Page 59 of Fire and Ice

Jack raked his hand through his thick black hair in frustration. He knew Maia was right, but this could get dicey. "Look, you're right. It's done. There so much chatter out there it's difficult to sift through. We probably should cancel dinner reservations and just order take out. I'll brief Taylor on this new development."

Just then a commotion in the front of the house drew their attention. Both Maia and Jack rushed out, encountering Taylor, who was looking ominous and on full alert.

"Armed men are heading down the driveway. We need to get all of you out now!" Taylor ordered brusquely. No sooner had the words left his lips when gunfire erupted outside. Some of the windows got blown out. Maddox and Smith were already at the frontline taking defensive positions.

Frances started shrieking as she rushed down the stairs. "Oh my God, Oh my God! What do we do? Robert? They're after our boy!"

Brett, surprisingly, held himself together as he tried to calm his mother down and led her away from the hot zone near the front of the house. Jack and his dad disappeared into the study and returned quickly with a duffel bag full of hand guns, assault rifles and ammunition. They cleared the coffee table, dumped the duffle bag on top, and started distributing the weapons and issuing instructions.

"Taylor, I want you to get my family out of here," Jack ordered calmly as he handed out a rifle and a communication device.

"Jack..." Taylor started.

"We don't have much time to argue, we've gone through the escape route scenario. You are point on that." Turning to Maia, he handed her a gun and an assault rifle. "Go with them."

"No, I can stay and help," Maia argued. "You know this, Jack."

Jack lifted his chin in Taylor's direction, indicating for him to proceed, and then pulled Maia aside. "I know. But I need you to keep my family safe. Someone needs to bring up the rear. Please protect them, Maia."

Maia nodded reluctantly and followed Taylor, his parents and Brett out the back door. Jack exhaled deeply. He knew Maia was not one to waste time arguing in situations like this when every second mattered. There was a speedboat docked at the bottom of the cliff. It was a trek down the steep steps and he hoped his Mom would manage the descent. Jack loaded up on ammunition, grabbed the duffel bag and ran outside to join the fray.

***

Maia caught up with Taylor and the rest of the group at the boat slip. There, anchored securely, was a 23-foot speed boat and a pair of jet skis. While Taylor directed everyone to put on their life jackets, he eyed her cautiously, "You know how to use that?" He was looking at the firearms in her possession.

"Yeah man, she could kick your ass too," Brett countered in her defense.

"Brett ..."

"I'm sorry for bringing this down on you again, Maia," Brett said forlornly. He did not look scared but he had regret written all over his face.

"Brett, what are you saying?" Frances asked in confusion, her eyes wild with fear. And then looking at an armed Maia, "Oh, my dear, why are you holding a gun?"

"He's just feeling guilty about drawing out the bad guys," Maia answered the first question furtively and ignored the second. She held Taylor's gaze as she swiftly loaded the magazines into her semi-automatic pistol and rifle and loaded the chambers. "Satisfied?"

Taylor nodded grimly.

"I think you all better get moving," Maia advised as she slipped on her own life vest.

Taylor moved behind the wheel and Brett was helping his mom on board when Maia spotted another boat in the distance. It was coming in fast.

"Gun it, Taylor!" Maia yelled. "We've got incoming."

"Fuck!" Taylor cursed and started the engine. Everyone tensed as the engine sputtered. When it finally began to hum steadily, they gave a collective sigh of relief. Robert was waiting for Maia to climb in after Brett and his mother were safely on board, but she waved him ahead.

Quickly assessing the situation, she handed her rifle to a bewildered Robert and quickly jumped on a jet ski, looking for and finding the keys.

"Maia, what the hell are you doing!" Brett and Taylor shouted in unison.

"Someone needs to head them off."

"God fucking damn it, get off of that," Taylor roared.

"Maia, don't do this," Brett pleaded.

"We have no time to discuss this. Move it, Taylor, they're coming in fast!" Her tone brooked no argument.

The speed boat lurch forward and started accelerating, Maia started the jet ski and followed them. She shot past Taylor but circled back to head off the incoming bogey. It was a smaller black boat but it was still fast.

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