Knocking On Hells Door Part 2

Chapter 276-1

Knocking On Hells Door

Part 2

 

Dad smiled. “Do you think you scare me?” Dad laughed and started to walk away as Mr. Striker came at him. Everyone made way for him, as he turned his back on him. Most people would think that was a dumb idea, but they didn’t know Dad and what he was capable of doing. The moment Mr. Striker threw the knife was when everything happened. Dad turned and plucked it out of the air like it was nothing more than a feather then pocketed it inside his belt, laughed.

Causing Mr. Striker to run at him finding Dad waiting for him as he sidestepped and rolled over his back and then kicked him forward as he Mr. Striker slid three feet across the floor sprawled out. He turned finding Dad with the knife pointed at him daring him to move one inch off the ground as Tony and his men quickly came into view. Dad leaned down pushing the knife to his throat; said. “Touch me or my family, and I will end you. We will find out if you are immortal or just another bloodthirsty murder.” He placed the knife back into his belt buckle and moved away from Mr. Striker.

Mr. Striker yelled. “You’re a dead man Mr. Carrion, I tried to reason with you and you spit in my face. No boy is worth what me and my God can offer you in return. Do you hear me, Mr. Carrion? You just signed your death warrant and I will take everything you own and kill everyone that you hold dear.”

Dad said not turning to face him. “Most of my life I have put guys like you behind bars. They have prayed to one god or another, pleading them to help them. Men who have sold their souls to the devil thinking that he will save them now that he was done with them as they watch the clock tick down sitting in a cell on death row. Not once did he save them as they were executed for their crimes. 

"If I was you I would start praying that your God saves you this very night.  But I am betting when the final hour comes, he will laugh in your face because you have failed him and when you beg for mercy at his feet. He will give you exactly what you deserve…Nothing.”

Dad walked out of the ballroom as Mr. Striker kept yelling at him telling him he going to enjoy ripping his heart out. Dad paid him no mind as he climbed the stairs. Placed his arms around me and smiled. “What an a*****e to think for one minute I was going to give him you and Jason for a king’s ransom.” I wanted to say my mother and my father would, in a heartbeat. Things only got worst from there… The world around me shifted, as I fell to my knees. Dad caught me and yelled for help. Find a large dart sticking in my neck, feeling my eyes close in complete darkness.

I didn’t know how long I was out, as I came to a start gasping for air. Finding me on the bed, Mom was holding my hand as Dad was conferring with Tony and Stringum. They quickly came to my side the moment I was awake. Stringum asked how I felt, I said as if a truck had run over me.

He said. “Well, then that’s expected. Now then we have caught the person that tried to kidnap you. Not surprising that it was one of Mr. Striker’s goons, apparently they are getting desperate since they haven’t heard anything in regards too…” Jeff popped in cutting Stringum off telling him we have a problem. Mom and Dad couldn’t see Jeff, but the look on their face knew that something just happened as Jeff was explaining that just moments of ago. Some of Mr. Striker’s men had just kidnapped several children from nearby LDS church about 15 miles from here and their parents and were holding them hostage inside the building.

Stringum growled angrily. “I turn my back for five minutes and look what happens.”

Dad asked what as Mom and Dads face paled when Tony and Stringum told them as someone knocked on the door and opened. He was about to tell them to go when Mr. Bronson barged in with his three new boys; Ethan, Trevor, and Scott, plus Terry. Dad said. “This isn’t a good time right now as you know someone just tried to take Nate.” Everyone kept their mouth shut in regards to the news Jeff just passed on to us.

Tony said. “No, it’s fine. We were just leaving.” He mouthed the words to be careful, as he and Stringum quickly left the room.

Jeff gave me a puzzling look as he looked at Mr. Bronson. He said, too me that something is different about Mr. Bronson that he can sense something was missing and told me to tread carefully. Mom asked if I was sure this was a good time. I nodded that I was fine, now that tranq had worn off with the help of the anti tranq Dad had given me. Noting I had only been out for 45 minutes. I quickly sat up proving to Mom and Dad I was fine. Mom still didn’t trust me, but with Dad here she gave a sigh and said. “Fine, I need to check on the boys anyway. If you need me I will be down at the pool.”

