Aftermath (Book 2): Aftermath

by Donovan, J. S.

  “Conner?” Calvin asked.

  The tall Irishman awoke from his daze. He looked at them, not able to hide his brokenness. “He took out Dean’s eyes first.”

  Naomi involuntarily covered her mouth with her hand. She recalled Dean’s icy irises.

  “Dean was stripped and strung up on the scrapyard’s sign,” Conner continued. “Arms and legs spread and bound by rope, Dean, my resilient bastard of a brother, lasted two days. Logan kept his body up there as warning to anyone who wanted to attack.”

  Naomi felt her heart twisting for Conner. Knowing all that he had lost, Naomi could only say, “Sorry.”

  “Me too,” Conner replied.

  Calvin’s mouth made a line on his face. “If that happened, and I’m sorry if it did, why are you working for Logan?”

  Conner glared at him. “I earned his trust.”

  “And how did you pull that off?” Calvin asked skeptically.

  Conner set his jaw for a moment. “I did things I’m not proud of,” A sudden wave of anger flushed over his face. “Believe me or not, either way, you two should be kissing my feet.”

  “And why’s that?” Calvin asked. “Remember, you abandoned us when we needed you and your brother.”

  Conner jolted to his feet and jabbed a finger at Calvin’s chest. “I’m the only thing standing between your daughter and Logan.”

  Conner took another step closer to Calvin, looming over him by inches. “His men are wolves who want nothing more than to take Trinity and Becca. Logan and I made an agreement that I’ll do whatever he asked if he keeps them from harm. He agreed.”

  “And what sort of stuff was that?” Calvin asked.

  Conner smirked out of anger. “You just don’t back down, do you?”

  “I only want to understand why we should believe anything from the man who is working for our daughter's kidnapper,” Calvin argued.

  Naomi put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Cal, please. He’s been through enough.”

  Calvin yanked his arm from her grasp. “I’m not letting this go until he proves he’s on our side.”

  Conner boiled. “You really want to know what I did to keep Trinity and Becca safe?”

  “I do,” Calvin pushed.

  “I tore women from their husbands and daughters from their fathers. I fed a begging man to a pack of hunting hounds. I stood by as children were locked in cages. I bound my brother as he begged me for mercy. Dean, of all people, begging me. Should I go on or have I confessed enough sins?”

  A frown sank Calvin’s face. He backed off.

  Fuming, Conner sat on the corner of the desk once again. He turned his chin away from them.

  “I’m sorry, Conner,” Naomi said with teary eyes. “We’ve all made hard choices.”

  “I let my family die,” Conner replied. “And then I spit on their graves.”

  Naomi approached and took a knee in front of him. “I can’t offer you redemption for the things you’ve done, but I can offer you a chance to save your niece.”

  “That’s a nice sentiment, but you don’t want me,” Conner replied. “I’m worse than Logan. I turned my family against yours. I tried to kill your brother. I told my sister-in-law to aim a gun at your daughter.”

  Naomi’s heart rate spiked. Her mind went back to the final supper before Trinity was captured. She watched as her daughter fought Cathleen Ryan for the pistol. If not for Logan’s first assualt, one of them would’ve died in that skirmish. Naomi closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.

  “Conner, you… You did bad things to me, to my family,” Naomi opened her watery eyes to him. She fought to say her next words. It was like something was constricting her throat, not wanting her to talk. Every thought and feeling worked against her, but she spoke anyway. “But, Conner, only by the grace of God do I forgive you.” She put a hand on his shoulder and stood up. “Help me save my daughter. As much success as we’ve had during the raids, we need you for the final assault.”

  “I’m not your knight in shining armor,” Conner replied.

  A voice spoke out behind them. “No one here is a hero.”

  Conner, Naomi, and Calvin turned back to Guy, standing in the doorway.

