by J. Haney
A man has Travis by the throat and arm. Caleb is there, too; he’s tensed up, and I think about what he told me earlier and what his father has told me about their family. I hide in the corner and get ready. I know this is not going to be pretty and if Travis moves, I’ll hit him.
I scan around the corner to make sure nobody knows I’m there. I back up and level my gun. That’s when Travis spots me, but he doesn’t show any change in demeanor. I was hoping Caleb would shoot the guy, but I can’t wait any longer; the guy had a gun to Travis’s head. Suddenly, Travis nods. I pull the trigger. The shot hits the man right in the middle of his head.
Travis jerks away and goes to Caleb putting his arms around him.
“Was there only the one?” I ask, but then I have another thought: the twins. I take the stairs two at time to get to them, Caleb and Travis right on my heels. I sprint down the hall to the bedroom and jerk the closet door open. I sink to the floor and pull my babies into my arms. Avaline cries as Jaxson keeps asking me if I am okay. Caleb kneels down beside me, and Jax grabs ahold of him and doesn’t let go. Caleb looks at me bleary eyed. I lace my hand with his as I continue to rub Ava’s back. Caleb closes his eyes and holds Jaxson tighter. I take a look over my shoulder to see Travis in the doorway. He mouths “thank you” to me, and I nod my head. I may cry a lot, but when it comes time to take a stand, I know I can do it.
Jaxson lets go of Caleb and reaches for me. I scoot Avaline to my right and pull him in. Before long Caleb has all three of us wrapped in his arms. There’s a look on his face I’m not sure I’ve seen before. There’s relief, but I also see love. I think he’s fallen in love with my babies, but he doesn’t know it yet. He knows how I feel but I have no clue how he is feeling about me.
Caleb and I stare into each other eyes for God knows how long before Travis clears his throat. “We should pack up and get out of here. They will send more and I’m sure you don’t want the children here when that happens.”
“Jaxson, Avaline,” I say, “we need to help Caleb and Travis get ready so we can leave. Remember I told you we wouldn’t be here long. So what I need you to do is help us get stuff together, please.” They’re both getting up and into action before I even finish talking. I always forget how strong they actually are. My babies have been through so damned much in their life because of me.
The kids head downstairs with Travis as Caleb and I grab what we had in the room. I walk over to the window and look out to see if I can see anything off putting. Nothing, thank God. Caleb walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. I lean my head back against his chest. As he kisses the top of my head, the tears start falling down my face. Caleb says something but it’s all mumbles to me; I can’t make out a word of it.
Turning around in his arms, I look into his eyes. I need to tell him he has to let us go, it’s the only way for them to survive. I cup his cheek with my right hand, and I can tell he knows something’s coming.
“Caleb, you need to let me take the kids out of here. Then you and your father can go somewhere away from this crazy—.” Caleb shakes his head. Before I know it, he’s picked me up by my ass and pinned me against the wall.
“I can’t let you go,” he growls, his face pressed to my neck. “I’m finally living life and you can’t take that away from me. I know this is crazy, but I will do it all again if it means I get to spend another minute with you.”
He smashes his lips against mine. My thoughts are racing and I know we should stop but I can’t make myself. I moan into his mouth as his hand rubs down my body to the bottom of my shirt. He grabs ahold of the hem and pulls it over my head. It’s not until our eyes meet again that it registers in my head that I was holding my breath. Kyler, you stupid idiot, you can’t do this shit right now. You were just attacked. You killed somebody. Damn!
“Caleb, we can’t do this right now.” My voice wobbles.
“Fuck!” Caleb shouts, which causes me to jerk in his arms. Of course, that was not the best thing to do, because I can now feel his erection right where I’d like it to be. He rests his forehead against mine and breathes in and out, before he finally looks at me.
“Kyler, I’m so sorry. I have no idea what just came over me.” He huffs slightly as he puts me down, then bends over and grabs my shirt, helping me put it back on. I’m silent, which I’m sure is scaring him. I cup my hand to his cheek again, so that I can get him to look at me.
