“I’ll have some if it gets worse. I think it is just muscle shock as you said.” We are quiet as we eat, and my stomach growls after the first bite. I give a wide-eyed look to Shelby who laughs when she sees my apologetic grin.
Once we’ve had our break Shelby heads into her office, and I’m working the counter. The server who is taking over my shift gives me a wave as she passes me going to the staff area, and introduces herself as Jayne once she returns. I’m pleased she’s here on time because the lunchtime customers are piling inside.
Before I realize, the time has zipped past and Jayne gives me a nod towards the staff area, “Cilla, you are done. Off you go, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay, thanks, Jayne.” I quickly go to the staff area, grab my things and the second t-shirt Shelby has left before heading out.
I open the door to the house and sigh with relief. Home! I quickly strip off my clothes, throw them in the washing machine and head upstairs where I shower and dress ready for whatever the day throws at me next.
Downstairs I check my phone, which I’ve not had time to even look at until now, and see a message back from Finger. I wonder why they call him that? I shoot the palm of my hand into the air as astop,because the last thing I want is Bono pushing forward again.
Finger: Here at 4:00?
Cilla: OK.
No point in saying more because I’ll be there and sure freaking Bono will too. A voice slams into my mind breaking through my mental barrier.
*Park now. My niece is about to be run over*
I know better than to ignore urgent demands such as this one, and if it’s the park, we are talking about a child. I rush out to my truck, and drive at reckless speed I might add, to get to the park in time.
Once I’ve parked the truck, I run into the park and see two women talking while a little boy and girl are playing. The boy is chasing the girl, and my vision narrows. Chasing toward the road, a truck coming towards them…I don’t stop and think, I run as fast as my aching body allows and just as the truck reaches the proximity of the child I grab her with a shout of pain from the muscles in my lower back. The weight of the moving child andthe speed I was moving clash but I hold that child as if she were my own.
The mothers cry out and rush over to me. I slowly hand over the little girl and accept the thanks from the mother. Now, I can’t tell her that her sister sent me, or I’d have another person saying I’m batshit crazy. I pass it off as lucky that I noticed what was about to happen. The mothers rush away with the children, and I trudge back to my truck.
While I’m sitting in the truck, I drop my mental barrier, because if I’m honest, I’m too tired to maintain it for a while. I need to recuperate some of my energy.
*You did well, Cilla*
I hear Bono clearly and nod my thanks. “Yeah,” is all I manage to respond. Checking the time, I decide to go directly to the clubhouse and see if I’m too early to speak to the man in charge. I admit, I’m ready to go home, have something to eat, and go to bed. My mental health needs a time out!
“Be quiet, Bono, please,” I mumble as I’m driving. I can hear the asshole humming about beer bottles and a wall.
At the gate of the clubhouse, a young man is standing, looking as tough as he can. I don’t grin although I can see a cloudy figure standing behind him. I don’t want to scare him to death at his young age by telling him he’s being followed.
“Hello,” I give it my sweetest tone. “I’m here to see the man in charge. I have an appointment, and if you need it verified you can speak to Finger.”
*Nine thousand two hundred bottles of beer…*
Oh, my…I shoot up my barrier and think I’m going to have serious words with Bono when I get home.
The young man, after speaking on his cell phone waves me through, and I head to the main entrance of the building where Finger has just stepped out and is obviously waiting for me. He points to a spot, and I quickly park and jump out of the truck. Which, when only short at 5’4” isn’t always easy, and more so when your back and legs are in muscle pain.
“You are early, Cilla,” Finger says as I stop in front of him.
Sighing a little as Bono is now talking a mile a minute. “Yes, I thought I best get here and then I can go home and get to bed.”
“Oh, let’s get this done then.” Finger holds the door open and leads me through a room with a bar and to an office which states on a bold plaque, ‘President–Tracker.’
Finger knocks and on the command come in, he opens the door and leads me inside. “Take a seat, Cilla.” Finger points to an easy chair, and I gladly throw myself down and stretch my legs out in front of me. The chuckles had me opening one eye and seeing the amused looks on Finger and Tracker’s faces.
“Sorry. It’s been a long day. I’ve been up since just gone four, done a shift at the diner, saved a child at the park and listened to your friend Bono sing aboutbottles of beeruntil I’m going to research how to mentally shove one up his ass.” Bono instantly stops singing, and I smirk at him much to Finger's amusement I might add.
“What has brought you here today, Cilla?” Tracker asks as he walks his massive ass over to an easy chair across from where I’m sitting.
“Bono needed me to give you a heads-up that this ZeBach man is going to come here and blow up your clubhouse. Well, he’s going to try unless you can stop him,” I relay the message that Bono had given. “He said he’s coming, but he’s stopping at places on the way, so not sure how long.”
Tracker nods at me, rubs his chin then asks, “How many men does he have with him?”