Chapter Two
“I’ll keep my eyes out for them,” Jake said as he jumped back down from the dumpster’s edge.
Frost paused ‘keep his eyes out’ He almost smiled at the kid’s words, but considering what was happening, he didn’t smile. He could see over the lip of the dumpster, so he kept an eye on Jake. He still worried the kid might get hurt, especially if someone was hunting this woman.
He started to hum a lullaby his mother used to sing to him. He figured it would soothe him a bit. Wasn’t everyday when a man who was no longer homeless, stood in a freakin’ dumpster holding an unconscious woman, all beat to hell.
So he just stood there and hummed as he watched the dawn breaking over the city.
About ten minutes later, he saw Storm and Lightning hustling down the stairs from the top tier of the lot as they came from the road.
Jake motioned them over.
Storm paused at the sight of the woman.
Jake stared at him then turned his head and looked at the woman.
Finally, Storm peered up at Frost and asked, “What the hell did you find, brother?”
Frost looked back and shrugged. “A woman and as you can see she is beat to hell. I’m not sure what it is all about, but when I mentioned the doctor she freaked out completely and said she couldn’t see a doctor or go to any hospital. She’s scared of the attackers finding her.”
“We better get her back to Leon’s,” Storm said as he looked around.
Lightning stepped up to the dumpster and said, “Hand her over, brother.”
Pausing, Storm glanced down at the woman. She didn’t move, didn’t even groan and he was worried that she wouldn’t make the ride. He handed her over.
Lightning took her gently and stepped back.
Jake came up and stared at the woman in concern.
Frost jumped down super quick and grabbed the bundle of a woman from Lightning. “Let’s go.” He growled.
His two friends stared at him then glanced at each other.
Storm shook his head then led the way.
Frost followed as he carried the bundle.
Jake kept right beside him like a loyal puppy.
Lightning brought up the rear.
After climbing the stone stairs, they went down the sidewalk toward the vehicle.
Storm used his key-fob to open all the doors. He then got in and sent a text to Leon.
The rest of them got in and Frost held the woman in his arms.
The ride didn’t take long and when they arrived, the gate seemed to automatically open.
Frost had kept the unconscious woman on his lap the whole way to the estate.
Storm pulled the vehicle around back, then they all came in through the back door.
Leon stood there waiting for them. He studied the woman and shook his head, then told them to take her to a bedroom on the lower level.
Evelyn joined them and said, “Dr. Badliss is on his way.” She led them down the hall. Her and Jake had come home from the safe house yesterday.
They entered the room and Frost gently laid her down on the bed.
Evelyn shook her head at the woman lying on the bed.
She looked pretty bad just now. Then she went into the adjoining bathroom.
After a minute, she brought out a basin of warm water and a washcloth.
She began cleaning the dirt and the blood off the woman’s hands and face then told Frost to remove her outer clothes.
Frost gently took off the woman’s jacket and shoes.
When Evelyn was done the water was a mixture of dirt and dried blood but the woman looked a little better, even if her bruises were fully exposed now.
She hadn’t opened her eyes yet and she was still unconscious. This worried everyone in the room.
Frost sat down next to the bed and reached for her hand. Then he whispered, “Wake up, girl. You are safe now. Whoever beat you up can’t find you here. Come on, open your eyes.”
Jake came over and took her other hand. “I’m Jake. I know how...I know how it feels to be hunted. It is ok. These people are the good guys. So please wake up?”
She lay there for a few more minutes, then she stirred quietly.
Finally, she opened her eyes. At first, she looked confused as she clearly didn’t know where she was but then she gazed down to notice that her hands were clean and she was in a soft bed.
She opened her eyes wider and looked around the room.
She found little Jake’s face and whispered, “Where am I?”
Instead of Jake answering, Frost replied, “You are safe, no one here is going to hurt you.”
She looked over at him on the other side of the bed. “But that doesn’t tell me where I am, now does it?” she growled.
Frost chuckled at her in your face attitude. “No, it doesn’t.”
Looking back over at Jake, she said, “You found me, didn’t you?”
He nodded. “My name is Jake and I heard you crying.”
She gave him a smile. “Thank you. What brave little man you are.”
At this, Frost grinned and shook his head.
Evelyn stepped up and took Jake’s hand.
He looked up at her.
“You need to have breakfast and a change of clothes, young man.,” she told the boy with a smile on her face.
“Yes, ma’am.” Jake smiled at her then he looked over at the injured woman. “Are you going to be okay?”
Nodding, she smiled even as her face looked so bruised. “Thank you for rescuing me, Jake.” She stretched her shaking hand out to him.
Frost grinned at this. Jake the hero. He tried not to release a chuckle.
Jake’s face went pink as he took her hand. After a minute, he released it and followed Evelyn out of the room.
Quietly, they all watched this
“What a great kid,” Storm said.
“He is,” Leon replied. “Jake and Mikey are wonderful sons.”
“J-Jake is your son?” the woman on the bed asked in confusion.
Leon nodded and gave her a rueful smirk. “You might say they are my reason for living.”
Frost kept grinning. He knew the story behind that now. Jake was the actual reason Leon was alive.
Leon now stepped up and studied her for a moment then he said, “You, my dear, are inside my home. Frost is correct in saying you are safe and no one will harm you here.”
“Who are you?” she asked him while staring at Leon.
“My name is Leon Vincinti.”
She shrank back in utter terror. “No oh, my God. No. I can’t be here!”
Leon paused to look around the room, his curious gaze finally making it back to her. “My dear, you are safe here, if that’s what you are worried about.”
“No, you don’t understand.” She looked panicked. “The Gondo Cartel is coming here to kill you and your family.”
Leon finally understood why she was so afraid. He nodded. “They have already tried and failed.”
The woman looked confused. “What? How did they fail?”
Leon quirked an eyebrow at her. “Are you disappointed that they failed?” He simply stared at her as the room went quiet.