Wolves In Helfire

T H I S A G A I N

“I want you 3 to listen to me carefully with no interruptions. There’s been a hiccup in our plans of living the happily ever after life. Last night, Jim informed me of a group of people searching for those who killed Ray. They want blood, or their money that he owed them. Now, considering we don’t have an extra 47 million dollars to hand over, we came up with the plan to take out the head of their organization to kill the threat.”

My head dropped. I knew this wasn’t good.

“You 3 will stay here until other arrangements are made. You guys are completely safe from harm here. I know you’ve heard that in the past, but I really mean it this time. In the basement, there’s a trapdoor where you can hide if anything happens. Food. Ammunition. Monitors for the cameras around the house. I’m leaving tomorrow before anyone catches wind of this location. Jim and Stacey will be here in about three hours so please, please try not to go far if y’all go exploring.”

“What if someone follows them?”

“Can’t happen, son. We’ve planned this one out carefully. I don’t have time to explain all the details but just know, your safety was the main priority. Especially now, considering Stacey has a bun in the oven.”

“A what? What the hell does that mean?”

“Language, Justin. It means she’s pregnant. You two are going to be parents soon.”

I’m in total shock.

“She’s, she’s pregnant?”

“Yes sir, she is. Jim and I are happy to know that we’re going to be grandparents even if we never get to see the little brat.”

She walked up and gave me a big hug. I’m still in shock. Karen was celebrating but Emma, not so much. She was sitting there looking as shocked as I was.

“I know you’re going to be a great father, Justin. Just remember, when things get tough, and they will, just know you’ll always be a better man than your father. If anything happens to me, this house will go to you, Stacey, and the baby. And, of course, Karen and Emma if they choose to stay.”

I didn’t know what to say. I just sat back down on the couch with my mouth shut. Emma took my hand in hers. Yeah, shocked.

“Well, we have 3 hours to burn before they get here. I was thinking we go out for breakfast and celebrate this good news to take our minds off the bad.”

“Aunt Eva, that sounds like a kick-ass idea. I’ll go get dressed.”

“Mom…”

“Oh, right. LANGUAGE, KAREN…”

“Sorry auntie.”

“Emma, is everything alright, sweetie?”

“No…”

She gets up to go get ready.

“What’s wrong with Emma, son?”

“She’ll be fine. Hey, is there any way I can get ahold to some pot? I really need to smoke after news like this.”

“We’ll talk about that after we get back. Right now, you need to go get dressed so we can head out. 30minutes there, and 30minutes back is an hour gone. That’s not including the 30minutes we’ll probably spend eating so get a move on, grandpa.”

After everyone were dressed, we made our way to this diner for breakfast. I ordered an egg and bacon with cheese sandwich, and a glass of OJ to wash it down. Karen ordered pancakes smothered in syrup and strawberries, washing it down with chocolate milk. Yeah, don’t ask me what she was thinking. Emma, she ordered 2 blueberry muffins, washing it down with a glass of water. My mom ordered nothing but coffee.

The spirits of everyone seemed to be up. We were laughing, chatting, picking. This felt too familiar. Felt like we were back in the cabin with Aunt Tina. The feeling of something bad being around the corner stuck my happiness with its sharp reminders of the past, slowly deflating my joy. Not enough for any to notice.

I made my way to the restroom, taking a minute to collect my thoughts. f**k. I’m about to be a father. This is nuts. Thinking about with whom I’ll have this baby with brought back my happiness. This guy enters soon after.

“Justin, right?”

“Nope. Sammy.”

“s**t. Did you see another guy come in here? His mom gave me $300 for my bookbag.”

“Weed?”

“Only the best stuff around.”

“Then yeah, I’m who you’re looking for.”

“Alrighty. This is yours my friend. I wrote my number on a napkin, it’s in there as well. You run out, let me be the first person you call. I got a s**t load of this stuff.”

“Will do. Have a good day, homie.”

I exit the restroom to see my party getting up. After paying the bill, we left for the store. Cigars. Rolling papers. Munchie food. Everything came to $65 and the majority of it were the cigars. I’m certain we have enough utensils to keep the smoke train fueled for a week or two. As if we were without any real problems, we jammed to music all the way home.

I wasted no time breaking down a bud and filling a cigar. Karen was thrilled. After making our way out back, we lit the weed. I have to admit, it was pretty good.

“Damn, Justin, it feels so good to be smoking again.”

“Yeah, I agree. Today of all days, this was definitely needed.”

She let out a yell of joy.

“I’m going to be a big 2nd cousin. I hope it’s a girl.”

“I honestly don’t care. Boy. Girl. As long as it’s healthy.”

“Aww. I bet I could tell you exactly when she got pregnant. Remember when y’all were staying at my house, and…”

“Ok. Ok. Dammit, Karen, I know when.”

She laughed while choking on a smoke cloud. Good. Maybe she’ll shut up. Emma poked her head out the door.

“You guys, we have company.”

We put out the weed and made our way to the front where we greeted Stacey and her dad, Jim. They were a little early. She spoke to everyone but came straight to me with open arms.

“I’ve missed you so much, babe.”

“Hey. I’ve missed you too. You’re all I could think about.”

Jim walked up and pulled me into a tight hug. I preferred a firm handshake but, I guess this’ll work.

“Sonny boy, you make my daughter happier than I’ve ever seen her whole life. I wanna say, if you 2 plan on getting married sometime in the future, you have my blessing.”

“Ah, thanks Mr. Jim. That means a lot.”

“It’s only one thing I ask from you. If by some evil divine intervention, you 2 don’t work out, I need you to promise me you’ll always be there for your kid, and that you’ll be there to protect my princess no matter what.”

“Yes sir. That’s on my soul.”

