"Bitch ran on me, Terr. Damn. What the hell does it look like?" Kris snapped back. "She set those kids free. I barely caught this one. Look what she did to my eye, man!"
"David!" Terry yelled, and the fat scruffy looking, rather smelly bus driver came forward. "Go track down those kidsthey can't be farand then follow us to the mountain." He pointed a finger at Kris. "Get her shit and get her in the fucking van. Tie her down if you have to, and if she gives you any more shit, gag her. It's time to go."
"Are you gonna give me shit?" Kris asked, barely keeping his smile at bay once Terry had stormed back into his room.
"Are you gonna give me my fucking shoes back?" I countered with a real question, but I laced it with a venomous tone.
"We'll see," he whispered, guiding me into the room. "Get your stuff."
I grabbed my jacket and followed Kris back out to the van as he held my gun. In seconds, Myles, Zoe, and Terry piled in with me. We pulled out without any lights on, and I swore I heard two gunshots behind me. Spinning around to look out the back window, I could barely make out two sets of headlights in the middle of the street.
"Think they made it?" Kris whispered from the seat next to me.
"If they did, then your pal David didn't," I breathed back, looking up as he smirked. It was a good thing we were facing the wrong way.
"Good," he sighed with a nod. "This next part will be...unpleasant, Mrs. Marshall. I'll do my best to protect you," he said, taking advantage of the fact that Myles had turned on the radio.
I nodded, swallowing thickly. "Okay." There wasn't much more to say than that. I was now on my own, and once again...I was someone's prisoner.
Chapter 13- Recovery
My knee bounced in the booth of the all-night diner. I'd had way too much fucking coffee and way too much time to think. Ross and Dario were in the next booth over, babbling to each other over the merits of a good piece of pie trying to kill the time. I yanked my baseball cap off, slamming it down onto the table and running a nervous hand through my hair.
"Can I get you anything else?" the waitress asked, suddenly appearing at my side. Her innuendo was hard to miss, and I found myself trying damned hard not to roll my eyes at her.
She was young, with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. I'd put her somewhere between twenty and twenty-five, though I'd gotten really bad at nailing down ages on women, because I just didn't look. I didn't need to. Alyssa was everything to me. This girl didn't hold a candle next to her.
Her name tag said Harley, I noted as I pushed my coffee cup toward her, but said nothing as she refilled it. Victor, who was sitting in the booth with me, did the same, but it was Dario that saved me.
"Ah, amore," he crooned, causing her to blush almost redder than her hair. "I was wondering if you could please get me another piece of your...cherry pie," he requested, leaning on the word cherry.
I grinned into my coffee cup, shaking my head. Who knew I needed a wing man to avoid getting hit on?
"Are you Italian?" she asked in a flirtatious manner.
"Sì, rosso, sono italiano ... tutto il senso alla mia anima," he answered her, and I'd known him long enough to know that he'd just called her "Red" and that he'd said he was Italian to his very soul. I wasn't fluent, but when you knew Dario, you picked up his bullshit. He spoke it flawlesslybullshit, that is.
She squeaked and turned away from him, even more flustered than before, walking around the counter to get his dessert.
"You have no shame," Ross laughed, putting her face in her hands. "Jesus, Dario, did you teach Adrian that shit years ago? 'Cause damn, he used to do that everywhere we fucking went!"
I barked a laugh, looking over at her, and then him. Back in the day, he was fucking awesome to go out with, especially for a guy that was barely in his twenties. The women flocked to him, loving his sense of humor, just like Macon, but he was smoothreally fucking smooth.
"Look at the kid's face," Dario chuckled. "I didn't need to teach him anything when he's walking around with a mug like that. A little guidance on the art of conversation, some sweet compliments, and a girl is putty in your hands...right, kid?"
I sighed, rolling my eyesreminiscent. "Whatever, Dario. However, you are smoother than Macon ever was, that's for sure."
"Aw, Mack's a clown...but it worked for him," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Jackson has that Southern charm shit going for him..."
Ross rubbed her hands together, grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, the stories I could tell Chance about Playboy!"
