No Safe Place

by Christine Kersey

  That sounded great to Matt, and when he looked at the others, they were nodding or smiling like they agreed. At this point they were all just very appreciative that Frank and Sarah were letting them stay at all.

  “Thank you for your hospitality,” Matt said. “We’re truly grateful.”

  “Agreed,” Derrick said.

  “Maybe down the road,” Frank said, “we can create some additional housing.”

  That brought a lift to Matt’s eyebrows. Was Frank implying he would let them stay?

  “If,” he added, his voice stern, “having you all here works out.”

  Okay. So, it was still uncertain, although Matt believed the idea was growing on Frank. Matt would do everything he could to prove that having them there was an asset rather than a burden

  “Let me show you the rooms,” Sarah said to Matt, Jessica, Chris, and Amy. She smiled at Jeff and Emily. “You’ll use your usual room.”

  The two couples followed Sarah down the hall where two bedrooms were situated with a bathroom in between. “This room is where Jeff and Emily always stay. The four of you can decide who gets the other bedroom down here and who gets the space over the garage.”

  Beyond thrilled that he and Jessica would have a private room, Matt didn’t care which room was theirs.

  Amy glanced at Matt and Jessica. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to stay on the main floor so we’re close to where our boys are sleeping.”

  Matt glanced at Jessica, who nodded, then said, “Works for us.”

  “Let me show you where you’ll sleep,” Sarah said.

  Matt and Jessica followed her through the living room and kitchen and down a short hallway. At the end, on the left, was a door that led to the garage, while on the right was a staircase. Up the stairs they went, and when they reached the top, he saw a landing with two doors—one led to a spacious open area and the other to a small bathroom.

  This place was getting better and better. Paradise, as far as he was concerned. He turned to Sarah. “This is amazing.”

  She smiled at him. “Despite Frank’s grumpiness, we’re glad you’re here. We’ve been worried about the Emperors and…” Her eyes tightened with concern as she shook her head. “Now though, I feel much safer.”

  Warmth for Emily’s aunt shot through Matt. He smiled. “We’ll do everything we can to protect this place.” The farm was a safe haven from this brutal world and Matt had every intention of keeping it that way.

  That night, as Matt and Jessica snuggled in the sleeping bags they’d zipped together, he relished the sense of security being in this house gave him.

  Until a knock sounded on his door.

  “Come in.”

  Jeff poked his head in. “Both of you get up. Someone’s here.” Then he closed the door.

  Alarmed, Matt turned to Jessica. Her eyes were wide.

  Chapter Three

  Jessica

  Jessica wondered who it could be. The Emperors? A different enemy? Certainly no one friendly. Not this late at night. It was past ten o’clock.

  She climbed out of the sleeping bag and yanked on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt by the light of the moon trickling in through the open blinds. Matt had already thrown on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt and was tying his shoes.

  “Who do you think it is?” she asked, as if Matt knew something she didn’t.

  He shook his head. “No idea.” Pausing briefly, he added, “I don’t hear any shooting or yelling or anything, so maybe it’s nothing bad.”

  She hoped he was right, but her heart stuttered with fear nonetheless. Then she remembered that their children were in the living room. Downstairs. Forgoing putting on her shoes, she hurried to their bedroom door and pulled it open. “The kids. We need to hurry.”

  Clearly understanding her intent, Matt was right behind her. They dashed to the top of the stairs, but when calm voices floated upward, Jessica’s pounding heartbeat began to settle. She glanced at Matt, who looked just as confused as she felt, then she descended the stairs and made her way into the living room.

  The space was lit with a variety of candles sitting on side tables and the entertainment center. A battery-powered lantern sat in the middle of the coffee table, illuminating the assembled group. All of the adults, along with the teenagers, were sitting or standing—the little ones were asleep in the adjacent office space. In the center of it all sat a man who looked to be in his early seventies. He had a cane resting across his thighs. Frank and Sarah sat on either side of him on the couch talking to him in low voices.

  “Everyone’s here now,” Jeff said with a look in Jessica and Matt’s direction.

