Temptation 2

13 - hero

Madden hung up the phone and I quickly get my shit together. I know she's hurt but I need to keep my mind off it so I can focus on just getting her back. When I get her back, I will never fucking leave her side again. I scurry around my room, making a call to DJ to get me another 15 thousand— "And no cops." I tell him right before I hang up. I jump in the cold shower and dry off quickly. As I'm throwing on a pair of black sweatpants, Tom comes barging through the door. "There is such a thing as knocking first," I grit. Tom comes up into my face, his cheeks red with anger. "Why is your fucking bodyguard bringing in another duffel bag full of cash?" I shrug my shoulders as I through a charcoal grey baggy t-shirt over my head. "Plans have changed." I state. "Then fucking tell me this shit." I take a step forward, getting in his space, "I owe you absolutely nothing. Let's get one thing straight, you are here because I allow you to be." Tom takes a few steps in surrender and waits for me to tie up my Georgetown Nike dunks.

"So, me, you and DJ are going to go. I'm going in my Range Rover, you two will take the SUV and track me with my phone just in case he tries to pull some stupid shit." Tom looks at me, "And what about all the cops swarming your house right now? They're going to ask questions." "Don't worry Tommy, I have everything figured out."

DJ stuffs all the duffle bags in my Range Rover and texts us to let us know he's ready to go. Tom heads down to the SUV without notice and I make it all the way to the car before an officer stops me. "Hero, where you headed? We can send a car with you." "No worries, man. I'm going to go stay at my apartment in the city for a bit to get some rest. DJ and Tom are coming with to keep me company." "What's the location address?" Just as I'm about to give my answer, another officer steps in. "Officer Richard, let the kid be. He needs some space. Sorry Mr. Tomlin." "Hero," I correct him. "And no worries, man. I'll be back in a couple days."

As I drive down my laneway and the gate open, it feels like the days have all combined into one, never ending day. I'm exhausted; I haven't slept in a week, and I can't remember the last time I ate something and Tom is really getting on my nerves. I need my girl back so I can breathe again. If I don't get her back today, I'm not getting her back ever and that's not an option.

I reach over to the glove box and pop it open. Inside, there sits a black pistol fully loaded. I take the gun and stuff it into the front pocket of the black hoodie I threw on before I left the house. The gate opens and I turn right and speed down the private road. My mom's grave is a 45-minute drive from my house. It took us 20 minutes to get the cash and get out the door so that means I need to drive there as fast as I can without being pulled over for stunt driving. The roads are empty for this time of day, all the traffic is coming towards us because everyone is heading home for the day. Rain spits down onto my car and I can hear the tires against the road because of how fast I'm driving. As I driver closer to my hometown, the rain hits harder.

My silent drive is broken when DJ calls, "Two minutes out. Park by your mum's grave, bring the piece with you and throw the bags on the ground in front of you he gets out of his car. Understand?" "Got it." I hang up and slowly pull into the graveyard where my mum is buried. God it's been a while. The last time I was here was just before I left for Vancouver. The moss still grows over the unloved graves and flowers wilted at the loved ones. I pull up and park along the curb right in front of mum's grave and see that moss has started to grow along the stone. Across the yard, I see DJ and Tom sitting in the SUV, hidden from unwanted eyes, but known by me. I made it here with 10 minutes to spare in my hour and although my biological father is stupid, I know he's lurking somewhere to see if I have any sketchy plans. I step out of the car, leaving it running—for a quick getaway if I get the chance—and open the back side door and start pulling out the three duffle bags. I place each bag by my feet and shut the door behind me, then I wait.