Chapter 26
"What the hell would I want Jule's body wash for?" John was a bit confused as to why Taker was asking him about women's shower crap, rolling his eyes since the man couldn't see him doing it over the phone. "Sorry to disappoint you man, but I use Axe, it's manlier."
"You're really thick in the head Cena. Jule's body wash is missing, and so is a picture off the wall."
"Maybe the picture was never put up? And I lose my body wash all the time!"
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Taker contemplated going over their just to wring John's fat neck. "It was that Beauty and the Beast picture, with Keira in it, you honestly think we'd forget to hang that one up?"
That was Keira's favorite picture; it had to be up at all times so she could see it. "No."
While Taker was giving John a lesson in attention to detail, Juliana was busy gaping at the huge flat screen television, watching the rather graphic game. She had to cover her mouth a few times, blinking, wondering how the hell her sweet baby girl got hooked on such a...violent game.
"Now watch this!" Keira was fully into it and proceeded to blow a monster's head off, the blood splattering on the screen for added effect.
"How about you show me a different game?"
"Mom! No! Bioshock is awesome! Besides, I'm the good guy! I have to get past all these Splicers and make it to Atlas. His family is trapped and he can't save them on his own! Watch!" She pointed to the screen as her character plunged a large needle with a syringe of bright red stuff right into his arm. "I'm splicing myself; it'll give me wicked powers!"
After giving John some instructions, Taker hung up and checked the security log. Somehow he wasn't surprised to find that the house had indeed been accessed yesterday, while they had been in town. Someone who had the code all along. Cursing under his breath, he headed to check on Juliana and Keira, knowing he couldn't just go out and survey the property without telling her what was going on; she'd panic.
"What the hell do you mean you're splicing yourself?" Juliana tilted her head, having watched the character her daughter was playing sink a needle right into his arm full of red liquid. "This game isn't for you..."
Keira snorted, rolling her eyes. "Where have you been, on planet doubt?" She laughed when her mother folded her arms in front of her chest. "I've been playing this ever since the first one came out! This is the second one. Now watch how I do this. This is how I roll."
Juliana slapped her face, her daughter was talking street now?
Taker had walked in just in time to hear that last bit and knew damn well that was John's influence coming out in his precious daughter, who was not so precious when she talking like she was cruising the ghetto. "This is the game Uncle John got you for your birthday?" He asked, folding his arms over his chest.
"Yep, my first choice was Grand Theft Auto, but…he said mom would probably kill him if he got it for me."
"Yeah...Jules, could I talk to you?"
"Sure." Juliana was thankful Taker was pulling her away from the gruesome game, shaking her head when Keira began sit dancing, reminding her even more of John. "Lord..." She groaned, following Taker out of the play room, walking a ways down before stopping in the hallway. "What's going on?" She immediately asked, seeing the worry in his eyes and swallowed hard when he simply closed his eyes. "Someone was in here yesterday weren't they?" It wasn't a question and all Taker could do was nod, causing Juliana to let out a shaky breath. "And I'm venturing a guess that it wasn't John or Evie was it?"
"No, not if they were with Keira all day like she said. I even checked with John and he said they were all sitting in front of the damn gaming system." He grunted, wishing that John might have been lying, knowing the man hadn't. John might've been a fool on occasion, but when it came to the safety of their family, he was business, sort of. "Someone who had the access codes. I've changed them, but...I'm goin' to have to go out and check out the property, see if I can find anythin'. You going to be alright here with Keira or do you want to go wait for me at John's?"
"I'll go with you." Juliana didn't want to leave Taker's side, especially since someone they didn't know was in their house and they were supposed to be in hiding from whatever danger had found them in Texas. "We'll send Keira with John and Evie; she'll be safe with them. But I'm going with you."
Her tone was final; there was no debate over this and Juliana hoped Taker didn't fight her on the decision. She was going with him. He last time he'd gone out to do something by himself...Juliana didn't want to think about it and swallowed hard, heading back to tell Keira she was going over to Uncle Johnny's for awhile. Taker didn't honestly mind her coming with him; he just wasn't sure if she would have wanted Keira to be out of her sight given what they had just found out.
