“Why not bring him here?” asks Phil.

  “They are afraid to move him,” answers Hector.

  “Let’s get going then,” I say.

  “We will, but we wanted to just give you a heads up first,” says William.

  “Where is Dani?” I ask William.

  “She should be in our Medical room,” answers William.

  “I’ll go get her and meet you guys outside,” I say.

  I exit the classroom and find Dr. Vargas in the Medical room.

  “Did you hear about Javier?” I ask Dr. Vargas as I enter the Medical room.

  “Yeah,” answers Dr. Vargas.

  I see something is bothering Dani and ask, “What’s wrong?”

  “Close the door,” says Dr. Vargas to me.

  I close the door to the Medical room.

  Dr. Vargas says, “I don’t want to go back to the Factory. Javier is a terrible person, and I fear that he could hurt us.”

  “What do you mean? What happened Dani?” I ask Dr. Vargas.

  Dr. Vargas looks at me and starts to get upset.

  I put my hand on Dr. Vargas’ left shoulder and ask, “What happened? What did he do?”

  “He killed people and has done terrible things,” answers Dr. Vargas.

  “When? What did he do?” I ask Dr. Vargas.

  “Hector told me, and I fear that he could do something to hurt me and Hector,” answers Dr. Vargas.

  “Why do you think he would hurt you?” I ask.

  “I don’t know, I’ve just been super stressed out lately and I’m worried all the time,” answers Dr. Vargas as she steps away from me.

  I remember Dr. Vargas being in an abusive relationship with a boyfriend when we worked together at Tampa Hospital.

  “I’ll go to the Factory. You stay here,” I say to Dr. Vargas.

  “Hector told me that Javier and Ileana asked for us both to come,” replies Dr. Vargas.

  “Well tough shit. They are only getting me,” I reply to Dr. Vargas with a lighthearted tone.

  Dr. Vargas smiles, and I’m glad to make her smile and laugh as I care about Dani and don’t want her to stress.

  “I got your back. Don’t worry about Javier and his people. I’ll deal with them,” I say to Dr. Vargas.

  “Thank you, but Hector told me some crazy stories about Javier and his people,” replies Dr. Vargas.

  “Don’t worry about it. The Haven needs you here and in good shape,” I say to Dr. Vargas.

  Dr. Vargas looks at me and says, “Stay safe Ryan.”

  “I will, you too. I hear Dr. Morris is back here,” I reply to Dr. Vargas.

  “Yeah, I’ve been putting off checking on her since she was brought here by Bruce’s guys,” replies Dr. Vargas.

  “I have to go, but I’ll be back, and I’ll tell you all about it,” I say to Dr. Vargas and then say goodbye to Dr. Vargas and exit the Medical room.

  I make my way to the Haven parking lot and meet up with Hector and the guys. Hector asks me, “Where is Dani?”

  “She’s not coming. She’s scared to see Javier,” I answer Hector.

  “Who do you want with you?” asks Phil as he stands with Jordan and Jon.

  I look at Hector and ask, “Who should I bring?”

  “The smaller the group the better,” answers Hector.

  “Well, I’m already bringing your short little ass,” I joke to Hector.

  I look at Jordan, Jon, and Phil and think about who should come with me.

  Before I can say anything, Phil says, “We are all going.”

  “Okay, let’s go then,” I reply to Phil.

  “What vehicle are we taking?” asks Hector.

  “Same as we came in. JJ is staying here to talk with Tran, so we can fit three and two again,” answers Phil.

  “Jon and Jordan in Jon’s car and Phil, Hector, and me and Phil’s truck,” I say.

  We get into our vehicles and we exit the Haven.

  “What did you tell Dani?” I ask Hector as I look back at him sitting in the backseat of Phil’s electric truck.

  “What do you mean?” answers Hector.

  “She is scared shitless now after whatever you told her about Javier,” I answer.

  Phil drives down the street and approaches St. Pete.

  Hector thinks about what he told Dr. Vargas and remembers telling her about how ruthless, mean, and terrible Javier needed to be in the past.

  “I guess I should have told her the PC version of things,” says Hector.

