Fight 4 Us (Book 9): Settlement Read online

  Jon walks into his kitchen and grabs two bottles of beer from his refrigerator.

  Jon walks outside and onto his back patio.

  Jon walks over to Kelly and hands her a beer.

  Kelly takes the beer and thanks Jon for getting it for her.

  “What did you think of the meeting?” asks Kelly to Jon as Jon sits next to Kelly at their back-patio table.

  “I like that Ryan has those meetings. It’s very democratic. We need that. We need everyone working together,” answers Jon.

  “Do you think it’s the right call going after Jacob?’ asks Kelly.

  “I don’t know, but I know that Jacob and his people are dangerous. They haven’t harmed us, but I know they have hurt Ryan and Bobby G before,” answers Jon.

  “Are you going with them tomorrow?” asks Kelly.

  “Yeah, I think I should. I would like to see what William and Ryan come up with tomorrow,” answers Jon.

  “I just wish everyone could get along and everyone would leave everyone alone. It’s bad enough that we have to worry about freaking zombies let alone people and zombies. I still can’t believe it’s real life that zombies are roaming the streets,” says Kelly.

  Jon takes a sip of his beer and replies, “I know right. It’s pretty crazy to think that the dead are actually taking over the world.”

  Kelly and Jon enjoy their night together.

  “What are you going to do Matt?” asks Kylie to Matt as Matt is brushing his teeth in their bathroom.

  Matt spits his mouthful of toothpaste and water into his bathroom sink.

  “I don’t know, but I have to go with the guys tomorrow. If I don’t, they will never let me live it down,” answers Matt as he enters his bedroom.

  “You can’t keep doing things for them. You need to worry about your safety… Our safety. I need you around here with me,” says Kylie.

  “You’re right special k,” jokes Matt.

  Kylie smiles at Matt and replies, “But seriously, I don’t want to raise our child alone. I need you here with me. Our baby is going to need a father.”

  Matt sits down next to Kylie on their bed and puts his hand on Kylie’s stomach and says, “I think I felt a kick.”

  Kylie smiles and responds, “You are an idiot. I have only been pregnant for like a week or two. You can’t feel a baby kick yet.”

  “I know, and you are right. I want to be here for you and our baby. We have wanted a baby for so long, and we are finally getting one. I don’t want to miss out on meeting little Jack,” replies Matt as he takes his hand off Kylie’s flat stomach.

  Kylie smiles and asks, “Oh you already named our baby? What if it’s a girl?”

  Matt thinks about his answer, rubs his chin, and points at Kylie.

  “Then it’s Jacalyn,” answers Matt.

  Kylie smiles and replies, “Man, you have it all planned out.”

  Matt smiles and says, “The only thing that I have planned… Is that I have you in my life and that we are together.”

  Kylie and Matt kiss and enjoy their night together.

  “I’m just glad you are okay honey,” says Lauren to me as I sit next to Lauren at the foot of our bed.

  I reply to Lauren, “I’m okay sweetie. We all made it out alive, but it was a close call with the drone at the beach. That’s why I was so freaked out when a drone flew over the neighborhood.”

  “I’m going with you tomorrow. I want to meet with Li,” says Lauren.

  “What’s up? Any specific reason why you want to see Li?” I ask Lauren.

  Lauren answers, “Yes, actually. I want her to teach me how to use your sais.”

  “Oh really. I could teach you,” I reply to Lauren.

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” says Lauren.

  “Why not?” I ask Lauren.

  “Well… You always get frustrated when you teach me things. Li is a good teacher... You are a good teacher also, but you have so much going on and I don’t want to burden you with anything else,” answers Lauren.

  I say, “I don’t always get frustrated when I teach you things. How about the medical training class?”

  “That was a group class, not an individual lesson. You got frustrated many times when trying to teach me before,” replies Lauren.

  “When?” I ask Lauren.

  “Let’s see... There was the time you freaked out on me when we were working out... The time you yelled at me when we were playing volleyball… And who could forget the time you kept having me die in the video games we played together so that you could move onto the next level,” answers Lauren.

