Secret Ops: Ty's Revenge

by Kim Vanderpool

I open the curtains slightly. Ty and Sara get in the car alone with Tango. I guess that leaves Ash and Lazarus to guard me. I don’t know why, but that hurt. Ty looks up at the window as he slides in the car. Closing the curtains I walk over to the bed plopping down and let the memories flow instead of fighting them. William has fucked up my life and Sara’s forever. At this moment I feel as if I will never come back from this. My life will never be the same. Ever. I don’t realize that I’m crying until I feel the tears slid down my cheek and into my ears.

  A light knock comes at the door and I Quickly wipe away any remaining tears. “Hey. Want some pizza?” Ash smiles.

  “No thanks. I’m not hungry.”

  “Too bad I have some already. So you will just have to eat with me.”

  He seems really nice. So I will accommodate him. He sets the pizza down on the bed taking out a slice and handing it to me. I bit into it and moan quietly. At that moment I realize that I’m indeed hungry. I’m not a conversationalist and I don’t know how to start one. I don’t want to sit here in silence either. “So Ash what’s the plan?” That’s a safe subject. Anything to keep me from blurting out questions about Ty.

  “We go to Colorado.”

  So much for filling the silence. I wish this room had a T.V. at least it would fill the void of conversation. “What then?”

  “Nothing.”

  Take about evasive. He only sits there enjoying his damn pizza. Whatever I can play the silent game. Hell I’m mostly in my own head anyway so this is no different. I finish off two more slices of pizza and finish off my soda before I say anything else. “When are we leaving here?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Oh. I thought we were going to be here for a couple of hours?”

  “No Sara was only going to be here a couple of hours. We are going to be here until tomorrow.”

  So Ty isn’t coming back? Why did I have the notion to cry? Suck it up Jessica. Crying isn’t going to bring him back. Remember you need to keep your distance from him. This is a good start.

  “You know I don’t think William wants me. I don’t think I’m in danger with him.”

  “What gave you that idea?”

  “He had an opportunity to take me and he didn’t.”

  Ash laughs. “You have no idea do you?”

  “About what?”

  “He had no choice. He had to take Aaron.”

  I don’t say anything. I just don’t believe that for a moment. “I see.” I lie. I don’t see the logic in that.

  “You know he is into you.” Ash states.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Ty. He just has a lot on his plate right now. He has to stay focused. We all do.”

  Ash isn’t making any sense right now. I am confused at what he’s saying. “Well I’m sure when it’s all over things will go back to normal. I have my own life to go back to.”

  “We will see.”

  I don’t know what that is supposed to mean and I don’t ask. This conversation is making me more confused by the minute. If Ty was into me then he wouldn’t have acted like I didn’t even exist earlier. He would have taken me along with him and Sara. So no I don’t think he is into me at all. I think Ash is just seeing things that’s not there. Besides there is Aaron to consider. So no Ty is not into me.

  Ash gathers the almost empty box of pizza and empty soda cans walking out the door. So much for a see ya later. I stretch out on the bed atop the covers, no way am I going to lay under them. Sleep evades me, but I try anyway. If I’m sleeping then I don’t have to feel…forgotten. That might not be the best choice of words, but at this moment it’s the way I feel. Just left behind and forgotten.

  I drift in and out of sleep. No bad dreams come which I am thankful for. I sat up rubbing my eyes. The door opens and Lazarus steps through with a couple of bags in his hand. “Thought you might like some new cloths.”

  “Thanks.” I mumble.

  “We will be leaving in an hour.” He smiles bright.

  “Okay.” Hell I must have slept longer than I originally thought.

  He sets the bags down on the bed beside me. He opens his mouth to say something then closes it. He does this a few times. “Umm…I’ll see you in a few.” He finally says.

