by Brook Wilder
“No, but I’ve been trained how to do it,” she said.
“Do you know basic CPR?”
“Of course.”
“How about burns, cuts, bruises?” he asked, tilting his head sideways. For a second Junie thought this was her nursing exam. “Do you know how to treat those?”
“I know how to disinfect cuts, yes,” she said.
“And one last thing,” Jon-Boy said, his lips curving to a sly, Cheshire cat smile. “Do you know how to pull out a bullet from someone’s buttocks?” he asked. There was a pause.
“Yes,” Junie said, nodding again. “I do.”
“You pull it out with tweezers, aye?” he said, raising an eyebrow at her. Junie’s eyes darted back to Aiden, who looked like he was about to burst out laughing. She pursed her lips again and looked down, trying not to make eye contact with Jon-Boy. “You think this is funny?” he asked, tilting his head sideways. “Some people die like this… and you need to know how to treat them in case shit like this happens!”
“I do, don’t worry,” Junie said matter-of-factly.
“Good,” he said. “Now, we’re going to sneak you into the shed right outside the bar… it’s an abandoned shed, there’s a theory that the Mercenaries go in there to fuck their women.” There was silence. Junie was really, really starting to hate this guy. “But anyway, you’re going to stay in there, and once we go inside, once we attack them from all directions, you’re going to wait until things pipe down, and then you wait for our signal.”
“We’re going to rush our men to the shed, and then you’re going to treat them, one by one,” Aiden said.
Junie didn’t know what it was about what Aiden had just said that made her want to gag. She was all alone in this, no one to help her, no one to guide her. Who was she kidding? She didn’t have the confidence to do this on her own. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.
“Hey, hey, don’t be nervous,” Job-Boy said, getting up and making a beeline for the bar. “We’ve all got your back… we may not know anything about pulling bullets out of people’s asses, but we are going to be there.”
Junie let out a snicker. She looked over at Aiden and he was already staring at her. “It’s going to be alright,” she said finally. “This is good practice,” she joked.
“It sure is, well, I’ve gotta get goin… Tom needs me,” he said, pouring himself a shot and downing it in one gulp. “It was nice meetin’ ya, Junie.” Before she knew it, he was gone.
“Well, he’s nice,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“He’s a good guy, in fact, I get scared for him sometimes because he’s so gullible,” Aiden said, sighing. “Tom tends to use him sometimes, and that scares me,” he continued.
“Use him how?” Junie asked, her hands clasped in her lap.
“You know, he tends to use him for our more dangerous missions, because he’s always up for anything,” he said, his eyes dropping to the floor. He almost looked like he was ashamed of his boss’s behavior. Even though Aiden admired him very much, he had a tendency to hate him sometimes. It was all so paradoxical to him, but then again, what is there to admire about a man who takes advantage of his most loyal employees to throw them under the bus? Aiden cringed at the thought.
“Well, that’s definitely cruel,” Junie said, shaking her head. “How does he live with himself?”
“Oh, believe me, he’s living with himself just fine,” Aiden chuckled. “But anyway, enough talk about work… would you like to get some dinner?” he asked.
For a second, Junie froze. She didn’t know if he was asking her out, or if this was just some cordial attempt to show appreciation for her cooperation. “Sure,” she said after a long pause. “Where should we go?”
“Actually, I was thinking we should stay here,” Aiden said. “You know, we could make dinner, maybe talk a bit more about the operation without having to worry about being overheard.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Junie said, but she was otherwise unconvinced. She wondered if Aiden had any intentions towards her, she wondered if she had any towards him. It was all so confusing; one second she feels attracted to him, and the next, she’s reminding herself that all her hardships are the doings of people like him. She sat there for a second, silent.
“What’s wrong?” Aiden asked.
“It’s nothing,” she said, shaking her head frantically, as if trying to dismiss any intrusive thoughts. “We can cook dinner, yeah.”
“Alright, well, you’re at my house, and that could only mean one thing. You don’t have to do anything,” he said, making a beeline for the kitchen. “But you can watch me cook, that’s always a fun sight.”
“You don’t know how to cook?” Junie asked, peering into the kitchen.
“I guess we’re going to have to find out.”
Aiden ended up making ravioli. It wasn’t the best ravioli in the world, but Junie appreciated the effort. “This is really good,” she said, chewing on the rubbery pasta.
“You hate it, don’t you?” Aiden asked, smiling.
“It’s not that bad,” Junie said, rolling her eyes. She couldn’t believe the two of them were sitting across from each other, having dinner alone, making conversation. It was like Aiden had become a good friend to her, if not more. But she didn’t want to think about that second part. It terrified her. “I think it’s just missing a little cream sauce,” she continued.
“Well, maybe you should drop by and make me dinner sometime,” Aiden said, flashing her a smirk.
“Is this an invitation to be your cook?” Junie asked, raising an eyebrow at him. “I demand money for my services,” she joked.
“I can pay you,” Aiden said. “But money isn’t everything, you know.”