  “That was so long ago, and I have learned from those times on how to effectively teach you things,” I reply to Lauren with a smile on my face.

  I pull Lauren close and say, “I’m sorry sweetie. I guess my competitive nature comes out and I get frustrated easily.”

  “I know honey. That’s why I think Li should teach me how to use your sais,” says Lauren as she playfully pats me on my chest with her right hand.

  “Are you auditioning for a new superhero movie?” I joke with Lauren.

  Lauren stands up, opens a dresser drawer, laughs, and jokes, “Yeah. I’m thinking about auditioning at the Haven.”

  “You are probably right though. Li is probably the best person to teach you. I haven’t touched those weapons in a while,” I say to Lauren as I get into bed.

  “I’m just glad you had all those weapons in your man cave,” replies Lauren as she closes the dresser drawer.

  I look at Lauren and sarcastically reply, “And you wanted me to get rid of them.”

  “Do you think William will be able to help us?” asks Lauren.

  I answer Lauren, “I don’t know, but I hope so. I know Hector and his group know St. Pete very well and we could really use their help with this… To be honest I’m not sure just attacking The Grove is the best plan. There are innocent people and families there.”

  Lauren replies, “My parents were there. I hope it’s not chaos at The Grove and Kat is okay.”

  I say, “Me too. I think we need to get eyes on the outside and inside of The Grove before we do anything. We need to know what is going on in there before we just start shooting up the place.”

  “That’s a good idea honey. It will all come together, and we will get the ball rolling tomorrow,” says Lauren as she gets into bed and snuggles up next to me.

  I kiss Lauren goodnight and we enjoy our night together.

  CHAPTER 2

  WHAT TO DO

  “Where is Matt?” I shout to Shaun, Jon, Lauren, Phil, and Bobby G as we stand in my driveway.

  “He’s in his house,” answers Shaun.

  I look at Shaun and say, “Go get him please. I want to get going already.”

  Shaun runs from my driveway, across the street, and over to Matt’s front door.

  “You can go ahead in the electric car. I can take Matt and Shaun in the other electric car,” says Phil.

  I reply to Phil, “I’ll give him a minute. I want to talk with Matt before we leave.”

  I look at Bobby G, Lauren, and Jon and ask, “Do you have everything?”

  “Yeah, we put our things in the car and we are ready to go,” answers Jon.

  I look down at my watch and see the time. It’s 8:48 AM.

  “Are you sure William and his people will be up this early?” asks Lauren.

  I answer Lauren, “I’m not sure, but I want to get this day going.”

  Shaun runs from Matt’s driveway over to me.

  I ask, “What’s the deal Shaun?”

  Shaun answers, “He’s just finishing up breakfast and will be out in ten minutes.”

  I’m annoyed that we are waiting on Matt as I feel that we are always waiting on Matt.

  I say, “I’m going to take Lauren, Jon, and my dad in the electric car. I’ll meet you three there.”

  “Everything okay Ry?” asks Shaun.

  I answer Shaun, “Yeah, I just don’t want to wait on
Matt’s slow ass anymore.”

  “We will meet you there. Don’t worry about us. I’ll talk with Matt,” says Phil.

  I reply, “Thank you, Phil. Get his ass moving.”

  Jon, Lauren, Bobby G, and I get into the electric car that is parked in Bobby G’s driveway.

  I start up the electric car and exit through the main entrance of Citrus Oaks.

  I drive down a road and say, “I don’t understand why he has to be late all the freaking time. It used to be Shaun who we were waiting on in high school, and now it’s Matt.”

  “I remember Matt and Shaun usually being late together,” replies Jon.

  “We are getting it together Ry. I know this shit with Jacob and his idiotic group is stressful, but we have your back and we will help you,” says Jon.

  I appreciate the words of encouragement and support from Jon.

  Jon has been a friend of mine since elementary school. I have known Phil and Jon the longest, and they have always been there to support me.