He couldn't take Keira out with him, the property was rather large and by the time they got back, it might be pretty late in the afternoon. Then he remembered the four wheelers...But Keira still wasn't going, just in case their unknown lurker was still about. He highly doubted it though. While Juliana got Keira ready to go, he called John back to let him know he was going to have Keira.
"And here I thought you were calling because you missed me already."
"John, stop teasing him already." Evie scolded, grabbing the phone from Taker with a smile, winking when John glared at her. "Get over it. Hey Rent-A-Cop! Oops sorry, I meant to say Taker!" She giggled when John gaped at her, knowing Juliana probably would be paying the price for that little crack. "What's up?"
"Why do I have to go to Uncle Johnny's again?"Keira wasn't going easily this time, seeing how worried both of her parents were. She was very observant for a seven year old. "What's going on, Mom?"
"Nothing angel, daddy and I just want to check the grounds to make sure everything is fine, which it is."
She hoped anyway.
Taker made a mental note to punish Juliana later for spilling that Rent-A-Cop bit to Evetta, knowing they had probably talked about a lot of things last night during their drinking fest, groaning at the thought. "We need John to watch Keira for a few hours." He said flatly, not in the mood to really say it all over again since he had just explained to John what was going on.
"And I can't go for that? I want to go outside! Are you riding the four-wheelers? I would love to ride with you, please Mommy?" Keira clasped her hands together in front of her and batted her long eyelashes. "Pretty please?"
Feeling her heart lurch painfully in her chest, Juliana hated the pleading look in her daughter's eyes and wanted to tell her she could go with them, but knew Taker wouldn't allow it. She didn't know what to do, not wanting Taker going alone on the property, but her daughter also didn't want to keep being pushed on her Uncle Johnny. "We'll stay here then together and do whatever you want." Juliana finally said, feeling sick to her stomach, but knew her hands were tied. Taker would be alright; Juliana had to have a little faith in him and ran a hand through her hair.
When Taker got off the phone, after explaining a few more details to John, he returned to the girls, arching an eyebrow at the sight of Keira putting in a two-player, family friendly game. "I thought we were takin' her to John's and Evetta's?" He stated, looking confused considering only moments ago Juliana was hell bent on going with him to check the property.
"Just because you don't mind abandonin' me..." Keira grumbled hurtfully.
His nine year old daughter thought he was abandoning her? Shaking his head, Taker walked over to hug her, only to get an elbow in his stomach, grunting.
"Go on, go outside and leave me here."
Juliana swallowed hard and stood up from the couch, knowing Keira was angry with her father right now. She had every reason to be. She was being cooped up in this house and couldn't go anywhere with them, always being left alone with John and Evetta. Hell, Juliana felt even culpable and watched as Taker tried talking to Keira, who blatantly ignored him.
"Sweetheart, don't ignore your Dad. He's only trying to protect us..."
"Protect us from what?" Keira demanded, staring up at her dad with angry eyes. "I thought you said the bad people wouldn't find us here?"
"Darlin', I didn't think they would, and even now I'm not sure who's out there, but I gotta go check. I don't want anything happening to you or Mom. Or Uncle John and Aunt Evie." He added as an afterthought.
"Taker, I..." Juliana frowned when her cell phone began ringing, knowing instantly it was John and walked over to answer it, while Taker continued trying to console their daughter. "John, this isn't a good time..."
"You'd better make it a good time, Juliana Harrison."
Juliana's eyes widened when she heard that voice, swallowing hard, feeling as though her heart might explode. He was the one who had broken into the house, she was sure of it and he had John... "John..."
"Come get him if you want him."
A scream echoed in the background, followed by a grunt of pain as the line went dead. The evil chuckle from the attacker was the last thing Juliana heard as her cell phone slipped from her fingers, dropping to the carpeted flooring, every part of her body trembling violently. Not thinking about anything except John's safety, Juliana bolted out of the room and downstairs, tears streaming down her face.
Taker snatched up Keira, ignoring her screaming demands to know what was going on and chased after Juliana. He caught her before she had even made the kitchen door, whirling her around. He could tell something had happened but he'd be damned if she ran over there without him or protection.
