Bad Decision: The Carter Brothers

by Stella Andrews

  Tentatively, we try the door and I’m relieved to see the bastards never locked it.

  I whisper, “Follow me. Take this lightbulb and if you get caught smash it in their face. It’s all we’ve got but may buy us some time.”

  Her hand trembles as she takes the glass bulb and we peer outside the room.

  I hear nothing but the sound of a television playing downstairs and we edge toward the top of the staircase.

  Much like Aunt Kim’s house, the stairs lead down to the door outside. I’m guessing the television is playing in the front room which means there’s probably a kitchen to the rear.

  Stealthily, I creep back along the hall and look out of the window overlooking the back garden. It’s uncared for and the grass is long. A fence runs along the back with little to aid an escape over it.

  Looking to the left and then the right I see nothing to help us and with a sinking feeling see a man standing below smoking on a cigarette.

  Placing my finger to my lips, I try the door handle of the room next to ours. Carefully, I ease open the door and the stench that hits me makes me gag.

  A curtain blacks out the light but I can make out a similar pair of beds to the ones we were bound to. I see a shape lying tethered to one and the other is empty. My heart thumps as I walk toward the bed and feel the air leave my lungs as I make out the battered body of a young girl. Her eyes are lifeless but she is still breathing. I see a track of needle marks in her arm and the bruises on her face tell of a tortured life. The tears run down my face as I see what they’ve done to her. Stripped naked and covered with bruises on every limb. Her hair is lank and hangs down mixed with blood. Her legs are tethered apart and I sob as I see the abuse she must suffer every day.

  Tracey is keeping watch and I’m glad she can’t see what I can because I’m not sure she could cope.

  Steeling myself, I look around for anything that will help our escape. Once again, there is nothing.

  I stroke the girls head and hope she can hear me as I whisper, “I’m going to get you out of here, I promise you’ll be safe soon.”

  Tracey hisses, “Someone’s coming.”

  We hear voices as the front door opens and I make out several deep, masculine, voices, laughing and greeting each other as if they’re here for a party.

  With a sinking feeling, I realize they are and we’re the entertainment.

  I pull Tracey inside the room and tell her to hide behind the door. If someone comes, she is to scream and make a run for it. I’m just hoping we have the element of surprise on our side because that’s all we’ve got.

  I watch as they move to the back of the house and wait until the last one leaves the hallway. I can see they haven’t locked the door and whisper urgently, “Run, Tracey and don’t look back.”

  I push her forward and think I hold my breath as she sprints down the stairs. I’m not far behind and as she struggles with the door, I hear yells and know we have just seconds. Turning around, I take a deep breath as I see the man who captured us racing toward us angrily. I yell, “Go, Tracey and don’t stop running. Scream your heart out.”

  She wrenches the door open and as he reaches out to grab me, I do what I thank God I have been trained to do.

  I fight back.

  I know it takes him by surprise as I kick his feet from under him and he hits the floor with a thud. There must be at least five other men advancing toward me, so I reach for his head and twist it to face them. His strangled cry stops them in their tracks and I snarl, “Come any closer and I’ll snap his neck in two.”

  One of them says slowly, “You can’t get away. We have men outside. Let him go and we’ll spare your life. If you kill him, yours ends on the spot.”

  I laugh like a maniac. “You think I’m scared of death. Well, I’m not. I’d rather you killed me than what you’ve got planned.”

  The man shifts and his strength almost makes me lose my hold. I try to focus on my training and deal with each threat as it happens. I can tell Tracey has got through the door and I hear her screams as someone gives chase. I apply more pressure and the body in my hands starts to shake as the life is slowly squeezed out of him. I imagine it’s a horrifying sight because I’m pretty sure his face must be a different color right about now and the disbelief on the faces of the men facing us confirms that.

  I snarl, “Move back, all of you.”

  The men hold up their hands and start walking slowly away. However, I don’t miss the gleam in their eyes as they look behind me. Listening hard, I hear him advancing toward me. The cold metal hits the back of my neck as a hard voice growls, “Drop him.”