  All eyes went to them before going back to the old man.

  “Sit here, Mom,” Dylan said, standing from the chair where he’d been sitting before settling on the floor nearby.

  “Thanks, honey,” Jessica said as she sat in the vacated chair while Matt leaned against a wall.

  “Sorry to wake you,” Frank began, his gaze gliding over the group. He looked at the visitor. “This is Walter Powell. He lives down the road.”

  Her eyes riveted on the man, Jessica waited to see what was so important that the entire group needed to gather together after they’d already gone to bed.

  Walter cast his gaze around, seeming to take the measure of each and every one of them, then he looked at Frank and gave him a grim smile. He adjusted his cane across his lap. “Frank told me you all just arrived here today.”

  Heads nodded all around.

  “He also told me that you had an encounter with the Emperors.”

  At the mention of the gang who’d terrorized them and stolen all they had, Jessica felt her chest tighten with a mix of fear and anger.

  “That’s right,” Jeff said in a tone that showed he was still furious that his truck and trailer had been taken. “What do you know about them?”

  Eyes narrowing, Walter focused on Jeff. “I remember you.” He glanced at Emily. “Have you married Frank and Sarah’s niece yet?”

  Jeff’s jaw tightened but he didn’t reply.

  Walter made a scoffing sound. “Didn’t think so.”

  “Why are you here?” Derrick asked, obviously trying to refocus the conversation to what was most important.

  Walter looked his way. “We need to unite.”

  Uniting reminded Jessica of the neighborhood cooperative back home, which was why they’d had to flee in the first place. She looked at Matt. His eyebrows had shot up as he stared at Walter. It looked like he felt the same way she did.

  “What did you have in mind?” Derrick asked, evidently willing to listen before shutting the man down.

  “We have a common enemy in the Emperors,” Walter started. “If we band together we’ll be able to fight them, to keep them from taking all we have.”

  Jessica couldn’t help but think that uniting would only benefit Walter. After all, their group had several battle-hardened members. Who did Walter have? Besides, she didn’t want to be in a war. Especially when the Emperors had no idea that she and the rest of her group were still around. She would prefer to fly under the radar and keep their presence quiet.

  “What have they taken from you?” Jeff asked.

  Lips pursing, Walter wrapped his hands around his cane until his knuckles turned white, then, with jaw clenched, he said, “Everything that matters.”

  What did that mean? Jessica had to know more. “Can you be more specific?”

  All eyes shifted to her before boomeranging back to Walter. He cleared his throat like he was getting his emotions under control. “I lost my wife well before the bird flu hit, but that nasty flu took my daughter. Her husband and three children were spared.” His chin quivered, which surprised Jessica. Then he lifted his chin and stared into the distance. “My grandchildren—all that’s left of my daughter, you understand...” He shook his head and briefly closed his eyes before blinking and sweeping his gaze across the group. “Three nights ago, those Emperors took two of them—both of the
teenagers.”

  Gasps filled the room, including Jessica’s. And when she remembered the way Emperor Randy had licked his lips while suggesting keeping either Kayla or Brooke, she couldn’t stop a shudder from cascading through her body.

  “Boys or girls?” Derrick asked. “Your grandchildren they took.”

  “One of each,” Frank said in a near-whisper. “My other grandson—he’s only seven—is home with my son-in-law.”

  Knowing that Randy had Walter’s grandchildren made Jessica sick. What had he done with them? Were they suffering? Were they even still alive?

  Her first instinct was to help Walter get his grandchildren back, but before the thought could fully form in her mind, she pictured Randy’s face, saw the tattoos snaking up both of his arms, remembered the evil that poured off of him like poison. The fear of confronting him hit her like a physical thing and she actually recoiled. She didn’t want to be anywhere near him. She didn’t want anyone she cared about to be anywhere near him either.

  Had coming to this place been a mistake? Had she and Matt put their children in grave danger?

  She sought out Matt with her eyes, and when he looked at her, she saw her worry reflected there.

