The Law of Motion (Law Series) (33 page)

             
Ross opened up the back door and ushered Cedrick into the SUV, and then her son. "Boys, get down onto the floor, and don't move, okay?" She said, waiting until both little bodies were huddled behind the driver's side seat. "Good boys," She breathed, pulling her weapon from the small of her back. Locking the doors before turning back to me.

             
"Dario," I called.

             
"Got you, kid, " he stated, bolting from behind the SUV to the other side of the road, because a beat up sedan was rumbling to a stop.

             
We had the vehicle surrounded, but I wasn't sure they knew it. I could barely see from the shine of the SUV's headlights combined with the shine of the sedan's. When a bullet pinged off the asphalt at my feet, I dove behind the gas station's old rusty sign pole. Glancing around, I saw Ross, well hidden on the other side of the SUV's fender. I could see her face; they'd have to get past her to get back those boys.

             
I heard another gunfire pop loud in the quiet night and the sound of breaking glass. However, it was the sound of a man's scream that made me smile. I took a chance and stepped away from my hiding spot, motioning for Ross to stay put and for Dario and Victor to approach with cautio
n

weapons up.

             
When I got to the shot out driver's side window, I couldn't help but sneer waving Ross over. She didn’t find it funny, her look was one of pure hatred as she associated the driver. “You’re the fucker that dared put a gun to Juan's temple, the one that told Alyssa he'd throw my
son
out on the highway going sixty.”

             
It was David fucking Grubbs, and he was holding his shoulder as it bled beautifully down his arm.

             
"Oh hell," Dario sighed, once he realized who was driving. "Walking dead man," he muttered to Victor, who only shrugged.

             
“
Your
son?” He grimaced in pain, completely surprised by the information.

             
Ross spat back, “Yes,
my
fucking son. Alyssa is his godmother you stupid piece of shit.” Using the butt of her gun, she cleared away the rest of the glass from the window and smashed it into the asshole’s face. "Don't move," she growled low.

             
"Shit," he spat, not able to hold his arm and his busted face at the same time.

             
A quick scan of his car told me that when Dario had shot him, he'd been unable to hold his weapon. It was lying on the floorboard on the passenger side, amongst fast food bags and dirty clothes.

             
"Gun," I muttered to Victor, who smashed the passenger side window and grabbed David's weapon.

             
"What did she tell you when you took these boys?" She asked David, gripping his shirt and smacking his face hard. He groaned and shook his head. "Tell me! What did Alyssa tell you?" She snapped, slamming him into the steering wheel twice. All of us standing back because it was something she had been holding in forever.

             
" That she would find me. Th-That I was committing suicide, okay? Fuck, stop smashing my face!" he cried out.

             
"That's right...dead," She said, looking over at Dario. "Find me a stick, man, a pretty decent length," She ordered, and he smiled, running off to the edge of the woods.

             
"Did you think she was lying, David?" Ross asked, and his head snapped around to meet her gaze. The look of shock that she knew who he was, was written all over his face. "Oh, I know you," She crooned, smiling evilly at him. "David Grubbs...stupid enough to take my child as a bargaining chip to get money for you and your C&K buddies. Your little stints in the pokey. Tsk, tsk, I know the
whole
thing," she chuckled. "Tell me, David," she continued, smacking the lump that was forming on his forehead from the butt of her gun. "Did you think we wouldn't follow through? Did you think we were just some...
regular
family? Look around you, man. No one will know what happened to you. No one. From the smell of you, your past record, and the fact that there's not a soul out here to see it, they'll think you were just another piece of shit drunk driver."

             
Dario appeared at my side, chuckling down at the man Ross was abusing. "Any last words?" he asked David as he handed me the stick.

             
"You won't find her," he sputtered, spitting blood out the window, just barely missing Ross, glaring at me. "They've checked out already," he snickered, trying to jerk his thumb behind him toward the motel. "Boy, oh boy, were they ever pissed she set those boys free..."

             
My blood flashed red and I stepped forward to take my turn with him, Ross stopped me with a wicked smile and a hand to the chest. She turned to him with the same smile, saying, "Oh, I bet they were. But guess what...She isn’t
normal
either. We know where they're going, asshole, and by the time we get her back, your little farm on the mountain will be ash."

             
His eyes widened again, and his mouth gaped like a fish out of water at what we knew about him. If I didn't have the answer before, I certainly had it now. From the look on his face, we was spot on with where they were headed.

             
"Say goodbye, David," Dario sang like a child, waving at him.

             
I looked around again, seeing Juan and Cedrick’s head peeking out the window. Juan with the most incredulous look on his face. We never hesitated to take a necessary life before, but with her son watching, I couldn’t let her do it.

             
“The kids, Vic.” I whispered jerking my head. He nodded and Dario blocked the view of the car standing at my shoulder the same thoughts crossing his mind.             

             
Vic went to her side, holding his hand out. "Let me," he grunted, his face dark and almost scary. He jerked a chin toward the SUV and said, "Don't let them see you do this. Let me, okay? Pick me up on your way back."

