Wolves In Helfire

F A M I LY R E U N I O N

The time was upon us. The hour had come to ship out. Minor details in the plan had changed, such as jumping out of a damn helicopter to parachute to our landing spot. This, I did not prepare for. I didn’t panic, much, just did as the two soldiers explained.

It was a success. We landed where we’d discussed and started our 1-mile journey to Ray’s location. We hiked through the woods and came up in front of the buildings like Ray expected us to. We had a small confrontation with the guards about our weapons, but we refused to hand them over.

This drew the attention of Ray, forcing him to come out to address the commotion. He made his people back down and invited us inside the only thriving building. He led us to the dining room, and we sat at the dinner table which was properly set.

“Son, my child, it’s been too long. Please, ask your soldiers to stand outside the door. No harm will come to you while you’re with me.”

“Where’s my mom?”

“Please, son, have a seat. EVA…”

She stepped around the corner in a cooking apron carrying plates for me and Ray. She hugged and kissed me and told me she loved me. She looked, ok.

“Son, your soldiers are making me nervous. I do not wish for a misunderstanding when all I’m trying to do is have a decent meal with my family. So, please, ask them to wait outside the door.”

I nodded. They stood outside the door but didn’t close it so they could hear what was going on. I sat my long rifle on the floor next to me with my intentions set on using my pistol in a quick response situation.

My mom sat to the right of me, while Ray was straight across. Under different circumstances, this may have been a nice memory to keep stored. He started to talk.

“I understand there has been stories floating around that may not be, complete. It’s only fair that you hear my side. Wouldn’t you say that’s fair, son?”

“I’m here.”

“Indeed, you are. But let’s be honest, son, you’re only here to save your mom from a danger that doesn’t presently exist.”

“I don’t have time for mind games, Ray, let us go and there won’t be bloodshed.”

He sat back in his chair.

“Son, you are free to leave whenever you get ready, but your mom and I, we have unfinished business to attend.”

“No, if I leave then she’s coming with me.”

“On the contrary. If you leave together then death has called upon you both, and I know that’s not what you want, son. You see, your mom hasn’t been completely honest with you, if at all, and that’s why you need to hear my side of the story before your anger towards me make me do something that’ll haunt me for the rest of my life. No matter how long that’ll be after the fact.”

“Then talk, Ray.”

“Please, call me dad.”

“I like Ray better.”

He chuckled.

“I’m curious, what have she, they, told you about me?”

“Everyone’s saying pretty much the same thing. You’re a psychotic motherfucker who’s out to kill me and my mom because you feel like she stole from you.”

“She did, Justin, but money comes a million a day. What she stole from me, was you, my child. She stole away the life I’d seen with you two in it.”

“You know it was more than that, Ray.”

“SHUT UP, WOMAN. I’m talking to my son.”

I placed my hand on my pistol.

“Justin, years ago, your mom was in a little money trouble with some real nasty people. When they came to collect, they didn’t do it with words because both parties agreed on the day the money was to be paid in full. A verbal contract if you will. Just like a written one, if the terms and agreements were not met, then there’s punishment.”

“So, you helped her get out of debt and then what? Gave her the Queen title in your corrupt empire before setting her up to fail?”

“By that time, I’d already started loving your mother. I never set her up to fail. I only gave her tasks that requires a certain skill level to accomplish. I knew she could rise to any task I could throw her way, and this is why I allowed her to oversee one of my biggest shipments at the time. It was your mother that had different views.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Exactly what you don’t understand. Your mother wanted to rule my empire. An empire I’d put blood sweat and more blood into building. She turned to her crooked friends in the military to help her finish me off, but they were too damn stupid to know how the organizations around the world works. They paid off a client of mine, who soon after informed me for a small price. So, not only was I supposed to die that night, but I also didn’t receive payment for a shipment that was stolen by her people. Hell, I ended up paying extra to live. Isn’t that just the sweet American way?”

I sat quiet.

“She covered her tracks well, just not well enough. I would’ve killed her then, but I knew you needed us both at the time, son. Don’t you get it, I never wanted to hurt you, just the ones around you. Every SPOTTER I could find, I wanted to rip there f*****g spines out for betraying me to work for the biggest traitor of us all.”

He took a deep breath, then a hard exhale. I just sat there, not saying a word. My mom had tears in her eyes but continued eating her food.

“Well, that is a weight off my chest. You just don’t know how long I wanted, I tried, to tell you those things, son. Your mother was the one spreading the rumors that I was out to kill you both. It’s just her, Justin, that has to pay for her doings. Now, eat your food that your mom has prepared.”

“No thank you. I’m curious, as to why you would tell me the story you feel has already been told to me. It’s as if you’re trying to cover your actual intentions with a sob story that I don’t even care to hear. I almost died because of you two. You say you’re trying to keep me safe, but do either of you know what the f**k I’ve been through these past couple of weeks? Everywhere I turned, there was someone there waiting in the grass trying to kill me. Flying here, flying there. Aunt Tina’s dead because of this s**t, and Cassey. When will this s**t end? A bunch of he said, she said s**t going on that’s getting everybody dead.”

