THE STRAGGLERS PROTECT

by Misha Anderson

  “Adam, you may be the alpha in this pack, but you’re still my brother, tell me the truth, what’s going on? Why those guys were trying to kill you?”

  I give up lying, omitting, maybe in the future I’ll need his support, I always need my brothers, I taught them since they were little not to lie, I can’t betray my principals.

  “They weren’t after me, it’s because of Sam, Hunt.”

  “Sam, a harmless waitress? What did she do?”

  I told him everything I knew, he heard attentively and in the end, concluded:

  “If it’s like that, she’s in danger alone in that house.”

  “I know, man, but she insists in not having me around, I don’t know what to do, man.”

  “Well, I know what to do, leave it to me. Extreme situations, extreme measures, Damy Boy.”

  CHAPTER 10

  SAMANTHA THOMPSON

  It has been two days since I’ve talked or spoke with Adam, it’s hard to concentrate at work, I’ve been having agitated sleepless night and I wake up in the middle of the night scared, still hearing the shots echo, the growl of the wolf that protected me in the middle of the woods, a swirl of thoughts and feelings that has been giving me more anxiety every day.

  Even though I know I acted correctly, that I’m protecting Adam and the boys, I miss my Damy, I miss hearing his low raspy voice, his male and delicious scent, his soft mouth stuck on mine, so yummy my sheriff, ah! Damy and his cuffs, the mean things he does with my hands tied and his mouth...

  I was released earlier from Mathews today, Dorothy knows I’m not well, I told her the truth, I ended with my boyfriend and as always, she gave a word of comfort and said that everything will end well.

  Will it? If it wasn’t for Igor and his gang of robbers, my fear of risking everything and losing Adam, I could even believe in Dorothy’s words, but I was never a dreamer, my feet were always stuck to the ground, after the blow I got from Igor, surviving has become more important than being happy.

  I finish taking a shower, put on sweat pants and a Lakers shirt and when I’m finish making tea, someone pounds away at my door yelling, scaring the hell out of me.

  “Sam, open the door.”

  I think about escaping through the window, but what if they have the house surrounded, I decide to remain quiet, sometimes, whoever it is, may give up and go away.

  “Sam, I know you’re in there, it’s Hunter.”

  Hunter here? What ever happened to Adam?

  I open the door as quickly as I can and ask right away what’s happening:

  “Come on in, what happened to Adam, Hunter?”

  Hunter excuses himself and with him, Connor and Kayden also enter my living room.

  OH MY GOD! WILL THEY HAVE KILLED ADAM???

  “For the love of God, tell me what’s happening to Adam, don’t hide anything from me, Hunter.”

  Without being able to retrain myself, I start to sob, Hunter sits and answers:

  “You, Sam. You are what’s happening to Adam, why did you dump Damy that way? For what I can see, you are suffering as much as he is, or am I wrong?”

  “You wouldn’t understand, Hunter, your brother is the most fantastic man I ever met in my entire life, but I have my reasons.”

  Connor and Kayden sit down and I asked them if they want tea, Kayden accepts it and Hunter and Connor have a glass of water.

  “You’re a good woman, Sam, you make a good tea and you’re a Lakers fan, you’re perfect for Damy.”

  Only Kayden to make me laugh, I hug him and he smiles back, his eyes are incredibly brown, alive, happy, and he has two dimples to die for. But even though he’s so handsome, my heart belongs to a certain sheriff.

  “Thanks, can I call you Kay.”

  “Sure, Kay is fine, I’m at your service, Sam.”

  “Stop fli... flirting with Sam, you pup... puppy s... son of a bi... bitch.”

  “Watch you mouth in front of a lady, that wasn’t what Adam and I taught you. Sam, Adam talked to me, I can’t accept to see Damy buried in shit, neither him nor you deserve to be apart, then, me and the boys will give you two options: we’ll help you pack really fast or we can take you to our house with only the clothes you have on, your call.”

  They are completely insane, can’t they understand? It’s not because I don’t like him, I’m mad about Adam, but I can’t risk his life, their lives, it’s not fair for them to be in danger because of me.

