Swerve (13 page)

It was often better for your enemies to underestimate you.

“Where do we start?” Hadrian was keen to get this done. He wanted—no he needed—to be with Socia. It wasn’t just because the Angels had told him they were destined to be together. He had long since stopped taking the word of the Angels.

He wondered if Mayhew knew how many stood at his back, unseen, yet there. Did he feel their existence? Could he be turned by them, as so many other good men had been? As for Socia, he had felt her presence since he was fifteen. Knowing that the dark woman would come into his life and change it for the better was the main thing that had kept him going all the long, lonely years he had battled against enemies, the angels and in some cases himself.

“We unload then explode,” Simon explained, waving his hand towards the truck. The other two men had his side nodded.

“Then I will kill Sholto, as it is my destiny to do so.”

“No one can deny their fate.”

Hadrian knew that only too well. He was glad Mayhew didn’t quibble or object to his plan. Hadrian’s fate had been sealed at six when his mother had died and the angels had taken him in. At first he thought it was because angels were kind souls who helped others. That’s what his mother used to tell him. After ten minutes with them he realized, even at such a young age, they were manipulative beings who never did anything without a reason that benefited them and kindness was not in their lexicon.

After seven grueling years of warrior training, he had his first battle fighting on the side of the angels. He couldn’t recall what it was about. All battles melded in to one after a while. Besides, he fought because he had no option. At thirteen, the Angels owned him. It would be five more years before he would be able to break free from them. As for the wars that were waged? He would never forget or get used to the desperation he saw in men’s eyes as they fought to live. Hadrian swore one day he would be free of the angels. And he was, in a way. They no longer directed his actions or ordered him to perform. They came to him in delegations asking for help. Sometimes he did, if the cause was justified, other times he paid the price for saying no. Angelic revenge was always subtle, yet painful. The scars on his body were a testament to that.

“Let’s do this Mayhew.”

* * * * *

Socia was like a woman possessed. One minute she was at home reading a radical tome by St. Augustine and the next she was running to snatch up her car keys to drive to Tablelands like a woman overcome. She had no idea why. She just knew she had to go. To do anything else would have been beyond her.

“This is madness,” she muttered to herself as she gunned the engine. The night was still, dark and steamy. Socia wiped sweat from her forehead. That in itself was odd. She never perspired. To do so was like showing feelings, and that was something she trained herself not to do. “And yet I’m sweating my ass off.”

Keeping one hand on the wheel, she reached over and wound down the window with the other. The sudden burst of fresh air on her face revitalized her and the sense of urgency she felt. Socia stepped on the gas. She knew two things. One was people were in trouble. And the other? She was racing towards destiny.

In her mind’s eyes he saw a hulk of a man holding out his hand to her. He was hers, yet he couldn’t be. “I can’t.” For the first time in a long time she wanted to cry.

“I’m not good enough for you.”

* * * * *

“It is done,” came the resigned voice of an angel.

Another nodded. “We can do no more

“Their way will not be easy,” intoned the first one.

“It will be their choice to take, or not take it.” The sound of annoyance was sharp in the voice of the third angel.

“True—and yet—”

“Yes,” interrupted another. “What if they—”

“It is not our business. They rise or fall without us.”

“But what if we need them?”

The angry angel shrugged his shoulders. “Then we use them as it suits us. It’s not like that’s ever going to change.”

Chapter Twelve

The four men worked hard at getting all the debris from the post office unloaded. Jim’s place was large and far enough away from any major roads for people to drive by and wonder what they were doing. It took the determined men just over an hour to shift all the pieces onto a field.

“Done.”

“All this for one door.” Simon looked at the half door. It was still intact in the frame and leaning up against the trunk of a wide Melaleuca tree. No one wanted to chance cutting it out. What evil lurked behind it was not something they wanted to let loose on Cairns.

The Doctor looked at the sky. “Beautiful night to blow things up.”

