Page 34 of Bond

ROCHELLE

We’d settled ourselves on the roof, and I’d followed Noni’s instructions of putting guns and ammunition in strategic places along the roof. We’d be mostly protected by the wall that ran along the outside of the roof. I’d not realised that the roof was flat until I’d been told we’d be on it. It wasn’t something I’d thought about until I’d actually been up here. It made sense, though.

‘Worked out perfectly for us,’I thought as I stood taking in the views all around us as far as the eye could see. To the rear of the hotel, the river gleamed slightly in the moonlight, and you could hear the rushing of it as it streamed over rocks and boulders. The crickets, bullfrogs, and wildlife were loud, with everything else being so quiet. To the left and the right of the hotel was thick bush, although I did know that there were hidden roads in that bush that would take you towards the airstrip. But they’d been purposely cut in a way that it didn’t take away from the beauty of the bush.

The easiest access to the town and the hotel was from the road. In the distance, I could make out the main highway only because of the vehicles travelling along it, their lights piercing the darkness. I hadn’t realised until this moment how far away we were from everything. It made you feel small and alone in a big world. I was brought out of my musings when the men startedtalking on the comms. What they were discussing was obviously meant to be private, but when Jill’s name was mentioned, we all took notice.

Walking towards where she’d set up her sniper rifle, I saw the minute she heard Blaze say she was the one for him, but he didn’t think she was interested.

She closed her eyes and dropped her forehead to the floor. Noni ran her hand across Jill’s shoulders, but none of us said anything until we had to, and it was only then that the men realised we’d heard everything. Making sure our comms were off before asking Jill, “Do you want to talk about it?”

Jill shook her head, “No, I don’t.”

“Okay,” I say, settling down next to her, knowing that sometimes all you needed was someone just to be there. My eyes met Noni’s over Jill’s head, and she sat down next to Jill but didn’t say anything.

With a sigh, Jill rolls over onto her back, then pushes herself into a sitting position with her back against the low wall.

“My life’s too complicated, and there’re things I can’t say because they affect more than just me.”

She was quiet for a long time, and I thought she was done talking until she says softly, “He’s wrong, though; I do feel something. He’s my ma…” She stops talking, wiping a tear from her face and sighs gently before continuing, “He’s mine.”

“Then what’s holding you back?” Noni wants to know.

“A lot of different things. I can’t go into it right now, but just know if things were different, then I’d be jumping that man and riding him until he was worn out.”

Noni and I laugh because we’d both been there. “I totally get that,” I nudge Jill’s shoulder with mine. “And I also get wanting a man that you can’t have for whatever reason.”

“We all understand that,” Noni responds with a sad smile. “But I’ll also tell you that life is short, and it’s infinitely better when you have a man that loves you and puts you first by your side. Whatever it is, I hope you don’t let it keep you from that. You deserve happiness just as much as everyone else, Jill.”

Noni pats Jill’s leg, “Think about it.”

Jill smiles and rests her head against Noni’s shoulder, “I will, I promise.”

We sat quietly for an hour or so, lost in our thoughts, when suddenly Jill lifted her head from Noni’s shoulder and moved to her knees, tilting her head to the side as if listening to something. She tapped her earpiece, “They’re coming. Sounds like three engines. Rochelle was right.”

It was Bull who answers, “Thanks, Jill. Skinny will be picking them up on the cameras soon. You ladies stay safe.”

“Let’s get into place,” Noni says, picking up her binoculars and going to her spot, her rifle already set up. Mine was a bit farther down on the other side of Jill. Both of us would be spotters and would take down what Jill was unable to. We weren’t as good a shot as Jill, but we’d still be able to do some damage.

As I lay in my position, my heart pounding so hard in my chest, I was surprised Noni and Jill couldn’t hear it. All I could hope was that we’d all come out of this alive. Sending up a quick prayer asking my mum to look out for us, I settled down to wait.

CHAPTER 17

BOND

Jill’s warning came through, and I moved to stand in a better position to throw the spike strips to puncture the tyres; Cairo was standing opposite me in much the same position.

Soon we could hear the sound of the vehicles coming. The shouting and banging on the car roof made me roll my eyes. These are fucking idiots; if you’re going to attack someone, they should know you come in stealthy and quiet. Cairo was shaking his head, obviously thinking the same thing.

“These guys aren’t the brightest, are they?” Skinny mutters over comms.

“No, they aren’t,” Bull agrees. “Remember the puncture strips after the first vehicle; make sure you get the second and third vehicles. Blaze, get ready with that rocket; as soon as the second car stops, I want you to take out the first vehicle. Jill, Noni, and Roch, you take out as many as you can, and we’ll clean up the rest. I’m not worried about casualties. The whole lot are to be taken out; nobody’s leaving alive. We’re making a statement that nobody fucks with us.”

“Gotcha, Pres,” Blaze acknowledges.

The first vehicle drove into town, and the occupants went silent as they were greeted by a dead silent town, no lights on and the hotel in darkness.

In the quiet of the night, we heard one of the gang members say to the other, “I thought they were meant to be here tonight? What the fuck? This is a ghost town. Call Jason.”

---