by Maddie James
Jim smiled to himself as he entered his house. Or not wasn’t a consideration. His boys were ready.
****
The kitty had only showed up the week before. It’s black and white coloring a complement to its black eyes and tiny pink nose. Only now there was red. Lots of red. And not just on the broken animal, all over the concrete porch as well.
Lilly felt her knees give. It couldn’t be coincidence. Or a mean but childish prank. No. It was a message. A clear message from those who knew she would know exactly what it meant. They had found her. They knew where she lived. And they were coming for her once they were through terrorizing her.
A cry of outrage ripped from her throat. How dare they do this to her now? She wouldn’t stand for it. Not this time. She tentatively touched the door knob, and then tried to turn it. It didn’t budge. With a shaking hand she fit her key into the lock and slowly turned it until it clicked. Swallowing, she slowly opened the door and peered inside, scanned the open living room, dining room and kitchen area then closed the door at her back. She moved silently from room to room, pulling closet doors open, exhaling shakily when nobody jumped out at her.
Lilly returned to her barely used bedroom and pulled her suitcase from the closet. She retrieved her gun and placed it inside her purse then backed away from her bed and knocked over the picture she and Jim had taken and had framed the week before.
Sharp pain caused her to yelp. She looked down at her bleeding thumb and the shattered glass over the picture. Nausea hit the back of her throat full force when she saw the dagger drawn in red ink over Jim’s wonderful, smiling face. She dropped the photo and searched the room again. Someone had indeed been inside and they were not just threatening her. They would go after Jim, and Suzie, too, if they knew Suzie was her friend. She had to get out of town and she had to do it fast. Then maybe they would leave Jim and everyone else in town alone. She was their target. They would follow her.
She slammed the bedroom door closed and whimpered when she realized there was no lock on the knob. She went straight to the closet and grabbed arm-loads of clothing, haphazardly stuffing them into her suitcases. She did the same with those items stored in the chest of drawers that came furnished with the rental house. She hadn’t had time to buy much since moving to Legend. Still, her suitcases were stuffed when she was done.
The sound of the front door opening sent her heart into overdrive. Lilly pulled the gun from her purse and took up a position behind the open bedroom door. She licked her dry lips and forced herself to take slow steady breaths. She grasped the gun tightly then lifted it against her left collarbone. Tears threatened but she blinked them away. She couldn’t give BD’s thugs any advantage.
The knob turned slowly before the door opened. Lilly took a deep breath and slammed her shoulder into the door, knocking the intruder back with a thump and a curse. Adrenaline had her swinging around and leveling the gun at his face. “Oh, Jim! Oh, no! I could have killed you!”
Jim stared at her before moving to take the gun from her fingers. She released it gladly as the weight figuratively and literally was more than she could bear at the moment. He pulled her into his arms as he scanned the room. “What’s going on?”
Lilly shook her head against his shoulder. “I have to leave.”
“The hell you do.” He pulled her face up and forced her to look at him. “What’s going on, Lil? A dead cat on your porch! The broken picture of us on the night stand. A gun in my face. I need you to talk to me.”
She tried to pull back but he held her firmly in place. “Please. Jim, you have to let me go. I’ve got to get out of here. Now. Before someone gets hurt.”
“Lilly. Tell me. All of it. Are you in trouble?”
It took only a moment to decide to come clean. There was no time for her to invent a story. So she told him. Everything she had told Suzie and some things she hadn’t. “So you see, I have to go now. They won’t hurt any of you if they are chasing me.”
“You aren’t going anywhere but with me.”
Lilly started to protest but was tugged along anyway to Jim’s Jeep. It wasn’t as clean now as the first time she rode in it. She bit her lip and scanned the area as he backed out of her driveway. No one was about, at least no one she could see. She turned to Jim. “Please, you don’t understand how dangerous these people are.”
Jim threw her a glance then checked his rear view mirror. “Then tell me.”
