Our Sins

by Kimberly Blalock

  “You’re the man from the bar the night before my wedding,” I say

  “I am.”

  “My husband attacked you. Is that what this is about?”

  He laughs. “No.” Shaking his head and closing his eyes he continues, “Evan Young is responsible for the death of my sister.” His accent wraps around the word death. A shudder explodes from my skin. “So I’m here to take you from him. And his sister of course.” His eyes open, an evil grin taking its place on his lips.

  “Natalia? You’re going to kill us both?”

  “Of course. I can’t let this sort of thing go without revenge.”

  “No.” I see his eyes dark but controlled. He isn’t going to hurt me by raping or beating me, he’s going to make this quick. Or maybe it will be slow, but it’ll be calculated. Unlike the bastard that took what I’ll never get back.

  “Yes. I’m afraid Evan has brought you into a dark and twisted world. I realize of course you aren’t responsible for the death of my sister. So I’ll make your death quick.”

  I need to get the fuck out of here.

  “Evan should be meeting your host in just a few hours.” He laughs.

  “Are you going to hurt him?”

  “Oh, that’s exactly what I’ve planned. By hurting the two most…” He gawks at my stomach. “Four-most important people in his life. I’ll be ripping him apart.”

  “Oh.” I whisper, the word barely heard.

  “I trust that Hollister has been an exceptional host?”

  “If you consider rape and abuse exceptional.”

  His eyes are pitch black lines forcing their way through. “He raped you?”

  “And he’s starved me. I haven’t had water since… I went to the bathroom. Which by the way, I really need to do now.”

  “Yes. Of course. No sense in making you suffer until it’s necessary.” How kind of you, asshole. I stand following him. When we reach the door, he pulls my hands into his. “What is this?”

  I look down at my infected wrists, red and warm with horrific gouges. “From the ties.” I look back up to his face. What the hell does he care?

  “I see. And the bruises on your face?”

  “His welcoming party.” I sneer.

  He walks me to the bathroom, and I quickly sit on the cold toilet to pee. After I’ve finished, I hold my mouth under the running water lapping it up as quickly as you can a slow stream. The cold water touching my lips is the best water I’ve ever had. Kale opens the door watching me. I don’t react as I continue drinking the liquid.

  “Have you had enough?” His accent is dry.

  I stand, seeing myself in the mirror. Dark circles around my eyes. Purple bruises covering my entire face barely leaving room for me. I don’t see me.

  “I’ll get you something to eat and drink. Would that be acceptable?”

  I nod. Really confused about his half insane kindness. He wants to kill me, but he’s being nice? So confused. “Thank you,” I offer.

  He locks me in the room again. This time, though, I have light. I look around for anything I can use as a weapon. Nat had once told me, “Anything can be used as a weapon.” She’d used a lamp to kill a few guys that had taken her when she ran away. This room is bare, however. My eyes sweep across the hideously painted room only seeing the chair, bed, and ropes hanging on the wall. I don’t know what I can do with those. I turn my head back to the bed, feeling defeated. The bed squeaks from the old springs. And then it hits me.

  I quickly stand lifting the mattress. It’s freaking heavy. I don’t have the strength to hold it for long, but I’m searching for a weapon, anything. Dropping the mattress and untucking the sheets I search the thick material for a way inside. I find a small hole and search for the cold metal with my fingertips. I need to make the hole larger. I grip it with both of my fingers pulling with all of my weight ripping it just a little, but enough that I can get my hand inside if I don’t mind pain.

  I whip my hand around searching for a loose spring. If I can pull it out, I could use it as a weapon. I could hurt someone like I did Marco. I could save my babies. If I could hurt them, we might all be saved.

  A rush of urgency pounds against my nervous system. I pull and tug the springs, but nothing comes loose. “Fuck,” I hiss into the mattress. I have to get this right. It may all depend on me. What if they don’t know these people are after them? What if they walk into an ambush? What if they aren’t walking this way at all? What if they never come?