Victor’s impassive face finally broke into a smirk. "Miss Alyssa has this man...heart, body, and balls," he chuckled, punching my arm as I snorted at the truth of that statement. "I have a feeling she's well aware of what Little Harris here is capable of."
I nodded, my smile falling, because Alyssa did own me. I was just about to go crazy with worry for her. It wasn't that she couldn't take care of herself, because she could. It was the worry about what she could be put through. Garcia had really messed her up a long time ago, and even though it had brought us together, I'd never fucking forget the fear that would fill her face over simple things like touching. I worried about what she'd find when it came to Juan, and...fuck, I was just really worried. I didn't know if it was strength and bravery that caused her to decide to go with Myles, Terry, and Zoe, or fucking insanity but I couldn't judge her thoughat all.
Harley, who actually had Harley Davidson ink on her leg, reappeared and dropped off Dario's pie with a smile, a giggle, and another blush, before she had to go greet another patron that was just walking in.
"Easy, Ross," Victor said softly from across the table. A break showing in her own perfect façade. How she could do it this whole time was unbelievable. "We'll get them. If we have to fucking climb that mountain, we'll fucking get them."
She swallowed thickly, nodding a bit. "I know...but fuck if I didn't try to shelter him from shit like this," she sighed, sitting back in the booth.
"Not your fault, kid. " Dario said, turning in his seat to face me. "Time, guys...time."
My phone rang and vibrated across the table, I snatched it up when I saw that it was Tink. The four of us froze.
“Please..." I breathed, squeezing my eyes closed before answering it. "Talk to me, Margaux..."
"Shit Adrian!" Tink squeaked over the phone, "Mr. Bear just came online."
I stood up, tossed way too many bills down onto the table to cover our tab, pulled my cap back on, and demanded, "Where? Tell me!"
Victor, Dario, and Ross slid out quickly from their seats and followed me out to the SUV. We piled in, and I started the engine.
"Take a right out onto the road," she said, and I could hear her typing away furiously at her computer. "You're not far...less than five miles. Go until I tell you to stop, because Mr. Bear is on the move. Slowly, but moving, nonetheless," she stated.
"God, Tink, you're gorgeous," I breathed into the phone, smiling at her giggle. Our issues over the moment that bear came on. "And no more bullshit about facial grids. You still haven't convinced me that science knows what's pretty or not."
"You scored high as shit for a guy!" she huffed, and I could almost see her rolling her eyes. "You figure you’d like my science, pretty boy."
I snorted, ignoring Ross’s laughter. "Talk to me, Tink. I'm closing in on five miles."
"Stop the car," she ordered. "You're right on top of the signal. What's around you?"
I pulled the SUV into a parking lot of a boarded up gas station. "I've got an old, closed up gas station, woods...lots of woods on either side of me, and like a mile ahead, there are like three signs for motels." I scanned the area, deciding to get out. "Everyone out! Keep your eyes peeled," I ordered, and the car emptied. "Weapons at the ready. Don't take any chances," I commanded, motioning for them to spread out.
"Hang on, Adrian," Tink said, typing away. "I'm going to use your cell signal and narrow it down for you."
"Okay," I breathed, my eyes scanning the darkness.
"Got it, got it, got it," she sang. "Go forward about two yards, on your right. The signal is still moving."
"Ten-four," I huffed, breaking into a run, stopping when she told me to. I pulled the phone away from my ear so that I could hear what was around me and not Margaux's furious typing skills.
It was then that I heard the snap of a twig, the hushed whisper, and the pounding of footsteps on my right. I spun to look, and my heart stopped.
"Juan?" I called as I unceremoniously ended the call, and the boys screamed. "Come here, it's just me," I told them, and they burst out of the darkness of the forest, their little legs running as fast as they could.
"Unca Adwien !" my nephew gushed, flying into my arms. He was holding Cedrick's hand and didn't look like he was about to let it go, and Mr. Bear was firmly tucked under his arm like a running back with a football.
"Jesus, Juan," Ross groaned, when she finally reached me, wrapping her arms all the way around him, because it seemed like ages since we'd seen him last. She pulled him back from her neck to look at himshe was crying. "Are you boys okay?" She asked, pulling little Cedrick to her, because he looked lost, tired, and like he could use a hug.
