nods. She understands what I mean and she
doesn’t argue with me about it. We take the girls back to the
apartment and Josie agrees to let Nina stay there.
“I don’t like this Cad.” Nina says as I hug
her to me.
“I need you safe baby. I don’t know what the
hell you’re doing to me but I can’t let you get hurt.” I say as I
kiss her head.
“Promise me you will come back?” She says as
she looks up at me. Her eyes lock on mine and I can’t move. I feel
like I can’t breathe. In this moment she has taken a piece of
me.
“I promise.” I say as I kiss her hard. Just
then my phone rings. I pull it out and look at it. It’s Randy. It’s
our dad.
***
I answer the phone like I do any other time.
Short and to the point.
“Yea?” I say as I listen to laughter on the
other end. What the hell is this?
“You having a nice trip son?” he says as he
chuckles.
“What are you talking about?” I snap back at
him. We were careful when we left.
“You think I don’t know you ran off with that
fucking girl? Did you plan on coming back?” He says into the phone
and the sound of his voice sends chills down my spine.
“Why wouldn’t I?” I ask as I wave to Bradon
and motion for him to be quiet.
“Oh I don’t know Cadence. Maybe you have
other plans you are working on.” He says as Bradon stops next to
me. I look over at him and back to Josie.
“Not that I know of. Is there something I
needed to know?” I ask as Bradon looks confused.
“No. I will let you know when there is. Just
play it safe son.” He says and the line goes dead. I stand there
holding the phone looking as confused as I feel. The way he said
that last part came off as a threat to me.
“Change in plans. Pack their shit. NOW!” I
snap as Bradon turns and heads straight towards the apartment
without putting up a fight. He knows when I'm serious and right now
I am.
“What happened?” Nina asks as I scroll
through my phone.
“I need to make some calls. Go help them get
their shit ready.” I say as she tries to protest. “Do it now Nina.”
I say as I grab her and kiss her forehead roughly. She doesn’t
argue after that just nods and heads towards the door.
I don’t keep friends around for obvious
reasons but in this case I do have people I can count on. I make a
bunch of phone calls and work out some details. I need to get them
out of here and make sure they are set up somewhere I know they
will be safe before I go back there. I walk back towards the
apartment as Bradon starts coming out and stops.
“What’s this about man?” He says as he loads
stuff into the back of the truck.
“He made a threat Bra. Not straight forward
but it was a threat. We need to move them to somewhere safe until I
can get back there and finish this shit.” I say as Bradon shakes
his head.
“We will finish it. I will help you.” He says
as I shake my head.
“We are not arguing right now. Let’s just get
moving.” I say as the girls come out.
“Where are we going?” Josie says as she
cradles Josh close to her. I hate that scared look she has on her
face and I can’t help but blame myself for this shit. Maybe if I
didn’t come back none would have bothered Bradon.
“I have a place lined up. They were in the
Marines with me and are some of the best men I know.” I say as
Bradon puts Josh in the backseat. I look down as I run my hand
through my hair and I don’t see when Nina walks over and grabs my
arm. I almost swing as I turn around.
“It’s ok Cad.” She says as I grab her into a
hug. I hold her there for a minute and then let her go so we can
get moving.
***
“Never thought I’d hear from you man. I'm
glad you called.” I say as Jeremy rolls up in his wheelchair to
greet me. Jeremy was one of the guys that was injured the last tour
we were there. He is one of the best people I know.
“Never thought I’d need to call you for this
shit.” I say as I lean down and hug him. We were pretty close when
we were in
doesn’t argue with me about it. We take the girls back to the
apartment and Josie agrees to let Nina stay there.
“I don’t like this Cad.” Nina says as I hug
her to me.
“I need you safe baby. I don’t know what the
hell you’re doing to me but I can’t let you get hurt.” I say as I
kiss her head.
“Promise me you will come back?” She says as
she looks up at me. Her eyes lock on mine and I can’t move. I feel
like I can’t breathe. In this moment she has taken a piece of
me.
“I promise.” I say as I kiss her hard. Just
then my phone rings. I pull it out and look at it. It’s Randy. It’s
our dad.
***
I answer the phone like I do any other time.
Short and to the point.
“Yea?” I say as I listen to laughter on the
other end. What the hell is this?
“You having a nice trip son?” he says as he
chuckles.
“What are you talking about?” I snap back at
him. We were careful when we left.
“You think I don’t know you ran off with that
fucking girl? Did you plan on coming back?” He says into the phone
and the sound of his voice sends chills down my spine.
“Why wouldn’t I?” I ask as I wave to Bradon
and motion for him to be quiet.
“Oh I don’t know Cadence. Maybe you have
other plans you are working on.” He says as Bradon stops next to
me. I look over at him and back to Josie.
“Not that I know of. Is there something I
needed to know?” I ask as Bradon looks confused.
“No. I will let you know when there is. Just
play it safe son.” He says and the line goes dead. I stand there
holding the phone looking as confused as I feel. The way he said
that last part came off as a threat to me.
“Change in plans. Pack their shit. NOW!” I
snap as Bradon turns and heads straight towards the apartment
without putting up a fight. He knows when I'm serious and right now
I am.
“What happened?” Nina asks as I scroll
through my phone.
“I need to make some calls. Go help them get
their shit ready.” I say as she tries to protest. “Do it now Nina.”
I say as I grab her and kiss her forehead roughly. She doesn’t
argue after that just nods and heads towards the door.
I don’t keep friends around for obvious
reasons but in this case I do have people I can count on. I make a
bunch of phone calls and work out some details. I need to get them
out of here and make sure they are set up somewhere I know they
will be safe before I go back there. I walk back towards the
apartment as Bradon starts coming out and stops.
“What’s this about man?” He says as he loads
stuff into the back of the truck.
“He made a threat Bra. Not straight forward
but it was a threat. We need to move them to somewhere safe until I
can get back there and finish this shit.” I say as Bradon shakes
his head.
“We will finish it. I will help you.” He says
as I shake my head.
“We are not arguing right now. Let’s just get
moving.” I say as the girls come out.
“Where are we going?” Josie says as she
cradles Josh close to her. I hate that scared look she has on her
face and I can’t help but blame myself for this shit. Maybe if I
didn’t come back none would have bothered Bradon.
“I have a place lined up. They were in the
Marines with me and are some of the best men I know.” I say as
Bradon puts Josh in the backseat. I look down as I run my hand
through my hair and I don’t see when Nina walks over and grabs my
arm. I almost swing as I turn around.
“It’s ok Cad.” She says as I grab her into a
hug. I hold her there for a minute and then let her go so we can
get moving.
***
“Never thought I’d hear from you man. I'm
glad you called.” I say as Jeremy rolls up in his wheelchair to
greet me. Jeremy was one of the guys that was injured the last tour
we were there. He is one of the best people I know.
“Never thought I’d need to call you for this
shit.” I say as I lean down and hug him. We were pretty close when
we were in
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