“Caleb, it’s fine, let’s just get everything together and get on the road.” It’s the last thing I say to him before we leave.
Chapter Thirty-Three ~ Caleb
After the kill attempt at Pop’s place and almost losing all my willpower to keep from fucking Kyler against the wall, I finally calm down. She deserves so much better, but something broke in me as I sat there with my arms wrapped around the twins and her.
I get busy, making sure we’ve got everything packed and loaded into the truck. I’m really on edge. Seeing Pops with a gun to his head was awful. I thought I was going to lose him and I can’t get that out of my head. The calm on his face, then Kyler…
I watch as Avaline and Jaxson climb into the backseat and kiss Kyler as she hovers near the truck door. I need to try and convince Pops to come with us, but I’m not sure how he’s going to react. This is his home and he still thinks that Mom and Kym are here, even though they are just piles of ash in the jars.
I pace near the door. Just as I gain the courage to go in, I see Pops standing there with his bags. I have no idea how long he’s actually been standing there, watching me.
“I’m coming with you, but I need your help putting the garbage out first. Come here and help me, boy.”
I’m relieved that I don’t have to convince him to come with us. I follow him into the kitchen and see that he has not been idle.
“I see you’ve been busy.” I smile at him. He is straight faced as always. I crouch down and get ready to help him lift the body. “Any idea who he was?”
“Nope,” Pops says. “No I.D. on him whatsoever, and I’m wondering where he parked, because there is no sign of a car anywhere that I can tell.”
“We’ll figure it out. Where he’s going?’ I huff as I lift. “I don’t want to bring him with us.”
“That well in the woods is the best place. Remember when you fell down it? You scared the shit out of your mother. We couldn’t find you for hours.”
I swallow hard as Pops mentions the well. It was horrible, stuck down in the dark with the muck and the slime, bugs everywhere. I damn near froze my ass off in that icy water. I was lucky that Liam could scream like a banshee, and they heard him, otherwise I would have been stuck down there even longer. The man’s rule, Pops’ rule: Don’t make a fuss, be a man. To think I came away with a few bumps, scrapes, and a broken wrist when I could have broken my neck still causes the odd nightmare, and I have hated any sort of bug since. Manly, I know, but it was traumatizing at nine years old.
“Yeah that’s a good idea,” I tell him. “Come on, we need to get going.”
We carry the corpse through the woods in silence. We get to the well and throw the body into it. I automatically step away and Pops looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind. I shrug, he shakes his head, and we march back to the house. He locks up while I toss his bags in the truck. Pops gets into the passenger seat, and Kyler slips in to the back with the kids. As I slide into the driver seat, Pops turns to look at Kyler and gives her a quick grin. Her hovering by the door starts to sink in. They played me?
Before I can say anything, Pops breaks in. “So where are we off to now, boy?”
I’m unsure of how to answer, but then Kyler leans toward us.
“Hey guys, I have an idea. Caleb, I gave you a list of my family’s properties. Why don’t we go to one of them? It’s the last place Ryan will expect us to go.”
“You want to—” I start, but she presses on, ignoring me.
“I think it’s the safest place for us now. We just need to stop somewhere and load up on food
and such. Every property has a working shower, fridge, and stove. I’ve kept up on utilities too, with people keeping the property pretty well maintained. So what do you think?” She’s gripping the head rest tightly.
I know she doesn’t want to do this, but she’s also right. It’s a genius idea. I don’t have a clue where to go, and I don’t want to involve Liam any more than I absolutely have to.
“That sounds like a plan,” I say. “Maybe we can look around a bit too, see if there are any clues to this mess. Will you be okay with that, us ripping through your life like this?” I’m worried this might just push her over the edge and I’m not sure I’m strong enough to support everyone. I can’t look like a pussy in front of Pops or Kyler.
“Come on boy, let’s move,” Pops says, clasping my shoulder. “We need to keep on our toes, get these girls to safety. Time to punch it.”
It seems we are off to the Jefferson house. I just pray I don’t lose Kyler when we get there.
