Twisted Iron

by T. J. Loveless

  In twenty minutes, she was cooking. The attention from the guys helped her smile, and she conversed, even allowing a little sarcasm to sneak into the conversation. From the expressions, a few of the guys were deep in like.

  She placed huge platefuls in front of each man, speaking in low tones. Whatever she said garnered gentle smiles and low chuckles.

  I didn’t get those. I glared at each male in the room, standing at the entrance, arms crossed. Jillian threw a puzzled look my way, and I tried to smile. From her raised eyebrow, I didn’t fool her a bit.

  Dinner dishes done and put away, the guys went looking for sleeping arrangements. Kurt slapped my shoulder on passing, slipping a wink in before disappearing up the stairs.

  Jillian sat at the island, fingers buried deep in her red tresses. A tear slipped past her defenses.

  “Can you talk to me?” I sat next to her, forearms resting on the granite.

  “How many more are going to die, Aiden? Are you really going to sacrifice those good men for your history?” She turned and grabbed my hand. “We can leave, go anywhere. Surely you have a friend who could give us new identities. I’ll go with you. Please, just stop the killing.”

  Forming words to explain was impossible. I could see my future in the house, and if I was lucky, kids with her brains and looks. A working cattle ranch, no more jungles and deserts, no more weapons, no battles, no bloody memories to hide in the black hole. Bring Rogue Spy back and maybe start a working horse breeding program.

  She was asking me to walk away, to leave who I wanted to be. Offering to abandon who she was.

  I couldn’t do it. I kissed her forehead and went into the office.

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  I read notes, went through files, created neat piles, and sat back as the guys entered. Kurt sat on the desk. The man didn’t like chairs. I shook my head, smiled and waited. Jessup leaned in the corner, hair wet from a fresh shower, and behind everyone, Jason.

  I gave him the handshake with a hug and returned to my seat. I noticed they kept the same habits. Not one of them sat in front of the window, all faced the doorway, backs to the wall, eyes searching the darkening landscape through the one window.

  Jason was tall and lanky, with black hair and bright blue eyes. He wore sunglasses constantly because people would remember his eye color. Otherwise, like most of us, he was of average looks. Only Jessup and Kurt garnered attention from women and men.

  “What do we know, Jas?” I asked. It was time to get the planning stages done.

  “The good sheriff is two miles out, camping on federal land. He followed Jillian, but wouldn’t come closer. He’s got seven men, all former deputies. I’m guessing family or close friends. They each have their police issue 9MM, five shotguns, I counted twenty five knives, but no explosives. Mostly hunting gear. They each have hunting clothes, and act like they’re out for elk.” Jason snorted and shook his head. “They saw the RV, one of them sneaks close enough to check for vehicles, but leaves. I don’t think any have true military sniper training, and Barry said most were trained at the main facility. So they don’t have tactical training either.”

  “How’d you get the weapons count?” I raised an eyebrow.

  “None of them can hear worth a shit. They’d gone to hunt for food, I decided to see what they had.” He grinned.

  Everyone in the room chuckled.

  “See how much ammo?”

  “Enough for ten minutes. They don’t think of a prolonged firefight.”

  I nodded. “Close and lock the door.”

  Jason, the closest, did as I ordered.

  Sighing, “Jillian wants to leave, but has nowhere to go. Any battle will likely burn my house to the ground. And I could lose one or two of you to a bullet we didn’t count on.” I closed my eyes, not wanting to think about the loss of yet another brother. The face of the Colonel burst into the front of my head, and I winced. “It isn’t espionage, and my situation isn’t a misinformed government with treason thrown in for added spice.”

  Kurt put a hand up. “Shut up now, Middy. We know those things, and it’s why we are. The Colonel ordered us to Laramie, and I was happy to take a scar for Karen Barnes. I owe her my life, as all of us do. Not one man didn’t understand what he asked us to do for her. But she isn’t family. You are. And just as I know if it comes down to it, you’ll die for me, don’t ever believe I wouldn’t lay down my life for your happiness.”

