Derrick and Chris parked their vehicles near Frank’s truck, then they trotted over to Jeff, who had closed and locked the gate before blocking the driveway with the box truck.
“How’s Matt?” Derrick asked Jeff as the three of them walked toward the house.
“Feeling like crap, but he’ll be okay. Sarah fixed him up.”
“Good to hear.”
Jeff looked in the direction of the three trailers. “Kind of surprised you got ‘em.” He glanced at Derrick and Chris. “Jessica said the Emperors showed up.”
Derrick replayed what had happened after Matt and Jessica had left.
“An explosion?”
Derrick nodded. “Yep. No idea if it was on purpose or not.”
“Huh.”
When they reached the front porch, Derrick looked over the front of the property and toward the driveway. “We ought to camouflage the entrance. It’s not real noticeable unless you know where to turn, but let’s make it even harder to see.”
Jeff nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
The three of them gathered brush and put it in a pile. While they were working, Frank came out to see what they were doing. After they explained, he suggested attaching the brush to chicken wire he had in his barn.
They worked together to create two blinds, then dragged them past the box truck and through the gate, which Frank had opened. They attached the blinds to the gate, which would camouflage it while at the same time make it easy to open and close without having to move the blinds each time.
Derrick went through the gate, closing it behind him, then strode out onto the empty road, walking backwards for a distance before jogging forward. A vehicle would be driving a lot faster than he was jogging, but unless the driver knew where the entrance was, it would be easy to drive right past it.
Grinning, Derrick went back to the gate and went through, walking over to Frank, Jeff, and Chris. “It’ll work.”
They nodded and smiled, pleased with their efforts.
Frank shaded his eyes as he looked toward the trailers. “Let’s find a spot for those trailers.”
Feeling good that despite the Emperors showing up they’d managed to get three trailers, Derrick walked with the other men toward the vehicles.
“Anyone thirsty?” Jessica asked as she, Emily, Amy, and Paisley came out of the house carrying glasses of water.
“Thanks,” Derrick said. He took a glass from Paisley and downed it in one long gulp. The cool water refreshed him. He smiled at Paisley. “Where’s your daughter?” She usually had the little girl right with her.
Paisley smiled in return. “Brooke and Kayla are playing with her.”
Derrick took a moment to study Paisley. She was a tiny thing—couldn’t be over five feet two inches. Her long blonde hair was up in a ponytail, emphasizing the soft curve of her jaw and her full lips. Her green eyes sparkled, drawing Derrick in.
When they’d rescued Paisley and her daughter from the side of the road, Derrick had been reluctant to let them come with their group. He knew now that he’d been wrong. She worked as hard as anyone else from their group. Harder than some. Now that he thought about it, every time he saw her she was engaged in some activity to keep the farm running.
Startled that he’d noticed so much about her, he tore his gaze away from her and turned to Jessica. “How’s Matt doing?”
Jessica’s eyebrows tugged together. “He’s in a lot of pain, but Sarah’s taking good care of him.”
Anger at Randy and his gang stormed through Derrick. Then he remembered that he and Chris had dispatched six of Randy’s men. That was six fewer men to hurt innocent people. He just wished they knew where the Emperors’ base was so they could get rid of all of them like the vermin that they were.
“Does Sarah need us to find anything for Matt?” Derrick asked. “Like antibiotics?”
“There’s enough from what we got on our way out here, so we’re good there.”
Derrick thought about their experience on the road and the small gang that had taken over the pharmacy, extorting people in exchange for desperately needed medicine. Why did some people think it was okay to prey on others? It infuriated him.
“That’s good news, at least,” he said.
“Do you need help parking the trailers?” Jessica smiled. “I always helped Matt park the fifth wheel, although sometimes we ended up annoyed with each other.”
Derrick chuckled.
Amy put an arm around Chris’s waist. “It will be nice to have our own space.” Then she looked at Frank as a blush climbed her cheeks. “I mean, we really appreciate your hospitality, but the boys can get a little…rambunctious.”
Frank laughed. “I understand. And we’re glad you’re here.”
Amy smiled softly. “Thank you.”
“I was wondering,” Paisley began, drawing everyone’s attention to her, “who will be using the trailers?”
Derrick couldn’t stop his gaze from sliding over her.
Annoyed with himself for being attracted to her, he knew he had to crush that right away. Things were too uncertain, too tense.
“Matt and I will use that one,” Jessica said, pointing to the trailer attached to Frank’s truck. “The other two are for Chris and Amy and you and Serena.”
Paisley’s forehead creased as she looked at each person. “Are you sure?” Her gaze went to Derrick. “What about you? Don’t you want your own space?”
Those eyes. They seemed to see right into him. Distracted for a moment, when he realized he was staring, he tore his gaze away from her and looked at the trailers. “No, I’m good. I mean, I’ll get something later.”
“Okay. Thank you. I…I really appreciate it.”
Refusing to look at her again, Derrick took a step toward the vehicles and trailers. “Let’s get these bad boys parked.”
“I’ll keep watch,” Jeff offered as he trotted off.