Junie could feel a warmth radiate through her. She didn’t know if she understood wrong, or if Aiden was downright flirting with her. She didn’t want to misinterpret anything, but at the same time, she heard him. She knew he had something in mind, something a bit more than just a friendship. She contemplated if she wanted the same things he did. Normally, whenever she would start contemplating it, she would automatically shut the thought down. But this time, she entertained it, and she entertained it oh so well.
“So,” Junie said, changing the topic. “Are you apprehensive about this whole thing?” she asked, raising her eyes to Aiden.
“You mean the operation?” he asked, sliding his fingers along the bridge of his nose.
“Yeah.”
“Well, this isn’t the first time the Rebels have done something like this… we’re a very well trained group,” he said, fishing the chicken out of his plate. “I don’t want you to worry, although, I’m sure it’s hard for you not to.”
Junie nodded and looked at him. He had a smile plastered to his face, a smile she couldn’t seem to get out of her head, a smile she knew she would never forget. She wondered what he was thinking, but she wouldn’t dare ask. “I keep getting this feeling that this time it’s different,” she said after a long pause. “Isn’t it?”
“I don’t want to worry you,” he said, fumbling with the table cloth. “It’s going to be okay, I would never let anything bad happen to you.”
“I know,” Junie said, nodding. “I trust you.”
“Trust is a big word,” Aiden said, a cheeky smile settling over his face. Junie didn’t know whether he was just trying to make conversation, or if he was onto something. “Do you trust me, Junie?”
There was silence. It was peaceful, almost comfortable, and it lingered in the air so steadily that Junie didn’t even try to break it. Aiden just stared at her, that old smile still plastered to his face, his arms spread out over the table in front of him, as if waiting for her to take his hand. But she wouldn’t. There were too many risks involved, too many complications.
You’re reeling me in, she thought to herself. But the silence lingered, still. “I trust you,” she said finally. “And when I get scared, I get scared for the both of us, it’s not just me.
”
“Don’t be,” Aiden said, his eyebrows furrowed. “I know what I’m doing, and I have a feeling you do, too.”
“I do,” Junie said. For the first time in a long time, she actually felt in control. Aiden gave her so much confidence; with him, she felt like she could do anything. She wished she could express that to him, to tell him how much he meant to her for some strange, unknown reason, but she kept to herself, like she always did.
“You’re really hard to tap into, I’ve realized,” Aiden said, leaning back in his chair. It creaked underneath him, and Junie wondered where the fundamental fault lied. Her mind kept wandering elsewhere, accessing little bits and pieces of information that were otherwise irrelevant to the topic at hand.
“I’ve been told,” Junie said, rolling her eyes. “Or, I don’t know, I just don’t open up very easily.”
“So telling me you trust me must’ve been a big deal for you, right?” Aiden asked with a smirk on his face.
“Kind of,” she said, fluttering her lashes. “I don’t know, I just really want to get this whole thing over with.”
“We’ll get through it together,” Aiden said, pouring himself a glass of wine. Junie could’ve sworn she thought that bottle appeared out of nowhere. She stared at him as he sipped on his wine, and for a moment she thought she would get up and kiss him. The image of her husband lingered; she thought it would haunt her forever.
CHAPTER 8
“I’m on my way right now,” Aiden spoke into his phone. “Right, on top of Rosenberg Hill.” He hung up and tossed his phone aside, cursing under his breath when it bounced right off the passenger seat and landed on the car mat. Tom had been picking on Aiden since this morning, filling his head with instructions about what to do and what not to do. Aiden’s head was bubbling up with tension, and as soon as he parked at the bottom of the flowery hill in Rosenberg, he could feel his stomach churn.
“It’s time for a little adventure,” he said to himself. The entire car ride there, he couldn’t stop thinking about Junie, and their night together. It wasn’t like anything happened, although he wished it would, but he still couldn’t get her out of his mind. It was like he admired everything about her; from her strength, to her courage, to the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her son. It was all so mesmerizing to him, but he figured that, if he was going to get this mission done, then he had to do more than just think about Junie.
Aiden took in a deep breath through his mouth and let it out, trying to get himself to relax. For some reason, he had never been this nervous going on a mission. Tom had ordered him to go scope out the bar before the operation’s set, so he followed the road to Rosenberg forest and just stood there, his eyes going up and down the flowery hill. He knew the place was up there somewhere, but he needed to know exactly where it was. The thought of him getting caught lingered--it was almost paralyzing--but he shook his head in dismay, trying to rule out those thoughts.