  The bug-eyed man had slouched shoulders. He watched Conner. “I’ve worked with Logan years before the blackout. I smuggled drugs, trafficked women, and murdered for him.” Guy cocked an ominous smile. “I enjoyed it, as sick as it may sound, and he paid me handsomely. He even sent me to Eagleton to spy for him. It was me who told him about the town’s supplies, who was a threat, who to take and who to manipulate. But one day, I woke up and, I don’t know, I just saw the life I was living and where it was going. I’m not going to kill Logan because he wronged me or because I feel guilty for everything I’ve done. I’m going to kill him because, right or wrong, it’s what I want to do.”

  Everyone stood in somber silence, reflecting on Guy’s motives. Naomi reminded herself not to judge the man. A time would come for that, but she needed allies.

  Conner wiped crust from his eyes. “You’ll truly just forget about all the things I’ve done to you?”

  Naomi mustered courage. “I don’t know if I can forget, but I can forgive you, and I do.”

  “Even if I don’t join you?” Conner asked.

  Naomi’s heart sank. She pursed her lips and nodded.

  Conner exhaled deeply.

  “So you’re just walking away?” Calvin asked spitefully. “After my wife poured out her heart to you?”

  Conner glared at him. “If I don’t go back to Logan, Becca and Trinity will never be safe. I won’t join your crusade, but I promise you I’ll help the girls in the best way I can. And if you come to the scrapyard, I’ll be there to return your daughter. You have my word, for what that’s worth.”

  Gnashing his teeth, Calvin pulled Naomi aside.

  “What are you doing?” she asked as he led her out of the office.

  In the main room of the ranger station, all of Logan’s guards were bound with zip ties and blindfolded by Richard and Ms. Banks.

  Calvin spoke in a harsh whisper behind a pile of supplies. “If we let Conner go, he could tell Logan about our numbers. The minute that monster knows there are only five of us, we’ll never be able to take the scrapyard.”

  Naomi glared back. “If we kill Conner, our girls are in danger. Besides, why would he rat us out to Logan?”

  “You’re the psychologist, you should know,” Calvin argued. “If Conner is willing to commit such horrible things to keep his niece safe, what will stop him from telling Logan our plan if he thinks it’s the best way to save the girls?”

  Naomi knew he made a valid point, but it didn’t make her less angry. “Cal, we have to trust him. For our daughter’s sake.”

  Calvin ran his hand up his scalp. “We trusted this guy too many times. It’s time we learned from our mistakes. Please, Naomi. He’s even admitted that he was not on our side.”

  Naomi put a gentle hand on Calvin’s face. “We need his help. I don’t see any other way.”

  Calvin looked at her with betrayal. Saying nothing, he walked away. Naomi’s eyes followed his trek all the way outside.

  Feeling horrible, Naomi returned to the office.

  Conner looked up at her with his downtrodden but handsome eyes. “What now?”

  “What can you tell us about Logan?”

  “Right now?” Conner asked. “He’s pissed off that his supplies are being taken. I assume by you guys. He sent me out to guard this post two days ago.”

  Guy interjected, “With Logan, a lot can change in two days.”

  Naomi nodded. “Conner, would you be able to get information on how many men Logan has with him at the scrapyard?”

  “You’re planning an attack?” Conner asked.

  Naomi ignored the question. “By this time tomorrow night, can you get that information?

  “He’ll be suspicious why I came back early,” Conner said.

  “Tell him that you were attacke
d. Tell him that you need a vacation. I don’t care, but if you really want to help Becca and Trinity, I need this information and it has to be tomorrow,” Naomi said. “Can I trust you with that?”

  “There will be risks involved…” Conner replied.

  “Yes or no?” Naomi asked fiercely.

  “I will do my best,” Conner replied.

  It wasn’t the most inspiring answer, but Naomi knew it was all she’d get out of him. She took a deep breath and sent him on his way.

  After loading up the Rover and hiding the surviving guards in the woods, Naomi and the rest of the posse set the building ablaze and drove away. The ball of fire danced in the rearview. Calvin kept his eyes forward, not saying anything.

  They arrived back at George and Mary’s house and unpacked the supplies in the barns.

  Juan served them a large meal in George’s living room. Naomi ate a lot and quickly. Calvin barely touched his plate. Mary watched them curiously.

