Hank
Adam chugs his beer, slams the empty bottle down on the table and lets out a big, nasty burb. Everyone laughs as he bellows, “Tim, bring more beer.”
The guys start to chant, “More beer! More beer!”
Waving his bottle over his head, Marco joins the chorus. “Yeah, we need more fucking beer.”
Eddie makes eye contact and rolls his eyes. We know the second and third round will also be laced with roofie powder.
After round three, the laughter and talk amongst the men slows and even Thomas’s bragging starts to sound sloppy and slurred.
At the head of the table, Marco’s eyes are at half-mast and it looks like he’s going to do a face plant onto his plate any second.
I whisper to Doug, “It’s working.”
“Sure, as hell is.”
At the forty-minute mark only two men are still conscious; Adam and Thomas.
“Too many beers.” Thomas whines. He tries to stand only to fall face forward onto the floor. He’s out for the count, his mouth hangs wide open with drool dripping out.
Adam, slurring his words, yells, “Damn.” He looks at Eddie, myself and Doug and even as fucked up as he is, figures it out. “You drugged us.” He struggles but still manages to pull his gun and points it at us, his arm waving around in front of him. “I’m gon, gonna killllllllllll you.”
I yell, “Get down!” and dive under the table a millisecond before Adam pulls the trigger.
Then, like it always happens in battle, the action seems to slow down. Eddie’s chest is blown open and blood splatters over his face and arms. He cries, “Jesus,” as he collapses to the floor.
My military training kicks in. I draw my weapon, roll over, and double tap, putting two bullets through Adam’s head. “Die, you motherfucker.” His brain matter squirts out the back of his skull decorating the table and unfinished pizza.
It smells like battle, burnt gunpowder and coopery blood, a smell you never ever forget and visits you in your dreams. I’m instantly back in Fallujah. My buddy Bill’s body draped in my arms as snipers on the rooftop take potshots at me and my team.
Shelley’s scream snaps me back to the present.
“Oh my God!” Shelley kneels next to Eddie and attempts to stop the bleeding. “So much blood.”
Tim checks Eddie’s pulse and his eyes. Shaking his head, he tells us, “He’s gone. He’s not breathing, and his pupils are fixed and dilated.”
“Dead?” Shelley asks, “You sure?”
I double check Eddie’s pulse and eyes. “Yeah, Shelley. He’s dead.”
“This is my fault.” I sink down on a chair. “I should have stopped Adam quicker.”
“Stop it, Ben. It’s nobody’s fault.” Doug growls.
Shelley puts her hands on my shoulders and kisses my cheek. “Fat Boy’s right.”
I let the anger of Eddie’s death along with the kidnapping of Shelley carry me on to the next step of our plan. “You’re right. The fault is all theirs.” I point at Marco and Adam. “We continue our plans. Eddie would want us to.” I stand and draw my dagger. “It’s time for Marco to die.”
Shelley’s face goes white. “No! Please, stop.” She tries to take the dagger out of my hand. “What are you doing? You don’t have to kill him.”
“Yes, we do.” I know this is hard on her, but I need her to understand. “If we don’t kill him, he’ll continue to recruit new members, find another Adam and kill more innocent people. Maybe even kidnapped more women. I can’t live with that. Can you?”
Tears run down her face. “I know you’re right, but …”
Tim puts his hand up in a stop sign and cuts her off midsentence. “No buts, Shelley, the bastard kills anyone who won’t join them. Sure, he doesn’t pull the trigger himself, but he’s the one running the show. We can’t allow him to do that when there are so few people left on the planet. The world needs everyone left alive.”
She puts her hands over her face and sobs, “I know you’re right. I just hate killing, even him.”
I pull her shaking body into my arms. “Shell, we all do. That’s why we have to stop him. One sacrifice to save many.”
She pushes out of my arms. “Wait till I’m out of the room to do it,” and runs toward the kitchen.
Chapter Forty
Shelley
Guilt and panic send me rushing through the kitchen to the sanctuary of the dark pantry. Closing the door behind me, I slide down the wall and sit between a basket of potatoes and onions, and several large sacks of rice.