“Alright, happy thoughts, happy thoughts,” he said to himself, almost sarcastically. He locked his car and started up the hill, his eyes darting back and forth frantically. His fingers hovered over his gun, which was jammed into his pocket. One little move, and he was ready for action. The wind was blowing everywhere, the rustling of the leaves almost throwing him off balance. He tried to lay low as much as possible; nobody could know he was here. If he were to get caught by one of the Mercenaries, he was a dead man. He held onto his gun still and crouched down on the floor, trying to listen for any noises. At some point he wasn’t sure if it was the wind he was hearing, or if there were people, or even animals, lurking in the woods. Aiden made his way deeper into the forest, and when his eyes finally landed on what looked like a wooden shack nested on top of a hill, he was almost certain that this was it. He wasn’t planning on going inside, but he scanned the place with his eyes. There were people in there; the lights were on, and there were silhouettes dancing behind the draped windows. In the distance Aiden could even hear music and the drunken rants of the people in there; the Mercenaries sure knew how to party after a long day of plotting. They were an organized people, but when they liked to let loose, they did. He crouched down even farther amongst the weeds, and when the music finally died down, he got back up again, his mind buzzing with the urge to just go in there.
I can pass for a Mercenary, can’t I? he thought to himself. No one really knew him in there, at least they didn’t know what he looked like, and by the looks of it, it wasn’t just the Mercenaries who were partying it up in there. This club was a local club; it was open to practically everyone who wanted to get shit=faced and dance to old Western music. Aiden knew this because Tom used to go there all the time, until he realized it was a hangout spot for their rivals. Other than that, it was just a regular old pub that only a few knew about. He draped his jacket over his jeans, trying his best to hide his weapon. It took a lot of guts to barge in there like that, but a part of him was certain no one would recognize him. Aiden worked in secret, and he worked at night. Even during their operations, he was always sure to cover his face so his identity would remain unknown. No security cameras, no cops, no nothing. He was used to flying under the radar, a nocturnal animal, he liked to call himself. When he finally reached the top of the hill, his eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness pouring in from all directions, he stood there for a second to make sure the coast was clear. Even though he knew the people in there were probably too drunk to pay attention to him, he didn’t want to take that risk of barging in. For all he knew, Lee could be waiting for him in there. He jumped when he caught a glimpse of two men exiting the bar; they looked like they were chatting. Aiden ducked down and went around to the other side of the shack, and when he finally found the backdoor, he inched it open and snuck inside, the sound of western music ringing in his ears. Aiden found himself in the bathroom, and when he heard footsteps coming from outside, he rushed into one of the stalls and locked the door behind him.
“Hey, man, did Lee give you his number?” a man’s voice asked.
“Yeah, he said he’d like to have a meeting soon,” another voice said. “You know, I’m seriously considering leaving the Hell’s Reavers… he’s given me a pretty good offer.”
Aiden could feel his heart drop to his knees. Was Lee recruiting people from other clubs?
“I was just thinking the same thing,” a third voice said, and then Aiden started to wonder how many people were even in there. “Lee offered me some pretty good cash to take part of… some kind of operation.”
“Me, too.”
Aiden pressed his ear to the door. He could still hear them rambling, although their voices grew distant as they seemed to retreat from the bathroom. The music poured in through the exit and then faded out again, and it was only then when Aiden jumped out of the stall, his eyes darting back and forth frantically. He popped his head out the door, and all he could see were a bunch of drunken strangers, but they weren’t all strangers. Sitting at the bar was Lee, and he was pouring himself a drink. He downed it all in one gulp and nodded solemnly, as if to congratulate himself on this legacy he had built. Aiden could not recognize a single face, and that disturbed him. Were they all newcomers? He wondered if Lee had hired a snitch, but then he shook his head, trying not to drive himself crazy with the thought. If there was a traitor among the Rebel Disciples, they were goners. If it was one thing Aiden knew about traitors, it was that they were hard to catch; they were like weeds growing amongst their crops, and they needed to be ripped out from their roots. The problem was, traitors were very hard to spot. Aiden knew he had to get out of there. He turned around and made his way out through the back door again. He found himself standing alone in the middle of the woods, with only the darkness to accompany him. But a part of him felt like he was being watched. Suddenly, he heard footsteps marching across crunchy leaves.
“Who’s there?” a voice asked.
Aiden didn’t say anything. The air was so still he could almost feel it weighing down on him. He thoug
ht about crouching down on the floor and laying low for a while, but when he spotted two circles of white light hovering at a distance, he knew he was about to get caught.
“Who’s there?” the voice said again. Aiden clenched his eyes when the light flashed into his eyes, and he fell limp to his side. “Who the fuck are you?” a man asked, walking over to him. Aiden had no choice. He rose to his feet and took out his pistol, but before he could do anything, he felt the wind being knocked out of him, and that was followed bys a sharp pain shooting through his insides. He fell back, and when he heard another set of footsteps charging towards him, he quickly rose to his feet and looked around, trying to discern the source of the noise. He flinched when he felt a pair of hands grab him from behind. In one swift move, he turned around and drove his shoulder into the man’s chest who fell back, motionless. Aiden knew he had to get out of there.
He cocked his pistol, took off and never looked back. At first, he could hear people chasing after him, but he beat them to his car. He swung the door open and slid into the driver’s seat, turning on the ignition and driving off. What the hell was that?