Unlikely Hero Read online

  Unlikely Hero

  By C.E. O’Brien

  Copyright © 2014 by C.E. Hansen

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the US Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written consent of the Author.

  ISBN-13: (Unlikely Hero)

  Cover Image File licensed by www.c-e-hansen.me

  Cover Art By Fiona Jayde

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by C.E. Hansen.

  Acknowledgments

  I’m so grateful to my best friend Lauren for your support, encouragement, and most important, your love. You kept me sane when I was teetering on the edge.

  Thank you to my husband, Tom, and my daughter, Kate, for putting up with my endless interruptions.

  A special thank you to Fiona Jayde, for her talent and wonderful eye in creating the stunning cover, and Lindsay Errington, of LTE Editing, who pointed me in the right direction…several times.

  You have all been wonderful and I totally appreciate each one of you.

  And last, but never least, a great big thank you to the readers, without you I would have no inspiration to write, which was a dream of mine since I was…well, lets just say it was a long time ago.

  This is for my daughter Kaitlin, I love you with all I am.

  You will always be the light in my life…always.

  A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.

  Oscar Wilde

  Troy

  Chapter 1

  Up until that night, the night that defined my existence, defined my life, everything was average. No, let’s not say average, that implies my life was okay, mediocre, not great, not bad. However, my life was nothing. I was going nowhere. I was standing still. Stagnant.

  I had to find out who I was at a younger age than most people do. I had to morph myself into someone I thought was what everyone expected of me. I didn’t have it easy by any means – but who does? Believe me, I am not bitching, or complaining, just trying to get by and stay out of the spotlight. I was never the kind that looked for or wanted attention. I simply tried to please those who loved me. I know they only wished the best for me. But who was I? I never really knew myself. I was an enigma - a curiosity, especially to me.

  My parents died within one year of each other. My mother, from some type of cancer. My aunt never spoke of it to me so I’m not sure which type of cancer killed her. And my father followed her shortly thereafter, ‘brokenhearted’ my aunt always said. I really don’t remember much of what went on then. It wasn’t something that defined me. I didn’t really remember either of them, let alone miss them. I was just four years old and my world consisted solely of matchbox cars and my trucks.

  I do, however, remember missing a smell, a scent – a sweet smell of spring flowers, freshly mowed grass and the sweet soapy smell, outdoors, pretty and clean—a woman’s scent. It was a very faint scent that haunted a small part of my memory, way back in the recesses of my mind. A smell, that was my sole memory; it was unique and I’ve not smelled it since.

  I was not distressed by fact that my parents were no longer with me. I went to live at Aunt Noreen’s house in Tampa, Florida, where she and Uncle Joseph spoiled me rotten, which was fine for me. They had no children of their own and Aunt Noreen was my mom’s only sister – only sibling for that matter. My Uncle Joseph was an orphan and had no brothers or sisters. My father had a sister who was a school teacher in Indiana. Aunt Mary, she never married. I think I’ve met her once. I had no other family, no siblings, no cousins, no one. I do remember, every now and then, the feeling that I missed something. Now that I think back, I think it was that smell but I can’t be sure. My only regret was not knowing what it was or where it came from.

  I grew up with loving relatives, who tried to make life for me as easy as they could. I wanted for nothing, but I always had a feeling like I really didn’t belong. I learned most of my life lessons from life itself. Let me tell you—life is a hard taskmaster. It doesn’t always expect perfection, but it does expect effort. Effort wasn’t my thing.

  However, I learned some poignant things from my life lessons. Be nice to people and they will be nice to you, well, at least for the most part. I learned that loyalty was the glue of friendship. I learned feelings were not something that just belonged to the rich, or the poor; feelings belonged to us all. It is what you do with the lessons you learn or how to act or react to those feelings that make you who you are. I also learned that everything had a beginning and an end.

  At seventeen, I managed to graduate high school with the rest of my class. I wasn’t what you would call a good student. It’s not that I wasn’t smart enough. It was more like I didn’t care. Aunt Noreen seemed happy enough with the B’s and C’s I brought home and Uncle Joseph was happy I managed to stay out of trouble and had a job. I worked at McGreely’s Hardware Store since I was fourteen.

  I once read something that always stuck with me.

  ‘Hope is a waking dream.’

  I like the way this Aristotle guy thinks. Anyway, back to that night. The defining hours of my life, the hours that would turn me into the person I was to become.

  It was a miserable night, misty, raining, dreary, dark and foggy. The coolness and dampness penetrated my leather jacket and I felt a slight shiver make its’ way through to the core of my body. To this day, I’m not sure if it was from the dampness or fear.

  “Why are we here again?”

  “Why, scared?”

  “There are a few other things I’d rather be doing.” I said, sarcastically.

  “And you think I want to be here?” Damian said exasperated. “Well, you are here to have my back. Think you can handle that?” Damian was irritated and tense.

  “Hey, chill out. I’ve got your back.”

