Jacob

by Kris Michaels

  Jacob fished in his rucksack and tossed a map on a rock near the fire and began assessing the options as they refueled their depleted bodies. This hot coffee would be the only luxury they would get for the foreseeable future. No rest could be taken past this one respite. Tonight would be brutal. “Chief and Doc will be executed immediately or they will be beaten and broken and killed. Either way, we need to get to them fast,” Jacob murmured.

  Jared nodded and examined the map gulping the last of the hot liquid greedily. “According to Fury, he placed weapons and a re-supply cache two clicks to the east…here.” Jared pointed to the map and tapped the rugged terrain.

  “The village most likely to hold the leadership of this cell is four clicks to the west of our current location.” Jacob’s finger traveled to the village indicated on the map.

  Jared stared hard at the map. No doubt to memorize the topography. “Just what the doctor ordered, a six mile jog in the middle of the night. Joseph should be somewhere close, true?”

  Jacob nodded and folded the map placing it in the pocket of his backpack.

  “How is that shoulder holding up? You completely healed after Chief used you like a rope?”

  Jacob shrugged and clenched and unclenched his fist a couple times. “Like new. That is if you overlook the scars from the bullet holes.” Jacob took his time kicking sand over the fire, carefully smoothing away any sign they had been in the cave before he slung his pack on his shoulder and followed Jared out of the cave. A blinding light and shockwave ripped through the cave before a concussion of sound. Jared’s body slammed backwards smashing both of them into a rock wall.

  Pain wrapped itself around Jacob as he crawled towards the crumpled form of his brother. His hands slipped in warm slick liquid on the rocky cave floor and he felt rather than saw the blood that covered Jared’s body. He collapsed and pulled Jared close, gasping for clean air through the heavy dust choking the interior of the cave in the aftermath of what he now perceived as an explosion. His thoughts were of Tori and his family. He hadn’t said goodbye. Damn it. Why hadn’t he?

  Chapter Twenty

  The beating of the heart monitors synchronized momentarily and then moved out of sequence again. Every so often the heartbeat of the brothers pumped in harmony, a soothing tranquil moment in time. Tori’s own heart had broken into a million pieces. Her once stoic resolve crumbled and the only solace she could find was the hospital room where the twins fought for their life. They were a part of Jacob and now part of her. Family. Five days, 120 hours, without any contact from Jacob or his brothers, Jared and Joseph. The medic from Bravo team had told her Chief and Doc were in enemy hands and probably dead. Jared and Jacob had stayed to get them back. Nobody had seen Joseph.

  Drake moaned in his drug-induced sleep. Burns marred his back and left shoulder. The hospital staff routinely changed the dressing removing the burnt flesh, scrubbing the wound of dead skin. The pain the man had endured in the last couple days couldn’t be defined. Tori took his hand in hers and tried to comfort him. “Shhh…it will be alright, Drake. I’m here. Dad is here. He came to get you and Dixon and take you home. You guys are going to stay with him until you get better.”

  She pushed his hair off his face and closed her eyes saying the millionth prayer for all her men.

  “Tori.”

  Dixon’s rasp barely registered as a whisper. Whipping her head around she smiled hugely at the blue eyes focused on her. The doctor hadn’t known if Dixon would be able to speak due to damage to his vocal chords.

  “Hey. It’s okay, Dixon. Drake is right here next to you. He was burned. They are keeping him drugged up because of the pain. The trauma specialists say it will be a long road, but he’ll recover.”

  Dixon’s eyes closed, he swallowed and tried to speak.

  “Shh, just relax, Dixon. You’re safe. Don’t try to talk.”

  His eyes shot open. The anger and intensity they contained shocked her. She had never seen him when he wasn’t happy and joking. “My team…tell me…damn it…my team!” His words were barely distinguishable.

  “Jacob and Jared are still overseas. Nobody has heard from them in five days. Bravo team said Chief and Doc are down. Their status is unknown, but they suspect both are dead. Jason is down the hall. He isn’t out of the woods yet.”