“They will kill you. Not just kill you. They will make you live as long as possible to make you suffer while they’re killing you.” She grasped his right arm. “Please, just let me go.”
Jim flicked her a glance as he entered the high school parking lot. “Not a chance. Just give me a minute.” He parked the Jeep and leaped out, hesitated, then took the keys. Within a minute he was on the field talking to his coaching staff, and then he was back. Lilly opened her mouth but he held up his right hand while putting his cell phone to his ear with his left. “I need to make a call. Hang on.” He glanced around. “Yeah, Marcus, red light. No, man, I’m not kidding.”
Lilly frowned. “Red light?”
Jim shook his head at her, his brows furrowed. “Yeah, call Polly. Tell her to come in.”
Her mouth dropped open as she stared at Jim in disbelief. “You knew? All this time you knew?”
Jim shook his head again before giving his attention to his call. “Right. One hour. The Old Meeting House.” Jim clicked his phone closed, slipping it into his pants pocket. “Before you get your panties all tangled up hear me out.”
She crossed her arms defensively and leaned away. “Start talking, Hood. How do you know Polly? How did you know about my situation?”
He searched her face, his own filled with compassion and worry. “I didn’t know until I saw the cat on your porch then got a gun in my face.” His cell phone vibrated. Studying Lilly, he slid it from his pocket and flipped it open. “Damn! She called. I missed it. Polly Chapman is a cousin. She usually only calls me for one reason and I’d bet my life that reason, this time, is you. Give me a second.” He pressed a couple of numbers on his phone and put it to his ear, listened, then snapped it closed.
“She left a message that she needs us on full alert. That we’d know who was involved if it was necessary. I expect she’s waiting to hear from you before she contacts us with details but she knows something is up or I wouldn’t have heard from her yet.”
“Who is us? What are you talking about?”
“Us is a group of twelve men who pledged to serve and protect this town and all its inhabitants. Polly basically recruited us and the town too, I guess, as a safe place for those who had no other. Well, she actually recruited my father and eleven others years ago. I took his place after his death, just as other sons have taken their fathers’ places, and so on.
“We, and those who have needed us, are the only ones who know of our existence. Since I’ve been involved you’re the third person Polly has sent our way. At least the third I know of. There may be some who she sent that we don’t even know about. We only know when she calls for backup. Meaning those people are in imminent danger.”
Lilly felt dazed. “That’s what she meant. Polly I mean. She told me once I was here I’d be free to live. I’d never have to live in the shadows again. I didn’t really know if what she told me was possible but I knew I wanted to believe her.”
“You don’t have to run anymore, Lilly. We’ll protect you. I’ll protect you.” He pulled her into his arms. “With everything I have.”
She didn’t know she was crying until the tears hit her arm. “I can’t let you be in danger. I just can’t.”
Jim placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Why is that?”
Lilly punched him, so relieved and yet so scared. “You know why.”
That slow slide of a smile made his teeth flash white. “Say it.”
“I love you. You know I do.” The words, the security of his arms, the knowledge that an entire community would stand with her
lifted a weight she had carried for too many years. “I love you so much I’m more afraid than I have ever been.”
Jim kissed the top of her head. “You don’t have to be afraid. I won’t let anything, anything, happen to you.”
Chapter Forty-One
It was an incredible relief to get the day away from real life to go play, Lilly decided, as she followed the bus loaded with her lover and his team. After Jim met with the other eleven men the previous night he took her home with him and had police posted at his gates.
She’d happily endured a night of intense passion, though she’d been a little perturbed at first when he’d hesitated to divulge information about the attendees or the agenda. She understood the necessity of their hidden identities but this involved her personally and she’d wanted to know their plan of action. Jim had other ideas of how they should spend their night. She hadn’t stayed irritated long as he’d mastered Distraction 101 and she’d been a willing student. Then this morning had been such a rush to get ready, help prepare the caravan consisting of virtually the entire town, and get on the road on time, she hadn’t been able to pump him further.
