The Warrior (7 page)

“I'm so fucking sorry. I should have never
fallen asleep with you. I'm so sorry.” I say as I pace around the
room. I just said sorry and that is something I have never done
before. I feel ashamed of what I just did to her.

“You weren’t awake Cad. I'm ok. It’s ok.” She
says as she rubs her neck.

“No it is not fucking ok. I could have
fucking killed you Nina!” I snap as she crawls across the bed
towards me. She stands up in front of me as I run my hand through
my hair. I could have killed her.

“You have PTSD Cadence. You didn’t know what
you were doing.” She says as she hugs me around my waist.

“This right here is why I have to do what I
said Nina. This is why I can’t be with you.” I say as she holds me
tighter. I don’t want to mean that but it is the truth. I can’t be
with someone. Look what I did to her.

“You can Cad. You just need help and time is
all. I want you.” She whispers against my chest. I grab her
shoulders and pull her back to look down at her.

“I don’t think I can Nina.” I say as I look
her in her eyes.

“Cadence. You can’t alone. We can though. You
can be my warrior remember?” She says as her eyes light up. I lift
her easily and hold her tight as she wraps her naked body around
me.

“I can’t promise you anything Nina but I will
try.” I say as I pin her against the wall kissing her.

***

“Give me that baby.” I say as I walk into
Josie’s apartment and grab Josh. He has the biggest smile on his
face and that lights up my whole fucking world.

“You look happy this morning.” Bradon says as
he passes me Josh.

“That’s because I have a new plan. Don’t we
bud? We have a better plan than yesterday.” I say to Josh as he
smiles like he knows what I'm talking about. I thought a lot after
what happened last night when I hurt Nina. I want to be around for
my family. I want Josh to know who I am. I want to be something he
can be proud to call his uncle. Looking at my brother with his
family has made me rethink everything else I had planned. I want to
Uncle Cad who buys all the loudest toys they make and drive his
parents crazy. I want to watch him go on his first date.

“Want to go out to the beach and hang out and
talk?” Bradon says as I walk around playing with Josh. I nod my
head.

“Yea man. I’d like that.” I say as we pack up
and head out the door. The beach isn’t too far so we make it there
in good time. The girls take Josh down by the water while me and
Bradon sit up a little further.

“What are you thinking about?” He asks me as
I watch Nina splash and play with Josh.

“I'm thinking I wouldn’t mind to have what
you do.” I say never taking my eyes off her.

“What is it about her?” He says as I turn to
face him.

“I don’t know Bra. She makes me face myself.
Face my fears. She makes me rethink everything.” I say as I turn to
face him. Bradon is just smiling at me.

“You still have a heart huh?” He says
laughing.

“Bra. man I don’t know what the fuck I have
anymore but I know I'm only 25 years old and I'm too young to do
anything but live life.” I say as I turn back to look at Nina.

“So what are you thinking?” He asks me as
Nina walks back over and sits next to me.

“Your son and girlfriend are great.” She says
smiling at Bradon.

“Thanks.” He says as he looks back to me.

“I have been looking into some things around
the house. Dad’s using me as a fall boy. I mean who does he send on
every fucking kill mission? It’s been that way since I have been
home.” I say as Bradon starts to cut me off but I don’t let him.
“Bra. I'm ok with it man. I don’t understand why he is taking out
so many people that are involved so much. I mean he says they are
messing up but there is no fucking way it is to that point.” I
finish as Nina moves closer to me. I reach over and grab her hand
pulling it into my lap.

“I heard Reggie talking. He was saying that
Randy wanted to take over all segments. I didn’t know what he meant
then.” Nina says looking down as she talks. I reach over and lift
her chin as I lean in and kiss her.

“Now that makes perfect sense but these
people have been his suppliers and go to people for a long ass time
man. I mean since we were little.” Bradon says looking at me.

“Look. We need to go back like nothings
different. I need to get some more information. I need to find out
what exactly he is planning and why. I want Nina to stay with Josie
if you two are ok with that.” I say as Nina pulls her hand back. I
reach over and grab it back and hold it tighter.

