"We have to go back. We have to get the Vegas home. We need to get our kids," Rafe replied.
Everyone looked around the group, each looking for confirmation on what the plan was. The slam of the truck door announced Alex's arrival into the conversation.
"We go back to town. We deliver Albert, Mateo, and Sylvia to their home. We then go to the compound. Once home we start packing up for an extended trip away. The wound I gave Callahan will need some help, possibly surgery. That should give us a head start to decide where to go to hide until we can take them all down."
"Where did you hit him, Alex?" Max asked.
"Shoulder. Too far from the heart to kill him. It was my mistake. I allowed my emotions to cloud my vision," Alex explained.
Cliff's large hand settled on her shoulder, trying to comfort her, but Alex shrugged him off.
"Missing is on me. But it doesn't matter. Alive or dead, they would still be coming for us. We need to chop this off at the top. Thanks to Marcus, we now know this has nothing to do with the plague and all about covering their tracks. They will stop at nothing to kill us all," Alex said, her voice full of anger.
"Who's the top?" Rafe asked.
"Callahan is taking direction from someone. I would wager that our guesses around 'The Suit' are accurate. Callahan got his information from someone and 'The Suit' is the one that had it. We go for him first. If Callahan dies along the way, all the better," Alex said.
Max whistled quietly at her sister's statement. Alex knew what she was thinking. It wasn't like her to want vengeance or to disregard human life. Callahan had been on her list after what he had done to Max. Now, Alex would make sure the man died. Painfully; if she had any choice in the matter. It was more like Max to feel the way Alex was. Yet, Alex had lost too much. She had met the breaking point and she wasn't sure how to come back from it.
After some additional discussion around the best route back to Kalispell, everyone began to check the vehicles that were abandoned in the rest stop. Alex and Max worked on siphoning gas from those that still had it. They worked in silence, Alex having nothing to say and Max without the words to reach her sister. They were able to fill the two trucks, with the van left on a half a tank. Alex stood back from the van and stared at it until Rafe came to her.
"What do you want to do?" Rafe asked.
"Burn it."
"That would be a spotlight on us, Alex," Rafe replied.
Alex looked around, trying to think of another way to destroy it. She walked away from her brother and went straight to the edge of the rest stop. When she peered over the embankment, she was pleased to see that the rest stop sat on the top of a crest, a rocky cliff on the other side of the safety barrier. She went back to Rafe and told him to get all the gas and supplies out of the van. He didn't question her as he instructed Charlie to move Albert into a truck and everyone worked together to strip the van of everything useful.
Rafe tried in vain to convince Alex to not go forward with her plan. But at the moment, all of her pain, anger, and retribution was inside of that black van. All she could think of doing was destroying the one thing she saw as the start of all the chaos reining around her. She thought of Marcus's body, likely thrown out beyond the fence for the dead or animals to feast on. Marcus deserved to be avenged. Until Alex could truly do it, destroying the symbol of her anger was the next best thing.
The van was an empty shell as they drove it up the embankment. Once the front of the van was angled on the top of the hill, Max jumped from the driver's seat. All it took was four adults to shove the front half of the van over the incline and gravity began to take over. The van plunged down the rocky hillside. Alex scrambled up the hill to watch the destruction. The van hit a tree and the back end began to spin to the left. Then the entire van flipped over a number of times before finally coming to rest against a large tree trunk near the bottom of the hill. Alex stood and stared at the wreckage and realized it was a perfect representation for what her heart looked like.
"Feel better?" Max asked as she joined Alex to look down at the vehicle.
"Not particularly," Alex replied.
"Sis, you of all people know what I've been through. At the hands of Callahan, obviously. You have been there for me. I just want you to know, I'm here for you too."
The heartfelt message made Alex turn to look at her sister. Max watched her with a careful look, waiting to see if she crumbled. But Alex wasn't going to fall apart. At least not in front of anyone.
"Thanks, Max. I'll let you know. I honestly don't know what I'm feeling right now. I feel sort of numb, ya know?" Alex replied.