  The questions race through my mind. No answers following. All I do know is I need to warn them. I need to tell them they are coming for them.

  Deep breath. Deep breath. Deep breath.

  I’m pull the spring with all of my small might, and after a trying struggle it moves just a little. I continue to fight with the stubborn spring, wiggling it back and forth in an attempt to bend the metal. It seems that time stands still, but I know time isn’t on my side. Any minute now, Kale could return with food or whatever he’s bringing me, and I need to have this finished when he gets back. This perhaps is the one and only chance I have to save myself.

  The metal weakens as I’m continue to pull side to side. This bed is old but may not be old enough. “Shit.”

  I hear footsteps. Boots. He’s coming back.

  I pull faster and harder. It’s weak and I move my arm in a furious motion, silently begging that the spring will snap free. The door! He’s at the door. Fuck. My heart thumps hard and fast. Sweat drips down my forehead. I don’t stop or give up. The locks click and thud as their opened. I give one last pull and the spring breaks loose. I slip it through the torn hole then cover the evidence of my search with the blanket just as the door opens.

  My head is covered in sweat. I hide it in the pillow wiping it very nonchalantly while also catching my breath.

  “Abigale?” I don’t move. Deep breath. Deep breath. “Abigale!” The stern voice demands.

  “Yes,” I say, exhausted. I have no strength, barely able to move my arm.

  “I’ve brought you something to eat.”

  I raise my head seeing a tray of food. I literally, haven’t eaten anything since I’ve been here. “Thank you.”

  His eyes fall to the food. “Eat,” he demands, dropping the tray on the side of the bed he returns to the chair he’d sat in earlier. Watching me.

  There’s a steak, baked potato, salad, and a roll. I look at the food, gently picking up the silverware.

  “Would you like me to cut it?” he asks.

  I shake my head. I don’t want him doing anything for me. I greedily fill my mouth with a generous cut of steak, closing my eyes as I take in the flavor. I swallow just as fast, almost choking on the tender meat. I cough and he jumps forward. I raise my hands signaling I’m okay.

  “You remind me of my sister,” he admits, resting his elbows on his legs. “She was pregnant when she was killed. “She’s a lot like you. She was.”

  My face is frozen. I see the pain in his eyes and heart. I know that feeling. I know what it feels like to lose someone you love. I know what it’s like to lose a sister. “I’m very sorry for your loss,” I offer.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m afraid I know that same loss.

  “What do you know of it?” he snaps at me.

  I cringe in my seat. “My sister died when we were young.” I gulp a drink of water emptying the glass.

  “When you were sixteen?”

  I nod. “You know?”

  Tilting his head, his gaze is like fire. “I read of it. It was a bit of a surprise that you’d be bedded down with the son of the man that caused you such pain.” His glare doesn’t give.

  I don’t break the eye contact. He’s testing me. Searching for information. He’s doing something. Being nice with the food. Showing concern for my wounds? He’s playing at something, and I’m not in the fucking mood.

  “Well, that wouldn’t be any of your business, now would it?” I bite back.

  He laughs, the air feeling a lit
tle bit raised, but it’s a game. I sigh. “No, I suppose not. I am a bit curious, though. What could Evan possibly give you that would make you forget what he’s done?”

  My blood boils in my veins. “Evan didn’t hurt my sister. He hasn’t done anything wrong.” I lean forward holding the steak knife in one hand and a mean right swing in the other.

  “But he did. He shot me sister in the head. He killed a young mother that was just finished with her studies and on her way.”

  “I’m certain there’s a perfectly good explanation. Have you asked him?”

  “Evan and I go way back. We don’t see eye to eye. As you witnessed in the bar.”

  “He loves me. He worries.” I snatch another bite. I need to eat and get some strength back.

  “I’ll bet ya he’s worried for ya now, eh?” I’m absolutely certain he’s freaking out. That scares me. He’s going to put himself in harm’s way to protect me. I can’t bare that. I need to help him. “Eat.” He gestures to the food as he stands. “We’ll see how deep his love runs for you soon.” He turns walking out the door locking it tight. I wobble on weak knees and pad to the door gripping my hands along the wood frame hearing nothing on the other side.