  “I’m just…Sorry, man; I’m just really tense, need to get this done with.”

  “Yeah. Me too.”

  We both looked up at the overcast night sky. Then, as if in sync, we both turned our heads in the direction of the loud rumbling sound of a car without a muffler. The headlights, visible in the distance, bounced up and down as the tires dipped into the many potholes that littered the street. This was the crappy side of town, where the roads didn’t get fixed. We both watched the approaching vehicle.

  This is it.

  “Looks like we’re up.” Damian mumbled.

  The tension was thick in the air. It had just rained, and the air was heavy with residual humidity. The haloed streetlights reflected brightly in the puddles surrounding us.

  I unknowingly clenched my fists. Mentally preparing for what was sure to be a nasty fight. Damian, who had been leaning back on the brick wall of the garage, his foot flat against it, stood up and took the cigarette from his mouth, flicking it onto the wet ground where the burning end fizzed out immediately.

  “Just watch that Jamie guy. Ok?” He reemphasized his point.

  “Yeah sur
e.” I reassured him.

  “That son of a bitch is a dirty fighter. I don’t trust any of these guys to keep it a fair fight, but that bastard will definitely try to jump me if Anton can’t hold his own.” Damian said.

  “Hey man, you sure she’s worth this?” I said, waving my arm towards the car getting closer. “I mean she is, was, his girlfriend man.”

  “Yeah, she’s worth it and that bastard Anton’s gonna know that he can’t just smack a girl around because she told him she doesn’t want to be with him anymore.” Damian explained. “He treated her like crap and he’s the one who is crazy mad ‘cause she’d rather be with me.” Damian paused, “After tonight, he won’t be threatening her anymore, that much I’ll guarantee.”

  With that, we took a couple steps closer to the streetlight.

  “I hope you can take him out quick man.” I said with wry amusement in my voice.

  “You doubt it?” Damian asked, looking at me with a sardonic expression clearly on his face.

  “I don’t trust these jerks,” I said, feeling guilty by the thoughtlessness of that last remark. I didn’t want Damian thinking I doubted him. “These guys are garbage…” I saw the disappointment on Damian’s face, and tried to recover, “but you’re right, Anton is going to finally get that beat down he deserves.”

  I followed Damian into the light of the streetlight. The car came to a stop, three car lengths away from where we both stood. Five guys got out and gathered around the car, eyeing both of us, up and down; planning their strategy. One remained at the car, looking disappointed at being dismissed from the dance so quickly. The remaining four guys started their approach, walking slowly towards the two of us; smiling smugly at one another. Confidence evident on their faces; you could tell they were thinking this was a wrap, an easy win.

  I had to admit I was scared as I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I knew if Damian were in a one-on-one fight, he would win for sure. Damian was the toughest guy I ever knew, and he had his share of fights to have learned how not to lose them. But I knew with the odds as they were, this time when Damian fought, there was the possibility he could lose and that fear caused the bile in the back of my throat to rise.

  Damian was going to put up one hell of a fight, I could tell he was confident with me watching out for him, and I wouldn’t let him down. He always had my back and I damn well was going to be here to cover his. It took a few seconds for the realization to hit me; I was going to stay, and Damian was really going to fight. Just then, at that very moment, the fear was replaced by anger, bravado and loyalty.

  Anton, self-assurance written all over his face, stood looking brave with three of his friends standing behind him. He thought he couldn’t lose with the odds stacked the way they were. He took off his leather jacket and threw it behind him. One of his goons caught it and placed it on top of the old rusted gas pump.

  A thought crossed my mind, if Anton was so damned tough why didn’t he fight Damian alone without his goons surrounding him. It was as if Damian read my mind.

  “You feel a reason to bring all these guys.” Damian countered.

  “Yo, dude, step back. They are here for the entertainment.” Anton said with a chuckle, looking at his guys, laughing. His thugs all joined in laughing.

  “Let’s see if you’ll be laughing later.” Damian said.

  Anton and Damian stood ten feet apart sizing each other up. Anton, a smirk on his face, and Damian’s expression filled with disgust and hatred. The two started circling around each other in a clockwise motion slowly measuring each other up. I watched from the corner of my eye, as the guy Jamie had moved to his left, just like Damian told me. Keeping my focus on Jamie, I took a few steps to his right getting a clear visual on his position, my eyes never leaving him the entire time.

  It was as if Anton and Damian were both locked in a macabre dance. However, I knew this dance would not end well. I took a step forward, as I saw Jamie advance. Jaime smiled snidely and stepped back. No words were spoken between either of us. Damian and Anton both had a score to settle and we were all here to witness a fight.

  I was momentarily distracted by the shouts emanating from the group. Anton’s boys were shouting catcalls, followed by cheers of encouragement so loud my attention was called away from the two. Anton advanced, like a ram, head down diving at Damian, the weight of his body behind him. Damian strategically fell back onto his arms, then quickly to his side, and in a circling motion swept his legs out in a wide, graceful arc, connecting with Anton’s ankles, throwing him off balance.

