by Kayla Myles
The image of those three bloody bodies in the alley popped into my head again, making me shudder. All three of those lecherous men died at Alfred’s smoking gun. I remembered I was too shocked to move, and I was barely able to stifle the gasp that escaped my mouth by covering it with my hand.
He heard me though. I spun around and pressed myself against the wall the moment he looked up. When I heard him and his men start to move towards me, I ran back inside the club and got out the other way.
That was the scariest moment of my life, even though, in a way, I was still running. I didn’t know how long I’d be running for, and I might not be able to last.
I had no family to turn to and no friends to ask for help with. I was alone, and at this rate, I was going to die.
Chapter 2
Daniel
I spotted my duffle coming out of the conveyor belt and waited for it to come near me before pulling it off and to the floor. I slung my backpack behind me before heaving my duffel over my back, keeping a tight grip on the handle and made my way out of the airport.
Now, I’m pretty sure someone was supposed to pick me up—
“Daniel! Hey! Over here!” I heard someone cry out and I turned my head and smiled at my younger brother, Ryan, running towards me. He skidded into a stop and placed his hands on top of his knees, trying to catch his breath and I chuckled.
“You know, you didn’t have to run all the way over here,” I told him, and he looked at me indignantly.
“’I haven’t seen you in eight years! Did you really expect me to walk in excitement?” he asked, and I ruffled his hair affectionately.
“Well, I’m glad to see you haven’t changed a bit,” I said, and he swiped my hands away with a scowl.
“Yes, I did! I grew over a foot and a half taller!” he said, raising himself to his full height. He has grown a lot since I last saw him, but the physical changes of puberty aside, he was still the jovial little brother I said goodbye to years ago.
“So, how’s Mom?” I asked, letting him help me with my backpack.
“She’s okay. She and Gran are cooking up a storm because you’re finally home. It’s been a while since they made a huge spread,” Ryan said, turning his head to look away.
I already knew the words he left unsaid. They hadn’t been cooking a lot ever since Dad died.
I got into the car and put the windows down, letting the good old Louisiana wind hit my face. I’ve missed it. I missed home. I am so glad to be back.
“Man, the breeze feels great,” I gasped, taking a deep breath of that fresh air. Ryan snorted.
“Great? It’s actually pretty dry. Jesus, bro,” he disagreed with my statement, and I shook my head.
“Try being stationed for a year in Afghanistan. Now that is dry weather,” I countered.
He rolled his eyes as I recounted some military stories I’ve gathered on the drive and when we finally arrived at home, I slowly got out of the car and just stared at our house.
Home sweet home.
It looked cozier and warmer than I remembered. The rustic cabin was a sight for sore eyes after years of living in tents and suffering through sandstorms.
The front door opened and my face split into a wide smile as I saw my Grandmother come out with a broom and started sweeping the floor. I waited for her to look up and after a few seconds of looking at me, her mouth formed a small ‘O’ as she realized she was staring at her eldest grandson.
“Danny, is that really you?” she cried, and I half-winced at the nickname she will never let me grow out of.
I walked over the front porch and enveloped her into a big hug, my arms squeezing her little frame lightly into my chest. Her shoulders started to shake from sobbing and I felt her tears soak through my uniform.
“Come on, Grandma. I’m really hungry,” I said, attempting to distract her.
She squeaked and pulled away from me with a jump before nodding. “Oh! Goodness, you’re right!” she looked my body over and tutted. “You haven’t been eating well! Look at you! You’re all skin and bone! Call your brother and come inside. Your mama is probably about done cooking dinner,” she said, beckoning me with one hand to follow her. I turned back to look at Ryan and he waved me off, saying he can handle it, so I went inside.
Sigh. Paradise.
The inside of our house was just as I left it, with one or two modifications. Ryan’s medals were all hung on the far left side of the wall while my trophies back when I was playing football back in high school were placed on the right. The TV and some other appliances changed, but that was to be expected by the change of time. The rest of the furniture, like the sofa I used to nap on back in middle school and stuff that my Dad collected over time, were still there, in their rightful place.
“Helen! He’s here! Get the casserole out of the oven!” Grandma yelled, and seconds later, my mom quickly walked out of the kitchen, clutching the sides of her apron and her eyes lit up with delight.
“Daniel!” she exclaimed before running towards me, her arms outstretched. I chuckled and held her in my arms, lifting her a few inches off the ground before putting her back down. “Come on, you can have something to eat while you tell us all about what you’ve been up to,” she said, patting my arm lightly and smiling up at me before walking back to the kitchen.
I shook my head and followed her wordlessly. Mom made it sound like what I’d been through as an Army Ranger was just a walk around the park on a beautiful Sunday morning. There are some shits in the world you just don’t talk about, and most of them happened back in Afghanistan. A lot of shit I wish I could take back.
