Starting Over (Starting Over 1

by Kathy O'Rourke

  My top comes off first. I watch as his eyes look over my breasts. Next, I slide my pajama bottoms to the floor leaving me in my black lace panties, the very ones he teased me about on day one.

  “Jesus, Baby, you’re beautiful. I love your womanly curves.” He twirls his finger. “Turn around.”

  “You’re not the boss of me.” I tease him, all the while knowing he really is.

  After a deep naughty laugh, he answers, “In the bedroom, I am. Now turn around.”

  I turn my back and look over my shoulder. “Womanly curves? You calling me fat, Hank?”

  “No way. You’re perfect. You’re just the right size. Now slide those panties down. I need to see the rest.”

  And I do.

  “Stand still, Shell.” He’s by my side in three steps running his fingers down my back and over my bottom. “So soft. So perfect.” He kisses my shoulders and bites my neck. “You ready for me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good.”

  He pushes me down on my bed and stands over me. “You on the pill?”

  “Yeah, and I’m clean. You?”

  “I’m not on the pill but I’m clean.”

  I giggle at his joke. “We’re fine. Aren’t we?”

  Then it’s magic time. And oh boy, does this man make some great magic.

  After we catch our breath, he blows out the candles, climbs back in bed and pulls me into his side. “So good.”

  “I think we both needed that.”

  “Yeah.”

  We go quiet, the only sound is our breathing. I can tell he’s not asleep and it feels like he has something on his mind. “You okay?”

  Pulling me closer, he places a kiss on my hair and whispers in my ear, “Tell me about your ex, Joe.”

  “Really?”

  “I know it doesn’t actually matter in our current circumstances, but I still want to know.”

  I haven’t told the whole story to anyone, not even Ruth, but it feels right sharing it with Hank. “He hurt me.”

  “Tell me, please,” then he kisses my neck.

  “Joseph McKenna. I met him at a teacher’s conference. He was handsome in a geeky way. He wore glasses and his blonde hair tumbled over his collar. His clothes were name-brand and top of the line.” I snicker, “He was no starving public school teacher. He taught high school math at a private school in Studio City. You know, a rich kid school where the movie stars send their children.”

  “So, a pretty boy with money.” Hank says as his lips tickle my ear.

  “Yeah. Exactly.” I continue with my story. “We met at a conference awards dinner. He arrived out of nowhere and asked if he could sit at my table. I was thrilled someone would make that much effort. We talked and flirted all night. He asked me out. We dated for about six months and I fell head over heels for him. He was funny, kind and made me feel like a princess.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “Last Valentine’s day, he asked me to marry him over brunch. I, of course, said yes. One week later, an envelope was slipped under my front door; I never knew who put it there. I questioned Ruth and Levi, but they both denied doing it. Inside was a copy of an engagement announcement from the Los Angeles Times for Joseph McKenna and a woman named Eileen Simmons of Calabasas. They were holding hands and looked very much in love. Per the clip, he’d asked Eileen to marry him on the same day he asked me. The ass proposed to me at brunch and her at dinner.”

  “What a bastard.”

  “Yeah. Well, I was furious and hurt so I confronted him. He told me he only loved me, but his parents were making him marry Eileen. It was a money thing. He’d lose his inheritance if he didn’t marry her.”

  “Was the ass gonna marry you both?”

  “No. He told me he couldn’t marry me, but he still wanted to keep seeing me. The bastard was going to marry Eileen and keep me as his mistress on the side. I kicked him out of my house. I’m no cheater.”

  “Wow, sounds like a movie plot.”

  “Yeah it does. I’ve been alone ever since.”

  He lifts up on his elbow and looks down at my face. “You didn’t deserve that”.

  “No. I didn’t.”

  He pulls my hand to his lips and kisses every finger.

  “Hank? Did a woman ever hurt you?”

  He snickers, “Not like that, but yeah. Her name was Sarah Reynolds. I met her after my first deployment. I was on a three month leave and went home to visit my family. She was a friend of my brother’s wife. We dated. I really liked her. I thought I might even grow to love someday, but I needed more time; time we didn’t have. Before I reported back to base, I asked her to wait for me; that I’d only be gone six months this time. She said she would and that she’d write.”

