Justice for Breeze

by Melissa Kay Clarke

  "Open the door, kid. I'm running out of patience."

  Finch's heart clenched when he heard a tiny voice say, "I want Daddy."

  "Tough shit, kid. Your daddy's gone. Get out here, now."

  The whimper that came from the closed door tore his heart out. That was the breaking point. Padding silently towards the room, Finch pasted himself against the wall and carefully peeked around the door jamb. Coal stood a couple of feet away, staring at the bathroom door. As Finch watched, he raised his fist and slammed it against the door.

  "Gaia!"

  "I'm Lolly," the tiny voice insisted.

  "Get your ass out here. I don't care what your name is." Coal grabbed the handle and shoved against the door hard with his shoulder. There was a sharp crack followed by Lolly's shrill screech of terror.

  "Pick on someone your own size, ass wipe."

  Coal whirled around, eyes ablaze. He shook his head. "I should have known Flint couldn't do anything right. I'll have to take care of you myself."

  "Daddy?"

  Finch's heart clenched at the hopeful tone in his daughter's voice. "Yeah, baby. Stay there. Keep the door locked."

  "I'm scared."

  Finch didn't have time to reassure Lolly. Coal chose that moment to barrel out of the room and attack. Finch was barely able to move back as Coal lunged forward, his knife held in his beefy paw. Finch twisted to the side and brought his elbow down toward Coal's arm. Coal managed to spin away, slashing at Finch as he danced out of the way. An eruption of fire in his side made Finch hiss. Wet blood poured down his torso. He grunted but managed to maintain a grip on the weapon.

  "Nice try, asshole," Coal snarled as he spun back down the sidewalk. All around him, he heard the sounds of doors opening and shouts asking what was going on. More than one telephone was raised, filming the fight as it unfolded. Where the hell was Railroad?

  "Put the knife down, Smith. The police are on the way. You're not getting away again." Finch hissed as liquid fire shot through his side.

  Coal glanced around at the people watching and snarled. He inched toward the van, but Finch took a step between it and him. Breeze was still inside, and he wasn't going to let him take off with her.

  "Who's gonna stop me? You're bleeding like a stuck pig." Coal swiped his bloody knife around at the spectators. "Anybody gets any ideas to be a hero; I'll kill you where you stand."

  "Daddy?"

  "Mother trucker," Finch muttered as he saw Lolly's frightened face behind Coal. "Lolly, get back..."

  In an instant, Coal grabbed the child and held her up in front of him while she fought and screamed. He placed the blade against her neck and leered at Finch.

  "Check and mate, asshole. Drop the blade and move or neither of us get her." He narrowed his eyes. "Did you hear me? Drop the knife, or so help me, I'll slit her throat."

  Finch's blood froze in his veins. He forced the words out much calmer than he felt. "I don't think you will. You need her."

  Coal's harsh chuckle echoed in the parking lot. "I'll find another. I come back with her, or nobody comes back at all. Either way, your precious daughter is gone. Ask yourself which would you rather have - her out there somewhere live or in a grave next to her mother? I always get my way."

  Finch flinched at the mention of Sarah. "You killed her. Why?"

  "She didn't want to be the mother of a living Goddess. Had she kept her damned mouth shut and done what she was told, she'd lived to see her daughter take over one day."

  "But not a minute longer, huh Smith? Sarah saw you for what you are and wanted nothing to do with you. She took Lolly and Breeze and ran. She couldn't stomach the thought of you anywhere near Lolly."

  Coal's lips thinned, and he pulled Lolly's tiny body tighter against his chest. "Doesn't matter now. I have them both. It won't take much to shove them into line." He took another step toward the van. "Drop the knife!"

  Shaking his head, Finch gripped the handle harder, ignoring the pain that set his side on fire. "You're not taking my daughter." Finch's eyes never left Coal.

  "Yeah, I am. MOVE!"

  Finch swallowed and glanced at Lolly. Her face was deathly white, and she had tears running down her cheeks. Her blue eyes were wide, and she sniffled. "Daddy?"

  "Shhh, baby. Stay still," he murmured. "Be very still."

  Finch never felt such pain in his life. His daughter hung in this madman's grip as he inched toward the running van. Over the din of the engine, he heard the faint cry of sirens, but would they get here in time?

