He woke instantly without the need for an alarm. The time was 23:15. He opened his blind to the desert air, feeling its crisp cold kiss upon his face as he brought the spotting scope up to his right eye. The house had calmed down as the alcohol had taken over the remaining members of the motorcycle gang. He switched to a thermal view to make sure he had accounted for all targets. There were a total of twenty targets to take out with the rifle. All but one bullet would be lethal. The other bullet he took out and wrote the name of the Father, his little brothers’ killer. He brought the rifle up and kicked out the bi-pod legs, gauging the distance at 500 yards. He deftly made a slight site adjustment for the wind and temperature of the desert night. Once the adjustments were complete he trained the scope on his first target. Closing his eyes he began slowing his breathing as he prayed. “Father here I am again, evil all around. Please don’t let me screw this up, Amen.”
He opened his eyes into the Leopold twelve power rifle scope. The moon provided a good light source for the scopes optics, his first target hadn’t moved. With his breathing and body in control, he brought the rifle stock to his shoulder and thumbed the safety off.
His target the biggest man in the group was busy yelling at a young woman as he beat her into submission. Michael had seen this very scene played out time and again across the world. It no longer repulsed him to see how men dominated women with their fists. He didn’t even grow angered anymore. He knew what he had to do since no one else in law enforcement or the government would see the value of these women as God did. He knew most men had this twisted idea that women are their servants and could be treated as if they were slaves. This was because in their eyes, women were just tools to an orgasm and food.
He had once been like these men. He had at times treated his own wife or previous girlfriends the very same way as the men in this desert hell hole. He was finally taught a valuable lesson. The world was not complete in the eyes of the creator until Eve bestowed her beauty and grace on this earth. A lesson he learned the hard way. He forced his past down and trained his rifle on the target. Rolling his wrist he was ready to unleash a fury on the hide out for the Pistolaro’s. He counted down, between heart beats he squeezed the trigger with a touch only few men in the world could ever duplicate. He watched the bullet travel straight into the head of his first target. The shot landed true. He moved to the next target without hesitation, the lieutenant for the club. In the span of seconds he had fired nineteen lethal head shots.
The young woman that had been enduring rape and torture from the group the whole evening was laying in shock as Juan entered the room. Michael fired the round with his name on it. The round hit straight in the right shoulder tearing his arm from his body sending it flying across the small room. Before the arm even landed Michael was at a full sprint through the desert closing the distance with a speed that rivaled the best of Olympic athletes. He cursed himself for all the smoking he had done as his lungs cried out for relief. He ignored the fire in his lungs and stayed focused on the house. He could now hear the screams of the young woman and Juan. Approaching the door of the house he slowed to a silent walk, instinctively stepping over the bodies that littered the ground. Entering the room where Juan and the young woman were he stopped dead in his tracks, unable to believe what he saw. The young woman was actually beating the dead man with Juan’s severed arm! Juan was trying to take aim with his left hand to shoot the young woman when Michael stepped into the room pausing a split second to smile down on him. Before Juan could move his hand to try to shift his shaky aim from the girl to Michael, Michael had lifted him off the ground slamming him into the wall with a force so intense he could hear the ribs shatter as the air escaped him, knocking him unconscious for a moment.
Michael went to the young woman and took the arm out of her hands. Seeing just how battered she was hurt his soul. He had the young women focus on his eyes as he told her, “You are safe now, go wait just outside the door. I’m here to get you out.” Without a word she crawled out the door.
Juan began to regain his faculties just in time to feel a burning sensation go through his genitals before he could let out a scream Michael silenced his voice forever as he brought the handle of knife down onto his trachea. He could see fear in the eyes of this man as he waited to see if life would escape. Juan reached with his remaining hand to try to choke Michael with the desperation of a dying man, only to have Michael drive the blade of the knife into his diaphragm twisting it as the hilt of the blade pierced Juan’s heart. Michael leaned close and whispered in his ear, “Death will fall on you all, from you to your brother.” He pushed Juan off the blade of his knife. As a final act he cut off his pinky to be mailed to the younger brother Jose.
He dialed his buddy giving him the report, telling him could roll the M.P.’s to the location. Before hanging up, he suggested that his buddy send the most seasoned. He let him know he was leaving with a package and heading back home. The call ended as Michael rounded the corner to find the young woman in the fetal position crying. He lifted her into his arms and left the house stepping into the darkness of the back yard. He walked thirty yards to his pick up and placed the young women inside. After buckling her in he whispered to her “Just hold on a little longer. You will be safe soon. I promise.” Climbing behind the wheel he started the truck and took off for the beach house. Using the built in Bluetooth he called Gabriel. The time on the dashboard clock showed midnight.
Gabriel answered after only three short rings. Speaking quickly, he gave him his report then asked him to call Fred and update him as well. Before hanging up he said he was bringing in a new woman that would need the medical staff to be there and gave a two and half hour ETA. Gabriel said nothing in response; Michael knew he understood as he changed the radio station ending the call.