"Yes, Mommy," Juan said as Cedric just nodded.
"You sure? Cedrick, sweetie, you okay?" She asked him, shifting from soldier to mom mode.
"I want to go home, Mrs. De Luca ," Cedrick whispered, clinging to her fiercely.
“Okay, sweetie," She sighed, kissing both of their foreheads, not caring that they were dirty.
I didn’t want to break up their reunion, but Alyssa was suppose to be with them. "Where's your aunt, Juan?" I asked.
"Back there," he said, pointing towards the direction of the several motels down the road.
I nodded and stood. Ross looked at me and nodded in understanding, that we had more work to do. "We’re going to take you to your mommy ok," she crooned. "You’re safe now," she promised wiping her eyes and taking them both by the hand.
Victor whistled from across the road, pointing towards the motels. "We've got company," he stated, and I could see his worry, because the damned road had been dead since just after one in the morning and that car was pulling out of a motel up the way.
"Get them in the car! Now!" I snapped to Ross, and we turned to run.
Ross opened up the back door and ushered Cedrick into the SUV, and then her son. "Boys, get down onto the floor, and don't move, okay?" She said, waiting until both little bodies were huddled behind the driver's side seat. "Good boys," She breathed, pulling her weapon from the small of her back. Locking the doors before turning back to me.
"Dario," I called.
"Got you, kid, " he stated, bolting from behind the SUV to the other side of the road, because a beat up sedan was rumbling to a stop.
We had the vehicle surrounded, but I wasn't sure they knew it. I could barely see from the shine of the SUV's headlights combined with the shine of the sedan's. When a bullet pinged off the asphalt at my feet, I dove behind the gas station's old rusty sign pole. Glancing around, I saw Ross, well hidden on the other side of the SUV's fender. I could see her face; they'd have to get past her to get back those boys.
I heard another gunfire pop loud in the quiet night and the sound of breaking glass. However, it was the sound of a man's scream that made me smile. I took a chance and stepped away from my hiding spot, motioning for Ross to stay put and for Dario and Victor to approach with cautionweapons up.
When I got to the shot out driver's side window, I couldn't help but sneer waving Ross over. She didn’t find it funny, her look was one of pure hatred as she associated the driver. “You’re the fucker that dared put a gun to Juan's temple, the one that told Alyssa he'd throw my son out on the highway going sixty.”
It was David fucking Grubbs, and he was holding his shoulder as it bled beautifully down his arm.
"Oh hell," Dario sighed, once he realized who was driving. "Walking dead man," he muttered to Victor, who only shrugged.
“Your son?” He grimaced in pain, completely surprised by the information.
Ross spat back, “Yes, my fucking son. Alyssa is his godmother you stupid piece of shit.” Using the butt of her gun, she cleared away the rest of the glass from the window and smashed it into the asshole’s face. "Don't move," she growled low.
"Shit," he spat, not able to hold his arm and his busted face at the same time.
A quick scan of his car told me that when Dario had shot him, he'd been unable to hold his weapon. It was lying on the floorboard on the passenger side, amongst fast food bags and dirty clothes.
"Gun," I muttered to Victor, who smashed the passenger side window and grabbed David's weapon.
"What did she tell you when you took these boys?" She asked David, gripping his shirt and smacking his face hard. He groaned and shook his head. "Tell me! What did Alyssa tell you?" She snapped, slamming him into the steering wheel twice. All of us standing back because it was something she had been holding in forever.
" That she would find me. Th-That I was committing suicide, okay? Fuck, stop smashing my face!" he cried out.
"That's right...dead," She said, looking over at Dario. "Find me a stick, man, a pretty decent length," She ordered, and he smiled, running off to the edge of the woods.
