51. Cole

How things had escalated so suddenly, I had no idea.

“Is she safe?” I barked.

“Yeah, for now,” Leila said.

“For now? Fuck that. Keep your guys on Montana and her father. Don’t take your eyes off them for an instant until I tell you otherwise.”

“What about Anya?” she asked.

“I’ve got her. Focus on Montana right now; she might be more in danger. Anya is as safe as she can be.”

“Okay, We can send more men to guard the ranch.”

“Good. Assign as many as you can find to guard Montana and her father. Bring in extra reinforcements if you need to. I don’t care how much it costs, keep her safe.”

“Gotcha.”

“Let me know if anything goes amiss.”

“Alright,” she replied.

I ended the call. I turned on the security cameras on the monitor and kept my eyes on it as I searched for things I wanted. Two more guns, one silent, my special shoes, and of course, two portable devices - my hard drive and USB stock.

Then I headed towards the panic room. I opened the door and Anya was standing in the middle of it. She looked terrified. I left the duffel bag on the floor and headed over to her. Crouching down before her, the first thing I did was give her a hug. It was a very, very long hug, and I tried to give her the strength and assurance that she would need. Truthfully, I didn’t know if I would ever see her again, but I ensured to push that thought out of my mind. As I pulled away and looked into her eyes, I loved her so much it physically hurt, and so even when I tried to speak thereafter, there was a very visible strain in my throat.

“Oh, Daddy, what’s happening?” Tears streamed down her cheeks.

I rushed to hug her. “Oh honey, don’t cry. Everything is fine.”

“It’s all my fault, isn’t it?” she sobbed.

“No, it’s not. They would have found us anyway. It would have been a few days more, but they would have found us.”

“I … I only sent the card out because I was scared she would die.”

“I know. It’s not your fault. It’s okay, honey. It’s okay.”

“I thought she was dying. She was sleeping on a big black bed. I’ve been dreaming about her. She’s not well, Daddy. Something is wrong …” her voice trailed off.

“Your nightmares were about your mom?”

She nodded. “I”m sorry, Daddy. I just … I wanted to make sure she was okay.”

I paused and took a deep breath. It wasn’t the child’s fault but mine, because I never should have run. I should have gone for the nuclear option, but I was afraid of the blowback on Anya and my mother if anything went wrong. But now that I had protected them both, it was time to fight. The jackal had come to the lion’s den and the lion must respond.

So be it.

“Listen to me,” I said.

She sniffed. “I’m listening.”

“You know I have to leave you for a while, right?”

She began to shake her head and cry pitifully. “No, Daddy. Don’t leave me. Don’t go.”

“Listen to me, Anya. I have to go. I have to save your mommy. Do you understand me? You have to be brave and stay here until I come back, okay.”

She stared at me. “You’re going to save Mommy?”

“Yes.” I smiled. “You think you can be brave until I come back?”

She nodded.

“Good girl.” I switched on the video feed of the surveillance cameras and all the little screens came alive. Their bluish light fell upon her little face. I pointed at them. “Now, I want you to watch the videos. Can you do that?”

She nodded.

“Keep your eyes on it, and if you see anyone lurking around the house, whether good or bad, ring me using that phone over there, but don’t ever open the door. Never. No matter what, don’t open the door to anyone until I come back in twenty-four hours. If I am going to be later than that I will call you. If I don’t call you and I don’t come back in twenty-four hours, you call Sheriff Johnson. His number is here.” I pointed to the notes I had made for her. “Do you understand me?”

She nodded, but I wasn’t convinced. Her life depended on this, but I didn’t know how to properly convey the importance to her. Shock tactics were needed.

“Anya?”

“Yes?”

“If you open this door your mother could die.”

Her face turned pale and her eyes opened wide. I felt bad, but I didn’t know how else to get her to recognize how important it was for her not to open the door.

“I understand, Daddy.” Her voice was soft, but finally, she understood. She must not open the door under any circumstances.

“Good girl. There’s one more thing for you to remember. This room can survive a bomb blast, so I don’t want you to be frightened if you see men with guns, okay? You’re totally and completely safe here. Unless you do one thing. What is that?”