  This room is concrete. I know that it couldn’t possibly be that thick. Could it? I walk back to the tray and stuff some food into my mouth chewing as fast as I can. I’ll need the strength. When it’s gone, I slip my hand under the comforter retrieving the spring that I’d miraculously pried apart. The edge is raged and sharp. I stand in the middle of the room staring at the wall, remembering I had seen a small amount of light, from a hole maybe. I don’t see light now, but I really don’t know what time of day it is.

  I search the walls for a light switch. I’d searched the walls many times and never found it, but he turned it on so easily earlier when he’d come in. No switch on the walls. I look up seeing a string hanging from the light above my head. I pull the chair toward me and stand on it to pull the string overhead. The room falls black and I watch for any light, any break or crack that would reveal weakness in the structure. It’s pitch, though. Blackness surrounds me not showing any light. Shit. I turn it back on feeling the heat just above my head.

  It’s got to be night time.

  I step down tucking myself inside the comfort of the bed with the spring tight in my hand.

  I’ll be waiting.

  “The water towers are close. We’ll mic you,” the large man named Nathan says.

  “Thank you, brother,” I offer my gratitude. I don’t know this guy from anyone, but he’s here helping me find my family. And that is a big fucking deal in my book.

  He nods. He’s Special Forces and damn good at what he does. All these guys are muscle and intelligence for hire. My father knows how to bring it. Always has.

  “Evan,” Thomas approaches around the SUV. “If this ends how we hope it will, I’d like a chance to speak with Abigale. I’d like to do something that should’ve been done a long time ago. If you’ll allow me, of course.” I don’t respond. “Think about it. Oh and Evan? I’d also like to show the both of you something.” His hand reaches for my shoulder patting it then walks away.

  “What the fuck?” I ask Michael

  “Bro, the old man’s lost his fucking mind.”

  “Or just found it.” Nat approaches from behind.

  “Huh.” Good point.

  Another hour ticks by; I kick the dirt pacing back and forth between the vehicles waiting and waiting some more. I wanted to be on my way to this building getting my girl back, but satellite images show there are a ton of McCormick’s people there waiting.

  My father and Nathan thought it would be better to have me meet Hollister at the water towers like he’d demanded. Only we will also have the choppers ready and our crew near the location. I don’t think he’s really going to be there.

  I said “fuck you” to that shit. I’ll be in the lead vehicle making our first stop, Abby. Thomas tried to argue with me and one of his guys even got in my face with a forty-five when I’d approached him in an aggressive manner. I broke his leg. After that everyone thought it’d be a great idea to listen to what I had to say.

  My idea was simple. Have someone else, someone that resembles me as much as possible go to the water towers. By the time Hollister realizes what’s going on, I’ll be at the building dealing with McCormick and getting my angel back.

  “Sir, thirty minutes,” Nathan notifies me that our time is short lived. “Load the choppers, ready for distraction and extraction,” he demands into his phone.

  The choppers themselves will be a distraction and they won’t see us coming in the vehicles. They’ll be too worried about the choppers. That’s when I get out and bring it. Hard.

  I approach everyone standing around feeling a lot of things. Anger, anger, more anger, and gratitude. “I’d like to thank you.” Everyone turns to me. “This woman that we are going to rescue tonight. Abby. She’s been through a lot. Lost too many things in her short life. Would give anything anyone needed before ever thinking of herself. She has been my anchor. Saving me from myself so many times. I owe her everything. So I want to thank you for risking your lives to save hers.”

  I turn facing the darkness. I need a moment before I let the evil filter through my body. The evil that has to be resurrected to get through this. An arm reaches for my shoulder. I hear it before its felt.

  “Son, we’re going to get her back.” He pats me a few times then silence fills the open space telling me he’s gone. I close my eyes lowering my head saying a silent prayer.