  The man’s jaw clenched as he stared at her. His throat muscles moved as he repeatedly swallowed. Finally, he hissed. “Not dead. No bodies. Not dead.” His body clenched in pain.

  Tori pushed the call button for the nurse and leaned over him kissing his forehead. “I know Dixon. I know. You have to rest now. ”

  He shook his head and looked across the room to his brother draped in a tent and lying on his stomach. A tear slipped from the man’s eye. “All I have.”

  Tori’s own tears fell. “That’s not true Dixon. Drake and you are family now. Daddy flew in the night he found out you were hurt. He came to help take care of you. He has been watching over you two and Jason every night. As soon as you are both able, he’s taking you home. He said there wasn’t anyone going to keep him from taking care of his boys.”

  Dixon’s eyes moved to her and relief flooded his features. The nurse came in and looked at her expectantly. Tori squeezed his hand before she slipped out of the room.

  Four doors to the left she stepped into Jason’s room. Jewel sat beside him holding his hand. His wounds were so familiar. The interrogators had been thorough. The thick, deep cut around his neck would leave a vicious scar. His body was badly broken and he’d lost so much blood the doctors were worried about permanent brain damage. The other wounds that layered his body were healing, but only God knew the pain he had endured. Although Tori had been tortured, her captor’s had been kind compared to the bastards who savaged Jason. He had yet to regain consciousness. Tori thought it a kindness.

  “Dixon woke up. He spoke.”

  Jewel’s eyes closed as she bowed her head. “Thank you, God.”

  “Come on, you need to get something to eat. I’ll stay with Jason.” Tori put her hand on the woman’s shoulder.

  “You’re one to talk. I haven’t seen you eat in days.” Jewel turned her attention to her brother. “The nurse said he’s been moving a lot today. I think he’s trying to wake up.”

  “The doctors said he would. His body just needs to heal. He’ll wake up soon, honey. Go on, get something to eat and take a break.”

  Tori waited until her sister-in-law left before she sat down in the chair. Jason’s unruly black hair and facial features was a strong masculine reprint of the other King Brothers. His body, however, was larger. The hospital bed barely contained his massive frame.

  Tori looked at the wounds and shuddered at the memories Jason’s injuries brought back. Unproductive thoughts Tori. Talk to the man. Let him know he isn’t alone. The isolation…no she would not go there again. With a determined mental shrug, she started a conversation with the unconscious man. “So I know your mom is going crazy. Justin is picking her up at the airport. Seems she was really pissed when he finally called and told her what was going on. Not that I can blame her. Your mom, according to all accounts, is a woman you don’t mess with. I wonder what she would do if she knew the unadulterated story.”

  “Well, she would probably remind herself her children were adults and they had the right to make their own decisions.”

  Frank leaned against the doorway looking at his daughter.

  Tori looked over her shoulder at him and smiled. “Dixon woke up today. He spoke.”

  Frank grunted. “Asked about Drake and the team?”

  “Yeah. I told him the truth.”

  “You did the right thing.” He lifted his cowboy hat and examined the hatband.

  Frank looked past her to the man in the bed and nodded. “He’s awake.”

  Tori spun and grabbed Jason’s hand. The man pulled away from her immediately. His eyes filled with the same intense anger and focus that filled Dixon’s eyes earlier.

  “Jason, it is
all right. You’re back in the states. You’re safe.” Tori stood and placed her arm reassuringly on his shoulder.

  Jason’s eyes were wild. No way was this wakeup call going to end well.

  Frank moved from the doorway, ready to assist.

  Tori wondered if she would need the physical backup. “Who are you? Where am I?” Jacob’s voice rasped out. His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he tried to move away from her hand again.

  “I’m Victoria, Jacob’s wife. You’re in the hospital. You were injured when your team was taken hostage.”

  “Hospital? No. No. No…I can’t do this again! God, not again!” Jason’s breath tore from his lungs. “My team? Don’t have a team!” He clawed at the IV pulling the tubes and needles from his veins. “What are you saying? Jacob isn’t married! No! I’ve to get out of here! I don’t know you!”

