Saving Grace #Wattys2016

Chapter Twenty Eight

Parker swerved the car and stopped when I opened the car door, Mama was right behind me, screaming. Everything felt like it was in slow motion which made me fell more helpless as I ran to their fallen bodies. The worst thought sneaked into my head but were okay when Danny started to get up to help his wife but she'd already beat him. On her knees, Brenda looked wildly at her blown up home

and cried out in anger of all she just lost. Hardy reached her first and carried her to the safe distance of the other sidewalk across the street, Danny wasn't moving.

  "Daniel, there's nothing we can do right now." Mama wiped the tears off his cheeks. "Daniel!" She yelled louder when a white van sped down the street, inches from hitting them. On the back was a White Knight symbol.

  "Give me the car keys." He finally spoke in a voice of death.

  "No, son," Parker said just as quietly before squatting down to his level. "I won't lose you to a bastard. Let's head to the Hales. Lucy, I think you should stay the night with Abby and I." We all moved but slowly like we were trying to grasp what just happened. Our happy little camp turned into a silent group of survivors. I was thankful that we finally reached the Hales, which I secretly named my safe haven since every time something struck, I found myself here.

Stanley already stood at the front door, his face changed from the smiling man at my wedding to murderous, something I didn't know he could pull off. Someone told him who, what and where. "The rifles are armed and accounted for, sir." He reported to Jack who gave a curt nod. I didn't even remember James till I sat on the couch and he cuddled into my lap.

  "I'm scared, Grace. What if they come after us next?" I had no answer for that but to sing a song I become fond of.

  "I remember tears streaming your face when I said I'll never let you go." Hardy must've known the same song because he sat beside me, matching my soft voice with a deep one. We were done and James was asleep when the phone next to Hardy rang. Whoever was on the other line must have been someone he didn't like-

  "Oh, God, it's him." When Hardy got off the phone, he spared a look at his father and older brother before giving Danny a long look and nod before both men stood up and aimed for the door. "No," I knew exactly what they were planning.

  "Hardison, don't you dare walk out that door. Please, I need you too much." That turned him around just to look at me and came back, crushing me in his arms and taking my lips prisoner. It felt like all the anger, all that passion just broke out in under thirty seconds before he looked at me with all those emotions.

  "And I need you too much, just like your brother needs his wife, you, and your mama; we're protecting our own." He stroked my chin then hugging both his mothers.

  "You better not leave that nice girl with no husband," Olivia started.

  "Unless you wanna hear my mouth." Mama finished.

  "No one likes one angry mother, so I'll try my best not to get two." He joked. I wanted to I wanted to throw one of his mother's priceless vases at his head. How could he laugh when he was going on a suicide mission? If only I could......

  "Hardison, boys, a word outside." Jack and Parker walked to the door and all the men followed. As soon as that door closed, my ear was against the door.

  "So exactly what did the phone call say?" Robert asked faintly.

  "Meet then in the alley of Danny's old club, bring no one but us two."

  "Damn pansies." Sam muttered.

  "We should still tag you guys." Tanner offered.

  "No need, Officer Hale." I could hear the smile in Jack's voice, speaking to his son who was just put on the town's force.

  "Yes, this is something y'all need to handle on your own but come back or else Abby's gonna give me hell for letting you leave." Parker replied too.

 "Thank you for watching after the girls; make sure B gets some sleep." Danny said. They spoke for a bit longer before the rest came back. Two minutes later, I heard Hardy's BMW screech out the driveway. Now was my chance, with a couple a sniffles and tears that weren't fake. I started my act.

  'I'm gonna head upstairs, sleep the time off." No one had any objections to it.

  "Do you need anything, Miss. Grace?" Stanley stood up.

  "No," I gave a sad smile. "Nothing you could give me." Like my brother and husband's safe return; I was bound to get that on my own. But how would I...? Parker's jacket sat on the stair railing like an invitation. In his pocket, I find exactly what I needed and tip toed the rest of the way.

  "I'm gonna check on her." Abby got up from her husband's comfort. "Just to make sure she gets some sleep, maybe you can carry Brenda up." They first dropped Brenda in one of the guest rooms before turning the door into Hardy's room. There was her little baby, probably already asleep. She went around to go kiss her forehead and gasped. "Parker!" She pulled back the sheets and found pillows.

"Where is she?" At the same time, everyone heard the screeching tires of Parker's Mercedes, heading towards town.