Dad said. “So Mr. Bronson, I take it you are interested in what we have to offer;” offering him a seat in our sitting area as he had the boys help me bring over the food from our cart, and taking a seat next too Dad. Everyone was fully dressed except for me, as I was still wearing my robe. Dad and I passed out cold sodas and plates as we ate and got acquainted.

Every time Dad asked a question about where they lived he got veg answers from Mr. Bronson. Other than the fact that he lived somewhere in England, out in the country, then changed that he lived more in the city itself, then corrected himself saying he owns a large ranch, but most the time he stays in the city so he could keep an eye on his business. Making it very hard to pinpoint a location, which stated he didn’t trust us.

Jeff too was curious, but only enough to stay in contact with me as he was working with Tony and Stringum to find out what Mr. Striker was up to by kidnapping kids and their parents. I couldn’t help them and it made it hard knowing that. Jeff said for me to do whatever it took to get close to Mr. Bronson. To let him and Tony worry about what’s happening at the church house.

Dad handed him a catalog of things Mom and the girls were selling in their new shop in town. When someone knocked on the door interrupting us, as I went to the door to see who it was, finding Mr. Wesley with two more boys about the same age as Ethan. He seemed nevus as he asked if I could come in, that he needed to see Mr. Bronson for a quick second. I nodded letting him and the boys in. Jeff said; something was different about him as well that for some reason it was like he couldn’t see him clearly. Which meant to Jeff he was in shadow which meant he had something on his person like a charm of some sort.

Mr. Bronson went out into the hall as I closed the door. Just enough to see them, and it was difficult to hear what they were saying as Dad was talking to the boys. Jeff and I gasped when Mr. Wesley quickly took off the key from his neck telling Mr. Bronson that they need to get that key and the boys out of here before Mr. Strikers calls for all the keys for the final vote. Asking him if he still has the copy they had made.

He quickly said for him to wait here as he quickly placed the key around his neck and hid it under his shirt and made his way back as I hurried to the bathroom and turned on the water washing my hands; conferring with Jeff, who was just as confused as I was. He told me that Mr. Stringum and Tony said for me to keep on eye on where that key went and to keep an eye on Mr. Bronson. Tony was sending someone to follow Mr. Wesley.

Mr. Bronson came back inside telling the boys to help themselves to anything on the cart. He acted like it was business as usual as he quickly dug through his bags finding clothes for the boys, holding them up to them to see if they would fit. He asked me if they needed shoes and socks for us to play this game called follow the leader. Stating he said Terry and Greg had told them it was their favorite game when introducing themselves to new clients, they said it all about getting the client to trust them.

I shook my head no, said. “Mom hates it when we were shoes in the house, and finding holes in our socks.”

He smiled said. “Well then give me a moment to get these boys dressed; or would you prefer we all bathed first like last time. Since Ethan hasn’t been properly prepared and neither has these two boys. Isaac and Quinton, who apparently have just been purchased by Mr. Wesley not more than a few moments ago and would like them to be ready by the time the game starts so when the vote takes place they will be ready for tonight’s celebration.”

Dad said. “I thought we agreed that we weren’t staying for that, and we wanted to be long gone by that time?”

Mr. Bronson blinked and said. “I do and yes we need to be gone. But Mr. Wesley might need these boys once he secures the throne.” I blinked a couple of times not sure what in the hell is going on. Jeff too was just as confused as I was, as Mr. Bronson quickly asked the boys if they needed anything from their rooms; now that Mr. Wesley had purchased them; which made no sense what so ever considering what Mr. Striker men were doing by kidnapping more children and their parents as we speak.

