“They love it here,” David said with a smile. “They’re far from abusive families, boyfriends, husbands. The government telling them what to do. They have no responsibilities. They’re free. And they take great pleasure in the lifestyle I have made for them here.” His eyes wandered as he said this, taking in the form of a young woman bending to trim a plant, her breasts bulging out of her bra.
Steve felt dry in the back of his throat. “This is wrong,” he said. “You’re a psycho motherfucker. You have women in cages.”
David frowned. “From what I hear, those women couldn’t keep their hands to themselves in jail. That is John’s project that he will take care of when he sees fit. But, son, don’t be like that. We can be happy here together, you and me. A family. Don’t you want that? We can make good things here. Even get John in line too.”
Steve shook his head. “You’re too late, Dad,” he said. “Twenty-five years too late.”
Alvin rolled a joint, leaning against the wall of his cabin, facing the small bomb. Fuck John. He could get his feel-good on before blowing up that self-righteous prick who thought he was a great leader.
David didn’t deserve special treatment. Didn’t deserve to be a leader of the colony. He shouldn’t be the one making all the damn rules. At least, that’s what John and Tara always harped on about. Alvin was just tired of David taking all the exotic beauties and using them up before anyone else could have a go at them.
He smiled as he smoked, a rush sweeping through his head. After this, Alvin could take all the exotic ones he wanted.
After feeling doped up enough to shoot through the sky, he picked up the bomb and put it carefully into a duffle bag. He hoisted it on one shoulder, then peeked outside his cabin, taking in the gorgeous scenery of women dancing along the paths and bathing in the lake.
He walked over to David’s large luxury cabin, listening for any sound. He knocked on the door. There was no answer.
He was probably teaching his wimpy kid how to properly please a woman, Alvin thought with a small giggle. He could go for a nice, slow lovemaking dance right now. He checked the door. It was unlocked.
Opening the door slowly, he peeked inside, straining his ears for the sound of anyone in the cabin’s entryway. Nothing.
He stepped quietly inside the cabin, getting his bearings. From the looks of it, no one was home.
Alvin let out a sigh, then jumped nearly a foot in the air when his police radio bleeped. “Deputy Johnson, you there?”
Alvin’s throat went dry. Sergeant Tim shouldn’t be able to reach him all the way out here in the boonies. Not unless . . .
Shit. Alvin cleared his throat and replied, “Here, sir.”
“Thank God. I’ve been trying to reach you.” Alvin waited, expectant.
“The feds are on the hunt. I’ve managed to lead them astray, but they’re close. Too close. Whatever you do, don’t set off that fucking bomb,” Tim told him halfway out of breath.
A sweat broke off on Alvin’s forehead. “Yes, sir, I will let John know,” he said into the radio. He set down the duffle bag and removed the bomb, staring in panic at the blinking red light. It was a manual bomb, one that would go off when Alvin pressed the button on a remote a safe distance away.
But what if something else triggered it? He couldn’t have a live bomb sitting around waiting for someone to pull the trigger!
He knelt on the ground, fumbling with the wires. The high from the blunt settling in. “Dammit, Alvin,”
he muttered to himself. “Is it the red or blue wire? Red means no, blue means . . . go? No, that’s not it.” He wiped off the sweat that had gathered on his nose. He wasn’t thinking straight. The drugs muddled his brain, making him overconfident that whichever wire he cut, it would be the right one.
I can diffuse this bomb, he thought to himself.
Retrieving a pocketknife from his trousers, Alvin selected the blue wire.
He cut it.
18
The Plan
Steve threw himself onto the ground as an earth-shattering explosion echoed along the hidden valley.
David dove down next to him, slinging an arm around Steve’s head protectively. The women in the garden screamed and leaped into the flower beds, shuddering and moaning in fright.
Steve looked up, shaken. “What . . . what happened?” he asked.
David frowned, looking towards a plume of smoke not far from the garden. “My cabin. Someone blew it up.”
Steve scrambled to his feet. “Why?” he demanded, his voice shaking.
David slowly hauled himself to his feet, his eyes glittering with malice. “The other men. They want to kill me. After all I’ve accomplished, all I’ve done for them. I’ll become a martyr yet.”
Steve rolled his eyes. His father really was a pompous asshole. “I have to find Jane,” he said. “Make sure she’s all right.”
Steve turned to leave, but David grabbed his arm, yanking him back. “Are you out of your mind, boy?” he demanded. He jabbed a finger in the direction of the explosion. “Someone just tried to kill me! You’re in as much danger as I am.” He pulled Steve away in the opposite direction, towards the trees. “You have to come with me. I have a safe house no one knows about. It’s the only place we’ll be safe.”
Steve yanked his arm out of his father’s grip. “I’m not hiding away with you,” he spat. “You’re the reason I’m in this mess, and you pulled Jane into it, as well. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
David frowned. “You don’t know what you’re doing, Steve,” he said. “Don’t sacrifice yourself for one woman. Look.” He gestured to the women who had gotten to their