Simon chuckled. His colleague was right. The sky was clear and the stars were blinking away above them. He thought about Mary and how he wished she was standing under the stars with him as they looked forward to the future together. He looked at Hadrian. He had worked silently, yet with purpose almost as if his life depended on it. “Are you okay, brother?”

Hadrian focused on the man beside it. “Yes.”

Simon could see the big man had much on his mind. If he wanted to talk, Simon was ready to listen but he wasn’t going to push him. No one had a right to question others demons.

“This should do it.” Jim dumped a box containing sticks of dynamite at Simon’s feet. “I hate working with this stuff.” He picked up a stick of it.

Hadrian bent down and grabbed some explosives as well. “Let’s do this.”

“Not so fast.”

Simon spun around instantly when he heard his enemy’s voice. Sholto. His heart skipped a beat and he almost staggered when he saw a pajama clad Mary gripped tightly around the upper arm by Sholto. On the other side stood the Admiral, sword in hand and lust in his eyes when he looked at Mary. Simon’s gaze met hers. Mary looked tense but not scared.

“I’m okay.”

Simon looked at Sholto. “I will slice your gut open and rip your intestines out inch by inch and set alight to them before your dying eyes if you hurt my woman.”

Sholto glanced at Mary. “Aw, isn’t it sweet he loves you so much?”

“Did I mention you’re a piece of pus?”

“Yes, my dear, several times on the way over but I assumed you meant the Admiral,” Sholto responded unperturbed.

“When do I get to fuck her?”

“When they’re all dead, Admiral.”

“Well, onwards and upwards then.” He raised his sword into the air.

Sholto rolled his eyes. His gaze swung from the Admiral to the other men. “Ah, I see Moe and Curly are here.” He bowed to the Doctor and Jim before eyes fixed on Hadrian. “And you are?”

“I am the man who’s going to kill you.”

Sholto chuckled. “Good luck with that. Many have tried.”

* * * * *

Socia hid in the scrub to the left side of them. Her eyes were fixed on the big man with the war braids. She had no idea of his name. “And yet I know him as I know myself.” That he was facing off with Sholto, didn’t surprise her. It was what she wanted to do but lacked the courage to do so. Socia was not the fearful sort but her sexual history with the time lord made her feel weak and unworthy. “If they knew what I did with him…” She could hear her therapist’s voice in her head telling her she was not her past and the future was hers to define. She looked at Sholto. He had Mary as a hostage. It was typical of him. He always used women. “But not anymore.” Socia stiffened her spine and assessed what she could do to help. The Admiral, she had met up with before. He had been at one of her ‘sessions’ with Sholto. He was a crazy, old bastard but he had one flaw. His right arm was weak.

Attack that and he was useless.

* * * * *

Hadrian kept his eyes on Sholto though his mind was focused on the woman hiding in the bushes. He could feel her pain coming off her in waves but he was proud that she was trying to fight it and work out how to help others.
Soon you will
not be alone.

“You want the door?”

“Yes.”

“Give us the woman, and you can have it.”

Sholto laughed. “Give my only hostage away to a man who swears he will kill me? That seems like a dumb idea.”

* * * * *

Mary wasn’t averse to the idea. Sometimes the craziest suggestions often threw people enough off balance and they did as asked. But not this time. Sholto just tightened his grip. Mary looked at Simon. He looked like he wanted to rip Sholto’s throat out and then kick the Admiral in the nuts. She wasn’t against those ideas either, however she didn’t want her man getting hurt. As far as she could see they had a Mexican stand-off. While there were four good guys to two bad ones, the odds were stacked against them because of her.

“It’s not your fault, Mary,” Simon told her.

God, how I love him. He knows me so well
. “This mind reading thing is going to be a problem when we’re married.” Mary was surprised at the words that came out of her mouth and yet not. Marriage was what she could see for them.

“I accept your proposal,” Simon responded.

Mary blushed.

Sholto made gagging noises. The Admiral sneered.