The moment Mr. Bronson left I told the boys to go ahead and get dressed motioning Dad into the bathroom and far enough away so they couldn’t hear us talking as I quickly broke down what just took place between Mr. Bronson and Mr. Wesley and what Jeff said and what Tony and Stringum said about Mr. Bronson.

Dad rubbed his chin just as confused as I was; when Mr. Bronson came back into the room with 5 more boys all roughly the same age. He seemed out of breath as he quickly closed the door, and said. “I thought we could use a few more.”

It wasn’t long before Mr. Wesley came busting through the door with 3 more boys himself. These boys were a little bit older but still were no older than 9 or 10. Dad said counting heads said. “Ok what in the hell are you two doing?" 

Mr. Wesley said. “Buying boys what does it look like?”

Dad said. “You mean every one of these boys are yours just for tonight, there isn’t enough time for me or Nate to break them all in, just so you can have them for the celebration.”

Mr. Bronson said. “Sure there is, Nate was able to do two boys in one hour. There are three of us, and some of these boys have already been prepared last night by Greg and Eli. Mr. Wesley needs to make sure he has all the boys, leaving none that are eligible for Mr. Striker and his new members. Without boys or girls, he won’t be able to qualify for his cadence of becoming the new leader.

“And if that is the case Mr. Wesley will win by a large margin. Since he has to have boys to pledge and they must be his by the time the sunsets tonight. I don’t see what the problem is, I thought you were on our side to make sure Mr. Striker and his friends don’t take the leadership positions now that Mr. Tate is no longer with us?”

Dad looked at me and I shrugged my shoulders. Not knowing what to do, it wasn’t if we could tell them what Stringum and Tony were doing. Or should say what Mr. Striker’s men are doing, without reviling our selves. Mr. Wesley waited for us as Dad said. “Fine, but are you sure that these boys won’t be missed?”

Mr. Bronson said. “Why would they be? None of them want Mr. Striker to win, and if we own them since Mr. Wesley is the most likely to win the votes. Mr. Striker and his friends will have to concede that without eligible boys to pledge, he can not take the mantle of leadership. Since each boy he pledges must be either flesh and blood, or purchased with both parents either dead or signed a blood contract allowing the boys to be his in replacement.”

Dad rubbed his chin and looked at me. Something just didn’t seem right about this. So he asked if he could see their contracts watching them eye each other. Mr. Wesley said that contracts are being drawn up, but he will have them by the time the last vote starts.

Dad and I looked at each other as we both looked at the clock; it was nearly 2:30. Mr. Striker’s kings and Magistrates were scheduled to be here by 3:00 clock.

Just as things couldn’t get any worst, we could hear choppers landing; as someone knocked on the door. It was Mr. Holliman telling us that it seems that Mr. Strikers guest was now arriving. Dad said. For me stay here as Mr. Wesley and Mr. Bronson went down to sees how many arrived. I rushed over to the window so I could see what was going on, seeing two choppers landing in the back and with men and their boys, as they were pushed forwarded told to stand as Mr. Striker greeted each of them as other men quickly grabbed their bags and took them inside.

However, I noted that that there were only three men each with one boy that had to be no older than 7 or 8. Mr. Striker stood there and started ranting at them. We couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it seemed that he was more than upset. He quickly brought them inside as I told the boys to stay here leaving Terry in charge. They nodded as I opened the door and crawled on my hands and knees. So nobody could see me as I peeked over the balcony and kept an eye on the boys standing in the doorway wanting to know what was going on.

Stringum greeted them, as he tried to not seem unnerved by the fact that Mr. Striker’s guests arrived noting the fact not all of them were here. Jeff made his self known as he stood next to Stringum so he could get a better look at them. He quickly informed me and him that only one of them was in shadow which meant they were either wearing one of those keys or he was wearing some sort of charm that prevented him from seeing him clearly. The other two he could see quite well, telling me they had no soul, which meant they were very bad men and high up on the food chain. Stringum said. “I thought there would be more of you, the way Mr. Striker hinted?”

