No one seemed to be around but there were four pairs of eyes searching the area.They were at the place Andy told them about, tucked away under the bridge.The place was quiet and almost eerie.
If you listened to the silence you could almost hear echoes of the days long past.This was Baytown, an area with a rich history.Many ships have gone past to bring people and goods to the west.They came in from the ocean through Trinity Bay.Usually busy, it was somewhat slow at this time of night.
The men got out of the vehicle and wandered off to different spots to wait.
Shilo, Bullet, Rocket and Ryker were waiting for Avery to show up, or at least they prayed she would.
Ryker had the bracelet in his hand and he fiddled with the plastic tubing.The design was becoming very familiar in his fingers and he smiled faintly, remembering back to Trever’s bracelet.His friend had been so proud of the design and had told him the bracelet told his family’s history, you just had to know what every knot and twist meant.
One was for a memorable trip they made one year on Christmas.They were only allowed to give each other one gift.So there were 8 rivets in the bracelets for each gift the family of four would bestow on Christmas.Then there were the knots.Four of them for each family member.There was more to it, but Ryker couldn’t remember all of it.He had been a scattered brain teen at the time.Having a good time and running loose was all he thought about back then.
His eyes were getting used to the darkness around him, adjusting and he was seeing more and more of the park around him.Then he heard someone coming.Ryker motioned to the men around him.
They all slid back into the shadows and waited for whoever was coming.
Suddenly, a slight figure stepped out of the shadows.
Ryker saw her and he whispered, “Avery.”
The girl stopped and froze.Then she slowly looked around.
Ryker stepped forward.
Avery froze again as she stared at him.Then she whispered, “Who are you?Why are you here?”
“Andy sent us,” he told her cautiously.“She wanted to come but this city isn’t good for her.”He held out the bracelet toward her.
Avery’s gaze snapped to it.She gasped and stepped back.
“No,” he whispered, “Please don’t run.You don’t need to run from us.Andy did really send us.She just wants you safe and out from her mom’s control.All you have to do is come with us.We can get you to Andy, to safety and all you have to do is trust us.We aren’t here to hurt you.”He could see her fight or flight stance and he shook his head.“We aren’t going to hurt you.I think you’ve had more than your fair share of pain haven’t you, sweetheart?”
Avery snapped her head up and exclaimed, “What do you know about my life?My pain?”
“If you are who I think you are, you’ve been through hell,” he answered her honestly.“Your brother, your parents.”
Avery studied him suspiciously.“What do you know about my family?”
“Trever was a friend of mine right up until the day they shot him down in the streets.”Ryker sighed.“We were fourteen and it was his birthday when he accidently walked between two gang bangers and one of them shot him.”
Avery’s hands covered her mouth as she slipped to her knees onto the grass.“You were there weren’t you?You saw it the same as I did.He fell, then you ducked down and covered your head.”Tears filled her eyes.
Ryker paused as he felt shocked to hear this.“You were there too?”He never knew this.
Avery nodded, then her eyes went vacant as she explained, “I was following you guys.Trever didn’t know that but yes, I was there about a half a block back.I couldn’t even scream when I saw him fall.I heard the shots and I got scared.When the bullets stopped I turned and ran home.”She paused then added softly, “I think a part of me died that day too.I still miss him today.”
Ryker walked toward her and knelt beside her.He reached and put his hands on her shoulders.“So do I...I miss that kid every single day.He was just walking along one minute and the next he was laying on the ground bleeding out while those two low life’s continued to shoot at each other.That shootout didn’t help either one of them.”
Avery looked up, her eyes haunted by pain.“That gang threatened my parents.They said if their leader went to prison they would find them and kill them too.To get away from the threat, we had to leave the city in the middle of the night with nothing.”She took a shuddering breath and went on, “We moved so many times to hide from that group.But in the end, it didn’t matter.They found us five years later.They broke into our house and they shot my parents in their own bed.I was hiding but they still shot up my room.I stayed hidden even after the cops left.Then I ran.I lived on the streets and I was surviving.Seems, that gang couldn’t find me.Then Sarah found me.She dragged me home with her and told me I would be her maid.Once she found out that I had skills with numbers she made me her accountant.She told me what she wanted me to do and my life’s been hell ever since.”She shook her head.“But I can’t leave, she’ll hunt me down and put a bullet in my brain.She promised me that and I believe her.”
Ryker smiled at her.“Maybe she’ll try but I won’t let her come near you again.I wish I could have protected you before now, but at least we finally came together.”
Avery looked confused.“But you don’t even know me.”
Ryker took her hand in his.“Trever was my best friend and I think he would want me to protect his sister, don’t you?”He lifted her gently and when she was standing, he ushered her closer to the vehicles in the lot.
When she saw the three men standing there, she tried to hide behind Ryker.
He gently brought her out in front of him.“Guys, this is Avery Gentry.She was my best friends’ little sister and now she’s under my protection.”
