Chapter 13
Adam
Now is not the time to fight with Jennifer. I grabbed her hand and rushed us into the nearby classroom. Only for her to pull me further down the hallway into the science lab. The room was large with cabinets lining the walls, full of supplies. The desk were long tables with black tops. Without saying anything I tried to keep Jennifer towards the back of the classroom only for her to stay at my side. Any other time I would appreciate the gesture even welcome it, but not right now. I stayed close by the door ready to kill anyone that would come our way. The footsteps slowly moved from the far right side of the hallway closer to us.
Alma just needed to be quiet for a little bit longer. They would miss the girls, unfortunately that still left Jennifer out in the open.
"Adam", Jennifer whispered pulling me down to the ground next to her.
I looked at her confused and she pointed to the wall of windows on the other side of the room.
More soldiers were coming. This wasn't a Hitman or sniper this was a full assault team they wore all black clothes, armor and face mask. They knew we were going to be here, and they weren't going to let us leave without a fight.
I can hear them breaking down the classroom doors searching for us.
Damn. Damn. Fucking shit.
"Help me", she said crawling to a nearby cabinet and pulling out jugs looking for something.
"Handle it", I whispered. I couldn't stop guarding the door, if they did make it to us before team Hermes did I would rather die then let them harm a single hair on Jennifer.
I could see the soldiers getting closer to their reflection in the lockers in the hallway. It wouldn't be long now before they found us. Adrenaline flooded my system like it's on an intravenous drip - right into my blood at full pelt. Gunshots rang out, my heart was beating in my chest, pounding, banging, trying to get out.
"Adam", I turned to see Jennifer standing on one of the tables holding a lighter up to one of the fire alarm sprinklers.
Casting one glance back to the door I turned and gave her my attention,"What are you going?!" I said trying to keep my voice down. Now, really wasn't the time... for whatever this was.
"Science! Help me and we can hold them off", she said with an urgency in her voice. She was too short to reach the sprinkler system. I didn't have any ideas so I might as well listen to her. I stood up on the table and held the one click Fire Starter up to the sprinklers. It wasn't long before they started to go off. Jennifer snatched the fire starter out of my hand and started to light a pile ash on a rolling cart.
I stepped down,"Adam you're better shot than me as the cart rolls down the hallway you pick them off one by one. I'll get the girls and we run out the back exit". She handed me a pair of sunglasses,"Keep those on". She said putting on a pair of her own.
"Okay", I said jumping down to her side.
"On three", Jennifer said. I nodded,"One, two...three!" She lit the tube of ash, while pushing the cart down the hall way. The ash ignited in cloud of white smoke exploding with light. It was the kind of brightness that sears into your retinas making you close them for fear of going blind; a brightness that would make fresh snow look grey and dull. It was a brightness to rival the sun itself. I reached for my sunglasses, but even with them on I still had to squint to see.
Smart.
If I can't see the soldiers on their way to kill us they couldn't see us. I covered Jennifer even though she didn't need it. She quickly got the girls and started to run towards the door. One soldier somehow got pass the blind white hot light and I shot him dead in the head.
"Let's go!" Jennifer said as she and the girls passed by me. Lara stayed close by her side and Alma was in Jennifer's arms. I followed behind them backwards keeping my eyes focused looking for any other soldiers that dared come after us.
We made it outside, but instead of heading to the parking lot like we did before. Jennifer circled around the building choosing to go through the back gated door. The iron gate was fashioned to look antique but the hinges were undoubtedly new and covered in vines. The latch lifted with ease and it swung open almost without sound. "Can you hotwire a car?"
"Yup", before I take over the business. The only way I was going to get a car was if I stole it. Rodger had money but never saw the need to get anyone besides himself a car. So I stole them. And got fucking good at it until I got catch driving a 2002 Dodge Viper sixty miles an hour in a twenty five zone. My mom took care of the situation and she didn't even tell Rodger. She wasn't even mad or shocked.
We ran down the back street until Jennifer found a black, 2013, Peugeot 208.
I couldn't help but laugh,"Really tearing up the road with---" Not playing around Jennifer snatched the gun out of my hand and put Alma down. "If you shoot you'll draw attention to us".
"Good thing that's not what I was planning on doing", she said taking off her silk long robe and wrapping it around the gun. She used the hilt to start beating the window until it broke into a thousand little pieces. She unlocked the car and turned to me,"Get to work, please".
Not needing to be told again I quickly worked on finding the wires I needed. This time as I worked Jennifer stood ready to shoot anyone that could possibly follow us,"Daddy, is this stealing?" Alma asked looking at me confused and crying. Snot was running down her nose.
Ewww
"Uummm yes? But, we..." I had no idea what to say. Yes stealing is wrong. This was an emergency situation and if those soldiers caught up to us they would kill us.
"No", Lara said jumping in,"Actually this is a friend's car. We're just borrowing it. He forgot to leave the keys out so---"
"Got it!" I shouted so Jennifer could hear me. I wiped as much of the glass away as possible and slid into the driver seat. I unlock the car and the girls quickly got it. As soon as I was about to take off a herd of soldiers ran from behind the gate, blocking off our exit strategy.
"Get down and stay down", Jennifer yelled to Lara and Alma. Turning to me she said,"Run them down". I don't know why in this moment I couldn't do it she said. She was scaring Alma and Lara. Their limbs trembled in a way that had nothing to do with the cold outside. "What are you waiting for?"
I was so focused on Lara and Alma I wasn't thinking straight. The only thing that jerk me back to the severity of our situation was Jennifer forcing my leg down onto the gas and we barreled right through the onslaught of people,"I got it", I said here.
"No. No you don't", she said with venom in her voice. We drove in dead silence until we made our way onto the highway. We heard a helicopter above, watching our movements.