“I'm going back with you.” She says as she
looks at me and I shake my head.

“No you’re not. I can’t keep my head straight
if I have to worry about you too. I want you here and I want you
safe. If Reggie has any idea you were with me shit is going to get
worse.” I say as she nods. She understands what I mean and she
doesn’t argue with me about it. We take the girls back to the
apartment and Josie agrees to let Nina stay there.

“I don’t like this Cad.” Nina says as I hug
her to me.

“I need you safe baby. I don’t know what the
hell you’re doing to me but I can’t let you get hurt.” I say as I
kiss her head.

“Promise me you will come back?” She says as
she looks up at me. Her eyes lock on mine and I can’t move. I feel
like I can’t breathe. In this moment she has taken a piece of
me.

“I promise.” I say as I kiss her hard. Just
then my phone rings. I pull it out and look at it. It’s Randy. It’s
our dad.

***

I answer the phone like I do any other time.
Short and to the point.

“Yea?” I say as I listen to laughter on the
other end. What the hell is this?

“You having a nice trip son?” he says as he
chuckles.

“What are you talking about?” I snap back at
him. We were careful when we left.

“You think I don’t know you ran off with that
fucking girl? Did you plan on coming back?” He says into the phone
and the sound of his voice sends chills down my spine.

“Why wouldn’t I?” I ask as I wave to Bradon
and motion for him to be quiet.

“Oh I don’t know Cadence. Maybe you have
other plans you are working on.” He says as Bradon stops next to
me. I look over at him and back to Josie.

“Not that I know of. Is there something I
needed to know?” I ask as Bradon looks confused.

“No. I will let you know when there is. Just
play it safe son.” He says and the line goes dead. I stand there
holding the phone looking as confused as I feel. The way he said
that last part came off as a threat to me.

“Change in plans. Pack their shit. NOW!” I
snap as Bradon turns and heads straight towards the apartment
without putting up a fight. He knows when I'm serious and right now
I am.

“What happened?” Nina asks as I scroll
through my phone.

“I need to make some calls. Go help them get
their shit ready.” I say as she tries to protest. “Do it now Nina.”
I say as I grab her and kiss her forehead roughly. She doesn’t
argue after that just nods and heads towards the door.

I don’t keep friends around for obvious
reasons but in this case I do have people I can count on. I make a
bunch of phone calls and work out some details. I need to get them
out of here and make sure they are set up somewhere I know they
will be safe before I go back there. I walk back towards the
apartment as Bradon starts coming out and stops.

“What’s this about man?” He says as he loads
stuff into the back of the truck.

“He made a threat Bra. Not straight forward
but it was a threat. We need to move them to somewhere safe until I
can get back there and finish this shit.” I say as Bradon shakes
his head.

“We will finish it. I will help you.” He says
as I shake my head.

“We are not arguing right now. Let’s just get
moving.” I say as the girls come out.

“Where are we going?” Josie says as she
cradles Josh close to her. I hate that scared look she has on her
face and I can’t help but blame myself for this shit. Maybe if I
didn’t come back none would have bothered Bradon.

“I have a place lined up. They were in the
Marines with me and are some of the best men I know.” I say as
Bradon puts Josh in the backseat. I look down as I run my hand
through my hair and I don’t see when Nina walks over and grabs my
arm. I almost swing as I turn around.

“It’s ok Cad.” She says as I grab her into a
hug. I hold her there for a minute and then let her go so we can
get moving.

***

“Never thought I’d hear from you man. I'm
glad you called.” I say as Jeremy rolls up in his wheelchair to
greet me. Jeremy was one of the guys that was injured the last tour
we were there. He is one of the best people I know.

“Never thought I’d need to call you for this
shit.” I say as I lean down and hug him. We were pretty close when
we were in together but life is what it is. Jeremy got hurt and I
went home.

“I'm glad I can help man. How are things?” He
says as he watches me.

“I need to get out of it man. I can’t do this
anymore. I mean I know what I am and what I do but I have family.”
I say nodding towards the truck where everyone is waiting. I look
back at Jeremy as he nods.