  Phil drives down a street in St. Pete and Jon follows him. As Phil is driving down the street, he sees military soldiers peeking out of windows of buildings.

  “I think we got company,” says Phil.

  I look out my passenger side window and ask, “Where? What did you see?”

  Phil picks up his radio and says, “Keep your eyes peeled Jon and Jordan, we could have military around here.”

  Hector looks through the front windshield of Phil’s electric truck, but he doesn’t see any troops or military.

  “Make a left and then a quick right down the alley,” says Hector to Phil.

  Phil drives down the alley, Jon follows Phil, and we arrive at the rear entrance of the Factory.

  Two large Hispanic men point their machine guns at Phil’s electric truck. Hector quickly exits Phil’s electric truck and talks with the large Hispanic men.

  I watch Hector talk with the Hispanic men and ask Phil, “What did you see on the way here?”

  “Looked like military, but I’m not sure if it was DK’s people or not,” answers Phil.

  Hector comes over to Phil’s electric truck and tells me to come with him.

  I go with Hector into the Factory and Ileana takes me into Javier’s office.

  “What happened to him?” I ask Ileana as I enter Javier’s office. Ileana holds the office door open and I see Javier sitting up in his bed with blood soaked bandages on his right thigh and left shoulder.

  “What happened?” I ask as I walk over to Javier.

  “I got shot, but I’ll be okay. I’ve had worse things happen to me before,” answers Javier.

  “We got the bullet out of his shoulder, but the one in his leg is still in there,” says Ileana.

  Javier reaches for a bottle of tequila that is on his nightstand and Ileana says, “You don’t need any more of that.”

  “I have to get the bullet out, but I don’t have time for the numbing medication to work. I can do a local before trying to get the bullet out,” I say to Javier.

  “Do what you have to do doc, I’m ready,” says Javier.

  “We gave him some drugs for the pain, and he’s been drinking, so he’s kind of out of it,” says Ileana.

  I put on some rubber gloves, remove the blood soaked bandage from Javier’s right thigh and see a somewhat deep bullet wound.

  “I need someone to stabilize him. I can’t have him move,” I say to Ileana.

  Ileana exits from Javier’s office and Javier asks me, “Where is Dr. Dani? I like her.”

  “She isn’t feeling well, and she didn’t want to risk bringing her sickness here,” I answer Javier.

  Ileana comes back into the office with Hector.

  “Are my people okay?” I ask Hector.

  “Yeah, they are fine. Jon is actually getting his shield coated right now,” answers Hector.

  “I need you to hold him steady while I try to remove the bullet,” I say to Hector.

  “Are you sure?” asks Hector.

  “Don’t be a wuss Hec!” shouts Javier.

  “Let’s move him to the floor, it’s better to stabilize on a hard surface,” I say to Hector.

  Hector and I move Javier to the floor and Javier groans in pain.

  “Blood may spurt out, so make sure you stay away from the wound,” I say to Hector.

  I place a tourniquet on Javier’s right upper thigh and say, “Keep him as still as possible. This is going to hurt.”

  I place some disinfectant and numbing gel on Javier’s right thigh.

  I grab my clean long medical tongs and say to Ileana, “You might want to give him something to bite on.”

  Ileana looks around and finds a brown leather belt and brings it over to Javier.

  “Bite down on this,” says Ileana to Javier.

  “Kiss me first,” replies Javier.

  Ileana kisses Javier and then she puts the brown leather belt in Javier’s mouth.

  “I’m going to go in for the bullet now,” I say.

  I dig my medical tongs into Javier’s right thigh and Javier screams in pain while biting on the brown belt.

  I feel the bullet in Javier’s right thigh, and it comes out easily.

  “I got it,” I say as I look at the bullet.

  A small amount of blood comes out from Javier’s right thigh wound and dribbles onto Javier’s right thigh.

  “That was quick,” says Hector.

  “Yeah, we got lucky,” I reply.

  Javier passes out on the floor. I make sure Javier is breathing, and he is.

  “Is he okay?” asks Ileana.

  “He’s alive, just passed out from the pain,” I answer.

