. Jack stood in front of Angela and pointed his gun toward the car, "relax, they are not here for you. They are with me.".
The car pulled up beside him as the window rolled down. Three big-size men sat in the seats, two big-size men wearing a suit sat in the back of the x5 sub, and a driver was in the front. Mark climbed in and nodded.
"Marcus, if you are coming with us, you will tell me everything you know?"
Marcus looked over at his sister and nodded, "Okay, I will tell you everything, but you have to promise not to kill me, Jack."