Chapter Thirty-Four ~ Kyler
It’s been ten years since I’ve been home. I can feel myself tense up and start to freak, but I quickly gain control, so nobody can see how hard this is for me. I’ve noticed Caleb keeping a close eye on me since we left Travis’s house. Travis has mostly watched Caleb, but I’ve caught him checking on the twins and myself as well.
I see the road that will take us to the house, which is the only house around, because it sits on 300 acres. It’s why there were no witnesses.
“Caleb, you have to take the road on the right. It’s the only house down this road, but you will have a bit more of a drive to get there.”
He nods at me and I watch out my window as a fence and sign that says Jefferson’s Ranch comes into view. “About five more minutes up the road, then you’ll see the house come into view.” My anxiety is at its limits as I think about stepping back into the house, but I recover quickly as I look at my sleeping babies. No freaking out today, Ky.
We pull up to the house and Caleb glances at me in the mirror. I’m trying hard not to look tense. Out of the corner of my eye, Travis shakes his head at Caleb and smiles. I’m not quite sure why he’s smiling.
Caleb gets out of the truck and opens my door. Holding out his hand, he helps me get out first, then Ava. She’s still tired and a little grumpy. On the other side of the truck, Travis helps Jax out.
Caleb turns and reaches for my hand. “Are you ready, gorgeous?”
I look at the house I grew up in. Travis stands beside us.
“Can y’all walk in first?” I ask quietly.
“You’re freaking out, aren’t you?” Caleb asks. “Look we can—” Before he gets a chance to finish, Travis pulls him toward the front door. I suppose that’s his father’s way of being subtle.
I smile at Travis as he shuts Caleb up and pulls him toward the house. I tell Ava and Jax to go ahead, and they run to follow the men.
They all go in and I stand there looking around. I know that there is nobody within a ten-mile radius. If something goes wrong… I fall back against the truck; my legs don’t want to support the weight of my childhood or my decisions. My chest starts to tighten, then I hear feet on the gravel driveway. I look up to find Caleb crossing to me. I give him a small smile and he sighs, pulling me to his chest tightly.
"Hey, sweet man.” I breathe finally. The warmth and safety of his arms settles around me like a cocoon. “I’m gonna be okay. It’s just creepy being back here. I haven’t even seen the place since I left for school that morning. Just knowing that when I walk in the house everything is going to be the same unnerved me.”
I pull back from him; his silence maddens me. “Are you okay? You’ve been so rigid. I mean… I understand why, but we’re okay. I’m not freaking out as bad as I thought, and your father… Well, I don’t think he needs looking after as much as you think." I laugh a little.
“I’m all right; I just can’t help but worry about you is all.” Caleb kisses my forehead and then grabs the bags from the truck. “We need to get inside.” With a quick smile, he heads back toward the house.
“Yeah,” I answer halfheartedly, then chuckle. “I’m sure the kids are probably driving your father crazy about now. Want help with the bags
“I’m sure Pops can handle himself; he was a Marine after all.” He flashes me a grin and heads into the house.
I stand on the threshold, unsure. I look around for a minute wondering if I should run, but then the kids and Caleb pop around the corner, with Travis right behind them. Come on, Ky. You can do this. I step in and shut the door.
Caleb starts to speak, but I hold up my hand. “Travis, take your son upstairs and choose where you’re sleeping. All five bedrooms are upstairs. There are two guest rooms. There are also two bathrooms up there and a half bath down here.”
Before Caleb can get a word in edgewise, Travis pushes him toward the stairs. I send the kids to the living room and walk to the last place I saw my family alive, the kitchen. As I stand in the doorway, it looks like they could join me at any moment. The cleaning crews have done an impeccable job keeping everything in order. I sit at the table, put my head in my hands, and start to cry. After a few moments I hear footsteps and, wiping at my face and sniffing, I see Travis come in.
“Caleb is in with the kids. I thought maybe some coffee?” He clears his throat.
“I don’t think there’s—”
He puts up his hand and pulls a can of coffee and filters out of his shoulder bag. “I got this handled.”