The man that was in shadow said. “Yes, we assumed they had arrived a by the time we left, we would have been here earlier, but the weather made things difficult and we had to land for repairs due to unforeseen problems, but we are here now and that is all that counts. My name is Mr. Granger and my two companions Mr. Peterson and Mr. McGillis and our three boys. Nile's, Alex, and Kevin say hello boys.”

Stringum leaned down and shook each of their hands, said. “Are you boy’s hungry there is still plenty of food left over from lunch. Most of the boys are having lunch poolside. I can have one my men take you them so you can get acquainted.” They looked up to their leash holders and they said. “Go on, but don’t go too far. We will be there in a moment.”

Mr. Granger seemed to be the one in charge considering how the other two didn’t say a word other than whisper back and forth. Mr. Granger was shorter than the other two men with him. From where I was sitting he couldn’t be any taller then 5 foot 4 if that about as tall as my father or my grandmother.

He was young in comparison to Stringum, with brown hair perfectly cut and combed without a single hair out of place fair complexion looked to be about to be in his late 40. The other two men Mr. Sanderson standing on his right with soft tones of gray hair mixed in with black cut neatly. Both men had to be at least 6 feet tall both lean and not much to look at with chiseled faces made out of stone.

Mr. Sanderson stood on the right and Mr. McGillis on his left. Each of the boys standing in front of them; neither of them had any likeness to the three men Alex with blond hair and Kevin with red hair and Nile's with dark brown hair all three boys seemed to be the same height and wearing clothes that looked like they had seen better days. The kind my mother used to buy me and my bother.

Stringum said. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry… my older boys will make sure they feel welcome. And they couldn’t be in better hands.” 

Mr. Striker whispered Mr. Sanderson ear. And he nodded then said. “I was just making sure they wouldn’t get into trouble you know how boys get at their age. They can be a handful sometimes.”

Mr. Granger looked up as I quickly ducked back a bit, not wanting to be seen, but I knew he had. As he whispered to Mr. Striker; as he said. “Yes, why don’t you come down Nate and meet our guest instead of being rude by easy dropping on our conversation.”

I cringed as I stood up and said. “Give me a moment to put on some clothes; I just got out of the shower.” I looked at Jeff and he told me to be careful. Mr. Granger laughed. “Why bother, when we are going to see you naked anyway in a couple of hours and during our celebration tonight when none of you boys will wearing nothing pleasuring us as we see fit. Mr. Striker said you look better without them, so stop playing games boy. You either come down now or I will have you punished for being disrespectful to me and my guests.”

I looked at the boys telling them to stay in the room they nod as I quickly went in the room and ducked into the shower, grabbing a towel as someone was trying to open the door to our room. I told the boys to quickly hide, as I opened the door.

Mr. Striker grabbed me by the arm really hard said. “Nate that wasn’t a request, it was an order,” as he manhandled me down the stairs. He placed me in front of him holding me in places with his hands one hand my left shoulder and one hand pulling the back of my hair too make me look up at them as my robe fell open being handled so roughly allowing them to see me naked. 

Dad asked. “What the hell are you doing with my son? I told you if ever….”

Mr. Striker cutting him off as he pulled my head back even harder dinging his fingernails into my skin where the robe had exposed my left bare shoulder as it hung loosely off my shoulder said. “Nate was being rude, and he was asked to come down the stairs, after being caught eavesdropping. If you must know, not that’s any of your concern of yours Mr. Carrion. Considering you no longer own him that Mr. Holliman does the last time I checked. Not that it matters considering he will are going to sell me Nate to me as we had discussed last night after the auction. Now then as for Nate and your ru…deness.”

I pulled back my right arm placing my elbow into his sternum as he words were cut off as the air left his lungs; causing him to let go of me as I turned around and kneed him in the face as he bent over. He reached out to grab me but by that time I was free from him as I made my way towards the stairs, but I was caught unawares by Mr. Gregory as he wrapped his arms around me trying to hold me down.