  I squeeze his hand. “Did she write?”

  He snorts. “Yeah, she wrote. She sent me a Dear John letter.”

  “Damn, what a bitch.”

  “To tell the truth, I felt relief not sadness.” He laughs and kisses my neck. “I’m not gonna lie, there have been plenty of women, mostly one-nighters but no one I was truly interested in.”

  I smack his hand. “You were a love’em and leave’em man.”

  “Yeah.” He chuckles into my hair then kisses my shoulder. “I used to be, but things are different now. I’m not gonna leave you, I promise.”

  I can’t help but laugh. “Where would you go? Looks like I’m the only woman around.”

  He nips my ear. “Shut up, Marshmallow girl. You know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  With that out of the way, we both grow quiet and within minutes, his breathing changes and he’s asleep. I quickly join him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The Car Guys leader… Marco Alvarez

  Before the virus, I was the Jefe, the boss, of the ‘Leones del Valle’, the toughest gang in the Valley. I was respected and admired and my life, though brutal, was also filled with mi familia. The virus ended everything important to me. It killed my beloved wife, my beautiful children and my crew; all except my brother Jose. Jose’s wife and children also died.

  It was just the two of us.

  We spent the first few weeks after their deaths drunk. So drunk, I don’t even remember most of it. Then one day, hungover like hell, I knew we had to stop being pussies and get back to work. If we’re going to keep the valley as ours, we needed new soldiers and new women.

  We’ve taken over a mansion overlooking the whole valley as our headquarters. Yeah, we had to move three stiffs, but it was worth it. The place is amazing. With ten bedrooms, there’s plenty of room for us and any new crew we enlisted.

  First person we found was a man named Brian. He was walking down the street with a pack on his back. Why the fool was walking when there were cars to take, I didn’t understand. Well, he refused to join us; refused to be a solider. Jose slit his throat. That’s the way it went.

  Join or die.

  We’re up to ten men now but we have yet to find any women. This is frustrating. We’re horny and using our hands just doesn’t replace a woman’s touch.

  When we encountered the Caddie and the van, Jose and I were in my Mustang; Adam and Thomas were in the Charger. The rest of the guys were in a different section of the valley recruiting, so there we only the four of us.

  This was the first time anyone tested us. They had more fire power than we did, and a damn police dog. The fuckers killed Jose and wounded Adam. Thank God it was only a flesh wound.

  I want the bastards’ dead. They killed my only remaining family.

  I’ve moved Tim up as my second since he seems smarter than the rest of my crew. “Tim, get the men together. I want to talk to them.”

  “Yes, Boss.” Tim runs off to gather the crew.

  I wait for them at the head of the large dining room table. Once everyone is present, I smack my hand on the table and yell, “Listen up, assholes! It’s been six days and you still can’t find the bastards that killed Jose and wounded Adam!”

&nb
sp; Every face around the table turns white.

  Tim, who is sitting to my right, answers first. “Boss, we’ve been looking every day. Maybe they left the area?”

  Pissed, I punch him in the mouth. “Wrong answer, asshole. There’s no way they left the valley. You just haven’t found them. Plus, you haven’t brought me any new recruits or women.”

  “Women? We haven’t seen one yet.” Eddie calls from the other end of the table.

  “I refuse to believe there aren’t any women. There’s no way, all the women died.” I smack the table again. “We need to work smarter at finding them.”

  Adam speaks up. “I think the bastards who shot Jose are laying low, you know, not going out during the day. I think we need to start searching at night for them, looking for lights.”

  He has a point. We have only been going out in the daytime then partying at night. “That’s a fucking smart idea.”

  Adam raises his finger. “And, if we want to catch them, we have to be quiet. Leave the muscle cars at home. They make too much noise.”

  “Another good idea.” I glare over at Tim, who no longer seems so smart “Get up asshole, and move to the end of the table.”

  “Boss?” Tim slides his chair back probably expecting me to hit him again.