  “Okay.” I wait for him to leave before I look inside the bags. Nothing special. Just a pair of jeans, a shirt, socks and panties. That had to be embarrassing for him to buy. Digging deeper in the bag I find tooth paste, a brush and some shampoo. No conditioner. I’ll make sure I pay him back for the cloths. I’m sure I have some money somewhere in a bank or at my home. Where ever that is. I take the cloths going to the dirty bathroom. I feel dirty even walking in it. I have no choice though if I want a shower.

  It isn’t long after I am dressed that Ash comes knocking on the door. “Ready?”

  “Sure.” I grab up Ty’s cloths that he let me borrow and follow Ash out. We are in a different car now. One that Lazarus and Ty drove here. I sat in the back seat while the two men take the front. The sun hasn’t even rose yet, so it must be around five a.m. The morning air is a little chilly, but I don’t mind. At least it’s fresh. We don’t drive to long until we come upon a dirt road. We climb a small incline before we level out again. At this point I don’t even pay attention as to where I am. One scenery turns into another. Soon a log cabin comes into view. This must be Ty’s place. You can see for miles and miles. I feel a little apprehensive. Why I don’t know? Ash and Lazarus doesn’t say a word to me. They have talked between themselves the whole trip. I don’t mind though. I’m not in the mood for conversation anyway.

  We come to the driveway, but there’s a gate blocking the entrance. Ash pushes several buttons on the key pad that is attached to the gate. We wait until the gate slowly opens. I notice there’s a cameras attached to the gate as well. I assume that Ty takes his security seriously as Lazarus does.

  Once we are parked in front of the house no one comes out to greet us. How hospitable is that. Ash exits the car leaving Lazarus and me waiting. He goes to the front door. A few seconds later an older gentleman answers. Ash talks to him a few minutes then waves us to come. Lazarus steps out coming to my side of the car. He opens the door and I slowly step out. I have a bad feeling about this. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s to keep my mouth shut and not say a word. So I don’t question anything.

  I follow Lazarus up the steps. We enter and the inside is a beautiful as the outside. The older man greet me introducing himself as Abraham. I shake his hand politely. I’m starting to think that I was never going to Ty’s house as I had earlier thought. No he has made other arrangements. I feel even more heart broken than I had earlier. Abraham shows me to my room it’s not fancy, but it’s clean.

  “Miss Martian this will be your room. Please let me know if you need anything.”

  “I will. Thank you.”

  Ash and Lazarus stay down stairs. No good bye from them either. I wonder if they even care at all. They must or they wouldn’t have went out of their way to make sure I was safe. Looking around the room there’s not much in the way of anything really. A personal bathroom off to the side, a bedside table with a lamp and a bed. As soon as I get the rest of my memory back I’m out of here. I feel as if I’m being thrown from place to place. The unwanted that no one wants.

  Again I need to give myself a reality check. I repeat to myself that they are just keeping me safe. They aren’t treating me as unwanted. They have things to do and they can’t sit with me twenty-four seven. They aren’t babysitters and I don’t need someone to babysit me. I just misunderstood what they were saying that’s all. No one really told me I was going to Ty’s house. They just said I was coming to Colorado and that’s where I am now.

  Chapter 23

  I don’t know when Ash and Lazarus leaves. Abraham comes knocking on my door a few hours later. I’m sitting on the bed where I have been since I arrived. “Come in.” I mumble.

  “Miss Martin. Dinner is ready.”

  “Tha
nks.” I follow Abraham out and down to the kitchen. I’m not at all hungry, but I don’t want to be rude.

  “Sylvia will be by first thing in the morning.” He smiles and takes his seat across from me.

  I nod my head and look down at my plate. I feel like balling my eyes out right now. I refrain though. No good can come from crying hysterically. I pick at my food. It’s a simple dinner really. Roast, mashed potatoes and salad on the side. I take a small bit chew and swallow. I do this until the food feels like lead sitting in my stomach. I need answers and I know I won’t get them form this man either. So there’s no use in asking what I know he won’t tell me.

  “Miss Martin. May I ask you a question?” Abraham suddenly asks.

  “Sure.” I answer quietly.

  “How much do you remember of your ordeal?”