  I stitch Javier’s left shoulder and right thigh wounds and clean up the other cuts, scrapes, and minor wounds that he has on him.

  “What the hell happened to him? Another trip out of the country?” I ask Ileana.

  “No, this happened right outside here. Right in St. Pete,” answers Ileana.

  “Who shot him? Were others attacked?” I ask.

  “Javi and a couple people were attacked coming out of our condo building in St. Pete right around the pier. We have our guesses who did it, but nothing definite yet,” answers Ileana.

  “How did Javi survive?” asks Hector.

  “Javi was saved by some military group that he met with recently. They came to a mutual agreement about St. Pete days before the attack,” replies Ileana.

  “Why couldn’t the military patch him up and remove the bullet?” I ask.

  “They didn’t have that kind of doctor and they were worried about killing Javi,” answers Ileana.

  “Who are they? Who is their leader?” asks Hector.

  “Some big military group and they are led by some guy named Major Hoffmann,” answers Ileana.

  CHAPTER 15

  GIRL FIGHT

  “Who is Major Hoffmann?” I ask Hector as I walk with Hector out of Javier’s office, after I made sure Javier was okay and stable, and we walk down a metal staircase that leads to the main section of the Factory.

  “I have no idea. I haven’t met a Major Hoffmann or his people,” answers Hector.

  “Did Javier and this Major Hoffmann have a power struggle?” I ask.

  Carlos sees me and Hector talking and comes over to me and asks, “Ryan, can I have a word with you?”

  I look at Carlos and answer, “How are you Carlos?”

  “I’m doing well, thank you. But may I have a word with you?” answers Carlos.

  I step away from Hector and talk with Carlos in a somewhat private area of the Factory.

  Phil, Jon, and Jordan come over to Hector and they see me talking with Carlos.

  “What does that guy want with Ryan?” asks Phil.

  “I don’t know,” answers Hector.

  “What good are you?” jokes Phil to Hector.

  Carlos looks at me and says, “I’m sorry for how Gloria acted before… She is still in so much pain since our children were killed.”

  I look at Carlos with a look of understanding.

  “She felt helpless and was looking for everyone to blame. She even blamed me,” says Carlos.

  “It had to be tough for both of you, and I’m truly sorry it happened," I say to Carlos.

  Phil and Hector see Gloria walking towards Carlos and me.

  “There is nothing I can do to bring your children back and I’m sorry about that,” I say to Carlos.

  I see Gloria walking directly towards Carlos and me. I brace myself for whatever Gloria might try, but Gloria calmly comes over to Carlos and me and politely says, “Hello Ryan.”

  I’m kind of shocked by the calmness and politeness by Gloria and I greet Gloria back.

  “I’m sorry for what I did before. It won’t happen again,” says Gloria to me.

  “Thank you, I appreciate that,” I reply to Gloria.

  “My children are gone, and I’ll never get over it, but I know you weren’t to blame for their deaths,” says Gloria.

  Carlos has a worried expression on his face as he seems concerned with what Gloria might do next.

  “I wish there was something I could have done to have prevented it. I’m truly sorry for what happened to them,” I say to Gloria.

  Gloria looks down at the concrete floor of the Factory, takes a deep breath, and says to me, “What’s done is done. The people who killed my children will meet their maker. They will pay for what they did.”

  I look at Gloria and see that she is starting to show the fiery side that she tends to have when she is angry and passionate about something.

  “I just wanted to come by and apologize for what happened between us and to tell you that I forgive you,” says Gloria as she looks at me.

  “Thank you, I accept your apology,” I reply.

  Gloria walks away from Carlos and me.

  “Are we okay?” asks Carlos to me.

  I put out my hand to shake and say, “We are good.”

  Carlos smiles and shakes my hand.

  I say to Carlos, “Citrus Oaks hasn’t been the same since you left. We had to rebuild the main entrance a couple times, but I think we got it now.”

  “How is the neighborhood? How’s our house?” asks Carlos.

  “It’s good, but a group took over your house since you’ve been gone,” I answer Carlos.

  “That’s okay, we have a place here and we aren’t coming back to Citrus Oaks,” replies Carlos.

