Chapter Thirty-six

 

 

I paced the boathouse until I heard the gunshots. Terrified, I ran over to the window, to try and see what was happening, but it was too dark. Then I heard another blast and then a third.

Something is wrong.

I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. Jordan was outnumbered. He needed my help.

I saw the front door of the other cabin open and two figures walk out. One of the men was so large, that I knew it could only be Reaper. I rushed to the door and opened it up, to see if I could hear what exactly was happening.

“Jesus, it’s a fucking bear!” hollered a man’s voice in the distance.

I sucked in my breath as another shot was fired. Then there was a loud, horrific roar, followed by a man screaming.

Oh my God, was that Jordan?!

With my heart pounding in my chest, I grabbed my gun and snuck down the stairs, knowing that I was disobeying Jordan’s orders, but convinced that he needed my help.

Fortunately, the cabins were surrounded by plenty of trees, so I was able to sneak over to Jordan’s main cabin unnoticed. As I crept closer, I could hear the voices.

“So, this is the great and powerful Judge,” sneered Reaper, walking around Jordan, who was being held at gunpoint by Stryker.

Jordan didn’t reply.

“Where’s the bitch?” asked Reaper.

Still, he held his tongue.

“You’d better answer if you know what’s good for you,” said Stryker.

Jordan’s lips curled into an angry scowl. “Fuck you, Brett. You’re nothing but a back-stabbing asshole.”

Brett?

Wasn’t that Jordan’s government friend?

“Don’t take this personally,” said Stryker. “Reaper and I have a much more significant past then you and I. Fact is, I owe him a lot more than I owe you.”

“I saved your life,” snapped Jordan.

“I know. I’ve given you enough information over the years to pay that back. Saved your ass a number of times, too.”

“I guess the real question is, who’s going to save yours tonight? Not this big gorilla,” sneered Jordan, smiling coldly.

Reaper raised his fists and smashed Jordan in the face. Not once, but three times.

Horrified, I covered my mouth to keep from screaming.

“You done being a smartass?” asked Stryker, when Reaper stepped back. “Because it’s not helping your situation.”

Jordan spit out a wad of blood. “So? It makes me feel better.”

“Dammit, enough with the bullshit. Tell us where that bitch is,” demanded Reaper..

Jordan looked at him. “I think you’re the bitch. You certainly hit like one.”

Reaper’s face turned red. He grabbed Jordan’s shirt and this time, head-butted him.

Jordan fell backward and then slowly got up.

“I’m not going to ask you again,” growled Reaper. “Where is Jessica Winters? If you don’t tell me, I’m going cut off each of your fingers and shove them down your throat.”

“Why don’t you start with this one,” said Jordan, raising his middle.

I stifled a giggle. There was blood running down his nose and he was weaving back and forth, but his sense of humor was still intact. 

Reaper swung at him again, his knuckles connected with Jordan’s jaw and I gasped as this time, he dropped to the ground and remained motionless.

Reaper’s head whipped around and I saw him staring in my direction. “Did you hear that? Over there,” he said to Stryker.

“You over there, darlin’?” called Stryker, walking toward me, a sinister smile on his face. “Come out and play with us. Come on, now. Don’t be shy.”

Frozen in place, I glanced again at Jordan. He wasn’t moving and I didn’t know what to do; I was so terrified.

“Go and get her,” ordered Reaper, turning his back on Jordan.

As soon as he did, Jordan’s hand snaked out and it was then that I saw the knife. He slashed it across the back of Reaper’s tendon, through his jeans, and the man roared in pain.

Stryker turned back around to see what was happening. “What the fuck?”

“He cut me!” growled Reaper, who’d stumbled to the ground, several feet from Jordan. He pulled out a gun and aimed it at him. “You’re dead, motherfucker.”

“No!” I screamed, racing through the trees toward them with my own gun now pointed at Reaper. “Drop your fucking gun!”

Reaper looked at Stryker. “Get her.”

“You drop the gun, Jessica,” said Stryker his gun trained on me. “Now.”

“Goddamn it,” mumbled Jordan, staring at me through two swollen eyes. “Don’t you ever listen?”

There was a growl from the woods and we all turned to stare at the angry Grizzly now stumbling toward Reaper and Jordan.

“Jesus Christ,” yelled Reaper, struggling to get to his feet. “Stryker, shoot that fucking thing!”

“Jordan! Run!” I hollered. He also appeared to be transfixed on the bear. 

Jordan came to life. He got to his feet and raced toward me as Stryker’s gun went off.

“I thought I told you to stay in the boathouse?” he snapped, as we began to run away from the others.

“I thought you needed my help.”

“Stop and give me your gun,” he said suddenly.

I gave it to him.

“Hurry and get back to the boathouse. Hide and call Slammer. Tell him what’s happening.”

“What are you going to do?” I asked in horror as he started walking back.

“I’m finishing this.”

“No, just come with me,” I begged, running toward him. I grabbed his hand. “Please.”

“Jessica, for once in your life do what I fucking ask,” he demanded sharply. “Before you get us both killed.”

His words stung.

Hurt, I turned and ran back toward the boathouse. As I made it up the staircase, I heard the shots. They were immediately followed by the sound of police sirens.