18 From Breckenridge: Love On The Run (18 From Breckenrdige)

by J. P. Castle

  BOOM.

  Fire exploded into the air; the Hummer’s front end left the pavement. The vehicle landed with flames shooting out of the engine and crashed into a brick building. Soldiers exited the smoke-filled cabin staggering, dazed from the robust blast. A few pieces of hot brick pelted the top of Ledger’s SUV.

  “YEAH, I did it! Take that, suckers!” said Rani, still hanging out the window.

  “Rani! Get your ass in here,” said Ledger.

  He sped out of the alley, almost hitting two trash receptacles. His hands trembled, adjusting the rearview mirror. “We gotta blend now, blend with traffic. I’m totally lost, no idea where to go.” He drove a mile through traffic lights trying to put distance between him and the fiery crash scene they’d left behind.

  “There’s an empty street, turn here. Let’s park for a sec ‘n call Bastian,” said Rani.

  “Okay, yeah, sounds good.”

  Ledger parked along the edge of the isolated street. Trash littered the sidewalks. He took a much-needed deep breath. “WOW,” he said, grasping the steering wheel. “I have to say, you impressed me back there. I thought we were gonna be roasted.”

  “Rani Unstoppable,” she mused. “That was some pretty fancy race car driving, too. Where’d you learn to do that!?”

  Ledger shook his head, “I learned it—right then.”

  “Are those hookers?” said Rani, changing her facial expression. “I’ve never seen one in real life.”

  “Oh shit, we gotta get out of here. We’ve landed in the red-light district.”

  “What’s a red-light district?” said Rani.

  “THE HUMMER FOLLOWED Ledger ‘n Rani. No way we can help them now. I have no idea where they’re headed,” said Bastian. He drove out of John’s neighborhood. About a mile away, he pulled into a desolate park. “We’ll wait here a minute. He might call us.”

  He pulled out the note John had given him with the location of the locker on it and typed the address into his phone. “It’s at the airport. Fantastic, won’t have to worry about cameras or security there,” he said in a sarcastic tone.

  “I hope Ledger and Rani make it somewhere safe,” said Troian.

  Bastian text Ledger, no reply. “They almost had us back there,” he said. “Are you okay? I mean, I’m doubtful you ever shot a man before.”

  “I’m fine. It’s not like I killed . . . him.”

  “No, I did that,” said Bastian. “I don’t regret it either.”

  “You had no choice. I didn’t mean . . .”

  “Troian, I really need you to trust me right now and don’t move—seriously. Don’t peek around. Don’t turn your head.”

  Troian froze.

  “You’re scaring me, Bastian,” she said. Before she could utter another word. Bastian wrapped his arm around her, pulled her close, and planted his mouth on hers. Troian instinctively pulled back but couldn’t move well with his hand clasped up into her hair. She opened her eyes—still in the awkward embrace—to find Bastian with one eye open, peeking out the back.

  A nightstick rasped on the driver window. Bastian loosened his grip, rolled down the window, and greeted the two officers staring back at them.

  “Yes, sir,” said Bastian.

  “Little late for you two romantics to be out here, ain’t it. You realize there’s a deadly virus floating around,” said the officer.

  Bastian pretended to read the clock on the dash. “Yeah, probably time to get her home. Gotta be there in twenty minutes anyway. Her dad’s a real stickler for curfews.”

  “Where’s home?” said the officer.

  Bastian didn’t have an answer. He didn’t know one street name in this town.

  “Park Avenue,” said Troian.

  “Let’s get a move on then. Park closes in ten minutes.”

  “Yes sir, officer,” said Bastian. He watched the officers pull away. “What made you say Park Avenue?”

  “Lucky guess. Every big town has a Park Avenue, doesn’t it,” she said. “Surely, they didn’t memorize every single street name in the city.”

  “I’m sorry about the kiss and grabbing ahold of you like that. They were coming, and I couldn’t think of anything else to do. We already seem suspicious, being the only ones here. I didn’t want them to think we were trying to do drugs or something . . . making out was the only thing that popped in my brain. We’ll explain to Rani what happened, assuming she and Ledger make it.”

  Troian sat for a moment. “My first kiss—a fake. Not exactly how I’d envisioned that to go. Don’t worry, I’m not upset, you were reacting to a situation.”