“Oh my God, Marco.” I stick my hands under my butt trying to stop their trembling.
Rationally, I know Tim and Hank are right. I’ve seen Marco’s cruel side. He would have moved forward with his plan to take over Los Angeles. He’d find more men, take a new woman, and kill anyone who stands in his way.
I know what he’s capable of but… he wasn’t all evil. He loved his wife, his children, maybe even me. I can’t forget the way he treated me with kindness and love. The way his body felt against mine. His smile. His laugh. I was his Princesa.
“God, I’m a mess.”
A flashlight beam shines through the pantry door’s glass panel lighting up the room. “Shell, you in there?”
It’s Hank.
“Yeah,” I whisper just loud enough for him to hear.
He steps inside. “There you are. I’ve been looking for you,” he says in a soft voice.
“Sorry. I needed a minute.”
He sits on the ground in front of me and crosses his legs Indian style. “You okay?”
My lips quiver as I answer, “No. Not really.” I reach for his hand needing a physical connection with him. “I’m confused. Why don’t I hate him? He kidnapped me. Took me away from you and the kids. Made me have sex with him. But I don’t hate him.”
“I know this is hard.”
“I saw a side of him none of the rest of you did. I got to know the sadness inside the man for his lost wife and children.” I take a deep breath hoping it will control my need to cry. “He wasn’t all bad.”
The tears I swore I wouldn’t shed escape my eyes.
Hank pulls me into his arms and I snuggle against his chest. “It’s okay, baby.”
Cradled in the warmth of his arms, he holds me while I cry. After a minute or so, I calm enough to talk. “Don’t misunderstand, please. It’s not that I wanted to stay with him.”
He runs his fingers through my hair. “Baby, you’ve spent weeks with the man. It’s obvious he cared for you. Of course, you’re gonna feel bad about his death.”
I hiccup and wipe my nose. “But, but, I don’t want it to affect you and me. I don’t want you to think I loved him. I didn’t, but I did care about him.”
“You’ve been through hell, Baby. You need time to process everything. Let me just rest your mind, I love you and nothing you say, do, or feel will change that. It’s okay if you mourn him. I understand.”
Hugging him tight, I whisper, “I don’t deserve you.”
He chuckles and kissed my forehead. “Yes, you do.”
“I love you.” I kiss both his cheeks. “Thank you for risking your life and saving me.”
“Baby, I would have moved heaven and earth to get you back.”
After a long kiss, he asks, “You ready to go home?”
“Yeah.”
Tim nods at us as we enter the dining room. “It’s only right we bury him. He died a hero in my book.”
Eddie’s body lies on the ground wrapped in bedsheets.
Fat Boy nods in agreement. “We’ll put him in the truck of Marco’s Mercedes and bury him tomorrow.”
“Good idea. He deserves a proper burial.” Hank answers.
They carry Eddie’s body out leaving me alone in the dining room. I can’t stop myself from looking at Marco’s body slumped over the bloody table, his face contorted in death. As if drawn by a magnet, I walk around the table and place my hand on his back. “My sweet Marco…I’m sorry.”
/> I swear I hear his voice say, “It’s okay, Princesa.”
Tears roll down my face as I whisper, “You’re with your wife and children again. Rest in Peace.” I undo the heavy gold bracelet he never took off and slip it in my pocket. “I’ll always remember you.”
“We’ve already loaded our things in the car.” Tim says as the three of them walk back in the door.
“I’ll run upstairs and grab my pack.” Hank looks over at me. “You need anything out of your room, Shelley?”
“There’s nothing here I want to take with me.” I tell him as I shake my head no.
A few minutes past before Hank bounds down the stairs. “I called Leo on the walkie talkie. They’re meeting us at the donut shop where you dropped off Mala and the kids.”
“I flattened their tires.” Fat Boy says loudly as he walks back in from outside.
“They’re not in any condition to follow us anyway.” Tim says as he checks the pulse of several of the sleeping men. “They’re alive just really loaded.”
“And we’ll be long gone before they wake up.” Hank chuckles as he grabs my hand. “Let’s blow this joint.”
