“I’ll text the details of the flight once I have them and the gun. Be careful,” she called out as the door swung open and he stepped out into the Florida heat.
“Will do,” he called over his shoulder before hustling across the sidewalk to his car.
He missed the air conditioner immediately. It was the end of July, and Florida was a bitch in July. Especially in the city. He reached his car parked along the curb out front and opened the locked door with a quick click of the electronic device embedded in his key. He usually parked in the back where his brothers and Angela parked, reserving the front spots for possible clients, but today had been a quick trip.
Gio was in court today, and “lucky” Nikko was recuperating at home with his new girlfriend, Ronnie, hovering over him. He laughed again, thinking of the girl who was hovering over his brother. She might very well suffocate him with her ample “poppe” as Gio liked to call busty woman. He shook his head, not wanting to imagine his brother’s girlfriend that way.
He quickly climbed into his black Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and inserted the key. His sleek new car started right up. A soothing blast of cold air welcomed him.
When he worked, he normally drove one of the two Expeditions his brother had purchased for the business. But today, he had the day off and so drove his own personal vehicle. He enjoyed the way the car handled and the new sleeker design. It had a great deal of horsepower and torque and the eight speed automatic transmission gave it a seamless performance.
He had been planning to visit with Nikko after a quick check in at the office. But now, he needed to pack. Angela was fast, and she’d have him booked on the first available flight.
As the air conditioner began to do its work and the temperature dropped considerably in the heated vehicle, he began to contemplate his return to Tennessee, well North Carolina, but it was close enough. He would have to fly there and rent something to make the drive to the small town of Cherokee. The only positive was that it would be somewhat cooler in the mountains. Yes, that was the only positive. He didn’t have fond memories of Tennessee, and not just because he’d been there two weeks ago. But because that was where Nicole was from. In fact, she was not far from Cherokee at all. Just an hour’s drive from Gatlinburg through the Great Smokies. He’d be sure to stay the hell away from there. If he never saw her again, her or Alex, it would be too soon. Way too soon.
Chapter 7
Car Trouble
Of all the goddamn luck. Blaze cursed what he didn’t have. The stupid rental was steaming on the side of the road. A very narrow road, and it was getting near dark. The radiator had over-heated climbing these damn mountain roads.
He’d been able to get an afternoon flight and had a quick layover in Charlotte, North Carolina. Arriving in Knoxville, he’d already had a rental car waiting. He could have taken a hotel and gotten to Cherokee in the morning, but he had decided a night arrival would be better. Best to get this done quickly. Get in and get out. He stopped at the gun depot where Angela had found him a weapon he could carry with his license, which was good in all of the Southeastern states. But, he hadn’t counted on the car failing to make it up the hill. Well, it was quite a large hill, with a steep incline. But dammit, he had been so close, too.
He pulled the car over and put the parking break in place. The last thing he needed was for the car to go careening down the road or God forbid over the side and down one of the steep embankments he had noticed on the way up. Shit! Just perfect. He checked his cell and noticed he had lost service. He wanted to kick something. He had just called Andreas ten minutes ago, and it had been working fine then. Fuck! It was getting dark. He’d need to try to fix it himself. He approached the front of the vehicle, and decided a peak under the hood was the next logical step. Maybe it was something he could easily fix, although he doubted it very much from the gages flashing at him and the steam coming up from the front of the car.
He popped the hood and massive coils of steam curled up at him. He was forced to step back or get burned. Then like a comedy of errors, he lost his footing by stepping back onto a rock and turned his ankle. He went down, and the side of the road, already treacherous enough quickly approached. Holy fuck, his mind screamed as branches tore at him as he began to slide precariously down the embankment as the chunk of mud he was on gave way. He reached out to grab something, anything, and his hands finally grabbed hold of the only thing he could manage to grasp, branches that pulled and tore at his hands until his grasp was strong enough, and his momentum slowed sufficiently that he was able to stop his fall. He looked up from his position in the dirt, and only had a few feet to climb back up. He glanced down quickly to see how horrible this could have been. He let out a whistle and breathed a sigh of relief he hadn’t slid down the embankment. It was at least a hundred feet until he would’ve met with the next road. Up, was definitely better. He groaned and began to pull himself up reaching for twigs and roots along the way to bring his weight forward. It was slow work, as several of the roots came right up out of the soil, and it took him several times to find the right one that was embedded deeply enough to take his weight.
