The day before the wedding, the Colton family moved into their new home. The workers cleared out and the ranch appeared to be back to normal. She’d counted three patients coming and going that morning from Nick’s newly built office. Therefore, when the fourth car pulled up and two people stepped out, she thought nothing of it.
It was afternoon and the horses seemed restless. Sunny stomped her large hooves against the sawdust floor snorting. Piston, who was oblivious to everything, but playtime, stood near his mother and badgered her. Riley was reveling in his playful mood when she heard a pop pop. She took off at a dead run, rushing past Ben who was moving in the direction of Nick’s office. Mid stride, Riley pulled out her pistol and slipped against the wall of the doorway. From where she stood, she saw no movement. Motioning Ben to hang back, she slipped silently through the door.
“Nick.” There was no answer. “Nick.” Riley yelled.
Nick called out. “I’m in here.” His voice strained.
On the floor was the grey haired man and under him was a pool of blood forking off and running through the grout like tiny rivers. Nick was propped against the counter. Blood covered his hands and shirt. A layer of perspiration had formed on his brow.
“Nick.” Riley fell to her knees. “Where are you hit?”
“My shoulder.” His breathing was rapid and his voice strained. Ryan pressed through the door, his pistol drawn on Riley. She jumped, reacted, drawing her pistol on him. They lowered their guns.
“There were two!” Riley cried.
“You got this?” he asked.
Riley nodded. He rushed past her out the door.
“Breath slow, Nick. I need you to try and relax.” She said just as Ben stepped in. “I thought you were supposed to heal the patients, not kill them. Get Lynn.” Riley yelled, but she was already charging through the door. Her hair and t-shirt wet from a shower cut short. Megan and Lily were behind her. They stopped behind Lynn.
“Nick!” She shouted.
“Help me get him up on the table.” Riley said. She stood with a horrified look on her face. “Lynn.” Riley yelled out.
“Take the girls Dad.” Lynn said. Ben guided the girls out of the room.
Lynn and Riley hoisted Nick up. He reached down and tore away his shirt and jacket. “Did it go through?” He asked Riley. She looked underneath him as he leaned forward and nodded.
“It’s clean through.” Riley answered, pressing her hand into his shoulder to stop the bleeding.
“Press hard.” He said, wounded and still the doctor.
Riley moved to the man on the floor and felt for a pulse. She grabbed up towels and a bottle of antiseptic tossing them to Lynn.
“What the hell?” Nick clenched his teeth. “I didn’t see that one coming.”
“It was a set up.” Riley said, working to get the bleeding to stop. Her white t-shirt was now red. “You’re lucky to be alive.”
“More like a test.” Nick said.
“Good shooting.” Riley teased Nick. “You got a taste of the fight in more ways than one now.”
Lynn sighed. “Great honey.”
“There’s a surgical pack in that cupboard,” Nick said, pointing. He began to rotate his shoulder. “Nothing’s broken.”
“I’m getting pretty good at stitching things up.” Remembering the nice job, she did on Ringo, but not wanting too.
“So you’ve done this before?”
“Ringo made me stitch him up after he tried to feed me to the tigers.” Riley said.
Lynn pulled the towel off. “Better you do this then.”
“Hand me that and a syringe.” Nick said, pointing again. He poked the needle into a vial and withdrew some fluid. He administered a shot into his shoulder. “Okay stitch it up front and back.”
The sound of Jack’s truck pulling up close to the office door made them all look up. He pushed his way in, stepping over the dead guy on the floor.
“You brother in law’s been initiated into the fight club.” Lynn said.
“You okay Nick?”
“I’m good. You?” He said not losing his sense of humor. “He called in yesterday and made an appointment, showed up today and pulled out a gun. I should’ve known when I didn’t recognize the name.”
“Did he say anything else?” Jack asked.
“He said Ringo want’s what’s his.” Nick gritted his teeth.
“You’d better do a good job,” Jack said. “Nick’s a perfectionist.”
“Great. No pressure.” Riley said sitting on the doctor’s stool up and personal with Nick’s shoulder. Lynn kept cleaning the blood away. “Find something for pain?”