             
She looked up at him, about to refuse, and then she noticed the two little faces peering as well. Soldier, linguist, pilot, wife, and whatever other title you wanted to give he
r

she was a mother first, and she needed to protect that.  She nodded back at him, handing the stick over.

             
"Come on. Dario," I sighed, walking away from the fucker that had dared point a fucking gun at two little boys. It felt like unfinished business, but I knew this was right.

             
Ross got into the backseat with the boys, wrapping her arms around Juan, having a conversation with him in Spanish, which I would assume was her explaining what was happening.

             
"You drive," I said, tossing him the keys. I pulled out my phone, calling Tink, but it was my father that answered.

             
"Son?"

             
"Hey, I've got the boys," I said, looking at the window

             
"And Alyssa?"

             
"We're going to check, but the...guy we just…
questioned
said that they're gone," I told him, having to watch my language again. "I'll call you back."

             
"Sure, Adrian," he muttered, and we ended the call.

             
Dario drove quickly up the street, but slowed down. "Bambino, which one?"

             
"That one, Unca Dario," he answered. "Slumber Inn. Rooms two, three, and four."

             
"Smart boy," I chuckled, looking back to see Ross kissing his temple. Tink deserved a medal for that computer game she'd written for Juan. It really fucking worked, because that four year old could read and knew his numbers.

             
When we pulled in, all three doors were open, and a motel employee was wandering around. She was an elderly woman, who looked up when we parked the car.

             
"Are you the cops?" she growled as we piled out of the SUV.

             
"Stay here, guys," I told the boys, and they nodded, clinging to Ross at the sight of the motel.

             
"Not exactly," Dario answered the old woman, pointing to the rooms. "Empty?" he asked, and she nodded.

             
"Hell, yes, empty," she huffed. "Empty, with broken lamps, non payment for the last night, and they made a helluva lot of noise when they bolted out of here like bats out of hell."

             
I grimaced, shaking my head. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet. "Here, ma'am," I sighed, handing her more than enough to cover the three rooms and the damage. Hell, from the look of the place, the amount I'd just given her could have rented me a room for a fucking month. "No need for the police. That should take care of it."

             
Slightly placated, she sniffed, taking the money, and looked up at me. "Thanks," she said, smiling a toothless smile and walking away.

             
"Search the rooms anyway," I told Dario and Ross.

             
Ross walked past me but then hesitated whispering in disappointment. "He said that she asked him to bring us to her. I need to tell Juan... Before he gets his hopes up that she’s here."

             
I sighed. “Shit.” Because that little boy practically worshiped my girl. He would be just as distraught as I was, except he wouldn’t be able to understand it. “I’ll do it.”

             
“You sure?” She asked looking back at the SUV. I nodded before she put a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll find her, bro.”

             
I walked to the back door of the SUV and waved Juan forward. "Juan buddy, are you ready to go home?" I asked him, trying to put this shit of
f

or cushion the blo
w

I wasn't sure which.

             
"Not wifout Aunt
Awyssa
," he refused, looking at the motel rooms and back up to me. He sputtered slightly and I didn’t know if it was from fear, hurt, or cold "T-Tia s-said that I w-was suh-posed to help you c-come g-get her," he stated, but Juan wasn't stupid; he could read bullshit like a boo
k

just like his aunt.

             
"She's not here, kiddo," I told him, catching him before he could storm inside the room.

             
"No, Unca!" he cried, fighting me and reaching toward the motel. "She said to bring you back. She said, Unca Adwien... She told me to be brave and to go get you!"

             
"And you were brave, little buddy. You did just what she told you to," I told him, rubbing his head, because he just about to lose it. "We'll find Alyssa, I promise."

             
"But I want her now," he said, finally losing composure. "I want her!" he screamed through hiccupping sobs and heartbreaking tears.

             
Juan never really pitched tantrums, and this wasn't one of those anyway. This was pure heartbreak, and probably a touch of exhaustion thrown in on top of it all. This was huge tears, a trembling chin, and more sadness than anyone could help him with.

             
"I want her, too, little guy, but we have to find her first," I whispered to him, trying not to cry with him, because he was fucking killing me. In all fucking honesty, I wanted Alyssa back just as much as he did. I wished I could emotionally break down with him.

             
"Unca...no," he sobbed, wrapping his arms around my neck and burying his. "You hafta get her for me..."

             
I looked up when Ross and Dario emerged from their search, and both of them looked wrecked as they watch Juan completely shatter. It wasn't something that happened very often, because he was such a happy-go-lucky kid.

             
"I'm sorry, Baby," Ross whispered, kissing the top his head and rubbing his back as he cried. She could tell that I obviously needed help. "We promise to find her, baby. I promise," She vowed to him over and over.

             
I jerked my chin toward the SUV, it was time to go. Ross crawled into the very back seat, then I transferred a still crying Juan from my arms. I took the seat next to Cedrick and helped him strap in. Dario cranked the SUV and pulled back out on the highway, just as a large fireball loomed in the distance.

             
"Pick up Vic," Ross muttered wryly. "Guess that stick to the gas pedal worked, huh?"

             
"Yeah," I sighed, slouching down in the seat still down from the sounds of Juan crying himself to sleep. "Call my dad, Dario. Tell him we're heading home."