by Wylder Stone
“Don’t worry, Trista. He’s safe. I promise.” Realizing her little game with James was coming off wrong to Trista, Vivi was quick to fix it. “I was supposed to take him back to Santa Monica to the Elite building. Estella had heard you talk about it, and Mason talked about me, and well…here I am. When I realized what was going on, I couldn’t leave with him like that and needed to warn you. I just didn’t get here in time after securing his safety, so I stayed back in case it went bad. So I could…follow him,” Vivi said, pointing at a now deceased Cesar Junior.
“Vivi, where is my son?” Trista had been as patient as she was going to be when it came to her son.
“The only place I knew to take him here where he’d be safe.” Vivi smiled, looking at the Force brothers.
“Lyla,” Owen said, referring to their sister.
Vivi smiled. “Yep. She has him, and Mason has no clue. Tyson and Becca and a few others are there too. They sort of called in their own little protection squad to look after Mason and each other. That little boy is very loved.”
Trista burst into tears. “Thank you. Thank you, Vivi.”
With the brothers each still side-eyeing her, Vivi went on to say, “In my defense, because I know what you’re thinking behind those judging glares, we tried to reach you.”
Each looked at their devices, scrolling through data to see they each missed at least a dozen attempted calls.
James was still clearly irritated by her actions, more so than the rest. “So you thought you’d go GI Jane and just skip out here to deliver a message? In the middle of a standoff. With a killer?”
Troy was the first to succumb to surprise, ending in hysterics. He was both impressed with Vivi and found it funny how she got under James’s skin. “How did you even find us?”
Smiling sheepishly, she tapped her smart watch with a shrug. “Same way you guys hunt. I tracked your watches. I always know where you are.”
As the EMTs loaded Trista into the ambulance, Owen climbed in with her, leaving the brothers to start processing their crime scene. Estella was working both sides. Cesar Junior thought Estella was committed to avenging their father when she was really committed to putting it all to rest and freeing everyone from the terror their father left in his wake. With Mark’s help in that effort, Estella reached her goal, and he found redemption for his past misdeeds.
Estella gave them an earful while still at the original crime scene, which led to several more immediate arrests. Because she was a part of the original plan, the accomplices didn’t question her change in orders and waited for further instruction so as not to alert her brother to what she was up to. They all waited as the authorities arrived and took them in, confiscating drugs, weapons, and even the jet Cesar Junior had mentioned.
It quickly became obvious that Estella was on their side, despite how deceiving her method of insinuating herself into the group was. It was all in the name of justice and already forgiven. She was prepared to help in any way she could if it meant being free of the life Estella feared most, one influenced by her father, then brother. The contacts she was left with, however, would hold her hostage until every last one was dealt with.
On the way to the hospital, Owen proposed, not once but six or seven times. He vowed to always protect them, love them, and cherish them. This was his second chance, and Owen wasn’t wasting it.
“I was afraid, Owen. I was afraid he would win.”
“Never again. I will move you wherever you want to live. Wherever you’ll feel safe. We can stay here too. Bear Springs is a great place to raise kids, and your sister is here…”
“How about Santa Monica? Maybe we come here for weekends and summers, but I like the Elite building.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Do you think you can keep us safe there? I mean, there is a lot of potential shopping that could happen there compared to here,” she teased.
He rested his head on her hand, which Owen was holding after he had kissed it. “Absolutely.”
A buzz from his watch grabbed his attention and left him with a smile. “Lyla is meeting us at the hospital with Mason. She says he’s perfect.”
Trista’s smile faded when she realized she was about to be faced with her son’s innocence. “I don’t want him to know. I know one day I’ll have to tell him, but…”
“We’ll tell him together.”
With a slow nod, Trista wandered into thought. “Estella. I can’t believe she is who she is.”
Owen nodded in agreement. “She saved a lot of lives today and put an end to something only she could. Those two were Cesar’s best kept secret and his revenge. We’re lucky Estella wasn’t poisoned by him like his son.”