  Chapter Four

  Matt

  On the surface, Walter’s suggestion made sense to Matt. Join forces to fight the bad guys. But who was on Walter’s side? Had he recruited others? Or were Matt and his group the first ones he’d gone to? The only ones who would do the fighting?

  Matt could see in Jessica’s face the concern that he felt. He remembered looking into Randy’s eyes and seeing nothing, like Randy had no soul. The man was evil incarnate. Matt didn’t want to tangle with him. Not unless he had to. There had been at least a dozen Emperors with Randy when Matt and his family had been forced off the freeway. How many more were there?

  This was nothing like facing the neighborhood cooperative back home. This was ten times worse.

  Overwhelmed, all Matt knew was that he had no desire to come into contact with Randy or his gang ever again.

  “I have some questions,” Chris said.

  Matt looked at Chris and his wife Amy. Their two young boys were sound asleep on the floor of the small study nearby. How would it be to have such a young family to protect? Then he looked at his own family. Two beautiful teenaged daughters and a fourteen-year-old son. They were vulnerable too. Probably more vulnerable than Chris’s kids. Anyway he sliced it, this was all bad.

  “What are your questions?” Walter asked, his voice steady now.

  “How many people have you recruited?”

  Matt was glad Chris was asking the question he was sure they were all wondering.

  Walter shook his head. “Only a few so far. But we’ll get more. I’m sure of it.”

  For a full minute, no one spoke, no one volunteered to join Walter in his crusade, and as the silence dragged on, Walter slowly rose, pressing the foot of his cane into the thick carpet as he leaned on it. “Okay then,” he said with a sigh, “I’ll let you talk it over and you can get back to me.” He looked at Frank. “You know where to find me.”

  Frank nodded, then walked Walter to the door before coming back to the couch. The sound of a vehicle starting up filled the night, and as the sound of the engine faded, Matt turned to the group with a deep frown. “We’ve already fought bad people back home. That’s why we drove seven hundred miles. To start fresh. Not to start a brand-new war.”

  “Walter is a good man,” Frank said as he leaned forward on the couch. “His grandkids are all he has now. I can’t imagine what he must be going through.” He shook his head, the glow of the lantern lighting up the frown on his face. “Wondering if his grandkids are okay.” He looked at Matt’s kids. “They’re about your age, I think.”

  Matt could see dread etched on the faces of Kayla, Brooke, and Dylan. It ate him up to see his kids like that. He looked right at them. “That’s not going to happen to you.”

  Sixteen-year-old Kayla wrapped her arms around herself. “How do you know?”

  “We’re not gonna let it,” Derrick said, his voice low, his tone confident.

  Matt regarded Derrick, who sat ramrod straight, his shoulders back and his chin up. Then he looked at Jeff and Chris. Their faces were just as set, just as firm. All three were ex-military. A fierce smile lifted the corners of Matt’s lips. If they were going to be safe with anyone, it was with this group.

  “What do you think Walter expects from us?” Matt asked.

  Derrick frowned. “To fight the Emperors and save his grandkids.”

  Everyone was quiet, lost in their own thoughts.

  Matt refused to imagine what it would be like if his own kids were taken by the Emperors—the idea was too awful. Instead, he pictured their small group going up against the Emperors’ large gang. It would be a bloodbath.

  “I don’t know about the rest of you,” Matt said, “but I don’t want to start a war with the Emperors.” A war that could kill people he loved.

  “As much as I’d love to take Randy down,” Derrick said, “my priority is keeping all of you safe. Going up against Randy and the rest of the Emperors would be the exact opposite.”

  Glad Derrick felt the same way he did, Matt looked at each person before saying, “Are we in agreement? We’re going to stay away from the Emperors?” He glanced at Frank. Maybe Frank wanted to join with his friend. Was Matt endangering his family’s place here by refusing to throw in his lot with Walter?

  “All in favor of standing down,” Derrick said.

  Nearly every hand went up. The only ones that didn’t belonged to Frank and Sarah.

  All eyes shifted to them.