  “That was your . . . first kiss? Ever?”

  “Yeah, embarrassing, I know.”

  “No, no, that’s not what I meant at all. I can’t be responsible for screwing up someone’s first kiss,” he said.

  Bastian embraced her for real this time, slowly, wanting to ensure he had her complete permission. Troian—scared but steady—looked into his dreamy eyes without pulling away. He moved his mouth close . . . closer still . . . barely touching her lips now with his. A warmth she’d never experienced flooded through her entire body as he planted a Bastian Ballentine special on her. A kiss so tender . . . she’d never forget it in a million years.

  Troian took in his aroma, and the smell of his moist breath. The newness of a guy’s hand grasping her waist, the other up under her hair and on the nape of her neck. This marked the second time today that the world had stopped spinning for Troian Sinclair.

  Bastian gazed at her, noses still touching. He pulled back easy and took a deep breath. “Now, we won’t tell Rani about that one, and we have to get out of here,” he said.

  Troian sat in awe of what had just transpired, words escaped her. All she could do—swallow. The moment she’d dreamt of a thousand times, in a thousand different settings, except this one, came true. Don’t act like an idiot. I can’t believe he did that. Say something.

  “That one . . . would . . . definitely qualify as a great first kiss,” she said, clearing her throat.

  Bastian grinned, winked at her, and spun the tires pulling out of the park before all hell broke loose again.

  “Me ‘n you are gonna head toward the airport and try to get this bag,” said Bastian. “Hopefully, we’ll hear from Ledger soon.”

  “Okay,” said Troian. He could tell me we’re heading into a contaminated nuclear zone full of deadly radiation and zombies right now, and I wouldn’t care.

  “IF THEY’RE NOT hookers, they sure look like hookers,” said Ledger.

  Before Ledger or Rani could check their wrist-units, a ball bat crushed the back window. Rani shrieked from the shock of the noise.

  “White boy, you must not understand what block you’re on. This is our block; those are our hookers. You don’t come down here trying to pimp your girl. Steal our business. No, no, no, ain’t gonna happen, bro.”

  “White boy?” said Ledger. “You’re white yourself ‘n she’s not a hooker.” He said, pointing over to Rani. “We’re lost ‘n need directions.”

  “Hooker?” said Rani. “I’m not a hooker. I’m Rani Unstoppable.”

  “You look like a hooker to me, b,” said the gang member.

  Ledger reached for his gun.

  “Oh no son, there’ll be none of that,” said the gang member who had a gun pointed under Ledger’s chin before he could react.

  “Man, we’re not even from here, check our licenses. We pulled over to find directions, that’s all.”

  “Stop kissing up to him, Ledger. We just blew up a truck and killed some people. Let’s kill them too ‘n get going,” said Rani. “We’re losing unnecessary time here.”

  “Please shut up, Rani,” said Ledger.

  “Blew up a truck, hahaha. Yeah, haha, you two, hahaha. Yeah, you look like a bunch of blowin’ up trucks,” said the gang member.

  “Yo, Ty, they probably robbed a bank and parachuted out of a plane, too,” said Trey.

  “Did you 007 it out of a plane and rob a
bank, too, princess?” said Ty, laughing even harder.

  “She’s got more balls than you do . . . mama’s boy. Yeah, mama’s boy. You need a tattoo that says mama’s boy,” said Trey. “Get mama’s boy out of the car. He’s comin’ with us to the parlor. Bring 007, too.”

  The gang members jerked Ledger out of the driver’s seat. Trey strutted around to Rani, who pulled the pin from the second grenade she had. Trey opened the door to snatch Rani out of the passenger seat. Rani clutched the front of his shirt and held the grenade under his throat.

  “Do you wanna guess what happens if 007 lets this go?” she said.

  Trey held up his hands, “Yo Ty, Lola’s packin’ serious here.”

  Rani backed Trey out further from the vehicle. “Release my friend, and we’ll be on our way,” she said.

  Trey moved in a flash to clasp both of his hands over the top of Ranis. “So now what,” he said.

