Isela's Love (24 page)

Darrios turned to Brick. “Is he kidding?”

“I think when he says ‘risky,’ he’s talking about consequences from the Council.”

“If we can’t get him into the hands of the Council, it’ll have to be an accident...with lots of witnesses.”

Another man came forward. “I don’t care what the risks are. That piece of shit made my life hell for two and a half years. Count me in.”

A few others expressed similar thoughts. Darrios eyed the first man curiously. “How long you been a hunter?”

“Just under two years.”

“Do you like killing monsters?”

“More than anything.”

“Are you good at it?”

The man hiked up his chin defiantly. “I’m one of the best.”

Darrios chuckled. Brick cleared his throat.

“Ah, Sam, didn’t you hear me earlier? This is Darrios Derosa. Nobody’s better than he is.”

“Was,” Darrios corrected with a smile. “Sam, is it? Aren’t you wondering even a little, why we’re going after the warden?”

The rest of the bar became silent again.

Sam swallowed, suddenly self-conscious knowing the company he was in. “Why?”

“He’s skimming money from the funding, and he’s abusing young women, sexually.”

Multiple gasps sounded out throughout the bar, leading to grumblings, and finally loud outbursts demanding Guarros’s death. Darrios stood on a stool and whistled.

“Hey, hey, calm down, everyone. We need to do this the right way, not like some half-assed vigilante mob.” He had their attention again. “We have a plan in place. We strike one week from tomorrow.”

Sam extended his hand to Darrios. “I’d like to be a part of your team, Darrios. I got into this business to make the world a better place. To get rid of the monsters. As far as I’m concerned, any man, especially one in a position of power, who abuses those weaker than himself is every bit as much of a monster as any scabra, viocomen, or molterg.”

Darrios grasped Sam’s hand, as the rest of the bar broke out into cheers. Darrios and Evan spent the next couple of hours making diagrams, strategizing, and assigning duties. They all agreed to meet at a specific point outside the gate well before noon. Eighteen men had volunteered. If they all showed, the plan just might work.

****

Darrios held Maggie in his arms. He kissed her forehead.

“I can’t believe you have to go back there tomorrow, and again next week. That warden is being unreasonable,” Maggie said.

“It’s no big deal. I screwed up on the order. I have to make it right.”

“I think you’re being far too generous with him.”

He slid down so he was face to face with her, a devilish grin on his face. “Hmmm. How about we see how generous I can be with you?”

He dove under the covers causing Maggie to squeal with delight.

Later, with Maggie in his arms again, spent after their love-making, Darrios sighed contentedly. He hadn’t told Maggie about their plans. He saw no point in worrying her and he knew she’d be against it. He had no intention of arguing with her about it or changing the plan. This had to be done. Guarros had to go.

“How’s Brendan?” Maggie asked.

“He’s fine.”

“Is he any closer to finding anything?”

“As a matter of fact he is. He talked to a guy that gave him quite a lot of information. Brendan seems to think we can wind this up pretty soon.”

“God, I hope so. I worry about him every day.”

“He’s not a little kid anymore, Maggie. He can hold his own.”

“But he’s still my baby brother and I’m allowed to be concerned.”

“I’m not gonna let anything happen to him,” Darrios promised, praying it was one he could keep.

****

Darrios finished his letter just as Evan came through the door. He’d come to the farm early to get things ready to go.

“The wagon’s ready. I had Jerric load the smaller one. Good thinking, huh?”

“Yeah. Dragging that big one from Midland to Inland two days in a row would’ve killed me.”

“Let’s do this.”

They boarded the wagon and started their second trek to Midland in less than twenty-four hours. Both Darrios and Evan stayed quiet during the first leg of the journey.

Finally, Evan asked, “So, what did you tell Maggie?”

“About?”

“All of it. Today, next week, her brother.”

“I told her Brendan’s fine and he thinks this will be over soon. As far as today goes, I stuck with the screwed-up order story, only I said I did it.”

“What if something goes bad next week, Darrios? Then what?”

Darrios shot his friend a glance. “Nothing will go bad. We’re gonna do this and everyone will be fine. Maggie and Sandra don’t need to know the details. They’ll only worry.”

“I agree. I just don’t want to be the one to have to explain to Maggie why you’re hurt.”

