Chapter 28-1

John F. Kennedy airport was crawling with people of all sorts and sizes, dragging along their luggage, bumping into other weary travelers as they rushed for their destinations. I stood in the middle of the concourse, attempting to block out the loud noises buzzing around me as my mother and my three little sisters all stared at me apprehensively. "Archer, I still don't understand what's going on," Mom finally said, biting her lip. "Why do we need to go to Palermo? And better yet, where on earth did you get the money to buy four international plane tickets?" All of these questions were valid. I wanted nothing more than to tell Mom why I was literally forcing her and my sisters out of the country, but that would only put them in even more danger than they already were. I had no way of knowing what was coming for me at Havoc's hands. I'd only met the man twice, and I got the impression that he never acted in the same way twice. After what he did to Lauren...it was obvious he had the capacity to do truly awful things. And if I could protect my loved ones from that, even in the smallest form, then I was going to jump at the chance. How many others had made the same sacrifice before me? "Mom. Look." I pulled her to the side, away from the girls, who were squabbling over the ticket with the window seat. "I know this is going to be difficult to understand, but I need you to trust me, okay? And it doesn't matter where I got the tickets. You and the girls just need to be on that plane in an hour." "Trust you? Archer, I don't even..." Mom took a deep breath, squeezing her eyes shut. I said a silent prayer that she wouldn't start crying. If Mom started crying, I knew I wouldn't be able to force her onto the plane and just leave her. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly, not knowing what else to do. I was afraid and almost unwilliing to let her go, because I had to face the fact that I may never get to see my mother again, but when she made some sort of noise of protest, I took a step back. "Sorry." "Archer..." Mom reached out to place a hand against the side of my face. "You act like you're saying goodbye." "No," I disagreed, remembering what I'd thought the last time I had seen Hadley. "Not goodbye. Just a see you later." "Okay," Mom said, nodding, rubbing at her cheeks. "Okay. Just...just be careful. I want to see you again soon." "Soon," I said, attempting a smile. "Of course." "Girls!" Mom turned back to April, May and June, who were still squabbling with one another. "Girls, let's go! We've got a plane to catch." The girls crowded around me to say goodbye, and I hugged them all as tightly as I could before they started protesting. "Stay out of trouble, all right?" I told the three of them quietly while Mom was distracted with her bag. "And look after Mom." "Don't be such a baby, Archer," April said with a scoff. "Of course we'll look after Mom." "Good. I'll see you all really soon, then." "Will do, brosky," June said, slapping me on the back. "Watch your back, all right?" If only, I thought with an eye roll. The girls started ushering Mom towards the security line, complaining about not wanting to miss the flight. Mom turned to give me one last lingering look, gave a small smile and then slipped into the security line, quickly disappearing from sight. I stood there and watched the spot where my mother and sisters had previously been standing, wondering what the hell was going to happen now. It felt as if I had just done the impossible. I'd just put my mother and sisters onto a plane halfway across the world, and as much as I wanted to deny it, I had said goodbye to my wife, the woman who I think I'd always been in love with but had never realized it until it was almost too late. I knew I had done the right thing, doing all I could to make sure that the ones I held most dear were safe and away from harm, but it didn't feel that way. It really felt as if a part of myself had been ripped away, and I was left unable to breathe, consumed with a pain so strong I could not even begin to describe how torn I really was. How was I even still standing? "You know, I'm wondering the same thing." I wasn't suprised at the sound of the smooth, quiet voice that had spoken from behind me. In some ways, it felt as if I had been waiting for it for half my life. I took a deep breath to steady myself and then turned. Havoc was standing there, cool and composed, wearing the same suit he'd been the last time I'd seen him. There was a pleasant smile on his face as he regarded me. There was a part of myself that was nearly overtaken with the urge to beat the living daylight out of him for what he'd done to Lauren, but what good would that do? This game - this fight, really - was nearly finished. "Good to see you again, mate," Havoc said, reaching out to clap me on the shoulder. "You look well for having just given up everything you've ever loved in your entire life." "Is that supposed to be a compliment?" "Sort of." He reached out and slung an arm around my shoulder, tugging me to his side. "Let's go for a walk, hmm?" I didn't object. It was pointless. Havoc more or less dragged me along side him as we walked through the swarms of people crowding around the airport. "I have to say, I really expected better of you," Havoc was saying conversationally. "You come from hearty stock, don't you? Strong. Capable. Maybe a little stupid, but still intelligent enough. I thought you'd be man enough to handle this." "What are you getting at?" I demanded. "I played your stupid game, I faced my fears, I - " Havoc burst out laughing, like I'd just told the funniest joke he'd ever heard. I stopped walking, staring at him with a mixture of confusion and anger. What the hell was so funny?