  “Gather round,” Michael demands

  We do as he says. Everyone taking the man’s hand next to them. Michael says a short prayer and we begin.

  “We might not come back from this. Don’t wait for me. I don’t want you two to die tonight” I say to Michael and my baby sister who has more courage than I do.

  “Yeah, too late, big brother. If they get you, they get me.” Her fist meets the middle of our small circle.

  “Fuck yeah, Bro. They get me, too.” Michael cheers.

  “Figured,” I huff. I’d die for them as well. I don’t plan on dying tonight, though.

  “Sir, time to roll.” Nathan rushes me.

  “Ready to play, boys?” Natalia asks strapping on the knife she’d been sharpening.

  “So ready.”

  The SUVs pull out of the space we’d been parked until time to deploy. The moon offers little light leaving only the stars of the desert to light a way for us. We are the only ones on the two lane road. The six vehicles drive in tight uniform.

  “The choppers are in the air and will be making some noise in ten-minus…” Nathan announces. He’s watching a screen. The satellite image showing him what we can’t see otherwise. “They’ve approached.”

  “ETA two minutes,” someone else says.

  “Open the doors.” Everyone expected to jump out grabs hold of the bar and positions themselves to jump from the SUVs.

  We approach the back of the property ready for the warfare McCormick is very well known for. Very dirty and dangerous man. He makes Marco look like a piece of cake.

  “Go,” I announce. Everyone jumps from the vehicles and hits the deck waiting for the rush. I signal to move forward as the team in choppers shoot at the assholes surrounding the building. The night vision helps us see what we normally wouldn’t be able to. Another signal has everyone moving in a rush towards the building.

  Nat runs with me at my side. I hit the building leaning against it. The choppers lay down fire against the ground, carefully protecting the extraction team, their fire steering clear from the house while distracting McCormick’s men.

  One deep breath and I’ll enter.

  Noise wakes me, loud noise. Evan? My breathing stills. I hear screaming and yelling by several voices from outside the wall of my room Voices I hadn’t heard before. All of them muffled. I think I hear a helicopter above the building.

  The babies kick. “Daddy’s here girls
. He’s came to save us.” Thank you, God.

  I secure the spring into my hand waiting until I can use it. I’d like to use this on Hollister. He’s got to be out there somewhere. My heart stills as I recall what Kale had said. This is their plan. Get Evan here to make him suffer. I’ve got to get out of here. I bang on the door yelling and screaming. “Let me out!”

  The door opens to my surprise revealing a dark eyed Irishman. “He’s here for you.”

  Evan.

  “It’s time for that suffering we’d talked about.”

  My girls kick against my tummy. My breathing slows. The light in the room becomes a hazy glow only seeing Kale’s smug face. I hold the sharp spring behind my back, gripping it tightly. His arms reach out for me willing me into them. My bare feet take a sauntered step back giving some distance.

  “I won’t make you suffer.” He smiles smugly.

  “No?” I take a step towards him meeting his steps. His arms wrap around my waist. I bring my arm above my head feeling the weight of the jagged metal I’d pried from the bed as it descends. The contact with his neck is soft and soothing. Comfort washes over me prickling across my skin. I learned a little something in Pre-Med. Like where the carotid artery is located. BITCH.

  He falls to his knees with the spring protruding from his neck. Blood shooting from his artery. I hear his straggled screams. My body freezes, and I hear another round of gunfire. “Evan.” I turn my head towards the open door. Kale is gripping the metal in his neck with one hand and lunges forward with the other reaching for my leg. I jump back in a hurried rush. His body falls to the dark pool of blood as he takes his last breath. I’ve killed him. My lips quivers when I realize I’d don’t it. I’d actually killed him.

  I hear more gunfire as I step over Kale’s lifeless body. It’s dark. I don’t know where the hell to go. Then I see it. The same vision I’d seen in the dark room. I know she isn’t there, but nonetheless I see her in a blur running through the building. I follow, running into her direction. My heart booming against my chest. My breathing comes in short fast waves. A right then left and BANG. I smash into someone.