  “You heard me, move down there with the other flunkies.”

  Tim gets up rubbing his jaw and moves down to the seat next to Thomas.

  I point at the now open chair, “Adam, come sit here. You’re my new second.”

  “Thanks, Boss.” Adam responds as he smirks at the other men.

  “Tomorrow, I want each of you to find a quiet car and make sure it has a full tank of gas. Tomorrow night, we go hunting.” I tell them before pounding the table and walking out.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Hank

  Michael stomped his feet in frustration. “Please.”

  “No, Michael, you can’t come.” I hate telling the kid no, but it’s just not safe out there. Every day we’ve heard the Car guys roaring down the main streets. Lucky for us, they’ve never ventured into our neighborhood.

  “But, Hank, I’m fast. I can help catch the chickens.”

  Last night, Leo and Gus found a house with chickens running loose in the backyard. The idea of fresh eggs had us working like fools today building a chicken coop in Ruth’s backyard out of old lumber and a neighbor’s fencing. Tonight, we’re going to the pet store for poultry supplies and then over to capture the birds.

  Leo, whose been listening to Michael beg, sticks his two cents in. “I say, let the kid come. He’s right. He’s fast and small. He can fit in places we can’t.”

  Shelley, doing dishes at the sink, calls over, “Michael, do you promise to listen to Hank and Leo and do exactly what they say?”

  Michael runs to her and puts his hands together in a proper beg. “I promise. I’ll do everything they say. Please!”

  She dries her hands, bends, and looks directly in his face. “If you can talk one of the guys into staying home with Cindy and me, then you can go.”

  The look on the kid’s face is one of pure joy. “I bet Gus will stay here. He hates chickens. He says they make him sneeze.”

  Gus and Cindy come in the house from the backyard. I’m amazed at how he’s taken to the little girl and her to him. He found and set up a swing set and every day, he pushes her on it. “Sweet Pea’s thirsty.”

  “Juice.” Cindy says and rushes to the fridge.

  “Cindy, you need to say it correctly. Say, ‘May I have juice, please’.”

  Shelley, the teacher, wants her to speak in complete sentences.

  With an adorable pout, Cindy tries it. “Juice, please.”

  Shelley hugs her. “Much better.” Then hands her apple juice in her favorite sippie cup with a kitten decal on it.

  Michael tugs on Gus’s arm. “Gus, you hate chickens, right?”

  Rolling his eyes, Gus answers with a tentative. “Yeah, why?”

  “Cause, if you stay home with Cindy and Shelley tonight, I can go help catch them. Shelley said so.”

  Gus grabs a bottle of water. “Let me get this right. If I stay here tonight, you get to go with Leo and Hank?”

  Michael’s head bops up and down as he gives Gus a huge smile. “Yeah.”

  “And I won’t have to touch any damn chickens?”

  “Yeah. If you let me go, I’ll do it for you.”

  Gus reaches out and shakes Michael’s hand. “You got a deal.”

  After the last Car Guy incident, Leo suggested using bikes. They’re quiet, easy to maneuver and man-powered. We went through garage after garage until we found enough bikes for everyone. We even found a bike trailer that helps us carry more stuff. So now, if we have less than a three-mile trip, we take the bikes.

  I’ve worked with everyone on hand signals and night signaling with pen lights. Rather than risk being heard, we communicate silently. We’ve also practiced using clicks on the walkie talkies.

  We get the bikes out, check the tires and stick water and some nutrition bars in our saddle bags. I load our tool bag; crowbar, bolt cutter, duct tape, and flashlights in the bike trailer.

  Shelley hands me a pile of old pillow sacks. “For the birds. Once you catch’em, sack’em. It will keep them quiet and easier to transport.”

  I wink at her. “You sure are a keeper, Ms. Browning.”

  Her face turns a pretty pink as she bumps me with her hip. “Why thank you, Mr. Meadows.”

  We leave right at dusk.

  The pet store is less than a mile away. Leo takes point, Michael rides in the middle and I cover our six while Adolph runs along at our sides.