He finally made it to the top, and was relieved when he was back on the road and on his feet. His ankle was swollen and tender, but he could walk. He stepped away from the edge, and kept a safe distance, shaking his head at his own stupidity. Gio would be laughing his ass off at this predicament. Andreas would have been gravely disappointed, while Nikko, the youngest of the brothers would be encouraging him to shake it off. It was that advice in his mind that he took. He decided he needed to call for help. And pulled out his cell phone again.
Still there was no signal. He contemplated walking a few hundred yards down to see if he could pick something up, but he didn’t want to leave his vehicle and his ankle was quite tender. Fuck! Now what? Think. He had no choice but to wait it out and hope some kind Samaritan would drive by and give him a lift somewhere where he could call for a tow and a replacement vehicle. So much for the element of surprise tonight.
He glanced at the car, shaking his head in disgust. He was perhaps a mile away from Bella Chase. One God dammed mile more. Just one. He kicked the bumper, then winced at the pain in his ankle.
Then a thought occurred. The car didn’t seem to be steaming any longer. He stepped closer to get a better look at the radiator. Maybe he could drive the car if he just waited it out a bit. He had a bottle of water he could use to cool down the radiator. He placed his hands on the edge of the car, and looked closely. Just then the car choked again, and another burst of steam came burping out from the top. Again instinct had him step back, but this time he stepped the other way. In his rush to back up, his hand hit the mechanism that held the hood up, and oh fuck, the lid came crashing down.
It was lights out as the stars Blaze saw, and not the ones appearing in the night sky, faded to total blackness.
* * *
Her calves burned as she trudged up the hill. Hell, she’d have muscles like a body builder if she had to do this every day, Bella thought. And she was only half way.
Graham had been gone two days, and her sheer loneliness and work in the yard, had given her the sudden, crazy inspiration to go pick up some hedge clippers down town at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store. Only two and half miles. She hadn’t thought anything of it. She’d gone early enough too, figuring she’d treat herself to a nice meal as well.
She’d walked into a café that was off the beaten path to the tourists, and found the place belonged to Clara. She cooked breakfast and lunch at a small lunch counter, and the shop sold herbal medicines, soaps and candles she made herself.
“Izzy, nice to see you again.” Clara beckoned her to a seat. There was no one else in the little store. Bella sat. “Something to drink?” Clara asked.
“Yes, please,” Bella murmured nodding at the woman who looked even more pregnant than before. She had to be close to her due date.
Noticing the wide eyes on her protruding belly, Clara smiled.
“The baby was due last week. God, I hope it is a girl.” Bella knew Clara had three boys already. She’d met them in Birmingham and a couple of times when she had come into town with Graham. Willy, Sam, and Joseph were their names. They were aged three, six, and nine. All adorable, and all full of energy.
“A week ago?” Bella repeated. She quickly took the glass of sweet tea Clara offered and poured without being asked and took a long sip of the refreshing subtly brewed concoction.
“Yeah, both my husband and I want a girl. Then maybe our family will feel complete.” Clara rubbed her back and sighed.
“A girl would be a wonderful addition,” Bella murmured picking up the plastic coated menu alongside of the napkin dispenser. “Your back bothering you?” Bella asked out of politeness.
“Yeah, but that’s to be expected.” Bella watched as Clara grabbed a little jar, first opening it, and then dipped her fingers inside. She rubbed the salve-like substance on her back.
“What’s that?” Bella asked curiously.
