“Finally,” he grunted when he found a can of beer with some liquid left in it. Ignoring the putrid taste of the warm, flat beer, he drank it down. Anything was better than the dryness in his mouth making it difficult to swallow.
He lay back on the mattress waiting for the pounding in his head to stop. It wasn't enough. He needed more, but hoped the tiny bit would take the edge off. Once he felt as if he could open his eyes, he rolled to the side again, this time he used his eyes instead of his hands to find what he was looking for.
He picked up one tiny empty bag after another.
There had to be one more!
“Dammit!” he shouted in the empty warehouse, instantly regretting the sound and the exertion he used to yell out.
He managed to get to a sitting position, his legs sprawled out in front of him, head in hands as he surveyed the area. There were bottles of booze, used blister packs, and a slew of prescription pill bottles—all empty.
He needed a fix and he needed it now.
Damian strolled into the warehouse, slamming the metal door behind him. “Doyle, get up.” The voice cut through the cobwebs that still clouded his brain.
“Don't slam the door,” he shouted.
Damian ignored his complaint, kicked a few bottles out of the way before coming to stand in front of him. “We have our next assignment,” he said with only a hint of the accent he had yet to get rid of. He’d come to the United States ten years ago from Guatemala and worked hard to blend in, but the accent remained. Doyle enjoyed teasing him about it every chance he had.
“Did they send the next shipment?” he asked.
Damian took a step back. “No. Said it’d be sent once the target is retrieved.”
Doyle snatched an empty can off the ground and threw it. “Fine,” he barked. “Get the team together and let's get this done. I need that shipment.”
Damian looked at the floor, littered with the remnants of his addiction. “Maybe you need a break from this stuff?”
Doyle stood to his full height of six feet four inches tall, ignoring the pinch in his back that drove him to the drinking and pill popping. “I say when I need a break,” he growled. “You do as you’re told and you get to live another day.”
Damian took a step back, but held eye contact. “You keep taking all this crap and you aren't going to be the tough guy you are now. In fact, you should be glad we let you live another day. Our leader is no longer the man we knew. You’ve….”
Doyle delivered a hard shove that pushed Damian back several feet. He stared at him, daring the other man to push back.
As expected, the man backed down.
“You better check yourself, soldier. I’m the leader of this rag-tag band of mercenaries. I say who stays and who kicks rocks down the road. You’re expendable,” he seethed. “I’m the one who has the connections. I’m the one who makes sure we’re all taken care of.”
Damian looked as if he’d argue, but quickly backed down. “I'll get the men together,” he said before skulking out the door.
Doyle breathed a sigh of relief. He’d fight if needed and he’d probably win, but it’d leave him in a great deal more pain. His back hadn’t been the same since that bullet decided to take up residency near his spine.
Despite his injury, he was a valuable soldier; one the government depended on to get the dirty work done. It’d worked out great for him. He could use his skills as a special ops soldier right here on American soil. Not that there was anything to keep him in the US now that his family was dead.
While he’d been overseas, fighting the enemy with the idea he was keeping his country safe, someone had taken advantage of that freedom and murdered his family. Doyle had been reluctant to come back, but the injury had forced him. He hadn't been medically discharged. They wanted to keep him in the Marines as a trainer for MARSOC. At first, he wanted to tell them to go to hell, but then he realized he had nothing else in this world. His Marine family was all he had.
When the EMP struck, his CO had called on him for a special task. Even though he wasn't technically cleared for duty, those rules no longer applied. The military in general was desperate. His training, experience and sheer drive made him a valuable commodity.
It started with one job and then another. He was paid with various supplies, but when he told his commander, the pain was too much; he was offered drugs to numb the pain. The relationship had evolved and now, he was dependent on the government to keep him supplied with pills. He did their dirty work and they paid him with narcotics and cases of liquor. Money certainly didn't matter. It was a win-win for both sides.
Now, it was time for his next mission. Soon, he’d have what he needed to fall back into the blackness that blocked out everything.
9
The lodge was peaceful with only Willow and Megan in the house. These moments were few and far between and Megan wanted to take full advantage of it. Usually, she was so busy doing chores, being a mother to Caitlin, or worrying about the next disaster, she didn't have time to take a moment to enjoy what was right in front of her.
Everyone was outside, preparing a large barbecue to send off Harry and Emma. It was becoming their tradition to have large meals in celebration of big achievements. While saying goodbye to Harry and Emma wasn't necessarily a celebration, the fact that they were alive and well was certainly worth celebrating.
She looked over the rail of the crib Chase had so lovingly crafted for JJ. He’d spent months secretly working on the project and it had turned out beautiful. Megan stared at the tiny baby, struggling to breathe inside the crib. They’d propped up the makeshift mattress to help improve his breathing, but it wasn't as effective as they would’ve liked.
Megan put her hand on one of his tiny little hands and smiled when he automatically grabbed hold of her finger. They’d used Rosie's kitchen scale to weigh the little guy earlier in the day. He’d finally made it to eight pounds. Nearly two months in the world and he’d finally reached the weight of a typical newborn.