Working together, the group got all three trailers positioned and leveled. It took some time, but when they were done, Derrick thought it didn’t look half bad.
“Where are the keys?” Frank asked.
Frowning, Derrick said, “We don’t have them.”
Frank’s eyebrows shot up. “That’ll make it a little harder to get inside, but not impossible.”
Before they had a chance to do anything about it, Derrick heard Jeff shouting near the fence line, “Hold it right there! Hands where I can see them.”
Chapter Nineteen
Derrick
Without thinking twice, Derrick drew his weapon—one of the guns he’d taken from the dead Emperors at the RV dealership. Holding it in the low ready position, he swiveled toward the area where Jeff stood and scanned the fence line. Chris, Frank, Emily, and Jessica were right beside him, their weapons drawn as well.
“Do you see anything?” Chris asked Derrick, his voice soft.
Squinting in the direction of the fence line, when Derrick saw movement, he said, “There. To the right of Jeff. Four men.”
Now that he had his targets in view, Derrick marched forward, his gun pointed at the intruders. Chris was by his side and the others were on his flank.
The men had stopped just on the other side of the fence, their hands in the air.
“I’m Walter’s son-in-law,” one of the men shouted.
Derrick flashed back to the man who had shown up on the night they’d arrived, pleading for help to get his grandchildren back from the Emperors. Were these men legit?
“Where’s Walter?” Jeff asked.
Derrick reached Jeff’s side. The men were about twenty yards away.
“Home. He got hurt earlier.”
“How did he get hurt?”
“Got a little too close to a flame.”
Were they the ones who had blown up the propane tank? “Where did this happen?”
The man grinned. “You were there. At the RV dealership.”
So, they were involved in the explosion. Still, how did he know this guy was actually Wa
lter’s son-in-law and not Emperors who had somehow found their group and were bent on revenge for Derrick and Chris killing six of their men? “How do we know you are who you say you are?”
The men were quiet a moment, then the one who said he was Walter’s son-in-law said, “Walter came over a little over a week ago. Guess it was the night you guys got here. Said he asked you to help him get my kids back. You said no.”
Guilt swept over Derrick, but he tamped it down.
It was extremely unlikely the Emperors would know that info. These guys were legit. Still pointing his gun at the men, Derrick nodded. “Put your hands down and come over.”
“Would you mind lowering your weapons?” one of the men asked as they let their arms fall to their sides.
“I’m sure you understand why I can’t. I don’t know you.”
“We saved your butts today.”
Derrick thought it over. If those men hadn’t set off that explosion, who knew what would have happened? He lowered his weapon but didn’t holster it. Jeff and the others did the same.
The men crossed the fence and approached them. They had guns on their hips, but with their friendly smiles and relaxed bodies, Derrick didn’t think they were a threat. The four men stopped in front of Derrick and Jeff, glancing at the people arrayed behind Derrick.
The one who said he was Walter’s son-in-law looked Derrick in the eye. “I’m Jack Andrews.” He pointed to the other men. “This is Scott, Charlie, and Ben.”
Derrick nodded at them but didn’t extend his hand. The virus could still be a risk. He wasn’t going to take a chance. He did holster his weapon though. The others in his group followed his lead.
“Thanks for earlier,” Derrick said, “at the dealership.”
One side of Jack’s mouth quirked up. “It was definitely our pleasure.”
Still kind of flabbergasted that Jack had been there at just the right time, Derrick tilted his head as his eyebrows tugged together. “How’d you end up being there right when we needed you?”
Jack chuckled. “It wasn’t planned that way, obviously.”
“Right.”
“Ever since the Emperors took my kids…” Jack swallowed before clearing his throat.
Talking to this man face to face and seeing how devastated he was by what had happened to him because of the Emperors only fueled Derrick’s hatred of the group.
“Anyway,” Jack said, “I’ve been trying to find where the Emperors’ home base is. We were out on a scavenging run when we saw a parade of cars go by. The only time I ever see that many cars at once is when the Emperors are around, so it was a no brainer to follow them. I was hoping they’d lead us right to Mark and Ella.”
Jack paused another moment before frowning. “When they stopped at that RV dealership, I’d hoped we’d finally found my children. We parked a distance away and crept up to check things out. That’s when we saw you and the others.” He glanced at Jessica and Chris. “Walter recognized you all right away, and when one of Randy’s men shot your friend, we knew we needed to intervene.”
Wow. They’d had no idea they were being observed. Of course, they’d been kind of busy dealing with Randy and his gang. Derrick was just glad it was the good guys who’d been there watching them.
“Walter figured there would be a propane tank on the lot,” Jack said, “and he was right.” A harsh smile lifted his lips. “We took advantage of the opportunity it presented.”
Something occurred to Derrick. “How did you know the explosion wouldn’t kill me or Chris?”
Jack’s smile wavered. “We didn’t, but it was a chance we had to take. Also, Walter thought the tank was far enough away from you so that it wouldn’t kill you.”
Smirking, Derrick said, “No. Only ring my bell.”
“See? Walter was right. You’re not dead.”
That brought a round of laughter from everyone.
Derrick sobered. “We did manage to take out six of Randy’s men.”
