“Beck?” I asked, hope clinging to my words.
A warm grin touched his lips. “It will be my pleasure to deliver him to you.”
A long puff of air rushed out of my mouth. “Oh, Rock,” I cried, burying my face in my hands.
His strong arms came around me, holding me. “Cry now,” he whispered into my hair. “Mourn. Because when that lil’ guy gets here, he is gonna need his momma.” When his lips pressed against my hair, I knew that was his farewell. As he turned away, I felt the emptiness…the loneliness… immediately. With every step he took away from me in his faded jeans and black boots, my heart wrenched just a bit more. He’d been my armor for the past few days. Suddenly, I felt exposed—my breastplate gone. My shield fractured.
“Don’t go,” I whispered beneath my breath as I watched his mother come down the back stone steps to embrace her son once again. This comforted me, albeit momentarily—picturing me embracing Beck some day. Knowing that I, too, would do anything for him. I’d protect him. I’d do exactly what she was doing.
Respecting their time together, I turned away, scanning the room that I would call home for a short time. The wood floor led to a small bedroom where a queen-size bed was covered with a lovely plaid quilt. A door at the foot of the bed ran into a bathroom with a shower and tub. Saliva pooled in my mouth at the thought of using the tub. Towels lay stacked in the corner of the room.
The roar of the bike startled me. I darted to the door that I’d left open and only dust remained as the sound of the pipes faded in the distance. Loud pipes save lives, Rock always said. Rock was gone.
Chapter 4
ARI
True love is about sacrifice for the sake of the ones you love (Francis Chan)
“Jesus, how does she dress like this?” I asked Two, who waited to take me to the courthouse as I put on a pair of Mela’s dress slacks and a button-up blouse.
“Just get dressed. Mela would never be late for this court hearing.”
“I think that girl is skinnier than me. Shit, these pants are tight.”
Two chuckled in the hallway.
When I walked out of the bedroom, Two was decked out in his suit, looking pretty damn legit. Mela had no idea what my crew was made of. A doctor. An attorney. An accountant. A teacher. A judge—that one always made me giggle.
“Wow. I would never guess what you do for a living,” Two laughed.
I backhanded him in the shoulder as we made our way out to the kitchen.
Duckie and Rock had left with Beck three days ago. They’d be to Mela soon.
“Holy shit, look at you,” Mikey said.
“Shut the fuck up.” I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go.”
“You really do look nice, Ari,” Dano said.
“I look like a fucking school teacher.”
All of the guys laughed.
Dano stood. “We are going to ride the bikes to the cars so we can follow people after the hearing if we need to. Woody is staying here in case someone tries to come into the house.”
I nodded.
“Two is the only one who won’t have heat because he’s going into the courthouse,” Dano said.
“Surely this bitch isn’t stupid enough to try something there,” I said as my shoes clicked, walking across the stone.
“Let’s saddle up,” Two shouted as we all walked to the garage.
Mela. Mela. Mela. I fought to get inside the mind of my sister. As we drove toward the courthouse, I channeled her through memories.
***
“All rise. District Court for the Second Judicial District is now in session, the Honorable Marcus Colt presiding.”
“Thank you, you may be seated,” The judge said, sliding into his big chair behind the bench. “The court calls the case of Eleanor McKinley.” The judge paused, glancing over the top of his bifocals at the bitch. It was obvious she needed to get laid. “Versus Mela McKinley.”
When he said Mela’s name, I held my head higher.
“May I have the appearances please.”
“May it please the court, Jose Rivera appearing on behalf of Senator McKinley.”
Two stood next to me, adjusting his tie.
“Your honor, may it please the court, Thomas Clark II appearing on behalf of Mela McKinley. My entry of appearance was filed earlier this week.”
“Thank you, Mr. Clark. You may be seated.”
Immediately, the attorney at the opposing table stood. “Your honor, as a preliminary matter. The child in the petition was ordered to appear as well today.”
Yeah, well, that was never going to happen. Not in a million fucking years. Dream on, Bitch.
The judge was reading over papers.
“I have a petition alleging the respondent, Beck McKinley, to be a child in need of care based on the fact that Ian McKinley was killed in a car accident. Mr. Rivera this sounds like a criminal complaint not a child in need of care case.”
“Your Honor, there is currently no parent willing or able to care for the respondent. Father is deceased and Mother tested positive for drugs at the hospital.”
Two stood. “We object, Judge. We’ve seen no test results confirming Ms. McKinley tested positive for any drugs.”
The glare from the senator pissed me off, and I glared right back at her. This seemed to shock her.
“Ms. McKinley, would you be willing to do a UA today?”
Two cleared his throat. “Your Honor, this is not Ms. McKinley. This is Ari Gomez. She was served the papers two weeks ago at Ms. McKinley’s home. I am, however, appearing on behalf of Ms. McKinley.”
The senator immediately panicked and started whispering to her attorney.
“Your Honor, we would like to know the whereabouts of the child in question.”
Two stood when the Judge looked at him.
“You’re Honor, with all due respect to the court, I have no idea. Ms. Gomez hasn’t heard from her sister in three years. She came to town to check on her, but when she got to the home, Ms. McKinley and the infant were gone.”
