Chapter Seventeen
Aaron saw Travis Reid’s shadowy figure as he finished his climb to the marker for the controlled burn that he and Tag had laid earlier.
Travis took a long drag on his cigarette, and Aaron got a good look at him.
He looked nothing like the old friend that he remembered; the doctors had completely changed his face.
“Didn’t think you’d have the balls to show up with no backup, Aaron.” Travis chuckled to himself as if he were enjoying a private joke.
“Well, I figured that you had someone watching my family, so I left everyone back with them, just in case your spy decides to show himself.” Aaron watched as Travis took another long puff of his cigarette, still trying to find some piece of his old captain in the unfamiliar face.
“I’m sure my spy, as you put it, is smart enough to hang back and wait for my signal.
Hell, he’s been doing a good job of it so far.
You had no idea that Clint worked for me, did you?
” Travis waited Aaron out, hoping for a big reaction, but Aaron wasn’t about to give him what he wanted.
“I figured that it was someone on the security team, I just didn’t know who.
How did you get to him? He seems like a stand-up guy.
” Travis crushed out his cigarette and pulled the gun from his waistband.
“Clint and I served together. I saved his ass more times than I care to count, so he owes me. He’s going to take care of that sexy woman of yours and your sweet baby girl.
” Aaron took one step towards Travis, ready to tear him apart at the mention of his family.
“Now, Aaron, let’s not be foolish. I was hoping you and I could get a chance to talk before this is all over.
You playing the hero will just move things along more quickly.
” Aaron’s eyes were adjusting to the light of the full moon, and he could see two shadowy figures in the distance coming up behind Travis.
He needed to keep his old buddy talking.
That way, whoever was foolish enough to follow him up the mountain would have time to get into place.
“Okay, Travis. You want to talk—let’s talk.
Why in the hell didn’t you tell anyone that you made it down the mountain that day?
We all thought that you’d died with the rest of the company.
” Aaron felt a lump in his throat at the mention of his fallen brothers.
The man standing before him was not one of them anymore.
Not only did he have the face of a stranger, but he was also one to Aaron.
“You have no idea the pain and torment that I suffered knowing that you three left me on that mountain to die.” Travis shook his head in disgust.
“So, that’s why you killed Billy and his family and Ted?
Billy’s children were in that house, Travis.
They didn’t have to die—no one did. We didn’t leave you that day—we thought that you’d died with everyone else.
” Travis extended his arm holding the gun, and Aaron closed his eyes and said a silent prayer.
“You three fucking left me up there. They all deserved to burn, even Billy’s brats.
I lost everything that day, and now you will join them.
You will lose your family just like I did.
You took everything from me.” Aaron knew that arguing with a man as delusional as Travis wasn’t the best plan, but he needed to buy himself a few more minutes.
“You should have told us to retreat,” Aaron shouted.
“The winds shifted, and the fire turned back onto our location. You were the one to blame for all of their deaths, not me.” Aaron pointed at Travis, his hand shaking.
He knew that time was running out. Sooner or later, his old buddy was going to pull the trigger, and then he’d never see Sunny or Sadie again.
That thought tore him in two, knowing that he wouldn’t keep his promise to Sunny.
He wanted more than anything to marry her and spend the rest of his life with her and Sadie. Now that chance may never come.
Travis moved two steps towards Aaron, the barrel of the gun pointed at his chest. Aaron knew that if Travis took the shot, he’d bleed out before anyone could reach him.
The two shadows in the background crouched closer, and Aaron knew if he could just keep Travis talking a few more minutes, he might be able to cause a distraction to get the gun from him.
“Tell me why your wife left you, Travis,” Aaron almost whispered. He watched as his old buddy fought the emotions that were flooding back. He almost felt bad for the guy. Almost.
“Once I could talk, I asked for my wife and kids. So much time passed that I wasn’t sure they would even come.
They thought that I was dead—they had a funeral and buried an empty coffin.
But they did come to see me in the hospital, and I was so happy to see them.