“He seems to be doing a little better,” Willow commented. She’d been sitting on one of the couches, with her eyes closed.
Megan looked down at the baby, but wasn't sure she could see any improvements. His breathing seemed labored and his skin was still a sickly pallor. He didn't have the typical pink skin of a healthy newborn. The fact that JJ wasn't healthy made her want to scream and curse the fates.
“I wish we could take him to a pediatrician,” Megan said wistfully.
Willow laughed. “I wouldn't be able to afford it.”
Megan gave her a questioning look.
“Well, the health insurance before the EMP was ridiculous. We could barely afford it then. The co-pays and the hoops you had to jump through to see a specialist. JJ is probably getting better care with Brenda and Rosie than he would through some ridiculous insurance program,” Willow said laughing.
Megan chuckled at the absurdity of the whole thing, but realized Willow was probably right to a point.
She turned back to look down at the baby who was already proving to be a real fighter, like his daddy. Even with the state of the healthcare system before the EMP, JJ would’ve had access to the specialists who could run tests and determine what was making him so ill.
Megan felt an idea forming. Brenda was a doctor, trained in surgical field techniques. There were military hospitals all over the world with some of the best-trained doctors in a wide variety of specialties. Those hospitals were probably still up and running in some places. They’d have state-of-the-art technology that included backup generators.
She knew if the government could keep the military functioning and provide them with jeeps and weapons, the hospitals would also be taken care of.
“Willow, I'll be back later,” she said quickly kissing JJ on the head before racing out of the room and downstairs.
Brenda was at the table, quietly cleaning the handguns. Yesterday it’d been the rifles. The woman was methodical and dedicated when it came to weapo
nry. The kids loved to time her to see how fast she could reassemble the weapons.
“Hey, is Neil awake?” she asked.
“Last time I checked he was. He was grumbling about getting that box to the NRU. He’s a soldier with a mission. It isn't something he’s going to forget about or ignore. I don't think I'll be able to keep him down for an entire week.”
“You may not have to,” Megan said quickly leaving the kitchen and heading towards the cot where Neil was resting.
“Are you awake?” she asked, not caring if she woke him from a nap.
“Yes. Why?” he said with impatience in his voice.
“Are there medical facilities at this NRU?”
Neil turned his head to look at her. “Yes. Why?”
“So, there are doctors and specialists and all the equipment one would find in a typical hospital?” she asked, not hiding her excitement.
He slowly nodded. “Actually, yes. After the EMP, they sent for the top doctors in each field. Most aren't even military. They were offered a lucrative package to go to the NRU and no one was going to turn that down considering the alternative.”
Megan thanked him for the information and quickly went outside to find Wyatt. She stopped when she saw Wyatt joking around with Chase and Albert. They all looked so happy and normal. As if their world hadn't been turned upside down and inside out. These people were resilient and had finally found some peace.
If she told them her plan, they would of course go along with it, wouldn't they? Every one of them loved JJ and wanted to help him. It was what had driven them these past few weeks to find the medicine needed to keep him alive. Her own reasons were a bit different, but they all had the same goal to save JJ.
Megan took a deep breath and began her approach. Wyatt looked at her and waved. She smiled back, not wanting to burst their bubble of joy. She had to. If she didn't find a way to save JJ and make up for all the wrongs she’d done, her life would never be joyful. The burden of guilt would keep her down and she was sure it would ultimately destroy her.
“What's up?” Wyatt asked. “You have that look. What are you planning?”
She smiled. “You know me so well.”
“Here?” he said in a low voice, asking if she wanted to talk with him privately or with everyone around.
“Here's fine.”
She looked at the group and blurted out her developing plan.
Albert bobbed his head as she was talking. “I think you may be on to something. They would of course have a full staff of physicians, operating rooms and things like MRIs and x-ray equipment. They’d definitely know what was wrong with JJ and how to fix him up.”
Megan’s heart was racing. She’d expected them to turn her down right away. Her elation over Albert's approval quickly faded when she looked at the concern on Chase and Wyatt's faces.
“Well?” she asked, waiting to hear their objections.
Chase looked at her with a mixture of pity and sadness. “Megan, it’s a great idea. However, that trek is going to be a long one. We can't have Willow and JJ go on their own, which means several of us have to go along with them. That will leave the lodge vulnerable.”
Wyatt jumped in. “The people that attacked that convoy could still be in the area. They could’ve tracked us back here. If that box is as valuable as Neil says, they may come looking for it and him.”
Megan didn't want to admit it, but she knew they were right. Even a small group making the trek would leave the lodge and the people who stayed behind extremely vulnerable.
“I-” she started.
“I'm in,” Chase cut her off before she could say another word.
“What?” she asked in surprise.
“Jack saved my butt. I owe him,” he said.
Megan grinned. “I think he saved all of us, but yes, we owe him this one very important favor.”
Wyatt clapped his hands together, rubbing them. Megan knew he was already formulating a plan. Evan and Bryan joined their group.
Evan looked at each of them. “Now, what? Who's going where and when?”
That got a chuckle from all of them. They were all very in-tune with each other and were able to predict their moves.
“We’re going to take JJ to the NRU,” Megan said with a great deal of pride.