  I look in my rearview mirror at Bobby G and ask, “You sleep okay last night Bob?”

  “I slept like a log. Must have been all that wine I had at dinner last night,” answers Bobby G.

  “I bet. You were a little wobbly when you left our house last night,” says Lauren.

  “I just started drinking wine, and I guess I’m not used to it. I was a rum and coke drinker before all this,” says Bobby G.

  I joke, “During your business trips to Boston and New Jersey, huh?”

  “Good memory. Yeah, when I was working and had to travel for work,” answers Bobby G.

  “What did you do again Bob?” asks Jon.

  “I was a salesman. I sold clutches and brakes to the military and big companies,” answers Bobby G.

  I see a small group of zombies scattered throughout the road ahead of me.

  Lauren sees the zombies in the road and nervously says, “Careful honey.”

  I slow down and carefully dodge the small group of zombies.

  My driver side tires skid on the overgrown grass next to the road, but they keep their traction, and I get back onto the road.

  “This car handles pretty well,” I say as I speed away from the group of zombies.

  I arrive at the front entrance of the Haven.

  “Stop right there!” shouts one of the Haven guards as I park my electric car at the front entrance of the Haven.

  I roll my window down and shout, “It’s me Ryan!”

  The Haven guard looks at the other Haven guard and says, “It’s okay.”

  The two Haven guards walk over to the driver side window of my electric car.

  “Sorry Ryan. Ox is new here, and he didn’t recognize you,” says the Haven guard to me.

  I look at Ox and say, “Hey Ox. I’m Ryan. Nice to meet you.”

  Ox smiles and says, “Nice to meet you. Sorry I yelled at you.”

  I look at Ox and respond, “It’s okay big man. You are just doing your job.”

  The Haven guard tells me to park in the usual side parking lot.

  I look at Ox and the other Haven guard and say, “We have another car coming shortly. It will have Phil, Shaun, and Matt in it. They are with me.”

  “No problem, we will let them in,” replies the Haven guard.

  I drive to the side parking lot of the Haven and park my electric car.

  Jon, Bobby G, and Lauren get out of my electric car.

  I look through the electric car front windshield and see two people training on the football field.

  “Don’t drop your hands,” says William to the person he is training.

  William throws a straight punch and then kicks the person in the stomach.

  The person falls to the ground and starts coughing.

  COUGH! COUGH!

  “Get up son,” says William to the person who is on his hands and knees on the Haven football field grass.

  The person jumps up from the ground and wildly swings at William.

  William easily blocks the punch and then tosses the person back onto the football field grass.

  “Don’t get angry son. That clouds your mind,” says William to his son Jeremy.

  Jeremy smacks the football field grass with both hands as he lies flat on his back.

  William helps Jeremy up from the ground.

  “That’s enough for today son,” says William.

  Bruce walks over to William and Jeremy.

  “Sir, Ryan, Lauren, Jon, and Ryan’s father are here to see you,” says Bruce to William.

  “Thank you, Bruce. I’ll be right there,” replies William.

  Bruce sees that Jeremy has a shiny red mark under his left eye.

  “You gotta keep your hands up Jeremy. Protect your face and then counter,” says Bruce to Jeremy.

  “You sound like my father,” replies Jeremy to Bruce.

  “Who do you think taught him how to fight?” replies Bruce.

  William, Bruce, and Jeremy enter the Haven main courtyard and walk towards me, Jon, and Bobby G.

  Lauren is talking with Li next to a gazebo.

  “Hello Ryan, Jonathan, and Robert. How are you today?” shouts William as he walks over to me with Jeremy and Bruce.

  I say hello to William, Bruce, and Jeremy.

  I see Jeremy’s left eye and ask, “You okay? Want me to look at your eye Jeremy?”

  “I’ll be fine, but thank you Ryan,” answers Jeremy.

  William looks at Jeremy and says, “Go see Dr. Vargas, she will give you an ice pack for your eye.”

  “I’m fine,” replies Jeremy.