The judge stared at the senator, then me and Two.
“I’m not sure what is going on here, but the petitioner is going to have to do some sort of personal service before we can proceed. Clearly, service was done on the wrong sister.”
The senator scowled, her lips pursed so tightly, I wondered when was the last time she’d been fucked. In the wickedest of ways, I winked at her. And a slow, deliberate smile crept across my face when it looked like her head was going to explode. Check- mate, bitch.
On the front steps of the courthouse, I saw Dano in the parking lot urgently hop off his bike as he stared past us. I spun around prepared for a fight with whoever was behind me. The senator and a team of dipshits in suits came strolling out.
“So, I don’t know who the hell you are. Trash is trash is trash. But, let me tell you something, you have no idea what I am capable of. If you think I’ll allow her to disappear with my grandson, you are mistaken. When I find them, you will never lay eyes on that boy again.”
“Is that a threat, you stupid bitch?”
Two grabbed my arm as her worthless fucks stepped in front of her. Her lipstick bled into the wrinkles around her mouth.
“It’s a promise, you disgusting whore. You don’t know the connections I have.”
As my lips pulled into a snarl, I giggled—the kind of giggle that evil villains understand. “My connections make your connections look like a fucking joke.” I held two fingers and my thumb up like a gun. “Pew pew,” I whispered.
“If something happens to me, my people will find Beck. Trust me. And, are you threatening a United States Senator?
“Oh, heavens no. It’s not a threat. It’s a fucking promise if you even think about going anywhere near Beck. Now take your nasty, rusty twat away from me…grandma.”
I’d have felt way better kicking her ass in my own clothes. Two gently grabbed my arm and tilted his head toward the car. Dano got back on his bike and took off before the bitch not
iced his presence. My fists clenched again and again as we got close to the car. No sooner had my ass hit the passenger seat, than my phone was in my hand. Rock had to tell Mela what she was up against. He had to make her understand how dangerous this woman was.
Chapter 5
MELA
Getting knocked down in life is a given. Getting up and moving forward is a choice. (Zig Ziglar)
The gunfire brought me out of the most peaceful nights of sleep I’d had in a long time. The urgent sound had me throwing my shoes on and running toward the door. Once I was outside, I spotted Rock’s mother aiming a handgun at some cans on the other side of the fence. Shot after shot, she knocked can after can off the fence and hay bale.
I snuck out quietly, watching her reload as she hoofed it over to the hay bale and fence.
“Good morning, darlin’,” she hollered. “You ready to shoot?”
“Sure,” I nodded.
She made it back to me. “Don’t say sure. One thing about finding your strength…finding your confidence…is faking it if you don’t have it. You may not believe in what you’re saying, but you make whomever you’re speaking with believe you do. Got it?
“Yes,” I responded, letting her words sink in.
“No, sweetheart. Make me believe what you are saying. Are you ready to shoot?”
I nodded, feeling the confidence she pushed my way “Yes ma’am, I am. Give me that gun.”
“Atta girl,” she said, handing the iron over.
***
When I heard the roar of the pipes in the distance, I didn’t even take the time to find my shoes. I sprinted out the door and up the field to the drive. An old yellow Mustang pulled in at the same time as two bikes. Duckie drove the Mustang, and Rock winked as I ran past him, straight to the backseat of the car.
Beck’s big, blue eyes stared out the back window. They flickered my way the second he heard my voice, which made me smile. Every ounce of me smiled—a mile wide, and I couldn’t get him unfastened fast enough. When I laid him against my breast, there was a brief moment of sadness, but it passed quickly, knowing there was nothing I could do about my milk drying up. Rock’s mother had said several times in the past couple of days, “don’t get hung up on what you can’t change.” She was right.
Beck’s little legs stiffened in what seemed like excitement, and that was sure as heck how I was going to take it. The scratch near his temple was nearly healed but I still kissed it for good measure.
“You found a place?” Rock asked.
“Yep. It’s…”
“No, Mela. We can’t know. There is a chance that we could be tracked down, and I want none of my people to know…especially Ari… where you are. Does that make sense?”
It did make sense, and I knew that he was only protecting his own. And…I was going to do the same. I was going to do this alone. Beck and I, literally. That was it. And it was ok. I could do this.
“You, uh…you need to know that even with the court hearing going nowhere until you are personally served, the senator has vowed to come after you. She isn’t about to just let this go. So, you have to get lost. You need to fall off the grid. Here’s a check. This is the money Ari withdrew from your bank closing the accounts. Two is acting as your attorney to get the life insurance. Woody is a judge, Mela and he’ll help Two so it’s all done quietly.”
I nodded. I’d gotten a little money out of the bank on the way home from the hospital but not nearly enough for what was happening.
“This is your new social security card.”
My brows shot up.
“Don’t ask. Just know that you are now Mela McKinney. You don’t have health insurance and neither does Beck. Find a doctor. Pay in cash.”
“McKinney? Not McKinley.” I released a breath.
“Here is your new drivers license in case you forget.”
Holding Beck securely next to me, Rock’s words soaked in slowly. He’d helped me as much as he could. They had thought of everything. Now, my life…the rest was going to be up to me.