“Attaboy.”

My mom took Jim inside as the 4 of us caught up.

“So, Emma, Karen, what the hell have you 2 been getting into lately?”

“Girl, look at all this nature out here. That’s what we’ve been getting into.”

“Yep, that’s about it. Me and brother watch the stars some nights but, yeah… Nature.”

“Aw, you 2 sound so miserable. It’s good to see y’all stuck by Justin’s side during the recovery process.”

“Where could they go? They’re stuck with me forever, like you.”

We shared a quick kiss.

“Brother, can y’all not do that in front of me?”

“I’m with you, Emma. There’s five bedrooms in the house, y’all only need one.”

“Wait, does this mean I have to start sleeping in my room now?”

“Yeah, little sis, it does.”

“But…”

“Come on, Emma. You can sleep in my room with me until I decide to put you out. Let’s let the lovebirds catch up.”

They went inside.

“Walk with me?”

“Sure, babe.”

We started down the trail leading to the waterhole. Hand in hand.

“So, we’re having a little one, huh?”

“I’m afraid so. During all of this drama, something amazing is coming from it all.”

“You know, my mom has already given this home to us. You, me, and the baby. We’ll have somewhere to live. Now, all I have to do is find a job to put food on the table.”

“No worries. My dad transferred $150,000 into my bank account this morning. He told me if they make it back, I’d have to pay him back with a grandson.”

“I think we can manage.”

We laughed.

“This place is gorgeous, babe.”

“Yeah, I couldn’t fully enjoy it until right now. Thing’s look a lot brighter.”

We made our way to the waterhole. We sat on a boulder and finished our chat.

“Wow… Justin, this is incredible. I wonder what it looks like when the full moon is overhead.”

“Hard to believe, but I’m sure it’s even more beautiful.”

We talked for about 15 more minutes before heading back. The walk back was quiet and enjoyable. It felt good to once again have her by my side. And she’s pregnant with my child, which is a bonus.

Coming out of the path, I noticed Karen and Emma on the back porch, blazing a joint. The aroma, mind settling. They’re laughing like crazy. Karen, more or less, laughing at Emma’s reaction to smoking weed for the first time. This can’t be good.

“Karen don’t let her smoke too much of that stuff. She has virgin lungs.”

“She only took a puff. She’s fine.”

“BROTHER, HEY, BROTHER. I CAN SEE EVERYTHING SO CLEAR NOW.”

“You don’t have to shout it to the world, sis.”

“I LOVE YOU, JUSTIN. I’M GOING TO MAKE A GREAT AUNT TO YOUR BABY. AND I LOVE YOU TOO STACEY. AND KAREN.”

“We get it, sis. We love you too. You’re still shouting.”

She burst into laughter.

“Oops.”

We made our way onto the porch where they were, just in time for me take the joint Karen was handing Emma.

“Not cool, cousin. You’re messing up the rotation.”

“She doesn’t need anymore.”

I puffed it once and handed back to Karen.

“Uh, excuse me. I am standing right here, babe.”

“I’m not handing it to you. If you wanna smoke, get it from Karen.”

Just like I thought, Karen handed it to her. Stacey puffed it twice and gave it back.

“Last time I smoked was with you in the facility.”

“Damn, it’s been that long for you too?”

“Yes, and let me tell you, it sucked. Since my dad found out I was pregnant, he has limited my smoking.”

“That’s a bummer.”

I let the girls talk and catch up. I headed inside for a quick snack. I heard my mom and Jim speaking lowly from the other room.

“If that’s the case then we need to leave now.”

“I agree. Let’s tell the gang and head out.”

They walked into the kitchen where I was. I pretended like I didn’t walk in on the tail end of their conversation.

“Oh, what’s up?”

“Justin, tell the girls come inside. We have to talk.”

I knocked on the glass and gestured for them to come inside. We gathered in the living room.

“Things have changed. We feel it’s a better tactful advantage if we left now. So, hugs and kisses before we go.”

Everyone hugged and kissed them before they took off on their journey. They ensured us they would be safe, and we’d be safer. Then, they left. This is where my worry kicked in. According to what my mother had said earlier, they were pretty much walking into the lion’s den with fresh steak underwear on.

The girls seemed calm. If they were half as worried as I was, they sure didn’t show it. They hung around out back for the most part of the day. I, on the other hand, was in security mode. I kept a pistol and AR-15 with me the whole time. I wasn’t letting anything, or anyone come close to either of us.

“Brother, is this necessary?”

“Let me answer that, Justin. Emma, before we made it there to the facility, we were ambushed by some pretty serious people. No matter where we went, it seemed like somebody wanted us dead. So, to answer your question, yes, I for one think it’s necessary.”

“Me too. Like Karen said, those guys that were after us were very dangerous and didn’t care who they hurt or killed to get to us. It was a real s**t show then.”

“I thought mama Eva said those people didn’t know where we are?”

“They don’t, sis. I’m just not taking any chances. We’ve been in places no one but our team knew of and was still ambushed. If they show up here, I’m protecting all of you with my life.”

“You know I have your back, cousin. Always.”

“I know, cuz. Emma, you’ll help keep Stacey and the baby safe. First thing in the morning I’ll show you how to shoot.”

“I know how to shoot a gun, brother. Just don’t give me anything with a lot of recoil and I’ll hit my target every time.”

“Ok, fine. You’ll man the .22, long rifle. Semi-automatic. Target practice is still in the morning.”

“Stacey, bae, you got the .9mm, ok?”

“Sounds good.”

“Ok, now I feel a bit better. We got us a little army here.”

They chuckled at my seriousness about everything. s**t, after what I’ve been through, I couldn’t care less about their laughter as long as they were safe. Dang, it’s really happening. We’re doing this again.