Jack’s eyebrows went up. “Nice.”
Remembering how he and Chris hadn’t seen anyone around shortly after the explosion, Derrick asked, “You took off pretty fast.”
A smile slowly curved Jack’s lips as he nodded. “That’s because when Randy and his crew fled, we followed them.” He paused dramatically. “Right to their lair.”
That got Derrick’s attention. His heart began to pound with anticipation. “You found their hideout?”
Jack’s chin lifted as his shoulders went back. “Yep.”
“Nice.”
Jeff grinned. “Sweet.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Jack added. “We need more people before we rescue my kids.” Jack paused a beat. “And take out Randy.”
Derrick liked where this conversation was headed. Randy and his men needed to be stopped. Permanently.
Derrick didn’t even check with the others in his group. He didn’t have to. He knew how they felt. “We’re in.”
Chapter Twenty
Derrick
“How many people do you have?” Derrick asked Jack. Frank had led the group around back to the covered patio to discuss their plans in more detail.
Jack’s lips tilted downward like he was less than happy about his answer. Then he swept his arms outward toward the three men that were with him. “You’re looking at it.”
Great.
Jack must have read the disappointment in Derrick’s expression because he said, “That’s why Walter asked for your help. We can’t do it on our own.”
No kidding.
But would Jack and his men plus Derrick, Jeff, Chris, and Frank be enough?
“So,” Derrick said, “that gives us eight.”
“Wait a second,” Jessica said, her eyebrows forming an angry V. “You’re completely ignoring the rest of us.” She motioned to Emily, Amy, and Paisley. Then, after the briefest of hesitations, she glanced at Dylan. “Those men shot my husband. I’m not going to sit here and let you all fight on my behalf.” She lifted her chin. “I’ve been training with the rest of you and I’m actually a pretty good shot. I want to fight the Emperors too.”
Rather surprised by the passion in her voice, Derrick was pleased. Although he was pretty sure Matt wouldn’t want her to go. But they needed her. And anyone else who would help. He looked at each of the other women. Emily nodded with certainty. Amy bit her lip, but Paisley stared right at Derrick before nodding.
“I’m in,” Dylan said before Derrick even looked his way.
Kayla and Brooke looked less certain.
That was fine. They needed to leave a few people behind to care for the little ones and keep watch.
So, they had twelve. That sounded better than eight.
Not able to hold back his grin, Derrick shifted his eyes to Jack, whose smile matched Derrick’s.
“Now that that’s settled,” Derrick said, his mind going to the mission, “what can you tell us about the layout? How many armed people did you see?”
Jack described what he’d observed, ending with, “I counted four armed men. No telling how many were inside the building or away from headquarters.”
And no telling how brutal those men would be. Still, the Emperors wouldn’t be expecting an attack. Derrick and the rest would have the element of surprise on their side. “I’d like to do a little recon myself.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jeff immediately offered.
Glad to have him by his side, Derrick nodded.
Jack frowned. “I’ve already checked it out. We need to get there and get my kids. Today. Right now.”
Though Derrick understood Jack’s eagerness, there was no way he would risk the lives of his people without scoping out the place himself. Wasn’t going to happen.
“We’ll get your kids,” he said, hoping to calm Jack down, “but you have to understand that I’ve done these kinds of missions before and I’ve learned that things will and do go wrong. We need to be prepared or we’re going to end up with dead people.” It was harsh an
d it was blunt, but it had to be said.
Jack shook his head ever so slightly, broadcasting annoyance. “Fine. But I don’t want to wait a minute longer than necessary.”
Neither did Derrick. The sooner the Emperors were dead, the better. “Agreed.” Then he thought about all the bullets that would be flying. He wanted to do whatever he could to minimize casualties, but besides himself, Chris, and Jeff, no one had combat experience. “It sure would be nice if we had some body armor or vests.”
Everyone nodded. After a moment of silence, Frank spoke up. “I know where we can get vests.”
All eyes went to him.
“Not sure why I didn’t think of this earlier,” he said, his smile turning chagrined, “but there’s a 5.11 Tactical store just a few miles from here. I know they have plate carrier vests and other gear.”
Derrick grinned at Jeff, whose eyes had lit up. Derrick felt the same way. “We’ll stop there first, then we’ll do the recon.”
“Anyone hungry?” Sarah asked as she came out of the house carrying a platter filled with sandwiches made with homemade bread, peanut butter, and homemade jam.
Now that she mentioned it, Derrick was famished. “Just a quick bite,” he said, “then we’ll go.”
Jeff was on his feet and taking the platter from Sarah. “You don’t have to ask me twice.” He set the platter on the table and picked up a sandwich before taking a huge bite.
“Thank you,” Jack said with a smile at Sarah as he took a sandwich.
Derrick wondered what Jack’s food situation was but didn’t ask. They had enough on their shoulders without worrying about the needs of other groups.
After everyone had gotten their share—not enough to fill them, but enough to keep them going until the next meal—Derrick, Jeff, Jack, and Jack’s three men headed out. Jack and his men had parked outside of the farm’s property, so the four of them walked out of the gate before getting into their SUV.
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