G Hopf - Driver 8 - A Post-Apocalyptic Novel

“How many guards you talking about?” Tommy asked.

“I’ve counted eight before, could be less,” Dana answered.

Tommy glanced at Kyle and asked, “You ready to bring you’re A game?”

“Always,” Kyle answered. “However, if we go onto that floor guns blazing we’ll get to Barry but we’ll have an army coming down on us in no time.”

Tommy walked away, grabbed a large bag and brought it back. He unzipped it, opened it wide and said, “This will help keep it a bit more low key.”

“Rifles and pistols all with suppressors, nice,” Kyle said.

“And I’ll cause a distraction,” Dana said.

The guys all looked at her as she unbuttoned her shirt to show her cleavage. “I was blessed with these things and I’ll use them.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Cal said.

“No, it’s a good idea,” Kyle said.

“But it puts her at risk. We specifically hired Leviathan to reduce our exposure,” Cal countered.

“I’ll be fine and this helps us, I can take care of myself,” Dana said as she buttoned her shirt back up.

“Men are fucking stupid animals and will go chasing a piece of ass any chance they can get. All she needs to do is lure a few of them away, to a room where we’ll be waiting, we’ll quietly take them out. Trust me, this is a good plan. I have to admit you guys are impressing me… finally,” Kyle said with a smile.

“I’m glad Dana’s sacrifice makes you feel better about us,” Cal growled. He looked at Dana and snapped, "This wasn’t the plan we agreed upon."

“No more arguing, this is a solid plan, I like it, I think Kyle’s on board too. All agree?” Tommy said.

Everyone nodded.

“Good, then we leave in forty-five minutes,” Kyle said.

Dana walked over to Kyle and said, “You’re an asshole but thanks for supporting my plan.”

“This is your idea?” Kyle asked.

“Yeah, the entire thing,” Dana replied clearly proud of herself.

“I’m impressed and don’t worry, we won’t let any of those guys hurt you. I just hope you’ll be able to pull a few of them away without incident.”

Dana jiggled her chest and said, “I won’t have any trouble doing that.”

“Line up and face out,” Earl hollered.

Portia and the other women did what he ordered.

Starting from the left, Candace worked her way down. “No, no, yes, no, yes, no, no, no, yes, yes.” She stepped in front of Portia and paused, “Sorry, sweetheart, you didn’t pass the grade.”

Before she could step off, Portia grabbed her hand and pulled her close, “My husband might come looking for me, give him this.” She put her wedding ring in her hand. “Tell him where I went. My name is Portia, it’s etched on the inside of the ring.”

“No talking!” Earl barked from the far end of the hall.

Candace’s heart melted for her. She wrestled her hand away and whispered, “I’ll see what I can do.”

Portia gazed at her left hand and the noticeable pale skin around her ring finger. Her mind went back to the day she and Kyle had gotten married and the first time he placed that ring on her hand. By giving the ring away, it was the last physical remnant of their love.

“Do you have a problem?” Earl asked appearing out of nowhere.

She snapped up and looked at him. “No problem, I just have to pee.”

Earl chewed on the twig in between his teeth and pondered. “Down there,” he said pointing to a doorway at the far end of the bar area.

“Thank you,” Portia said and scurried off. Once there she found a stall and closed the door behind her. Her heartrate was elevated and vertigo was setting in. “Pull it together,” she told herself.

The door to the bathroom opened.

Portia didn’t think about who might in the bathroom too until a tap on the stall door startled her. “It’s occupied.”

“Sweetheart, I’m all about helping other women, especially the ones in our predicament, but I think you left out a piece of critical information,” Candace said.

“What’s that?” Portia asked surprised Candace was eager to help.

“His name?”

Feeling stupid, she answered, “Kyle, his name is Kyle Grant.”

“Got it. Now you better hurry up before your guy comes in here and drags you out by your hair.”

Portia opened the stall door and peeked out.

“Come on, let’s take you back,” Candace said offering her hand.

“Why are you being so nice?” Portia asked taking Candace’s hand and exiting the stall.

“Because I was in your shoes once before,” Candace replied.

Up until Kyle was put underneath baskets of potatoes and turnips, he thought the plan was great, but now that he was lying in an inch of rotting vegetable slime and remnants of past deliveries left to decay in the bed, he reconsidered.

“God it stinks,” Cal complained.

“You and I have something to agree on,” Kyle said.

“Hey guys, keep your mouth shut, we’re coming up on the main gate,” Dana barked through the sliding rear window of the truck’s cab.

“Yes, ma’am,” Tommy quipped as he gave a half assed salute.

Dana slowed the truck until she came to a full stop at the large metal gate that blocked the main drive towards the hotel. She manually rolled down the window on the old truck and greeted the guard, “Hi.”

The guard looked at her then into the cab. “Hey, Dana,” he flirted.

“Shift time,” she said.

“Can you do me a favor?” the guard asked.

“Sure, what do you need?”

“Peanut butter, my wife has been talking about it non-stop. Any chance you have some you could spare?”

“For you, anything, I’ll see what I can do,” Dana replied.

“Thanks. I’ll radio ahead to have the guards keep the second gate open and to expect you at the loading dock, that way you can just go on up without further stopping,” the guard said as he gave her a wink.

“Now, now, let’s not do something we’ll regret,” Dana flirted back.

“Have a good shift,” the guard said stepping away from the window.

Dana waved, rolled the window up and pulled away. When she was far enough she leaned back towards the open rear window and said, “Well boys, we’ll clear all the way through. Now remember, when we get to the loading dock, just stay put until I get the truck inside the bay.”

The guys are replied their acknowledgement.

Dana drove easily through the second gate and meandered her way to the rear of the hotel. The cover of night she hoped would be helpful when getting the men out of the back. Arriving at the loading dock, she backed the truck into a small loading bay, got out and closed the door. When the door slammed shut, she called out, “Hurry up, get out.”

Kyle tossed the two baskets off him and jumped out of the back. The others followed.

“My back is soaking wet,” Cal complained.

Unfazed, Kyle asked, “Where’s the service elevator?”

“This way, follow me,” Dana said and swiftly marched off towards a double set of doors.

The men followed with their rifles at the ready. Once at the door, they stacked up while Dana opened the door and looked down the hallway. Seeing it was clear, she said, “No one is here, come, hurry.”

With Kyle leading, they came through the door and turned right. Steps later they were standing in front of the service elevator.

Dana hit the button and looked up to see the elevator was on Level Five. “Here is comes.”

The elevator arrived with a ding. The doors opened and standing in the car was a guard. He looked at Kyle and hesitated for a second before reaching for his sidearm.