Joshua

It's been nearly seventy-two hours since Isabella had been kidnapped and still we've heard or seen nothing, leaving us with no leads what so ever to where she was. At this point, I didn't know whether it was worse knowing who had her or not.

Every passing second felt like an hour and there was literally nothing I could do. The children knew something was up but as hard as I am trying not to fall apart in front of them, I am slowly losing control of myself.

With all my contacts as well as Paul's and especially Jacks you would've thought we would have found Isabella by now or even heard something but here I am I sitting in my office calling everyone I know for help. So far, I have roughly a hundred men out looking and that's without everyone Lisa Elle, Paul and Jack have got out searching too.

I know in my heart Audrey hasn't killed Isabella as that would be too easy for her. Audrey has a reputation out on the streets as the slow torturing kind of girl and right now I just hoped and prayed that she wasn't going to change her ways now. As much as it killed me knowing Isabella is out there being tortured, it gave me reassurance that I still had a chance to find her and make everything ok again. I could fix her, I know I could. We got through it before, we could get through it again, and all I had to do is find her! How was the problem because everyone seems to be staying tight-mouthed as if they were too scared to say a word but now I wasn't going to say 'thanks' NO now I wasn't going to take their silence or sorry I don't know anything! I was going to start torturing people myself unless I got some answers. On that thought, I stopped pacing and grabbed my keys. I've done enough sitting around and moping; now I'm going hunting. Just as I reached the door Jack and Paul were already there waiting as if they had read my thoughts.

"About bloody time lets go," Paul said as the man hugged me before pushing me out the door with them close on my heels.

"OK where too first?" Paul asked but before I could answer him Jack cut in "I know where but it isn't going to be pretty. So you better call all your backups and tell them to meet us downtown. We're going to hit the main druggie's hangout unit first."

"But we've already asked the druggies," I said feeling frustrated already. "No, I mean downtown druggies the ones that work for the biggest gang leader, Audrey's daddy's gang." His words made me want to vomit. I couldn't even think of Isabella being with them let alone hear it out loud. I'd been so angry at Audrey I hadn't even thought of her father. My heart sank, as my blood turned to what only felt like ice as bile rose in my mouth.

For now, I just had to blank my over thinking out and pray that Audrey had Isabella and not her father. I had heard of her father and there isn't a thing on this earth he wasn't into. Trafficking being his first, mumbling every swear word that came to mind Paul slapped me.

"It's ok we're going to get her back Josh even if it kills us trying you hear that! We are going to find her." Even though I knew he didn't know that for certain and he was just trying to reassure me but in all honesty, it was helping. Taking a deep breath I tried to block everything out so I could get my head in gear. Pulling out my cell phone I began writing a text to send to all my contacts as well as forwarding them all the address that Jack had just sent me.

At least an hour had passed and I was ready to lose it when I spotted a huge metal run-down building poking out between the trees. It was well hidden, I'd give them that. It was as if no one was here but that didn't mean they couldn't see us approaching. I could tell just from the sight of the place this was no amateur set up.

"OK you have to listen and I mean LISTEN," Jack said as if our lives depended on it and by the look on his face our lives did. Nodding our heads Paul and I both looked at Jack ready for what he was about to say.

"First of all, you'll both need this and these." Handing us a gun each along with a few more rounds for us to reload if needed made me literally throw up. This was neither a game nor nightmare this was real, real life. A life I had done everything to stay out of and here I was right now ready to go right in the center of it all.

"Now I've already managed to get a heads up on how many could possibly be here but there could be more so we have to stay close at all times. Josh, you can't second-guess ok. If someone sees you shoot because if you don't you'll be as good as dead." Paul and Jack knew I hated guns and everything they stand for but I knew this time I would have no option but to shoot or be killed.

Jack you can't go in there shooting happily as we need to go unseen until I reach our contact. He's then going to escort us to a blabbermouth as they call him, who will know exactly where Isabella is if they have her." Jack stopped talking to answer his phone. As he spoke into the phone I said a silent prayer hoping that we would all come out alive and uninjured as well as a lead to Isabella's whereabouts.

"Right everyone is here. Don't forget what I told you. We stay together at all times no matter what." With that said we all got out of the car and went to where everyone else was waiting. Seeing so many old and new and even men I didn't know here to help made me want to cry with happiness but I was a man and had to keep my head together. By god, I had cried enough and now it was time to fight and get my wife back.

Almost everyone patted me on the back wishing me good luck. Jack as always became a leader, leading and guiding us all through his plan. All the men were there mainly for our protection/distraction while Jack Paul and I were to go and find this blabbermouth. All sounded easy but I knew nothing about those sorts of people was ever easy. However, this was our only option at getting Isabella back. Thinking of how and what they were doing to Isabella right this minute had me seeing red.

Once again I checked my gun was loaded and ready to fire. Standing alongside Jack and Paul we all made our way forward no words were spoken but you could feel the tenseness. Taking a deep breath I raised my gun ready to fire if needed. My hand shook a little but soon stopped as we entered the side entrance which had been left open especially for us. What we saw had me wanting to run the other way but Paul was quick enough to shove me forward keeping us up with Jack.

There were so many armed men buzzing around I thought there was no way we were going to get out of here uninjured let alone alive. There were druggies lined up along the floor stacking clear packages of drugs into large rucksacks, whilst the armed men stood to watch over them. Between their greyish skin and the glossy look in their eyes, you could spot it a mile away that they were high.

Luckily the entrance we had entered kept us out of sight but we could see enough to know we couldn't slip up at any time.

Aloud crashing rung throughout the unit making the armed men run. This was our signal to move and quick. Our men outside had entered and before I could see what was actually happening I was pushed again only this time with more force.

"When I duck, you duck. Whatever I do you follow!" Paul's insider ordered sternly before he took off at full sprint. My head spun with the sounds of shouting along with gunfire. however, I managed to keep up with the others as we ducked dived and even crawled through barely lit hallways. Just as we turned the corner, men were charging towards us. Searching desperately for an escape Jack spotted a door just on our right. Not bothering to check if it was locked or not we bolted through the door just missing the men that were charging our way. My heart was pounding as we held our breaths in hopes they hadn't noticed we weren't one of their own.

Just when I thought it was clear and able to breathe again the lights flicked on, letting us know we weren't alone. Being surrounded by big hefty men, my first instant was to fire but as I raised my gun I felt a bullet hit me knocking me down. Hearing the gunfire I knew I had to pull myself up, shot or not. I couldn't back down now, not when we were so close. Lifting my head slightly I managed to pull my good arm out from under me while checking where Jack and Paul were. Seeing they were fighting the men off I grabbed my gun in a death grip and fired. I had managed to knock four of the men down and there was only two left but Paul and Jack were in my line of fire. I couldn't risk it. Although I hated guns with a passion at least I knew how to use them.

Shuffling along the floor I tried to get a better shot but the bodies I had already taken down were blocking my way. Pulling myself off the floor I bit through the pain in my shoulder whilst leaning my back against the wall for support I aimed and fired. Hitting right on target, the first man dropped dead quickly followed by the last man.

"That was too close," Paul mumbled as Jack searched for his informant. But as we looked down amongst the dead bodies his man was there along with the others.

"OK, let's go I have an idea." Although I didn't like going back out there blind I knew that if anyone could get us to this so-called blabbermouth it would be Jack.