Marie (Teumessian Trilogy Book 1) (20 page)

Tyler had, had enough. “Yah here’s a great trick.” He lunged forward at Henry, grabbed him by the throat and pulled him out of his chair. Tyler got grip around his neck and twisted.

Marie heard the snap and Tyler dropped Henry’s lifeless body to the ground.

Tyler was breathing deeply, he looked to Marie but she hadn’t flinched. Her eyes were locked on Ivan. Ivan hadn’t moved either. He was a cold man, even the death of his best friend wouldn’t have affected him.

“See me asking for money is no big deal you just gained another third of your company so it looks like with Frederick dead and Henry dead you get all the money. So he just did you a favor. You should thank him.” Marie said, with a sly grin.

“Since when are you such an expert on how this company runs? What, because you grew up here you get how we operate and who is in charge?” Ivan said darkly to Marie.

“Oh, so you’re not the one in charge? Is this your ploy to save your life?” Marie said, still smiling.

“Do you really think it ends here? Do you really think taking my life will free you? They will come for you, they always do.” Ivan leaned forward in his chair resting his elbows on the armrests. “I’m not the puppet master, I’m just a puppet.”

Marie felt rage coming over her. She reached back to her holster and pulled her two knives as she leapt over the desk. She landed as she swung her two knives slitting Ivan’s throat. Tyler was frozen in place watching this unfold. Marie was full of rage. “Tell me there is something in those files with any information on who is in charge” She barked at Tyler.

Tyler froze for a minute, “No, no, nothing.” Tyler started to search through the files on the desk. Marie was clenching the knives in her hands. She was ready to kill some more she was almost hyperventilating. Tyler was searching frantically for anything. As he was, he noticed the sun was coming up. “We have to move or we will have to fight our way out.” Tyler said

“Let them come. I will kill all of them,” Marie said still clutching her knives, tears of rage running down her cheeks.

Tyler knew what he had to say, He moved to her grabbed her by the shoulders, “What are our odds of both of us making it out?” Marie understood. He would never make it. “We have to go,” Tyler said, moving towards the window. Marie holstered her knives and followed.

They returned to the motorcycle.

“I’m driving,” Marie said. Her tone was still dark and serious. Tyler didn’t want to question her.

Chapter 31

They rode in silence all the way back. When they returned to the property, Marie parked the bike in the same place and got off it. Tyler followed. As soon as Tyler got off the bike, Marie let out a yell and shoved the bike over. She gripped her head and fell to her knees. She was still filled with rage and frustration.

Tyler got down next to her, “We will find out who it is, we will get him or her or whatever they are.”

Marie looked up at him, “I’m fine. Let’s just get everything together.” She said standing up and brushing herself off as she walked towards the bunker. When Marie got to the bunker door she stopped.

“What’s wrong? Why are you waiting?” Tyler asked

“This is not how I left the coverings.” Marie said cautiously. Tyler instantly pulled his gun. Marie was calm as she opened the bunker door and slowly started down the stairs. Tyler was nervous, but followed. Once at the bottom of the stairs, Marie let out a laugh. Tyler rushed to see what she was laughing at. It was a masked man standing at the far end of the bunker. He was dressed all in black with a black ski mask covering his face. In each hand he held a knife very similar to Marie’s own set. Tyler aimed his gun but Marie reached up and lowered it. “I think he wants to play.” Marie said with a twinkle in her blue eyes. She reached behind herself and pulled her two knives from the holster. She twirled them in her hands. The man said nothing, just stood there holding the knives. “So what do I have to attack first or are you going to come at me.” Marie said taunting the man as she stepped towards him. Tyler backed away from them but still held his gun. He was ready to help if necessary. But Marie didn’t need it. This was her element. She looked almost excited to go hand to hand so to speak with another knife expert. The man charged with two slashes at Marie but she was able to deflect both. She landed a kick to his back as she spun him. “Is that the best you have? Come on, you have to do better if you want to get me.” Marie said taunting. The man shook it off and came at her again. This time she was able to relieve him of one of his knives and leave a gash in his left leg. The man was in obvious pain but Marie was having fun. She was going to keep it going. “Come on, baby, I want the other one too,” she said with a laugh as the man came at her again with his remaining knife. She relieved him of that one as well and landed a gash to his chest. Marie then kicked the man in the chest, knocking him back and against the wall. The man fell to the ground with blood running from his gash on his chest. Marie approached him and knelt down in front of him. “Now, masks are for Halloween, sweetie.” She said pulling the mask off his face.

Tyler’s heart instantly dropped to his stomach. It was Captain Stevens. Tyler’s heart was racing, what was he doing there? How did he find them? Tyler was at a loss for words. Stevens was panting heavily from the fight and the loss of blood.

“Now, what brings you here?” Marie asked, looking Stevens dead in the eyes.

