Jude
As Jude was getting out of the SUV, his phone dinged with an incoming text. Pulling it out of his back pocket he saw it was from Carson. [Need to talk to you. In section 5. Row 3.]
Jude had a feeling Everly wanted to talk to him before he went into the theater. “Guys, Cope needs to see me for a sec. I’ll go talk to him and be right behind you in the lobby.”
“Is everything okay?” Cope asked.
“You tell me, babe.” Jude waggled his eyebrows and pressed a kiss to Cope’s temple. “I’m sure Everly just wants to give me a last minute hug. I’ll see you inside in a few minutes.” Jude hurried off.
Thirty seconds or so later, he saw Carson’s SUV parked under a streetlamp. As he approached it, he saw not one, but two little heads bobbing around in the backset. He hit the mute button and pulled out his ear bud. There was no way in hell he wanted Ronan or the others to hear what was about to happen. “Fuck me with a rusty chainsaw,” he muttered. He knew exactly whothe second little head belonged to. Christ, Cope was going to kill him, revive him with CPR, and kill him again.
The back window rolled down as Jude approached it and out popped Wolf’s head. “Daddy, I can explain!” Wolf held up his hands in an I’m-innocent gesture, while Cope rolled down the passenger side window.
“How about you, Carson? Can you explain why the hell Wolf is here?” Jude’s head started to pound. In order for the plan to work perfectly, he needed to be in the theater, with Everly in the parking lot. There was no time to get Wolf home.
“He wanted to be here for Everly,” Carson said, wearing a guilty look. “I figured if Ronan thought the parking lot was safe enough for Everly, then you’d think it was safe enough for Wolf.”
“It’s my fault, Daddy. I talked Uncle Carson into it.” Wolf offered his father a steady look. “I’ll accept whatever my punishment is for disobeying your order.”
Jude sighed. On the one hand, Cope was going to be pissed. On the other, he liked Wolf’s moxie. “I’m the king of begging for forgiveness rather than asking for permission. You’re a chip of the old block, Wolfie.” Jude shook his head. “I’m glad you’re here to keep Everly safe, but your Dad and I are gonna have a chat with you later.”
Wolf nodded.
“If it helps, Uncle Jude, we don’t see anything bad happening to Woofie. He came to keep me safe and I’m gonna do the same thing for him.” Everly grinned at Jude. She looked as if she knew she’d won.Again.
“That makes me feel better, honey.” Jude turned to Carson. “Remember the plan. At the first sign of trouble or when your Spidey-senses start to tingle. Call Cisco. Got it?”
“Got it!” Carson agreed.
“Daddy, I gotta go to the bathroom.” Wolf grimaced.
“Okay, come on out, you can go behind the car.” Jude opened Wolf’s door, feeling thankful Everly didn’t have to go too.
“I can’t go numbertwoin the parking lot.” Wolf’s voice was barely above a whisper.
Shit!Jude pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Ten asking him to get Cope away from the lobby and that he’d explain later. A quick thumbs up was Ten’s response.
“Right. Let’s run.” Jude grabbed Wolf’s hand and pulled him through the parking lot, toward the theater. They ran into the lobby and he thankfully didn’t see anyone from their group. “Okay, buddy, in we go!” Jude pushed open the door to the men’s room and ushered Wolf inside. “I’ll be at the other end.” He pointed to a stall at the end of the line. “Do not leave the room. Wait for me.”
“Got it, Dad!” Wolf shut the stall door and locked it.
Jude stayed outside the door listening to make sure Wolf didn’t need help.
“I can do this on my own, Dad, jeez!” Wolf called over the door.
“Going now.” Jude hurried down to a free stall. He suddenly had to go too. Like father, like son. A minute or so later, he heard Wolf’s toilet flush and the lock disengage. “Remember to stay here,” Jude called, not nearly done with his business.
“I know, Dad!” Wolf called back, his voice echoing. The water came on and Jude could hear his son washing his hands.
The door opened and closed when Jude was pulling his pants up. “Wolf?”
Silence was his answer. “Not funny, Wolfie!” Jude said, expecting to hear his son’s giggle at any second, but there was no response.
Slamming back the lock, Jude burst through the door. There was no one standing at the sinks and he couldn’t see anyone else in the restroom. Quickly washing his hands, Jude ran toward the door, when a man dressed in black stepped out from behind the baby changing station. In his left hand he held what looked like a tire iron. “Who the fuck are you?”
The man struck out with the instrument, which slammed against the left side of Jude’s head.
Jude fell to one knee. His left ear was ringing and he felt blood dripping down the side of his face.
