Page 13 of Home on the Road (Trucker Love #2)

Ziggy raced into the room where he’d slept his first night with the brothers. His phone was in here, but where did he leave it? He looked around frantically, trying to remember where it was.

Spying it on the dresser with the charger cord, he grabbed the slim cellphone and immediately dialed nine-one-one.

“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency,” the emergency operator sounded bored.

“I need help. Police, sheriff, possibly an ambulance. I’m not sure of the address, but it’s the Myles Brothers farm. There’s a crazy woman holding Sam and Harry hostage.”

“Hold on, sir. Take a deep breath and try to calm down. What’s your name, please,” the operator’s tone grew intense and no longer sounded like he would fall asleep in the next five minutes.

Ziggy took a deep breath, but it did nothing to calm him down. Harry and Sam were in trouble and he was the only one who could save them.

“My name is Ziggy Montrose. I work for Three Myles To Go Trucking. My stepmonster showed up this morning and she pulled a gun and is holding Sam and Harry hostage while I pack my belongings so I can go back to hell with her. I need police, sheriff, whoever is available in the next three minutes. And if she actually shoots someone, we’ll need an ambulance, too.”

“All right, sir, I’m going to put you on hold for just a minute, while I verify your location and get units rolling.”

“Tell them not to use sirens, or you’ll set her off,” Ziggy said as he pulled out his bag and began to toss clothes into it.

He knew there was no way the police could get there in the next few minutes, and the only thing he could do to save Harry was pack his bag and pretend to go with her, stalling all the way.

Ziggy had just finished packing when the dispatcher spoke, “Sir, we’ve got several units headed in your direction and the first unit should be there in about five minutes. Can you stall her until they arrive?”

“I’ll do what I can,” Ziggy said. Thank you for your assistance.”

“Don’t hang up, stay on the line.”

“I’ll try, but she won’t like it.”

The operator went silent a moment before he said, “Turn the volume up all the way and slide the phone into the waistband of your pants. Cover it with your shirt. That way we’ll be able to record what is going on. I won’t say anything, we’ll just listen.”

“I’ll try,” Ziggy said, doing as the dispatcher suggested.

Once he had the phone situated, he grabbed his duffel bag and headed back downstairs. He took his time, and hoped Terry would not lose it and shoot them in the meantime. He began mentally counting down the seconds until help arrived. He just hoped they showed up sooner rather than later.

At the kitchen door, he paused, until Terry yelled, “I saw you, boy. Get your ass out here, and let’s go home.”

****

Harry heard the screen door open and Ziggy step out onto the porch. He wished he could talk to the man, even for just a few minutes. He needed Harry to know that he loved him and he was doing this to keep him safe.

“I’m here. Let them go.”

“Go get in the car. You’re driving. Then I’ll let them go.”

At least Terry shifted the gun to point in his direction and not the Myles brothers.

Instead of heading directly to the car, Ziggy approached Harry. He knew that if Terry got him in the car, he would never see the man who held his heart again. And that was more than enough reason to fight. But, at least for these next few minutes, he needed to appear compliant even as he stalled for time.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he wrapped his arms around the man and hugged him tight. “I should have known she would do something like this.”

Harry returned his hug, then turned so he stood between Ziggy and his stepmonster. Then he lowered his head and whispered so only Ziggy could hear him. “Your father left everything to you. That’s why she needs you back so badly.”

Well, that explained a lot. But Ziggy had his own message to pass along. “The cops should be here in a minute or two. Stay safe. I love you.”

Turning his head just slightly, Ziggy brushed his lips over Harry’s. When he would have pulled back, Harry’s hand slid up his back. It cupped the back of his head and held him still as Harry kissed him back. Only Harry’s kiss was long, deep, and deserved an adults-only rating.

“Stop that. It’s time to go,” Terry approached and poked Ziggy in the side with the gun barrel.

****

Harry slowly pulled his arms back and released the man he loved. He thought he heard footsteps to the side of the house. He hoped that meant the authorities had arrived and were walking in instead of driving into this insanity.

Looking deep into Ziggy’s eyes, he declared in front of Sam, Terry, and God himself, “I love you, Z-man. Always remember that.”

“I love you, too,” Ziggy returned, then cried out as Terry slammed the hand holding the gun against the side of his head.

“Shut up, boy. You can’t love a man. I won’t let you. Now let’s go.”

Harry had to focus on controlling himself before he tackled Terry and beat the shit out of her. He and his brothers may have been taught not to hit women, but this creature could use a good beatdown. Especially when she started jabbing Ziggy in the back with the gun to make him move faster.

Movement at the side of the house caught his attention. A sheriff’s deputy was creeping forward, gun drawn. A look to the other side of the house proved the man was not alone.

While Ziggy was dragging his feet, despite Terry’s urgings, the sheriff and his deputies hurried forward until they were just a few yards behind them. When they reached Terry’s car, Ziggy went around to the driver’s side. That was when he saw the officers and froze.

“Get your ass in the car, boy,” Terry growled, waving the gun at him.

Knowing Ziggy would react, Harry yelled, “Ziggy, down!”

As Ziggy dropped to the ground on the far side of the car, Terry whirled around to face the house. She did not seem to see the men with guns pointed at her as she pointed her gun in his direction and fired. In response, the officers shot her several times, their aim much better than hers.

In seconds, she fell back and slid down the side of the car, obviously dead.

“Shit,” Sam cursed.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” Sam said, “but she broke the window.”

“We’ll get it fixed,” Harry said as he leapt off the porch.

He ran wide of the scene where the sheriff and his men were securing Terry’s weapon and confirming her status. Rounding the front of the vehicle, he looked at Ziggy who remained still as a stone.

“Ziggy? You okay?” Harry ran to the fallen man and knelt. “Shit, please be okay.”

Ziggy slowly rolled over and looked up at him. “Is she dead?”

“Yeah. At least, I’m pretty sure she is. The sheriff and his deputies aren’t known to miss what they shoot at,” Harry said. “Are you okay?”

Ziggy sat up and leaned into Harry’s body. “I’m okay. How are you? She shot at you.”

“Sam says she broke a window,” Harry said, wrapping his arms around his man and holding him tight.

“I’m sorry.”

Harry chuckled. “Not your fault. She’s the one who broke it.”

“Okay, then I’m not sorry.”

“You two okay?” the sheriff said as he stepped into view.

“Yeah, we’re good,” Harry said as he stood up before helping Ziggy to his feet.

“Do you know who she was?” the sheriff asked as they walked back to the house.

“Her name was Terry Montrose and she was my stepmonster,” Ziggy answered softly.

“His stepmonster?” The sheriff looked at Harry for clarification.

“His stepmother. His father died about six months ago and since then she’s abused him and worked him like a slave at the truck stop his father owned. And I believe you can testify that she was nuts.”

“Yeah, I guess I can. Why don’t you take your man inside and I’ll come in once we’ve got things cleaned up out here.”