"Did you think she was lying, David?" Ross asked, and his head snapped around to meet her gaze. The look of shock that she knew who he was, was written all over his face. "Oh, I know you," She crooned, smiling evilly at him. "David Grubbs...stupid enough to take my child as a bargaining chip to get money for you and your C&K buddies. Your little stints in the pokey. Tsk, tsk, I know the whole thing," she chuckled. "Tell me, David," she continued, smacking the lump that was forming on his forehead from the butt of her gun. "Did you think we wouldn't follow through? Did you think we were just some...regular family? Look around you, man. No one will know what happened to you. No one. From the smell of you, your past record, and the fact that there's not a soul out here to see it, they'll think you were just another piece of shit drunk driver."
Dario appeared at my side, chuckling down at the man Ross was abusing. "Any last words?" he asked David as he handed me the stick.
"You won't find her," he sputtered, spitting blood out the window, just barely missing Ross, glaring at me. "They've checked out already," he snickered, trying to jerk his thumb behind him toward the motel. "Boy, oh boy, were they ever pissed she set those boys free..."
My blood flashed red and I stepped forward to take my turn with him, Ross stopped me with a wicked smile and a hand to the chest. She turned to him with the same smile, saying, "Oh, I bet they were. But guess what...She isn’t normal either. We know where they're going, asshole, and by the time we get her back, your little farm on the mountain will be ash."
His eyes widened again, and his mouth gaped like a fish out of water at what we knew about him. If I didn't have the answer before, I certainly had it now. From the look on his face, we was spot on with where they were headed.
"Say goodbye, David," Dario sang like a child, waving at him.
I looked around again, seeing Juan and Cedrick’s head peeking out the window. Juan with the most incredulous look on his face. We never hesitated to take a necessary life before, but with her son watching, I couldn’t let her do it.
“The kids, Vic.” I whispered jerking my head. He nodded and Dario blocked the view of the car standing at my shoulder the same thoughts crossing his mind.
Vic went to her side, holding his hand out. "Let me," he grunted, his face dark and almost scary. He jerked a chin toward the SUV and said, "Don't let them see you do this. Let me, okay? Pick me up on your way back."
She looked up at him, about to refuse, and then she noticed the two little faces peering as well. Soldier, linguist, pilot, wife, and whatever other title you wanted to give hershe was a mother first, and she needed to protect that. She nodded back at him, handing the stick over.
"Come on. Dario," I sighed, walking away from th
e fucker that had dared point a fucking gun at two little boys. It felt like unfinished business, but I knew this was right.
Ross got into the backseat with the boys, wrapping her arms around Juan, having a conversation with him in Spanish, which I would assume was her explaining what was happening.
"You drive," I said, tossing him the keys. I pulled out my phone, calling Tink, but it was my father that answered.
"Son?"
"Hey, I've got the boys," I said, looking at the window
"And Alyssa?"
"We're going to check, but the...guy we just…questioned said that they're gone," I told him, having to watch my language again. "I'll call you back."
"Sure, Adrian," he muttered, and we ended the call.
Dario drove quickly up the street, but slowed down. "Bambino, which one?"
"That one, Unca Dario," he answered. "Slumber Inn. Rooms two, three, and four."
"Smart boy," I chuckled, looking back to see Ross kissing his temple. Tink deserved a medal for that computer game she'd written for Juan. It really fucking worked, because that four year old could read and knew his numbers.
When we pulled in, all three doors were open, and a motel employee was wandering around. She was an elderly woman, who looked up when we parked the car.
"Are you the cops?" she growled as we piled out of the SUV.
"Stay here, guys," I told the boys, and they nodded, clinging to Ross at the sight of the motel.
"Not exactly," Dario answered the old woman, pointing to the rooms. "Empty?" he asked, and she nodded.
"Hell, yes, empty," she huffed. "Empty, with broken lamps, non payment for the last night, and they made a helluva lot of noise when they bolted out of here like bats out of hell."
I grimaced, shaking my head. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet. "Here, ma'am," I sighed, handing her more than enough to cover the three rooms and the damage. Hell, from the look of the place, the amount I'd just given her could have rented me a room for a fucking month. "No need for the police. That should take care of it."
Slightly placated, she sniffed, taking the money, and looked up at me. "Thanks," she said, smiling a toothless smile and walking away.
The Law of Motion (Law Series) Page 20