Socia suddenly appeared through the bushes and barreled straight into the Admiral knocking him down onto his right side. He wailed in pain. She kicked him in the balls for good measure before focusing on Sholto. “Take me, not her.”

“No!” Hadrian yelled.

The Doctor looked confused.

Jim reached down into his pocket and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it so the flame shot out. “Let the women go and I won’t blow your nasty ass apart.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Sholto scoffed. “You’ll take us all up with that.”

“I’m willing to risk it,” Simon responded.

Sholto sighed. “This is why I hate working with humans. You’re all so dramatic and emotional.” He pushed Mary hard to the ground beside the Admiral and made a dash for the portal.

Hadrian raced after him. Socia grabbed his arm and hung on to his momentum.

“No,” he tried to shake her off.

“Too late.” She yelled at him.

Simon raced over to Mary. “Are you okay?”

She rolled as far away from the Admiral as she could. The thought of him touching her made Mary want to throw up. “Yeah but the door—” It was opening as Sholto ran towards it. The sound of rushing wind sucking back through the door and blinding white light made Mary avert her eyes.

Simon whirled around. “Damn it! He’s going to get away.” They watched as Sholto leapt through the door with Hadrian and Socia following. The door slammed shut and there was nothing but silence.

“Bloody hell, they’re all gone.” She was agog. While Mary had believed Simon about the door she never imagined she would see it in action. “How will they get back?”

Jim swore and dropped his lighter as the flame burnt his finger.

The Doctor walked over to the door and touched it. “Not sure.”

“One thing’s for certain, we can’t blow the door up now.” Simon pulled Mary into his arms and held her tight as they contemplated the closed, red half door.

“I say, when do I get to fuck you?” the Admiral asked.

Simon kicked him in the head. “Never, you piece of shit.” He motioned to the Doctor. “Tie him up.”

“You know, I think my mother would like him.” Mary looked down at the lecherous Admiral. “She’s always liked a man in uniform.”

Chapter Thirteen

“Oh. My. God!” June Dalton screeched as she stared at the couple.

“Great ass!” Clare Dalton exclaimed, her eyes on Simon’s butt.

Mary rolled her eyes and held Simon close to her. Not even the interference from her family was going to stop her enjoying her man. “Do not pull out,” she murmured to him. They had been through a hell of a day and the last thing she wanted was to lose contact with man. She needed Simon tight, close and with her.

“Not even the Dalton gang can scare me enough to do that.” Simon turned his head to the two women. “You know, it’s polite to knock, and in future I’m absolutely going to insist upon it.”

June’s eyes lit up. “Future? You two have a future together?” She clutched at her chest. “You’re getting married?”

“Yes, Mother. And no, Mother, I will not be allowing you any say in the wedding.” That would be disastrous. Besides she just wanted to marry Simon. It didn’t require fanfare. Real, true love never did.

“Well, Mary, you know I just want to help my girls,” June started to say then she whirled around and looked at Clare. “You like his ass? Does that mean you’re going back to men? If so, I know the perfect one for you and—”

“Mother, we’ve had a bloody hard day. Please go away. Clare? Get out,” Mary ordered.

Her sister saluted and grinned. She grabbed her mother’s arm. “Come on mother.”

“But—” June resisted being pulled away.

Clare yanked her out the door and slammed it behind them.

Simon smiled down at Mary. “Now, where were we?” He pulled out and slammed his cock back into her. Mary cried out in pleasure and gripped his ass to hold him close. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

Mary knew. She would never forget. “Can we run away and get married?” She didn’t want to avoid the whole wedding catastrophe.

“Absolutely.”

“Perfect.”

Amarinda Jones believes anything is possible and sometimes just asking for the impossible will surprise someone enough that they will give it to you. Writing is like that. Put it out there and wait for a response. There is always the possibility you may fall on your arse, but after all, that's what cellulite is for. Amarinda believes in taking chances, speaking her mind and aging disgracefully. Twenty years from now she plans on being the neighborhood witch that all the kids are scared of. But then, everyone has to have a hobby.

www.amarindajones.com

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