Michael looked over at the young woman she was quite beautiful beneath the bruises and the blood. Through blackened eyes she starred back with eyes the color of gold. “Thank you.” she said as she slipped off into a shock induced slumber. Once he reached Yucca Valley, he pulled over and grabbed a few blankets from the bed of the truck covering the young woman up. Wrapping her in the blankets he could see blood trailing down between her legs. He offered up a silent prayer that she would be able to have her body back.
At this hour the freeways were wide open as he pushed his rig to 150 mph. He set the cruise control, listening to various types of music. The young woman was out of it the entire ride.
As he pulled up to the entrance to the safe house she woke up moaning in pain. Michael took her hand “Shhhh, you will be taken care of very soon. Just hold on a little longer.” As he stopped in the parking structure he was met by Gabriel and Maree as well as the medical staff that volunteered for the group. As Gabriel opened the door to lift the young woman out, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes at his brother. From the speakers he could hear the chorus to “A Real Good Man.” by Tim McGraw.
Once the young woman was on the gurney and being wheeled into the small hospital on the compound Michael looked at Gabriel and raised his hands. “What?” Gabriel laughed out loud, “Man you need to get some better music.” To which Maree chimed in and said, “I don’t think so, this song is all about you men.”
Michael smiled at her as he walked over to give her a brotherly hug. Taking a step back, she wanted none of it, as he was caked in blood and Lord knows what else. “Why don’t you hit the showers and meet me on our floor, I will give you that hug when you don’t stink so bad.” Michael smiled at both of them as he walked to the north entrance, taking the elevator to the floor he and Gabriel shared as living quarters when they stayed there. He showered and dressed in bright neon pink volleyball shorts from back in the 80’s and a T-shirt that read “It is always better to be a smart ass, than a dumb shit,” rounding it off with his favorite slippers. He was comfortable as he went down to Maree’s floor.
He found both of them in the kitchen as he entered the room, they both started to burst out laughing at the
out- fit and slippers. With a sheepish grin Michael offered up another “What?” Gabriel almost fell off his chair he was laughing so hard, Maree had to hold herself up as her legs began to give way from laughter. There Michael stood. With Scooby-Doo slippers on his feet, on the side was Shaggy taking a drag off of a joint. After they all had a good long laugh they shared a long much needed hug. As Michael walked across the floor to get himself a Pepsi, Maree thought how much she loved how silly he was. After all is said and done, Michael’s best way to cope was to bring laughter to everyone around him, even if it was at his own expense. Maree knew if Theresa was here at this moment she would be rolling her eyes at her dork of a husband
Chapter 17
The three sat and talked until the doctor called them up to medical room. They rode up the elevator in silence, all knowing that when the doors opened they would once again be responsible for re-building a life. As the door opened Maree said quietly “I am grateful that God is bigger than we can fathom. Only he has the power to heal the people that come to us.” The brothers simply said “Amen.”
The medical area of the property was built like a small rural doctor’s office. No one could feel uncomfortable as they walked down the bright hallways decorated with Norman Rockwell paintings and drawings from little kids. Michaels wife had spent a lot of time designing this area and the children’s’ side of the wing. Kids were her passion and you could see it everywhere you looked.
Rounding the corner was Dr. Hal Morgan, he had come to work with the group after he and Michael had worked through his issues when he returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom, sans a leg and part of his hand. Michael had paid to put the former Navy Corpsmen through medical school at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors. He maintained a private practice in Westlake Village however he worked with the group whenever he was needed at no charge.
When they were all within reach Dr. Morgan shook hands with each of them. Looking at Michael in his “out-fit” he chuckled for a moment. “Dude, where the hell do you get these clothes?” Michael replied, “I tend to keep things. These are my most comfy shorts and the t-shirt is pretty right on in what it says.” Everyone laughed as Doc Morgan led them to his office. Entering the quiet room, they all took a seat on the two couches along the walls, as doc started to give his medical report
“The young woman is nineteen. She was taken from her parents’ home in Bellevue Washington last year when her father couldn’t pay his debt to the Pistolaro’s. She has been moved back and forth throughout the gang from Washington to Mexico ever since.” Turning his attention more toward Michael, he continued. “This young woman has been put through hell. The x-rays show multiple fractures throughout her body in various stages of healing, her jaw is broken now as well as her left humorous and radial head. But I’m much more concerned by the soft tissue damage in her reproductive system. This young woman looks like she has been sexually tortured by the group more times than I can count and for quite some time. When I ask her what happened, well, she’s not exactly forthcoming with the details of the abuse she has suffered. She’s told me where she’s from what and her real name is. Which by the way is Aubry Adams, and that’s about it.”
Maree looked at the three men, “I guess this is where I go in and talk with her.” Everyone simply nodded in agreement. They all knew if anyone could get this young woman to talk now it was her. And for the most part they were all grateful that she would be the one doing the interview. They had all seen this too many times.