  I feel that Jeremy is showing some disobedience with William.

  I look at Jeremy and say, “An ice pack will get the swelling down. It’s a good idea.”

  Bruce puts his hand on Jeremy’s right shoulder and says, “Let’s go see Dr. Vargas. I want her to check you out.”

  William looks at Jeremy with a look of annoyance.

  Jeremy nods his head at Bruce, and he and Bruce exit the main courtyard of the Haven.

  “He’s still testing the limits. He fights me with every little thing still,” says William.

  “It’s the age. He thinks he knows everything,” says Bobby G to William.

  Bobby G looks at me and says to William, “He was the same way.”

  I know that Bobby G is talking about me and I playfully elbow him in his gut.

  I look at William and ask, “Did you say Dr. Vargas? Is she a young short Spanish woman named Danielle Vargas from Tampa Hospital?”

  “Yes, I believe that is her. At least her name is Danielle Vargas,” answers William.

  I get a smile on my face and say, “I might know her. If it’s the same person that I worked with.”

  “I’ll take you to meet with her later, but what brings you here this morning?” asks William.

  I answer, “We might know where Jacob is.”

  “Where?” asks William.

  I answer, “The Grove. My friend Kat told us that Jacob and DK are at The Grove and then her radio went out.”

  “When was this?” asks William.

  “Yesterday,” I answer.

  Shaun, Matt, and Phil come walking down the concrete path of the outdoor main courtyard of the Haven as I talk with William.

  Jon sees Shaun, Matt, and Phil walking towards me and jokes, “Here come the three stooges.”

  I look at Shaun, Matt, and Phil and shout, “Nice of you to join us!”

  “Sorry we are late,” says Matt.

  Shaun, Matt, and Phil walk over to William, Jon, Bobby G, and me.

  “Did you ask him yet?” asks Shaun to me.

  I turn towards Shaun and answer, “I was about to, before you three had your grand entrance.”

  William laughs.

  “You gentlemen make me laugh, but I see where this is going,” says William.

  I look at William with anticipation.

  “We are low with our fighters currently. We have people all over Tampa Bay right now,”
says William.

  “What is going on?” asks Shaun.

  “We are branching out and checking out some new areas, but we have had more people missing since they have visited a nearby church recently,” answers William.

  “A church, what church?” asks Phil.

  “The large church close to here. They have been having services and taking people in recently. A couple of our families and teenagers went there for prayer and some haven’t come back,” answers William.

  “What do you think happened to them?” asks Jon.

  “We don’t know, but we are going to find out. I hope they are staying there at the church and are doing well, but I want to make sure,” answers William.

  “Why? Why put the effort in?” asks Matt.

  “Because I feel that it is my duty to check on the people that became members of our family here,” answers William.

  Matt looks at Jon and quietly says, “I wouldn’t do that.”

  Jon shakes his head with disgust.

  “Where is Hector?” asks Phil to William.

  “He and his group are here. They got in late last night from a small run. They should be up shortly. What do you want with Hector?” asks William.

  Phil responds, “We think he can help us get eyes on The Grove. We want to gain intel on what is happening at The Grove right now.”

  “You mean you want to see if Jacob is still there and kill Jacob and his group,” replies William.

  Phil doesn’t know what to say to William. We all don’t actually.

  William looks up into the sky and asks, “What to do? What to do? What to do?”

  William starts walking away from us.

  I follow him, and the guys follow me.

  Shaun sees two cherry pies sitting on a table.

  Phil sees Bruce walking over to William.

  Jon sees Tran working on a car.

  Bobby G sees two horses being walked by two members of the Haven, and Matt sits down at an empty table.

  I catch up to William and say, “We aren’t going to attack The Grove without a plan.”

  William stops walking and Bruce walks over to William.

  “Good idea Ryan. A plan is necessary for most things. Especially for killing someone,” says William.

  “What is going on William?” asks Bruce.

  William replies to Bruce, “Ryan believes that he knows where Jacob is right now, and they want to kill him. What do you think about that?”