Stevens looked away from Marie and at Tyler, “This was not the plan. You were supposed to bring her back, not become her side kick!” he yelled at Tyler.

Marie instantly looked back at Tyler, “You know him!” Marie turned back to Stevens. “Talk!” she yelled at him, holding her knife to Stevens’ throat.

Stevens laughed, “Your boyfriend over there is with us!”

Marie felt rage come over her. She looked down at the cut in Stevens’ shirt and ripped it open the rest of the way. Marie saw it. There it was, the tattoo, the mark of Soldat Industries. Marie plunged her knife into Stevens’ throat. He died within moments.

She turned to Tyler.

“No, no, I am not. That’s not what he meant.” Tyler protested, finally able to speak, but his voice was shaking.

Marie was filled with rage. She stood up and turned, pulling the pistol from her thigh and pointing it at Tyler. “You are with them. This has all been to get me back to them!”

“No, no .Please listen. That’s not how it is. I didn’t know he was one of them. Please believe me.” Tyler begged.

“LIAR!” she screamed, cocking the gun.

Tyler couldn’t take it anymore “How can you point that at me, after everything we have been through? How can you believe I would ever do anything to hurt you?! I have always loved you and would do anything for you and have!”

“You have known me two weeks, you lying piece of shit!” Marie yelled back.

“No, I have always known you. How don’t you recognize me? How don’t you remember me?” He couldn’t hold back anymore he couldn’t play the game anymore. “Look at me and tell me you don’t remember?!” he cried.

Marie was trying to hold her composure but could feel the tears running from her eyes.

“No, this is a trick.”

“John Tyler, what kind of stupid name is that? It’s not my name and you know it!”

Marie could see it now. She could feel it now and she always had. She felt connected to Tyler from day one but couldn’t tell why but now she knew. Marie was weeping as she put her free hand to her mouth, “Tommy?”

Tyler nodded. “They tried to change my name, they tried to wipe my memory, but they failed. I remember everything, I have pretended to be someone I wasn’t my whole life. I have lived a lie but I always believed I would find you again. Please don’t do this,” Tyler begged.

“They killed Tommy, but you are standing here saying not only they didn’t kill you but they got you to join them.” she yelled.

“No, they didn’t kill me. I don’t know why but they didn’t. They dumped me in the foster care system. I don’t know why and I can’t understand it myself. The only thing I know is that I have been trying to get back to you ever since. I’m not with them, I would never join them!” Tyler cried.

“You have lied to me since day one.” Marie said her eyes turning dark. “You are a puppet just like Ivan, you should have stayed dead.” She said, firing the gun.

The bullet hit Tyler in the right shoulder. He fell backwards to the ground. Marie picked up her backpack and threw it in her back. She continued to point the gun at Tyler as tears rolled down her face.

“Come near me again and I won’t miss” Marie said, moving past Tyler and up the stairs.

Tyler could hear the engine of the motorcycle revving as she sped away. Tyler just sat there holding his wounded arm. The shock and fear had left and anger had come back over him. Stevens had ruined everything for him and for Gold. He had to get back to Gold and tell him what was going on. Maybe if Gold understood he would help, Tyler thought to himself. Tyler struggled to his feet and grabbed his possessions. He grabbed the sheet off the bed and wrapped it around his wound. Tyler moved from the bunker and started the long walk back to Los Angeles. He made his way to Los Angeles and was able to get a ticket on a flight back to Washington D.C. He didn’t hide his military credentials anymore, he wanted to get back and fast. He boarded his flight and took his seat in coach. He had calmed himself enough, he knew he had to be calm when he tried to explain all of this to Gold.

Chapter 32

Tyler’s flight arrived back in Washington D.C the following day. He was greeted at the airport with a car waiting to take him to Gold. Tyler knew Gold must have found out what happened and needed to be debriefed. Tyler immediately got into the car and was greeted by a man in uniform.

“I’m here to check out your wound.” The man said, reaching out towards Tyler’s shoulder.

“I took care of it, its fine. How did you even know I was injured for you to be here to check it out?” Tyler said, avoiding the man’s touch.

“You know there are cameras at the airport. We can get information we need. If you don’t want my help fine but the General is eager to get an update so you better not bleed out or something.”

They arrived at General Gold’s mansion a short while later. Tyler immediately climbed out of the car, gun now on his hip again and his satchel over his shoulder. Tyler walked quickly up the steps and walked right in to the house. He didn’t knock or wait to be greeted. He was in a hurry and eager to get to talk to Gold and tell him his side of the story. He moved directly to Gold’s study. Gold was in there in his desk chair.

“She’s gone!” Tyler said, walking into the study.

Gold looked up and sat back in his chair, “Calm down Ty, take a seat and tell me what is going on.”

“Stevens! He was one of them. He was working for Soldat. He tried to kill us!” Tyler exclaimed.