Darrios laughed. “Yeah, I’d worry more about that than facing Guarros and all of his men.”

Evan laughed along with him, pointing up ahead as they neared the passage to Midland. Darrios sighed.

“Here we go again,” he said, hopping off the wagon so he could signal the gatekeeper.

Burgess was working the gate. Raising his eyebrows, he said, “You two again?”

“Long story,” Evan said. “We needed to bring more meat as a cover so Darrios could get word to his brother-in-law.”

“Got it; the big sting operation.”

“Yeah, and if all goes as planned it should be over by next week,” Darrios said.

“Well, best of luck to you both. I hope you nail that sick bastard.”

“We will,” Evan and Darrios said in unison.

Burgess took the hoodlas’ reins, gently coaxing them to the small barn near the exit.

Evan picked up the yoke in front of the wagon and Darrios took the rear. The smaller wagon was much easier to move, so they could go faster.

“Darrios, do you think we’ll be able to keep the contract once this is over?”

“I don’t see why not. If this goes right, we won’t be implicated. The Council will be grateful we were in the right place at the right time to regain control of a potentially anarchic situation. Think positive.”

“Okay, I’m positive there is at least one, maybe two scabras around that bend up there.”

“I see them. There’s definitely two. What’s with that lately? They never used to band together.”

Without stopping, Darrios unsheathed his machete-like knife and set it on the wagon. Evan did the same with his weapons.

“Why don’t you have that gun Loon gave you?” Evan asked, exasperated.

“No need.”

“Really?”

“Jesus, Evan, I’ve been killing scabras with this knife for over ten years. I prefer it. Besides, I have a limited amount of ammunition and I’d rather save it for Guarros’s party next week.”

“Yeah, I guess that does make more sense.”

They stopped the wagon just before the bend, knowing the scabras wouldn’t be able to resist attacking. Strategy wasn’t really in their repertoire. Darrios climbed up onto the wagon. Evan moved around to the far side.

The monsters charged together, their teeth gnashing and their screechy roar piercing the quiet. The matted down fur covering them smelled like musty, wet dog.

“Good lord, can’t someone teach them how to bathe?” Evan asked rhetorically.

Darrios grinned, giving Evan a sidelong glance. “No need. They’re gonna be dead.”

He leapt off the wagon, driving his knife into the chest of the larger scabra, drawing the attention of the smaller one. That move gave Evan an easy opening. He threw three knives, one after the other. The first one, buried itself in the scabra’s chest, the second one into its throat, and the third, right through his eye, but he probably never felt that one.

“We are just too good, ya know?” Darrios said, yanking his knife out of the dead scabra. He wiped it off on the fur of the beast and then snapped it back into its sheath.

Evan retrieved his knives, cleaning them off the same way. Evan took the back of the wagon. Darrios picked up the yoke. They heaved it forward, continuing on.

After a short while, they could see the prison up ahead. “Almost show time, Ev.”

Evan grunted. Darrios’s shoulder jerked as the wagon suddenly stopped.

“What the fuck, Evan?” He turned around, but didn’t see Evan. He did see the viocomen running toward the wagon. “Oh shit!”

Darrios dropped the yoke. Hopping onto the wagon, unsheathing his knife at the same time, he slid across the rail and off the back to find Evan crumpled on the ground, semiconscious, blood seeping from his forehead.

“Evan, c’mon, you gotta get up right now, buddy.”

Evan moaned. Darrios tried to help him, but Evan didn’t move. Darrios looked up at the viocomen closing in. Under his breath, he said, “You just had to mention that gun.”

He pulled two of Evan’s knives out of his jacket and stood up. When the viocomen got close enough, Darrios let one fly. It stuck in its shoulder. The creature dropped to its knees howling in pain. Evan threw the other one. The vile, hairless creature ducked and the knife sailed over its head.

The viocomen plucked the knife out of its shoulder like it was a piece of lint. Giving Darrios a menacing stare, it pounced. Darrios hadn’t expected such a quick recovery, so his reaction was a hair slower than it should’ve been. The creature charged before Darrios could raise his knife.

Darrios landed on his back, the viocomen on top of him, the knife pinned uselessly between them. He couldn’t try to get it free because all of his attention was needed to hold the monster back away from his face. It had three rows of long, pointed teeth, determined to chew up Darrios’s face.