  “Where are you living?” I ask Carlos.

  “In a condo building close to the St. Pete pier. Javier and his people took over several buildings all over St. Pete,” answers Carlos.

  “Is that what Javier was shot over?” I ask Carlos.

  “I don’t know anything about that, but it could have been,” answers Carlos.

  Carlos gets called away and I say goodbye to Carlos and walk back over to Hector, Jon, Jordan, and Phil.

  I see Jon’s shield and it has a brand new electric blue color on it.

  “Nice color on the shield Jon,” I say.

  “Yeah, I think the blue stands out pretty good and the coating they put on it will protect it much better now,” replies Jon.

  “Just don’t think you are a superhero with that thing. We aren’t living in a comic book,” says Jordan to Jon.

  Ileana comes over to me and the guys as we are walking towards the rear exit of the Factory.

  “Wait up Ryan,” says Ileana.

  I turn around and look at Ileana.

  Ileana sees everyone looking at her, and she says to Jordan, Jon, Hector and Phil, “You can keep walking. I need to talk with Ryan.”

  “We’ll be by the vehicles,” says Phil and then Phil, Jon, Jordan, and Hector exit the Factory.

  “Why didn’t Dr. Dani come with you?” asks Ileana.

  “She wasn’t feeling well,” I answer Ileana.

  “I was hoping to see her and have her check me out. I’m six months pregnant, and I haven’t been checked out since getting pregnant,” says Ileana to me.

  I look around and make sure no one is around Ileana and me and I say to Ileana, “Dr. Vargas will probably never come back here. She is terrified of Javier.”

  Ileana looks at me and replies, “Then I’ll come to her. She doesn’t have to worry about Javi or anyone here. Especially if she is taking care of me.”

  “I’ll talk with her and see what she says, but I know she doesn’t feel comfortable coming here,” I say to Ileana.

  “Just let me know, and I’ll have someone take me to the Haven,” says Ileana.

  “What exactly happened with Javier and this Major Hoffmann guy?” I ask Ileana.

  “Well, I wasn’t there, but Javi got shot this morning, like an hour or so, before you got here today. He was attacked and two of his best guys were killed. Major Hoffmann and his people saved Javi,” answers Ileana.

  “Have you met Major Hoffmann?” I ask Ileana.

  “Briefly, when he and his men brought Javi in here earlier, after he had been shot,” answers Ileana.

  “So the military didn’t attack Javier?” I ask Ileana.

  “I don’t know who attacked Javi, but Major Hoffmann and his people, who are military, killed the people that shot Javi and killed our men,” answers Ileana.

  “Thank you for the information. I’ll talk with Dr. Vargas and have Hector, or someone get back to you,” I say to Ileana.

  “Thank you Ryan. Thank you for saving Javi. We will be in touch,” replies Ileana.

  I walk away from Ileana and exit the Factory.

  “What did she want?” asks Phil.

  “I’ll tell you on the way home,” I answer Phil.

  “There may be military around here now. They saved Javier, but I’m not sure if it’s the same military that DK is with or another group,” I say to the guys.

  “Are they friendly or hostile?” asks Jon.

  “I’m not sure, but let’s be on the lookout for them,” I answer Jon.

  “What are we doing now?” asks Phil.

  “Let’s get back to the Haven and talk with William,” I answer Phil.

  Jon and Jordan get into Jon’s electric car as Phil, Hector, and I get into Phil’s electric truck.

  Phil drives through the alley behind the Factory and gets onto a main street in downtown St. Pete.

  “You think Javi is going to make it?” asks Hector.

  “Yeah, he’s pretty lucky I was able to get to him so fast. The shooting happened this morning?” I answer Hector.

  “Yeah, that’s why I was glad you were coming to the Haven today anyway,” answers Hector.

  Phil drives down a street and he sees, in the distance, two jeeps and several armed military soldiers in tan fatigues blocking the street he is driving down.

  “Is this those military people you were talking about?” asks Phil.

  I look out the front windshield of Phil’s electric truck and so does Hector. “That has to be the same guys. The people around the Factory were talking about the soldiers having tan desert style fatigues,” says Hector.

 

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