“Well I am your family too man and we stick
together. You had my back overseas and now I have yours. I got some
guys on their way to roll with you too for backup.” Jeremy says as
I smile at him.

“You’re a good man Jeremy.” I say as I turn
to go get the others out of the truck. I walk over and open the
back door and let Nina and Josie out as Bradon climbs out of the
front. I grab Nina’s hand and pull her along with me over to meet
Jeremy.

“This is my girl Nina.” I say as Jeremy
smiles and extends his hand to her.

“Never thought I would see the fucking day
man. What the hell did you do to him?” Jeremy says smiling at Nina
as she shrugs and smiles back. Bradon walks up with Josie and Josh
and stands next to me.

“This is my brother Bradon, his girl Josie
and my nephew Josh.” I say as Jeremy looks over at them and
nods.

“Now You I know about. I'm glad to meet some
real blood of Cad’s man. I hear you are a good man.” Jeremy says to
Bradon as he looks over at me.

“I hear the same about you. Thanks for
helping us out.” He says as Jeremy nods his head.

“Well let’s head in and I’ll show you ladies
where you will be staying and don’t worry boys I will take goooood
care of them.” Jeremy says laughing as I slap the back of his head
and he laughs harder. We follow Jeremy in and he shows us around as
the other guys start to show up. Jeremy introduces us all and a few
I know.

“So do we want to go over the plan?” Bentley
asks. Bentley is a guy I knew overseas too. He’s a tough
person.

“Well it’s pretty much like this. My dad is
using me as a fall guy. I'm not taking the ass of whatever he is
planning. From what we could find out he is trying to take out his
old associates and take over their portions of the operation. These
are guys he has known for many years. Why he wants to take them out
is a question I have no answer for. I know I took out 2 of the 4
already before I found this out. I need them to be safe while this
plays out. He called me and I took it as a threat. I don’t tolerate
threats.” I say as Bentley laughs and I look over at him.

“That part I know.” He says as he pulls his
pant leg up and shows us a scar on his leg.

“What the hell?” Bradon says looking around
as the guys laugh.

“I threatened your brother once and he shot
me in the fucking leg.” Bentley says laughing and I give him a sly
smirk and shake my head.

“That was years ago man get over it.” I say
laughing. We finish talking out the plan we have in place and then
I want to talk to Nina again before I leave. I stand and grab her
hand as I lead her down the hallway to what will be her room and go
in closing the door behind me.

“You are really doing this then huh?” She
says as I walk over and sit on the bed.

“I have to. I don’t see any other choice.” I
say as I pull her over to me. I hold her there for a second before
she starts to speak.

“I need to tell you something before you
leave.” She says as I pull her into my lap.

“What is it?” I say and she looks nervous.
What the hell is going on now?

“I wanted to tell you before but I didn’t
know how…. I mean we have only been together for a little while
and…”She says as she looks everywhere but at me. I don’t know what
she is trying to get at.

“It’s just that….” She starts and stops
again. I reach up and grab her face pulling it to mine. I kiss her
hard because I want her to know that she can say whatever she needs
to say to me.

“Tell me.” I say softly as she swallows hard
and looks at me,

“I'm… I'm pregnant.”

***

I sit here shocked by what she just said.
She’s pregnant. Well that changes things. I don’t move or say
anything as Nina gets up off my lap and moves towards the door.

“It’s mine?” I say as she reaches for the
door handle.

“Yea. It’s yours.” She says as she walks out
of the room closing the door behind her. What the fuck do I do with
this? How am I supposed to react to this news? I can’t have a kid.
I'm a fucking monster. As I'm sitting there pulling at my own hair
the door flies open and Bradon comes in.

“What the hell is going on? Nina just ran out
of here crying.” Bradon says as he looks over at me. I shake my
head and keep pulling at my hair. This can’t be happening. I just
set myself up to die and now she is telling me I'm going to have a
kid.

“She’s pregnant Bra.” I say and I can’t even
believe that was my voice that said it. Bradon blows out a breath
and runs his hand through his hair. Yea that is exactly what I'm
thinking.