  His voice rose to a frenzied cry, “I can’t have this! God, get it out of me! Now, damn it! Why are you doing this to me?” He screamed the last question. His heart monitor bleated rapidly and then went into alarm when he tore the feeds off his chest.

  Frank lunged into the room and hit the call button. In the blink of an eye, her dad shielded her from the real danger Jason presented. Frank grabbed the man by his shoulders putting his face directly in front of Jason’s.

  “Settle down now, son. You’re safe. It’s okay if you can’t remember right now. It will come to you. Right now, I need you to lay back and breathe. Come on, son. Look at me. Hey! Yes, that’s good, look at me. Okay, take a deep breath for me. That’s it. Now another. Come on. Good. Real good, boy.”

  Tori took a deep breath as Jason started to focus on Frank, but the room flooded with doctors and nurses sending the man into another episode of rage. Screaming at the medical staff, Jason struggled wildly to get off the bed. He caught one orderly with his free hand and wrenched the man’s arm so hard Victoria heard bone crack and snap. A doctor barked orders. A nurse plunged a needle into Jason as the doctor fought to hold on while the orderlies pinned the wounded man’s body to the hospital bed. Jason lasted ten seconds before the drug overtook him. He gazed over towards Frank reaching his hand out as if asking for help before he lost consciousness.

  Her dad held her as they watched the staff place thick canvas wrist and ankle restraints on Jason securing him to the metal bed. The orderly with the broken arm was helped from the room and several nurses and orderlies reset machines and mopped up the blood that had sprayed from the torn IV port in Jason’s arm. The doctor pulled his hand through his hair and looked at Victoria and Frank.

  “What happened?” He bent over Jason and carefully examined Jason’s wounds but cast a glance back expectantly.

  Frank answered. “The boy woke up. He was disoriented. He obviously didn’t want to be in the hospital.”

  The doctor muttered, “Understatement of the decade.” He lifted Jason’s eyelids and checked his pupils’ reactions. “We’ll get him cleaned up. Would it be possible to get someone here who may be able to calm him when he wakes up again?”

  Justin’s voice brought all attention to the doorway. “I think I may have just the person.”

  A regal woman with dark black hair sprinkled with grey walked into the room. Tori smothered a smile when her father looked twice at the door. He stood staring at the beautiful woman. The woman Justin ushered in had eyes only for Jason. She cupped his face in hers hands and kissed his forehead. With a sad smile, she shook her head.

  The woman’s focus shifted towards the doctor, her face stern. “My son is a recovering drug addict. He fought hard to get off prescription drugs and has been clean for years now. He apparently saw the IVs and reacted accordingly. When you wake him up you make sure he has nothing attached to him. If you have been giving him narcotics, write a list of what you’ve given him and when. He needs to be in control of his care. It’s the only way he can cope.”

  She turned her attention towards Victoria, dismissing the doctor. Smiling, she walked over and kissed Tori on the cheek. “Victoria, I’m so sorry we met like this. Welcome to the family. I’m Amanda King, the ‘mother’.” Tori smiled and squeezed the woman’s hand.

  “Mrs. King, this is my father, Frank Marshall.”

  Frank nodded, barely managing a choked, “Ma’am.”

  “My name is Amanda not Mrs. King or Ma’am. Frank, it was good of you to come out for your daughter.”

  He cleared his throat and nodded, and nodded, and nodded. Tori watched her father, bemused. She’d never seen her laconic, unshakeable father behave like a love-struck adolescent. He finally must have realized he hadn’t spoken.

  His reply seemed to once again center his attention on the men and not the woman in front of him. “Came for her and for my boys. Done adopted Jacob and his team. Dixon and Drake both are laid up. Taking them back home with me as soon as they can travel.”

  Frank moved the chair back by Jason’s bed and motioned to it.

  Amanda King’s vivid blue eyes twinkled up at him and her dad’s face turned red under her stare.

  “Oh, thank you, no. I’ve been sitting all day. Justin, honey, would you take my bags to the Georgetown house before you go to the restaurant?”

  “Yes ma’am. Jewel knows you’re here and she’ll be back shortly. If you need anything, just give me a call. I can be back in no time.”