  “Not much I’m afraid.” I lie through my teeth. I don’t know this man and I sure as hell am not going to open up to him.

  “Interesting.”

  What the hell is that supposed to mean? I shrug continuing to pick at my food. He sits there for a while longer just watching me. This is unnerving as hell. I politely sat my fork down in my plate and look this man square in the eye. Right now I’m feeling self-continuous, and alone. I have more emotions running through me than I should have. Painfully broken doesn’t even come close to describe how badly my heart is broken right now. Anger rises up and I welcome it. I can work with anger, not so much as a broken heart.

  “Abraham. Is there something you would like to ask me?” I’m trying to keep calm I really am.

  “As a matter of fact there is,” His smile fades, “I think you are lying about a lot of things. From what Tango has informed me. You are holding back. I’m here to find out what.”

  And there it is. The real reason I’m here. I’m just another pawn in there plan to flush out William. “You want to know what I know? You want me to sit here and go into the gory details of what kind of person William really is? Well listen up, because I’m only going to tell this story once. After I’m done I’m walking out of that door and you will not stop me.”

  “Miss Martin. I can clearly see you’re upset. Have some wine.”

  “Not thank you.”

  “It will relax you.”

  “I don’t need relaxing. That’s the real reason I’m here isn’t it? For information. So they can finally catch William?”

  “Miss Martin I think your reading too much into this.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “All I’m asking is for you to tell the truth?”

  “You want the truth. You want to know how William lured me in. He promised me a job to design a grand casino. I was supposed to make a hell of a lot of money. Did that happen? No. Instead his plan was to sell me. I’m a human being. I can’t be bought or sold. Right? Wrong. Vancard bought me for his own personal use. You want to know how I was used. How Vancard would rent me out for money? Yeah he did that too. To his friends and strangers alike. This went on for a long time. I met Sara a little while after Vancard bought me. She and her mother to be exact. They took her mother away from her. I promise her I would take care of Sara. Did I? I tried. I tried so desperately. I didn’t know what they were going to do to a six year old child.”

  “I’m sorry Miss Martin.”

  “No you’re not. You just want answers so I’m giving them to you. They took Sara away from me! I don’t know what they did to her. Vancard and William were in the opposite room one day. They were talking. I don’t know what that conversation was about. I don’t remember. The next thing I know I’m being taken to an Ally out back. Vancard is drunk off his ass and screaming in my face. He slaps me around like I’m some piece of trash. William intervenes only to do the same. I get away from them at least for a few minutes. I don’t know anything after that. The next thing I know I’m in the desert in Nevada. I’m sure you know the rest of the story.”

  Abraham sits there staring at me. He is at a loss for words. Good now he can tell Tango all the bad shit that happened to me while I was in the care of William and Vancard. I stand making my way to the bedroom I was given. I don’t know why. I have nothing there to take.

  “Miss Martin. Please stay. Ty will be very upset that you left.”

  “Bull shit. He would probably break out the champagne.”

  “Miss Martin.” Abraham grabs my arm halting me in place. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up any of this.”

  “Yeah well now you can tell Tango and the rest of them my story. I’m not in any affiliations with William. If I could I would kill him myself.”

  “Come Miss Martin. Have a seat.” Abraham leads me to a sofa.

  “Is this why I was brought here? They didn’t trust me?”

  “It’s only formality. Nothing personal.”

  “I see.”

  “Miss Martin. You need to understand that it has been a very difficult road for Ty. William was once his best friend.”

  I don’t say anything. I feel miserable right now. Ty didn’t trust me enough to see the truth. He didn’t trust me enough to realize that I didn’t want to talk about what happened. I’m sure Sylvia was sent to find out all she could. When that didn’t happen they brought me here. Well I hope they are all happy. I hope they got what they wanted.

  “I need to leave.”

  “And go where?”

  I don’t know, but at least I won’t have to worry about all the crap I’m getting from these people. “Home.”

  “And where is that?”

  Hell if I know. “I don’t know.”

  “Then you won’t be leaving.” He retorts.