"That'll pass. I remember that feeling. Then everything came flooding back at once and it was like I had just escaped all over again. Just remember when that happens, you aren't alone," Max said.
She then squeezed Alex's shoulder, before sliding down the embankment back to the trucks and the waiting group. Alex looked once more toward the van, before turning away from the black mass. She made her way back into the parking lot, stomping her feet to get the dirt off her boots. When she looked up, she found everyone looking at her. She knew they wanted her word on the next steps. She wanted to hide. She didn't want to be responsible. But then the dream of her father came back to her and she knew her purpose.
"We go home. Get the Vegas home. Get our friends and family packed up and leave the compound. For now. We can only hope that once we get are able to come back, there is a home to return to," Alex said.
No one spoke, just nodded before everyone loaded into their vehicles. The drive back to town was long and quiet. They stopped once the sun rose so they could eat breakfast. The entire time they continued to keep watch behind them. No vehicles ever showed on the horizon. But that didn't mean they weren't being followed. The threat was there, and they had to get out ahead of it.
They were pulling back into Kalispell by the next morning. They had stopped to sleep, allowing everyone the chance to recharge. Alex couldn't sleep, no matter what she tried. She was physically and mentally exhausted. But that didn't change the fact that when she closed her eyes all she saw was the blood spraying from Marcus's head. They took turns as lookouts, but Alex ended up take three shifts because she knew she wouldn't be able to rest.
Rafe lead the group as they made their way through residential streets to the Vega home. When they pulled up everything around the house was silent. Alex watched from the truck, feeling detached from the situation. Mateo jumped from Rafe's vehicle and Alex could tell he was worried that no one had come out when they pulled up. But when he got to the door, a woman Alex could only guess was Claudia was flying into his arms, hugging her son to her tightly. Alex could see tears on Claudia's face. Vera came running from the house and Alex guessed Mateo had told them that Sylvia was also in the truck. Sylvia was just climbing from the vehicle when Vera stopped short of her.
The sisters looked at each other for a long moment. Then they both began to cry as they reached out to hug one another. Alex could imagine the feelings they were going through. She could logically figure they were feeling relief, with Vera's tinged with guilt. Alex could think of the emotions, but for some reason she couldn't feel any of them. She felt cold and far away. When Claudia looked up at Mateo in shock, Alex knew that was the moment he told her about Marcus. Next thing Alex knew, Claudia was coming toward her side of the truck Cliff drove. Alex gritted her teeth then rolled the window down.
"Hello, Alex. I'm Claudia, Sylvia's mother. I've heard a lot about you," the older woman said.
"I've heard a lot about you as well. Thank you for being kind to Marcus," Alex replied, her voice stiff and wooden.
"I'm so sorry. He was a good man. He cared about you and your group greatly. I could tell his emotions and feelings were true," Claudia said.
"Yes, we were family," Alex said, her voice hitched for a moment. Tears threatened behind her eyelids as she squeezed them shut. She wanted to shut out the sympathy, shut out the loss, shut out everything that was hurting
her.
The door opening had her eyelids lifting. Claudia stepped into the opening and took Alex's hands in her own. She then looked over to where Vera and Sylvia were still embracing. The woman's eyes were soft and wet, watching her children back together in one piece.
"You've brought back a piece of my soul. Marcus made sure that happened. He promised that he wouldn't give up. And he didn't. He deserves your mourning. I know it hurts like a physical wound. But remembering him is the only way to honor him now," Claudia said.
The pain Alex felt was immeasurable. Though Marcus was just a friend, his loss cut her heart into shreds. She knew her heart wasn't whole after losing Blake, the loss of Marcus only compounded the grief that she couldn't seem to manage. Now the dam was cracking, and she wasn't sure she could stop the flood once it came. She knew that this was the life of the apocalypse. They wouldn't all survive. Hope had made her vulnerable to the pain of losing someone close to her again. But the feeling of hope was the only thing that kept her moving from day to day.