  His dark brown eyes held me hostage. DNA didn’t matter, our differences in perception of the world, the scars, the hidden memories, or the fact my battle was nothing more than me fighting for what was mine. Instead, it was the bond we’d formed over blood and war, living together in the worst circumstances, protecting each other, never leaving a man behind, always looking out for one another. It was the family formed in hardship, and the love of true brotherhood.

  A chorus of “Damn straight!” echoed in the room.

  I nodded, and looked down. “Okay. Barry is looking into a few things, but I have an idea of what they are really after.”

  The next hour was spent with plenty of debate, and planning. It was decided we had to get him onto my land, and nail him for trespassing. The fewer bullets the better. I preferred Blaze was arrested and charged. It might be the only way to win.

  But just in case, we did a weapons inventory.

  Chapter Thirty

  The RV was parked in the barn, and evidence of the guys hidden. We wanted Blaze’s men to believe they’d left. Jillian walked through the house without a path, eyes slightly glazed. I tried to hug her, hold her close, but she’d shrug me off and go into another room.

  I knew the look, seen it on Karen so many times. Reality was a bit too much, memories too close. Her mind was trying to decide if it wanted to break or fight.

  All of the guys were careful with her, ensuring talk didn’t turn to weapons or places we’d been. They’d agreed she was too fragile.

  If we needed to talk, it was in the office with the door closed and locked. It was a good thick oak door, and she’d only hear muffled words.

  It was Jessup who found the evidence of what happened all those years ago.

  “Check it out, Middy. Barry said the DNA is a match to Ralph Smythe’s doll. He sent me a link, and Ralph had a twin brother. Believe that shit? Anyway, his twin, Cornell, had been in Europe at a boarding school, because the family needed to hide him. So fucked up, they were totally into the whole oldest son thing. When Corinne killed Ralph, with his own damned sword, and took his body, they called Cornell in to pretend he was Ralph. According to a journal Barry got his hands on, they spread the rumor she’d stolen gold so people would go after her, and your great-great-grandfather married her, trying to get them off her trail.”

  “Damn, you had one bad ass set of great-great-grandparents,” Jason quipped.

  “But there’s more. Your mother, Anna, dug up the chest. Barry said they found some of her hairs with Ralph’s. Your parents knew what was in the chest.” Jessup turned the laptop around to face me. “Look what Barry found in the evidence locker inventory.”

  I read the inventory, finding a case marked A. Middleston, June 1977. The dress she wore, blood stained and two bullet holes from a .38 caliber pistol, fingerprints lifted from the gun found in a trash can behind the grocery store, several witness statements, and where she’d been. The numbers on the gun had been filed off.

  In a document next to the pictures, was Barry’s analysis. He’d done something to get the fingerprints, and they were Blaze’s father’s. They’d murdered my mother when I was an infant, barely two months old. Followed by making my father’s life so hard he’d had to turn to Paul Barnes.

  Rage exploded behind my eyes, instantly filling every inch of skin, and I burned.

  *

  We were ready. I led Jillian into the most fortified part of the house, the guest bedroom behind the living room. We’d put her in Kevlar, a helmet, and she slid down the wall of the closet, holding Fozzy close. Sh
e’d latched onto my worn teddy bear, and needed it.

  I went outside with a lawnmower, under the guise of getting in one last attempt to tame the front yard. It was time for their rotation. Each of the guys held positions around the house and inside, all of us loaded and ready.

  I saw a figure try to slip around the trees, walking the line of the property. I turned to mow another row. The male took two steps forward, and was officially on my property. I wiped the sweat with a forearm. Jessup flanked the man, and with three moves, had him down and out.

  He dragged the man inside, I went back to mowing.

  Taming the front lawn required a few hours, and they’d taken two men hostage. I put the lawnmower in its place, and went inside. Checking on Jillian, I found her asleep, curled around Fozzy. A piece of my heart shattered.

  In the living room, the two men were tied to chairs, gagged, and eyes covered. I removed a gag, not recognizing the male.