“Son…”

“No, mom, I’m sick of this. I know you did what you did because you felt it was the best thing for us. Look at us; ain’t nobody here safe. And you, dad, you’re the fuel to the fire. MY FIRE. Your problems with her have everyone blaming me for the s**t I have nothing to do with. Karen is hurting because her mom is dead over what? You two not being able to get along? And Stacey, she’s hurting but is scared to show it. How the f**k am I supposed to feel, huh? One parent trying to keep me from the other parent that’s causing all of this havoc for what? This is a game that you both like to play, but you can count me out.”

“Justin, don’t do something you’ll regret…”

“Like this?”

I pulled my pistol.

“I’m here because I was told you would let her go if I agreed to meet with you. I kept my end of the bargain, now it’s time for you to do the same.”

“I never agreed to let her go, Justin. She has to be held accountable for her betrayal. Her disloyalty. Son, put the gun down or you’ll force my hand.”

When the soldiers heard Ray tell me put the gun down, they immediately came in with theirs drawn on Ray. As they did, two of Ray’s goons came around the corner with their guns drawn on the soldiers.

“Growing up, I always wondered what happened to you. I didn’t know if you had died or was just out of our lives. I was too afraid to ask mom because the one time I did, she cried for a whole day. Now, I just don’t care about anything anymore. STAND UP and turn around.”

“What, Justin, you’re gonna arrest me? Look around you, son, how do you think this is going to play out?”

“We both die today, Ray. After I shoot you, I’m sure your people will shoot me. It’s a small price to pay for the unnecessary chaos you’ve caused my friends and family these past couple weeks.”

“What are you waiting for then, Justin. If you’re ready to die, then pull the trigger because I’m already dead, son. DO IT.”

I c****d back the pistol.

“DO IT, SON. BE A MAN AND DO IT.”

I fired 3 shots, hitting and killing his two goons behind him. He laughed. A group of 10 goons rushed in ready to gun us down before Ray stopped them.

“Hell of a shot you got there, son. Unfortunately, you missed your target.”

“I don’t want to kill you, Ray. Why can’t you just forget about the past and let her go?”

“BECAUSE… Because I just can’t, son. Tell me this, was it mentioned that it was a possibility that Jim was your father?”

“What?”

“Jim. Husband of Cassey. Father of that pretty young daughter of theirs, Stacey.”

“SHUT UP, RAY.”

“NO, he needs to know why you were never good for him since birth. Did she also fail to mention, that she sold you to a very wealthy couple who mysteriously turned up dead a couple of days after the money hit her bank account?”

“RAY… Don’t do this…”

“Mama, this isn’t true, right?”

She did nothing but shed tears.

“You see, son, you’ve been living with the monster while running from the one she made you think I was. Everything I’ve been doing was to get you back. Away from her.”

Things took a turn, emotionally. I can’t believe this, but my mom isn’t denying any of it. She f*****g sold me, for money? I honestly didn’t know who to shoot if I was to shoot anyone. A soldier placed one hand on my shoulder and said to me ‘SHADOWS. That was a key word for when all of our people got into position.

Tears poured at a steady pace, but my sight was never hindered by the continuous flow. Nor did my pistol drop. I reached down and picked up my long rifle, then had a seat back at the table.

“Before we all die, I’m gonna need a drink.”

“Now we’re getting to the good part. Carlos, bring me the whiskey.”

“No, I’m gonna need some Gin, no ice. That’s the only drink that’ll get me through anything.”

“Ahh, I see my good taste rubbed off on you. Your mom was never…”

“Stop comparing yourself to her. After today, you both will be equals in my eyes. Dead to me.”

Ray laughed, overlooking my intentions. The bottles arrived at the table. I took a shot.

“I never knew Gin could taste so good.”

“Only the best of quality can remain in my presence. Besides, what alcohol doesn’t taste satisfying on a shitty day?”

We laughed together. I looked over at my mom.

“You know, I trusted you. If I had known all of this, I would’ve found my father instead of going through all of this bullshit. You, and all the people you’re working with are full of lies and deceit.”

I turned to the two soldiers behind me with a wink.

“Not you two, we’re still cool. Everybody wanted me to hate and fear my dad, Ray the Psycho, but I do neither. Finally, the whole story is clear.”

I reached over and tapped my mom on the leg, same time, placing my pistol on her lap. I laughed.

“This reminds me of that story.”

Ray chuckled.

“Which story is this, son?”

“I think I remember it. There was this young boy sitting at the table with his family and friends. So, the mom asked the boy, son, did you do your homework? The boy responded, yes mom, I did it. The dad said to the boy, son, are you sure you did your homework? The boy responded to his dad, yes, I did my f*****g homework. The mom asked the boy, what did you just say? The boy looked his mom right in the eyes and told her, I said, fall backwards before you get shot the hell up.”

Ray gave a confused looked.

“Well, what did the mother do?”

By this time, my mom pushed herself backwards in the chair and started shooting along with me and the two soldiers, killing all 10 of Ray’s goons. Ray was hit multiple times as well. We helped my mom up and made it outside where our people were closing in on the place.

The eye in the sky seen it was time for us to get the hell out of there so a team in a helicopter landed and helped us make an escape. There were bodies everywhere. Thankfully, I wasn’t among the dead. While on the helicopter, I realized I’d been shot 3 times. That’s when I fainted.

I awoke in a white room on a table, then I blacked out again. If I live, there’s a story to be told. If I die, my story will be told.