  “Darlin’, I’ll be okay. I know you’ve been staying here most nights with Mr. Marshall. Go take care of your business and maybe get some sleep? Bless your heart. You look so tired, baby.” His mother cupped his face and lifted up kissing him on the cheek.

  “Yes ma’am. I’ll try.” Justin pulled her into a huge bear hug. “Love you, momma.”

  “Love you too, baby.” She watched him walk down the hall and took a deep breath before she turned to Victoria.

  “Alright, daughter-in-law, let me have it.” Amanda’s eyes focused on Victoria.

  Tori jerked in surprise. “Excuse me? Have what?” Tori had no idea what Amanda was asking.

  “Where are my sons? Why are they not here? I know where Jasmine and Jade are and what they’re doing. Jewel, Jason, and Justin are accounted for, that leaves my core troublemakers. Where are they?”

  Victoria closed her eyes. “I don’t know. They’re missing. We haven’t heard from them and we can’t find them.

  “Are they together?” The woman’s question was barely a whisper.

  “Yes ma’am. The last we heard, Joseph was meeting Jacob and Jared.”

  “Joseph is with them?” When Tori nodded, a broad smile spread across Amanda’s lovely face. “Well then, let’s get these boys healing. When Joseph and the young ‘uns have finished their work, they’ll contact you.”

  “How can you be so sure, Amanda?”

  “Because, honey, Joseph is probably the most driven, single force God has ever put on this planet. Combine him with Jacob and Jared, who are smart, resourceful, and damned good at what they do, and they become invincible. Now, would you quit questioning what I know to be a certainty and regale me with the love story that is Victoria and Jacob while we wait for Jason to wake up again?”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Reality hit Jacob. He bolted up and immediately paid the price. Twisting, he wretched violently. Nausea gripped him in an iron vice-like grip.

  “Best slow it down some, boy.” The low growl echoed in the cave.

  “Joseph. How in the hell?” Jacob immediately relaxed. He didn’t know where his older brother had materialized from but he wasn’t going to question it. “Jared?” His whisper was barely audible as he lay down on his back and carefully lowered his head to the ground.

  “Out cold. Gouged up his arm. Just got through stitching it up. Fucked up his ankle pretty good. He’ll live.”

  “Comms?”

  “Nope. Had a low battery and was waiting to join up with you. All the transmissions about the landing-zone clusterfuck drained it.”

  Jacob covered his ears and shushed his brother.

  At least
Joseph waited for a couple minutes before he spoke again. “Hate to break up your little pity party boy, but as soon as you can stand without puking we need to go. I know where they took the Cherokee and the Swede. I need a distraction so I can get them out while the Indian is still strong enough to help. Medic may need to be carried out. You will be the diversion in case you had any doubt.”

  Jacob kept his eyes closed. Opening them right now was not an option or he’d dry heave his guts out. He’d all the classic symptoms of a severe concussion. He flipped off his oldest brother. That quiet, intensely evil laugh that echoed in the cave was better than any sound imaginable. Joseph wasn’t quite right—hadn’t been since their dad was murdered. The man’s rage was barely contained on a good day. On a day like today, who the fuck cared if it was contained or not?

  Jacob sat up slowly. After the worst of the nausea passed he cracked his eyes open and regretted it immediately. Even in the dim of the cave, the small fire’s light was too much.

  Closing them again, he tried to put the events together. “Sit rep?” He didn’t want to shatter the silence, but he needed to know what Joseph knew.

  Once again, that low, wicked laugh bounced off the wall. “Jared’s fucked up. You’re worthless and both of you are in trouble, again. Pretty much the normal status quo if you ask me.”

  “Fuck you, Joseph. What happened? Where are we?”

  “Yeah, not into incest so, no thanks, on the sex pretty boy. What happened? Conjecture only. The cave was rigged. You tripped the IED when you came in. Had to be on a delay or it malfunctioned and blew late. The second is more likely.”

  Jacob finally opened his eyes and repeatedly blinked trying to bring his brother into focus. “How do you know that?”