  Without even realizing exactly what happened to him, Anton found himself flat on his back, grasping at the air that was pushed out of his lungs in the crush to the pavement; his breath devoid of oxygen. He winced painfully as he rolled to the side, swiping at the bits of asphalt from the pavement embedded into his back. I saw the look on his face as he shook his head. He looked like he was trying to focus. He held up his hand to signify he was okay, and Jamie tentatively took a step back. I could clearly see the subsequent tunnel vision that threatened to take away his sight had cleared, but not with enough time to raise his arms to avoid the plummeting of fists contacting with his face, head and chest. Damian, as he stated he would do earlier, was turning Anton’s face into a bloodied mess.

  My spirits lifted for a moment; Damian had this fight. Good, I hope he makes short work of it so we can get the hell out of here.

  It was then Anton realized the fight was not his and he let out a shrill cry of pain. He would not win if he had to fight Damian alone. He weakly lifted his arms in an attempt to fend off the assault but was unable to stop the merciless pummeling. As Damian brought his arm up to wipe the sweat from his forehead, trying to catch it before it dripped into his eyes and impeded his vision, Anton, in defeat, weakly brought his arm up enough to give Jamie the signal he needed to end the fight.

  The look of joy disappeared from my face, when from the corner of my eye I spotted Jamie slowly reaching down to his ankle. He lifted the cuff of his pants up and pulled out an object from the inside of his boot. He placed the shiny object in his back pocket. I was sure it was a knife. Jamie slowly began to advance on Damian intending to knock him off Anton with whatever means possible.

  Jamie rushed towards Damian and heftily swung his fist at Damian’s head. Damian saw Jamie’s approach in time and ducked his head under his swing, avoiding contact.

  Damian’s attention was immediately back on Anton. He was intent on hurting him and giving him the lesson of his life. The guy who liked to hit girls. His girl. He was oblivious to the fact that Jamie had a knife.

  I knew if Jamie got close enough with that knife it would be over and Damian would be hurt, maybe killed. And there was no way that I could hold off the other two alone. It was at that moment I knew, if both Damian and I were going to walk away from this still breathing, I would have to make sure no harm came to Damian. I inwardly prayed for a miracle.

  “Damian, he’s got a knife!” I shouted.

  Jamie recovered from his stumble after missing his target with his fist. He got on his feet and lowered himself to his haunches, drawing the knife from his back pocket. His arm began slowly swaying side to side, as if he were conducting some crazed music that he alone heard playing in his head. The steel of the blade shinning faintly in the dull glow of the streetlight he slowly began to rise and approach his target.

  Jamie looked up just as he felt me slamming into him from the side. I let out a loud grunt as I made contact and rolled to the left. I quickly jumped to my feet and searched for my intended target. Jamie recovered from the ground, quickly turned and with an animal cry ran towards me, knife drawn taking a swipe at me. In that moment, I twisted my body to the side avoiding the knife and hit the ground hard enough to knock me lightheaded for a minute. It was a minute too long.

  I took a deep breath feeling a sharp pain in my arm, but quickly recovered.

  Jamie saw me on the ground and began advancing towards Damian again. I shoo
k my head to clear it and tasted the blood in my mouth from the direct hit my face took to the pavement. My arm was stinging from where the knife tore into my flesh but right now, that was the least of my problems.

  I looked up quickly, just in time to see Jamie boldly approaching Damian to put the knife to better use. Anton was still laying on his back with Damian astride him attempting weakly to block the swings connecting with his head as Damian in a furious craze continued plummeting him.

  “Damian!” I gasped.

  Damian turned to look at me. When he saw the direction of my stare, he quickly averted his gaze, turned his head slightly to the other side, just in time to see Jamie, knife circling deftly in his right hand. He ducked and rolled off Anton narrowly avoiding a stab to the ribs. I was now standing and advancing on Jamie again.

  Two of Anton’s boys were slowly retreating towards the car, wanting no part of this mess. Jamie took another swipe, this time making contact with Damian’s mid section. Damian let out a guttural cry and immediately clutched his side. I watched in horror as blood began oozing from between his clenched fingers, soaking his clothing. The look in Damian’s eyes reflected the pure animal hatred he felt. He started to rise, but quickly fell down to his knees again, unable to stand.

  I reached them both and threw my body in the air towards Jamie. Jamie let out a loud grunt and fell to the ground underneath my weight, the force of the contact knocking the knife out of his hand. It landed right next to me. I instinctively picked up the knife, and in a millisecond, with no thought of my actions, brought the blade down using two hands and imbedded it into Jamie’s chest. Jamie’s eyes grew wide with shock as I stared at his face unfeeling and numb, watching as the life slowly drained from him. His opened eyes grew dull and his body went limp.

  I got up, scrambled over to where Damian was lying, breathing shallowly, and shook him.