Chapter 17 Grave
GRAVE
I gathered Everly up in my arms and tucked her in bed.
She cried herself to sleep against the damn toilet and it made me sick.
But I knew I was right. I knew her brother was calling the damn shots.
That was the only reason they were so hot and fucking heavy trying to rein down on Everly.
I tucked her in bed and smoothed her hair from her face, then I rummaged through my bedroom and found another pair of jeans.
Then, I tossed the bloodied pair onto the fire.
I opened the flue to let those jeans burn up and filter into the woods.
I would put it out before a noticeable smoke line went through the trees.
After the fucker scared Everly, I didn’t think he would be dumb enough to come back to the cabin right away.
So we had some time to stay and figure shit out.
I reached for my cell phone and scrolled through my contacts, then came across a name I hadn’t used in a long time. Ditch. I called him that because people only called that son of a bitch whenever they needed help out of a tight spot.
As in, when people dug themselves into ditches they couldn't get out of.
“Who the fuck’s name is this on my phone?” Ditch asked.
“Yeah, yeah. I know,” I said. “It’s been a while.”
“Dick. You owe me a damn beer from over a year ago.”
“I’ve been busy,” I said.
“Hopefully finally getting that cock of yours wet. The hell you want?”
“That’s all you got for me after a year of not talking?” I asked.
“Hey, you wanna be pals? Act like one.”
I grinned and sat down on the couch.
“You done being a little bitch?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’m good. How the hell are you?” Ditch asked.
“In a fucked up place and I need help.”
“Well shit. You called the right fucking guy. What can I do you for?”
“Two fake I.D.’s and a city that doesn’t know my fucking name.”
“Oh shit. Who’d you kill?”
“I’m about to kill someone if I don’t get these I.D.’s and get the fuck out of town,” I said. “How much and how long?”
“Usual price. Five hundred a pop. I’ll throw in the rest of the papers if you bring me some damn beer. You drank all mine last time.”
“How quickly can you get them to me?”
“You know how it works. You come to me or you don’t get them at all.”
“Ditch, I can’t do that. I’ve got someone with me and I can’t leave them,” I said.
“Ah, on the job. Then you know the meet up place. Outskirts of town by the woods. That’s the best I can do,” he said.
“That’s better than in the middle of Redding, so I’ll take it.”
“What’s the job?”
“You know what I do and you know I can’t talk about it,” I said.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look. I’ll have your I.D.’s and all the papers ready for you in a few hours. Meet around midnight?”
“Edge of the woods by the gravel back road?” I asked
“Fuck. You really want this hush hush. Diesel know about this?”
“Diesel doesn’t have to fucking know a thing until I know what the hell’s going on,” I said.
“Well damn. I’ll put a rush on things then. Eleven o’clock?”
“Thanks, Ditch.”
“And bring the damn beer this time. And cash. None of that check bullshit.”
“Can I swipe my card between your ass cheeks.”
“You wanna see my ass cheeks?”
I chuckled and shook my head as my jeans began to melt and smoke. It was taking a long ass time for those things to die, but it was soothing to watch. The blood and the tear and the panic that had seeped into the fabric was being released, and it was cathartic to watch.
“Grave?”
“Yep. Sorry.”
“You sure you don’t wanna talk, man?” Ditch asked.
“I’m sure.”
“You sound like you’ve been through some shit.”
“Haven’t we all?” I asked.
“You need a gun, too? I can snag you one of those.”
I looked down the hallway towards Everly and I figured it wasn’t a bad idea.
“Can you get me something a little smaller?”
“Something suited for a girl maybe?” Ditch asked.
“Cut the shit,” I said.
“Yes, man. I can fucking get you something smaller. But getting you a gun and some ammo within the next three hours is gonna take some money.”
“I’ll throw in another thousand.”
“Fucking done,” he said. “You need some ammo for that piece of shit on your hip?”
“Nope. I’m loaded up on that, thanks. And my gun doesn’t appreciate your tone of voice.”
“No one does except for women. And the nasty kind. Speaking of, I need to get off here if I’m going to get your shit. I’m expecting company at midnight.”
“I knew you weren’t actually doing me a favor,” I said with a grin.
“Hey, hey, hey. You get your shit, you get out of town, and I get pussy. What’s wrong with this scenario?”
“Absolutely nothing. Thanks, Ditch. And I’ll bring the beer.”