It took a few seconds, but eventually, she replied.

“Unless I open the door.”

“Exactly.” I smiled at her. “Don’t open the door for absolutely anyone except me. Promise?”

She nodded solemnly. “Promise.”

I pulled out the USB. “See this? It contains very important information. I will be back very soon, but I could be delayed. So, if you don’t see me in twenty-four hours, I want you to use that phone,” I pointed to the phone, “and call 911 or Sheriff Johnson immediately. And when they come, you must give them this USB drive. Can you remember that?”

She nodded again, her eyes full of fear.

“Daddy, why can’t you take me with you?”

“Because I am going to a place where children are not allowed.”

She thought for a couple of seconds. “Can I wait for you in the car?”

I hid a smile. “No, it’s not safe. Come on, chin up. I’m leaving you in the safest place on earth to go look for your Mommy, okay? Do you want me to look for her and make sure she is safe?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’ll be back soon, sweetheart,” I reassured, my stomach twisting. It wasn’t exactly a lie, but there was a small but very real possibility that it wouldn’t end up being the truth.”

Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

“Are you going to be brave?”

She nodded.

“You do want me to find your mommy, right?

She nodded again, this time more vigorously. “I’ll be brave, Daddy.”

“Good girl.” I smiled encouragingly at her.

“Bye-bye, Daddy.”

“Bye, honey,” I rose to my feet. If I hung around any longer, I didn’t think I would be able to leave. I turned around then to check the camera feeds once again. They were working fine. Then I checked that everything she could possibly need was in place, and then I kissed my daughter and opened the blast door. Anya was standing in the middle of the room looking as if she was about to burst into tears. I waved at her. She waved back tearfully.

I watched the door lock before I left. Just as I was strolling through the living room, however, the hairs on the back of my neck stood. Just then my phone began to ring, but I didn’t really need to pick up to understand what was going on.

They were here.

The last place I wanted to deal with them was inside the house. First, I sent Anya a text.

ME:The video feed is going to go down for a few minutes for maintenance. So don’t worry if the screens go blank.

ANYA:Okay, Daddy.

As soon as I got her message, I remotely switched off the video feeds. No need for Anya to see what was going to happen next. Then I grabbed my duffel bag and rather than exit the house, I sprinted upstairs. They followed and one of them spoke, quite confident and leisurely I might add.

“This cat and mouse game you’re playing,” he said. “You know how this is going to end, right?”

I disappeared into the secret panel door and waited for them to come up the stairs. When I heard their footsteps just outside my hiding place, I hit the remote and triggered the first booby trap. It hit one of them. The one that escaped screamed like a girl with shock and fear. I popped out and fired one shot. My gun had a silencer and it barely made a sound. The axe booby trap had got the bigger guy squarely in his head and cleaved cleanly through his brain. I recognized him, Looney Lenny. I had shot the other in his shoulder. I did not recognize him. He was dark-haired and in his thirties. He staggered backwards, shocked and in so much pain he couldn’t help but grunt like a stuck pig.

“You just killed one of the Don’s best men, you’re a dead man walking,” he shouted as he stumbled and fell on his back.

I stood over him.

“You won’t get away with this, you fucking monster,” he cursed.

“Monster?” I asked. “If I was such a monster, then why I am of a mind to send you to the hospital now? Unlike your … partner, you still have a fighting chance … but that will depend on how you respond to my questions.”

He continued to groan, the blood seeping out of his shoulder onto my new floors. It was going to be a bitch to clean.

“What is it? What do you want to know?” he muttered. He was becoming pale with blood loss.

I smiled darkly. “Where’s that old fool?”

He shut his eyes at the pain and he relayed the information to me. “His house. He’s at his main house, okay?”

It was just as I expected. “Thanks,” I said.

He was looking at me with wide eyes. All the earlier adrenaline-rush-bravado was gone. I stared down at him and considered sparing him, but then, I changed my mind and pointed the gun straight at his head.

“No … no, no, no,” he pleaded.

But it was too late. My heart had turned to stone. I pulled the trigger. “Back to hell, where you belong.”