  I blow out a deep breath he’s right. I won’t be any better off. I have nowhere to go and I would be an easy target. Maybe that would bring William out. Then all this could be over. “Is William really after me?”

  “He is after you and Sara. You have information he wants and she is worth a bloody fortune.”

  “Well that explains a lot.”

  “So it does. Come now. You must be exhausted.”

  He’s right I do feel drained. All the story telling has taken all the energy out of me. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t stay here. I don’t want to. It feels as if I’m being held prisoner. In a way I guess I am. Until Ty and Tango gets all the information I have then they will cut me loose. I’m sure these men do this kind of thing all the time. Walking back to the bedroom I was given I close the door softly.

  I don’t know how long Ty will keep me here. At this point it doesn’t really matter. I still don’t know where I came from or if I have any family. So this place is as good as any to be. At least I have warm food in my stomach and a soft place to sleep. It could be a hell of a lot worse. I could be back with William. That thought sends a chill up my spine. My head is so jumbled right now I can’t even think straight. Do I stay or do I go? In a way I don’t want to leave. I guess you could say I am hoping Ty will come back for me. It isn’t looking hopeful right now.

  At some point I fall asleep only to dream those terrible nightmares again. I’m running for my life. I’m dodging in and out of traffic. A car swerves and clips my leg. I don’t stop. Horns are honking and people are shouting. No one will help me. I’m on my own. Looking over my shoulder I see a man chasing me. I don’t know him. He’s getting close. I need to run faster, but I can’t. My legs hurt and I have a stitch in my side. I can’t slow down. Fear creeps up inside of me. If this guy catches me, he will take me back to William. I can’t go back. They will kill me if I do. I know too much. I know their plans. I know what they are about to do.

  Where is Sara? I have to save her. She is just a small child. She can’t defend herself against them. I need to go back for her. I have too. I stop. The man comes up behind me. He take me by the arm in a vise like grip. I don’t try to fight him. If only I had taken Sara with me, we could have gotten away together. William is hiding her I have to find out where. I will bid my time until I find her. I promised her mother I would
take care of her. I will not break that promise.

  We are back at William’s house now. Vancard and he are waiting for my arrival. They don’t look happy. I know I will pay for this. William is sitting in a leather chair and Vancard is sitting opposite of him. “Did the slut give you one hell of a chase?” William asks the man.

  “Nothing that I couldn’t handle, Sir.”

  “Bring me the child.” William commands the man.

  Sara! My head screams. The man enters a little while later dragging Sara behind him. She sees me and breaks loose of the man’s hold. Wrapping her tiny arms around me she cries softly.

  I rise up in bed in a cold sweat. I had left. I had almost gotten away. I couldn’t leave Sara. I wipe my face. The room is empty. The lamp is off and the room is filled with darkness. I’m alone. Alone in this room. Gasping to get air in my lungs I stand. I feel as if I’m still there. I need to calm down. I know I’m not there anymore. I had gotten away and Sara is safe. She sound asleep right now at Ty’s house. He will protect her.

  I open the bedroom door quietly as possible and softly make my way to the kitchen in search of a glass of water. Before I even get to the second step I overhear Abraham’s conversation. I think he is talking on the phone. “She has been through a lot worse than we first thought. If I proceed she may finally break. How far are you willing to take this, Ty?” Abraham is on the phone with Ty. He is talking about me no doubt giving and update. “I understand, but she is fragile at the moment. She’s angry and broken. She feels as if she is alone and doesn’t have anyone. You have to understand if I push her she may very well crack.” As in lose my fucking mind. News flash Abraham I’m already well on the road to cracking.

  “Yes,” he pauses, “Okay. See you soon.”

  I slip back to my room. They are never going to give up. No matter what I tell them, they are going to push and push until I lose my mind. They are going to make me remember the information I have. They’re not going to stop until I do. The mind has a way of blocking out bad shit and Ty wants to open up that vault. He doesn’t care about me. All he cares about is what’s in my head.