“Oof,” he sputtered. “Can you break my arm later? I kind of need it right now.”
When she turned him loose, he straightened himself back up as his eyes darted to mine. “Time to go.”
I let go of Murphy’s hand and pulled my mom into a hug. “We’ll be back soon.”
Her arms tightened around me briefly, and then she stepped back with a nod.
I couldn’t blame her for wanting to protect me. Wasn’t I doing the same thing when it came to Riley? Love was love no matter how you looked at it. And when you loved someone, your first instinct was to protect them.
MURPHY NERVOUSLY FIDGETED BESIDE ME when Oliver brought the rental car to a stop outside Riley’s house. As much as I wanted to reassure her not to worry, I didn’t. Sometimes you had to meet someone yourself and gain your own judgment. Raving about Riley might have had the reverse affect of what I wanted. And I wanted them to be friends. They both meant that much to me.
Riley’s truck was there along with Ace’s mom’s car. It was a relief of sorts since my thoughts had only been on getting to Riley. Never had I stopped to consider what Ace’s mom was going through. Before I could get out of the car, Riley shot out of the house and crossed the yard.
I fired open the door, catching her when she launched herself into my arms. Her words were muffled as she spoke into my shoulder.
“Let’s get her inside,” Oliver said, not looking at me, but scanning the area.
It took two attempts to pry her back far enough to calm her down. “Riley, let’s go inside.”
“He’s not dead, Jared. He called me. He. Called. Me. And then this soldier… he brings me his dog tags, Jared. What kind of fucking person lies like that? Tells you something so… so… I threw his ass out. And Mary, God, Mary, she just kinda shut down, ya know?” She stopped babbling and stared over my shoulder. “Who are you?”
I craned my neck and caught a glimpse of Murphy’s stricken face. Oliver, seeing the situation shift, put his hand out to Riley. “Well, if it isn’t little miss troublemaker. How’s that right hook?” He put his arm around her and led her inside the house.
Murphy walked up beside me and put her head against my shoulder.
“You okay, Murphy?” I asked, wrapping my arm around her.
She blew out a shaky breath. “Yeah, I just thought she was gonna lose it on me there for a minute.”
I tilted her face up and smiled at her. “Riley’s not used to seeing girls around me. Usually, I’m doing my best to run away as fast as I can in the opposite direction.”
She elbowed me in the ribs. “That’s not something I’d like to hear right now.”
My hand rubbed at the sore spot as I searched her eyes. “I’m not running now, am I?”
She shook her head at me and put a few feet between us.
The screen door creaked open, and Riley stuck her head out. “Y’all get your asses in here.”
When it banged closed, Murphy twitched.
RILEY PACED THE FLOOR WITH the chain of Ace’s dog tags swung from her fingers. “I knew he was lying. Rat bastard. But why? Why send someone from his team to deliver his dog tags and tell us he was dead?”
She opened her palm and let the metal disks swing out like a pendulum. “He thought he had me fooled. Delivering these, all bright and shiny. Look, there isn’t even a single scratch on them!”
Oliver crossed the room, first peeking out of the kitchen window at the back and then making his way across the living room. “They wouldn’t have sent someone that quick,” he said, looking at me as if to silently convey there was a serious problem.
Ace’s mom had stayed silent, clutching a handkerchief with both hands as she stared at the carpet in front of her. I reached out and tugged her hands into mine. “Mary, he’s alive. You have to know that, but he’s in a lot of danger… We’re in a lot of danger right now because of everything that’s going on.” Suddenly, I understood why my parents clammed up when the situation became too complicated to just merely explain.
Oliver had taken a spot by the window so that he could keep a watchful eye outside and still take part of the discussion inside. “All we know is that his helicopter went down and, a week later, he showed up where Eli is stationed with the Red Cross. We’re still waiting for him to return to Chicago.”
“So what now? You come, tell me he’s okay, and then leave? Because you’re not leaving me here. I can tell you that right damn now,” Riley piped up hotly.
“We came to get you and take you back to Chicago with us.” Murphy, who’d been silent after I’d introduced them, spoke up.
Riley stilled at what Murphy said. “I think I might just like you,” she replied. Then she was up the stairs, leaving us all staring at each other.
Mary gripped my hand, shaking with the news that her son was alive but still in danger. We couldn’t just leave her though, and I damn sure didn’t want to take her back to live in the confines of Cole Enterprise. That would be no life for her at all. “Mary, is there somewhere you can go? Some place that you can stay a while until things blow over?”
Her head dipped in a firm nod. “Yes, I have a sister in Montana.”
Before I could ask her to, she stood up and headed to the kitchen, picking the phone up off the cradle and dialing her sister. The low murmur of her voice told me she was making her plans.
Oliver met her in the kitchen when she hung up the phone. Together, they made flight arrangements, and Oliver sent her upstairs to pack.
“Do you think she’ll be safe with her sister?” I asked, moving closer so that Oliver was the only one who heard me.
“She knows the risks. I made sure she understood the need to keep what she knows a secret. She’s a tough lady, but then again, I didn’t expect any less coming from Ace’s mom.”