Team Hermes was finally here.
Finally taking her foot off the gas Jennifer said,"Pull over".
I was about to say no but I know Jennifer would have snapped at me if I said that. Piss didn't even begin to describe what she was feeling towards me. I did as she asked and we switched seats. Not even giving me time to put on my seatbelt she took off pushing the car as hard as it would go.
"Why did the car get blowned up?" Alma asked.
I was going to tell her accidents happen with cars but Jennifer quickly jumped in and said,"Blown up. Why did the car get blown? Because people do bad things sometimes".
"Why?" She pressed.
"Greed, power, money anything you can think of", she said being way too honest with a six-year-old. Alma didn't need to know about the ugly side of humanity.
In a small timid voice Alma asked,"Is this car going to blow up?"
I cut in,"No. No it's not. Nobody did anything to my car. Mistakes happen with wires all the time, just like in the movies. It's nothing to be afraid of", I said looking back in the seat to Alma.
I didn't have to turn to look at Jennifer to know she was staring at me. I could feel her eyes on me. And like a calm before the storm I could feel a fight getting ready to burst out.
"Phone", Jennifer said to Lara extending out her hand. Not saying a work Lara put the phone in the palm of her hand,"Thank you".
We finished the rest of our Drive in complete silence. We drove into the car park with security already in place for us. We're about to go on a full lockdown. Stepping out of the car I picked up Alma and started to rub her back gently trying to soothe her fears away. I spoke to Lara,"Thomas will show you to the lockdown part of the house".
She nodded, still trying to take in what just happened. I introduced Thomas to Lara, while looking over to Jennifer on the phone.
We started walking to the stairs ready to go to the safe room. I needed to get Lara and Alma to safety before heading into the shitstorm with Jennifer.
"The nanny and babies are already in the safe room", Thomas said as we reach the top of the stairs. We didn't have a painting with a secret door anymore but we did have a hidden door in the floor underneath a rug. The "room" was really a six bedroom house underneath our house.
Lara when down the wooden staircase first followed by myself in Alma.
"Paw-Paw", Alma said excited.
"Hey dollface".
"Don't you have your own safe room in your house?" I snapped at Rodger on my coach watching The Simpsons.
He held up a flat wooden box,"I do. But, I brought these for my daughter-in-law", I put Alma down immediately rushed over to sit at Rogers side. Lara stayed close by me.
"Jennifer doesn't smoke. And Sara can't stand the sight of you", I said taking off my jacket and headed over to the mini kitchenette.
"You sure about that?" He said. Before, I could even say anything Rodger turned his attention to Lara,"And you must be the girl of the hour".
"Hi", Lara said with a small voice.
Just then I heard Allen's voice and slow inconsistent steps. "Mom! Mom! Mom! I need to potty".
I heard Michael say,"Okay little man, time to piss greatness".
I watched as Michael descended the steps with Alan in hand and Sarah was carrying Heather. Sarah always dress the kids like they were little models. I think she really enjoys dressing them. Allen had on a white button down shirt with blue jeans, a grey cardigan and Converse red shoes. While Heather had on the same outfit Sarah had on a sleeveless polka-dotted long shirt with black leggings and tan boots.
Everyone here has their own safe room. But everyone feels the need to come to my house.
Michael rudely push pass Lara and ignored Rodger on the couch and headed back to the bathroom with Alan. It was really hard to believe the Alan was four. It felt like just yesterday he was born. And not even that long ago Heather was born.
"Go play with your cousin", Sara to Heather. The girls quickly disappeared into one of the back rooms and Sara walked over to me," I wish someone had told me Rodger was here. We would have stayed in our own safe room".
"I hear that", I said going to the fridge and pulling out two beers. I pop the caps and handed her one,"Cheers".
"Cheers", she said accepting the beer. "Where's Jennifer?" She said.
"The garage", I said.
"I PULL OUT THE FIRE, MOM", Alan screamed running to Sara.
"Yay!" Sara cooed. I looked at her confused,"It's the only way we can get him to use the big boy potty".
"Because there's nothing more heroic then a dick", Michael said joining us in the kitchen. "Go play with Alma, big man". He did as Michael said disappearing into the back.
"What's happened?" Sara said as soon as Alan was out of earshot distance. I told them everything about the car, the possible turf war and the team that was sent to kill us. "Jesus Christ".
"Can't help us now", Michael said taking a sip of Sara's beer. "Do you have a plan?"
"Honestly? No", I've never had to deal with a Turf War before. Normally I would just swoop in and take everything, or in Sliske's map out peacefully wear our territory lines would be. Whoever this Henthorne was he had balls I'll give him that.
"I do", Jennifer said walking up to me making everyone jump. I really did need to invest in a bell for her.
That looked over her shoulder and saw Lara was sitting on the couch with Rodger watching TV.
"Okay let's do this", Michael said texting on his phone," just need to make sure my life insurance is big and to get a bulletproof vest".
"Michael!" Sara said horrified at the idea of Michael getting hurt.
"What? 99.9% of the time anytime Jennifer has some kind of idea I end up getting shot. This time I'm taking basic precautions. No bullets for me. Thank you very much", he said.
Just then I heard ... Maria? Start to cry. On instinct I started to walk towards the cry, only to have Jennifer stop me,"Where are you going? We need to strategize".
"It can wait, love---" she rolled her eyes and started to walk away frustrated with me.
"No it really can't wait, Adam", she snapped. She closed her eyes and held her hand for a second. She took a deep breath and said,"Fine, do what you need to do. And I'll do the same".
She turned and walked away.
"Did I miss something?" Michael said.
"Stay out of it", I would let Jennifer cool off but first I was going to check on the twins.