Cut Off (Book 3): Cut Loose

by Dalton, Charlie

  There it was.

  The pistol. Loaded. He wondered if it would fire or if it would jam. He cursed himself for not checking it when they first arrived there. His father would be spinning in his grave. He didn’t have time to check it now. He pulled it out, replaced the wood panel, tucked the pistol in the back of his trousers, and straightened his shirt. Then he lifted the toilet seat and relieved himself.

  The door opened. “You’re still going?”

  “I drank a lot of water earlier. If you want me to turn around and piss on your shoes, I can do that for you.”

  Gregory’s jaw clenched. He just stared at the back of Camden’s head. At least, Camden hoped he was staring at his head. He wouldn’t want him to notice the pistol tucked in the back of his trousers.

  “Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” Camden said.

  Gregory’s lip curled. “You know, Hannah talked about you often when we were seeing each other.”

  Camden’s ears pricked up. He missed his target and peed across the edge before straightening up and aiming true again. “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. She knew you liked her. Still does. But she always said you were never man enough for her. I suppose that’s why she chose me.”

  Camden’s chuckle met the hot wad of bile that rose into the back of his throat. “I’m guessing she regrets that decision now.”

  He reached over and pressed the flush. It wasn’t an electronic system but a pump they had to wind up when the pressure ran low. An ingenious invention by his father.

  “I have to thank you for that,” Camden said. “Before, she was never interested in nice guys. But after you, I’m pretty sure things will change.”

  Camden hadn’t thought any such thing. He just didn’t want Gregory to enjoy a victory over him. How could she have chosen a dick like this over me? I know I’m not perfect but sheesh…

  Gregory glared at Camden and didn’t move a muscle from the doorframe. Camden found a new confidence, knowing that if the shit did hit the fan, at least he had the necessary weapon in his trousers to do the job. But if he fired it, what would that mean for the rest of them inside the lodge? He needed to be inside before he could take action. If he was fast enough, he could take them all down before they could retaliate.

  But he had to get back inside the lodge first.

  “Girls who like bad guys never retreat to wusses,” Gregory said. “It’s a fact.”

  “Date the bad boy, marry the nice guy, isn’t that what they say?” Camden said.

  “You can take my sloppy seconds any day. By the time I’m done with them, they’re ruined for men like you. They’ll think about me while you fumble around, not knowing what you’re doing. I can live with that.”

  Gregory moved aside to let him through.

  “Maybe I’m not the goody two shoes you think I am,” Camden said. “I’ve done plenty of stuff since the EMP.”

  “Like what?”

  It was a fair question. Now that he thought about it, he had seen plenty of things happen but he hadn’t done any of them. It was mostly his grandfather and Katie who did it. What had he done since the power cut that would fashion him into a harder, stronger survivor? The answer was nothing.

  Gregory chuckled. “I thought so.”

  As Camden moved down the path and back to the lodge, he was aware of the man on his heels every step of the way. If he reached out, he could feel the pistol tucked in his trousers. So, he walked fast to keep ahead, and when he reached the door, in case Gregory tried to shove him through it, he turned to one side to put his back to the forest and waited for Gregory to open the door for him. He didn’t step inside but jogged. As he expected, Gregory did try to shove him forward, but missed, and stumbled through the door.

  “Have any trouble?” Michael said.

  “Nothing I couldn’t handle,” Gregory said, dusting himself off.

  What trouble? All Camden did was take a leak.

  Michael shut the door and maintained his vigil out the window. Camden reached his seat and was careful where he placed his feet. He straightened his back, keeping the pistol within easy reach the whole time.

  Gregory returned to the corner on the opposite side of the door. He glanced at Hannah, blew a kiss at her, and then went back to plucked his nails with a knife.

  Camden looked at each man in turn. Jill was immediately behind him and would have to be the first target he blew away. Then he would turn and take out Gregory as he was the next closest. That one at least would be a pleasure. In total, it would take a few seconds. That would give Michael time to grab Luke and hold him as a human shield. That would make getting off the next shots difficult but he saw no other way around it.

  Isaac was the final man. He wasn’t sure how he would react. Probably the same thing he’d done since he first got there. Nothing. He could tell him to get on the floor. He might be the only man he wouldn’t have to kill.

  What about the Jack, high in the watchtower? What was he supposed to do with him? He had a high-powered rifle and wouldn’t hesitate to use it to unload on the lodge.

  There was an exit door at the back of the lodge they could use but the chances of them all reaching it before she opened fire were minimal at best.

  He ran a dozen such plans through his mind but they all ended the same.

  In failure.

  So he would wait for a better opportunity to come along. Perhaps when they made their next watchtower change over. He didn’t know when that was going to happen, but he had to be ready for it when it did. The sun was setting and time would soon be up.

  And Camden would be the only hope they had.

  No pressure.

  Then, they heard the approach of pounding horse hooves and a shout went up from Jack in the watchtower. He howled and screeched. With excitement, Camden thought.

  Their leader had returned to them, but who had done the returning?

  Camden exchanged a concerned expression with the others around the table. He felt that cold metal against his back and realised his moment to act was already dawning.