  I grabbed a chair out of the kitchen, flipped it around, and straddled the seat, arms on the back. “What are you guys doing?”

  “You’ll die,” he tried to growl. But fear made it hard to sound tough.

  “Seems to me more of you guys have died. Is Cornell with you, camped on federal land?”

  His face registered surprise. “I – I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Tsk, tsk, you amateurs have no idea who you’re playing with, do you?” Doc, a man of average height and impressive build, used his deep voice and ability to move silently to his advantage. The male jumped in the chair.

  “We know enough to kill both of you.”

  Several men laughed. His friend began to buck in the chair, a muffled, “Shut up, Chance!” filtering from behind the gag.

  “I’m going to ask again, what are you guys doing?” I asked, keeping my voice low and even. I wanted the two of them to concentrate on listening.

  “Taking back what belongs to us.” The one called Chance answered, lifting his chin.

  “You want a chest of bones. Hell, all you had to do was ask. I’ll deliver it to Cornelius today.”

  “The gold and our land!!”

  Kurt removed the second male’s gag. “Shut up!” His voice was a little higher, and he was sweating heavily. “Don’t say anything, Cornelius will be pissed.”

  “So all of you are related. Wonderful news.” I nodded to Jessup, who commenced dialing a cell phone. “How many of you are there?”

  Neither spoke. Jessup grunted and put the phone between the two blindfolded men.

  “Listen, I’m sure the District Attorney would be happy to come up with a deal, although I’m not so sureabout the federal government. Tell us everything you know, and I’ll make sure you are handed safely. No harm, no foul.” I grinned.

  “The only thing that will stop us is your death. Cornelius can finally have what should have been his in the first place,” Chance retorted.

  “So you guys plan to murder all the men, and one woman in my house?”

  “She deserves it after gelding Cornelius’s son,” the second man responded. “The bitch couldn’t just lay back and let him have his way.”

  Red glazed my view and I rose in the seat, hand going to the hunting knife. Kurt put a hand on my shoulder, shoving me down. I turned, he gave me a cold stare. He jerked his chin at the phone.

  “So he tried to rape her. Very manly of him,” I gritted out.

  “And just how do you think you’re going to kill me? You couldn’t do it at Cornell’s, though you gave it a shot.” I ground my teeth, wanting to slit his throat. Any man who thought rape was a good thing needed to die.

  Neither spoke.

  “I see. So you know he won’t succeed.”

  The second man sneered, which didn’t have the effect he intended. “You can’t beat Blaze. My uncle is the best shot, and knows how to throw men around. Cornell might be a drunkard, but Blaze is a much harder target. He’ll kill all of you, and do it with a smile. You’ve taken too much from our family.”

  I nodded, and Jessup handed me the phone. “Karen? Did he get all of it?” I put it on speaker phone.

  A deep voice, filled with charm and smooth tones answered, “Master Sargent Aiden Middleston, this is the U.S. Attorney General. I also have the Vice President on the line.”

  “Hey, Aiden. You have us on speaker, right?”

  “Yes, sir, I do.”

  “We will not make any deals with Cornelius, Cornell, or any person who attacks you on your property. We have the conversation recorded. Try not to kill anyone, and that is an order. You are still under my jurisdiction, and I have a written order you are allowed to defend yourself as necessary, but nothing more. The men with you are allowed to use force if Cornelius attacks without cause. Do not give him cause. Please have the men in your custody escorted to Bozeman. We’ll have agents waiting. Take me off speaker,” the Vice President spoke with authority.

  I tapped the button and put the phone to my ear, “Yes, sir, you are no longer on speaker phone.”

  “Son, be careful, do you hear me? Keep that temper of yours under control. Because the former sheriff crossed the state line and attempted to rape Dr. Winters, and is carrying stolen weapons on federal land, we have him on several felonies. But I can’t help you if you strike first.”

  “I know, sir. We’re being careful.” I looked at the floor.

  “Jack, off the line please. You have what you need,” he spoke to the Attorney General. The line clicked.

  “Butthead, please, be careful. Stay home. Tell the guys I love them, and if they need anything at all, they are to call me.” Karen’s voice sounded worried.

