A/N: I know I know it's been ages since I updated this story I won't bore you all with excuses because honestly I can't think of any, I hope you enjoy this latest chapter though.
CHAPTER 22 - WHERE WE ALL STAND
Mastema glared at each of us slowly as if he was reading us all one by one, the nervous tension we were all naturally feeling filled the room around us then he began speaking once again.
"It's funny I feel we've known each other for years and yet apart from our little rooftop experience that night we've never officially met….shame don't you think?" Mastema stated.
"I know you like the sound of your own voice but why don't you save us all some time and get to the point" I told him.
Mastema nodded slowly before responding.
"I was just trying to be civil Dave! It's ok if I call you Dave isn't it? I don't think we need to pretend anymore plus it gives a less formal feel to our blossoming relationship" Mastema said with a slight chuckle.
I suddenly noticed out of the corner of my eye Todd move ever so slightly, he wasn't dead that was at least something.
"Very well what's your name?" I asked abruptly.
"Oh we're not that close Dave anyway what's life without a bit of mystery?" Mastema asked.
I could feel Mindy getting agitated just behind me but there was nothing either of us could do. She slowly manoeuvred so she was right next to me and couldn't help herself from stating the obvious.
"So when were you going to get to the fucking point or is it ok if I order some food first?" Mindy snarled.
"Very eloquent Miss Macready, ok if you insist I believe it's time we all knew where each of us stands.
You all fight crime and intend to make New York safe and peaceful from all the undesirables that haunt the shadows of this fair city myself included of course, yet in my short time here I've achieved more, accomplished more than you could ever have hoped to have achieve. I have single handily ridden the Big Apple of it's underworld, I should be awarded a medal for my efforts" Mastema declared triumphantly.
I wasn't about to let Mastema twist the truth I knew what he was no matter what he said.
"You've taken out crime families all over the city not because you believe it's the right thing to do but because you simply intend to replace them that's the truth. Power is the only thing you believe in power and control. You now have an army of followers all over the city not fighting for justice and peace but carrying on with the exact same illegal activities they have always done instead now they call you boss that's the only difference. You're now the centre of all the evil that takes place, if you fall it will be like a stack of cards falling around you and I wont rest until that happens" I announced proudly.
Mastema said nothing at first he just stared at me. Marty and Miranda were still holding firm and Mindy still stood strong at my side. I once again noticed Todd still tied to a chair move slightly, for his sake this whole situation needed to come to an end and fast. Mastema slowly drifted closer to Todd yet didn't seem to notice he was alive as he addressed us again.
"It seems I've underestimated you Dave, you're not as foolish as I was led to believe. It's a shame we're enemies we could have worked well together, I appreciate intelligence however low that intelligence may be.
The truth is as keen as I was to meet you face to face that wasn't the real reason for this little encounter you see there was still one other crime boss still out there and luckily for me you left him all on his own tonight"
Mastema started to laugh, it was an evil sinister laugh that sent a chill through your body.
"Chris!" I said aloud.
"Impossible" Mindy declared. "There's too many safe guards in place even if you knew where he was you'd never get in"
"Oh I have my ways" Mastema informed us. "In case you start to wonder why I didn't just kill you all whilst you slept then let me just say once again, I intend to destroy you in the eyes of the public before I eventually kill you….It's more fun that way"
Mastema turned and headed for the back exit. All I wanted to do was launch myself at him and I could bet Mindy was feeling the exact same way, but this wasn't the time not now anyway. Mastema left with one final sarcastic wave in our direction and as he vacated the house I ran over to Todd and untied him.
"Todd are you ok?" I asked him.
He was badly beaten yet as he came to and noticed us all there he gave a faint smile.
"I knew you'd rescue me" Todd whispered.
"Rest we'll get you to a hospital you'll be ok" I told him.
Mindy looked at me with a deep concerned expression.
"We need to get back to the safe house I just tried to ring it but there was no answer" She told me.
I nodded in agreement, we knew it wouldn't be safe but we had to check on Chris. Marty agreed to go to the hospital with Todd and luckily there were some spare clothes up stairs he could change into. Me, Mindy and Miranda left and headed back to the safe house, Marty said he'd call and keep us all informed. Mindy drove the way back and I could sense we were all expecting the worse.
"How the fuck could they get through the security system? I just don't understand unless…" Mindy cut herself off.
"Unless what?" I asked her.
"No nothing that shit face was most likely bullshitting anyway, it's all that psychological crap with him, I cant wait to kill that son of a bitch" Mindy declared.
"Me too" I replied.
Mindy quickly gave me a surprised glance and a faint smirk edged across her face.
"Anyway" Mindy said. "who would have guessed we would all be this concerned about whether Chris fucking D'Amico was alive or not?"
"Not me" I answered.
Miranda was especially quiet in the back but we had just been through a lot so I wasn't about to question it. Just before we approached the safe house we noticed flashing lights ahead and my heart sank.
"FUCK" Mindy yelled slamming her fists on the steering wheel.
We all saw the scene that laid before us. The whole building was surrounded by the cops and just then in the distance we saw a body being carried out and put into the back of an ambulance.
I could see the anger in Mindy's face and knew we had to get out of here.
"Mindy we need to leave now! It's not just the cops we need to worry about Mastema's men are most likely still in the area" I told her.
"I know a place we can go" Mindy announced.
Mindy spun the car around quickly and we were soon speeding away from the scene and the place I had called home for the last couple of years.