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“P.T?” Petra asks, moving closer to me for reassurance, but right now I'm not sure I can give her that much. And I’ve never been a big believer in coincidence. I know after the night she's just had, that neither is Petra. So I make sure and tell her with a swift glance that whatever happens, however this ends… I had no idea what I was hauling. Not ever.
But as much as I wanna explain myself. As much as I need her to understand so many things, if I don't keep my focus on the now sliding rig, we might never get out of any of this in one piece.
There’s only one place he’s headed. It’s the same warehouse, but there is another way to it which I take. A softer, even worse road. More of a goat track, but it’ll give us some cover as well as the element of surprise.
“P.T. I’m scared…” Petra shivers, and doing my best to console her as well as steer, I tell myself that I am too. First time for a lot of things today.
“Almost done.” I growl, reaching down inside for the stuff I know I'm made of. Remembering the fear in her eyes when they almost had her. Vowing to finish what they started when they decided to come back for what's mine.
It’s a half mile, maybe more. But some nearby woods give me excellent cover as I slow the truck before chugging noisily to a stop. The abandoned warehouse close but far away enough for anyone to think the noise is coming from the cement works. We’re just in time to see the SUV pulling into an adjacent warehouse that’s more a ruin than anything else.
My heart eases a little in my chest. Maybe there is such a thing as coincidence? Or is it really my old friend destiny guiding me to do what's right all over again?
“That warehouse is where we need to be.” I murmur, pointing with a jut of my chin to the padlocked gate right next to where our friend in the SUV just pulled into. I can feel Petra’s eyes narrow on me, asking herself the same questions I've been asking myself.
“I don't work for them.” I tell her, not meaning to grind the words out, but I can appreciate it's not a good look to be neighbors with a gang of suits of all people. “I need to drop this trailer off and then we can leave…” I tell her.
My hand lifting the gun higher so I can check it over telling her a different story.
We wait and watch for any sign of the SUV or any activity from the warehouse ‘'m supposed to be in right now, but there’s nothing. Nothing but the sounds of the Canadian wilderness mixed with a dull and distant heavy thuds from the cement works a few hundred yards away.
My mind is set like a steel trap and I’m lost in my own thoughts when Petra's hands digging into my arm break my meditation. “Did you hear that!?” She gasps suddenly. And I listen, straining my ear against the world as I try to hear something-
The faint cry of a girl. Petra whines and shivers again. Her teeth literally chattering with fear and frustration at not knowing what to do.
Shoving the truck into gear, idling twenty tons of rubber and steel towards the warehouse gate, I’m hoping the sight of a big rig pulling in isn’t gonna spook our prey. I also hope there really is just one of him too if my kill-three-birds-with-one-stone theory is gonna hold any water. I order Petra with a look to stay put as I stuff the hand cannon down the front of my jeans. Climbing down from my rig and unlocking the gates and then the huge warehouse doors, rolling them open before returning to the truck and moving it inside.
Mission accomplished, but we’re far from done here.
“I know, I know…Stay here…” Petra groans. Crimping her lips with a petulant look before I lean over and kiss her.
“I meant what I said,” I rasp, “About loving you… So you just wait right here-” I tell her. Feeling my chest split down the middle when she swoons at me telling her what I know every girl wants to hear. Fishing behind her and producing a smaller but equally deadly firearm, “…And if anyone but me shows their face? Blow it off.” I command her. Pushing the hard steel into her hand, relieved when she takes it and sets her mouth firmly. Stabbing a nod that only someone who truly understands can.
It takes everything I’ve got left to leave her alone, locking the truck when I step down from it. But I won't put Petra in harm’s way. Not now or ever again. It takes a few minutes to unhitch the trailer from my rig, acting as natural as I can while my ears prick at the slightest sound from the neighboring warehouse but I’m done hauling it and we might need a quick getaway yet.
It feels like another five hundred miles trying to stay quiet as I crunch across the gravel between the two old buildings. Finding a way in is easy with whole sections of the cladding missing. The sounds of muted cries and a male voice guiding me every inch until I freeze on the spot and crouch low behind some fallen beams. It’s a suit alright. And a girl. About Petra’s age, maybe older. Bound and gagged just like they do in the movies except this is real.
Turns my stomach but it’s only a moment, I tell myself. Only a split second before this shit stain has his brains all over the walls. His own gun safely under his jacket, I know I've got just enough time to do what's right. To finish this once and for all.
Taking a last, deep breath before I leap into action, I jump when I feel a cold hand on my forearm.
“Jesus Christ!” I hiss. Narrowing my eyes on Petra’s before either of us realize it’s too late for her to turn back. I could order her to stay put all day but she’s mine now. So what did I really expect her to do?
She shrugs an apology and I ease the gun out of her hands back into mine. Urging her with a fierce look to stay down. The glance she gives the girl who's tied up tells me it's the one she saw get snatched. It’s all the proof I need.
In three long strides, I'm behind the suit, swiping the butt of my gun across his temple when he turns on his heel to see who's coming. He drops like a stone, only throwing up dust that settles on the red streaming from where I've just hit him.
I hear Petra gasp, but she stays put. Until I make my way to the girl whose eyes widen with something like fear, but more like something else I’ve seen before. Keeping a grip on both guns, I show her my palms, letting her know with a look that I’m not gonna hurt her. It gets me close enough to ease the gag off her mouth before I hear Petra trotting up behind me.
“You’re gonna be alright…” I tell the girl who seems to recognize Petra and her uniform from the diner. The mixed reactions of relief, fear, and anger all spilling over as her eyes flood with tears.
“It’s over… It’s okay…” Petra coos, doing a way better job of consoling the girl than I ever could. Hugging her like she needs it once I untie her, proving to her we’re here to help.
Using the same ties that bound her, I truss up suit number three like the pig he is. Setting him in the same chair before shooting Petra a knowing glance. The we-need-to-keep-moving look.
I’m fine saving the day, but hanging around after the fact? It’s not part of my job description and she seems to understand.
“We can't just leave her here…” Petra murmurs once I'm close enough.