  I close my eyes and a strange sense of calm comes over me. I channel my mind on the man behind me and then with a move Todd taught me over and over again, I move sharply to the side, my hand reaching behind me for its target. One pressure point is all it takes to knock the man out and as the gun falls, I grab it quickly. Training it on my captors, I start backing away. I step over the body on the floor and watch the man who I held choke as the air returns to his lungs. The men reach for their weapons and I fire one shot. It hits the man in the center in the groin and his screams of agony have the rest running for cover. Then a sound I relish fills the air. The sound of the cavalry as the sirens advance toward a volatile situation.

  The men inside start running toward me for a different reason and this time it’s in fear. I sink to my knees as the cops pour past me, then I feel the tears fall as I start shaking uncontrollably. It’s over.

  25

  Maxwell

  We abandon the car and sprint into Accident and Emergency. There is chaos all around as cops are holding up battered women and handcuffed to men who look as if they’ve had a beating.

  My eyes scan the room frantically and yet I can’t find her. Joey heads toward the desk and barks angrily, “Summer Jefferson. I was told she was brought here.”

  It feels like forever as the receptionist consults her screen and then says firmly, “The doctor is seeing her now. Please take a seat.”

  Joey swears and totally ignoring her storms toward the double doors. The woman shouts and a nearby cop blocks us from entering. Joey growls, “That’s my fucking daughter in there, so you had better be packing a gun because you’ll have to shoot me to stop me.”

  The cop sighs and says wearily, “Come with me, but only one of you.”

  I make to disagree but Charlie holds me back and whispers, “Let Pops go in. One look on your face will tell him everything and the only thing that matters now is Summer.”

  I stare at him feeling utterly conflicted and he sighs, “Come on, let’s ask about Tracey and Melissa.”

  Fighting every urge in me to follow my father, I approach the desk and ask if Melissa’s been brought in. The look on the receptionist’s face tells me I’m not going to like what I’m about to hear and she says softly, “If you would like to wait in room 3 across the hall, a doctor will be out to see you.”

  My heart breaks at the look in her eyes. Charlie says roughly, “What about Tracey Hill?”

  Before she can answer we hear, “Charlie!”

  Spinning around, I see Tracey walking toward us from the double doors my father went through.

  Charlie gets to her first and pulls her in so tightly it must hurt. She clings to him sobbing on his shoulder and he strokes her hair whispering, “You’re safe now, love.”

  I feel so out of control it’s making me lose my shit and I say roughly, “We need to go and meet the doctor. Tracey can fill us in on the way.”

  We head to Room 3 and while we wait, Charlie holds Tracey next to him and says gently, “What happened, babe?”

  As she talks, we listen. My heart races so fast I think I’m about to become admitted with a heart attack. The story she tells make me promise the darkest revenge. She sobs, “Summer made me leave for help and held them off so I could run. A man chased me and when he grabbed me, I smashed the lightbulb she gave me in his face. It bought me a few seconds, and I kept on
running, then there were police everywhere.”

  My blood runs cold. “Summer faced them on her own.”

  Tracey sobs harder. “She was so brave, Max. She kept her cool and I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for her.”

  Charlie looks worried. “Is she ok?”

  Tracey nods. “I just saw her. They’re treating her for shock and cuts and bruises. She’s ok though.”

  The relief hits me like a tidal wave washing away the fear and replacing it with pride. Then I look at her and say “She did what?”

  Tracey shakes her head. “She fought them off. I heard the cops talking. They said she was like some sort of special forces assassin. They want to offer her a job she was so good.”

  Special forces assassin, what the hell?

  Tracey laughs. “You wouldn’t think she had it in her, would you?”

  The door opens and immediately the fear returns as I see the expression on the doctor’s face. He nods and says bluntly, “Are you her family?”

  Shaking my head, I say roughly, “No they’re on their way, I called them when I knew she was here.”