  Coal must have heard them too, as he increased his pace. Around him, several people whispered, and more than one woman stood in shock. Every time someone moved toward them, Coal inched the knife closer to Lolly making her cry out in pain. A single drop of bright red slowly trailed down Coal's fingers. An overwhelming feeling of helplessness consumed Finch. "Last time. Drop the knife."

  Movement in the van caught Finch's peripheral vision. Slowly Breeze's head raised and looked out the window. He could see a dark smear on her forehead, and she carefully wiped at it with the back of her hand. With a glance, she realized what was going on, and he saw her resolve harden. She pointed to the door with a questioning shrug of her shoulders. It seemed she was trying to tell him she was going to distract him... but what about Lolly? If Coal's hand slipped, he would cut her throat. Finch didn't dare take a chance. Coal was only steps from the door now, and if Lolly disappeared inside, Finch felt he would never see her again. However, she would be alive, and if it took every moment of every day for the rest of his life, he would find her again, and when he did, Coal would die. Making up his mind, he barely shook his head. Lolly's life came first. Slowly he opened his hand and let the blade clatter to the sidewalk under him.

  "Good, now kick it away. Do it!"

  Finch shoved the toe of his boot against the knife and kicked it out of the way. In front of him, Coal grinned triumphantly.

  Coal raised his empty hand from where it rested on Lolly's belly and curled his fingers around her throat. The glint in his eyes was crystal clear. If anyone attempted rushing him, he would squeeze the life out of her. Finch felt fear like he had never experienced before seizing him. He stood perfectly still, watching as he slowly juggled the knife, using his hand to grip the door handle.

  Breeze chose that moment to strike, opening the door and slamming it into his hand, jamming the blade into his fingers. Coal let out a scream as surprise filled his eyes, letting the handle go in shock. Finch jumped forward, grabbed the fingers of Coal's hand where they gripped Lolly's neck and bent them back with a twist. He let her go in shock and Finch snatched her from his grasp. The knife in his other hand wobbled as he fought to get it under control. Shoving Lolly behind him, Finch closed his hand around Coal's and twisted it around. With a grunt, he slammed the blade into the muscle between Coal's neck and shoulder. The man staggered in surprise, falling against the side of the van in shock as both hands curled around the knife handle. He pulled at it with all of his waning strength, but a pool of blood bubbled up and made the handle too slick. With a grunt, Coal slid down the side of the van and collapsed to the sidewalk.

  Finch felt his daughter's trembling hands lock onto his pants leg. He wanted to reassure her, but the adrenaline that had been coursing through his body drained away, and his legs suddenly gave way. With a grunt, he hit the sidewalk on his knees; one hand went to the throbbing wound on his side while the other splayed on the sidewalk. He tried to take a deep breath, but it pulled at the slash, pouring blood through his fingers.

  Hands urged him to lie down, and someone brought out a blanket. He tried to wave them off, but the sight of Breeze kneeling beside him with a terrified Lolly in her arms changed his mind. The last thing he wanted was them seeing him bleed out. He was pretty sure the blade had skirted off a couple of ribs, but he had been bleeding for the last several minutes. In his weakened condition, he wouldn't be able to do anything. Giving in to the worry on their faces, he laid back. Someone pressed a towel to his
side, eliciting a hiss of pain from his lips. Reaching over, he cupped Breeze's face. Everything was going to be okay.

  "Dammit," Railroad limped up. He had a gash weeping blood over his left eye and his lip was split. "Somebody call the paramedics."

  "They're on the way." Anna's pale face peeked out from behind Railroad.

  Finch grunted as he lay back on the concrete. "You look like hell."

  "Yeah, you don't look much better." Railroad dropped to one knee beside him. Gently, he peeled the cloth back and studied Finch's wound. "You got some stitches in your future."

  "Figures," Finch muttered then closed his eyes and took in a couple of breaths. "Flint?"

  "Trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey. I found the clerk tied up in the back of the office. While I was getting her loose, that third guy, Blaze, brained me with a lamp." He reached up and rubbed the back of his head, pulling his fingers away with a few drops of blood. "Nothing too bad, but it did take me a few minutes to get out here. They're both in the office."

