“Including what we have now and Pops guards, eighty. I can get another 20 to 30 in a day or two but I don’t think we have that long.” Black said.
We all sat in silence for the rest of the flight. I contemplated moving my family, but the compound was our best defense position. The mountain provided protection on all sides and safeguarded us from our enemy being able to come at us from behind. They had to try and attack us head on and with the gate so fortified it wasn’t gon’ be easy.
The jet touched down on the tarmac shortly after the captain's announcement that we were making our final descent to the private landing strip midway between Brookview and Timberline. Our landing was a little bumpy but overall, the flight was smooth, getting safely back to the ground. The wheels had barely come to a stop before I was out of my seat and headed to the door. I holstered the gun I had started keeping with me since this all started and was about to exit the jet when Blue’s worried words halted my steps.
“I can’t reach them. Not over the phone or the radio. It’s nothin’ but static.”
“What do you mean you can’t reach them? Who Pops?” I asked.
“Yeah, I did what you said. I contacted Pops to make sure everything was all good. But I got nothin’. I even called Janelle, Del and their head of security.”
“Fuck, I knew something wasn’t right.” I said, dialing Nova’s cell.
My nerves wound tight as the phone rang. Once, twice, three times before a voice that wasn’t Nova’s answered the phone.”
“Nova’s phone.” Tyra said.
“Tyra, where’s Nova?” I asked, impatiently.
“I brought her to the medical suite for a check.” She said calmly like I was a wild animal, and she didn’t want to spook me. “I don’t want you to worry but I think you should get here ASAP.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nova is having contractions. They aren’t too serious right now, but you never know. When I checked her, she was dilated. But Crew I don’t want you to worry this could take hours or days even. Take your time.” She said, trying to sooth me.
“Fuck that. I’m on my way.”
I was out of the door and down the steps before I finished my sentence. When my feet hit the pavement, I stalked over to the first black suburban and pulled the guard from the driver’s seat without a word. I slammed the door behind me, with only one thing on my mind. My wife needed me now and I didn’t care who I had to run over to get to her.
“Crew, wait.” I heard from behind me as the passenger and back doors opened.
“Nigga, you was really about to leave without us.” Kema said.
“Yeah, what happened to one band one sound.” Said Mecca as the Black and Blue got in the SUV too.
“I have to get to Nova.” I said pulling off and heading towards the mountains. Seven all black Suburban’s followed closely behind us as I sped up.
“The hostages are in the next truck.” Black said.
Good, all of this would have been for nothin’ if I drove off without the people that I have left for in the first place. I had to get my shit together and think smart. The plan still needed to be completed.
“I’m still tryin’ to reach Pop’s, but either his comms are down, which is impossible or someone or something is jamming his signal. If you ask me, it's the latter.” Blue said with his face in its usual spot.
“Scouts up ahead are seeing a fire blazing across the road in about five miles. If we take the next right, we can go around it will add an extra seven miles to the drive but to be on the safe side I think it’s the best route.” Said Black.
“No, we stay on this road. It’s faster. Can they see what’s burning?”
“They say it’s…Shit, it’s four black suburban’s and a sprinter van.” He growled.
I didn’t even think as my foot pressed the pedal into the floor. It had started already. If those were our SUVs it meant that we had no time at all.
Valdez was here.
“Call Tyra and ask when the last time she or Nova talked to Pops.” I said.
Mecca made the call this time and from the one-sided conversation I was able to gather that they had talked to Pops an hour and a half ago, around the same time his message came through to us. Mecca assured her that we were on the way and that everything had gone as planned. And then she reached between the seats and handed her phone to me.
“Nova wants to talk to you.” She said.