Outside, Tim climbs in the back seat of the Mercedes. “God, I’m glad to be out of there. Thanks for letting me come with you.”
Knowing how much he loves children, I’m over the moon at sharing this with him.
“Tim, you’re a good man and I already have a job for you when we get home.” I tell him.
“A job? What?”
“Our two kids need their annual dental checkups.”
His face beams and Hank laughs.
Tim responds, “Kids?”
“Yeah.” Hank explains, “We found them right after the virus hit. Michael and Cindy. You’re gonna love them.”
“I’m sure I will.” Tim replies with a happy look on his face.
I climb in the driver’s seat. Hank will ride shotgun. “Where’s Fat Boy?”
Hank laughs and points at the garage where Fat Boy is rolling a big-assed motorcycle out of one of the stalls. “Doug’s gonna ride his baby.”
Tim chuckles, “Doug? His name is Doug?”
“Yep.” Hank answers and adds, “And my real name is Hank Meadows.”
Chapter Forty-One
Shelley
Even though it’s dark, I spot two people leaning against the donut shop’s window; one tall and one much shorter. The back end of Levi’s Caddie is clearly visible as well. “Thank God.”
“It’s them, all right.” Hank adds as he waves out the window.
The smaller figure starts jumping up and down.
“It’s Michael!” Happy tears well in my eyes and by the time I park the car, I’m a blubbering mess.
“Shelley!” Michael yells as he runs over, opens my door and throws his arms around my neck. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too, my sweet boy.” I kiss his head several times then push him out to arm’s length. “Let me look at you, I swear you grew a couple of inches while I was gone.”
He straightens in my arms and stands as tall as he can. “Probably.” Then he’s off, running around the car to tackle Hank.
Hank tries hard to hold it together, but his voice cracks with emotion. “Glad to be back, son.”
The next thing I know, Gus pulls me out of the car and into a bear hug. “Don’t you ever do something like that again.” He swats my ass as he kisses my forehead. “Cindy is gonna freak out when she sees you.”
“Is she okay?” I ask as he puts my feet back on the ground.
“Yeah, she’s fine. Just misses you like only a little girl can.” He answers as he watches Tim climb out of the backseat then turns and gives Doug, who’s still sitting on his bike, the evil eye. “Who are these guys?”
Hank gives Gus a man-hug-slap greeting before I can answer.
“Successful mission, Marine?” Gus asks.
“Oorah, damn straight.” Hank answers as he reaches for my hand.
Gus nods at Tim and then Doug and repeats his question. “Who are these guys?”
“That’s Doug Hastings.” Hank points at Doug sitting on his bike.
I answer next as I pull Tim over to join us. “And this is Tim Grady.”
“They helped us with our plan. I’ve invited them to join our group.” Hank tells him as he steps to the back of the Mercedes and opens the trunk. “And this is our friend Eddie. He died helping us escape.”
Gus’s face softens. “Jesus, I’m sorry you lost a friend.”
“He died a hero.” Tim whispers.
“He got killed?” Michael looks in the trunk, his eyes wide.
“You know I went to save Shelley, right?” Hank says softly as he kneels and puts his hand on Michael’s shoulder. “Well, I needed help to get it done. These three brave men helped me save Shelley, but it was dangerous, and Eddie was shot.”
Michael puts his hand on Eddie’s body. “Sorry you had to die. Thank you for helping save….” He stops mid-sentence, turns, and throws his arms around my waist. He stutters his last words. “saving Shelley.”
“It’s all over now, Michael. I’m okay.” I whisper as I kiss his head.
Tim quietly closes the trunk as each of us take a moment of silence.
Leave it to Gus to change the subject. “That’s a Fat Boy, right?” He points at Doug’s ride.
“Yeah, a 1999 Street Stalker.”
Hank, Tim, and I simultaneously start to chuckle which causes Hank to break out in a full-on laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Gus asks with a weird look on his face.
Shaking his head, Doug chuckles as he tells him, “When I was captured by those assholes, I refused to give them my name. They nicknamed me Fat Boy.”