"Just wait." He growled when she tried pulling free. "Bottom cupboard where you keep the canned goods, there's a taser gun and a shotgun. Grab them, THEN we'll go." They were not just walking into danger unarmed; over Taker's dead body would that happen.
Juliana was breathing hard and knew Taker was right, covering her mouth with her hand. "John..." She couldn't say anymore and immediately rushed over to the canned goods cabinet, tossing everything out and pulled the taser and shotgun out, immediately loading it with bullets. She was going to kill whoever hurt her brother, knowing John was in trouble and so was Evetta. "He's there...he's there with them right now, Taker! We have to go NOW! John's in trouble!" Her hangover was gone, Juliana was ready to blow someone's head off, tired of running and hiding from everyone.
Still ignoring Keira, Taker grabbed the shotgun from Juliana, arching an eyebrow when she made a grab for it. "Woman, just go." He ordered, following her out the door. Given his size, it would have seemed highly unlikely for him to be able to run as quickly as he did.
"I want to know what's going on!" Keira shouted, keeping her eyes closed as they ran, getting dizzy from seeing the ground moving so quickly beneath her, from a long way up.
So many thoughts ran through Juliana's mind, her heart rate speeding up with each second that passed as she sprinted to John and Evie's, having a small pistol in her hand. She pulled it out of her sock, having a sinking feeling something was going to happen that morning, and strapped her ankle holder on. It was very small, but it had a mean bite and would do enough damage. Juliana stopped short, hearing Taker behind her with a panicking Keira and kicked the door open after shooting the doorknob, her heart stopping at the sight before them.
"JOHN!" She screamed, dropping the gun and rushed over to his bloody battered form. "John please, please wake up!" Juliana pleaded; John's body covered in lacerations and lay in a pool of his own blood. She put his head in her lap, covered in his blood.
"You stay right here!" Taker ordered sharply, setting Keira down right next to Juliana. Knowing Jules wasn't really in any fit state to mind her, he bent down and unsheathed his hunting knife, extending it handle first to his daughter. "This ain't a toy."
"I know." Keira stared at it, but handled it correctly just like he had shown her. "I won't move."
Sparing one quick glance at John, Taker began searching the house, starting with the bottom, one ear cocked for any sounds from where his family was.
"John..." Juliana sobbed, burying her face in his chest, having lost so much in her life.
Her father, which wasn't a huge loss and then thinking her mother had been dead, only for Juliana to find out she'd been alive all along. Then she found out she had a brother, a real flesh and blood brother, who also wanted her dead to gain revenge for their psychotic mother's death. She'd nearly lost Taker, Keira and now she lost John, the only piece of her life that kept her from going insane. Slowly lifting her head, Juliana began to feel rage she never knew existed and looked into John's pale bloody face, running her finger down his cheek.
"I'll make things right, bro. I'll end this, I swear it." She slowly stood up, watching as Keira looked up at her with tear-filled eyes.
"Mommy, is Uncle John…" Keira looked back down at her uncle, feeling hot tears beginning to run down her now pale cheeks. "He's not dead, right? He isn't!" She bent down and began shaking her uncle's shoulders, clenching her tiny hands into fists, beginning to beat on his chest when she couldn't wake him. "Wake up, Johnny!" She ordered, her voice coming out shrill, broken only by a heart-wrenching sob. "WAKE UP!"
Juliana couldn't say anything and simply closed her eyes, not believing she'd been too late, the amount of damage done meant John had been pulverized quickly. It'd been a quick, painless death for him and Juliana felt more tears sliding down her cheeks silently, not even making a sound. When John's cell phone began ringing, she grabbed it before Keira could react, flipping it open.
"Whoever you are, I don't care what it takes, I WILL kill you for taking my brother's life." She vowed darkly, her voice deceptively calm, not even shaky anymore. "I'm not afraid of you, so if you want me mother fucker, come and get me!"
"Juliana..." Evetta sobbed, crying out when her hair was yanked. "Please...help me..."
In the background, decidedly demonic laughter rang, accenting another scream from Evetta.