“Oh, it’s a lotion I make. It’s mostly white pine, it helps soothe aching muscles, inflammation. It’s even good on open wounds. It’s a pain remedy.”
“Wow, I could use some of that. I’ve got aches and pains everywhere these days.”
“Sure, I’ve got some herbal remedies you might be interested in before you go,” Clara smiled as Bella began to scan the menu board behind her. “Oh, you going to eat?” Clara asked.
“I was hoping too,” Bella teased. “Unless you go into labor before I can order and get a hot home cooked meal.”
Clara laughed. “Don’t worry about that. All my boys have come quickly. I’ll just deliver her here, wrap her up, and then get on with it.”
Bella looked up suddenly, eyes widening. Clara’s words had shocked her into silence.
“Um, kidding,” Clara clarified. “The hospital is where I will be having this baby. Just like the others.”
Bella laughed uncomfortably. “Okay. Good. Glad to hear that!”
“So what will it be?” she asked indicating the menu Bella had been scanning then turned to flip on the grill behind her.
“Mmm, I would love a cheeseburger. I’m tired of cold food, and peanut butter sandwiches.”
“Graham told me he brought you up a hotplate?” she questioned while scraping the grill and then throwing on a beef patty.
“Yes, he did. He’s been wonderful,” Bella agreed.
“He’s taken a liking to you that’s for sure. He’s a good man, my uncle.”
“He’s your uncle?”
“My husband’s, so yes, mine too now.” She flipped the meat, and then put a slice of all-American cheese on top of the patty as well as a bun beside it to warm.
The aromas had Bella salivating as the two women chatted.
* * *
Bella had ended up spending more time visiting with Clara than she had planned. Clara’s kids had arrived when she was finishing her meal to get their own lunch. They’d been building a fort out back, they announced proudly when they walked in covered in sweat and grime. They asked Bella all kinds of questions about how to build forts because Graham had told them she was fixing the old Perdue place up. She answered as best she could. Then they wanted to show her their progress. So she had to go and take a peek. They’d even made her climb inside and she loved seeing their enthusiastic faces and listening to them chatter on and about each of their contributions. Even the three year old had helped. Crayons marked up an entire wall. Joseph explained his pictures of all his family and the truck his dad had that he would get to drive someday.
After the tour, Bella went back in to the store to settle the bill with Clara who just shooed her money away. But Bella didn’t want to leave without buying something and reminded Clara about the salve.
“Oh right. Yes. I have some over here.” Clara showed her a display containing several medicinal products. All natural.
Bella asked some questions, and ended up buying the largest container of the White Pine salve, and some chokecherry that could be brewed into a tea. It was an astringent and helped relieve headaches. Bella then bought several bars of soap and scented candles. She couldn’t leave without returning the favor. Plus, the scents and textures of the soap would be a big improvement on the utilitarian brands she had purchased at the Dollar General Graham had driven her to a week ago.
Her warm baths in the old tin tub she had found would definitely be enhanced with some of Clara’s products. The sage in particular smelled divine and Clara explained all of their soothing properties.
She would most assuredly need them, Bella thought as she trudged back up her steep mountain driveway. One more mile. One more mile she kept repeating with each step. But still, she was only half way. It had taken her only thirty five minutes to get to town, but the walk up was much, much longer. She figured she’d been at it nearly an hour with the frequent breaks she had taken to relieve the burn in her calves and to set down the packages she carried in the heavy backpack on her back.
* * *
After leaving Clara’s she’d gone to St. Vincent’s thrift store. She’d found the shears which would help her in cutting back the grass and weeds away from the house. She’d also found a nice white cotton summer dress. Very simple, but couldn’t resist having something a tad more fashionable to wear. She’d gotten two pairs of shorts as well, and two additional tank tops. The jeans she had were a beast to work in and took forever to clean and dry with her old washboard. She’d also bought a nice pair of sandals she could wear around the house, and a radio. It had only been four dollars, so she hoped it worked, and hoped she’d be able to get reception, but it was a chance she had been willing to take. She needed something to listen to and occupy the quiet time, which she had a lot of. Then she’d also purchased two paperback novels she’d found interesting from reading the back matter. One was entitled “Love’s Taming” by a local author named MaryAnn Jordan. The other had been a supernatural book she thought would be a page turner called The Hunter Jackson Tales by Amanda Kay. She hoped so. She might be reading these more than once.