  "Good," Finch muttered as he closed his eyes against nausea. Opening them, he looked up into Railroad's face. "Where's Lolly and Breeze? Are they all right?" He started to get up.

  "They're right here," Railroad growled. "Stay still. You're aggravating the wound."

  Breeze picked up Finch's hand and pressed it to her lips. In her lap, Lolly's eyes were as big as saucers and she looked like she was about to cry.

  "I'm ok, Lolly-pop. Daddy's going to get fixed up and everything will be fine." He looked at his friend, "Rail. Do me a favor?"

  "Anything."

  He squeezed Breeze's hand gently. "Keep an eye on my girls for me. Breeze isn't that comfortable in a hospital, and Lolly's been through a lot."

  "You don't even have to ask, brother. Your family is mine."

  As a second siren sounded in the distance, Finch heard a nearby voice raise slightly. "Excuse me? Did someone order pizza?"

  Chapter 22

  Tiny fingers squished against Finch's cheeks, pressing his lips together. "Daddy?" a soft, little voice whisper-shouted. "Are you waked up, Daddy?"

  "Lolly," Finch's mother admonished softly. "We need to wait for your Daddy to wake up on his own. Remember what we talked about."

  "'Kay, Mamaw," she sighed. "But I want him waked up now."

  "I know you do, but we have to wait. Come down off the bed and be careful. Remember he's hurt."

  He opened his eyes and grinned at the cherubic face only a few inches from him. "I'm awake, Lolly-Pop."

  The smile that shone from her would have caused the sun to dim. Leaning down, she kissed his nose then blew on his cheek. "I splurburt you, Daddy."

  Gently, he curled his arms around her and blew on her cheek. "I splurburt you too, Lolly-pop."

  She climbed up on his chest, causing a twinge when she accidentally kicked the thick bandage on his ribs. Wincing, he slammed his lips shut to keep the groan from erupting. He didn't want to upset his daughter or his mother.

  "Lolly! We talked about this. You can't climb on Daddy right now. He's got a boo-boo."

  "It's okay, Ma." Slowly he sat up and scooted up in the bed until his back was braced against the headboard. He felt a little weak still, but he was on the mend. He looked around the room. "Where is everyone?"

  Mom stood from the recliner in the corner and gently straightened the covers. Smoothing them with her hand, she asked, "You mean Breeze?"

  Her tone held a bit of disapproval still. He let out a breath and laid his head back, glancing at the cheap hotel picture on the wall. He was glad to not be in the hospital, but being babied by his mother was almost worse than the constant stream of nurses that found reasons to check on him. The doctor wanted to keep him overnight for observation, but he wouldn't have been able to take being away from his girls another minute. Instead, he had bargained, begged, and pleaded until the doctor relented and discharged him with orders to take it easy for at least twenty-four hours. As a result, he was now back in the hotel in San Antonio being babied by his mother.

  "Yeah, Mom, Breeze. Where is she?"

  She continued to run her fingers over the covers while Lolly sat beside him, talking to her plush dog. Crossing his arms over his chest, he looked at her. "Mom?"

  "She went down to the restaurant to get Lolly some waffles."

  "Ma! The restaurant quits serving breakfast at ten am. It's almost three in the afternoon. And when they do serve breakfast, they don't have waffles." He looked at his daughter suspiciously. "Did you want waffles?"

  Her blonde curls bounced as she nodded her head. "I told Mamaw I want fench flies, but Mamaw said I needed to eat more so I said I wanted wabbles, too."

  Finch grimaced. "Dammit," he swore softly. "That girl can't find her way out of a wet paper bag. You shouldn't have let her go alone. Why didn't you send one of the guys to get the food?"

  "I think she was getting a little cabin fever. She's not talked much, just sat by your side watching you."

  What if she gets lost and can't find her way back?" He threw the covers back out of her hands and sat on the edge of the bed. "I have to go find her."

  "No, you're not." His mother took a deep breath. "Asher, I've seen how she watches you. What she feels for you is more than what should be between an employer and employee. It would be easier to let her go now, rather than draw things out. The longer you wait, the harder it's going to be on Lolly. They are already so close."

  "Ma."