  Rani ripped her hands free and fled in a sprint around the nasty brick building that stood behind them. The grenade slipped from Trey’s grasp, landing near his feet. He kicked it as hard as he could and dove onto the grass. With no time, Ledger and Ty joined.

  The grenade exploded beneath an old car across the street, metal flew in multiple directions, smoke filled the air. Ty snatched Ledger by the collar, “You run, you die.”

  All three traipsed down the street toward Ty’s hookers, then disappeared into an abandoned building. Inside, other gang members approached.

  “What do we have here?” said Little H.

  “A wannabe pimp with a grenade packin’ hooker,” said Ty. “Don’t matter, he’s bout to get a new tattoo. Fire up the machine. Watch him, I gotta make a phone call.”

  Lower ranked members prepared some ink.

  Ledger sized up his surroundings, trolling for anything to help himself. Dirty old couches, ancient pinball machines, junkies in the corner, these things offered little consolation. How could I make it all this way just to be killed by junkies?

  Rani crossed paths with another hooker on the next corner.

  “Bad day, sweetie. You lookin’ a little rough. Were you near the sonic boom I just heard?” said the hooker.

  “Long story, but yeah. I need a little help.”

  The hooker peeked around. “Come with me, let’s get you cleaned up. Name’s Laticia.”

  With no option, Rani reluctantly followed Laticia up to the third floor of a dilapidated building. “People actually live here,” said Rani.

  “You ain’t from around here are ya,” said Laticia in a low rolling tone.

  “Not exactly.”

  “Here put these on. Your clothes are a mess. My roommate left town ‘n left these boots ‘n all this stuff here in my way. It’s all too small for me.”

  Rani changed into some black leather pants, a snug black shirt, a black fitted leather jacket, and some shiny black knee-high boots with four-inch heels. She rinsed her red face in Laticia’s sink. “I gotta go get my friend.”

  “Where’s he at?”

  “Some guys nabbed him, Ty, or Trey—”

  “Oh no, I can’t help you with that. They own this neighborhood. Wait right here.”

  Rani figured Laticia would bring back another member of the gang faction to haul her off. She almost climbed down the fire escape. Before she could finish tossing the idea around, Laticia showed back up with another girl.

  “Meet Ginger Halliday,” said Laticia. “She might be able to help you get your friend back.”

  “Hi, I’m Rani,” she said, shaking Ginger’s hand.

  “So, Treys got yer boy, huh? What do you have to offer me?” said Ginger.

  Rani calculated in her head. She could think of nothing to offer, then remembered, “Gun, I have a military gun in the back of the jeep . . . if it’s still there. There are two actually, but I need the other one.”

  “Well then, let’s go ‘n I may also need a ride out of here,” said Ginger.

  “Done,” said Rani. “Laticia, thank you. I won’t forget it. And do yourself a favor, when the government comes with shots, and they will soon, you hide yourself and anyone you love. The shot will kill you. There is no virus.”

  “Okay, thanks for the warning,” said Laticia, one brow raised, looking at Rani like she had two heads.

  Rani was used to the expression; Ollie gave it to her all the time. “I get it, it sounds crazy I know, but you’ll thank me for your life soon enough,” said Rani, heading out the door with Ginger Halliday in tow.

  “How’d you get tangled up with Trey?” said Ginger.

  “We’re not. We pulled over lost, needing directions. Wrong place, wrong time sort of thing,” said Rani, peering into the back of their busted-up SUV. “Awesome, they were too stupid to case the back floor.”

  “Whoa, that is top of the line heat right there, girlfriend,” said Ginger.

  “How’s it work? Do you know?” said Rani.

  “Sure, my dad was in the Marines. He taught me all about guns. Here’s the safety. When you slide this button back, it’s ready to fire, just squeeze the trigger and hang on. Of course, it needs bullets, but it’s clearly loaded.”

  “Okay, pick one, I’m taking the other,” said Rani.

  “You simply gonna roll through the front door, hahaha. No, come on. I’ll show you the back entrance. If I help you, you are gonna take me with you, right?”

  “Take you where?” said Rani.

  “With you, wherever you’re going. I don’t care. I gotta leave here, head west. Besides, you’ll be hard-pressed to get out of this area without some help. These aren’t the kind of people you get riled up without consequences. What you behold of these idiots here, is a small dent working a single block for a much larger gang. They can find anyone in this city, anytime, anywhere, and real, real fast.”