I nod, sniffling again as he sets up the coffeepot.
“If you wanna get that lump out of your chest, you gotta talk about it, sweetheart,” he says quite plainly.
I take a deep breath, threading my fingers together as I look at him. “I remember it all so vividly. We were all sitting down for breakfast that morning. I was seven months pregnant with my babies, sitting right here in this chair, laughing and joking with Timmy, my eleven-year-old brother. We were making plans for after school. He was having to push me because I was feeling fat, unattractive, and lazy. I suggested we sit on the couch, veg out, and watch movies like we did when we were younger. I remember finishing my food and ruffling his hair… giving Mom and Dad a hug and kiss goodbye before I grabbed my bags and walked out to get in my car and leave for school. My dad was right behind me. He always did a little inspection to make sure I was properly maintaining the car. The last thing my father ever said to me was ‘’Bye, princess, I love you….’”
I look back up. Travis, watching me, slides a cup of coffee toward me.
“It’s those last words that tend to own us,” he says. “All we can do is try to move forward and make sure when the shit hits the fan we have plenty of ammo.”
He clasps my shoulder before heading out to take Caleb his coffee. He’s a man of few words, but the words he uses seem to fit the situation. I wasn’t looking for an emotional response like I would have gained with Caleb and he seemed to know that. I pick up my coffee and head up the back stairs, needing to see the rest of the house in small doses. The bedrooms, I decide, are important to deal with first.
I go to my old bedroom first. Everything still looks the same. I sit down on the bed and I feel someone watching me. Caleb. I can’t help but smile.
“Hey, I was wondering how long it would take you to come find me,” I say. “Do you think the kids will like staying in my old room?”
I’m trying to come off cool and collected. I’m strong, but damn, this is hard to deal with.
“I think they see this as some big adventure,” he says. “I don’t think they realize exactly what is happening which is good. So... Dad’s cooking, I apologize, but I think he wants to be useful. Maybe after dinner we could go for a walk around here or something. It’s just that I managed to piss Ryan off and so he’s stepping up his game and we need some ammunition to shut him down.” Caleb takes hold of my hand. “The meeting was a mistake. I misjudged it and fucked things up. You aren’t the only one who has people die just by gettin
g close to them. I nearly lost Dad tonight, and if anything happens to any of you, I won't forgive myself. I don’t mean to smother you. I’m just a bit out of my depth here and I’m sorry about that.”
Caleb takes a deep breath and then lets go of my hand, defeated. I grab his wrist before he can leave the room.
“I know you’re doing all you can. Please don’t think that it’s not enough. Thank you for trying to take care of us, but we are stronger than we look.”
He smiles sheepishly. “I’m going to make sure Pops doesn’t burn down the house.”
“I’ll be right behind you.”
I make my way downstairs and into the kitchen. Seeing Travis. I smile wide, grab Caleb, turn him toward me, and kiss him like my life depends on it. A lot has happened, and I think just maybe, it might help him. I hear Travis clear his throat, so I pull back, leaving Caleb panting.
I wipe at his still open mouth, looking over my shoulder to Travis. “You made mention about ammo. I think I have that covered.”
I take Caleb’s hand and lead him over to the window that faces the backyard. “You see the garage out there? The one made of reinforced steel? Well, it just so happens to have a code lock that only I know. Dad let me change it the day before everything happened. I’ve never told anyone the code.”
“Be smart about this, kids,” Travis says. He hardly looks up from his cooking. “Instead of going all gung ho and storming over there, we need to check all around it first and make sure it’s safe before opening it. It could be nothing, always remember that. I mean it has been neglected for almost a decade.” The man has a point. I mean what’s stopped anyone from demolishing the place in all these years…
“I don’t plan on going over there in the dark,” I say. “We wait ‘til we have a helluva lot more light.”
Caleb nods in agreement and then walks over to the stove. “So you cooked, huh?” He looks down into whatever it is that Travis has made.
I turn as I hear Ava. “Mommy, I’m hungry.”