But all that extra weight, the four cans of soup, the cheese, the soap, the medicines, and candles, the cutter, the clothes and the backpack made the walk that much more difficult. Half way, she muttered to herself to encourage herself to continue. The road was beginning to level out, and she knew she was about to reach a flat expanse and one more slight incline would bring her to her little mountain home. One foot, another foot, she trudged.
She heard a groan, and paused. She noticed the sounds of nature had ceased. Her heart beat faster. What was that? Her mind questioned every little noise. These woods were full of black bear though she had yet to see one, and elk. But she didn’t think elk made that kind of noise. She strained her eyes to peer into the greyness up ahead. It was nearing dark. She saw two red pinpricks of light and the fear overtook her, glowing eyes! But then the eyes blinked, and blinked again. The pattern was too rhythmic. It must be a vehicle, someone on the side of the road in a disabled vehicle. Shit! She’d almost it rather be a bear. Who would be coming up her mountain road? No one else lived here.
* * *
Bella was in a panic. She didn’t know what to do. Briefly, she considered hiding out in the woods until someone else came to the disabled vehicle owner’s assistance. But then she also knew no one else lived up this road. She considered going back to town. Maybe it was someone who had taken a wrong turn. Maybe someone had found her. Her heart raced.
In her panic over the car, she nearly forgot about the noise she heard until she heard it again. This time she could tell it wasn’t an animal. It sounded like someone groaning. Someone was hurt! Her dilemma was immediately forgotten and instinct kicked in. She had to help. Like Graham had told her before he left. This was an opportunity, and when you saw the opportunity to help or assist another person in need you did.
Her very tired legs began to move of their own volition. She trudged up the slight incline to the ve
hicle, emergency lights still flashing. She called out, “Is anyone there?” When she was answered by yet another groan, she replied. “I’m coming.”
A few yards further and she reached the rear of the vehicle. She saw legs sticking out from the front, and hastily dropped her bags to provide assistance. Her medical training kicked in. She’d worked in a number of doctor’s offices these past four years.
The man, and it was a man, a very large one, seemed to be intact. But his eyes were closed, and he was groaning incoherently.
She tried to talk to him to determine if he was conscious. “My name is . . .Izzy, and I’m just going to check you out to see if anything is broken, please don’t be startled or try to move.” His only answer was another groan as his head rolled to the side.
She started with his legs as they were closest to her. She felt his ankles and noticed some swelling on the right. She felt up his calves and legs, noticing several markings and stains on his pants, but nothing felt broken so far. She glanced at his . . . um, hips and moved on upwards. His shirt was torn open and ripped to shreds. She felt underneath the material, running her hands softly across his abdomen to determine if there was any internal bleeding, and she pressed a bit more firmly along his rib cage and pectorals to determine if there were broken ribs. It startled her somewhat when the man’s moan this time sounded a bit more unusual. She felt his instinctive muscular response below her fingertips, when the muscles rippled beneath the skin. She removed her hands at that point as his reaction to her was something she did not want to think about.
In the waning light she focused on those stains to determine what they could possibly be. If it was just a tad darker, she might have thought he had been mauled by a bear. But his white t-shirt, worn underneath a black blazer was stained by dirt and grass. The man had obviously fallen, but how? Where? She looked around and saw the broken branches and twigs and the gap in the brush on the side of the road. Holy cow! He must have fallen and crawled back up. He’d nearly gotten himself killed. But why was he out cold? She needed to keep examining him.
The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set Page 31