Rage Against The Machine: Special Edition (Dan & Chloe Book 1)

by Flamank, Nathan L.

  Dan laughed, ‘Perhaps they didn’t.’

  Chloe laughed, ‘Right, all those twigs in mum’s hair just fell on her, and the grass stains on dad’s knees were obviously from where he fell over.’

  ‘Prude.’

  Chloe pulled her woollen sweater up over her bare breasts and flashed the driver of the car Dan was just overtaking. ‘Is that right,’ she laughed as she saw the look on the stunned driver’s face. Chloe pulled her sweater down and turned in her seat to Dan, ‘See, that proves I’m not a prude.’

  Dan laughed, ‘No, all that proved was that you’re an exhibitionist.

  Chloe watched the rain lashing down against the windscreen, ‘I hate this sort of weather.’

  Dan braked sharply as a white van cut in front of him and Chloe was pushed forward against her seat belt.

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘Not your fault, it was the prick in the van.’

  Dan looked at Chloe, ‘Did I tell you; you look amazing.’

  Chloe smiled. ‘Several times.’

  She did; she wore a tight pink mohair sweater that clung to her bare breasts, a tan short leather skirt and natural coloured hold-up stockings. There was a split in the right side of the skirt and Dan could see the patterned tops of the stocking. She wore a pair of 4 inch brown high heels and her hair was tied back in pig-tails. She wore a very dark shade of lipstick on her full lips and Dan said, ‘Is life always going to be like this with you?’

  ‘How’s that?’

  ‘A perpetual state of arousal.’

  Chloe laughed, ‘Until old age destroys us.’

  ‘Comes to everyone I guess,’ Dan said, ‘I saw the books back at your old room, so you like Tolkien?’

  ‘Who doesn’t right, it was one of the first books I ever read.’

  Dan indicated and over took a ford pulling an aging caravan.

  ‘I collect Stephen King first editions, have most of them signed too.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yeah, I’ve always read and he’s my favourite author out there.’

  ‘I’ve never tried him; do you think I’d like him?’

  ‘Maybe.’

  Chloe touched Dan’s thigh, ‘Okay honey, as much as I like finding things out about you, what’s on your mind?’

  ‘I’m that easy to read?’

  ‘Like a Harry Potter book.’

  Dan laughed, ‘I hate those books, and you know what the hardest thing about those books to believe is?’

  ‘Apart from the wizards and shit?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘A ginger kid with two mates.’

  Chloe slapped his thigh, ‘That’s terrible, and be nice; I have a friend with red hair.’

  ‘Never trust a woman with red hair.’

  ‘Really and why’s that?’

  ‘They’re all psychotic, the lot of them, all mentally nuts.’

  Chloe laughed, ‘Is that right?’

  Dan slowed down as a police car passed them.

  ‘Yeap, I’ve known a few and they all suffer from depression, part of not being able to let go of when they were bullied about their hair as a kid, they grow up with a lot of issues.’

  Chloe was silent a moment and then said, ‘Now that I think about it Carrie is a lit frazzled at the edges.’

  ‘Ha, see, what did I just tell you, they’re all mental.’

  ‘Perhaps they should never have been bullied and then they wouldn’t have grown up with issues.’

  Dan laughed, ‘Please, everyone gets bullied at school in one way or another, if you had glasses at school you were probably called four eyes, you don’t see that many adults with glasses acting mental just because they were called names at school. It’s the red hair I tell you, makes them automatically psycho.’

  ‘What if I’d had red hair?’

  Dan smiled at Chloe, ‘I’d have never stopped the car, couldn’t have taken the risk.’

  ‘Asshole,’ she laughed at him. They drove in silence for several minutes and then Chloe said, ‘Still; what’s really on your mind?’

  ‘The last few days just made me realise how normal life could be, I’m worried we may never get to that stage again.’

  Chloe nodded.

  ‘Whatever happens baby we’re in it together, we’ll be fine, I know it, one day, long after all this we’ll be bored with how normal our lives are.’

  Dan laughed, ‘I can’t see me ever getting bored with you by my side.’

  Chloe said, ‘Only because I told you that you could do anything to me anytime you liked.’