During dinner, the women of the house just kept piling my plate with food and I missed home cooked meals so much I let them keep coming. I was practically filled to the brim when Mom started to ask me about my plans tomorrow.
“I’m going to meet up with the guys, have a drink or two maybe,” I told her. I turned to Ryan. “Did you get to check what I asked you to?” he nodded.
“Yes, sir. The building’s in a pretty sweet location and it’s got plenty of space, considering its price. Just needs a little paint job and couple of furniture and I think you’re all set,” he said.
“Why are you looking into real estate, honey?” Mom asked, and Ryan and I stared at each other before I answered.
“My guys and I are planning on opening up a security firm, offer up our services for protection.”
“You mean like a bodyguard?” she clarified, and I nodded.
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“But isn’t that dangerous?” she asked, her eyes wide with concern. Ryan chuckled and Grandma rolled her eyes.
“Seriously, Cassidy. Your son has just come from one of the most dangerous war zones in the world, and you’re worried about him jeopardizing his safety now?” Grandma asked her, incredulous. “Isn’t a little too late for that?”
“Yeah, Mom. I think Daniel’s pretty much proven he can take care of himself,” Ryan said, adding his two cents in. Mom’s cheeks bloomed red in embarrassment.
“I-I just thought that he wouldn’t put himself at risk now that he’s finally home,” she explained. I sighed and got out of my seat so I could walk towards her and hug her from behind.
“Mom, don’t worry about me. Compared to what I’ve been through, this whole security detail business is going to be a piece of cake,” I assured her before kissing her in her temple.
“Just trust me.”
Chapter 3
Daniel
I took a swig of my beer as I waited for my buddies to arrive. It took me a while to get my mom to quit fussing over me and let me get out of the house, so the slight buzz would do me good when I get home. I love the woman to death, but her constant mothering was about to drive me up the wall.
“Danny-boy! You’re already here!” I smiled as my friend, Sgt. Major Jordan came inside, adjusting his stance as he walked over to me with his crutches. I stood up to help him sit over on the stool but he shook his head, want
ing to do it on his own. I left him to it and raised two fingers at the bartender, and he nodded as he already knew what our orders were.
Jordan placed his crutches to the edge of the counter and leaned closer with a smile.
“How’s your mom?” He asked cheekily, and I raised an eyebrow at him.
“How’s the wife?” I countered, and he tilted his head back as he laughed. He pointed at his missing leg and shook his head, still smiling.
“She was all wailing and complaining how the Army sent her back half a man,” he said, and I shook my head, forcing the guilt feeling in my gut. He had lost his leg when a huge shrapnel from an exploding tank lodged itself just below his knee. His leg was unsalvageable and had to be amputated, and I blamed myself for what happened. I was his Captain, and I let him down.
The dumb shit wouldn’t let me apologize though, and kept saying it wasn’t my fault things had turned out that way. Our unit was ordered to stay there, and I was just following orders, he said. No way could I have known that the enemy was going to blow our tank to smithereens while he was standing a few feet away from it.
I heard the door open again and I felt a hand grip my shoulder while Private Blake sat down beside Jordan. I turned my head to see Lt. Michael and I clapped my hands. Finally, everyone was here.
“Okay, why don’t we start the briefing?” I said, and Michael rolled his eyes.
“We’re not here to discuss a mission, Lynch, and this isn’t a battlefield. Why can’t you talk normally?” Michael said.
“You’re extra surly today, Big Mike. Something wrong with the missus?” Blake asked, and Jordan hit him upside the head.
“Hey, shut your mouth. You know Mike hasn’t gotten over that nurse back in Saudi,” Jordan jibed. Mike flipped them both off.
“Come on, ladies. Enough of that. So, I wanted to hear about my fellow retirees’ input. I talked about my plan to open up a business with all of you back before we went home, have you guys given it any thought?”
“I’m in,” Blake said eagerly, raising his hand in the air and looking at each of us like we were casting a vote. “Being a soldier isn’t really my scene, but kicking ass while wearing a suit seems like my kind of profession,” he said.
“That right there is why all of us think you’re still a kid,” Michael said in a monotone, and it was Blake’s turn to roll his eyes.
“Well, of course you guys would think that. I’m only 24 years old. I’m like, literally the youngest one here,” he said, stating the obvious.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to do the actual protection detail, Danny-boy. Not with my leg and all,” he said solemnly, and I nodded in understanding. I had brought up this idea to them back when he hadn’t lost his leg yet. “But I think being behind a desk and writing off some paperwork would suit me just fine. Hell, I think even the missus with approve,” He said, and I smiled.
“Yeah, I reckon you can handle the books just fine. And you were always the better negotiator between the two of us, after all. You’d have the better chance at snagging clients,” I told him. I turned to look at Michael.
