Chương 96

Louis woke on his back with one arm numb beneath Angelique and the other pinned under Gladice's thigh. He lay still and watched the ceiling lighten as the morning sun filtered through the curtains. A thin bird call came from outside, followed by another. Angelique stirred and opened her eyes. She touched the side of his face with her fingers.

"Good morning," she whispered.

"Morning." He kissed her forehead. Gladice moaned and rolled onto her back.

"My neck hurts."

"That's what you get for sleeping in a weird position," Angelique said. She sat up, the sheet falling to her waist. Her naked breasts were full in the morning light. Louis's cock stirred beneath the sheet. She noticed and smiled.

"Not yet, Mr. Collins. We have a long day ahead of us." Louis sat up too.

"Right." He eased himself free, found his boxers on the floor, and pulled them on. The cane was still leaning against the bedside table. His knee felt better this morning. He stood, tested it, and took a few steps. The pain was still there, but it was less sharp. After relieving himself and brushing his teeth, he looked in the mirror. He hardly recognized the life he had been living less than two weeks earlier: Élise, Beverly Hills, the state banquets, and punching Julian.

At the time, a scandal and a diplomatic incident had seemed serious. Since then, he had killed men, nearly died several times, and ended up hiding in a mountain resort from the people hunting him. He went downstairs with Angelique and Gladice. Breakfast was already laid out on the long dining table. The staff couple had left eggs, bacon, biscuits, fried potatoes, sliced melon, berries, jam, and coffee, then gone before the group came downstairs.

"Damn," Gladice said, her voice still rough with sleep.

"I could get used to this." Willa sat near one end of the table with a mug of coffee beside her open laptop. Donya was across from her in an oversized hoodie, drinking tea. Savannah had nearly finished breakfast at the head of the table. Barlow sat at the far end. The bruising on his face looked worse in daylight. Louis and Angelique took seats at the table. Savannah poured coffee for them while Gladice filled her plate with eggs and bacon. Louis served himself some of everything and drank his coffee black.

It was strong and bitter.

"So what's the plan?" Willa asked. Barlow looked up from his plate.

"First, we eat. Then we head north, stay off the main roads, and take the back roads toward Virginia. That's the only way around the state patrols."

"Can we still cross?" Angelique asked.

"Maybe." Barlow shrugged.

"State's watching the main crossings. Still places you can slip through if you know the way."

"Are you sure it is safe?" Donya asked.

"Ain't nothing sure." He took a bite of his biscuit.

"But it's better than sitting here till the state finds us."

"We should contact my father," Louis said.

"Tell him we are safe and where we are going." Barlow nodded.

"He's worried, I guess."

"He is," Louis said.

"He will be relieved to hear from us." Willa turned the laptop toward him.

"I have been keeping the connection alive. You can call him now." Louis took the laptop and entered his credentials. The Athena interface opened. He selected Constantine from the messaging app and started a video call. It rang three times before his father appeared on the screen, propped up in bed. His hair was uncombed, and his face looked tired.

"Louis," he said.

"Are you alright?"

"We are fine. Did I interrupt your sleep?"

"Of course you did." His father gave him a tired smile.

"It's five in the morning here. But it's good to see you."

"You too. We had a change of plan yesterday. The border closed on us."

"Yes. I am aware." His father nodded.

"The Holy States had been tightening the line since yesterday afternoon."

"We are in a safe house now." Louis turned the laptop slightly toward the others.

"Everyone is here."

"Where? If I may ask."

"In the mountains of Tennessee. A place owned by our new friend." Barlow waved at the camera.

"Morning, Mr. Collins."

"Good morning. Who is this?" his father asked.

"This is Darnell Barlow. He's helping us cross the border," Louis said. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Pleasure." His father nodded back.

"Thank you for taking care of my son."

"Just doing my job," Barlow said.

"Been a hell of a ride so far."

"I can imagine. What's your plan now?"

"Head north on secondary roads and try to cross from a smaller point," Louis said.

"Once we are in Virginia, we can make our way back to Richmond."

"Don't tell me you are trying Lee or Scott County."

"That's the idea," Barlow said.

"Still a few old trails I can use."

"Those are not safe," Constantine said.

"The entire western border was filled with unmarked minefields and booby traps during the Second Civil War. I wouldn't risk it."

"Better than trying to go through a checkpoint," Barlow said.

"State will be watching those. And I know the area better than anybody."

"Perhaps, Mr. Barlow." His father shook his head.

"But I trust my intelligence more than your local knowledge."

"What do you suggest then?" Louis asked. Constantine leaned back against his pillow.

"Stay where you are for now. I have people in Virginia who are monitoring the situation. Once I have a clear route for you, I will let you know." He paused and looked into the camera.

"Don't move before that." Louis frowned.

"How long will it take?"

"It's complicated." His father sighed.

"All you need to know is I have also arranged a rescue. But it will take some time to reach you. I will notify you as soon as I have the details." Louis did not like the sound of that, but he nodded.

"Alright."

"Can't you send helicopters?" Savannah asked. Constantine smiled.

"I wish I could. But they would be shot down before they even cross the border if we don't have a secure corridor. And that's what I am working on now."

"So we just sit here and wait," Louis said.

"Unfortunately, yes." His father looked into the camera.

"But you are safe there, and I will get you out. Trust me on that."

"I do."