It took every bit of strength Darrios possessed to keep his face out of the reach of those teeth. He pushed its chin away, trying to turn his head. The viocomen’s breath alone was enough to kill him. It snapped its powerful jaws repeatedly. Darrios’s arms shook. He couldn’t hold it off much longer.

“Evan, I’m kind of in a jam, here buddy,” Darrios grunted. “I could use a hand. Now would be a good time for you to wake—”

The viocomen yelped and then fell face first onto Darrios. Evan came up behind him, his chest heaving. Reaching down, he twisted the knife in the back of the now-dead viocomen before pulling it out. With his foot, he rolled the body off of Darrios, offering him a hand.

Darrios took it, allowing Evan to lug him up. “Talk about perfect timing,” Darrios said.

“That fucker hit me in the head with a rock.”

Darrios suppressed a smile. He was sure it was just nervous energy, but seeing the incredulous expression on Evan’s face lightened the moment considerably.

“Let me look at that. It looks bad.”

Evan waved him off. “When did the fucking viocomen learn to throw rocks? How are you?” Evan asked, softening.

“I’m fine. I’ll admit, I was a little worried, bro.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, Darrios.”

Darrios laughed. “Are you kidding me? You saved my life. That thing knocked you out cold, and you still took it out with one knife. I tried to use your other two, but it turns out I am not good at throwing knives.”

Evan snickered, giving Darrios a sideways grin as he bent to gather up his knives. “Too bad you didn’t have your gun.”

“Careful, I think that rock made you loopy.”

“I’ll bet I’m gonna have one helluva headache.”

Glancing around for any more danger, they grabbed hold of the wagon and made it to the prison gates as quickly as possible.

Guarros’s guards let them right in, ushering them to the kitchen area. Darrios searched the crowd for Brendan. He wouldn’t be expecting Darrios to be there again so soon, so he wouldn’t be looking for him.

Luckily, Brendan was mopping the floor near the dining area. Darrios made eye contact with him, sighing with relief. Brendan picked up the mop bucket and headed to the kitchen. Darrios continued rolling the meat in with Evan flanking him, acting as if he hadn’t even noticed Brendan.

Brendan refilled his bucket, ignoring Darrios and Evan unloading meat behind him. Darrios stashed the letter down the back of Brendan’s pants. Brendan didn’t even flinch. He hauled the bucket out of the sink and set it down.

“Auri,” he said to the girl stirring vegetables in a pot over the fire. “I need to run to the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

She nodded without turning around. Darrios and Evan continued unloading, slowing it down to give Brendan time to read Darrios’ letter.

****

Brendan locked himself in the bathroom stall. He opened the letter, reading silently.

Brendan,

Everything is in place. We have at least eighteen guys who want Guarros’s head. We’ll be outside the gates before noon, so Bashua will be safe. Keep inside the interior of the prison until you hear the explosions. Ask Bashua how many to listen for.

Once the blasts are over, we’re going to try to make the most commotion at the loading area. You take Isela and go the opposite direction. Head toward the east side of the building. I’ll have Bashua blow an escape route at the end of the east hallway adjacent to the gardens.

Once you get out, run your asses off like your lives depend on it...’cause they do. Get through the gates and haul ass toward the path leading to Inland. You’ll see a tree with a torn piece of yellow cloth. Instead of continuing down the path, turn right at that tree. Go about one hundred feet and you’ll see clump of bushes. Get in there and wait. I am deadly serious, Brendan. If this thing goes bad, I do not want to have to explain it to your sister. Follow me? I’m gonna hang around here until I know we’re square. Give me a sign. Do something. Once for yes and twice for no.

Game on, brother,

Darrios

Brendan chuckled at the closing. He tore up the letter, flushed it, and headed back to the kitchen. Darrios and Evan were just finishing up. Brendan picked up one spoon and dropped it on the floor. Darrios stifled a laugh, and shook his head.

Chapter Twenty-One

Brendan knocked softly on Isela’s door. She opened the door smiling, her aqua eyes sparkling. It took Brendan’s breath away. He shut the door behind him and gathered her into his arms. His energy ran high tonight. In two days this would be over and he and Isela could begin their life together.