“Well? What’s your answer?” I prodded.
“I don’t think you have to ask. I already gave you my part of the payment, remember?” Michael said, referring to the money I used to purchase our base of operations.
Michael shrugged and raised his glass.
“To our new life as bodyguards,” he toasted, and we all clinked our glasses together.
“We continued discussing over how we’re going to set the place up, potential clients we could offer our services to, and other plans we envisioned for our new business until Jordan fished his phone in his pocket. He swiped his finger over the screen a few times before putting it back in his pocket with a wince.
“Well boys, looks like I’m turning in for the night. My wife just texted me and asked when I planned on coming home, and if I want to get lucky tonight, I should probably get a move on,” he said. Blake stood up from his seat and smiled at him.
“Come on, I’ll drive you,” he said, and the boys waved at Michael and I before leaving. I took another drink from my beer as we sat there in relative silence, Michael tilting his glass around to make his Scotch swirl around in it.
“Something on your mind, Lieutenant?” I asked, and the corner of his mouth tilted in a smirk.
“I think we’re thinking about the same thing, Captain,” he said, and I sighed.
“I’ve been going around the city lately. Getting in touch with some of our friends back in high school, reminiscing about the good old days. Most of them are doing pretty well, but…,” he trailed off and I looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
“But?” I pressed him after he took too long to speak for my liking.
“There’s one other person that I haven’t heard about, or from, other than a few talks here and there,” he said. He turned his ice blue eyes to look at me seriously.
“Have you even heard from Angela at all?” he asked.
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Prologue
“Hang on, kid! I’ve got you!” I said, trying to reassure the little girl as she held on as tightly as she could. I gritted my teeth and forced my eyes to concentrate on Beth’s face instead of the hundred foot drop below. I knew all too well what happens to a person falling from that distance on solid concrete, and the possibility of getting lightheaded from the sight of it wasn’t going to help me keep this child alive.
“Becca, I’m scared,” she cried, pools of unshed tears forming in her eyes, her lower lip trembling violently. I shook my head, trying to reassure her, and hoping the panic beatings of my heart weren’t as loud as I thought.
“Everything is going to be okay, kiddo,” I assured her. I tried to smile, but my pathetic attempt just resulted in a slight grimace. “Everything is gonna--,”
My words turned into a cry of surprise as I felt the metal platform’s hinges snap off the wall, shaking off slightly, and making Beth scream with fright. The movement caused me to slide down a bit, and I held my other hand out for some purchase.
Miraculously enough, the puffy skirt of the gown I was wearing snagged into one of the pointy metal beams and stopped me from sliding to my death, and I grabbed onto a metal bar to steady myself.
Beth was holding on to my hand with all the strength an eight year old kid could summon, her eyes screwed shut as she whimpered in fright. I didn’t need her to see what I looked like after sliding, because I was sure I was white as a sheet.
“It’s going to be okay,” I reassured her again, the words starting to taste like a lie. How was I going to guarantee her safety when I didn’t know how we were going to get out of here? It was too unstable to pull her up, and we were too high up, and there was nothing down there but spectators and concrete pavements.
My strength was also starting to fail me as my arm was nearly reaching its limit. I could not hold onto her for long.
But what was I going to do? THINK, DAMN IT! THINK!
I could feel my gown ripping to its last stitches, and I was starting to lose hope, half dangling on the precipice when something down below caught my eye. I blinked once, twice, making sure I wasn’t merely hallucinating.
Yes. I thought, my confidence rebuilding. This could work.
I looked at Beth again, the little girl taking note of the determined look on my face. I steeled my voice and asked her a question.
“Do you trust me?” I asked.
Beth nodded immediately and without hesitation.
“I trust you,” she voiced out.
I smiled at her, and took one more glance at the ground below. I looked back at her again, the smile still on my face.
And then…I let her go.
Chapter 1
Rebecca
I crouched down and held my weapon at the ready, ducking to the side of a wall for cover. I looked
around to check if there were any enemies lurking around, almost jumping out of my skin when Jason suddenly plopped down on the other side and held his weapon tightly in his fingers. I glared at him.
“I told you to tap me on the shoulder if you were coming near me!” I hissed. “I could’ve screamed bloody murder and given away our location!” he rolled his eyes and scoffed.
“But you didn’t,” he said. I bit the inside of my cheek to hold back from snarling a reply, and went back to surveying our surroundings. “How many are left?”
I smirked at his question.
“Three, but one of them doesn’t excel in sneaking around,” I answered. Jason chuckled and nodded in agreement.
My ears twitched as I picked up the light crunching of boots on the floor, and I signaled Jason towards its direction. The mirth on his face disappeared, and he raised his head slightly to peek at them.
“All three, present and accounted for,” he muttered.