“Ok. It appears as though he didn’t succeed. Was that her or Stevens?” Gold said calmly, pointing to Tyler’s shoulder.

“It was her. He told her I was with him and that I was part of Soldat. I have to get back to her. I have to convince her of the truth!” Tyler begged.

“And what truth is that?” Gold asked calmly

Tyler was confused, “What do you mean what truth?”

“Well, you have so many. I figured you would pick which one you wanted her to hear.” Gold said, leaning towards his desk. “You think you just happened to be put under my wing, do you think it was by chance? Who do you think pulled you from the pit that night? Who do you think stopped the bullet from being put in your head, Tommy?” Gold said pointing to his head.

“You!” Tyler said in shock. “It was you that night! You were the one, the man I remember. You were the one who tried to wipe my memory who kept telling me ‘you’re name is John Tyler’.”

“And to think it didn’t work. You remembered all of it. I was worried you would, but then I figured you would be useful. But I never thought it would be to this extent. You almost had her, and you let your pitiful feelings for her take over. You have the potential to change everything if you had just stayed focused. But you never grew up.” Gold stood up. “Do you have any idea what all this has cost me in time and money, boy?”

Tyler realized it immediately, it was Gold he was the puppet master, he was the man behind Soldat behind everything. “You, it is you! You have control of the company!”

“Well, you are as smart as I always thought you were. Of course I am in control. Do you think those three idiots could have achieved the level of success that company had? It is my company!” Gold yelled slamming his fist into the desk.

“You never rescued the boy! You have kept him for yourself. You wanted to keep the boy to see if he had it too, and what if he didn’t were you going to dispose of him too?” Tyler said as rage filled him. This was the monster behind everything, he had hidden in sheep’s clothing for so long. Tyler had enough, he pulled his gun from the holster and pointed it directly at Gold.

“Oh, are you going to shoot me?” Gold said standing tall. “The boy who barely passed basic training, is going to take me down.”

“It’s been a long time since basic.” Tyler said as he pulled the trigger. The bullet hit Gold directly between the eyes. Tyler knew what was coming. Two men came running into the study. He turned and shot both of them, one after another. Tyler knew what he had to do, find the boy.

Tyler started to search the home, calling his name, “James! James! Where are you?” Once he got to the second floor he heard the little boy playing with his train. Tyler entered the room and saw little James sitting on the floor holding his train, his little bear by his side. “James, you need to come with me.” Tyler said, reaching his hand down for James to grab.

“Where are we going?” James asked, his green eyes looking up at Tyler.

“I’m going to take you to your mommy.” Tyler said calmly. James’s eyes were fixated on Tyler, he looked at Tyler’s outstretched hand. “Come on, James, we need to go soon so we can find her.” Tyler said encouragingly. James grabbed his little teddy then grabbed Tyler’s hand. He picked James up and carried him out of the house. He found the car that brought him abandoned, so he placed James in the backseat and started the car. He knew he had to get away from the house before it was found that Gold was dead and the boy was missing. He drove out into the countryside and started to clear his head. He knew if he brought James to her that she would believe him that he was on her side.

Tyler drove to the nearest town and found a small gas station. He bought a cell phone and returned to the car. James had fallen asleep in the backseat. Tyler just looked at him. James was her son. He looked so much like her, especially when he slept. Tyler took a deep breath and activated the phone. He thought about the tracker he had placed on the phone she used. He never thought he would need to use it. Tyler got into the program and pinged her code. He found her. She was in Nevada, Las Vegas to be exact. Tyler knew he had to move fast before she left. Tyler took a deep breath and remembered he couldn’t exactly travel with this little boy that he had no identification for. Tyler smiled a little and turned to James who was waking up, “Want to ride a train?” Tyler said with a smile.

Little James’s green eyes lit up, “Yes!” he exclaimed.

Tyler smiled, turning back and restarted the car, “Ok, then let’s go ride the train.”

Tyler drove to the nearest train station and bought tickets for him and James. Tyler couldn’t take his eyes off James. He was such a happy child, he had no idea what kind of life was taken from him or what his mother had done to get back at those who took him from her. She didn’t even know he was alive. They boarded the train and made the long journey across the country to Las Vegas. Tyler was eager to get there to find her and bring James back to her. He felt it was his only chance to get her back. James was so relaxed on the train ride. James loved being on the train. He spent most of the ride just bouncing on his seat looking out the window. James was so at ease around Tyler. Tyler figured it was natural to James. He must have spent his whole life in the company of different military personnel while living with Gold.

As the train pulled into the station, Tyler checked the phone again. She was still there, and he had an address. It was time to go. Tyler picked up James and climbed off the train.

“Are we going to go see her?” James questioned looking at Tyler.

“Yes, we are.” Tyler said with a smile.