  God, please give me the strength to do what needs to be done.

  51

  Michael dreamed about this moment for months. His heart filled with love for the man being lifted off the horse by the old man. It was all worth it. His best friend – the man he knew his entire life – who saw the potential in him when no one else did, had finally returned to his family.

  He hobbled forward on bound ankles and wrists, in a bad state. Bill held him close. He was braced on either side by a hulking monstrosity.

  Michael threw all caution to the wind and hurled the door open and stepped out onto the front porch.

  Bill, quick as a flash, produced a pistol and aimed it at Quentin’s head. “No closer.”

  Michael held up his hands. “There’s no need for that.”

  The old man manoeuvered his horse to protect himself from the potential fire from Jack in the watchtower.

  A smart move, Michael thought.

  “Tell the guy in the watchtower to put down his rifle and join us.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

  “Then how do you suggest we go about this? I’m not going to let your man go until my kids are free and clear. I doubt you’d do different.”

  Michael turned his head to the side and spoke out the corner of his mouth. “Everybody out. And I mean everybody.”

  His gang ushered the locals out onto the porch. Bill didn’t once remove his eyes from Michael. This wasn’t his first shindig, and Michael wondered who he was.

  “Give him to us and everyone will be allowed to go back inside the lodge and wait until we leave,” Michael said.

  “And let your man in the watchtower take potshots through the walls? I don’t think so.”

  “Then how do you suggest we do this?”

  “The kids run away from here. Once they’re safely away, I’ll let you have him.”

  Michael appraised the situation. Dare he trust the old man?
He valued his own life a lot less than the kids. “No deal. I’ll let everybody go except the key hostages. I want to keep Luke, Louisa, and your grandson, Camden as a sign of good faith. The others can leave.”

  Bill took a moment before nodding his head.

  “You heard him,” Michael said. “The rest of you are free to go.”

  That meant Hannah, Jodie, and Nancy.

  “If you think I’m leaving my son here with you people, you’ve got another thing coming,” Nancy said.

  “Take care of the girls and make sure they get out of here safely.” Bill still didn’t take his eyes off Michael. “And you’ll be smart about it too.”

  “No, I won’t.”

  “Don’t be stupid. Think about Katie. She needs you.”

  Nancy couldn’t believe she was even contemplating this. “What about Camden?”

  “I’ll take care of him.”

  Nancy shook her head. She didn’t like it, but she would put her trust in the old man. She hugged her son and kissed him on the cheek. She paused for a fraction of a second when she hugged him. She looked him in the eye and spoke with meaning. “Be careful.”

  Camden hugged her back. “I always am.”

  Ronnie and Tanya led Hannah, Jodie, and Nancy across the driveway as fast as they could move. They aimed their rifles at the watchtower in case they needed to retaliate.

  “Okay,” Michael said. “I’ve given. Now it’s your turn.”

  Bill turned his head to the side and waited until the twins escaped with the girls. “One of yours for your buddy here.”

  Michael gritted his teeth. “We had a deal.”

  “We made no deal. The first was a sign of good faith. You said so yourself.”

  Michael shook his head of the tension headache forming at the back of his neck. “Fine. Gregory, would you do the honours, please?”

  Gregory blinked at the idea that he should be the one to be exchanged in favour of Quentin, but he didn’t argue – even he was smart enough not to turn down the ‘honour’ of potentially exchanging his life for their leader’s.

  Bill didn’t release his grip on Quentin until Gregory took his place beside him. The gang leader hobbled forward into Michael’s arms. He wrapped his arms around him tight. The proportions were all wrong – Quentin had broad shoulders and was a thick thunk of a man. Now, he was thin and wiry. It was nothing that a lot of food couldn’t fix.

  “I told you I would get you out, didn’t I?” Michael said.

  He pulled back and looked his friend in the face.

  “Take the kids and go,” Michael said coldly.

  Bill clutched Gregory’s arm tight and thrust his pistol to his temple. “I’ll take the kids, but I’m not leaving here. You are.”

  He led Gregory toward the front porch. He stood there, using Gregory’s body as a shield, the hostages behind him.

  “There were others chasing us,” Quentin said. His voice was a breathy rasp. He might not have spoken for weeks.

  “Each of these kids belongs to a different family in the area,” Michael said. “I used them as leverage, holding them hostage, and created a competition for their families. Whoever thought you back to us would get them all.”

  Quentin nodded. “I see you have not lost your touch, old friend. But perhaps you are not seeing all the options available to you. Aim your pistols at the children.”

  It took barely a moment for the men to react as the reins of power were swiftly transferred from Michael to Quentin. The gang aimed their weapons at the kids.

  “What is this?” Bill said. “I thought we had a deal?”

  “Not with me, you didn’t,” Quentin said. “Put your gun down or we’ll shoot one of the kids in the head. You have three seconds. One. Two. Thr–”

  Bill lowered his gun and Gregory leapt aside before relieving him of the gun.

  “Bring the gang together,” Quentin said. “In the future, we’re going to need as much food, water, and medical supplies that we can get our hands on. Now, we have three families to support us. So long as we have their children, we’re untouchable.”

