Chapter 4
Brody
I see the hurt in Charity’s eyes. I don’t know why I am so in tune with her emotions. I don’t think I like it, but I’ll be damned if I know how to stop. “We aren’t keeping secrets from you. We just don’t want to talk loud enough for everyone to hear.” Charity hands me the cups she is holding. I see she has crushed the pills and put them in separate cups. Charity is watching the question go across my face.
“I crushed two and put in separate cups, so no one overdoses, and it is easier to pour in their mouths or put under their tongues.” Everything that Charity has done makes sense. She is a woman with an extensive knowledge and abilities. She is not the type of woman I am accustomed to. Jilly is strong, but she loses herself in the man she is with until she decides she has had enough. Then she runs. Selena always wanted more. Everything needed to evolve around her and then she aborted our child. Also, there was the whole cheating thing and lusting after Rebel. Then there was Gracie. She is the biggest regret in my life. I thought I loved her and I did, but my heart wasn’t in love with her. I hurt Gracie and that is the reason I am here today. I am trying to make up for the pain I have caused Gracie who is now Rebel’s wife. I am also trying to make it up to Rebel for all the times we have butted heads. Rebel was my best friend at one time. I hope we can get back there. Charity laughs, and I look at her again. “Sorry, I checked out for a minute. Good thinking.” I walk towards Rebel and he meets me half way and I hand him a cup. I kneel beside the guy at the bottom of the steps. I get his mouth open and pour the powder in his mouth and under his tongue. He’s out cold. I stand up and walk up the hall and go in the bedroom I left the other man in and is right where I left him. I quickly repeat the process I did on the first man. I wasn’t honest with Charity when she asked what Rebel and I were whispering about. Rebel is worried because Charity knows a lot about things she shouldn’t. I know the moves it took to unload that gun and take that man down by the stairs. It was dangerous and even people in the military cannot pull it off every time. You have a fifty/fifty chance at best. Then Charity took the man down and knocked him out. Charity is not a big woman. Luscious, yes, but big as in height and weight, she is not. The man was well over six-foot tall and though he was young he still has a muscular build. That has both Rebel and I on alert. We have decided to split up and I am taking Charity with me. I pull myself out of my thoughts and step away from the man. We need to get the hell out of here. I turn and leave the room and back up the hallway. Charity is not where we left her. Rebel walks back in the room.
“Where’s Charity?” Rebel asks me.
“I have no idea. We need to find her and get on the road.” I walk into the kitchen and she is not there, but I hear the front door slam and turn and make it back to Rebel and Charity walks in from the front room.
“Where have you been? I told you to stay put.” Rebel says to Charity, but I can tell by the look on Charity’s face this is going to be a problem.
“You both told me to stay at the bottom of the stairs until you had the men down here under control. They are under control, so I went out the back door and looked around. I walked around to the front yard and then I checked out the barn.” Charity glares at Rebel. “No one is around and there are two bikes in the barn and the car I arrived in. I didn’t check for explosives yet, but I was trying to help.” Another red flag. Why would she risk herself? I keep my mouth shut because I know Rebel isn’t.
“Woman unless you want us to leave your ass here then do what you are told, and when you are told and how you are told. You could have been taken hostage or worse. We are trying to protect your ass, so fucking listen!” Rebel is beyond mad. I know it is because he is concerned about getting us all out of here alive, but Charity doesn’t know Rebel the way I do. “There is no way you could have been careful enough in the time you were gone. Do you want to make it out of this alive because I have a family waiting on me that I don’t intend to let down?” I start to say something to try and calm Rebel down, but Charity doesn’t let Rebel slide on his comments.
“Rebel, I understand that you are under stress. We all are, and I am trying to be respectful to you but do not disrespect me if you cannot take it in return. Ever since I can remember, I have had to listen to what men tell me to do in life. Do you see where that got me? I swore to myself if I made it out of this situation I was going to go with my instincts and not something a man tells me just because he has a penis. My instincts told me to go out outside and scout around while you two took care of the men in here. I have a weapon and know how to use it. I know how to follow tracks and to be fast but also quiet. I can help get us to safety instead of being a hindrance, so let me help.” Charity’s voice is strong but calm. Soft but firm. She is not in the least bit intimidate by Rebel. I don’t know if that is smart or if she is that secure in her own ability. Rebel hasn’t said anything. He is trying to stare Charity down with a glare, but Charity does not blink an eye. If this wasn’t such a serious situation I would be amused. No woman has ever defied Rebel like this since Jilly back in our teenage years. Not to his face.
“I think we all need to calm down.” I try to defuse the hostility between Charity and Rebel.
“Alright, Charity. You want to put yourself in danger and you think you can help then have it your way. Brody and I will not get ourselves killed for any mistake you make. If either of us disagree with you then do not do it. Are we clear?” I can see Rebel is fighting with himself over this.
“Has anyone ever told you that you are an ass?” Charity asks with a smirk on her face. Rebel smiles big and I know the disagreement is over.
“I own that shit and if you cross me you will see my bad side come out.” Charity may think Rebel is joking but I could tell her he is very serious.
“If you two are finished arguing we need to check our rides.” The longer we stay here the more apt we are to have company.
“You’re right, Brody. Okay, Miss Badass, let’s go check out the barn and hope we don’t get blown up.” A big smile breaks out on Charity’s face at what Rebel said.
“Does this mean I get my own vest with Miss Badass on it?” We all start walking to the front room.
“It’s a cut. If you are going to hang with me, you need to learn the words and to answer your question, no. Just no.” Rebel has a look of amusement on his face. We make it to the front door. I am the first one there and I stop with my hand on the door knob. I stop for a minute and look at the two.
“I open this door and we are all about getting out of here. No chitter chatter. Stay focused and be aware of your surroundings. We can get out of this if we all work together.” I know the back and forth between Charity and Rebel has been intense, but it has also relieved part of the stress from the situation we are in. Now it is time to focus.
“Agreed,” Rebel says. “Brody go to the left side as we go out the door. Charity go right. I’ll go straight up the middle. Be careful and I will see you both on the flip side.”
“Agreed,” Charity responds. I open the door and we proceed with the plan.