Overriding Operation Red

Chapter 1 - Danny

The first thing I noticed as I slowed to a stop, panting, was that it’d started to rain. Not just a few raindrops here and there, but a heavy downpour that’d appeared out of the blue. I squinted my eyes and threw my hands up over my head in a silly attempt to stay dry. When I realized how pointless that was, I bent down and clutched my knees for support. I needed to relax a bit, but the rain was making it difficult to even breathe. I accidentally inhaled some water in the process, making me cough. Shit. I’d have to keep moving, there was no other choice. 

Throwing cautionary glances behind every now and then, I broke into a jog, although the fact that I was drenched to the bone made me much slower than last time. It’s okay, I told myself, only a while more. And then I didn’t have to depend on my feet anymore. Liam’s dad’s shop was just a street away. 

I was on Seventh Street. Technically, if I followed the proper pavement like everybody else, it’d take me at least ten minutes to get there, but I wasn’t everybody else. Besides, I could hear the shouts coming from around the corner. There weren’t many passersby, but the ones who were walking quickly with their big black umbrellas stopped to look around, then continued at an even quicker pace. Not that they’d any reason to be afraid; I was the target. 

“We’ve got him!” a male voice shouted, followed by the scatter of footsteps approaching me. I gritted my teeth and sped up. 

As soon as I reached the alley, I gathered all my energy and broke into a sprint. I was running out of time. Taking in the path and making a quick calculation, I waited till I was within a few metres of the fence at the end, then leapt up as far as my body would allow me. Grabbing the railing at the top tightly, I hoisted myself up and flung my body over in one fluid motion. My hands slipped at the last minute, and my landing was a bit more disorganized than I’d intended, but I got back up on my feet right away and continued running. 

I didn’t know if I was still being followed, but I couldn’t risk looking back now. The shop was just opposite the road. I waited for a car to pass, then rushed across, ignoring the annoyed honk coming from the one behind it. I opened the door, stepped inside and closed it behind me, all without pausing even for a moment. When I faced in front of myself again, I froze. 

“We’ve got Danny Walker.” 

The door opened behind me, and two more men entered, grabbing hold of me and forcing me down on a stool at the far corner of the room. I didn’t even notice them. I just stared, mouth agape, at the man who’d spoken into his phone. Well, not man, exactly. He was only a year or two older than me, at the most. In fact, all the guys here were about my age. This particular one had cropped black hair and a tall lean frame. Huh, weren’t girls into that sort of thing these days? He probably earned a lot. 

I sized up the three guys. None of them looked particularly strong or muscular, but neither was I, and there was no way I could take them on, three against one. 

It was then that I noticed Liam (looking terribly out of place, might I add, in his mechanic overalls while the other three sported plaid shirts and designer jeans) standing behind the black-haired guy, his hands shoved into his pockets. He smiled apologetically at me, and I realized Liam had given me up. I sighed, unable to get angry at him. 

“Great, you’ve found me. So what’s the reward Peyton’s offering you? I bet I can offer you twice that amount if you let me go. You can just tell her that you’d no control over my escape. No one has to know,” I coaxed. To my surprise, the guy in front of me merely smirked in response. 

“Fine, triple,” I tried, not to be deterred. I still had some cash leftover after I’d bought the motorcycle, and I couldn’t think of anything more important to spend it on than escaping from Peyton for the time being.