Claudia seemed to read Alex's face as she went from shutdown, to panic, then unbearable grief. The woman had her arms around Alex before the first tears actually fell. As soon as the comfort was there, Alex couldn't stop the flood of pain that cascaded from her. Claudia rubbed her back, murmuring softly as she did so. Her voice was a quiet murmur as she spoke in Spanish to try to provide solace to Alex. Though Alex didn't understand any of the words, she could tell the emotion behind the meanings.
When the older woman pulled back, she placed her hands on Alex's wet cheeks. She looked into her eyes as she spoke.
"Don't fear the grief, Alex. It will eventually come on like an inevitable tide. Better that it's the evening tide and not a tsunami you never escape."
Alex nodded her head before Claudia stepped back out of the truck open doorway. Alex watched as the mother went to embrace her daughter. Sylvia buried her face in her mother's neck and her body shook with what Alex knew were sobs. The young woman had been through a lot at the brothel. Alex knew she was lucky compared to Sylvia, who was kept in one of the canvas rooms where the men could purchase time with her. Alex tried to believe that Sylvia would survive the emotional wounds she experienced while being held captive. She knew that the physical ones would heal eventually, leaving scars that she would grow used to.
They took the time they needed to say their goodbyes to the Vega family. Charlie set up Albert with a few additional pain killers she could spare. She instructed the family on how to change his dressing at least once every other day. She also promised to come back and check on him in a week or so, after she’d convinced Rafe that it was necessary. Claudia insisted on packing food for them all, despite the fact that they weren't far from home. Seeing what Claudia had cooked gave Alex ideas for future partnerships with the Vegas. However, that was something to think about later. Now all she could picture was her compound, her children, and how they needed to make plans.
The drive to the compound was without incident, which Alex was thankful for. She couldn't handle another run in with the infected or Callahan's men before she got home and felt safe for at least a day. When the gate came into view, Alex took a deep breath of relief. That feeling was quickly squashed by something stronger when she saw Billie and Henry walking over the crest of the hill blocking the house. Behind them was Easton with his sister Candace. When they saw Alex in the truck, they all broke into a run, meeting the truck before it could even park in the driveway.
Alex embraced the younger kids first, squeezing them each and kissing their heads. She then walked to Easton and Candace. She could clearly read concern on the teenage boy's face.
"I'm ok," she said just before Easton grabbed her in a bear hug.
"We already lost one mom," he said quietly.
"I know, shhhhh, I'm ok," Alex said, comforting him the way Claudia had just done for her.
Candace was next and she buried her face in Alex's neck and Alex just let her hold on as long as she needed to. Rafe had told Alex that the younger two hadn't known she was in trouble. But the teens had heard what was happening and clearly, they had been scared.
Behind them, Alex could hear the kids chatting with all the adults that were getting out of the trucks. Jack had joined them now and was being hugged by her parents. It was such a happy reunion for everyone. Even Rafe's dog, Storm, had bound toward the house, barking crazily. Alex was pretty sure it was part happiness and part angry dog for being left behind during some of their fights. Rafe crouched down and scratched the dog and talked to him like he was a child. Charlie had broken off from the group and had gone up the hill to meet Margaret who held Aiden. His little arms were out for Charlie before she got to the top. Alex felt tears sting her eyes as she thought about how the little boy had also lost his parents. But as Charlie swung him up and around, his giggle was high and happy. Alex knew he would someday need to know what had happened. But for now, he was safe and happy.
"Where's Marcus?" The question came from Billie and Alex tensed immediately. Candace still had her arm around Alex, and she could feel the change in her body.
"Oh no," Candace breathed quietly. And then her hand flew to her mouth and tears began to form in her eyes.
"What?" Easton asked.
"Mommy?" Billie asked, realizing something was very wrong.
Alex sat down in the grass and beckoned to Billie and Henry to join her. As Henry settled into Alex's lap, Billie sat across from her so she could see her mother. Max sat down as well, taking Billie's hand in her own and gave a comforting smile to Alex. She knew how hard this would be and she wanted to give Alex support as best as she could. Alex looked into the deep dark eyes of Henry as she took a deep breath.
