by Jeremy Mac
The man is on the ground, trying to ward off the fierce chains but is only succeeding in getting fingers broke and arms bruised and lacerated. Chin comes over to add a few good kicks to the frail man’s side.
Pan walks up, growling. “Well? Does he know anything or not?”
The two stop the assault so the man can answer. Bone and Rat come up alongside Pan, looking equally mean. Bruno sets off down the street and Pit follows.
Chains barks, “Where’s the Mongoose? Where is he?”
Scared, confused, and in pain, the man can barely utter a word.
Pan turns an ear downward to him. “What’s that?”
“I-I, don’ n-no, any-th-th. . .”
“You don’t know anything?”
The man nods his head.
Pan sighs. “Why am I not surprised?”
Bruno and Pit come loping back to the group. Bruno points down the street behind him and says, “What’s going on?”
A few hundred yards down the street is the Maddick convoy turning in from a side street and going down the opposite direction. Pan is dumbstruck at first but realizes what is happening.
“They’re going to The Pinnacle,” Pan says more to himself than to anyone else.
“What?” Rat says in his grating little voice, his furry face all scrunched up in confusion.
“They’re going to The Pinnacle,” Pan repeats for the rest to hear.
“Why are they going to The Pinnacle?” Bone asks, equally confused. Human bone jewelry hangs from his ear, neck, and clothes; priding himself for making them from his own victims.
“Yeah, why?” Chains asks as well. He has forgotten about the man on the ground but Chin hasn’t, he is still taunting him with crazy faces while acting like he’s about to hit him but halting just before contact, causing the scared man to flinch and shake. This is somehow more fun than actually harming him.
Before Pan is able to respond Bruno somehow finds it necessary to ask, “Yeah, why would they be going to The Pinnacle?”
An irritated look spreads across Pan’s face. “I don’t know why. It seems Vincent has left us out of that equation, doesn’t it? So let’s not waste time wondering why about something we know nothing about and have no control over and get to what we were sent out to do, eh.”
Suddenly Bruno blurts out, “Look! Isn’t that the Kid?”
Pan focuses his eyes. Son of a bitch, it is the kid and his damn mutt. He is peeking around the corner of the building at the four-way up ahead watching the convoy drive up the street.
On Pan’s order the group quickly slides over to the side of the street, out of sight before the kid or his dog sees them. Chin has been so deeply involved in his verbal assault and scare tactics on the poor man on the ground that he hasn’t noticed a thing of what has transpired until he is yanked off his feet by Bruno.
They take a moment to discuss the execution of the mission, and one thing is made crystal clear: the kid is not to be harmed.
18
There are sixteen vehicles in all, including the truck-tank and two all-terrain motorcycles. Mongoose will wait until the last one makes the turn and then he’ll be off behind them. He doubts he will be noticed, no one may think to check behind them and he’ll be ducking around and keeping a good safe distance between himself and them the entire way anyway.
Max rubs his muzzle under Mongoose’s hand, making whiny sounds, as if asking, “What’s the hold up?”
“You ready for a long jog, Max?”
To which Max perks up. Max barks only when angry, scared, or when told to. He knows many tricks and commands but his best one is to attack on call. Mongoose gave him very little training, he never really needed any, he takes to things as if it is his nature to do so. He is the best friend Mongoose has ever had and both will gladly give their life for the other.
Mongoose is about to push off but something suddenly alerts Max. He stands pointedly on all fours, stiff tailed, a low, deep growl coming from him as he intently gazes in the distance behind Mongoose.
Mongoose’s natural instinct causes him to reach for his crossbow and ax, ready for whatever. He doesn’t see a threat but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one because Max doesn’t necessarily need to see one either, he can simply smell a threat.
“What is it, Boy? Where’s it at?”
Staying on guard, he glances down at Max’s eyes to try to align his sight to the point of interest. The only thing he sees even remotely interesting is a crippled man hobbling off in the distance with arms pulled up to his chest.
Seeing no threat, Mongoose says, “C’mon, Max, let’s go.”
Max is reluctant but he turns to go with his master.
The moment he pushes off his legs are suddenly slung together and the force of movement from the roller blades is too great for him to quickly balance himself upright or to stop without falling so he goes with the fall. Instinct has his reflexes acting fast and he grabs his crossbow, spins around, aims, and fires before he hits the ground.
Thwak!
Pit stops dead in his tracks, not believing what just happened. He looks down at the arrow sticking out of his chest and then back at Mongoose, stunned beyond belief.
“How the hell. . . .” he starts to say, but the rest is lost to him as he crumbles to the ground.
“I told you he was bad,” Pan says as the rest of them approach even more cautiously than they had started out.
Chains and Chin have ahold of a rope-net and start running up to the kid and dog. Mongoose grabs his ax and chops down on the bola twisted around his ankles and then throws the ax at Chin where it is firmly planted into his face. He goes down without a fuss.
Max had sensed danger, having smelled Bruno’s all too familiar scent a block away, and now that he and others are right there in front of them he stands his ground at his master’s side, baring fierce teeth with a deep growl punctuated by a thunderous bark now and again, protecting Mongoose as he quickly loads his crossbow.