” Travis’s arms began to lower, and the gun was pointing towards the ground. Aaron needed to keep him talking.
“What happened next?” Travis ran one hand through his hair and took a few steps back from Aaron.
“The pain was too much—I had to take those pills that the doctor prescribed. I had no choice, but my wife didn’t believe me.
She told me that I chose those pills over her, said that I changed.
” He barked out a laugh. “She was the one who fucking changed. She moved on and even found herself a boyfriend. That bitch took my kids away from me after I worked so hard to find my way back to them.” Travis stood hopelessly before him, a broken shell of a man, and Aaron realized that the fire five years ago destroyed all their lives.
“It doesn’t have to be like this, Travis.
That fire fucked all of us over, but you don’t have to do this.
” Aaron knew that he was grasping at straws, but he had no other choice.
He wanted to hold Sunny in his arms again and marry her.
He wanted to watch his daughter grow up—giving up was not an option.
“I have nothing left,” Travis muttered. The gun now dangled in his hand by his side, and Aaron saw that as his chance.
He pulled his gun from his back waistband and pointed it at Travis.
The surprise showed clearly on his face.
“Well played, Aaron,” Travis almost sounded impressed.
“So now what? We just stand here, both pointing our weapons at each other until one of us gives up? I have nothing to lose, Aaron, but you do.” Travis pulled his cell from his pocket, still aiming his gun at Aaron.
He hit a button and put the call on speaker.
“Remember my text? I told you that I took precautions. I’m calling in that favor now.
” Travis’s cell phone continued to ring, and finally, a woman answered.
“Hello, who is this?” Aaron’s heart beat faster at the sound of Sunny’s voice. She was alive, and that was all that truly mattered. He breathed a sigh of relief.
“Who the fuck is this? Where is Clint?” Aaron didn’t hide his smirk. His girl figured out that Clint was the rat, and Tag took him down.
“I think she figured out who your ‘precaution’ was, Travis,” Aaron laughed.
“Oh my God, Aaron. Is that you?” Sunny’s voice cracked, and he didn’t have the heart to lie to her and tell her that everything was okay.
“I’m here, baby. My old friend Travis and I are having a little talk.
I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you that I was leaving.
I just wanted to keep you and Sadie safe.
I love you both so much, honey,” he shouted, hoping that she would be able to hear him.
“Oh, Aaron,” she sobbed. “We love you too.”
Travis growled, “If you two don’t mind, I’d like to get on with this. So, you have Clint? Well, that changes things a bit. When I get done here with your boyfriend, I’m going to pay you and that baby of yours a little visit.” Aaron barked out a laugh, drawing Travis’s attention.
“There is no fucking way you will ever touch either of them. I have them protected, and you won’t get near them.” Aaron saw the flash of anger cross Travis’ face. He was starting to realize that he couldn’t win and that could make him even more desperate.
“Aaron don’t do—” Travis growled and pushed the end button, cutting off Sunny’s words, and then slipped his cell back into his jacket pocket.
“Enough,” he shouted. Aaron knew that Travis was ready to make his move.
It was going to come down to who was faster at pulling the trigger.
Aaron didn’t see any other way around it.
“I’m done with all of this. You have been a pain in my ass for too long now.
Any last words?” Travis waited Aaron out.
“Well, I have a couple of words I’d like to throw in if Aaron’s at a loss,” Sawyer said. He stood behind Travis, a shotgun pointed at his back.
“Thank fuck,” Aaron breathed.
“How about you gently drop that gun, Reid?” Sawyer nudged his back with the barrel of his gun, letting him know that there was no way out.
Aaron held his breath waiting for Travis to make a decision.
He was still in the line of fire and knew that Travis could still take him out.
“What’s it going to be, Reid?” Sawyer barked.
Travis sighed and tossed his gun to the ground.
“You know that I’ll be back, right, Aaron? They won’t put me away forever, and when I get out, I’m coming after you and your family. This isn’t over,” Travis promised.