TIFFIN 3

51

Dinner had been an interesting affair.

 The ribs were superb, slathered in plenty of bbq and spices. I didn't complain; I'd wolfed down almost a full rack by the time I was finished.

It had been awkward sitting at the kitchen table together. We were all relative strangers, but as the meal came to a close, we grew closer with conversation about the meeting with the captain.

 It seemed we all had the same goal in mind. We wanted to protect what was ours and keep each other safe.

Later in the week, we'd met outside of Chico, miles away from town. The compound was set on what looked like an empty desert wasteland, with several military vehicles and armed men manning the front of a large building.

"This is it?" I asked, feeling nerves creep up my spine. I didn't miss the fact that Brendan, Jo, and Rose shrank back in their seats as well.

"Yes," Ezekiel replied darkly, "If you've changed your mind on joining, I wouldn't blame you. I should warn you that you were right about my parents. They will be here."

I took a long, deep breath.

"No, it's fine. We need to do this for Kylie. Right guys?"

With a last look at my friends, I knew despite their fear of what was to come, they were onboard. One at a time, we exited the van, my friends falling into step with their boyfriends. I felt stingy over this fact, but let it go. It was what it was. Couldn't change a thing about it.

We were slow as we advanced towards the front of the steel building. At once, the armed guards formed a line, pointing their weapons at us. 

Our men created a line of their own, forming a barricade in front of us. This seemed to upset the guards.

"You best turn back where you came from!" One guard screeched.

"Over my dead body," Ezekiel said calmly, "I know the captain here and if I have to, I will summon my parents!"

"You don't scare me, kid!" The same guard screamed, thudding E in the chest with the butt of his weapon.

"NO!" I hollered.

Before things could get more out of hand, two large figures ejected from the front doors of the compound, screaming their heads off.

"STAND DOWN!" A stout man in a business suit ordered. "I WILL HAVE YOUR HIDES IF YOU HURT MY SON!"

"I WILL SUE YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE WORTH!" A small wiry woman screamed.

Then, behind them, came out a broadly built man in a grey uniform. His nametag read:

CAP. G. Willard.

Shit. This was the guy with the big guns.

He stood tall and proud, growling out his statement:

"YOU WILL LOWER YOUR WEAPONS OR I WILL STRIP YOU OF YOUR TITLE!"

At once, the guards lowered their guns, blushing furiously.

"Apologies, Captain. We had no idea-"

"Then, you will do well to listen. The next time Ezekiel and his friends visit, you are to allow them through."

With a flick of his hand, he beckoned us through. I didn't miss the glares from the guards as we made our way past them.

I also didn't miss Brendan flipping them the bird.

HERO'S POV

"Leon, what the hell is this?"

I stared in disbelief at the security camera's in the man's secret warehouse. We had set them up of course from connections Leon had secured, though why the son of a bitch was freaking out, we didn't know. I'd nearly shit my pants when I saw that Kylie had been taken, but I couldn't allow myself to lose control now.

She deserved better than this.

"Shut your mouths!" Leon's grumpy female partner demanded. God she got on my nerves. Ever since she picked up my phone and told my wife to leave me be, I wanted to wring her neck.

"She's right, Tiffin," Leon said, "Listen."

Without saying much more, he twisted the dial of the monitor speaker, allowing the man's gruff voice to ring through. He was frantic.

"You stupid bitch!" He slapped Kylie across the face, making me lurch forward. "Because of you, my plan is shot to shit! God damn it!"

Kylie began blubbering, making me hope that she wouldn't give out any information.

"I swear, I didn't do anything!"

"No shit," The man spat, "I've had you locked up here all the time, but because of  your dumb friends, my warehouses are being infiltrated!"

Like a ray of hope shining within her, Kylie's eyes brightened.

"Friends?"

She then grew determined, her expression deepening.

"Ezekiel is on his way. I know he is. You're in deep shit, man!"

With one last scream, the man exited the frame.

When Leon shut off the monitor, I stared at him in disbelief.

"Are you meaning to tell me there's someone who's been on the job?"

"Depends," Leon said, "Who does this Kylie associate with?"

"Well..." I began, thinking this over. Months ago, I would have said Ellie or Annie, but I knew better now. She had refrained from hanging out with any of those treacherous leeches. The only ones left were...

Oh god.

"Kristina," I said.

The grumpy female partner laughed.

"Perfect. She can't even listen to save herself."

Just as I was about to turn and sock her in the mouth, Leon cleared his throat.

"Well, Tiffin, you ready to return home? Looks like we need to hunt down this very warehouse before your wife causes any more trouble."

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