  ‘That may have something to do with it, having second thoughts about making that statement are you?’

  Chloe shook her head, ‘Nope, like I said, anytime, anywhere, and I never lie.’

  Dan knew she was serious.

  ‘In the middle of Tesco’s freezer isle?’

  Chloe knew he was joking but she wasn’t when she said, ‘If that’s what you wanted you could fuck me over the frozen peas.’

  Dan looked at her and saw she was being serious. ‘Jesus Chloe, don’t start giving me ideas.’

  ‘Fuck it, you only live once.’

  London, ENGLAND.

  Chloe received a lot of admiring looks when they got to Terry’s Kensington town house. Some of the men couldn’t drag their eyes away from her breasts pushing at the mohair sweater while others concentrated on her ass in the tight skirt.

  Terry came out of his home office and quickly told everyone to quit staring or they’d soon be at the bottom of the Thames.

  ‘Thanks,’ said Chloe.

  ‘Sure, though I can’t blame them, you look stunning.’

  ‘Quit hitting on my girl Terry,’ said Dan and he was only half joking. Terry ushered them in to an expensive study. Terry sat in a high backed chair and Chloe and Dan sat opposite him on a sofa that Chloe guessed cost as much as she’d earn in a year. She crossed her legs and the split in the skirt showed one stocking top and Terry laughed before looking at Dan and saying, ‘Jeez Dan-dan, I’m surprised you can get out of bed in the morning.’

  ‘Sometimes I don’t let him,’ Chloe said and they all chuckled.

  ‘Okay,’ said Dan, ‘Terry what have you got for us?’

  Terry picked up a large manila folder and tapped it against his knee.

  ‘You’re now Dan and Chloe Adams.’

  ‘We’re married?’ asked Chloe.

  ‘That a problem?’ Terry asked back.

  Chloe shook her head and smiled, ‘Nope, just trying it on for size, mister and mrs Adams, I like that.’

  ‘Glad to hear it, according to these documents Chloe you’re now twenty one and Dan you’re twenty nine, I couldn’t drop your age anymore Dan, you’ve just aged badly,’ Terry chuckled, ‘Your ages shouldn’t arouse any suspicion, I’ve got a valid marriage certificate, simple signatures to copy should you need to sign anything, you’re newly-weds, six weeks in so try and act like it. There are also UK drivers licences for you both, with the new hologram chip installed and there’s also a joint bank account with credit cards and a balance of three quarters of a million,’ Terry turned to Dan, ‘Dan I expect that back when this is all over.’

  Dan laughed, ‘You know I’m good for it.’

  Terry nodded, ‘I know, which is why I had no problem doing it, and I also expect payment for this lot, business is business whether we’re family or not.’

  ‘No problem, how much did this lot set you back?’ Dan asked.

  ‘A hundred thousand and change.’

  ‘Fuck!’ Chloe exclaimed.

  Terry looked offended, ‘Hey this is first class workmanship, and all obtained in two days, that don’t come cheap, even to me.’

  Dan waved his brother down and said, ‘Terry, she doesn’t mean anything by it, relax man.’

  Chloe nodded, ‘It’s all new to me Terry, and I’m not used to being around this sort of money.’

  Terry laughed, ‘Well get used to it, your man here is worth a shitload
.’

  ‘So I’m beginning to realise.’

  ‘There are also cash cards linked to the bank account, both have the same pin number four-seven, four-seven. There are also throw-away credit cards, no name attached if you need them and don’t want the Adams identity fucked up, you’ll also find a couple of fake Ids with your picture on them Dan, ideal if you have to sign for anything.’

  ‘Okay,’ said Dan taking the folder from Terry’s outstretched hand, ‘Terry; you did great.’

  Terry nodded his head once in acknowledgement of the praise.

  Dan handed the folder to Chloe, ‘Where’s Krieger?’ he asked his brother.

  ‘That giant motherfucker is in the cellar drugged out of his mind, he caused a few problems on the way here but now there’s so much heroin in his blood stream that he’s as placid as a kitten.’

  ‘Heroin?’ Chloe asked sounding shocked.

  ‘Yes Chloe; heroin,’ Terry snapped. ‘Are you going to question everything I do?’ His anger was rising.