Jim had insisted she follow the team bus which made his SUV second in the convoy of Legendarians. They’d been on the road for close to three hours. She smiled over at Suzie. “I’m so excited. I can’t believe we’re only one game away from a national championship. Football is so exciting!” Nashville’s skyline rose in the distance. “Look! We’re almost there!”
Suzie glanced up from the map in her lap and put the two-way radio to her mouth. “The next exit is ours, guys.” She lowered the radio and smiled at Lilly. “I know. It’s going to happen this year. I just feel it! That son of gun is finally going to get his national championship.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’m so happy for him.”
Lilly took a deep breath then eased off the gas as she spotted the exit ramp. Something suddenly loomed in her peripheral vision. She felt as much as saw the dark object close to her door. She glanced over as the vehicle hit her hard, knocking the steering wheel from her grip. She grasped it quickly as Suzie screamed seconds before another car hit the passenger side, then pushed them to the left.
The team bus had already committed to the turn. She fought to control the large vehicle but couldn’t make the exit as time after time she was rammed from one or both sides. Suzie was shouting into the two-way, telling all those listening they were in danger. Lilly could do nothing more than hang on and keep moving, afraid if she stopped it would finally be over.
She clamped her jaw tight and pressed on the gas, forcing her pursuers to follow. They weren’t going to do this. Not today. “Hold on!” she shouted to Suzie, before slamming on her brakes. The two cars flew past her while simultaneously cutting towards each other. They met in a collision fender meeting fender. She swerved to avoid them then hit the gas again. “Whoah!” she hooted, triumphant.
“Lilly! Watch out!”
The rear impact threw her into the steering column as far as her seat belt allowed. Ignoring the pain that would surely turn to bruises, she clamped her jaws together again, forcing herself to focus as they were speeding at ninety-five. She quickly checked each mirror, before flinging a glance at Suzie. “My gun! In my purse. Can you shoot?”
Suzie’s eyes flashed. “Like a mother friggin’ trucker!”
Lilly’s eyes widened and she laughed. “I can’t believe you just said that!”
“I can’t believe we’re being car-jacked.”
She threw Suzie a quick glance. “Not car-jacking. They found me.”
Suzie released her seatbelt and pulled the gun from Lilly’s purse. “Just keep driving, Sister. Those sons-of-bitches have messed with the wrong women.” She crawled over the console into the back seat. “Car one is to your left, gaining. I’ll try to get him first. Lower both windows for me and hold steady.”
“Just be careful. You’re pregnant!”
“Yeah, and I’m a mama bear out to protect.”
Lilly nodded. “Okay.” She felt the rush of air as the rear windows opened.
“Yes!”
“What? What’s going on?” Lilly demanded.
“Look in your mirrors. The Calvary’s coming!”
Lilly slid a quick look to her mirror and immediately lifted her foot from the gas pedal. She slowed to a stop and turned the car around to face the most astounding sight. More than a dozen buses and a number of cars and trucks had overtaken the sedans. The entire highway was blocked.
Men and women she’d seen or spoken to, and even some she had never seen were pulling the men from both cars. Police sirens and the sound of helicopter blades thump, thump, thumped overhead. She looked over at Suzie who looked back with that twinkling smile.
Lilly forced herself to move forward towards the men who had come for her. As she got closer she tried to identify them, but not one was familiar. She reached the growing crowd as everyone had left their vehicles. All six of the men who participated in the pursuit were now held down on their stomachs against the asphalt.
Another bus pulled up and Jim jumped out as soon as the doors opened. He ran to her and pulled her into his arm. “I thought I’d lost you. Oh, Lil, I thought I’d lost you.” He pulled her away and looked into her eyes then did a quick pat-down. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
She shook her head. “No,” she said, nearly breathless from the adrenaline still pumping through her heart. She took several deep breaths, trying to get under control. Hoping the shaking that was starting to take over wouldn’t take her to her knees. Jim pulled her back into his arms in a grip that eliminated her need to support herself.
