It could have been seconds, minutes, or it could have been hours. I am not sure. Still on the floor, frozen like a concrete statue, I hear steps coming closer. Ciara has found me.
“Brianna! Oh my God! What is wrong? What happened?” She turns me around and checks my pulse. I am sure it is very slow now. The storm has passed. I take a deep breath and make myself move, only to speak when I am finally sitting up.
“Colton is gone.” I say, it’s matter of fact.
“What do you mean gone? I’m sure he is coming back. He adores you! You are being silly, Brianna. Come on, get up and tell me what happened.”
I don’t move. I stay there closer to the floor, leaning my back on the wall, allowing myself to be trapped in the moment. “He found me, Ciara.”
Her hand shoots up to cover the gasp that escapes her mouth. “The videos!”
She sits down on her knees right in front of me. I nod gently. We were actually eye to eye, which is funny, if you think about it, because I am so much taller than her, although right now I feel as small as a mouse.
“Yes. He sent a couple of men after me.”
“When? We were just out to dinner a few hours ago!” Ciara’s face is angry now.
“I saw them at the bar. I knew I was the one they were after. I am marked, forever stained by my past.”
“What!? Why didn’t you tell me? What the hell is wrong with you? What happened?”
“I waited. My main priority was to protect you guys, so I didn’t say anything. I figured I would have to face them, and I hoped that it would be after Colton was safe. I was wrong. They came after me as soon as we left the restaurant. They did.”
“Are you hurt?” Her concern is obvious. Am I hurt? Fuck yes, but not the way she is referring to. Physically, I am fine and dandy. Emotionally I am a wreck. I have got to pull myself together and I’d better do it quickly.
“I am fine. I was able to disarm them and took care of them so they would not follow me. I went to the storage unit and made a withdrawal. Colton was not happy about anything. He was so mad at me Ciara! He was right to feel that way… I put everyone in danger and I should not have. I should have stayed by myself – always – why was I so stupid to think I could have a ‘normal’ life? My life has never been normal and it will never be… So stupid…”
“You are most certainly not stupid. Stop saying that, I don’t want to hear it anymore! What happened with Colton?”
“He came here with me and demanded to know everything, so I told him. I told him everything, Ciara! I was feeling so guilty because I had put him in danger. I felt vulnerable. It was hard for him to hear it. I guess it would be hard for anyone. He was in shock, then he told me he loves me.”
“He loves you! Brianna, that is wonderful…”
“No, it is not. I asked him if he loved me enough to let me fight for my freedom, for us. Then he asked me if I loved him enough to let this go and call the police. Neither one of us could answer, so he left. He left me and when he crossed over the threshold he took my heart with him.” Ciara looks at me with such sadness…
“Brianna, I don’t know what to say.”
“There is nothing to be said. It’s over. It was too much for him to handle. He said he needed time to process. Unfortunately, I don’t have time. My time is up. I took one of those men’s phone, and as soon as I look at the plan again, I will be calling Jesse and we can put an end to all this. I will win or die trying. That fucking asshole has taken everything away from me and now he is indirectly taking Colton, too. No more. I need to handle this.”
The desire for vengeance, used wisely, can be a great motivator. I get up off the floor, then extend my hand and help Ciara up.
“Now you need to go back to bed, I have some plans to review.”
“I need to review those as well, let me make some coffee and…”
“You are no longer my backup. I will not be needing you out there. If something happens to you, I will never be able to forgive myself.” Ciara turns around and she is livid.
“Bullshit! I am going out there with you. There is no fucking way that I am going to leave you alone with those men. All the plans we devise involve the two of us. You are not leaving me behind! As a matter of fact, give me your keys, because I am going to go get our gym bags so we can get ready when the time comes! Keys. Right. Now.”
I don’t have the energy for another argument. There are better ways to handle this situation. We go and get the gym bags, then Ciara makes coffee and we sit at the table with all our papers and diagrams. It’s almost noon when we both decide we will rest for a couple of hours, after that, it will be time to make a very important phone call in order to set the plan in motion. Ciara sets the alarm on my phone and we go to our rooms to rest.
Chapter 20
Colton
The shining light from my nightstand is hitting me right in the eyes. I stir and turn my body around looking for Brianna. I reach out to the side of my bed only to realize it’s empty. Panic sets in immediately and I sit on my bed rubbing my hands over my face in an effort to try and clear the haze.