“You better. Pussy’s always better with beer.”
“With some of the women you fuck? I’m sure it washes the taste out of your mouth.”
“Get the fuck out of here and let me work,” he said.
“See you at eleven.”
I hung up the phone and sat there staring into the fire.
It was just past eight o’clock now and the sky was darkening with each passing second.
I sat in the cabin as the cold night air filtered in through the busted fucking windows.
I knew we wouldn’t be able to stay here for the night.
We were vulnerable and we’d fucking freeze to death.
Though I had some thoughts on how to keep us warm.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I walked into my bedroom.
The least I could do was fucking pack us up.
I shoved my clothes into the trash bag I had and hauled them out, then I went inside and slowly peered into Everly’s room.
She was sleeping soundly in bed and it was going to break my soul to wake her up.
I knew she was tired, but traveling in the middle of the night was our best option.
I snuck in and packed up her clothes, shoving them all into her duffel bag.
I slung her pants over the edge of the bed and took one last look at her, then I went to pack her stuff in the trailer.
Then, I made my way for the fridge.
I grabbed the beer Ditch would want and I grabbed Everly’s wine.
Whenever we got to where we were going, I was fucking sticking a straw in one of these damn things for her.
I was tired of hauling this fucking food everywhere, so I left what I could and packed up the perishables in a cooler.
It wasn’t much, but it would get us for a week or so if I could find us a place with a small kitchen.
I took it all out to my bike and jammed it in, then closed the trailer and went back inside.
I looked over at the fire and saw the jeans finally sizzling into ash. I went over and sat back down onto the couch. I looked at the clock and saw it was only eight thirty and I groaned. I had no idea how I was going to pass the fucking time or secure this damn cabin in case someone came back.
But the second I heard those small feet patter along the hallway floor, I knew exactly how I was going to pass the time.
“Grave? You out here?” Everly asked.
“The couch,” I said.
“Oh, you’ve got a fire going. That’s good. I’m freezing.”
“Probably because you don’t have pants on.”
“And I wonder whose fault that is?” she asked.
I grinned up at her and patted the seat next to me. She sat down and curled her legs to her chin, then leaned heavily into the crook of my body. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close, then pressed a small kiss to the top of her head.
“Figured you’d sleep longer,” I said.
“My brain’s going a little too fast to sleep,” Everly said.
“I know how that is.”
“Why is my stuff not in my room?”
I panned my gaze over to her before I sighed.
“I’ve got some plans in motion that require us to head out tonight,” I said.
I watched her nod as her eyes turned back to the fire.
“What are they?” Everly asked.
“It’s better for now if you don’t know.”
“Ah. Those kinds of plans.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve heard my brother use that term a few times. I didn’t think anything of it usually. Thought he was being an idiot. Making himself feel important or something.”
I pulled her even closer as my hand started to smooth along her arm.
“I’m going to meet a friend of mine at the edge of the woods around eleven to get us some fake I.D.’s. Paperwork. Things like that to get out of town.”
“And I’m coming with you, right?” Everly asked.
“He’s meeting me in a good spot. I’ll only be twenty minutes away.”
“Grave, you told me you weren’t leaving me again.”
“And I’m not. But the guy I’m getting this stuff from is very weird about new people meeting him. I trust you, but he doesn’t. I have a plan in place, though.”
“And what is this brilliant plan that takes place of your promise?” she asked.
I sighed as I removed my arm from around her body. My idea was risky, but it was the best plan I had.
“I’m going to teach you how to shoot my gun, then I’m going to leave it with you.”
“No, Grave. You’ll need your gun,” she said.
“I’m picking you one up as well. You’ll need it until we can figure out how to get you out of this mess.
I don’t want anyone knowing where you’re going, and that means reducing your exposure as much as possible.
Shooting a gun isn’t as hard as it looks, and mine doesn't have much kickback. We’ll fire off some rounds until you’re shooting straight, then I’ll leave it with you.
Twenty minutes there, one minute to exchange product for money, twenty minutes back. Then we’re on the road.”
I could see the hesitation in Everly’s eyes and it killed me.
I reached over and cupped her cheek, then turned her eyes back to mine.
They were filled with so much fear and it shattered my world.
She was so beautiful and so strong, but I could see this breaking her down.
Wearing her down into nothing but a scared little girl.
“Come on,” I said. “I’ll show you how to shoot.”