  The last time Leo was at the pet store, he disabled the back door, so tonight should be a fast in and out.

  Leo has Adolph stand watch at the back door. “Pass Auf.” He’ll bark and growl if he sees or hears anything.

  I whisper and flash my light over at Michael, “Stay right with us, no wandering off.”

  We find what we’re looking for in the third aisle. I pick up three bags of chicken feed and hand Michael a bottle of poultry vitamins.

  “I want to get nail clippers. The dogs need their nails trimmed.” Leo says as he disappears down another aisle.

  After loading our finds in the trailer, we take off for the house with the chickens.

  As we reach the corner of Barnabas street, the one large intersection we need to navigate, Adolph bumps Leo’s leg and lets out a low growl; just loud enough for the three of us to hear. Leo hits his brakes and I pull up next to him. “We better check this out on foot.”

  Leo points at a dark corner and leads the way. “We’ll hide the bikes and Michael in the deep shadows.”

  I dismount first, take a knee and hold my rifle at the ready covering the other two as they hide the bikes. Leo, who’s bike has the trailer, pulls deep in the darkness and Michael follows him in. Adolph is still in the middle of the street pacing back and forth and showing his teeth.

  “What do you think he hears?” Michael asks from behind my back.

  I put my fingers to my lips. “Shhhh.”

  Michael kneels next to me. “Sorry.”

  “Talk as little as possible and whisper. Voices carry a long way.” Leo tells him.

  Michael nods and holds his thumb up in an okay.

  “Leo and I are gonna go check things out. Stay here and protect the bikes.” Glad we’ve trained him on gun safety, I hand Michael my Glock, the one I keep as an extra on my ankle. “Only use this if you have to.”

  Scared, Michael asks, “What if you don’t come back?”

  Leo puts his hand on Michael’s arm. “If that happens, get on your bike and ride back to Shelley, Gus and Cindy. Do you remember the way home?”

  “Yes.” Michael whispers.

  I hug the boy. “Be brave, but don’t do anything stupid.” I nod at Leo. “I’ll go first.” Staying low, I move five yards forward stopping behind a park bench. Leo scurries past me to the next safe spot. We l
eapfrog down the street in a bounding overwatch following Adolph.

  Three blocks up, there’s movement by the side of a parked car. I spot the glow of a lit cigarette and signal Leo with clicks to come to my location.

  Is it the Car guys? Did they finally get smart and figure out we’re moving around after dark? Or is it more survivors?

  Leo joins me at my hiding place.

  I point out the glowing cigarette.

  “What’s the plan?” Leo asks.

  “Go back to the bikes and go home. We don’t know how many are up there and it could be a trap. I’m not dying over some chickens.”

  “I agree.”

  A loud scream comes from behind us.

  Leo’s head snaps to the rear, “Michael!”

  Adolph growls and takes off like a rocket toward where we parked the bikes. Leo and I turn and run back, being careful to stay in the shadows.

  The sound of Adolph attacking someone pierces the air. A man’s painful screams can be heard above the growls.

  It only takes us two minutes to make it back where we find a man on the ground with Michael holding his gun to the man’s head. Adolph, his muzzle full of blood, sits a few feet away ensuring the man doesn’t move.

  I let my rifle fall into its sling and pull my pistol. “Michael, you okay, son?”

  “Yeah. This man was gonna take me with him, but Adolph came and saved me.”

  Leo gives Adolph a pat on the head and lays on the praise. “Guter hund.”

  “I’ll watch our six. Michael, come help me.” Leo says as he grabs Michael’s arm.

  They both move to the park bench and set up watch.

  I run the beam of my flashlight over the guy. He’s bleeding from both arms and has a nasty open leg wound. His gun lies several feet away in a pool of blood.

  Glad I brought some plastic arm ties with me, I hogtie his arms and legs together. He yells as the ties cut into his wounds. “Shut up, asshole.” I kick him in the ass. “Now tell me who you are?”

  “I’m not telling you shit, motherfucker.” He answers in a pained voice.

  I grind my boot into his leg wound.