  Dan coughed and Terry looked at his brother.

  ‘Terry, Chloe doesn’t move in these circles.’

  ‘That’s right Terry, I’m sorry, I appreciate everything you’ve done for us, really, I do.’

  Terry settled back in his chair which Dan figured was a good thing as he was about to hit his older brother, being around Terry was stirring up old memories and some of them he had spent years trying to forget.

  ‘Apology accepted Chloe, I’m getting grouchy in my old age, what can I say?’

  Dan stood up and Chloe got to her feet next to him. ‘Terry, we’ll meet you back here in an hour or so.’

  ‘Where are we going?’ Chloe asked in surprise.

  ‘Shopping.’

  ‘Shopping?’ Chloe repeated.

  ‘Yes shopping, jeez, you’re getting to me now,’ Dan said smiling to let her know that he was just playing around.

  Terry got up. ‘No problem Dan-dan, I’ll have Krieger brought up and we’ll give him something to counteract the heroin, he’ll be awake by the time you come back.’

  Chloe gave Terry a quick peck on the cheek and said, ‘I really am sorry Terry if I pissed you off, am I forgiven?’

  Terry laughed, ‘Shit Chloe with lips like those I’ll forgive anything.’

  Dan led Chloe down Kensington high street, their arms around one another’s waists. They walked quickly; Chloe’s heels clicking on the wet pavement. Thunder clouds broiled overhead threatening another downpour.

  ‘Where are we going?’ Chloe asked.

  ‘You’ll see soon enough, let’s just get there before it pisses down again.’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘Here,’ Dan replied as he stopped them outside of an expensive jeweller.

  ‘Why here?’

  ‘We’re married; you need a ring.’

  ‘Right, of course.’ She smiled at him as he buzzed the jeweller’s to be let in.

  Twenty minutes later they were sat in a small cafe drinking cappuccinos. The cafe was one of the few independents left in the city, chained coffee shops were like a virus and Dan always tried to avoid them when possible; they were too impersonal for his tastes. On the classic radio station playing over wall mounted speakers Rihanna sang about how “you can be my umbrella” and Dan remembered when he was in his teens and that song had been everywhere, he hadn’t heard it for years and hummed along to the tune.

  Chloe was sat opposite him with a petulant look splashed across her stunning face.

  ‘I can’t see why I can’t wear the ring now.’

  ‘We’ll start the charade of husband and wife tomorrow; it’s only a ring Chloe.’

  Back in the jewellers Chloe had scanned through racks of rings. She adored one which had a hefty price tag of ten thousand and whistled.

  ‘Now that’s a nice rock.’ Chloe had said and Dan had nonchalantly agreed.

  ‘It’s only for show though so I guess it’s out of the question; right?’

  Dan had nodded and Chloe then chose a smaller ring, pretty in its own way which set back their finances fifteen hundred pounds. Dan had paid and then pocketed the small box in the front left pocket of his jeans.

  Chloe slurped at her drink and shook her head, ‘Why’d you even take me if I can’t have it now?’

  ‘I needed the right size; therefore I needed you and your finger.’

  Chloe chuffed at him and pouted, ‘It’s a pretty ring; I think I should be allowed to wear it now.’

  ‘No.’

  Chloe smiled and ran her fingers over the contours of her breasts and said seductively, ‘I’ll give you a blow job right here and now for the ring.’

  ‘I’ll manage without,’ he replied with a grin.

  Chloe tapped her fingers in annoyance on the table top. ‘Bastard,’ she said playfully.

  Despite the ring only being another prop in their disguise Chloe liked the idea of wearing a ring on her finger, who knew, maybe one day after all this Dan would ask her to marry him. It had been ten days since she had first met him and despite this she knew she wanted to be his wife one day, for now she’d just have to make do with the charade.

  Chloe met Dan’s eyes and licked her lips suggestively, ‘Okay, final offer; anal sex in the alley out back.’

  Dan almost choked on his cappuccino, ‘Gee Chloe, that’s tempting but I’ve already been there.’

  ‘Prick,’ she laughed. ‘You’re an ass; you better give me that ring first thing in the morning or else.’

  Dan got up from the table, ‘I have to go to the toilet.’

