Page 13 of Then and Now (The Edge of Retaliation 3)
He exhales. “We get him to the hospital, and then … we wait.”
And pray.
Mostly pray.
6
CALLIE
“He’s not saying much,” I say, curling Jo’s fingers in my hand, not letting her go, too afraid that if I do, she’ll be gone forever this time. She doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, it would seem she’s getting comfort from my excessive affection toward her. “He’s … distracted.”
I glance at Tanner who is sitting outside on the balcony, just staring. Tatum fell asleep an hour ago, when they all returned safely. Ethan went to the shower, quiet, and Tanner kind of … just went outside. Whatever happened, it’s bothering him. I don’t know if I should push, or if I should just let him tell me.
I’ve never been so scared, as I was waiting for them to return, wondering what had happened. The police called a few times, and we gave them as much information as we could. They didn’t tell us much either, it’s like we’re sitting right out in the open and yet we’re in the dark. Pitch black darkness with no answers.
“Go and talk to him,” Jo encourages. “I’m exhausted anyway, I need sleep.”
“Have you called Pat?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “No, no, I haven’t, and I don’t even know if I will. I think … I think I’m done, Callie.”
I squeeze her hand. “It’s about damn time.”
She smiles and stands. “Thank you, for finding us.”
“Thank you for coming back to me.”
She nods, her eyes a little distant, and then she whispers, “I’m sorry, for the fight we had before you got shot. I feel terrible, it was …”
“It’s over with,” I say to her, cutting her off. “We’ve been through a lot, Jo, it’s bound to happen occasionally. Please, don’t worry about it. Go and get some rest, we’ll talk more in the morning.”
She nods and then disappears into the bedroom. I glance back out at Tanner, and I wonder what he’s thinking. I stand and walk out quietly, finding a seat and dragging it over, sitting beside him. I look to him and say, carefully, “Do you want to talk about what happened?”
“It was a set up,” he murmurs, his voice low.
“I know.”
“The cops got him, he’ll go away, but if they don’t find anythin’, which there is a chance they won’t, it won’t be for long. He’s smart, really fuckin’ smart, he likely knew they’d be comin’ for him and tied all his lose ends.”
“I’m sure they’ll find something, and he’ll stay away …”
“They shouldn’t have called the cops, doing that started a war.”
“How so?” I whisper. “They’re locked away, Tanner. They can’t do anything.”
He laughs, bitterly. “You’re naïve, Callie. For someone who has been behind bars.”
That feels a little like a slap to the face, and in a sharp voice, I growl, “What happened out there? Instead of insulting me, maybe you’ll try telling me.”
He looks over to me, his eyes locking onto mine. “Not insultin’ you at all. I’m pointin’ out the obvious. You’re all thinkin’ it’s over, but it’s only just beginning.”
“How?” I grind out, frustrated.
He’s not explaining himself; he’s talking in riddles.
“When they were lockin’ him up, he told me he’s comin’ for us when he’s out, and he’ll make us wish we were never born. I take a threat like that seriously, men like him don’t just roll over when someone does what we just did, they come back harder, stronger, and I have no doubt he’ll make us wish we were never born. If you all had let me take care of him, this wouldn’t be happenin’.”
I blink, confused.
I didn’t think of that.
I don’t know why.
I guess the naïve part of me did believe it was over if they got locked up, but Tanner is right, men like that don’t just lie down and take something like what we did, they get revenge, and that revenge is usually bloody and graphic.
“We’re not safe,” I say, and it’s not a question, it’s reality.
“No, we’re not fuckin’ safe. For now, we are, dependin’ how long he gets, but when he gets out, he’ll come after us. All of us, not just me, and he’ll make us wish we took another path.”
I close my eyes, exhaling. “Have you talked to Tatum about this?”
“No, haven’t spoken to anyone. What the fuck are they goin’ to do about it?”
“I don’t know, have him hit in prison?”
Tanner does that chuckle again. “Once again, if only it were that easy. He’ll make sure he’s covered, in case that happens, he’s clever.”
Of course.
“What about if we change our names and start somewhere new. All of us…”
“You’re goin’ to ask everyone to change their lives, move away from those they love? I doubt it. Even then, you think they won’t go after our families until they find us? He knows who we are. He knows everything there is to know. We don’t run from this, Callie, we have to wait, and we have to face it.”