Gus raises his eyebrows and the corner of his mouth, “Huh?”
Hank slaps him on the back. “Look at him, he’s skinny as a rail and everyone called him Fat Boy. It’s funny.”
After the laughter calmed a bit, Michael pulls on Hank’s shirt. “Can we go to Mala’s house now?”
Hank picks him up and swings him around in a circle. “We sure can. Let’s go.”
I’ve never been to Mala’s house or should I say mini-mansion. Just by its size and the well-appointed neighborhood, it’s obvious Mala’s family was wealthy. There are two large U-Haul trucks parked in the circular driveway. I ask Michael in the back seat, “What’s with the trucks?”
“For moving. You know, for the trip.”
The massive double door entry swings open and out runs Adolph making a strange sound, a weird happy mixture of a whine and a bark. He bounds over and almost knocks me to the ground. His whole-body wiggles as he lays kiss after kiss on my face. Covered in dog saliva, I laugh as I try to get him under control. “Well hello, Adolph. Yes, I’m home.”
Then he spots Hank and proceeds to give him his own knockdown kiss-filled doggie welcome.
Leo and Mala are standing on the steps, hand in hand, watching and smiling.
“Hey Leo, can you call off your mutt, please?” Hank pleads.
“He’s not a mutt,” Leo jokingly responds before giving Adolph his come command. Using a stern voice, he calls out, “Hier, Adolph, Hier!” Adolph lowers his ears and trots over to Leo.
“Damn it, I missed out on the romance.” I point at Leo and Mala hands.
Before I get an answer, Gus takes Mala’s other hand and kisses her on the lips. “Did you miss me, Baby?”
I’m sure my eyes are gigantic. I know my mouth is hanging open. The three of them? A triad? That’s something I only read about in books. I manage to speak as I wave a finger back and forth between them. “Wait? The three of you?”
Mala giggles, “What’s a girl to do? I couldn’t make up my mind, so I took both of them.”
Hank, who has been standing behind my back listening, chimes in, “Way to go, guys.”
“We’re happy with the arrangement.” Leo says as he gives me a hug. “Welcome back, our beloved leader.”
Mala
claps her hands. “Okay everybody, let’s go inside.”
I grab her hand. “Where’s Cindy?”
“Asleep. Hopefully for the whole night.” She gives off an exaggerated huff. “Please, let her sleep through the night.”
“We can only hope.” I giggle back.
After a round of introductions, Mala serves tea while Hank and I give an abbreviated telling of our capture and escape leaving out the sex details, violence and the deaths because Michael is still sitting with us. Tim, then tells the group his story followed by Doug doing the same thing.
Hank asks, “What’s with the U-Hauls?
“We didn’t sit around while you were off playing hero.” Leo says with a bit of an attitude. “We worked hard preparing for a long-distance move.” He then tries to hand me the official clipboard. “Here you go, Miss LMO.”
Shoving the clipboard back at him, I wave him off. “No way. You earned that clipboard. You planned this move. You run it.”
Everyone nods in agreement even Hank capitulates, “I totally agree.”
“On that note, would anyone mind if I cleaned up and got some sleep?” I ask as I get to my feet.
Hank joins me. “Sounds like a good plan.”
Mala hands out bedding assignments and Leo volunteers for the first guard shift. The last thing he says is, “We’re leaving tomorrow. Everything’s packed and ready.”
“Tomorrow?” I ask as I slip my arm around Hank’s waist.
“Yeah, we need to go before it snows in the mountains.” Leo tells us.
Hank adds, “And before the Car Guys wake up.”
Both Tim and Doug grunt in agreement.
Mala takes us to the upstairs’ guest room. She winks at Hank, “The locks work and everything.”
“Thank God!” Hank answers with his own returning wink. He then nudges my side. “And a nice big bed.”
“Enjoy yourselves.” Mala giggles as she leaves us alone.
Suddenly nervous, I look for something to say. “She thought of everything, didn’t she?” There’s a pile of clean clothes for each of us on top of the dresser, bottles of water on our bedside tables and filled buckets in the attached bathroom.”
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