“Wait!” Pan yells, throwing his hands up in the air. “Stop! Don’t shoot! We’re not here to harm you!”
Still on guard, pointing his crossbow at each of them, he says, “Yeah, and I’m the cupid of love about to give you an early Valentine’s Day gift right through your heart.”
“Chains, put the rope down!” Pan says.
Chains gives Pan a severe look of indifference and Pan replies, “Put it down!” Adding stern emphasis to the order.
As Chains reluctantly puts down the net, Pan regards the other three. “Put your weapons down – and don’t give me any lip either. Just do it.”
They do, and Bruno’s eyes never leave Max.
Pan turns back to Mongoose. “I don’t know how I can make you believe me, but it’s the truth. We are not here to harm you in any way. If you recall, we didn’t attack you first, it was the other way around, you attacked us first. You killed three of my men, and now these two.”
“So far,” Mongoose calculates.
“And you stole our food. So the way I see it is you have been the one drawing first blood this whole time.”
“And now that we’ve established that, why don’t you enlighten me as to why you have showed up supposedly not wanting to cause me harm.”
“Vincent Maddick wants to meet you.”
“In a net?”
Pan sighs. “No. And I know how it looks but we didn’t know any other way.”
“How about asking.”
“Would you have come with us?”
“Nope.”
“Well then, you see the dilemma?”
“So with you brutal pieces of crap it’s either by force, or, against your will, is that it?”
“Look kid –”
“It’s Mongoose.”
“Okay, Mongoose,” Pan then stops and gestures to Max. “Could you quiet your dog?”
“Does he scare you?”
“A little, yes. But I’m sure he probably scares Bruno more than the rest of us.”
“
Good.”
Mongoose waits a beat, and then gives Max the order of silence but to stay on guard. The dog quickly obeys.
“Better?”
“Will you lower your weapon?”
“Nope.”
“Will you come with us?”
“Nope.”
“Look, if we show up back there without you then Vincent will be very upset to say the least.”
“Why are Maddick’s heading toward The Pinnacle?”
“We’ve been gone since yesterday, so we don’t know what’s going on. Vincent never tells me anything anyway. At least not until the last second, so I’m nearly the last to know anything.”
“Do you know why he wants to meet me so badly?”
“I told him about our altercation and apparently he was impressed. He may have a job for you and maybe just wants you on his team. Honestly, I don’t know. But before you go on about how you work for no one or you would never become a piece of crap puke Maddick,” the other three regard Pan as if insulted, “think about this, whatever it is he wants you for you can rest assured that he will award you handsomely. Our town is sure to have plenty of things to your liking; clean, un-diseased women, bootleg, smoke, food, and from the looks of things,” Pan averts his eyes toward the convoy heading northward, “it looks like things may be getting even better.”
It occurred to him that it may be a trick, throw him off on some poofed up crap and then go in for the kill. But he has good gut feelings and his gut feeling is telling him that things are on the level.
But there is only one way to find out.
“This is how it’s going down,” Mongoose declares matter of factly. “I will follow behind all of you to Maddick, and if I sense anything messed up, then I bounce. And if we make it that far, once we’ve arrived, you two and only you two will then take me to see the big man. Understood?”
Pan gladly agrees.
“Good.” And then a mischievous grin sprouts on Mongoose’s lips. “But there’s just one more thing. . .”
19
Taya was up most of the night thinking about everything that had happened lately; her eluding capture from the Maddick’s and out of nowhere a complete stranger shows up and saves her from imminent rape and perhaps also saves her life in the process; her bringing that complete stranger to The Pinnacle; her uncle welcoming him with open arms; and her showing him around their town. But the one thing she thinks mostly about is the man himself. How guarded he is about what he allows himself to reveal. How untrusting of others he is. She wonders what he’s been through before in life, what all those dark eyes have seen, where he’s been, and most of all, where he’s going. The man is a complete mystery, and she is quickly becoming infatuated with him.
It seems like forever since she’s been with a man. Although there are plenty around who would jump at the opportunity to court her (or maybe would just like to jump her bones) there are none with whom she has much interest. At least no one she can see putting time and effort into. And other than there being a few brave souls who flirt with her every now and then, most men are intimidated for the simple fact that she is the beloved niece of James Grant.
Lately sex has been the furthest thing from her mind anyway. Not even a little self-stimulation has been desired. That is, not until last night. With deft fingers and a vivid imagination she made her body quake and quiver like she hasn’t known in many moons.
She knocks on his door three times with no answer before building up the nerve to open the door. It’s unlocked. She peeps her head inside and calls out his name. No answer. She steps inside and closes the door behind her.
The front room is a small space about the size of an average kitchen. It goes into a hallway that opens into a big open area with windows lining the far wall. Rooms branch off to the left and to the right; old office space.