  She put her hand up. "No, listen to me. As long as she's staying with you, it's going to be difficult to bring ladies home on dates. Lolly will need a..." she looked over at the little girl watching them intently. ".. an M-O-T-H-E-R someday. You owe it to her to settle down. I talked to Mr. Titus while you were sleeping. He told me you could probably get a hardship exit and if not, your current tour will be up in a few months. Lolly can come live with us until you are done. You can finish out then leave the service, move back home to Knoxville."

  "No."

  The hope in her face fell. "Don't be stubborn, Asher."

  He slid his fingers through his hair, wincing when the movement pulled at his side. "I'm not leaving the SEALs. You've been against me serving ever since I came home from school in the fourth grade and told you I wanted to go into the Navy. I was determined then, and I'm determined now. I'm not leaving my team. Bruiser shouldn't have talked to you about my options because they are mine. I'll make the best choice for Lolly and for me. As for Breeze, you may as well get used to the idea of her being a part of my family. She loves Lolly and Lolly loves her. She gave up everything she has ever known to ensure my daughter is safe and happy. If anything, I owe her more than I can ever repay."

  "What about her ties to that cult? What if they come looking for them again?"

  "It's being taken care of. Look, Ma, I love you, I do, but this is one of those times you need to butt out. My mind is made up. Breeze is staying." He looked around and picked up a pair of sweatpants from the foot of the bed. "Now, if you'll keep an eye on Lolly, I need to go find Breeze."

  "Of course I'll watch Lolly, but you need to stay here. One of the guys can go find her. You're barely out of the hospital. Why does it have to be you?"

  Finch closed his eyes and shook his head. "Ma, I told you, she's important to Lolly, and she's... she's important to me too."

  He opened his eyes to see his mother's look of utter shock. "Oh, Asher, no. You can't mean..."

  "Yeah, Ma. Someday, if she'll have me, I intend on making it permanent. I love her." It still amazed him to realize it was true, but down deep in his soul, he knew it was. Breeze was it for him. She'd snuck in under the radar and took his heart. He couldn't help but grin at the thought.

  His mother drew back in shock. "Jake!"

  The door between his room and Railroad's opened, and his father stuck his head in where he had been playing poker with Finch's team. Smiling broadly, he glanced at his wife. "You bellowed, dear?"

  She pointed her finger at Finch. "Talk to your
son. He thinks he's going to marry Breeze! He barely knows her. Go on, talk some sense into him."

  Jake Finchly snorted and shook his head. "If he says he's going to marry her, then I guess he's going to. Alice, it has nothing to do with us. The boy is twenty-eight years old and a Navy SEAL. If the US government thinks he's capable of making decisions involving our nation's security, then I think he should know his mind. For God's sake, quit mothering him."

  "But..." She looked between them and slowly closed her eyes. "I just don't know."

  "If that's the way you feel, then it's a good thing it's not up to you. But, I will tell you this; if he makes that decision, you better get used to the idea because I'm not going to put up with upsetting Lolly. She's been out of our lives too long already, and I won't tolerate you making it worse. If there's one thing I learned out of this entire thing, you better hold on to the ones you love for as long as you can because you never know when you won't have them any longer." He looked at his granddaughter. "You want to come with me, and we'll show these boys how to play a little poker?"

  "Yush!" Lolly hopped off Finch's bed and ran to her grandfather. "Daddy, we gonna play poder." Jake picked her up and went back into the room, closing the door behind him, leaving Finch with his mother.

  "Well," she muttered. "Okay then."

  Finch fought to keep the smirk from his face, looking down as he carefully stood and pulled the sweatpants up over legs, securing them with the tie at his waist. He knew his parents loved each other desperately and he could probably count on his fingers the times they argued where their children could hear them. His father picked his battles carefully, and it was probably that reason she didn't have anything else to say. She was too shocked.

  He sat back on the bed and picked up his boot when the door to the room opened. Glancing over his shoulder, relief spread through him when he saw Breeze's beautiful face glance in with a bit of trepidation. She was carrying a plastic bag in her hand with the name of a local fast food restaurant on the side and a cup of something steaming in her other hand. Thinking quickly, Finch tried to remember where the closest store was. It had to be several blocks at least.