Everything comes back to me painfully all at once, like a stab in the heart when you least expect it. I drove around town for the remainder of the night, thinking about all that has happened, good and bad since Brianna crossed my path riding her badass bike on a beautiful sunny morning. So many memories, good and bad. I drove to Brianna’s favorite star gazing spot, on top of a hill on a lonely road. Other girls would not even dare be alone out there, especially at night, but Brianna is not like other girls. She is not afraid of anything. I had lain down in the clearing, imagining her lying next to me, holding hands and talking about so many things and nothing at all at the same time, like we normally do.
When the sun started to rise, I had begun to realize how stupid I had been earlier with her. I had told her a long time ago that the past was the past and it didn’t matter. Why I was being such a pussy and making it out to be such a big deal? I don’t know. I love this girl. Love her. She makes me feel like no one has made me feel, ever. Why did I walk away? Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. Somebody is trying to kill her. I am so fucking stupid! Here I was complaining that she was Wonder Woman and that I could not protect her, and then what do I do? I walked away from her. What a fucking idiot!
I drove home and found my stash of good ol’ Jim Beam hiding in the cabinet, where I’d left it months ago. Time to drown my sorrows and stupidity. I sat outside on the porch, reaching out to happy memories, but all I could see was Brianna’s eyes looking back at me, full of hurt and it was painful to come to the realization that I had failed her. I tried to call her several times but each single one of those calls went straight to voice mail. I deserve it. She is too good for me.
Remorse sat in and I had no choice but to polish off the half bottle of bourbon I was nursing. I stumbled to my bed and closed my eyes, and now I am here, cotton mouth and full of regrets. It’s almost eight in the evening. I decide to get my ass up, find some aspirins, take a shower, clean up and then I can be on my way to see her. She is too important to me to let her go. She may not want to talk to me because I was such an idiot, but maybe I can show her that I have come to my senses and convince her to give me another chance. I need her to give me a second chance. I need to let her know that, yes, I love her enough.
Brianna
I get dressed and look at myself in the mirror. Damn! I didn’t believe Ciara when she told me that I look badass in this catsuit, but she was right. It was her idea to get these custom made because – according to her – no one should ever look like crap, even when asses will be kicked, it can be done in style. A hint of a smile shows on my mirrored reflection and I start lo load up all the specialty pockets with their appropriate weapons. I have wiped everything clean and used latex gloves for all the bullets. I don’t want to leave behind any evidence. I fill my belt pockets with shuriken, or throwing stars. Special leg belts with Velcro for knives. A long pocket on my left thigh for my nunchuck
s and another one on my right for my baton. I have always enjoyed close contact fighting. Built in holsters for a Sig on my right and another on my back. A couple of shoulder pockets for spare magazines full of bullets. I brush my hair back into a ponytail and secure a kubotan at the crown, holding it with the rubber band. Finally, I slide on my very special gloves with built in metal knuckles. These I love because they are barbed metal and they hurt like a bitch when landing a punch.
One last look in the mirror. I take a second to think of Colton and what we could have had. Unfortunately, I can’t change the past, and I am doing this to make sure all those who I love can have a future. I scribble a quick note: “Colton, I will love you forever. I hope in your heart you know that I love you more than enough. Always yours, Brianna”
I walk into Ciara’s room very quietly and turn off her phone alarm. I love her too much to let this happen. I will not allow her to put her life at risk so that I can right those who wronged me. Leaving her asleep, I silently pray that I will be able to see her again. She is the only family I have ever had, and will be furious when she wakes up and realizes that I am gone.
I step outside, it’s somewhat late and quiet. I move swiftly from shadow to shadow until I get to my car. I drive it to the garage where I have parked my bike. If I’m going to die, I deserve to have one last ride. It is time to make the phone call. I load up the SIM card and turn on Mickey’s phone.
It rings a couple of times and then he answers. Bastard. I feel goose bumps all over my skin as soon as I hear his nasty voice.
“It’s about time you called. I don’t appreciate what you and your friends did to my men and now it’s my turn to repay the favor, you fucking bitch!”
My friends – what the fuck is he talking about? His guys must have told him that it was not an even fight. I can understand that. I am sure they didn’t want to tell him that one girl beat them up. I feel my adrenaline boiling, raising to the surface. Oh, he is gonna get it, alright! I will let him think that it was a bunch of us taking care of his men. No problem!
“No need for calling names, Jesse. What happened to your manners? Oh, I forgot, slimeballs like you don’t have any!”
