The Keepers of the Rose

by DJ Dalasta

  Anna tapped her foot impatiently. It could be a bad decision leading to a worse situation to take Delega to the cabin. She didn’t know much about the man other than he was using her. That was the only part she could be sure of. She had been used before and sometimes it was advantageous as long as both people’s goals were considered. But with Delega, she truly didn’t know what he was capable of doing much less his final intentions. That was the scary part.

  “You seem distracted,” Vitori picked up on her apprehension.

  “Can you blame me,” she replied. “This isn’t the situation I thought I would find myself in when this whole thing started.”

  “Nor I,” Vitori said. “But yet we are here and must do what we must.”

  Anna had flashbacks as they sped down the road. She recalled her, Nate and Skylar’s path from the airport. The memories came back easily, Skylar popping himself out the top of the car and firing while she drove under cruise control and Nate huddled in the back not wanting to even look forward. Somehow they had come through that unscathed and she could only hope this would work out the same.

  They turned off the highway and onto the dirt road that led towards the cabin. It wasn’t far now. She felt the dampness under her arms as she began to sweat. That was something she couldn’t control and it would make for a miserable rest of the ride until she could air herself out.

  Suddenly the car came to an abrupt stop sending them pushing forward against their seatbelts. The doors to the front vehicle flew open and men positioned themselves behind the shields with weapons drawn.

  “What is it?” Vitori poked his head to the front, staring out the window.

  The driver quickly relayed the information. “There are two vehicles up ahead, one them is off the road with a man’s body hanging from the window. The other is totaled. Stay here sir, we’re checking it out.” Vitori’s men started inching forward.

  Anna forgot about her discomfort, unlatched her belt and looked straight out the windshield. She could just make out the truck with its front end lodged into the trunk of a tree. Her heart started quickening as she recognized Wallace’s truck. “Who is it,” she asked. “Who is that?” She started shaking. Were they too late? Was that Skylar, or Wallace?

  She watched the men move slowly forward to secure the location. A lone man came back a minute later to address Vitori. “There are ten bodies, I’m afraid nobody lives. It looks like the truck had run into the SUV that was trying to block the road out of here. There are a lot of shells on the ground and most of the dead were killed by gunshot. Six of them look to have been executed.”

  Anna’s heart raced, she thought she was going to faint. The world spun in circles. She tried to regain her composure but she became too dizzy and collapsed into the leather seat. “Water, someone get some water,” she heard Vitori say. She saw him lean over her, “Anna, Anna. Breath, catch your breath.” She heard her own gasps to get air. It felt like someone was sitting on her chest. You don’t know who they are, she told herself. It could be anyone. Her breathing finally came under control and she took a sip from the water bottle Vitori held out to her. She took deep gulps of air and then sat up. She opened the door letting in a fresh breeze. It fell over her damp skin and quickly brought her back to the moment. She immediately jumped out and stood up, bracing herself against the car. She took a step forward.

  “Anna, are you sure you want to go over there?” Vitori asked from inside. “We could identify them for you, there’s no need for you to look. It might not be prudent.”

  “No. I need to see.”

  Anna started down the road. It would only be a short walk to the site. She came to the truck and saw Skylar hanging out the window. His tattooed arm she recognized immediately. She swallowed hard as tears whelmed up in her eyes. She didn’t much agree with the man but he had been her friend nevertheless and had saved her life. Now he was gone. His limp body hung oddly from the truck. Nobody had even bothered to lay him on the ground. She walked by two more bodies that she didn’t recognize and then came up to the place where six people lay side by side, having been executed in the middle of the road.

  She scanned the bodies until her gaze fell on the last one. A sudden pain seared through her, it felt like someone was ripping out her insides. She averted her eyes but they kept daring back to the scene as though looking away would change the result. Tears began dripping down her cheeks but she had yet to make a sound. She couldn’t, her throat had gone completely dry once she recognized Nate’s lanky body sprawled in the dirt. He’d been shot in the head and his eyes were open, staring up into the sky.

  She ran over and fell to her knees placing her hands on his side. He was still warm. She quickly closed his eyes. “Why are you here,” she said. “Not you. Not you.” She started sobbing. How could he be here, he was in Colorado. Why did he come back? This was her fault. This entire situation was her fault. Nate was her best friend, as close as a brother. Her head fell down onto him and she buried herself in his shirt. She felt her body weaken and threaten to fall into a small heap and die.

  Vitori came up next to her. “I’m sorry,” he said, laying a hand on her back. “It appears that we missed them by little more than an hour.”

  “Get away from me!” Anna yelled. She shot upright and pushed him with both hands. He staggered backwards and almost fell from the unexpected outburst. “This is your fault! You had to pick me, me and Nate. This is bullshit! I hate you. Stay the fuck away from me.” Anna pointed at him and jabbed her finger in the air. Rage filled her head but just as quickly it faded into nausea. She stumbled over to a small tree and threw up. She retched until there was nothing left and knelt down hugging the trunk. “Nate. Wallace. God I hope your ok Rock. Where are you?”

  “We need to find him, we can help him,” she once again heard the old man’s voice. He was right behind her. “But we need to know where he is and where he’s going. And we need to find the rose and get it back.”

  “Fuck your damn rose,” she sneered, bracing herself and coming to a standing position.

  “I’m sorry for your loss, but its imperative we get that book.”

  “What do you know about loss?”

  “The people who killed your assistant also killed my wife and eldest son. I know much about loss.”

  Anna looked away. “I didn’t know.” She felt foolish for letting her anger get the best of her. But she wasn’t about to apologize.

  “I know. You need to mourn later for your friends, but right now we need to get to Rock and find out what he knows. We can help him. We’re the only ones who can.”

  Rock was all she had left. “I’ll help you, but if only to keep him safe.”

  One of Vitori’s bodyguards came up to the old man’s side. “Sir I got word from the cabin, nobody is back there, and its empty.”

  “Thank you,” he replied. “See to it these bodies are picked up and clean this place up. And be respectful. Let’s go Anna. We need to move.”

  “Give me a moment,” she said.

  “Of course.”

  Anna walked over and knelt between Wallace and Nate. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to them. “In some way I’ll find who is responsible and make sure they face justice.” She let her tears hit the dirt. She picked up Nate’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Good bye,” she squeezed his hand. “You were the best friend I ever had.” She gently ran her hand over his eyes and shut them for the last time.

  Anna pushed herself up and stalked back towards the line of vehicles. She passed by Vitori Delega. “Let’s go,” she said, steeling her thoughts from what she had just seen.

  “Where to,” he quickened his step to catch up.

  “Florida. I’ll find Rock when we get there.” When they made it to the vehicles, she slid inside the car, slammed the door and tried not to cry.

  Chapter 38

  Florida, August 201
2