Fighting to Be Free (Fighting to Be Free 1)

I pushed myself to my feet and extended my arm, shaking hands with them, glad it was finally over.

Suddenly, something made a loud bang off to my left, causing dust and splinters of wood and plaster to fly across the room. I jumped, instinctively ducking and protecting my head as a ruckus started and feet thundered into the workshop. My eyes flicked in that direction as I saw people dressed in black, running into the warehouse, guns raised.

I barely had time to think ‘what the f**k’ before one of them shouted, “Police, you’re under arrest!”

Police? Panic made me freeze on the spot. I watched with wide eyes as more and more of them burst into the room from all sides. I groaned in defeat knowing that everything was ruined, I was totally screwed.

That’s when the gun shots started.

Bangs echoed off of the walls, almost deafening me a gun went off near me. I crouched down quickly, ducking behind the desk, unsure what to do. I watched with wide eyes as the people from Dominic Lazlo’s organisation instigated a full on fire fight with the police.

“Fuck!” I hissed, not having a clue what to do. I was going to die, I could feel it. I was so close to being out of this game, and I was going to die on the last job - that was just a typical thing for me, I guess I’d never get a happy ending.

Everyone was shouting, gun shots were blasting, people were scuffling and fighting around me. I could barely move, I was in shock I think, my limbs just seemed to be frozen as I wanted to press my hands over my ears and close my eyes until it all went away. I saw Brett run in a crouch over to take cover behind a huge metal tool cabinet. He had his gun drawn as he looked around the corner of the cabinet, sending off a couple of shots in the direction of the police. I looked at him with wide eyes, I knew I was supposed to help, usually if there was trouble then I would be there instantly, not hesitating to get involved. This was different though, those weren’t thugs or bad people that I could beat the crap out of, those were police officers. There was no way I was drawing my gun and firing on innocent police officers, not a chance in hell of that because that wasn’t who I was as a person. I was a booster who did a few bad things, but shooting a gun at someone, not a chance of that happening.

My wild eyes flicked over to the right and I saw Terry crouched a little way away, hiding behind a smaller desk that he’d flipped onto its side. He looked terrified. He had his gun drawn too, but he wasn’t firing, his hands were shaking as he looked over and caught my gaze. He nodded at his gun but I quickly shook my head, telling him not to get involved. The Lazlo’s started this; there was no way they were going to win though even with our help. The police were wearing body armour; their trained eyes were making short work of the people who were fighting against them. The Lazlo’s were dropping like flies. I could already see Damien was down on the floor; blood was seeping from a wound in his neck. His eyes were closed and he wasn’t moving. He was obviously dead.

Dominic was kneeling over him, his face contorted in rage and grief as he let out a gut-wrenching primal scream and fired randomly at anyone that moved.

Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion, the shots were so loud that each one made me flinch as I stayed behind the desk. I debated making a run for it. There was a door off to the side, while everyone was distracted I could make a dash for the door and try and get the hell out of here.

But I knew there was probably no chance of me making it, a bullet would get me as soon as I moved away from the desk.

Suddenly Dominic jerked, his hand flailing as he fell backwards awkwardly. I gulped and watched as blood slowly trickled out of a hole on the side of his head. The smell of blood and urine filled the air as he lost control of his bodily functions. I gagged, pressing my hand over my mouth. Things were calming down now; the shots were only coming from one place - Brett.

“Brett, just stop!” I shouted desperately, jumping as a bullet smacked into the desk near my head making a loud thud and cracking sound. I couldn’t see Brett, but I knew he wasn’t taking my advice because he continued to fight back. “Brett, just stop now!” I shouted again.

A couple more shots sounded but then everything went quiet, so quiet that if it wasn’t for the shrill ringing that sounded from my eardrums, then I would have thought I’d gone deaf. I breathed a sigh of relief that he’d stopped, hopefully his lawyer would fix this somehow, I had no idea how but hopefully he could do some sort of deal. I kept that in mind as I heard the sound of shuffling feet behind me.

“Show me your hands!” a voice demanded. I gulped and instantly put my hands up, making sure they were visible over the top of the desk so that they could see that I wasn’t a threat. Terry did the same thing, sliding his gun out across the floor to show that he was unarmed. From the corner of my eye I saw a couple of other people put their hands up too, three more from Brett’s team, and one I recognised as one of Dominic’s goons.

“Keep them where I can see them. If you move even an inch I won’t hesitate in shooting!” the voice growled.

I closed my eyes hating this whole situation. I was in so much trouble; there was no way out of this at all. My mind flicked to Ellie as disappointment washed over me because everything we’d planned would be ruined. There was not a chance we were getting to go away tomorrow now. I’d ruined everything.

A guy in full uniform stepped tentatively around the corner, his gun pointed at me. “On your stomach! Put your hands on the back of your head,” he ordered as I saw someone move to Terry too, telling him the same thing.