  “We’re going to get Trinity soon,” Naomi said, breaking the silence.

  Forks stopped scraping plates. Mouths stopped chewing.

  Richard grinned. “I didn’t realize we were this close to death.”

  Naomi willfully ignored the comment. “I want everyone to get ready.”

  They finished their meal without much discussion. Naomi didn’t know how to explain it or put it into words, but she felt something big coming. Every raid, every shot fired or person bound, was leading up to this moment. Despite her humane attacks on Logan’s army thus far, Naomi couldn’t hold back. Blood would be shed. Whether it was friend or foe, that remained to be seen.

  Naomi climbed into bed. Calvin and her rested a foot apart.

  Under thick blankets, they both stared at the ceiling.

  In complete darkness, Naomi said. “I’m sorry about letting Conner go.”

  “Naomi, please,” Calvin said, cutting her off. “I really don’t want to hear it.”

  “I just want to do what’s best for our daughter,” Naomi justified herself.

  “And you think I don’t?” Calvin asked with offense.

  “I never said that,” Naomi replied, much more curt than she had anticipated.

  Calvin rubbed his hand down his face. “I just wish you’d listen to me for once.”

  The words were like a left hook to her jaw. “But I do.”

  “Name one time,” Calvin said.

  “The baseball idea tonight,” Naomi replied. “Without that, we wouldn’t have been able to get the drop on the outpost. It was genius, by the way.”

  “I’m talking about big choices,” Calvin explained. “Ever since the blackout, you’ve been making every decision for us.”

  Naomi turned to him, her mouth open and about to speak.

  Calvin cut her off. “Not every choice was bad, but I feel like a dog being pulled on a leash.”

  Naomi tried to make sense of his words. It didn’t seem true. Ever since the blackout, they were unified. Or at least she thought so. “How long have you been feeling this way?”

  Calvin barked. “Don’t try to diagnose me.”

  “I’m not,” Naomi replied harshly.

  Calvin sighed. “I’m sorry I raised my voice.”

  Naomi didn’t reply.

  “I just, I want to be more involved going forward. Is that okay with you?” Calvin asked.

  Naomi interlocked fingers with him. Both of them had blisters from spending so much time moving supplies and holding firearms. She remembered all the cataclysmic decisions since they came out of Philly that she’d made without Calvin’s involvement. It started with wanting to leave Philly, to inviting the Ryans along, to letting the Ryans have a place in their home, to not telling him about Allen’s basement supplies, to retreating to her parents’ house, to going to Eagleton, to recruiting Ms. Banks, Richard, and Guy, and letting Conner go.

  “I’m sorry,” Naomi said. “In times of stress, my default is to take control. I’m sorry for not heeding your advice.”

  “Does that mean you’ll give me more say going forward?” Calvin asked.

  Naomi felt a knot in her stomach. Relinquishing control was not in her nature. She wished that they could have dealt with this after saving their daughter. Nevertheless, Calvin needed her reassurance. “Yes,” she whispered, feeling just how much she needed him even if she liked being in charge. “I want you by my side every step of the way.”

  Calvin squeezed her hand firmly.

  The sunrise breached the window. Naomi was already up and eating breakfast. Outside, Guy smoked a cigarette while Richard slept in, and Ms. Banks read Scripture. Juan and George were feeding the livestock while Mary groomed the horses.

  Ms. Banks looked up from her Bible. “If your friend doesn’t return with the information tonight, do you have a plan?”

  Naomi drew in a breath of air. “He will, but in case he doesn’t, we act tonight.”

  “You mean to attack?” Ms. Banks asked.

  “I believe so, Ms. Banks.”

  She chuckled.

  Naomi lowered her brows.

  “Oh, Ms. Banks,” the woman playfully mimicked her. “Please, you can call me Ruth.”

  “Okay, Ruth. Well, I’m going to clear my head and then we can put a plan together. All of us,” Naomi said.

  With a full belly, she mounted up on her favorite horse while Mary mounted up on hers. Together they rode through the fields.

  When the farm was the size of ant behind them, Naomi slowed down.