  “You want to join with him, Uncle Frank?” Emily asked.

  Frank sighed. “What I want is for life to go back to how it was, but that’s not going to happen. In its place, I want to do what’s right, and what’s right is helping my longtime friend get his grandkids back.”

  Hearing it stated like that sent a stab of guilt right into Matt’s heart. If it was his kids that had been taken, he would be desperate to get help from anyone. Still, he wasn’t ready to risk the life of his family for Frank’s friend. When no one said anything, Frank shook his head, took Sarah by the hand, and left the room.

  “I want to do what’s right too,” Matt said, “but not at the expense of my family and all of you.”

  “We all feel guilty,” Chris said. “I know I do.” He sighed. “If things were different, if we didn’t have our families to protect, then yeah, I’d be all for going after those creeps. But the reality is, as far as the Emperors know, we’re long gone. I’d rather them keep thinking that.”

  “Part of me wants to go after Randy,” Jeff said with a scowl. “Badly.”

  Emily looked at him with raised eyebrows. “But?”

  Jeff chuckled. “But nothing. I want to take that loser down. Hard.” He sobered. “But I’ll abide by the consensus of the group. Besides, it’s inevitable that we’ll run in to Randy eventually. We can deal with him then.”

  Matt knew he was right and he dreaded that day. “Until then,” Matt said, “I’d like to live in peace. I don’t want to go out looking for trouble.”

  “Agreed,” Derrick said. “We just got here.” One side of his mouth tugged up in a grin. “Let’s not stir up trouble. Yet.”

  “Let’s not stir it up at all,” Jessica said. “Why can’t we just mind our own business and focus on surviving?”

  Matt saw the earnestness on Jessica’s face and wanted to reassure her that they could do exactly that, but in the back of his mind he knew they’d have to face Randy and the Emperors at some point. Randy and his crew believed they controlled this area. But this area was where Matt and his family lived now. A confrontation was unavoidable, although Matt dearly hoped that day was a long time off.

  “Thinking about Walter’s grandkids with those guys makes me sick to my stomach,” Jessica said, her forehead creased. “But thinking about losing any of you terrifies
me.” She shook her head and softly sighed. “I’m just not ready to take that risk.” Her voice lowered. “Not yet anyway.”

  “Those guys scared me,” Paisley said. “I’d…” she shook her head. “I agree with Jessica. Mind our own business and stay out of it.”

  Amy smiled at Paisley and put a reassuring hand on her arm.

  “I disagree,” Dylan said.

  Surprised, Matt turned to his son. “About what?”

  Dylan’s jaw was set as his hands clenched into fists. “We should take Randy out. He’s a bully and a thief. And if he took some kids?” He shook his head, his nostrils flaring. “We could be next.” He looked at Matt. “Don’t say it won’t happen to us. You don’t know that.”

  Matt couldn’t argue with him because he was right. Matt had no idea what the future held. But he would do everything within his power to make sure his kids weren’t taken, and if that included not stepping up to save someone else’s kids, then that’s what he would do. Even if his son thought less of him for making that choice.

  Derrick stood. “Look. We’re all tired. We can discuss this in the morning.”

  Dylan sighed, his shoulders slumping.

  Matt would talk to Dylan in private, try to help him understand his own point of view. In the meantime, he knew they couldn’t let their guard down. Not for a minute. Had anyone been on watch when Walter had arrived? Everyone was in the same room now, so clearly no one was on watch at that moment.

  Matt looked at Derrick. “What are we doing about security? I mean, no one’s on watch right now.”

  Frowning, Derrick nodded. “That’s a failure on my part. We should always have someone on watch.”

  “It’s not all on you,” Jeff said. “We’re all adults here.” He glanced at the three teenagers and chuckled. “Well, most of us.”

  “I can handle myself,” Dylan said, obviously offended by Jeff’s implication that he and the girls weren’t fully capable of doing what the adults could do.

  “No doubt,” Jeff said, “and you’ll definitely get your turn to be on watch, but we need to be deliberate in the way we go about it.”