It appears he’s made himself comfortable. His single mattress bed is unmade in the corner, a table with two chairs is covered with papers, a couple of books, what appears to be a weapon of some kind, and a neat pile of clothes are on top of another table. She is about to go over to the table covered with papers to nose around when she hears some commotion in one of the far rooms. Quietly she approaches the door of the room, it is partially open, and she sees Lathan using his sword as if it is a natural extension of his arm. Silently she watches him twirl the sword effortlessly from the wrists, spins around, and then stops to deliver a deathblow conducive with a freeze frame of the body, then he quickly moves into the next move. His concentration is solid as steel. At times he slows into finer than silk movements, and then speeds up so fast that the blade of his katana is a silver blur. The view of the skeleton city beyond the large window behind Lathan is in stark contrast to his warrior-like presence in the high-rise of the building. His sculpted bare torso is beaded with sweat and his blue shorts are drenched. When his exercise ends he holds the katana next to his chest with both hands at the hilt, eyes closed, and bows his head to the blade.
It is unlike anything she’s ever seen, the way he danced with his sword. She is awestruck by the grace and beauty and the fierceness of it all.
When his eyes open they are directed at her in the open door, as if he’d known she’d been there the entire time.
It startles her, feeling foolishly caught but at the same time relieved that she has been seen.
They hold onto each other’s gaze.
Taya is the first to speak. “I’m sorry for barging in. I knocked and when you didn’t answer I thought I’d check to see if everything is all right.” She almost goes to rambling but cuts herself off short before making herself look like an idiot.
“Just doing a little exercise.”
“I see.”
“Was there anything else you wanted?”
“Um, yeah. I was wondering if you’d like to come over for a bite to eat?” Me. “I just got a bottle of homemade dressing from a woman who is excellent at making it, and I thought that maybe you’d like to try it with a salad I’m going to throw together.”
He can’t remember the last time he had a salad. It is very tempting, as is Taya. She made it obvious that she liked him the day before as she was showing him around. Though she never said anything, her body language and certain gestures said it all. And of course what healthy minded heterosexual man wouldn’t be interested in her? But a woman like her can easily throw a man off balance, unintentional as it may be, it can still happen. He needs to stay focused, and sex is the last thing he should be thinking about.
“Come on, Lathan,” the tiniest of begs lurks behind Taya’s words. “I can make a mean bowl of rabbit food.”
Then again, why not?
20
Taya’s place is two floors below her uncle’s floor and one floor above Lathan’s. The floor on which Lathan is staying and the one below it is reserved for the security officers of The Pinnacle. Like the walls surrounding the town, the building is policed 24/7. With six men on post outside the building doors, two sentries at the underground parking garage, two men at the arsenal on the first floor in which no one but James and a select few are allowed and two men on James’ floor, it is the most heavily guarded building in The Pinnacle.
In the beginning James opted to have Taya stay on the same floor as himself for safety purposes but after a year she vehemently asked to be moved on to her own floor.
Like her uncles place, hers is lavishly decorated but with much more vibrant coloring. The furniture full with fluffy pillows. Frilly drapes on all of the windows. Scented candles on every table. A bachelorette pad.
So she’s a girlie girl after all.
She goes to the kitchen counter and brings out a bag filled with several fresh colorful vegetables. She retrieves two glass bowls from the cabinet, and two forks and a cutting knife from a drawer, placing them all on the counter. She starts with the lettuce, cutting it in half and breaking it up.
Lathan comes around the counter and moves to her side.
“Let me help you. Got
another knife?”
“Yeah, use this one. I’ll get another one.”
He grabs a carrot.
“How do you like them? Slivers or discs?”
“Slivers.”
“Slivers it is.”
Once the lettuce is nicely separated she neatly places some leaves in the two bowls. She sets to dicing a tomato and starts to giggle.
Lathan regards her quizzically. “What is it?”
“I remember watching old episodes of Saturday Night Live when I was a kid and there was this one skit with John Belushi as a samurai chef. He’d throw a tomato up and in midair he’d slice it in half with his sword.” She starts to giggle again. “I can imagine you doing the same thing.”
He gives her a strange look that makes her laugh.
He cracks a grin and says, “That’s funny, huh?”
“Little bit, yeah.”
It tickles him too. He remembers watching and laughing at that same exact skit at one time. A different time and world. A different life. He appreciates the laugh and she enjoys seeing it.
“I haven’t laughed like that since . . .I can’t remember,” she says.
“Yeah, me neither.”
As the moment passes they both realize that they’re lost in the other’s eyes. Pulsing. Electric. He touches her and it nearly takes her breath away. He carry’s the tips of his fingers across her jaw line, down her neck and back up to her chin, caressing her lips with the pad of his thumb. She tilts her head up, offering her mouth to him. He gives her a soft kiss that gradually grows aggressive. Neither hold back, it is everything or nothing at all, right here and right now.
She lifts his shirt over his head and pitches it to the floor. She wears an open front shirt tied beneath her chest; he unties it and strips it off. He allows himself a moment to visually take in her beautiful breasts with perfectly erect pink nipples. He cups each one in his hands, testing their weight, and a web of lightening shoots between her legs. He bends down and takes his time on each breast, suckling her nipples. She runs her fingers through his dark hair, crooning softly at how wonderful his mouth feels on her.