  “Hunter, I thank you for your worries, but it’s dangerous, I’m doing this for him, for you, it will be better this way, at least till I’m able to clean my name and those guys go to jail, they are dangerous people, Hunter, you have no idea...”

  “The ones who don’t have an idea what we are, what we are capable of doing to defend one of ours is you, Sam. You still know very little about us, but I can guarantee that you’re not dealing with a bunch of regular boys, if there are men that know how to protect themselves, take care and kill if it’s needed, those men are us, please, come with us. You’ll stay in our house for a few days at least. Let us watch the house for a few nights. Then, if we notice that’s safe for you to return home, I’ll be the first to help you, but please, if you really like us a little bit, come with us, I’ll give you my word that nothing will happen. Adam needs to have some peace and he’ll only be at peace, if he’s sure you’re safe, protected. So, what you say?”

  I look at each of their faces and see the valuable men they are, Hunter steady as a rock, Connor with such a good caracter, a good guy, and Kayden, Kay is a standby, a truly faithful to his brothers. Even afraid of something that may happen to Adam, to his brothers, to all of us, I can’t say no, I’ll be with them for a few days, as soon as things calm down, I’ll get back home. I hug Hunter and Connor comes closer, I hug hum too.

  “Now you are pa... part of o... our fa... family, y... you are one of us, Sam.”

  They are so tough, but they are sweet, how honored I feel to have them close, I thank them and I go to my room, to get a small and basic suitcase, they wait for me on the porch, watching the house in such a protective way that moves me.

  I close the house and go with them towards Kayden’s truck, I sit on the front seat beside Kayden, Hunter and Connor sit on the back seat.

  In less then half hour, we get to the Vaugh’s ranch, Hunter opens the door and yells to Adam through the house:

  “Adam, where are you, we have a surprise for you.”

  Almost running through the hall, Adam appears in the living room with his hair that I love so much, all untidy and wet, barefoot and with cotton shorts on his hips, so hot, ah! And to think that this man is all mine, I’m such a lucky girl.

  He smiles and hugs me tight, pulling me to the floor. I wrap my legs around his waist and Adam signals Hunter to leave my suitcase in the living room while he kisses me, until Kayden interrupts us clearing his throat.

  “Damy, we’re still here, get a room, old man.”

  My body slides down on his and I keep hugging Adam while he makes fun of Kayden.

  “Are you jealous, get yourself a girl, this little bunny is all mine, Kay.”

  Kay gives a scornful answer, as always.

  “It’s true, man, now you’re not Mister...”

  “Call me by that ridiculous nickname again and I’ll break your teeth, you little shit. Sam, you’re here. Who convinced you?”

  Hunter answers:

  “The most handsome and hottest Vaugh, of course.”

  I smile and bring it to a close:

  “They all convinced me. I’ll stay stay for a few days, as soon as things calm down, I’ll be back home, alright?”

  “Alright, but you’ll only get back if it’s safe, do you get it, Sam?”

  I nod, Adam entangles his fingers on mine and kisses my hand, teasing his brothers.

  “Now will the ladies excuse me, but I’m going to show our bedroom to Sam.”

  We take the hallway still hearing the boys whistle and clap, yelling our names.

&
nbsp; They are so noisy, so messy, but such a beautiful family.

  At this moment, for the first time in my life, I feel I’m part of a happy bunch.

  CHAPTER 11

  ADAM VAUGH

  I can’t remember when I slept so good... In my entire life, my sleep has always been agitated, so many worries, so many responsibilities on me.

  Sometimes I close my eyes and it’s so livid in my memory the image of my father’s pale and cold body.

  Uncle Quinn, from Garret pack, because he’s such an old family friend, helped me to dress dad, but I made sure to dress him to the funeral.

  My father was a handsome man, dark long hair, with livid brown eyes like Connie’s. I remember I combed his silky hair, so like Kayden’s, and without anyone seeing, I cried hidden. And I promised him, I would take care of my brothers, that I would honor my Lycan blood. I wouldn’t allow them to extinguish us as if we were sweet docile lambs, ready to be killed.

