Page 76 of Her Loving Hero

“We need to get your photo I.D. for the plane,” Wyatt explained. “But now is the time for you to pack the things that you really want to take with you. Everything else will be new when we get back to California.”

Kyle looked to Luke for confirmation. He nodded.

“I have a rental. Let’s go,” Wyatt said. Soon he was parked across the street from the small ranch style house with the red brick façade. The lawn had gone to shit, it was more weeds than grass. The old plantation style green shutters were now mostly gray. It looked seedy. His mom would have hated to have seen this.

“It’s good, his car isn’t here,” Kyle said. “Let’s go. The backdoor will be unlocked.”

Kyle darted out of the car before Wyatt had a chance to caution him. The kid ran around to the back side of the house. Even worse, now he couldn’t see him.

“Luke, stay in the car,” Wyatt commanded. “I want to make sure the coast is clear before you come in.”

They heard Kyle’s shout, and they both took off at a dead run.

The door to the back of the house was swinging open in the wind. Wyatt could hear the neighbor’s wind chimes and somebody else’s dog barking. Luke moved forward.

“I’m going in, not you,” Wyatt said as he held Luke back.

“He’s mad at me.” Luke whispered. “He hates me. If I go in, he’ll focus on me instead of Kyle. Let me go.”

“He hates me more. Plus, I’m armed.” Wyatt showed his brother his gun. Checked luggage was the way to go.

Luke nodded and Wyatt looked in the first window and saw what he needed to. It was the same layout. This window showed the back den, and this piece of scum actually had a gun trained at his own son. Wyatt looked for a shot, but because Kyle was in front of him, and Leonard was half on, half off the couch he just couldn’t risk it.

“He’s got a gun,” Kyle cried out as Wyatt moved to the door.

Kyle screamed in pain.

Wyatt put on speed and burst through the door. Leonard raised his gun toward Wyatt. “You caused this,” he screamed as spittle flew from his mouth. Kyle’s body was half on top of him, and Wyatt could clearly see that somebody had done a number on Leonard. They’d beat the shit out of him. Turning, he could see the old stainless steel and vinyl dinette chair he’d been using as a walker. It was amazing he’d gotten a drop on Kyle.

“Let Kyle go,” Wyatt said as he kept his gun trained on the man’s right eye.

“They’re making an example of me. Said I was careless and was endangering the operation. Decided to make me disabled. Can you believe that?”

“Just let Kyle go, Leonard. Let your son go.”

“Bullshit, they’re going to put me in prison. It’s your fault. You had to show your face again.” Leonard lifted his gun. Wyatt knew what it was, he wanted to kill himself, but didn’t have the balls, so he was trying to get Wyatt kill him instead.

Kyle looked up at him, his gaze clear, he gave a tiny nod.

Sneaky kid.

Kyle rolled off toward the floor, and Wyatt shot Leonard in the elbow, pinning his gun arm to the sofa. Kyle grabbed the gun.

Luke came inside, not caring about his father’s shrieks, instead he helped his brother off the floor. “Let’s get packed,” he said to Kyle.

“What about Dad?” Kyle asked.

“He’s going to end up in the Indiana State Prison. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?” Luke said.

Kyle shot Wyatt a nervous glance.

“Go get packed. I’m calling an ambulance. It’s okay Kyle, your dad will be taken care of.”

And if there was a God, he would be taken care of by an inmate at the Indiana State Pen.

* * *

Wyatt lookedover at his brothers who were looking wasted as they sat sprawled out in the seats at the South Bend International Airport gate waiting for their plane. He needed to get them to San Diego, and he needed to see Emily like he needed his next breath.