Brad raced up from the other side and pulled a shaking gun out of Suzie’s hand. “Take this thing, Hood, will ya?” Jim took the pistol and watched Brad envelope his Suzie in his arms.
He turned back to Lilly. “I’m sorry baby. I told you I would protect you and I didn’t. I’m sorry. We couldn’t get back on the highway quick enough to catch you.” He glanced at the men on the road. “Do you know them?”
Lilly shook her head again, disappointed. “No.”
He loosened his hold then walked to the closest man and jerked him up to his feet. “Who are you?”
The huge bald man just stared back with a smile. Jim kicked in the side of his knee. A surprised groan escaped the man’s mouth as he went down to pant against the road. Jim grabbed the bald head and pulled back, forcing the man to look at him. “I asked you a question. Who are you?”
He still didn’t answer but he wasn’t smiling either. Jim glanced into the crowd and two men came forward. “We’ll handle this.”
Jim nodded and returned to Lilly’s side. He grasped her, hugging her tight again, as if afraid to let her go. Within seconds the entire team encircled them. Lilly looked up at the serious expressions on each face. She took a gentler breath before turning to Jim for a gentle kiss. “You have to go. Get the boys to the game. I’ll deal with this.”
He shook his head. “I can’t leave you. It isn’t over. I’ll find you a safe place and stay there with you until it’s done. Until you are really safe.”
Lilly knew her heart was breaking, but she had to do what was right. “Yes, you can leave. And you will. You and these boys have worked so hard for this. One game, Jimmy.” Tears filled her eyes as she smiled at him. “One game then the one you’ve always wanted. Take State tonight. Then take that national championship. You all deserve it.”
Jim took a minute to really focus on each one of his players before speaking to the entire gathering. “I’m leaving with Lilly. You all head on to the game and support our Dragons.” He sent a smile to each one of his boys. “Play fair, play with honor, and kick some serious butt. And if I can’t be with you, do the same next time. Because I know you guys will get to Nationals. I know.”
Tears were in the eyes of his players, their fans, but were hard to see through her own. “Please, Jim…”
“I liked when you called me Jimmy.”
A
sharp huh escaped as she shook her head. “I’ll always call you Jimmy, then. But please go. Don’t miss this. It means everything to you.”
“You mean everything to me. I love you. I’ll spend the rest of my life in hiding with you if you’ll have me.”
“Jim, please.”
“Jimmy.”
Another cry escaped before she shook her head and backed away. “It’s no life. I won’t have you live it and I can’t live yours. You belong in the spotlight. I don’t. Please understand. I won’t do that to you.”
“You won’t have to.”
Lilly and Jim turned at the intrusive comment. Polly Chapman had arrived, as usual dressed in black. The suit that should have been severe hugged her womanly curves and set off her shiny white-blond hair. She smiled at them both then turned her attention to Jim. “Hey, cuz.”
Jim nodded. “Polly.”
“Lilly?”
“Ms. Chapman, I’m ready to go.” Lilly closed her eyes. It was the biggest lie she’d ever told but she wasn’t going to make this harder on either Jim or herself by wishing things were different.
Polly pulled a sheet of paper from the clipboard she carried and handed it to Lilly. “Is that them?”
Lilly took the paper and stared at the images of the man she’d childishly loved once, and the woman she had believed loved her. The photos were obviously taken with both lying down, a bullet hole in each forehead, execution style. She looked up, stunned, confused. “Are they dead?”
Polly nodded. “Yes. Those were taken at the morgue, yesterday.”
Lilly glanced back to where the criminals were being loaded into squad cars. “Then why were they after me?”
Polly glanced at her clipboard. “From what we can gather Danny Diviani and Patricia Seracelli, aka Big Daddy and Madame, hired these men months ago. My guess is they will all be on one of our many lists which means they probably need to plan to have lifelong boyfriends in prison. Regardless, I’ll make sure they never show their faces in Legend, again.” A satisfied gleam entered Polly’s eyes.
