Page 9 of Liberator

The meeting with my contacts wasn’t as pleasant as usual. There was a tenseness in the air that made me nervous. I saw nothing out of the ordinary, but that didn’t mean much. The Federales were good at hiding in order to catch drug smugglers. It was my job to stay at least one step ahead of them.

The false bottom of the truck was filled with the drugs, and the boxes of vegetables and fruit I would be carrying as legit cargo were loaded. I handed over the cash and climbed into the truck as fast as I could get away with. I wanted out of there because I felt that something or someone was creeping up on me. My gut was finally telling me that Prime’s suspicions were correct.

The other Sinners weren’t far away. They were watching through binoculars and long-range rifle scopes. Those rifles had the ability to take out anyone who posed a threat to me, and all three of the men Prime had sent were excellent shots. Yet I was still feeling as if something was very wrong as I drove off.

I called Doc and asked, “Did you see anyone messing with the truck while it was being loaded or when I was handing over the money? Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I don’t think the truck is running right.”

“We weren’t able to see what was happening on the far side of the truck. We saw people around it at all times. We were more concerned with you and watching out for intruders than with the truck. If your instincts are telling you there’s an issue with it, then get out right now.”

We both heard the menacing click.

“GET OUT!” Doc screamed.

I’d already unbuckled my seat belt and opened the truck door. I took my foot off the gas and was leaping from my seat when the explosion came. I wasn’t quick enough. The blast hit me squarely in the back and threw me through the air like a rocket. The heat melted the shirt off my back, and I was painfully aware of blisters forming. I prayed I wasn’t on fire, then hit the ground hard like a ragdoll, and everything went black.

Blinding pain and heat brought me back to the land of the living. I bit my lip and ground my teeth together to keep from screaming in agony. I opened my eyes and saw flames several yards away and smoke that choked my lungs with each breath.

Hands reached out to lift me, causing me to finally let go of the scream that I’d been so careful to keep inside. I heard coughing overcoming my rescuers and felt them come very close to dropping me. I instinctively knew Doc, Rod, and Colt were doing their damnedest to get us all clear of the smoke and inferno that used to be the truck. But the pain was too much to bear at that moment. My screams weren’t stopping.

“Maybe we should just put him down and get some pain killers into him,” Rod advised.

“We can’t. The smoke will damage his lungs and ours, and if the fire reaches the grass we’re all toast,” Doc answered.

“I guarantee the Federales have seen the fire and the smoke. They’ll be headed our way. We have to get away from here immediately. I’m sorry Rage is suffering, but we have to get him to the van and as far away as possible. If we’re seen we’llnever make it back across the border. We can’t be connected to the truck. We have to keep up our fake identities or end up prisoners,” Rod added.

His words gave me the incentive to fight against my pain again. The screams became a moan, and I was able to murmur, “Don’t worry about me. Get us out of here.”

Later I was told that I’d lost consciousness again. It was probably for the best. It kept me silent as the others raced over rough ground where no road existed to find a place to stop and assess my injuries. I never knew my poor ravaged body bounced around the back of the van with each hole we hit until it was explained to me.

I woke up shivering. I was being washed off with cold water from a small stream. Extra was poured over my back to soothe the pain from the blisters. I tensed which brought new suffering. My chest hurt like hell every time I drew in a breath. I was beginning to notice the cuts and scrapes all over my body. None of it was pleasant though I didn’t feel the need to scream anymore. I assumed Doc had shot me up with something for the pain.

“It’s about time you woke up,” Doc said as I opened my eyes. “I was starting to worry that you had more of a head injury than I first suspected. That would have meant taking you to a hospital. I hate answering all the questions they ask, especially trying to explain where I got the morphine I gave you.”

I managed a crooked smile and said, “Where did you get it?”

“I come prepared, and it’s none of your damn business where I get my shit. Just be glad I had it. You’re gonna want more before I’m finished with you,” he replied.

“How bad is it, Doc?” I asked.

“You’ll live,” Flame announced as she dropped bandages on the grassy spot where they’d laid me near the stream. “Those blisters won’t even leave a scar, so count yourself lucky.”

I winced, not in pain but because I knew Flame was thinking of her own burn scars. She believed they made her ugly even though they were usually hidden beneath her clothes.

“What else?” I asked.

Chapter 7

Rage

“You’ve got a coupleof cracked ribs. I don’t think any are broken, but without an x-ray machine I can only guess. If one is broken it stayed in place. Your lung wasn’t punctured or anything like that. You have a mild concussion, and there are scrapes and tiny cuts everywhere. I’m gonna stitch up the cut on your thigh mainly to keep it closed tight when you insist on walking around or riding your bike as usual. It’s not deep but doing those things will keep popping it open. You’re bruised from head to toe as well. Considering what could have happened I’ll agree with Flame. You were damned lucky, boy,” Doc stated.

“And your pretty face is intact,” Rod announced as he joined us.

“Don’t worry chica, I’m just joking. It’s not his face that haunts my dreams,” Rod laughed as he gave Flame a hard time.

“You’re not as funny as you think, cabron,” Flame retorted and stomped off.

“Rod, get a grip and help me wrap Rage’s ribs up tight. Leave the woman alone for a while. You know that fire is her kryptonite, and that explosion was as scary as hell,” Doc said.

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