  “I promise. Love you too.” She hung up.

  “Aiden, the line is now secure and not being recorded. Kill them all. Don’t let any of them live, if they step on your land with weapons. Do you understand what I’m saying?” he spoke with anger.

  “Yes, sir, I do.” I worded it carefully. I knew exactly what he was worried about, and I didn’t blame him one bit.

  “I have agents on standby, and several are en-route. You feed the flames, son. I want Karen to be safe, andBlaze has made inquiries into her life. He’s too stupid to know everything, or that we’ve been watching. Care for Jillian. And when it is over, we have to talk again. I’ve updated the President as much as possible, since you and the remaining men are still considered active black ops. We owe you, and much more.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  The line went dead.

  Chapter Thirty One

  Doc, Jason, Jessup, and Kurt remained with me, while the other three men, William, Mark, and Chris took the two men to Bozeman. We waited for the next move. I’d told all of them what the VPOTUS said, and we adjusted our plans.

  “When will the agents arrive? Did he say?” Kurt paced the living room with fluid movements. I’d always envied his graceful, silent, ability to make it look like he wasn’t moving even when running.

  “No, just en-route. Probably out of Billings, if not Denver.” I stood in front of him, making him come up short. “But the part I didn’t say in front of the men in custody.” I met every pair of eyes. “If they come on my land with weapons, the VPOTUS wants them all dead. Blaze is threatening Karen.”

  “Wow, he really is a dumbass.” Kurt’s eyebrows rose.

  Doc, appeared from the shadows of a corner, his eyes so brown they were black, flashed. The big man had special feelings in regards to Karen. She’d stood over his bleeding body, and defended him. In the end, threw herself on his body as a blast ripped through the small hut. She’d saved his life, almost sacrificing her own. He’d been there for her ordeal, a legend among the agents and German special ops for his viciousness. Karen didn’t remember the blast, nor did she remember him in Laramie. He liked it that way, and wouldn’t let me tell her.

  “If you don’t skin him, I will.” He spoke without expression. All of us took a step back. “Nobody threatens my brothers, or the woman to whom I owe my soul.” He walked out of
the room, all eyes on him.

  “Oh man, Blaze Porter guy pissed off Doc,” Jason spoke in a whisper and turned to me. “You know you won’t have a chance at the man now.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jillian’s voice cut through the whispers.

  I turned, finding her still in the safety gear, eyes a little clearer. The truth? I was of two minds. But placating her wasn’t going to work, she’d never trust me again. “We caught two of the men with Blaze. They are being escorted to Bozeman for the feds to pick up. We’ve called in some reinforcements.”

  “So the killing is going to stop?” Relief spread across her features.

  “I hope so, it’s going to depend on Blaze.”

  Her face fell. “When will it be safe to leave?”

  Kurt went to her, standing in a relaxed position. “We hope soon. Not a man here isn’t willing to lay down his life to ensure you remain safe. People like you are what the world needs.”

  She looked at Jessup, Jason, and finally stared at me. “How many are you going to murder?”

  I saw strength returning, her mind decided to fight. But the decision remained frail, I could see the wavering in her eyes. “We won’t fire a shot unless they start it. Defense only.”

  She nodded once and returned to the room.

  “Fuck.” It was the only word I could use to express what I thought of the whole situation. I heard the bedroom’s door shut and lock. “I’m not sure she’s going to recover.”

  “Nobody ever comes out the other side the same as when they went in, by decision or by circumstance. You know this, Middy,” Kurt offered.

  “I wish she’d never come out to the house.”

  “She’s a grown woman, and she’ll have to come to terms with the fact she chose the path she’s on. She’s blaming you for everything, and frankly, it’s wrong. You didn’t force her, and it’s not like your past is a big secret. The media made damn good and sure of that last year. I’m betting she heard about the Laramie incident with Karen,” Jason’s face went hard. “I’m damned tired of people not taking responsibility, and I bet that’s what she is really wrestling with. She’s an ER doc, right?”