Nick pointed. Jack grabbed the vial and a syringe. “Can you hit a vein Lynn?”
“Just look for a good…” Nick started to say, but Lynn stopped him.
“I’ve done this before Nick.” Lynn said.
“Did you get the right stuff?” Nick asked. Lynn gave him a look and held up the vial for him to read.
They all turned when Ryan stepped through the door. “Nothing.”
“Whose been helping you all these years? Geeze.” Lynn turned back to her husband.
“No arguing you two.” Riley said. She pulled another stitch through. Nick’s shirt was soaked with sweat. He was in a lot of pain.
“Anytime would be good honey.” He said. “Press slow.”
“Another word and you get to do it.” He smiled at her.
“That should keep you quiet for a little while,” Lynn said with a smile. “Anybody got any questions for him. He’ll be painfully honest now.”
“Almost done.” Riley said. “Grab some bandages and we’ll get him sealed up. Maybe a clean set of clothes.”
Lynn left and came back with clean clothes. “I think I’ll step out while you do this part.” Riley washed her hands and stepped out.
When she stepped outside onto the covered porch, she couldn’t help, but stare at the setting sun. The air was warm as the desert breeze greeted her flushed face. Jack was sitting not far from her. His long legs draped over the edge dangling. He had a cigar between his lips and the smoke found its way toward her. It smelled good.
“He’s coming.”
“Yep” Her voice was low and as much as she tried. She couldn’t dismiss a feeling of dread. “There’s so much space here. He could be anywhere.”
“He’ll show.” He said. She sat down next to him and he looked over at her. “If it’s not Ringo, it’ll be someone else and someone after him.”
“I know.”
He lifted his arm and she slid under it. “This is a beautiful place.” She said.
They sat there for a moment saying nothing. Then as if in a dream, she saw it. She saw a tiger stroll from beside the bunkhouse toward the barn. Riley leapt to her feet nearly taking Jack’s arm off. She stumbled, making a clattering sound on the porch. The tiger turned.
“Jack.”
“Move slowly into the house.” He instructed, snubbing out the cigar.
“The girls.”
“Get inside.”
She stepped through the door backwards.
“What’s wrong?” Lynn asked, standing up.
“Tiger,” Riley said. “Where’s the girls? Where’s Ryan?”
“The girls are upstairs.” She disappeared. Ryan came rushing into the room, brushing past her and out the door. Tank and Sadie rose from their new beds following Ryan.
“I wouldn’t go out there.” Riley said, watching him go. The dogs began to bark. “Ringo.”
Lynn was moving toward the new room Jack had built for their weapons. Riley followed her entering the steel-sided chamber accessed only by keypad. The door opened and the room lit up. They grabbed the tranquilizer gun from a locked container and a handful of tranquilizer darts.
“Cat took off. We locked the horses in their stalls and left the dogs in the barn to watch over them.” Jack said from behind them.
Riley handed him the tranquilizer gun. “I’m heading back to the
barn.”
“I think you should stay in the house tonight.” Jack said.
“The horses.” Riley smiled at him. “Good try, but no.”
“Megan can stay.” Lynn said, “their upstairs playing.”
“Okay.” She said.
Jack came up behind her. “If you won’t stay here then I am going to sleep over there.”
“No.” Riley said stern. “I’ll be fine. Anyway the dogs are there.”
“Too bad. It’s my place.”
“Do you always get your way?”
“Always.” Lynn said in a teasing tone. “Even when we were little.”
“I really don’t want to hurt Elmo.” He said.
“Elmo, can’t we rename him. Something like “Man Eater” or “Hulk.” Riley said.
“He’s not embarrassed by his name.” Jack said.
“I’m embarrassed for him.”
“I like Elmo.”
“You can call him whatever you want. I’m calling him Man Eater.” Riley said satisfied with the tiger’s new name.
Riley smiled. She liked that about Jack. He wasn’t just about the killing and he wasn’t quick to agree just to agree.
“At least we know where Ringo’s been.” Ryan said. “All the animals were contained so he’s been back to the conservatory since. It’s a distraction.”