She excused herself and walked out the office down the hallway to the room where Aubrey was recovering. As she entered the recovery room she forced herself to hold back the gasp that almost escaped her as she saw Aubry. She had never seen such bruising on a human being. Aubry turned her head and Maree caught the glimmer of gold from her eyes. Smiling she walked to the bed and introduced herself. “Mind if I sit with you awhile?” Aubry nodded a yes and Maree sat down next to her. As she got comfortable she noticed Aubry had her hand out. When she held her hand she felt much unexpected warmth go up her arm. Aubry spoke through her pain “You are the first Godly woman, I have seen in a year,” she said as if it was her last breathe. “Will He still love me after what those men and women did to me?” Maree looked at her, fighting back her own tears she wanted to cry for her and all that had been done to her. “Aubry, He has always loved you and always will.” Aubry looked at her and began crying, Maree was no longer able to hold back her own tears.
They cried together, tears that were like a cleansing rain handed straight down to them from the Heavens above. After a while Aubry wiped the tears from her face. Her touch hesitant as the pain was intense around her cheek bone and eyes. Maree looked into her eyes again and took the road to the young soul as she went in her heart. Maree knew that the woman was a fighter; she knew she knew her Savior and would use that personal knowledge to heal. How long it would take she couldn’t quite see yet. It was too early to tell.
Aubry broke the moment with a statement that set Maree aback. “For a year I have been raped and abused by men and woman from places I couldn’t find again. With each violent beating, I began to truly understand what it must have been like for Christ to take the beating he did before we all hung him from that Cross. It was the only way I survived, I knew he was there with me but there was something to be learned from it all. When they were done with me, I was left alone and day after day I would pray that he would someday rescue me. My prayers were finally answered. I didn’t expect the Angel that would save me to be so old and short,” she said with a soft chuckle. “But hey, I have been delivered haven’t I?”
Maree just sat there, completely blown away by the personal strength the young women possessed. It has been a long time since she had seen someone come out of such hell with a personal knowledge of the reasons behind it, not to mention the ability to express it in words. Maree was really starting to love Aubry.
Standing, she kissed her on the forehead and stroked the hair back from her face. “You are a jewel do you know that?” Aubry could only muster a smile at the compliment. “Will you stay with me for a bit longer?” Maree held her hand reassuringly, “For as long as you want me here, precious.” Tears welled up in her eyes when she heard the word PRECIOUS. “My mom always called me that. Can someone call her and let her know that I am safe with good people?”
Aubry looked at one of the pictures hanging in the room, an original Salvador Dali painting of his personal vision of Christ hanging from the cross with boats resting in calm waters. Pointing to the picture she whispers, “I saw that picture in my heart every time I would dream. It brought my soul comfort and gave me a strength that could have only come from the one that created love itself. I saw that same love in the man that saved me, and I see it when you look into my eyes and allow me to see your heart, even as you look into mine.” Maree was visibly flustered at how the spirit was taking over. She looked at Aubry asking her “How do you know so much for a young woman?”
She was simply shocked by what Aubry had said to her, the warmth of her touch when they had met and how she knew something bigger was going to come out of this. She reached for the phone that sat next to the bed. “Do you still remember your phone number?” Aubry gave her the number ,Maree dialed the number, hitting the speaker button, she glanced at the digital clock on the phone. It was nearly 4:00 a.m.
After three rings a quiet female voice answered. “Hello... Hello... Lord please let this be Precious? Precious is that you?” “Mom! Oh, I’ve wanted to hear you say that for so long! I love you mom!” Aubry cried to the voice on the phone. The only thing that could be heard from the other end of the connection was the tears of joy and thanksgiving being offered.
Maree spoke up, interrupting the tearful reunion, to introduce herself. She told Aubry’s mother where she was and her general health condition. She asked if the mother had the means to fly to California to be with her daughter. Her mom replied that she didn’t, the gang had taken all
their money and assets except the small house they owned. Maree assured her it wasn’t a problem. She asked that both women give her a couple of hours to make arrangements to get Mrs. Adams to California.
Before hanging up Maree said. “Mrs. Adams, you have one of the strongest daughters I have ever known! You have been truly blessed.” The moms reply struck Maree as more than a little cryptic. “I have been cursed as much as I have been blessed. I will tell you more when you call me back with the travel arrangements. It won’t be as easy for me to just go to the airport and leave.” With that the call ended. Maree took Aubry’s hand and gave it a squeeze, “I have to go talk with some friends, I will be back I promise.
Chapter 18
Raven woke up to the sound of the ocean doing its timeless dance. Then it all went to hell in a hand cart as her cell began to ring. Grabbing it up from the bedside table she saw it was a RHD HQ. “Hello?” she answered. Both Dennis and her Captain were on the line.
”Caught the news lately?” her Captain asked. “No, I haven’t. What’s up Captain?” she asked him. The Captain began to fill her in on the events of the past day or so, explaining that twenty six members of the Pistolaro’s had been killed. He continued to tell her that they had put a bounty on her head, along with Dennis and anyone else that may be involved with what is going on. The bounty for her corpse was over 500K. As she digested the information, Dennis asked if she was in a safe place. She assured him that she couldn’t be safer. He told her he would be up there soon, knowing from her comment exactly where she was. The Captain spoke up again, telling her she had to lay low until everything blew over. “As of this moment you’re on indefinite leave of absence, paid of course.” After a few other details were exchanged they ended the call.
The Road to Lazarus (The First book in the diaries of Lazarus House) Page 10