  Charlie says in a softer tone, “She’s like our family, doctor. If you can tell us one thing, just tell us she’s ok and will recover.”

  He sits down and looks grave. “She’s alive but barely. I can’t tell you any more than that because it has to be her parents or next of kin.”

  I feel my chest tighten, next of kin? Tracey says shakily, “She will live though, won’t she?”

  The doctor tries to look reassuring. “She stands a good chance. It will be a long road to travel if she does but with the right treatment, she could make a full recovery—one day.”

  My heart sinks and Tracey shakes her head sadly. “Summer saw her, I didn’t. The look on her face told me it was bad though. She wasn’t moving, and I thought she was dead. That place was hell, what they did - were planning on doing, was wicked. I just hope they pay for it.”

  The doctor excuses himself and I feel the murder in my heart as I catch Charlie’s eye. We share that look we always have done. The one that seals someone’s fate. This isn’t over until I say it is.

  Summer

  I was taken in an Ambulance with Tracey and a couple of cops. I sat there numbly while Tracey stared around her in disbelief. The relief is overwhelming when I think of what could have happened. The sight of that poor tortured girl will live with me forever. I hope she gets the help she needs because by the looks of her; she didn’t have long.

  We get separated at the hospital and are ushered to a room almost as soon as we arrive. Apparently, they need to keep us separate from the men they brought in, and no one is happier about that than me.

  The shock starts to hit as I think about what could have happened. The doctors are kind and soon care for the wounds on my ankles and wrists and give me a shot for the pain. A nurse makes me a cup of tea for the shock and wraps a blanket around my shoulders while a cop sits beside me and asks me question after question.

  I must have been here for half an hour when the curtain twitches and Joey appears looking so worried it brings tears to my eyes. The relief on his face overwhelms me and as he takes me in his arms, I break down. He strokes my hair and whispers, “It’s ok. I’m here now. You’re safe.”

  I settle into his arms like a frightened child. He sits beside me on the bed and cradles me like a baby as I sob as though I’ve had a nightmare. This time the nightmare is real and I’m not about to wake up anytime soon.

  I hear the cop say in disbelief, “I never knew you had a daughter, Joey.”

  He snarls, “Mr. Carter to you and why would you know?”

  The cop laughs softly, “I might have known by the way she fought off that gang.”

  I feel my father stiffen next to him and say roughly, “What happened?”

  The cop laughs. “Your daughter was a match for all of them. I’ve never seen anything like it. She could apply for a job with the SAS she was that good.”

  Joey laughs and squeezes me tight. “That’s my girl.”

  I say in a small voice, “It was Todd who taught me. He was a Special Forces trainer with the military. He made me learn almost as soon as I could walk. We would spend hours practising and he told me he never wanted to think of me in danger without the ability to defend myself.”

  The cop sounds impressed. “Special Forces, hey. That’s some teacher you had.”

  Joey sounds emotional as his voice breaks. “I owe that man everything. He was the father you deserved, Summer. You couldn’t have had a finer one and if I could, I would shake his hand and thank him a million times over.”

  I start to sob as I think about Todd Jefferson. The man who saved my mother and then me. I miss him—them, so much and yet when I stood there with a gun to the back of my head, I felt him with me. Todd, Casey, my mom, they will always be with me. I know that now because they live on in my heart.

  I close my eyes and relax against the shoulder of the man who has taken up where they left off. But it’s another man’s face that I see when I close my eyes and I hope it won’t be long before I see him for real.

  Two hours later, we are free to go. I gave my statement and my father made sure I was well enough to leave. Then we head out to the waiting room and his is the first face I see.

  Max is looking so desperate it almost brings a smile to my lips. Just seeing him is enough to do that, and he looks so unsure and almost afraid to approach me it makes me smile. Charlie and Tracey are with him but I can’t tear my eyes from his. I feel my father stiffen beside me as I say softly, “Hey.”

  Max smiles softly, “Hey, you had us worried there.”