“She was very brave, is very brave.” Trista didn’t have hard feelings for Estella. If anything, she was grateful for Estella’s sacrifice. “What will happen to her?”
“Not sure, but she’s about to bring down the Perez cartel. That won’t be easy, and I have a feeling she’s about to become an Elite Force client. She’ll need protection and a new identity eventually. I’m letting the boys sort it all out, though, because I’m officially off duty. My family needs me.” Owen leaned in and kissed her again. “Let’s get your arm fixed and your head checked out so we can plan.”
“Plan?” she asked with an odd expression, unsure what he was eager to plan given the day they’d just had.
“Plan what comes next for us,” Owen said, maintaining his macho bravado on a not-so-macho topic.
“I hope that doesn’t take long because we have dinner with your mom in two days.” Trista laughed.
“God, I love you,” he said, kissing her sweetly, “even if you are a spoiled brat.”
When Trista arrived at the hospital, she was met by a team of waiting doctors and nurses, Owen trailing close behind.
“Mommy!” Mason’s voice carried down the corridor, immediately grasping their attention as he slid out of Lyla’s arms and ran right for them.
Trista was elated. Her son was finally within reach, but she didn’t want him to see her covered in dirt and blood. Pulling the blanket a bit higher to hide what she didn’t want him to see, Trista tilted her head to Owen, eyes brimming with tears. “Go to him. Go to him, Owen.”
Though Mason was unaware of what had been going on around him, kids were intuitive, and there was an obvious sense of worry about him. At that very moment, it struck Owen just how close they came to losing him. The emotion that realization provoked was nearly crippling as Owen scooped the boy in his behemoth arms and buried his face in the boy’s shoulder. Relief washed over him as he breathed him in.
“It’s okay, kid. Doc Carter is going to fix up Mommy’s arm real quick. She needs a Band-Aid, little dude.”
The little boy took Owen’s face into his little hands and stared him in the eyes. They had an exchange of who-knew-what – maybe understanding or maybe it was a silent appreciation for each other. Whatever it was, it was special. Owen broke their stare with a rare smile and kissed Mason on the forehead.
Mason whispered, “I love you, buddy.”
With tears in his eyes, Owen replied, “I love you too, kiddo. Let’s go find Mommy.”
It wasn’t long before they were able to see Trista. Her injuries were minor, just an easy treat and release with a few stitches on her shoulder and a possible concussion to watch for a day or two.
Owen wheeled Trista to a waiting vehicle. Mason sat in her lap, enjoying the ride.
Mason looked up at Owen over his mother’s shoulder. “Where are we going?”
Owen smiled. “Home.”
19
Five months later…
Sunday dinners at the Force Bar and Grill were anything but boring. Especially this Sunday as they were together celebrating Owen and Trista. The newlyweds.
They spent the beautiful spring day in the lovely Hill House, a savvy Los Angeles landmark, saying their I dos surrounded by their friends and family in the vibrant flower gardens the place was known for. I
mmediately following was a reception held inside the grand historic mansion’s ballroom overlooking the grounds and city below them. The day was perfect, and there wasn’t a single murderous threat in the place.
The Force family and their closest friends moved the party to the bar where they celebrated with a special IPA, created and brewed just for this very occasion under the Force label. There was food, plenty of drink, and a good time had by all.
All these months later, and the brothers were still working to take down every threat Estella helped them find, but this day, they didn’t work. They celebrated. The deep wounds of that day still resided, healing slowly but surely. Estella wore most of them.
As expected, Estella fell under Elite Force’s protection and was living in the Elite building with a new identity. Troy had taken a liking to her until he found out who she really was. Troy was the most easygoing and forgiving brother, but for some reason, he couldn’t forgive her for her deception, even if it was in the name of justice.
