Page 71 of Ride the Lightning
“No, but I can see it in his eyes.”
There was so much admiration in Oscar’s voice when he spoke of someone who’d served in the armed forces. He had been declared medically unfit to serve, but his brother had died in Vietnam.
That moment between Oscar and the homeless man outside the ballpark was one of the few times Jonah ever got a glimpse of the humanity his grandfather hid beneath the gruff exterior, and it stayed with him all these years. It was also the reason Jonah joined the army when he graduated high school. He wanted Oscar to speak so reverently about him…just once. He’d let Oscar down so many times over the years, but being a soldier was something he could do. Jonah had looked forward to graduating from basic training and having his picture taken with Oscar and Granny after the ceremony, but it wasn’t meant to be. Oscar had died while he was in boot camp.
He’d been a colossal fuckup as a soldier too. He now understood the look Oscar had spoken about because he’d seen it in his own reflection. In this moment, he could honor the good part of Oscar who showed kindness to those less fortunate than him.
“Hey, buddy,” Jonah said softly. He was careful not to advance toward the man and startle him. “Can I help you with something?”
“I’m Hank,” the man said. Then he held up the bear. “This is Buddy.”
“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Jonah. Do you need my help?”
“I’m okay, but Buddy isn’t.”
“What can I do for Buddy?”
“He’s hungry. The dumpsters are empty.”
Jonah remembered the uneaten food in the car. It would still be warm. “I have extra food I can share with Buddy. If that’s okay with you, Hank.”
Hank narrowed his eyes and assessed Jonah, nodding after a few moments. “Yeah, I guess that’s okay.”
Jonah hurried to the car to get the food. He slowed down when he approached the alley because he didn’t want to frighten the man. Hank still stood by the dumpster, but he’d place the stuffed bear in the front of the cart so it sat up like a toddler.
“Is it okay to approach?” Jonah asked.
“I don’t bite,” Hank said.
Jonah smiled as he approached the man and extended his offering. “Beef and cheddar, curly fries, and a Coke. How does that sound to Buddy?”
“Sounds delicious. Do you think Buddy will share?”
“I bet he will if you ask nicely,” Jonah replied.
“Thank you, mister.”
“Is there anything else I can do for you? Anyone I can call? Can I give you a ride someplace? A nasty storm is brewing.”
“Nah. This is enough. Bless you.”
Jonah swallowed hard and nodded. “Take care. It was nice meeting you, Hank. And you too, Buddy.”
Jonah exited the alley and headed back to his car. The wind picked up, and the increased cloud cover made the shadows shift all around him, making the hair stand up on the back of his neck. He heard the scuffle of shoes behind him while he was midstride. Had Hank followed him? He attempted to stop and pivot, but it was too little too late.
Someone delivered a blow to the back of his head. The pain was immediate and blinding. Jonah staggered forward, trying to get away, but he only managed one step before the world spun around him. He was unconscious before his body crumpled to the ground.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat.
Jonah’s face felt like it was on fire when he regained consciousness. He tried to open his eyes but couldn’t see for the blood in them. The metallic, coppery liquid filled his mouth, threatening to choke him. He was going to drown if he didn’t move. It took all his strength, but he managed to turn onto his side.
His ears rang with a high-pitched noise that made him recoil. Acrid smoke mixed and diesel fumes filled the air, burning his throat and nose.
Eagle? Cobra? Dragon? Lion? He tried to speak but couldn’t move his lips. God, he hurt so bad. Was his face on fire? Was he in hell?
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat.
He recognized the rapid fire of the Al-Qaeda’s AK-47. Fuck. They were sitting ducks. Jonah couldn’t see a fucking thing, so he strained to listen for signs that his brothers were alive. He heard nothing but rat-a-tat-tat-tat and the high-pitched ringing.