  “I told you I would. Can’t promise how far. Come on, we have to hurry,” said Rani.

  Rani and Ginger made their way around the backside of the building that housed the gang.

  “Come on, through here, real quiet-like,” said Ginger.

  The pair heard voices taunting Ledger. Rani peered through a small hole in the wall. Three guys held Ledger’s face down on a nasty wooden table. He wrenched his body around, trying to get free.

  “Is that the best you got mama’s boy?” said Trey. “Hope you’re into red, we’re all outta the blue ‘n black.”

  “Come on, man, let me go. You’ve made a mistake. You’ll never see me again,” said Ledger.

  “Ty makes no mistakes,” he said, baring the top of Ledger’s right hip.

  The tattoo gun hadn’t seen a clean needle since the early nineties. It hummed a high-pitched tune, ready to make its first pass. Ledger knew if the gang didn’t kill him, the disease festered needle would.

  Members of the gang startled when Rani burst through the back door. She jumped on top of a large stack of old tiles and fired the assault rifle into the air. “No boys, THIS RIGHT HERE is the best he’s got,” she said, pointing to herself, “And I’m afraid the red’s unfortunately not gonna work today.”

  Rani wasted no time.

  Bullet casings bounced off the floor as she shot up the pinball machine. Some gang members hot-footed it for cover; others hit the deck and covered their heads. Not Trey, he stood to face the invader.

  “Next rounds for you, Trey. Ginger, take his sunglasses, I want those for a souvenir,” said Rani, standing there like a comic book vixen.

  Ledger couldn’t believe it. Surely, his eyes betrayed him. He blinked a few times and looked again. Rani showed up to save the day dressed like some version of . . . Catwoman. No way. What’s she wearing? Who is this person and where’s Rani?

  Ginger threw Ledger his coat; he quickly put it on.

  “Ginger baby, you bout to disappear in a permanent kind of way. No one rolls up in here, flashing fancy heat my way without paying in my favorite kind of currency, flesh,” said Trey.

  “We’ll be needin’ the keys to your fine ride out fr
ont, too,” said Ginger.

  Recognizing Ginger presently held the upper hand, Trey tossed over the sunglasses and the keys. He and Ginger had an unpleasant history, and he knew full well she could handle any gun.

  “Don’t worry about me, Trey, and as always, it’s been a pleasure,” said Ginger, reflecting back on heavy abuse she’d endured from him.

  The trio left out the front door, blew through the hookers on the sidewalk, and leaped into Trey’s brand-new SUV. Ledger fired it up and fled down the street.

  “What was that back there, Rani?” said Ledger, rounding the next corner.

  “That was me saving your life,” said Rani. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

  “I guess you really are Rani Unstoppable,” he chuckled. “I was sure I’d have a new tattoo on my ass before I ever saw you again. But no, you bust in dressed up like a red-haired Catwoman, hahaha, WOW.”

  “Borrowed the clothes from a hooker. Mine got a little messed up earlier.”

  “Okay, I got several messages from Bastian and an address. Text him three words, on-the-way. Who’s she?” he said, pointing his thumb toward the back.

  “I’m Ginger Halliday, nice to meet you, Ledger,” she said. “Rani said I could come with you if I helped save you ‘n gave me a gun as payment.”

  “Okay, well . . . thanks for the help,” said Ledger, still trying to digest what had just happened. Rani’s transformation from helpless, prissy pom-pom queen to a vivacious rebel vixen blew his mind.

  Thirty-five minutes later, they found parking in the terminal of the airport. Ledger stepped out of the vehicle to call Bastian. “I’m here, ‘n we have a guest, it’s a long story. I’m standing outside of a black SUV, brand new, parking lot C.”

  “Got it, I’ll be there soon,” said Bastian, waiting patiently for Troian to return.

  No way he could enter the airport, the risk of being identified remained high. Troian went in alone, she approached the locker. Remain calm. Don’t draw attention. Act like you know what you’re doing. A guard observed her from the corner of the lobby. Ignore him, don’t be paranoid. She stuck the key into the latch. It didn’t work. Troian rolled the key around in her hand and tried again.