“What?” Bryan asked with mild shock. “Didn't we figure that was a one-week hike? How is a baby, a sick baby at that, going to manage that kind of a journey?”
“With his mother and his loving uncles and aunts to help him,” Chase stated with a big grin plastered on his face.
Megan couldn't help but smile as well. Chase loved JJ and she knew he’d do anything for the little guy, even if he had to play devil's advocate at times.
“We need to talk about who stays and who goes,” Wyatt said.
Megan raised her hand. “I'll go. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened on the journey and I wasn't there to help.”
“I'll go as well,” Wyatt volunteered.
Albert shrugged. “I won't be making this trip,” he patted his leg, indicating his knees were not up for the journey.
“It's okay old man, I'll need you around here,” Chase told him, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “I'll be staying here as well to keep an eye on things.”
Megan was surprised Chase volunteered to stay. She knew he’d prefer to go, but his strength and security expertise would be far more valuable at the lodge.
Evan looked at Wyatt and Megan. “I’d be happy to join you.”
“And I’m not letting him go without me so I’ll be going with you as well,” Bryan said with a smile. “He'll end up getting himself killed if I'm not there to babysit him,” he joked before giving his friend a gentle slug in the arm.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll see who's saving who,” Evan shot back.
“Great. It's settled. I'll go tell Willow the news. I hope she’s okay with this. I didn't even think to ask her,” Megan said, suddenly feeling apprehensive.
“If it's to save her child, she’d do anything,” Wyatt said. “I think most mothers would walk through fire if it meant saving their baby.”
Megan smiled up at him. “You're right. I'll be back. Get that fire going. I'm hungry!”
She took off towards the lodge at a fast clip excited to tell Willow the news. This could be the very thing that saved JJ's life. The journey couldn't be for nothing. It had to work.
10
The barbecue left everyone feeling full and exhausted. Once the kids were tucked in and Harry was squared away on an upstairs couch, Megan quickly went to the bedroom, knowing Wyatt would be ready to hash out some details for their plan.
“Let me have it,” she said once she closed the door.
He grinned. “I think it's a great idea. Granted, I’m nervous about taking the baby on that long of a journey and even more nervous about leaving the lodge, but I think we have to go. Whatever is wrong with my nephew, he isn't getting any better.”
She agreed. “With Chase, Albert and Brenda staying behind, I think they’ll be okay. Tara has proven herself several times already. I feel relatively comfortable leaving them in charge of my child's safety and well-being.”
“That says a lot and I’m proud of you. You’ve come a long way since those first days you showed up here.” He grinned and Megan chuckled at his teasing.
“You guys were a scary bunch. Especially you, mister.”
“Willow seems excited for this trip. I thought she’d be hesitant, but when I checked on JJ, she was packing a diaper bag,” Wyatt said.
“When I told her the plan, she nearly ran out the door, ready to get there, now. I think she’s exhausted and not having any idea about what could be making her baby sick or knowing when he’s going to pass out again is making her crazy. I cannot begin to imagine the stress she must be under. It seems so unfair she’s been dealt such a harsh hand,” Megan said.
“I know, it is unfair but we’ll get some answers and JJ will be a healthy baby. I w
on't stop until he is,” Wyatt said with conviction.
“Neither will I. Now, we better get to sleep or we’re going to be dragging our feet in the morning.”
The next morning was a flurry of activity. They were going into a completely different situation and they needed to be prepared for an urban survival scenario.
In the mountains, their biggest worry was wolves and bears. In the city, humans were a far more dangerous predator. Unlike the animals that would much rather keep their distance from the human interlopers; other humans would be far more aggressive.
“Don't focus so much on winter gear and things needed to build a shelter,” Wyatt instructed. “We'll only be sleeping under the stars for a couple nights before we hit the town.”
“It still gets cold at night, though,” Megan replied.
“Here it does. Down in the lower elevation and farther east, it'll be a lot warmer, which is going to make our travel a little risky. We need to be prepared for extreme heat.”
Megan winced. “She wasn’t looking forward to that.”
“You need to do most of your traveling in the early hours of the morning and late at night,” Chase said, coming into the room with one of the hiking packs.
“Isn't that going to be more dangerous?” Megan asked.
Chase shrugged. “It's more dangerous if one of you ends up with heat exhaustion and no way to treat it. You can't carry the amount of water necessary to stay hydrated, it’s too heavy. If you travel during the heat of the day, you’ll need twice as much water because you’ll be sweating a lot. With the sun rising early and setting late, that will allow you about six hours in the morning and a couple hours at night to make your way to Ravena.”
Megan understood what he was saying. They also had to think of JJ.
“Everyone needs a hat, sunscreen and ChapStick. Keep the sunscreen in a side pouch. You’ll need to apply it several times throughout the day, even in the morning when it doesn't feel hot. Getting a sunburn is going to dehydrate you much faster than you normally would,” Brenda instructed, walking into the room with the bottles of sunscreen. “Keep your lips protected with ChapStick or you’re going to find yourself in a world of pain.”
EMP Lodge Series Box Set | Books 1-6 Page 84