There was a series of bangs and curses before Riley was back down, suitcase in hand. “Well, what are we waiting for? Where’s Mary?”
Oliver took Riley’s suitcase from her. “Mary is packing. We’re taking her to the airport to catch a flight to Montana, where she’ll stay with her sister for a while.”
THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON the tarmac and came to a rolling stop. Riley shot out of her seat, practically vibrating in place as she waited to get off the plane. I knew the feeling. Ace should be back in Chicago by now and waiting for us at Cole Enterprise.
Oliver insisted that everyone wait on board until he brought the car around. Riley paced the small walkway from front to back until I caught her arm as she passed by me for the third time.
“You’ll wear a hole in the carpet,” I told her.
“I know. I know… I’m just.” She clutched the seat back in front of me.
“The waiting is hell. You just want to see him for yourself so that you can finally breathe,” Murphy said. Her eyes darted to me, and the corner of her mouth lifted in a brief smile.
“Yes, exactly!” Riley said, nodding along as if Murphy had plucked the words out of her head. “That’s exactly how I feel. How did you know?”
I laced my fingers with Murphy’s. She squeezed my hand and answered Riley. “Because I’ve been in your shoes. He’s in great hands, Riley. And you’ll be able to see him really soon.”
The door to the plane opened, and Oliver poked his head in. “Ready?”
Riley was down the steps and in the car before Murphy and I stepped off the plane.
When I passed Oliver, I said, “Ten bucks says she’ll slap him first, and then kiss him.”
He snorted. “Twenty says she doesn’t slap him.” His eyes twinkled, and he slid in behind the wheel.
A low beep came through the speakers as a small screen slid out above the radio. My father’s face appeared seconds after that. Oliver stiffened in his seat before my dad even had a chance to speak.
“There’s been a problem in the tunnels.”
“Status?”
“Not good, Oliver. It’s Trent.”
Oliver slammed his hand against the wheel of the truck. “Cole s
hould have never…” He stopped himself from finishing his sentence.
“Who is Trent?” I asked, wondering what a problem in the tunnels had to do with someone I hadn’t met before. Or had I met him when I’d first come back and not remembered? Oliver ignored my question as he listened to my dad fire off instructions.
“You’ll need to come in from the south-side tunnel, just in case someone followed him. If it’s not secure, you’ll need to take Jared and the girls to hide for a while.”
I slid up in between the seats. “Is everything okay with the guys? They made it back right?”
My father nodded sharply. “They made it here before we found Trent. The situation is contained. Clean up is commencing, but the threat outside the building hasn’t been cleared.”
“Where did Trent enter the tunnels?” Oliver asked.
“West side, and made a hell of a mess of it on his way in.”
Oliver’s hands gripped the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. “The west side was sealed though. I did it myself after the city purchased the warehouse.”
“Yeah, but it appears like he had no other option,” Dad answered.
“What’s his status?” Oliver almost sounded afraid to ask.
“Gunshot wound. Cole had to do a reset and hope he’d live through it long enough to get him to a hospital.”
“Who is Trent?” I asked again. A whole lot louder than before, giving them no choice but to acknowledge my question.
My father looked directly at me from the computer screen. “He was one of our operatives. Something happened and he was shot. We’re not sure what happened or who it was that shot him. All we know is that he made it into the tunnels and is fighting for his life right now.”
“Why not fix him there?” Oliver jumped in, steering the conversation again as he slowed the truck down and turned into an alleyway behind what looked like an abandoned shopping center.
My father pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling loudly before he answered. “It was out of Cole’s hands by that point, and it was let him die or give him up so he could live. Cole chose to give him up.”
What the hell were they talking about? Reset him and let him live? A sick feeling rolled through me. Hearing that told me that there was way more to Cole Enterprise than secret agents and prototypes.
“The alleyway looks clear. We’re coming in. See ya in a little bit,” Oliver said as he pulled the truck into a narrow passageway and hit a button. The wall in front of us swung wide, and he guided the truck to a stop. The wall closed behind us, and the truck jerked as the ground underneath us moved.
“Holy shit,” Riley said as we descended into complete blackness.
Murphy moved closer to me and gripped my knee. “I hope the whole tunnel isn’t like this.”
The truck rocked in place as we came to a stop, and Oliver drove forward a few feet, leaving us in the dark longer than I was comfortable with.
The headlights turned back on, cutting a beam of light into the darkness, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Slumping back into the seat, I pulled Murphy against my chest. Having her close helped chase the demons off.
Oliver pulled the truck into a parking space beside another vehicle and shut the engine off. “Stay put until I get the lights.”
I did not intend to argue with him.
WE FOLLOWED OLIVER DOWN A very long stretch of tunnels until we came to a stop beside a thick, metal door. Around the door handle was a thick brass circle that Oliver twisted one way and then the other as if unlocking a safe. The door popped and he turned the handle, swinging the door wide for us to enter.
The lights hummed above us as they gradually brightened to illuminate what looked like an underground garage. To the right was an assortment of compact cars, a couple of sport utility vehicles, and several motorcycles.
“How the hell do you get the cars out of here?” Riley asked.