"Good." His father kept his eyes on him through the screen.

"Stay low. Stay safe. And don't make any rash decisions. I'll call you as soon as I have news."

"Alright." Louis nodded.

"We will wait. Say hi to Mom and Serana for me."

"I will." He smiled.

"Take care of yourself, son."

"You too, dad." The call ended. Louis closed the laptop and set it on the table.

"Your father cautious," Barlow said.

"I can respect that. But I still think we should go for the border ourselves."

"Maybe." Louis picked up his coffee.

"But if the Dominion intelligence says it's not safe, I'd rather not bet our lives on it."

"That so?" Barlow raised his eyebrows.

"What kind of intelligence we talking about?"

"Let's just say it's pretty damn good." Louis looked around the table.

"If he says we wait, we wait."

"I gotta get you out of this country before the state finds you," Barlow said.

"I've already risked too much."

"I know." Louis nodded.

"But we are not going to risk getting killed by landmines either."

"I know the area," Barlow insisted.

"Used it before. Ain't as dangerous as you think."

"Maybe." Louis drank his coffee.

"But I don't want to test it. Not with everyone here."

"You being too careful," Barlow said.

"We could make it in a few hours if we go now."

"And we could also get blown up on the way," Angelique said.

"I agree with Louis. We wait."

"Me too," Gladice said.

"I don't want to die stepping on an old grenade."

"Me neither." Donya nodded. Barlow looked around the table.

"This ain't a democracy. I know these roads. I should make the call." Gladice set her cup down.

"And we are the ones who have to walk them. If we don't want to go, we don't go."

"Fine." Barlow raised both hands.

"Y'all wanna wait for the Supreme President to play savior, go ahead. But don't complain when the state finds us here."

"Nobody's complaining," Willa said.

"We're just not taking unnecessary risks."

"Unnecessary?" Barlow leaned forward.

"Staying in one place a risk. The longer we stay, easier it is for them to find us."

"We are hidden." Louis shook his head.

"No one knows about this place except you."

"Till somebody talks." Barlow looked at Savannah.

"I paid the staff to keep quiet, but money only buys so much loyalty. Especially when the state come knocking with guns. You know that." Savannah nodded once.

"I do."

"See?" Barlow spread his hands.

"We can't afford to sit here. State already looking for us. We gotta move before they get too close." Louis's stomach tightened. Barlow had a point. The longer they stayed, the more time the state had to find them. But he trusted his father, and Constantine would not have warned them away from the border without a reason. Louis looked at Savannah. She met his eyes without speaking.

"What do you think?" he asked her. She sighed.

"Darnell got a point about the risk of staying. But your father knows what he's talking about too. If he says it ain't safe to cross, we shouldn't."

"Thank you." Louis nodded.

"I agree."

"Then we wait," Angelique said.

"If you say so." Barlow got up from the table.

"Since we ain't leaving today, I'm gonna get some rest. Y'all do what you want." He walked out of the room.

"Nice to meet you too," Gladice said as he left.

"He's under pressure," Savannah said.

"Don't take it personal."

"Still, he could be more polite," Gladice said.

"He's a smuggler who got tortured and almost hanged," Willa said.

"He's allowed to be cranky." Gladice rolled her eyes.

"Fine. I'll cut him some slack. But only because he saved our asses."

"You're too kind," Willa said dryly.

"Someone has to be." Gladice finished her plate.

"More coffee?"

"Yes, please," Angelique said. Gladice poured coffee for Angelique and herself. Louis refilled his cup and took another biscuit.

"What do we do while we wait?" Donya asked. Gladice grinned.

"Well, if the border is mined and we are stuck here, I've decided we are on holiday." Louis looked at her.

"Holiday?"

"Yeah. This is a resort. And we have been through a lot. So I'm going to use the hot tub. Anyone want to join me?" She stood, untied the belt of her robe, and looked through the glass doors at the covered hot tub on the deck.

"Since we don't have swimsuits, I guess it will have to be nude." She shrugged with a teasing smile. Gladice slipped the robe from her shoulders and dropped it over the back of the chair, showing her bare back and ass. Donya made a small choked sound into her coffee cup. Willa looked up at Gladice, then returned to the laptop. Angelique's mouth twitched. Louis smiled despite himself. Gladice opened the glass door and stepped onto the deck. Her hair hung loose down her back.

Steam rose when she pulled back the hot tub cover.

"Lord, Jesus," Savannah said under her breath. Angelique smiled.

"That's the spirit of New Orleans for you." Louis picked up his cane and stood.

"I guess she's right. We should enjoy the time we have."

"Are you going in?" Donya asked, her eyes wide.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Why not?"

"I'll go too." Angelique pushed her chair back.

"I can't let her have all the fun." Donya looked at them both.

"But... naked?"

"Unless you can find a swimsuit store nearby, yes." Angelique slipped her robe off.

"No one is going to care." Donya blushed and looked down at her plate. Angelique slipped off her panties. Louis left the cane against the wall and removed his clothes before following her outside. The morning air was cool on his skin. Gladice had already sunk into the tub up to her neck, her eyes closed. She opened them when the door moved and grinned.

"About time." Louis laughed and stepped carefully into the water. The heat made him groan as he lowered himself onto the bench. Angelique sighed as she sank down beside him. The three of them sat in the hot water. Beyond the deck, morning mist covered the lower ridges between the pines.