Page 49 of Sam to the Rescue

Hands shaking, I push the digits and cup the phone to my ear. “Rose, is Mikey with you?”

“Sure. We’re eating Cheerios. Want to talk to him?” As her happy words sink in, the relief is so intense, my throat tightens.

I blink back tears. “N-no. J-just tell everyone to be extra vigilant.”

“Why? What’s going on? Where are you?” My cousin’s voice rises but there’s no time to explain.

“Can’t talk. Gotta go. Love you.” Closing the phone, I wipe my eyes, and squeeze my man’s shoulder. “He’s fine.”

“Thank God.” His body relaxes and he pulls the rifle strap off my shoulder.

Face grim, he climbs off me and onto his stomach. Taking aim, he shoots and a terrifying scream follows. While he reloads, I let forth a volley, then inch my nose level with the pavement.

Holy, shit. A dozen armed men pile out the back of a yellow school bus. They must’ve been on their way to the alien fair but were diverted to help kill us.

“To the van. We’ll use it as cover.” Suds slaps my rump.

Babe? You sure about this?”I just got him out, why in God’s name return?On knees and elbows, I crawl toward the car with the highway to my left and my partner protecting my right.

“The COGs won’t fire. If they do, they’ll blow us to kingdom come.”

“Wait. You can’t be serious. Isn’t the bomb in the van?” I search his brown eyes for glassiness, but find only firm determination.

“Go.” When he shoots, the men racing to the field take cover.

“Uh…” I hesitate at the three huge bags of ammonium nitrate, laying on their side.

“Trust me. Get inside.” He helps me climb in the front seat, then follows.

Our hearts thumping as one, I take what could be my last breath and pray my last words on this earth have significance. “If we die, I swear to God, I will kill you.”

Chapter 35

Suds

I chuckle, then belly laugh. “Hell, there is nobody I’d rather meet my maker with, but not today, sweetheart. You still have the phone I gave you, right?”

Nodding, she puts the burner in my palm and I call the Feds. “Where the fuck are you? I pressed the damn belt buckle fifteen minutes ago.”

“We sent in the locals but they retreated and called for backup. Help is about ten minutes out.”

“I don’t know if we have that long.” Hanging up, I turn to my wife aiming her weapon out the window. “The cavalry is on the way.”

“Awesome.” Sam takes a shot and I whistle through my teeth as she drops one of the mercenaries in his tracks.

“Nice.”

“About time you noticed.” Her last clip loaded, she pauses.

Fangs and Edge stand beside Murder’s body waving their arms wildly. “Stand down! Don’t shoot the van. You’ll set off the bomb.”

As men trample the grass in retreat, I poke Sam in the ribs. “Admit it. I was right. This is the perfect place to wait for a rescue.”

Lowering her weapon, she keeps her eyes glued to the field. “I will, if you agree I’m no danger magnet.”

“Excuse me? And who, exactly, found the ammonium nitrate?” I kiss the tip of her nose.

She lifts her beautiful brown eyes and grins. “Locating the chemicals wasn’t attracting trouble, I was preventing it. Very different.”