“Just wait until I get my hands on you, bi…”
“I did not call you to trade insults, asshole. I imagine you are already in town or well on your way. I hope you are ready to meet. Midnight. Abandoned quarry south of town, off of Highway 30. See you then.”
I hang up the phone and take the SIM card out and turn off the phone. I should destroy it, but decide against it in case I need it later.
Out of the trunk of the car, I remove a backpack with supplies, just in case, and stash another gun and more ammo. Since Ciara was going to be my sniper, I won’t have that advantage or anyone covering my back. It’s all or nothing. Live or die. Carpe Diem… or should I say Carpe Noctem since it is night time and all…
Stop rambling, Brianna. Get your shit together and get going.
And with that last thought, I get on my bike and go face the monster who has taken everything from me. It’s time I reclaim my life.
Colton
I feel almost human again after reacquainting myself with toothpaste, a shower and some food. I was going to stop by the store for flowers and chocolate, but decided to go to the outdoor store instead, and picked her up a new Mossy Oak pink camo pocket knife, with a matching travel coffee mug. I think she would like this peace offering a lot better than any other option.
I get to her apartment, it’s late night now. I park the truck and grab the gift bag. I hope I can explain myself to her and that she can forgive me. I need to let her know that whatever happened in her past, it will not impact our future. I love her enough, hell, I love her more than enough.
As I am about to knock on the door, it magically opens and I am in front of Ciara, but she looks like she just stepped out of a Call of Duty: Black Ops game. She has a black catsuit on, but it is outfitted with all kinds of weapons, and she is carrying a small crossbow in her hand.
“Uh, hi Ciara. I came to see Brianna. Where are you headed, a costume party?”
“Bullshit, Colton. I don’t have the time to deal with the likes of you. I did not think I would see you anytime soon due to your walkaway performance. But for the record, I owe you a huge ass whooping!”
“Shit, she told you about our argument. Look, I had a brief moment of stupidity. I’m back to my senses now. Let me in. I need to see her.”
“She is not here.”
“Look, I understand she may not want to see me, but I come bearing gifts and a huge amount of groveling.” She is not budging. “Brianna! Come let me in – your little bodyguard is intent on blocking me!”
“I told you – she is not here!”
I push my way past her and go straight to Brianna’s room. Ciara is right behind me. I walk inside her bedroom and she is not there. There is an eerie quiet in her room. I look around and on her full length mirror, I see a pink sticky note. I smile because it makes me think of yesterday and the trail of sticky notes she had left with clues for me.
I read the note. “Colton, I will love you forever. I hope in your heart you know that I love you more than enough. Always yours, Brianna”
I look at Ciara and her anger is evident. “What the hell does this mean?” Where is she?”
“Like I said, I don’t have time to deal with you right now. I have somewhere to be.”
I look at her again. I really look at her. Then it suddenly dawns on me. There is no party to attend. Brianna has gone to face him.
“Oh, no! Please tell me she is not gone!”
“I really wish I could.”
“When did she leave?”
“I don‘t know! I woke up sometime after your argument and found her on the floor, almost catatonic. She told me everything that had happened, then we stayed up looking at the plan we had devised and we went to bed for a few hours. I set her alarm and then I set mine but it never went off and when I woke up, she was gone. I don’t know when she will be facing him, Colton! I have got to get out of here right this fucking minute!”
“I will drive” She looked at me but I didn’t give her a chance to argue. I started walking to the door.
“You cannot go, you will get hurt.”
“I may not be great at hand to hand combat, but one thing that I am is a good shot. I’ve been hunting since I was ten years old. I can handle a bow and arrow and I can handle just about any type of gun you give me. You can brief me on the way.”
“Wait!”
I stop and see her run into her room and come out with a long sleeve, black shirt.
“Put this on.” She hands me the shirt.
“It was Nate’s, my ex. He left it behind. You need to blend better with the dark so you don’t become our first casualty. She is going to kill me when she realizes I brought you with me.”
I take off my shirt and slip the black one over my head. “I am not giving you a choice. Now let’s go.”
“We have to stop by the garage, I am sure she left the car loaded and she took off on her bike with only the essentials.”
I look at her incredulously. “I hate to admit it, but I bet you are right. We need to bring everything she might have left behind.
Brianna
I arrived at the quarry early enough to survey the entire site again. Ciara and I had come once before, during daylight, to examine how effective this would be to confront Jesse. It is an old rock quarry from the 80’s. It was abandoned because it overflowed with water years and years ago, but with the most recent drought conditions, it’s like a huge solid rock hole, with nothing more than a water pit in the middle.
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