Whiskey's Second Chance

64: Tick-Toc

Whiskey POV

Carter walked out the front door of the diner unharmed.

"What the fuck, Shotgun?! I told you to take the shot!" I yelled, slamming my fist on the table, scaring the few customers. "Everyone get out!" I raged, and they all scattered as Killer, Ace, Tiny, and Gears walked in.

"I told Shotgun to take the shot, no matter what. HE LET HIM GET AWAY!" I yelled, angry.

"Calm down before you get yourself killed. We'll find him, but we need to get you out of here alive first," Killer bit back.

Taking deep breaths, I knew I needed to stay calm because I had a reason to go home. Ace lay on the ground, looking under the bench I sat on. Getting up, he looked worried.

He whispered something to Killer and left. Fucking hell.

"Well, how bad is it?" I asked. They stared at me, staying silent. "Fuck me," I groaned.

"Ace is calling Hawk to figure out what our next move is," Killer assured me.

"Hawk," I quipped. "This is a joke. The kid is a computer genius, not a bomb expert! Take a picture of the damn thing, and let me see."

Rolling his eyes, Killer got under the table and took a few pictures, handing me his phone. It looked like a straightforward bomb, with different colored wires, a cell phone, and something under some glass.

"What is this?" I asked, pointing to the picture.

Killer hesitated before saying, "Some sort of liquid. That's what we don't know."

Racking my brain, I tried to think back to anything we saw in Afghanistan that might help. We saw our fair share of IEDs and bombs, but many didn't stay intact long enough for us to study them. I've never seen one with a clear liquid in it, and it could be a number of deadly things, including a gas if it hits the air.

Ace returned with Hawk on the phone, and we reviewed all the clear liquids we could think of. Then moved on to each of the wires and what they could be attached to. Either the cell phone or trigger Carter took with him was the trigger. If Hawk could find the signal it's attached to, then he could cut it off, and I could get the fuck out of here. But Hawk was struggling.

Blade and Ace ignored the several calls their old ladies made, and I knew it was only a matter of time before Kayla called. But she didn't. I asked the guys to give me a minute and pulled out my phone to call Kayla.

I dialed the familiar number. It rang four times before she picked up.

How much do I tell her? Telling her everything won't help, but I need to hear her voice.

I kept the conversation light, hoping to keep her worries at bay, and told her everyone would be home tonight before they fell asleep.

They will at least.

"I just wanted to hear your voice and say I love you," I whispered, trying to keep my emotions under control.

Kayla's voice shook. "I love you too. Please be careful...I need you."

"I will. I have to go. See you soon, love," and I hung up before I broke down completely. This isn't what was supposed to happen. I should be home right now, with Kayla in my arms, asking her to be my old lady.

The next few hours were torture. Tiny and Ace got into it when Tiny got hungry and started eating the leftover pastries from Pops. Killer and Hawk argued about what to do next since Carter was hiding behind bouncing signals.

At one point, I heard Tiger ripping Hawk a new one over the phone, and I knew we were fucked. She laid into him, and all we could do was listen as she threatened him and his computers within an inch of his life. It went silent, and Killer and Ace shared a look and knew they had to come clean.

"Kaitlyn," Killer groaned, causing another string of insults from his sister for another few minutes. Once she calmed down enough, Killer told her the basics. "We're at the diner. The meeting didn't go as planned, and now Whiskey is sitting on a bomb."

It was silent for a while before we heard a door slam. Well, we're fucked.

"She left," Hawk said. "Good luck guys," he said and hung up, leaving us to fend for ourselves.

It didn't take long before a pissed-off Tiger pulled into the diner with a disastrous Kayla hot on her heels. Tiger ripped open the door, fuming. "Get out. Now," she growled.

Everyone exited, leaving Kayla and me alone. Her pale, tear-stained cheeks broke my heart. I never meant to hurt her or pull her into my mess, but I did. She was supposed to be home relaxing while I handled her nightmare, but I failed her.

She hesitantly walked towards me, unsure of where to go. "Don't worry, love. It's under my seat. The guys cleared the rest of the diner," I said, trying to reassure her, but it brought an onslaught of tears.

"Shhh, it's okay. I'm okay; I promise. Hawk is a genius, and I have dealt with this before. Please stop crying, love. I hate seeing you upset when I can't hold you," I said. The part about Hawk was a lie, but Kayla needs the reassurance just as much as I do.

"How are you holding up?" she sniffled.

"Just peachy," I smiled. "How is Tiger's house? I know Ace is tired of moving shit around."

Kayla laughed a little. "Yeah, she said the same thing, but it's all good now. Ginger is freaking out since Tiger blew up and told her to stay without explaining. Maybe Blade should go back?" she suggested.

I nodded in agreement and texted Blade, telling him to go be with his family. "How many kids do you want?" I asked, trying to distract her.

I caught Kayla off guard with my question. She stood there, trying to let her brain catch up with her. "Um...I don't know. I guess I haven't really thought about it," she said, sitting down in the booth in front of me.

"Give me a number. Any number," I said, settling back in the booth.

She thought for a while before answering. "Three maybe? I don't know. How many do you want?" she asked.

Smiling, I knew the answer to this one without question. "As many as you want. You want three? I'll make sure we have three. You want ten, done. Whatever you want, love, I'll give it to you if you'll let me," I answered.

Kayla started crying again, and I knew she was struggling, but I needed her to know I wanted her, and I'm done waiting.

"Kayla, look at me. Please," I begged. Her glassy green eyes met mine, and I smiled. "This isn't what I had planned, but I can't fucking wait anymore. I want you. I want you in every way, including being my old lady. So, will you be my old lady?"

She stared at me, almost in disbelief. As she processed what I said, my anxiety rose as I waited for her to say something. Anything. I know she loves me, but this is a commitment, and I don't know if she's ready.

Her head bobbed slightly, and I smiled. I may be sitting on a bomb, but I couldn't be happier.

"Yes," she whispered. "I want you, and I want to be your old lady."

We sat in silence for a while before Killer, Ace, Tiger, and Hawk came in.

"Hey, guys!" I smiled, clapping my hands. "Ready to get this shit over with?"

Tiger nudged Kayla, motioning it was time for them to leave. Kayla stood up and turned away. But she turned back, strode over to me, and kissed me as she never had before.

"Get out of here so we can start making babies, you hear me?" she whispered.

I nodded. "I love you, Kayla."

"I love you too," she choked and followed Tiger outside, got in the truck, and drove off.

"So, what's the plan?" I asked, praying they had one.