“It didn’t work.” Jack replied. “That means were going to have to find another caretaker?”
Ryan nodded. “I’ll take a look. Blake can go with me. He’s been itching to get out of the house.”
Riley sighed crossing her arms.
“I’m ready when you are.” Jack said.
“Hope you like your couch,” Riley said, seeing Lynn smile.
SIXTY-EIGHT
The night of the wedding was perfect as the evening sky turned into a montage of purples and oranges over the city of Prescott. The breeze pushed traces of transparent clouds across the sky like fluffed cotton. Several people stood outside making small talk and stealing a smoke before the main event. A soft warm wind stirred the quietness of the spring air and with it came the warning that summer was close on its heels.
Everyone carried a weapon without permits. Women included. Jack hadn’t missed a beat. He had Eric and Shay’s day covered to the best of his ability. Eric and Shay had been right. Waiting wasn’t fair to either of them.
Spirits were high as the party started. The interior of the prized historical building was huge and because of the much-needed security, the ballroom was the best selection. The compromise wasn’t a sacrifice with its white embellished walls, gold trim, and statues beautifully portrayed. It was an upgrade and more than beautiful.
Jack looked ravishing. He paused for a lingering glance in her direction, grinned, and then left her there hot and flustered. The ceremony went off without a hiccup. The pastor pronounced Eric and Shay, man and wife, and a cheer went out over the crowd as well as several whistles. Jonah climbed up into Eric’s arms and for the first time since the three of them separated, they were a true family.
Her twin brother was glowing. Riley knew, as well as Shay, Eric would always dote on his family, but he was a fighter and he, like her, wanted to make things right.
Riley stood across the room with a champagne glass in her hand. She watched the people in their tuxedos and dresses as they danced across the floor. Jack moved in her direction. As it did lately, her heart began to flutter.
“I’d tell you that you are the most beautiful woman in the room, but that wouldn’t be fair to the bride.”
Riley laughed. “Thank you. You look rather handsome yourself.” She said, but Jack never looked bad regardless of what he was wearing.
“The wedding was nice.” He said, making small talk. “There’s so much artillery in here that I can almost smell it.” Then he looked over at her and grinned. “Where might yours be Miss Riley?”
She smiled blushing. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Riley stepped away, leaving him to ponder where her gun might be.
Over the next few hours, they celebrated. The voices of the past and the voices of the present intertwined through the humming of music and conversation. However, fate is a monster. It appears just when one thinks they’ve escaped.
“Have you seen Shay?” Eric asked.
“She was talking to Dan.” Riley said. “Why is everything alright?”
“I can’t find her. She had something for me, but left it in her desk at the paper. When I turned around and she was gone”.
“I’ll check the little girl’s room. You guys find Dan, I’m sure she’s here somewhere.” Riley said. In the back of her mind though, she knew how easy it was to become complacent.
Riley checked all the rooms. No Shay.
She hurried back to Ryan and Eric. She hoped Shay would be there, but she wasn’t. Tension hung in the air. Jack was with Dan and she walked towards them hurriedly.
“She went to the paper.” Jack said. “Let’s go. I’ll drive.”
Scott appeared. “I don’t mean to spoil the party, but something’s happened at the hospital.”
“What’s going on?” Jack asked.
“Sherry was shot.” Scott’s gaze dropped. “She’s dead.”
“Shay’s missing. We think she went over to paper,” Eric said quickly. “You’d better let the others know what’s going on.” Eric fumbled in his pocket for his keys, but then remembered he’d left them in his coat pocket. “She took the truck. Shifts with her.”
“I’m out front.” Jack said keys in hand. Riley stepped in to follow, but he stopped her. “Nope.”
“I’m going.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.” Jack whispered.
“You’re going to need me if anything happened to Shay.” She whispered. “It’ll be okay. I’ll stay behind you.”
“Promise.” He asked.
“I promise.”