***
Eight weeks…that’s how long it took us to become acclimated to the altitude and fix up the cabin the best I could. I paid special attention to the cubbyhole I created for Beck. Added insulation to the walls. Immediately stocked it with things we might need if we had to go into hiding. Worst case scenario…we could live in this area for a bit and hopefully go undetected.
Hiking up and over the mountain, if needed, was going to be more of a challenge than living in a homemade hideout for a month. Starting almost straightaway, I secured Beck in a backpack carrier and began my training. Rock had made it clear from the beginning that I needed a plan. Without road access it was impossible to get a car to the cabin, but it wasn’t far…just up the rest of the mountain and on the other side. Every day, I started with a run up the mountain—making it small distances at a full sprint—each day a new goal…just a little farther than the day before. After a few months, I finally crested the mountain, running it like it was nothing even as Beck got heavier to carry.
I bought a stroller to keep in the trunk of my car so that once Beck and I made it into town, he would have a different means of transportation. Typically, I kept a ball cap on. I didn’t know who might recognize my sister or me, and the last thing I wanted was to lose the anonymity Beck and I had established. Maybe people recognized me. Maybe they didn’t. But over the length of a year, no one said a word or acted suspicious. Beck and I had found a home.
As the months slipped past the numbness seemed to fade. It never diminished completely and some days were easier than others. My priority was to keep Beck safe and it was difficult to focus on little else. I don’t know exactly when living and breathing without Ian became bearable. But, I tried to embrace the little things—Beck’s milestones, Beck’s smiles. Between not wanting to compromise our safety and fighting to give him a sense of normalcy, I fought not to lose myself in what I had lost. With every new day came new strength.
***
I’d kept in shape pretty well my whole life. Fortunately, God had blessed me with good genetics too, so I had never had to work too hard to stay fit. But, simply running up the mountain side with Beck had its perks. I was in the best shape of my life. When in town, I couldn’t help but notice a group of girls running around the square. Every time I was there, so were they. Like clockwork. My curiosity piqued, I found myself watching for them as I walked through the quaint, little Norman Rockwellesque square. One particular day, I caught the running group a little later than usual. They were coming back from the opposite direction where I usually saw them. They ran together, laughing and supporting each other before ducking into a nearby building. Curious about where they had vanished to, I pushed Beck’s stroller past the window and peered in. Fascinated, I stayed to watch as one of the girls pulled herself nimbly up a thick rope to the ceiling. Another girl skipped rope while a third one jumped with both legs from the floor to the top of a wooden box. The last two were on some sort of row machine. The heavy beat of music thumped inside. I caught the eye of a tall, muscular black man on the other side of the window. He was watching me watching the girls. He offered a smile, but I looked away and Beck and I hurried to the car to escape questioning eyes.
Truth was, I enjoyed watching the things those women did. I’d never seen anything like it. For four months, I watched them storm out of their gym, race around the square—laughing but serious at the same time. A couple of them faster than the others. I knew their names from hearing them talk as they ran by. Two of them were older, two were younger and there were a couple in between.
“Would you like to join us some time?” The deep baritone voice of a man asked.
Instinctively, I tugged the bill of my Cubs cap just a little lower.
“No. Thank you.”
I started to pick Beck up from the blanket on the grass when the man touched my arm.
“We have a play area for the kids. The first month is free.”
Offering
him only a tight smile, I fastened Beck in the stroller. He wailed of course, given that he hadn’t been out long.
“I’ll keep that in mind, thank you,” I whispered, attempting to mask my accent.
As Beck and I strolled toward the car once again, I heard one of the women ask, “So is she going to join us?”
I wasn’t sure of the man’s answer because Beck and I were out of hearing distance by that time. Clearly, the group had noticed me watching. As I secured Beck in his car seat, I imagined myself as part of the group. Would it really be so dangerous to give it a try?
***
That following fall was bringing cooler days, so I packed jackets every time we trekked over the mountain. I knew our outings would be limited once the snow fell. It had been a few months since the man approached me about the gym. I hadn’t been back since. But today, I would go in.
The sign above the door read Crossfit Inked. There was no bell or entry buzzer, we just walked in. Immediately, I spotted the play area that I knew Beck would enjoy. The place smelled clean.
“Well, good morning.”
I spun to the voice I’d heard that day in the square.
“I’m Layne.”
He extended his hand and, with a firm grip, shook mine. His smile was friendly.
“Hi,” was all I said.
“Let me show you around.” He turned and headed to the back of the gym. My heart sped just a bit, but I followed him hesitantly. He had dreads and reminded me of Lenny Kravitz. Layne wore shorts and sported a t-shirt with a clown that had puke coming out of his mouth.
“These are our restrooms. Men’s. Women’s. Showers. Toilets too.” He smiled. “Here is our changing rooms. Then the back desk. Not a front desk because we want people to get further than the front door.” He winked.
About twenty-five weight bars were propped in the corner. A mirror covered the length of one wall with racks of weights and balls. Rowing machines. A bike of some sort. The boxes the girls jumped on.
Scars and Tats Page 5
