Page 55

“Okay, I think we’re good here. Now, remember, I call the shots, not because I’m your superior but because I know the layout and I know what the fuck I’m talking about. Got it?”
“Got it!” We all shout at the same time, and just like that, it’s like a mini initiation into the Marines.
“Oohrah! Saddle up!” With that cry, we all head out, ready to kill some motherfuckers, and I’m fucking praying that expression ain’t literal because I feel for any horse that has to carry my mammoth ass.
We head out just as the sun dips behind what I’m guessing are the Rocky Mountains which, by the way, happens a half hour earlier than in Rockford Beach. Winter’s no joke when you’re Canada’s intimate neighbor.
Beside me in the “outfit”, as Sarge keeps calling the fucking truck, Grinder sits in the middle of the back seat, scowling and mumbling shit about how the cold should be outlawed.
Right behind my seat is Bash, with Kincaid sitting behind Sarge, who’s at the wheel. The other trucks are full as well, but I’m guessing none of them have to deal with a pissed off Grinder.
“I’m telling you, I’m ripping out more teeth than usual because I’mma need to keep moving so I don’t die from frostbite.” After that, I tune him out, leaving him in the care of Sarge, who’s got more patience than a saint.
Thinking about anything other than Athena is becoming more and more impossible. My brain tries to concentrate first and foremost on the mission, imagining our moves and our strategies, but to be honest, the only thing that really matters is the exact moment Athena will be in my arms.
Just as it always does, the thought of finally holding her has a million questions flying through my mind. What have they done to her in the last two days? Will she need medical attention? I linger on this for just a second before I blurt, “You a medic in the Marines?”
It’s only when Sarge puts an abrupt end to whatever he was saying that I realize he and Kincaid were discussing strategies. When I look over my shoulder, I can’t help the tiny smirk that pops up at the corner of my mouth. I have never heard Kincaid speak this much before. Not so many sentences all at once.
“Nah, but we all have a basic notion. Why?” Now, when someone answers, I’d expect them to look at me, but Sarge does the opposite. His gaze meets our prospect’s raised brow in the rear view mirror and I’m willing to bet these two are going to have some celebratory fucking at the end of this mission, and judging by the tense shoulders and the hungry eyes, it’ll be epic for them.
Good. I’ll be caring for my woman and making sure she can survive the psychological warfare they’ve most likely put her through.
“Just in case. I don’t know what they’ll have done to Athena and I want to make sure someone can tend to her once we get her back.” The words come out but I’m already looking out the window as we continue our trek to Arrow’s Creek where Athena is probably fighting for her life.
Swear to fuck, I will rip their limbs from each of their sockets for what they’ve done to my baby girl. Rip. A. Part.
“Tank’s had some training, for a while in high school he was training as a volunteer firefighter. Basics, but that’s always useful.” I nod at Sarge because he’s right, every little bit of knowledge will be useful. There’s a part of me that wishes we had Mac here with us. Her knowledge as a trained EMT could really help. But Psycho would have my balls for even thinking of bringing her into a situation this dangerous and I kinda like them where they are.
“Hey, Bear, we callin’ dibs?” Fucking Grinder.
“Yeah, I’ve got dibs on whoever put his hands on Athena.” I wish I could say there’s humor in my voice but there isn’t. I’m deadly serious.
“Fair enough.” He gets it.
“But, Grinder?”
“Yeah?”
“You can have all the fucking teeth you want.” This time, I do grin, lifting my fist for a brotherly bump.
“Fucking right.”
By the time we make it to Arrow’s Creek, the sky is dark and the cold is fucking unbearable. Until, that is, my adrenaline gets pumping in my bloodstream. My molars are getting a workout and my nails are digging inside the flesh of my palms from how hard I’m clenching my fists. It’s half anticipation of finally reaching Athena and half deep-rooted need to raze the world to satisfy my rage.
Without counting the men who have been here since yesterday and some from this morning, we park our trucks on a path hidden by the pine trees that grow tall and thick. Like a well-oiled machine, we all jump out and slam our doors in perfect unison.
Since the beginning, Sarge has been leading this excursion into kill-a-motherfucker-ask-quesions-never, so we all turn to him and wait for his instructions. With his phone in hand, Sarge lets his thumbs fly across the screen like a practiced teenager, and when he’s finished, he pockets it and raises his head.
“That was Kitch, they’re all set up and waiting for us to give the order. Last count was thirteen.”
“My lucky number.” Grinder’s smile is on this side of psychopathic, especially with the way he’s rubbing his gloved hands together.
Ignoring Grinder, Sarge continues with his orders. “Sledge, Grinder, and Kincaid, you come with me, we’ll be on the southside of the property. There are about six men there walking the perimeter. Bear, Psycho, and Bash, you’ll be sliding down this mountain, right here.” He points behind me where the path stops and the trees begin. “Be careful, the snow is heavy so it’ll be slippery. But this means you’ll be entering the north side of the property where you have the least amount of guards. The rest are inside eating dinner.”
“Those fuckers are about to find out what indigestion feels like.” Psycho barely murmurs his words but in the quiet night blanketed in snowfall, his statement rings out as if he’d screamed it.
Psycho and Grinder fist bump and it hits me, like a sharp blade to the heart, that these men followed me across the whole of the country to help me save a woman I’ve barely known for a week. If that’s not brotherhood then I don’t know what is.