A Saviour

Chapter Forty Eight

Ryan left his apartment as he always did. Discreetly and very suspiciously, constantly looking around he headed to the nearby bar where nobody asked any questions and certainly didn't know who he was. He yanked his collar of his coat up around his neck and pulled his hat down over his forehead. Staring at the ground he made his way down the street a few blocks until he got to his destination. He entered the dive of a bar wondering how in the hell his life had ended up this way. "Bourbon neat." He ordered and the young kid behind the bar obeyed his demand sliding the glass in front of him.

The bar was dark even though it was only mid morning, it was empty. Ryan hadn't noticed the man sat in the corner reading a paper. He was hunched over the table and discreetly watching the goings on at the bar. After a few hours he had witnessed Ryan down a number of alcoholic drinks and watched as he stumbled to the door exiting. The quiet man stood and slowly made his way to the bar. "That guy hit it hard didn't he?" He said making polite conversation with the young boy behind the bar. "Yeah he's one of my regulars. Shit with the tips though...." "I need you to do me a little favour.." the man said sliding a $100 bill across the bar. The kid's eyes widened as he discreetly took the bill and lent in to listen to the man's request. The man in question being Mark, Johnny's security.

The next day the exact same charade happened. Mark watched from the back of the bar as Ryan drank his day away, after tipping off two other patrons and paying them handsomely to leave, Mark locked the bar door and the young barman headed out the back looking busy. Mark approached Ryan who was hunched over the bar. He tapped him on the shoulder and as the man looked up, Mark clocked him right on his eye causing enough damage to knock him off the bar stall. "What the hell!!" Ryan said cupping his now injured face and scrambling to his feet clumsily. "You're fucking lucky I don't kill you for what you've done." Mark said angrily. "However... I have a proposition for you. Now are you gonna listen like a good boy or am I gonna have to make you?" Ryan's eyes widened. "I'll listen." He said quietly. "I know a lot about you Freeman. I know that you're currently being hunted for GBH, and skipping bail. I can make that all go away if you do me a small favour in return." "A favour?" The man said as he finally stood up straight. "Yes call it quits. I help you, you help me. Think of it this way with all that off your record you could get your job back. Your life back. You could be back on top, be the big man again." Mark said playing into the ego of Ryan.

"So.. say I accepted your offer. What would you have me do?" Ryan slurred sipping the last of his drink. "You come with me. Don't ask any questions, sign some paperwork and then you'll be free." "That's it?" Ryan asked skeptically. "Yes.. easy as that." "There must be a catch." "Not really.. see where I come from Freeman, good things happen to good people.. I am giving you a chance here. Are you gonna take it? Because let's face it, the minute I walk out this bar.. the Police will be here and you'll be behind bars before you even blink." Ryan's eyes widened. "So really you are saying I don't have a choice?" "Not really... now are you ready?" Mark asked throwing some notes down on the bar. Ryan nodded defeated following him out the bar. "What sort of paperwork?" "You'll see." Mark said sternly unlocking the car and shoving Ryan into the back before applying the child lock onto the doors. As Mark began to drive, Ryan said "What don't you trust me or somethin?" "No... somebody very dear to me made that mistake... so I won't be letting you out my sight until you give me what I want." Mark said staring at the man in the rear view mirror.

Late that evening, Johnny and Kate were putting Belle to bed, when Johnny's phone rang. He excused himself and answered it heading down the stairs.

"Mission complete boys... I have him. GPS says it will take just over 28 hours to get back. We have made good distance already though."
"Mark.. are you sure you're ok on your own? I'll fly out and meet you." Travis added, and Johnny realised he was on a group call.
"Its good.. He is a broken man, he can barely stand and I am pretty sure if I keep piling him with booze he will be co-operative."
"I can't thank you enough Mark.."
"Don't thank me yet boss... I'm not back in Cali yet.. and Travis I gave him one for you.."
"Niceee" Travis responded.
"Mark! I can't protect you if you hurt him." Sean said sternly.
"I didn't... he tripped and hit his face."
"Yeah and I am the King of England." Johnny said.
"Look I'll be back by Thursday latest. Where do I take him?"
"I think its best the closer you get to not let him know where he is. We'll ambush him."
"I know just the spot"
"Travis you could say that with a little less enthusiasm."
"All I need are his rights.. as much as I want the fucker dead we can't." Johnny said.
"You can't... but.." Travis added.
"I won't tell you again McGivern." Sean said sternly.
"Right I got to go.. keep me up to date boys and well done." Johnny said hanging up. He heard a noise and turned around watching his wife descend the stairs. "She's still awake and demanding Dada." Kate said with a smirk. "Well luckily there is enough of me to go round hey?" "Who was on the phone?" The woman asked curiously. "Oh nobody.. the boys. Wanted to check in on something." Kate's eyebrows furrowed. "The guys? As in Sean and Travis?" "yeah.." Johnny said nervously heading up the stairs. "As in, they couldn't walk from the annex to here?" "Yeah lazy fuckers." Johnny chuckled anxiously as he headed into Belle's room leaving Kate in the foyer of their home.