They left the party in an unorthodox hurry. Due to her dress, Jack had to lift her up into the truck. They drove fast toward the Prescott Times. A soft glow penetrated through the thin cream-colored venetian blinds, showering out onto the sidewalk. A soft gust of night air pushed an empty can, tumbling it down the empty street. It clanked against the cement. They climbed out of the truck. Above them, the paper’s sign moaned. Then an eerie silence fell over the city. Enclosed in the truck behind them, Shift let out a distressed howl.
Eric drew his pistol and then disappeared inside the building. Riley started forward, but Jack caught her and held her back. They went through the entrance together only hear Eric’s cries.
“No………… Shay……Noooooo.” Eric cried.
His voice didn’t sound like his own. Things had gone horribly wrong. Eric called out Shay’s name repeatedly and the cries coming from his lips were desperate. Jack pushed through the second door not allowing Riley through. She had a hold of Jack’s coat, clenching it tightly between her fingers. Riley’s pistol quivered slightly in her hand. Jack took a deep breath and then stepped aside.
Eric was kneeling on the floor Shay’s blood encasing his hands. He bundled her in his arms, his fingers wrapped into her hair and around her face. Her dress was no longer beige, but covered in blood. Not far from Shay was one of Ringo’s men. Someone had filleted his chest open, and where his heart used to be was a black hole. Blood was everywhere.
Riley fought back the nausea. Her mouth went dry. This is what loosing someone you love felt like, empty, cold, and alone. Jack and Riley stood behind Eric, helpless. Shay’s evening dress was no longer a symbol of love and devotion; instead, it was a reflection of violence and destruction. Eric pressed her into him, his hands and fingers covered in his newly married wife’s blood. A small present wrapped in gold ribbon lay not far from her along with an envelope with Eric’s name on it.
Riley blinked, swaying and then her sisterly strength kicked in. She pushed past Jack and went to Eric, putting her hand on his shoulder. He hadn’t lost her once, but now he’d lost her twice. Riley knelt, lifting
the package and envelope in her hands and setting them off to the side. She leaned down toward Eric and whispered.
“Jonah.” Eric’s body stopped trembling. He understood what she was saying.
There was no hurry here. Shay was gone. Her eyes were silent. Ringo wasn’t far away and she felt the struggle inside of Eric to make a decision to remain beside his wife or go after him. Eric took a deep breath and closed his wife’s eyes. He took off his jacket, rolled it and placed it under her head. Riley stood and then stepped back.
Eric raised his pistol in his hand. He looked at Shay and then at the two of them. For a split second, there was a look of defeat. One breath, two breaths, and then it was gone. His eyes cleared. Eric didn’t say a word, he didn’t have to. It was only fair for the injustice done to him and Jonah, that his redemption be his own. Riley wouldn’t want to be Ringo. She knew Eric well enough and she wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.
Eric paused and then he was out the door, gone.
“Maybe we should….” She started to follow, but Jack stopped her.
“He needs you to do this for him.” He said, holding her in place. “Do you hear what I’m saying to you Riley?” He asked.
“Yes.” Riley said, numb.
Jack rubbed his forehead. “Riley. I need you to pull yourself together now. I need you.” He placed his hand on her, shaking her gentle like. Riley caught herself from falling mentally. She took a much-needed breath to allow oxygen into her throbbing brain. “He needs you.”
Riley shook her head. Jack looked around the office. There were several phones on the desks. They tried each of them. “Where’s a working phone when you need one.”
When someone approached, Jack dropped the phone, pulling the pistol up at the same time Riley did hers. Scott lunged through the door with Ryan and Blake behind him. There stood Jack and Riley, guns drawn. It was then Riley realized that this was the new normal.
SIXTY-NINE
Eric didn’t stop running until he caught glimpse of Ringo. He tried to shove the visions of Shay to the back of his mind, but he couldn’t. He trembled with fury. Shay had only been dead two hours when he saw the giant strolling through the alley between fifth and North Ridge Ave. Ringo’s wide shoulders and lengthy stature gave him away. He looked no more than a shadow as he slithered through the darkness. He was on the hunt. Dressed in all black, the big man moved stealth like.
Not Alone: The Beginning (The Fighter Series Book 1) Page 30
