Salinger

Relief washes over me as I see Tia and Emerson embrace on the edge of the pier. For a moment, time stills, and I share a look with Huxley that says so much.

“Thank God,” Hux breathes out, as we pause twenty yards from the happy couple, giving them a moment. “Losing him would have broken her.”

“You love her?” I ask Huxley.

“I haven’t told her as much, but she’s special. She’s way too good for the likes of us, that’s for fucking sure.”

I smile. Huxley and I go so far back it’s hard to remember where we began, how we ended up here. It’s like I’ve always been sitting at a bar with this jackass, drinking dark beer and making big, indecent plans. “You know my dad rigged the Lottery, I never put my name in.”

“Lucky bastard,” Hux says laughing coarsely, running a hand over his beard. “I put in three hundred grand worth of tickets. I saw her listing and knew I wanted her. Her eyes were different, you know? She wasn’t like any woman I’d ever seen.”

I elbow my buddy. “Where’d you get that kind of cash?”

He shrugs. “Eh, a few good trades.”

“You trade gourmet fucking cheese and fancy wine. Video game consoles and lingerie. I’m not buying it.”

“I did a few things on the side, Sal.” He won’t meet my eyes though, and I know there is more to his story. “Hey, we don’t all come from money, like you.”

“Cheap shot, man.”

“It is what it is,” Hux says. “I don’t mean any harm. It’s just some of us gotta do what we gotta do.”

“We’re family now, though. We can share what we have. Equally.”

“Who are you, Sal?” Huxley laughs with a jab to my ribs. “Next thing you know you’ll be saying Power to the People.”

I know he’s joking, but I don’t laugh.

“Would that be so bad?” I ask.

The conversation today with Mom changed things for me. Maybe I’m not just the Director’s son anymore. Maybe I have a place at that table myself.

My entire life, I’ve resented my family for their politics, the way their agendas always seemed to mean more than I did.

But when I think about Russia trying to rob us of a resource we intended to use for good and use it for something grotesque, I believe I have it in me to do something to help.

It’s my duty. I can be the change.  

“I’m your best friend,” Huxley says, squeezing my shoulder. “It’s my job to give you a hard time. And no, it wouldn't be so bad. I think deep down you’re a good guy, even if you want the world to think you’re an ass.”

I smile, the wind picking up and blowing flakes of snow towards us. “You, on the other hand,” I joke, “are the ass everyone assumes you to be.”

“Fair enough.” He chuckles. “Though I’m not the fucker who brought my wife to a whore house - twice.”

We stand there watching Em and Tia kiss for what seems like ages, but then their mouths part and something shifts, I see it in Tia’s eyes. We begin to walk toward them and the closer Hux and I get to her, the more worried I become.

She lowers her head, tugs on Emerson’s arm, hard, and begins to move quickly through the crowd. Snow blankets the sky and the crowds of people push to get where they want to go. I just want to get Tia back in the van, safe.

Something is wrong.

She rushes toward us, Emerson’s hand on her shoulder and as Huxley and Emerson embrace, Tia’s eyes meet mine. It’s not a flicker of fear. She is filled with terror.

I look around, knowing there is only one reason for Tia to react this way.

Television crews are lined up, reporting on the arrival of the survivors, and out of the corner of my eye, I see a man being interviewed. A microphone in his face, his voice booming.

Lawson Jefferson.

Fuck.

My blood boils at the sight of him. I have just an inkling of what he’s done to my wife, but I can’t believe he is so bold to come to Alaska and make comments on our men.

“We need to protect US land from all invasions and that includes our waters. We will find the terrorists and we will make them pay!”

Bile rises in my throat and I want to punch the man, bring him to the ground. He has nothing to do with this war. If the Russians are after my mother’s information, the last thing we need is the US government to get involved. If they get a hold of my mother’s lists… God knows, what they would do to the women on it.

They wouldn’t vow to protect them with their lives, as the men of Alaska are sworn to do. No, he would round up the listed women like cattle and force them to be inseminated against their will, with sperm of his choosing. Lawson would use his billions to impregnate as many women as possible with his seed.

I seethe at his words, at his intentions and I know Tia understands that I have seen her worst nightmare because as I lower my voice, demanding everyone’s attention, she thanks me with her eyes. “Get to the van. Now. Keep Tia hidden.”

Hux and Em look at me like I’ve gone mad, but they do as I say. Ever since telling my mother off earlier, something has begun to grow within me. Fuck the establishment if it means my family isn’t safe. I may be the Director’s son, but I am also my own goddamn man.

“Go.” My single word spurs them into action, and we move quickly through the snow into the van parked in a busy lot.

Fallon and Banks are just exiting the vehicle, helping Giles, when they see us moving toward them quickly.

“In the van.” My words are clipped and the men nod, knowing I’m not messing around. I help Tia into her seat and slam the door shut, as fast as I can.

Fallon is up front, putting the van in reverse, turning out on the road.

Tia shakes beside me, tears streaking her cheeks, her shoulders shaking. She buries her face in her hands, hysterical.

“Holy fuck, what’s going on?” Giles asks.

But I lift my eyes to his, all the husbands looking at me with unprecedented concern. I shake my head ever so slightly and the van goes quiet.

Emerson may be alive, but Tia has seen a ghost from her past.