  Chloe nodded her head once and drank her coffee as she watched him walk through the cafe and down the corridor towards the toilets.

  Chloe got up as she saw Dan come back several minutes later.

  ‘Ready?’

  ‘Sure,’ she replied.

  ‘Okay, let’s go before the rain gets here.’

  Terry met them in the hallway and told them that Krieger was now in the den.

  Dan turned to Chloe, ‘Why don’t you go take a bath or something.’

  Chloe cocked her head to one side and shook her head “no”.

  Terry knew what was going to happen in the den and he could understand why his brother didn’t want Chloe present.

  ‘Actually Chloe, you’d be doing me a favour, there are guys in the den that don’t like strangers, they like to keep a low profile, they know Dan because he’s family, you not being there would save me a lot of answers.’

  Chloe shrugged, ‘Just this once, where’s the bathroom?’

  ‘Third floor, second door on the left,’ Terry said.

  Chloe gave Dan a brief kiss on the mouth, ‘I’m not happy about this Dan.’

  ‘I know,’ he said.

  Chloe headed up the stairs without speaking another word. When she was well out of hearing Dan said, ‘Thanks Terry.’

  ‘You’re going to have to explain shit to her Dan, if you’re both adamant about this whole fucking thing she’s going to see you do things.’

  Dan nodded, ‘I know, I know, I’d just rather that time came later.’

  ‘Does she know anything about your past?’

  ‘Little bits, I know she knows I’ve done bad things in the past.’

  Terry laughed, ‘Bad? That’s one word for it.’ Terry put his arm around his brother’s shoulder, ‘Come on; let’s go and introduce ourselves.’

  In the den Dan saw Krieger tied to a high backed chair. Carl was standing nearby looking bored. There was no one else in the room. Dan noticed that Krieger’s face was badly bruised; one eye swollen shut and there was dried blood in his hairline and under his nose.

  Dan nodded at Carl who returned the gesture before turning to the window that overlooked the large town garden.

  Terry rested against a wall and Dan moved closer to Krieger’s slumped form.

  He clicked his fingers in front of the man’s face. ‘You with us Krieger?’ Click, ‘Back in the land of the living?’ Click.

  Kriege
r opened his eyes, ‘Yes,’ he said in a thick eastern European accent.

  ‘Okay, listen up whilst I lay out your options, one, I ask you questions; you answer them honestly with no hero-like bullshit. Option two you play the tough guy and something like this happens; Terry.’

  Terry switched on a large television and hit play on the DVD player beneath it. Dan stepped out of Krieger’s line of sight so the captive man could see the high definition screen.

  On the screen Rufus was screaming as one of the twins sodomised him. There was a lot of blood and Dan turned to Krieger. ‘All that blood on screen that you can see so vividly thanks to modern televisual technology is because of this; Carl.’

  Carl stepped forward and held up a clear freezer bag, inside were ten toes and eight fingers and two thumbs.

  ‘That’s where all the blood comes from, you with me so far?’

  Krieger nodded his head; unable to look at the screen as Rufus was raped by the two men; his screams on screen were louder than any Krieger had ever heard, and he had heard a lot of men scream over the years.

  ‘I’ll answer your questions.’

  Dan smiled, ‘Good.’

  Terry turned the television off and the screams disappeared.

  ‘I have question of my own if you’ll answer it,’ Krieger said in his broken English.

  ‘Sure, why not?’ Dan said.

  ‘If you capable of all this, why you run that first night? It makes no sense.’

  Dan nodded.

  ‘I’ve thought about that a lot myself, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I think I was trying to deny who I really was, but then again I might be wrong, I don’t have a better answer than that.’

  Krieger coughed, ‘Okay; ask your questions.’

  ‘Before Rufus died he told me quite a bit, I know about the Brotherhood, I know about Father and I know about the hunts, what I want from you is names; who is the Father?’

  ‘His name is Thomas McCreedy, but it is impossible to get to Father, he is better protected than the President.’

  ‘Nobody is impossible to get to.’

  ‘He is, he has a private army numbering hundreds, he lives in seclusion, trust me you cannot get to him.’

  ‘We’ll see.’

  Krieger laughed, ‘It would be an act of foolishness.’