  Never, we are wolves, and I’m honored for that, We fight for our survival and if it is needed to defend with blood, let it be spilt the blood of our enemies, of our hunters.

  And as we defend ourselves, we also protect our own, the few rare people that are so dear to us, so important.

  Sam is one of these few people that we fight for, we defend.

  She’s mine, and being so, she’s part of my pack, and as the leader of my pack, I will honor the promise I made to my dad, I’ll protect them the way it’s needed.

  The Vaughs only rest or give up in one way: dead, defeated.

  I smell the pillow and I can sense the sweet scent of cherries.

  Cherries and Sam... Sam and cherries, Sam naked covered in cherries.

  Hmm!!! My cock get’s hard in seconds thinking about the third possibility, I’ll go to the bathroom and no sign of Sam, I put on some fucked up pajama bottom that I stole from Kayden and I get out through the hall, smelling something delicious coming from the kitchen.

  I look around me and I don’t recognize it... Is this my house?!!!

  What did they do with the floor full of shoes and dirty socks, wet towels hanging from the lamp, the sink full of dishes, the greasy stove?

  And these guys have taken showers, are completely dresses and in line by the stove? They are not my brothers, certainly some alien took over their body, poking their poor body with anal probes and brain chips...

  Or maybe it’s the fault of a beautiful girl, with long braids and wearing a Bart Simpson apron, that looks at me smiling, called Sam...

  Ah! Sam, my little scared bunny.

  I approach her and she gets on the tip of her toes to kiss me on the lips.

  “Good morning, Sam.”

  “Good morning, Damy.”

  I look around and the guys smile shyly, the three of them in line, waiting for warm pancakes that Sam is taking out of the frying pan.

  On the dinner table the towel is on the table with a vase and a lonely sunflower. On trays, I see scramble eggs, sausages and fried bacon, a bowl of fruit salad and cereal. As well as coffee, milk and orange juice.

  Sam serves my brothers with generous portions of pancakes and they greet me good morning without funny business, without too much noise, happy but strangely quiet.

  She serves me last and sits at the table, everybody having breakfast together, I look at them and no one has attacked their food yet.

  Sam says a quick prayer thanking God for our food and for keeping us together at the table. Then she gets a bowl for herself and puts in it some fruit salad and cereal, laughing and satisfied for everybody.

  Hunter is visibly touched and now I understand why they are so quiet.

  It has been a long time that we have been taking care of each other, alone. The Vaugh ranch, as our hearts, has always been an impenetrable fortress.

  Till this light blue eyes scared pretty and feminine girl arrived.

  The idea of Sam makes us sorely miss the woman, the female.. It makes us think about the brave and sweet Native American, Kamy, our mother.

  The guys attacked they food and I only listen the sounds of their approval because the pancakes, or was it because of the scramble eggs, the bacon? Ah! Everything is so good, I don’t know what’s better.

  “Sam, eve... everything is s... so de... delicious.”

  “Thanks, Connie.”

  Kayden eats a bunch of pancakes like a desperate man and asks with his mouth full:

  “Damy, I’m competing the day after tomorrow in a rodeo in Oregon, are you going?”

  How not to? He’s the brat of the house, but we all love Kay. He fills me with pride, he a very talented cowboy.

  “Of course I’m going, kid, are you ridding Sky?”

  He smiles because I’m going, his two dimples are even more evident and he says:

  “Absolutely, she’s my girl.”

  Hunter and Connor start to laugh, making fun of Kayden. Sam tries to cover up her laugh, only Kay doesn’t thing our joke is funny, of course.

  “Kay’s gi... gi... girl had fo... four paws, wat... watch out othe... otherwise you’ll b... be father of a b... bunch of li... little co... colts.”

  “That’s not funny, Porky Pig. You’re the worst!!! Who’s gonna have sex with a jam up phonograph like you?”

  Hunter feels for Connie and defends him:

  “More respect with the older ones, and besides that, there’s a bunch of girls that think a hunky stuttering firefighter has his charm.”