"Marcus isn't coming back," Alex finally said. Henry's lip began to quiver, and Alex hugged him into her body, wishing she could just take all the pain.
"I'm sorry, baby," Alex said.
"What does that mean? He's not coming back? He left us?" Billie asked.
"No, Billie. He cared very much for you both. He wouldn't have left if he had a choice."
"He's dead," Billie said flatly.
"Did the sick people get him?" Henry asked, sniffing back the snot that threatened to flow down his face.
"No. Someone else did. Someone just as bad as the sick people," Alex said.
"Are you going to get the bad person, Mommy?" Billie asked.
Alex looked at her daughter. Her eyes were shining with tears that wanted to fall. Her knuckles were white where she squeezed her aunt's hand. Alex knew she was fighting to be tough and it broke Alex's heart. She wanted her daughter to be able to act her age. Instead, she was in the middle of the apocalypse where she could lose any of her loved ones at any time. Alex met her eyes and she knew the only answer she could give her kids was the truth.
"Yes. I'm going to get the bad man."
Later that night, after the younger children had been put to bed, the adults sat around the living room. Rafe fiddled with wires that lead to the TV from his computer. Finally, finding the right connection, a photo of the military outpost came to the large screen. The group wanted to discuss the location and what they had learned before any of it faded from memory. Alex had to admit out loud that she couldn't remember much, everything was hazy. Of course, everyone understood where she was coming from. Margaret laid a comforting hand on her shoulder from where she stood behind the couch.
"We're going to have to leave the compound," Alex finally said. The small talk hushed in the room.
"He knows who shot him. He'll send everything he has at us now. I did nothing but piss off a hornet's nest. All because I let my emotions control my trigger finger," Alex said.
"You did what any of us would have done," Max said.
"Griffin didn't when he knew what was happening to you," Alex said.
"Well, he left his mark," Max said. Alex knew she was thinking about how Griffin had beaten one of the soldiers before they had left. A solider that now stayed on their compound. Par
tially as a survivor, partially as a prisoner. Alex made notes about how they would have to take him with them when they left as well.
"I appreciate that. But I was reckless. I put us all at risk. I'm sorry. We will need to make plans," Alex said.
As Alex spoke, Candace suddenly jumped from her place on the couch. She went closer to the TV and stared. Easton watched for a moment, trying to figure out what she was looking at.
"Wait, go back a few photos," Easton said, as he stood and joined Candace in the middle of the room.
"Oh my god," Candace said quietly.
"It can't be," Easton said.
"What? It's can't be what?" Alex said. Concerned for her adopted children, she stood and went to them. She looked at Candace's face, but it was sheet white. Easton was more emotional, his face beet red, as if he was angry.
"Ok you two, explain. What is going on?" Alex demanded.
Candace lifted one finger and stepped closer to the TV. She pointed to a man standing on the stage in the military outpost. The photo was taken prior to Marcus being brought out. Rafe had zoomed in close to the man, apparently trying to identify what they were doing on the stage. Alex could make out sandy brown hair and a grim looking face. But when she stared, something was familiar about the man. She couldn't make out his name, but she felt like she had seen him before.
"It's our Dad," Easton said.
Alex suddenly realized why the man looked familiar. He was an older version of Easton, confirming that there was no question about who the man was. Their father was on the stage where Marcus was killed.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Alex poured over the photos from the execution. She could track, who she knew now was Liam Reynolds, from the crowd to the stage. He then stood on the stage as Marcus was brought out. Alex tried to discover from the photos of what part Liam played in the death of Marcus. But when the gun came out of Callahan's holster, Liam looked shocked and when Marcus' body was on the ground, Alex tried to guess he looked sick. They didn't have photos after that, as that was about the time Alex had shot Callahan.
Sundown Series (Book 4): Torment Page 31