  Mary traveled a few yards ahead before noticing Naomi wasn’t moving. She turned back with a question on her face.

  Naomi rubbed her creased brow.

  “What is it, dear?” Mary asked.

  Naomi sniffled. “Do you think I made a mistake?”

  “Of course not!” her mother exclaimed before asking. “Regarding what?”

  “Trinity,” Naomi said. “I left her alone for so long now. That must make me a horrible mother, right?”

  “What choice did you have?”

  “There’s always a choice. I could’ve gone with the Ryan brothers and got her the day after she was captured. Instead I did the smart thing, but how can I know that she isn’t traumatized?”

  Mary pulled up next to her and gave her a hug.

  “Oh, darling,” she said comfortingly. “Everyone knows you weren’t just sitting around.”

  “That doesn’t change Trinity situation,” Naomi replied.

  “Honey,” Mary put both her gloved hands on Naomi’s rosy cheeks. “I love you, but now isn’t the time for such doubts. You’ve committed to saving her. You have to see it through, no matter what. Trinity may be scared and beaten from this ordeal, but she has her whole life to work out those issues. Death is permanent, and that’s what would’ve happened if you went earlier.”

  “Perhaps,” Naomi said doubtfully. “Looking back at what I know now, Calvin and I are much more capable than we realized.”

  “But you wouldn’t have known that without your experiences,” Mary reminded her. “Do not forget that it is your book that says that the environment shapes us more than genetics. Don’t start doubting your decisions now. It is too late in the game for that.”

  Naomi pondered her words..

  They rode for a little longer. Winded and relaxed, Naomi returned to the barn an hour and a half later. Guy, Ruth, Richard, and Calvin were seated around the wooden table. Boxes of supplies and weapons piled up around the walls. It was enough to arm a small army. Nevertheless, they only had five people.

  Dismounting from her horse, Naomi fixed her windswept blonde hair with her hands and joined them by the table. Hardened wax and the map of the scrapyard were sprawled out on top.

  “Whether or not Conner returns,” Calvin started. “We need to be ready to attack.”

  Richard leaned back in his chair with his fingers interlocked behind his head and his feet crossed on the top of the table. “Remember, this is a rescue op.”

  “Saving Selena is not our pr
iority,” Calvin sternly reminded him.

  “Then I’m out,” Richard said casually. He slung his feet off the table and started to stand.

  “Sit back down,” Naomi commanded.

  Richard looked at her.

  “Please,” Naomi pleaded lightly.

  Groaning, Richard sat down. “I just want to make sure we’re getting what we signed up for. I care about your daughter, but without Selena, I wouldn’t be doing this.”

  “Fair enough,” Naomi said and took a seat.

  Guy sat with his chair turned around so he could rest his crossed forearms on the top rim of the backrest. “Kill Logan and you’ll get what you want.”

  A wry smile formed on Richard’s face. “And I thought my charm would be enough to convince Selena.”

  “The girls will be safe in the cages,” Ms. Banks said. “At least as long as the firefight doesn’t end up down there. We don’t need to evacuate them right away, but when there is an open door, I say we take it. They’ve suffered long enough.”

  “But Ink mentioned us that they are on Quaaludes,” Richard reminded her. “Doesn’t the Bible say something about the blind leading the blind? If you want them out, you’ll probably need to carry them.”

  Calvin examined his rough sketch. “That’s assuming we can get into the scrapyard. If Logan gets alerted of our assault, then he’ll have people watching every side of the fence.”

  “We don’t know that,” Richard said with arrogance.

  “We do,” Guy replied. His bug eyes fell on the paper. “Logan might be egomaniacal, but he’s not stupid. If he knows there is an attack coming, he’ll get ready for it.”

  Palms resting on the table, Naomi turned to Calvin. “What are you thinking?”

  “Going in guns blazing is not an option, and breaching the fence could be risky if we’re all pouring in from the same hole, especially if we’re spotted,” Calvin thought aloud. “If we plan to save the girls and kill Logan in the same trip, we need to expect a firefight, and we must be ready to fight back at a moment’s notice.”