  Ignoring everyone around us, we walk closer. Max reaches out and I settle in his arms as he wraps his strong arms around me and strokes my back in circles. This is where I belong. In his arms where I feel safe and loved. We ignore everyone else around us and don’t even dwell on the awkward silence surrounding us.

  Max kisses the top of my head and whispers, “Thank god you’re safe.”

  Then my father’s sharp voice cuts through the moment as he says icily, “Charlie, bring the car around—now!”

  I feel him pull me back and with a sigh, I take his arm and walk beside him. Max follows with Tracey and I can tell Joey wants answers and fast. That doesn’t bother me. If I had to choose, I’d choose Max everytime. Maybe that’s selfish but I can’t help how I feel. Max is my oxygen, my heartbeat and the reason I live. Without him, I may as well have given into those criminals because I would have nothing left to live for.

  26

  Maxwell

  Joey is pissed. I’ve lived with him long enough to recognize the signs. He sits with Summer and Tracey in the back of the car while Charlie drives with me beside him. I catch sight of his furious face in the mirror and my heart sinks. He knows.

  The first stop is Tracey’s house and we take time to fill her parents in on what happened. Her mum breaks down, and her look says it all. She blames us for putting her girl in danger and I can’t argue with that. Joey does his best to reassure her and Charlie, to his credit, does a good job in smoothing an awkward situation over.

  I can tell he likes Tracey, I’m just not sure it’s enough. Charlie has always been one to love em and leave em and is given more chances than he deserves. The hope in Tracey’s eyes as she watches us go makes me determined to find out what his intentions are. She’s Summer’s family and close enough for it to matter. He must back off unless he’s serious, which I highly doubt.

  It seems like the longest day on record when we head home and mum races out and spirits Summer away. Resisting the urge to follow close behind, I fix my mood in place to deal with Joey.

  As soon as they’re out of earshot he growls, “My office, now!”

  Charlie and I share a look because we only go there when he means business.

  As we wait in front of his desk, the look he shoots me should mean I’m dead on the spot. He turns to Charlie and growls, “What’s
the story with you and Tracey?”

  Charlie shrugs. “There isn’t one. She’s good company, but that’s all. I like having her around but there’s nothing in it but friendship and the fact she’s Summer’s cousin.”

  Joey nods and says roughly, “Then you can go.”

  Charlie hesitates and Joey barks, “Now!”

  Throwing me a sympathetic look, Charlie heads out and leaves me to face the wrath of my father.

  He says in a deadly voice, “Same question but a different name. What’s the story with you and Summer?”

  I fix him with a hard look. “I love her?”

  Joey slams his fist on the desk and shouts, “I warned you what would happen.”

  I shake my head. “I tried to stay away. I did everything in my power to keep my distance but you kept on pushing us together. Do you know how hard it’s been trying to think of the woman you love as a sister, even though she isn’t—not by birth, anyway.”

  Joey glares at me angrily. “So what, you couldn’t put your family above your own selfish wishes? What happens when you get bored with her because we all know you will?”

  I snarl, “I told you, I love her. Nothing can make me fall out of love with Summer, I want to make my future with her.”

  Joey laughs bitterly. “You say that now but what about years down the line? What about when some tart flaunts herself at you and things have got stale at home? What about when the lust wears off and real-life kicks in? You’re a fool, Maxwell thinking you love someone after five minutes of knowing them. What then for Summer? You will break this family apart because you wouldn’t walk away for her sake. Well, walk away now before it’s too late.”

  I can’t believe what I’m hearing and shout angrily, “If I walk away, I’m taking her with me. You don’t get to tell us who we can love. It doesn’t work that way. Do you think she would be better off with some chancer off the street? Would you be happy to see some punk pawing at her and treating her like shit? Would you really value anyone else but the one person who wants to give her the world? Someone who will make it his life’s work to see a smile on her face every day for the rest of her life. Is that such a bad thing for your daughter? The man you raised with your own values and beliefs. Are you really saying I’m not man enough for your daughter just because you married my mother?”