  Kayden shrugs and turn to Sam.

  “Will you see me competing, sister-in-law?”

  She smiles, her face is redder than a tomato, and then she agrees, teasing Kayden and Connor:

  “Of course I’ll go, it will be a pleasure to meet your girl, Kay. And Connie, I know a lot of girls that would think a stuttering firefighter is cute.”

  Connor throws the napkin on Kayden and winks at me and Sam, showing his six packs abs built with a lot of exercise and rescues at the Firefighter Department of Portland.

  “You s... see, y... you think that an... anyone has a s... six pack li... like this, you br... brat?”

  Hunter looks me in silence, glad to see us all around the full table, happy, together.

  I know exactly what Hunter is thinking, because that son of a bitch is an amazing scary fighter, a clumsy ogre, but he’s sensible and filled with emotion like a poet.

  He smiles shyly to Sam and holds her hand, kissing and thanking her.

  “Thank you for breakfast and for having accepted to come with us, you’re a good woman, Sam.”

  He finishes his breakfast, goes to his bedroom and comes back with a photo album.

  Hunt asks Sam to sit on the couch and I go on washing the dishes with Kayden.

  “Come meet Mr. and Mrs. Vaugh, Sam. Adam Vaugh, that was not the way mom and dad raised us. How come you bring your girl home and doesn’t introduce her to your parents, old man?”

  Sam smiles and starts to leaf through the album while Hunter shows her our parents, our family all together before them and Nick passed away.

  “This handsome guy smoking a cigar is our father, Jeremiah Vaugh. See how I’m the only one who has the beauty the charm our father had, of course.”

  I frown in the kitchen because he’s playfully flirting with Sam and he growls teasing me.

  “Take it easy, Damy, even though I’m irresistible, I won’t steal your girl. And this beautiful woman with long black hair is our mother, Kamama Vaugh, my dad called her Kamy.”

  Sam looks at mom’s picture and asks:

  “Was she an Native American?”

  Hunter nods and adds:

  “She was Cherokee, the name means butterfly, perfect for her, don’t you think? Mom was so pretty. The only one that looked like her was Anika, our baby sister. Nick had dark skin, long very black hair, her physical appearance really took over mom. And here we are all together, when we were little we lived in Alaska.”

  Sam looks at me lightly surprised and asks:

  “You said you were f
rom here, from Portland, Adam.”

  Hunter takes charge and answers for me:

  “We don’t like to talk about our past, about the time we lived in Alaska, you’re not the only one who’s been chased, Sam. One of theses days Adam will explain better about us, about our lands in Alaska, but I can guarantee that we know how to live in hiding very well, running. You can count on us with what you need.”

  Sam finishes looking at the pictures, looking at a photo of me when I was little, already standing out from my brothers, hugging dad, as if I was getting a staff from him, to carry on the mission protecting us from the wild world that waited for us.

  “Your eyes are still the same, Adam, from the time you were little you looked serious, steady, protective.”

  I agree and say:

  “I got this responsibility very young, I’m happy to see all my brothers grown, safe, protected, self made men. It makes me satisfied to know I got it right.”

  Hunter comes close to me and kisses me on the forehead.

  “I never had the opportunity to thank you, thank you for having raised us, Damy, you are an amazing brother and father, old man.”

  Sam caress my parents picture and smiles at me speaking to them:

  “Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Vaugh, thank you for welcoming me in your house.”

  It would have been a beautiful moment if Kayden and Connor hadn’t spoiled it all running through the living room.

  Connor wearing only his caqui uniform pants, with his yellow firefighter helmet in one hand ready to throw it at Kayden.

  “Kay, th... this ti... time I’ll fi... finish you. Whe... where the fu... fuck is m... my too.. tooth b... brush? To... today I’m sho... shoving his helmet in y... your ass... asshole!!!”

  Kayden started to run to the porch, Hunter and I exchanged looks and Sam looks at me scared, asking:

  “Isn’t it better for you to go after them, what if they get into a serious fight?”

  Hunter shrugs and leaves the room collecting Kayden’s towel and boot that he left on the floor.