  Michael had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He might be a criminal, but he was still a man of his word. “I told him I would give the hostages back once we had you.”

  “The deal has changed,” Quentin said. “They locked us up, and now they think they can starve us out. Well, they’ve got another thing coming. Pack everything up. We’re leaving.”

  Bill hung his head, defeated.

  52

  The Wedge family were already at the lodge by the time Katie and the Thornhills turned up. The Chelsea Smile gang were gone. No one took position in the watchtower, and they left the majority of the food behind.

  Most importantly, there was no sign of Bill, Camden, or the lovers.

  Hannah, Jodie, Nancy, and the twins filled them in on the details about how they were allowed to leave as a sign of good faith. The handover appeared to have been going well when they left.

  “I don’t understand what went wrong,” Nancy said.

  “Something did,” Katie said. “Otherwise they’d still be here.”

  Preston turned on Katie, his eyes filled with fire and bile. “Was this part of your plan? A part of your plan to bring the families together?”

  Katie retaliated with her own anger. “They took my brother as well. Do you honestly think that was part of my plan?”

  Preston and Wesley turned the driveway to mush as they paced up and down.

  “If you let us do what we wanted, none of this would have happened,” Preston said.

  “That’s bullshit and you know it,” Katie said. “If you listened to us from the start, with us working together, we could have them back by now. None of this would have happened. Instead, you let your foolish pride get in the way. Both of you. And now your kids, and ours, have been taken.”

  Wesley snatched Hannah and yanked her toward him. He aimed a pistol at her head. “Not all of them. Maybe we should even up the numbers a little.”

  Hannah screamed and tugged at the arm about her throat.

  “Kill her,” Katie growled. “Kill all of us. Then you can do the town a favour and kill each other as well. Once enough blood has been spilt, the Chelsea Smile gang will come and finish you off. All you need to do is the same thing you’ve always done, repeating the same mistakes over and over forever. If that’s what you want, go ahead. Squeeze the trigger and kill an innocent girl. Shoot me too. Shoot everybody. At least the town will be better off with neither family plaguing them.”

  Wesley snorted heavily through his nostrils, not out of exhaustion, but desperation that clutched at his chest. He dropped his eyes, dropped the gun, and shoved Hannah back. Jodie caught her and together, they wept.

  Preston ran a hand through his thinning grey hair.

  A Thornhill man came running around the lodge. He pointed back in the direction he came from and spoke quickly. “Tracks! Half a dozen horses heading away from here.”

  “Are you sure they’re the gang?” Preston said.

  “They’re the most recent tracks around. It must be them.”

  Preston and Wesley swung their horses around and jostled one another to get ahead.

  “Again?” Katie said. “Haven’t you listened to a single word I said? You’re repeating the same mistake you did earlier today. If you chase after the Chelsea Smile gang without a plan, fighting each other as much as you fight them, you and your loved ones are doomed. If you work together, we can all get what we want out of this situation.”

  The two men shared a look and glared. They were never going to agree–

  “For once in your miserable lives, listen to the voice of reason.”

  It was a new voice, one Katie recognised due to its distinctiveness. It was Yasmin Wedge, Louisa’s aunt. She and the other women didn’t ride horses, but marched, their dresses pulled up, dirty about the hem. And not only the women from the Wedge side but the Thornhill’s too.

  “For a h
undred and fifty years you’ve done what your gut tells you,” Yasmin said. “And in one hundred and fifty years, nothing has changed. People on our side die, people on your side die. And look at us. We’re no better off for it. If we spent less time and energy fighting each other, maybe, just maybe, we could both thrive.”

  Preston Thornhill looked on the Wedge woman and his anger broke. “I will listen. But only if he does.”

  Wesley looked from his sister to the leader of his sworn enemy. “My sister has always been the wisdom in the family. If she’d been born a man, we would have wiped the Thornhills off the map a long ago.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” Yasmin said with a twinkle in her eye.

  “I’ll listen.”

  It was a big step forward.

  “I can’t tell you what to do,” Yasmin said. “I might be biased and the Thornhills will never trust me. But there is one here who represents neither family but still has much at stake on how this situation plays out.”

  More than fifty pairs of eyes turned to Katie. She didn’t flinch or cower beneath their gaze. They were idiots and they needed her help, and if she wanted to get her brother and grandfather back, she was going to need their help too.

  “All right,” she said. “The simplest plans are the best. If we’re going to get them back, we’ll have to work fast. Here’s how I would do it…”

  53

  Camden grunted as Gregory shoved him off the horse and onto the hard ground beside Bill and the others. Louisa bawled, in tears, as Luke cuddled up close to her, giving her as much comfort as he was able.

  “Everybody take a break,” Quentin said. “We’ll eat and then make a hasty retreat over the hills. The more space we can put between us and the town, the better.”

  Things weren’t good. They could end up being under the custody of the Chelsea Smile gang for the next few weeks or more. The chances of being rescued were rapidly evaporating.

  He knew his sister and she wasn’t about to let him or their grandfather get used up by these people. There were only six members in the gang. Even if she could only rustle up the twins and Aaron, if they had the element of surprise on their side, they could take this gang down.