Their interactions were few but awkward and only for business. With her guard up high, Trista let Estella continue to have a relationship with Mason, though they told him very little about who she really was. That day would come, and they would deal with it when they had to. Until then, Estella lived in the Elite building and helped Trista open her second location of Lalapalooza in the nearby oceanfront district.
It gave both women something to do and a way to work on their trust for one another while keeping Estella close by and easy to watch over. Watching the kids play, the women got lost in conversation. Something about weddings and beer made people confess their most sentimental inner thoughts.
“I really do love that little boy. My father, even in death, put you through so much, both of you. Mason deserves better, and he has it now. I can’t tell you how much relief that brings me. I understand if he never knows who I really am. In fact, it may be better if he doesn’t.” Estella shrugged, not sure what would be right. Only time would tell. “Know that I do love him, though, and I will always be here should either of you need me.”
With tears in her eyes, Trista hugged the woman. “You’re a good person, Estella. I don’t doubt that for a moment, and I hope one day you can forgive yourself because I certainly have. I did the very minute I knew he was safe because of you.”
Well into his share of alcohol, Troy had been sitting only feet away, listening to the women pour their hearts out. “Pfffft. Whatever. What a bunch of bullshit.”
He stood and moved to the other end of the bar, shaking his head. Troy landed on a seat near his brothers, never taking his angry eyes off Estella.
“He’ll come around, honey,” Trista said to which Estella nodded.
Vivi sat down with the girls, having heard and seen the whole thing. “I don’t know. Those Force men are stubborn. I have no idea how you trained Owen as well as you did.”
Trista snorted. “Trained? Oh, that boy is far from trained. He did seem to go a little sweet on me, though.”
The ladies giggled when Owen looked over and smiled as he caught Trista looking at him.
“Look at them over there. What do you want to bet they are all giving Owen crap right now?” Vivi joked. “He’s the only happy one in the bunch.”
“Let’s see,” Estella started, “Troy is pissed at me, still. James is always pissed at Vivi. Jackson is pissed at the world for just being the world. Then there’s Derek. Actually, I have no idea what he’s pissed at. What’s the story with these guys, Vivi? You’re their keeper. You know better than anyone.”
“We know what happened with Troy and Estella. Derek disappears a lot to chase leads. I haven’t figured it out entirely, but he seems to put himself in danger. Don’t buy into those tattoos and the bad boy Harley thing because I think there’s a woman involved. Jackson’s just trying to find himself in civilian life. Forced into early retirement was like a prison sentence for him. Then there’s James.”
Vivi stopped on James and stared off. When he felt her looking at him from across the room, James locked onto her gaze, neither giving anything away. Though they always seemed at odds, something more was there. Everyone saw it, but nobody understood it. The love-hate or love to hate thing they had going was as obnoxious as it was sweet. Eventually, one of them would give in, and it was only a matter of time before one did. The mourning widower or the tortured beauty that hid behind her dark-framed glasses and cardigans with all her secrets – time would tell.
“James. He’s just James,” she said in a half-daze.
When the family patriarch Erik Force’s booming voice commanded the crowd to congratulate his eldest son and new daughter-in-law’s nuptials, he had the attention of all but two. James and Vivi. They sat, locked in each other’s stares from across the room. Lost in a place all their own, they wondered if their pasts could be overcome or if it would be their demise. One thing was for certain – danger never felt far from them.
Author Biography
Suspense writer and Southern California native, Wylder Stone winters in Malibu at the beach and summers in the wilds of Big Bear, in the San Bernardino Mountains plotting gripping suspense stories guaranteed to keep you awake at night. The reclusive Wylder prefers the company of crashing waves and a crackling fire— while penning mystery, thriller and suspense novels with psychological twists that will turn you inside out.
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More from Wylder Stone
On the Run Series
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Witness On the Run
Exposed on the Run
Vengeance on the Run
Danger on the Run
Deception on the Run
Stranger on the Run
Reckless on the Run
Hostage on the Run
Murderer on the Run
Betrayed on the Run
Corruption on the Run