“Magic,” Oliver said, putting his hand on her shoulder, moving her forward.
Murphy and I followed behind them, walking towards a black void. I shuddered and clenched my fist.
With each step, the lights above us hummed to life as if lighting our way out. Behind us, where we’d come through the door, was pitch black. “What the…?”
“The lights follow our movement. Cost effective and it’s keyed to us. So if you ever come in here and all the lights are on… run.”
“Good to know,” Murphy said as we walked down a line of metal racking stuffed with supplies.
“This is primarily used to stock our inventory. Blankets to medical supplies on one side and guns and ammo on the other. Clothing and everything else is down here as well.”
“Why?” I asked, assessing the shelf of canned food stacked four rows deep.
“Why? Because the world is going to hell in a hand basket, that’s why,” Oliver said, shaking his head in disbelief at my question.
“You’re like a bunch of doomsday preppers,” Riley added.
“Yeah, well, when you know as much as we do about the state of affairs this world is really in, you’d probably want to double the size of this room and buy all the toilet paper you can get your hands on, because sweetheart, it’s teetering on the edge of a real shit show.”
We made it to the end of the room and Oliver opened another door, leading to another hallway. “Almost there,” he said, coming to a stop beside another thick, steel door. He pushed his finger against a small pad on the underside of the door handle, and it opened into a room full of people all staring at us.
Riley shoved me into Murphy with a cry and launched herself at Ace. He caught her up, wrapping his arms around her as she cried into his chest. “I knew you weren’t dead. I knew it…”
Ace met my eyes and nodded. His lips moved, but no sound came out as he mouthed the words thank you and carried Riley out without saying a word to anyone else.
I wasn’t sure how he’d stayed on his feet, let alone carried Riley out under his own power. He’d looked like shit with his face bruised and his bottom lip split and swollen.
“Who’s ready to eat?” Aiden called out, sending a round of chuckling off from those who remained gathered in the kitchen.
“Idiot,” I called out to Aiden.
“Jackass,” he said, smirking.
He grabbed a roll and took a large bite. Chewing it, he gestured with the half-eaten roll as if it were my turn to insult him.
“Dickhead,” I said, walking over to snatch the roll from his hand. His arm snaked out and he swept me off my feet, squeezing the shit out of me.
“I missed you too, bro.” He set me back down, and I shoved at him.
“If you two are quite finished?” my mother said over my shoulder.
Aiden chuckled. “We’re just getting started.”
“We have a lot to go over and…” There was a tense set to my mom’s shoulders and a deep line along her brow.
My father walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “But first, we’re going to eat and forget about it for just a few minutes. It’ll all be there when we’re done. Like it always has been, and it always will be.”
My mom turned, wrapping her arms around him. “It never gets any easier, does it?”
He ran his finger along her brow. “No, it doesn’t. We’re just lucky we have such a damn good crew of people to make it worth the fight.”
She smiled at him and closed her eyes, letting him hold her. It felt as if I’d invaded their privacy. Never had I seen this type of affection between the two of them, even in my younger years.
Murphy tugged on my arm, bringing my attention to her. She handed me a plate and pulled me over to the table where the food was laid out.
Everyone around us chattered away, telling stories or just talking in general. Murphy loaded both of our plates and bumped her shoulder into mine, silently telling me to dig in.
Aiden slid in on the bench beside me, jamming his elbow in my ribs. “Eli’s here.”
/> I looked up to find him talking with my father and smiled. The only thing that could make me any happier was if Mark and Josh were there with us. But really, I didn’t want to wish the life we’d all been sucked into on them. Maybe it was better off that they remained oblivious to what the rest of us were up to. Only time would tell. It hadn’t exactly been something the rest of us planned on.
Lars, Retro, and Licks strolled in, and the noise grew louder as everyone tried speaking over one another. They fist bumped Aiden from across the table as they welcomed us back, then filled their plates and sat down. They looked happy enough, but then again, looks could be deceiving. I needed to talk to them, but it wasn’t the right time or place. There was so much I felt I needed to apologize for, and then it still might never be enough. I could only hope they found it within themselves to forgive me over time.
Eli strode over, beaming a smile. “Well, well, well… leave you alone for a little bit and look what happens.” His eyes darted to Murphy, and then he sat down on the other side of her.
Turning, he stuck out his hand and introduced himself. “I’m Eli.”
When she slipped her hand into his, it felt like another one of the pieces snapped together. For better or worse, we’d all become a family, attached by nothing more than circumstances and time.
What the Six and I had carried over and bled into new friendships. Like the endnote of a song, signifying what you’d experienced was over, only to have the beginning of another one start up, taking you on another ride.
I had no idea what life would bring me to when I’d left home. I have no idea where it would take me. But what I did know for certain was that I would keep moving forward, and I wouldn’t be doing it on my own.
The end.
Shawn, thank you for the list of band names. I told ya, I would use them!
Sarah of Sprinkles on Top Studios, you rocked it out…again! Thank you!
To my betas…Megan, Tarnya, Sabina, and Candince. You ladies are awesome.
End Note Page 29
