It hadn’t taken long at all to get back into driving the truck, and once he’d got his bearings and familiarised himself with the slightly different layout of switches and dials, Hollywood felt comfortable at the controls of the huge vehicle.
Since he’d done the driving course in the UK, he’d been assigned to half a dozen different bases across the world, and he’d taken every opportunity he could to get behind the wheel. Even so, it had been a while, and he kept it steady until they were on the freeway and moving away from the city lights still visible in his mirrors.
Every now and then he’d hear the murmur of voices from the sleeping quarters behind him, and the sweet sound of Roman’s giggles would come through the drawn curtain.
After one such fit of laughter, he glanced over to see Kellen staring at the closed curtain.
“She’s not what we were expecting, is she.” Kellen said quietly, just audible over the sound of the engine.
Hollywood stared at the road ahead.
“Not in the least.” He admitted. “How can you be such a devoted and loving mom, and yet be sitting not twenty feet from a couple of dozen women who are scared to death, and fearing for their very lives? Especially knowing that you have the power to do something about it?”
“Does she, though?” Kellen muttered. “Can she do anything to save those women? With that psychopathic brother of hers watching every move she makes, exactly what is it you think she can do?”
Hollywood struggled to find the words.
“She can do… well, something.” He whispered. “Maybe release one or two women when nobody is looking? I don’t know, but anything has to be better than letting them suffer like that.”
“As much as it would be great if she did, how long do you think it would be before she got caught?” Kellen asked quietly, obviously trying to keep his attention on Roman’s giggles as proof that the subject of their conversation was still occupied entertaining her son. “You saw how closely she was monitored by Ilya and that Drago character. They barely let her out of their sight. Do you think her brother would let her off with a slapped wrist if he caught her releasing the women? He’d probably throw her in with them if she tried it. Then what would happen to her kid?”
“What about the boyfriend? That Drago guy? Do you think he’d stand up for her?” Hollywood wondered. “He’s supposed to have the brother’s ear.”
“Did you see the look in Ilya’s eyes when he was yelling?” Kellen shook his head. “He was high, man. His eyeballs were popping out and he was as agitated as fuck. Either he’d just taken something, or he was just starting to come down, but either way, he didn’t look like the sort of guy you’d want to fuck with. And that Drago dude looked like he was smart enough to know not to get on the wrong side of his boss. I’m guessing that Niko knows exactly what her brother is capable of, which is why she does what she’s told.”
Hollywood shook his head, sickened by the whole mess.
“What a fucked-up way to live.” He muttered. “What an even more fucked-up way to raise a kid.”
Kellen could only nod in agreement.
How did you live any sort of normal life with your child when you were the sister of a psychopath?
He tilted his head slightly, realising that there were no more giggling sounds coming from the back.
He glanced at Kellen and touched a finger to his lips to warn him to say no more.
“Did anyone say what time we would be stopping for food?” Kellen asked, seeming happy to change the subject completely. “My stomach thinks my throat’s been cut.”
“We’ve only been driving a couple of hours.” Hollywood grinned. “Didn’t Ilya say something about a four or five-hour journey?”
“Shit!” Kellen groaned. “Didn’t you explain to them that I was a growing boy? I need regular feeding.”
“That’s why you have a kit-bag full of snacks.” Hollywood laughed at the expression of surprise on Kellen’s face. “What? Did you think I didn’t know that? Fuck me! Everyone knows you leave half your clothes behind, so you can fill your pack with chocolate and candy bars.”
They sat in silence for all of five minutes, during which time Kellen grew increasingly twitchy, signalling to Hollywood that the guy needed a sugar fix.
Eventually, Kellen glanced at the drawn curtain.
“Do you think she’d mind if I just grabbed a few things?” He looked sheepish.
“If Roman’s asleep, why don’t you offer to trade places with her, and then you can gorge all you like.” Hollywood suggested quietly. “Just leave the curtain open so she can see you. I wouldn’t want her to get nervous about leaving her kid alone with one of us. She already thinks we’re as sick and twisted as her brother.”
“Good point, well made, my friend.” Kellen turned in his seat and saluted Hollywood formally. “Wish me luck. I’m going in.”
“Asshole!” Hollywood grinned at Kellen as he climbed over the seat.
If there was one person who was going to make this whole trip bearable, it was his long-time Texan friend.