Chapter 7
They watched as the woman waddled her way to the boys. Her blonde hair draped over her shoulder, small strands bounced in the breeze. And her round belly swayed back and forth as she walked. "Boys! Watch out for little one's and be nice."
The two boys ran over, rubbed her belly, Wrapped their arms around her as they pressed their faces against the round protrusion shouting "I love you baby sister. You be good, we're going to play now."
Loki turned to Hound. "Let me go!" He said through gritted teeth.
"I can't do that. Just keep watching."
"Motherfucker, who are you working for?"
"You, and only you. Keep watching."
Loki, again began watching the woman. She stayed on her feet. Never too far from the two boys. Always aware of her surroundings. She was a pro. It was subtle, but he picked up on it after a few minutes. It was almost as if she knew she was being watched. Out of nowhere, a ball flew past her, hitting one of the boys. Calmly, she walked over, checked him out, and helped him to his feet. Taking the ball, she returned to her spot. Casually dropping the ball, she placed her foot on it. There were a group of guys standing a few yards away. They had been playing with the same ball earlier and now laughing. The woman turned slightly towards the group.
"Hey, fat ass, pass the ball." One shouted.
Suddenly, the ball was flying through the air and hit the guy square in the face. His head snapped back and he hit the ground. Jumping to hit feet he wiped his nose.
"Bitch! You broke my nose!" As he began to stalk towards her.
She opened her baggy sweater wide as she faced him. Then nonchalantly wrapped it around her protruding belly.
The man stopped abruptly. Then walked away.
"That's right, asshole! Keep walking!" She shouted then continued watching after her boys. Her cell phone began ringing, pulling it out and flipping it open. "Hello? Oh, hey. Yeah, we're at the park. Okay, well, I'll see you in a few minutes. Love ya." Pocketing the phone she continued keeping a perimeter around the play area.
The minutes ticked by as Loki watched her every move. How she walked, talked, moved, everything she did was casual to the untrained eye. But this was strategic. She knew she was being watched. Then it clicked. There were others, Others watching her. Some stayed back, a few edged their way closer. He counted five, maybe six men.
"She's being watched by six men" He told Hound.
"Seven. The guy with the broken nose, yeah he was one of them. He didn't leave"
"Who are they? It's not Cain's men, he's not that subtle."
"You're right. I don't know who they are but she seems to, and she doesn't give two shits about them. I've been watching her for about six months and they just started showing around three months ago. I thought at first that the king might have found her. Do you think it could be the people that put out the contract?"
Loki took a deep breath. "I don't want to rule anything out. But the contract was shoot to kill. This looks like some sort of fucked up surveillance. It's like they want her to know she's being watched."
The two young boys began shouting with excitement. " Henry's here! Henry's here!" They ran to the man walking towards their mother, jumping and swinging their arms. Their mother giggled as she waddled to him. Stretching up on her tiptoes, she kissed him.
Loki grunted his disapproval.
"I wanted to take the boys to pick out your birthday present. Are you going home right now?" Henry asked her.
"After my lap around the park, I will."
Henry gave her a disapproving look. "I don't want you out here by yourself."
She smiled. "I won't be long and I have my phone with me. Besides, Nikki is meeting me here in a few minutes. She's on her way."
"Be safe and don't overdo it, please." He pleaded as he kissed her. "Come on boys, let's go get a surprise for Mom."
"Can we get cake too? Please!" One of the boys begged.
"Yes, Nicholas, we'll get a cake too." Henry promised.
Loki's head whipped sideways to Hound. "What'd he call that boy?"
"He said Nicholas."
"Why would she name him Nicholas? Why do they call their dad Henry? How old are those boys? How far apart were they born?"
Hound sat quietly with a straight face. He just stared into his eyes, waiting for the realization to sink in. When it did, Loki's eyes widened.
"How old are those boys?"
"They are almost eight years old. They are fraternal twins. And Henry isn't their dad." Hound told him.
Loki pulled the cap further down over his eyes. He leaned forward, his elbows dug into his knees. He ran his hand across his mouth. "Nobody can know she's alive. Hound, she's not safe. This is bad. If you can find her on the small amount of information I gave you someone else could too. We need to move her."
"Slow down, boss. Like I said, I don't know who those assholes are, but as far as I can tell. You and I are the only ones from that world who knows she's alive." Hound reasoned.
Loki looked back at the woman that he had believed to be dead for the past eight and a half years. "Ann, what did you do?" He whispered.
She began to walk the path into to the trail past the trees. It was then, Loki and Hound realized she had lied to Henry about meeting a friend. As she continued, they saw the others making their way toward her.
"Fuck!" Said Hound.
Both men casually got up from the bench and began walking. Making their way through the trail. Just before entering a clearing, they saw Ann in the center surrounded by six men. Each of them much larger than her. She was confident in her stance, a smile on her face.
"Gentleman, it seems we have a predicament." She said with a chuckle. "So, what was it? Dead or alive? Or was it by any means necessary?"
"Dead or alive, but I'm good with dead." One of them spoke.
"Damn you really must have pissed him off. How'd you guys fuck up so bad that he sent you all after little old me?" She taunted.
The men all looked at one another in confusion. Then they each took a step towards her. Loki and Hound gave each other the same confused look.
"I can give you one last chance to go. Get your go bags and get the hell out of dodge. Chances are you're too late." Ann said shrugging her shoulders.
The group began laughing. "You're outnumbered lady. What do you think you can do in your condition? We're trained killers."
"I take it he didn't inform of the secondary team." Her brow raised and a smile crossing her face.
"She's stalling. Lets take her."
"Careful, your buddy in the tree is about to get shot. You should take your chances and run." She told them.
Hound looked over to Loki and tossed him a spare gun. Loki check the gun, turned his back against the tree and scanned the trees. Seeing nothing, he turned toward Ann's position.
It happened fast. One of the men rushed towards her. Loki tried to fathom what was happening, to understand what exactly he was seeing. It terrified him and maybe aroused him at the same time. It was all wrong. It was utter chaos. It was all over just as fast as it had started.
Ann just stood there, her breathing steady. Looking up to the trees. "I didn't leave one evil for another. Make it clear to him I won't come back without a fight. I made him a promise, I intend to keep it." She said to the air as she tossed a single bullet down on the chest of one of the men who was now lying limp and lifeless. They were all lifeless.
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