“But he didn’t know what I was capable of as I went limp in his arms letting my arms rise up as I slipped out of my robe and ducked between his legs. He turned to find me two steps up as I moved out of his way. He lunged for me finding my right foot in his face breaking his noses as the blood gushed between his fingers. I run up the stairs having Mr. Granger chase after me, only to find Mr. Vincent as he sidestepped him allowing me to escape as Tony’s men circled me. Mr. Vincent said for me to go back to my room and don’t come out until he comes to get me.

Mr. Striker yelled at Dad telling me that if he doesn’t punish me he will. Dad said. “Why, should I punish him for defending himself, the way I see it, you and your friend deserved it. If you even think about hurting my son, I will kill you and anyone here. Mark my words Mr. Striker. I will never sell him or any of my boys to you or your friends not now or ever. However you must know Nate no longer belongs to Mr. Holliman I do, and if ever catch you touching any of my boys ever again like that. I will gut you like the pig you are.” Dad grabbed my robe where it had fallen and started his way up the stairs and handed it to me. We only paused a moment as I was putting back on my robe.

Mr. Granger said. “Mr. Stringum I will not let this stand. I have never in my life never been so humiliated in my God’s house. I want that man and his son punished according to our bylaws. No one disrespects me and my friends in my home like they just did. You either…”

Stringum nodded as his men came forward circling them cutting Mr. Granger off noting he was outnumbered as Mr. Striker was wondering where all his friends were, knowing they should have been back by now with a new crop of boys and their parents.

Stringum growled angrily. “This is my home, not yours. It will never be your home. I will burn it to the ground if I have to, too prevent you or Mr. Striker from taking it from me. Mr. Carrion and his son were in their rights to protect themselves. No one harms my guests, without a good reason. Nate said he would be right down, once he was decent enough to do so, but instead Mr. Striker manhandled him threatening him, and felt that his life in mortal danger due to earlier advents today. He was in his right to protect himself from him.

“Mr. Carrion had already issued a warning to Mr. Striker when he himself tried to kill him not more than two hours ago, plus the fact that a couple of Mr. Strikers men tried to take Nate by force using a tranquilizer dart soon after causing me and my men here to take action and are currently holding Mr. Striker men in their room until we can decide the best course of action to take when you just arrived.

“However Mr. Carrion warned Mr. Striker that if he threatened him or his boys ever again they would protect themselves. If you need wittiness to this altercation everyone here witnessed Mr. Striker pulling a knife on Mr. Carrion and Mr. Striker and I have it on tape was taken from my security surveillance. 

"If haven’t noted the cameras here throughout the house other then the bedrooms or meeting areas, which have been removed by me so my guests can have their privacy which was installed by Mr. Tate unknown to me until this morning before he was killed.  Mr. Strike then told Mr. Carrion that he was a dead man, after Mr. Carrion bested him in a fair fight, and let him live with said warning if he so much as came near him and his boys in hopes of harming them. They would protect themselves by any means possible.

“Your bylaws state that if a man woman or child is threatened and is able to defend him or herself and win after the person concedes or dies by their hand in a fair fight. That the matter is closed and no punishment is due to either party. Mr. Carrion won the fight. His son Nate felt his life threaten knowing what we all know here today that Mr. Striker, and his men Mr. Gregory and Mr. Fairchild, and two more of his friends. Had killed Mr. Tate and their older boys they had brought with them last night. And were seen leaving the scene of the crime covered in their blood? Bring the police to our door.

“If you do not, believe me, I have on tape that was taken from nearby surveillance cameras on the street. Not more than 1 mile from this house. Due to the recent crime spree and murders here in Heber. However I own those cameras or should I say I do now with Mr. Tate now gone, and have removed the footage and the evidence that they left behind as curtsy to Mr. Striker and his guests while they stay here in my home, during our celebration and renewal of contracts with each other and so forth according to our bylaws. 

“If it wasn’t for me as host during this advent, they would be in jail right now. Mr. Striker and his friends that were involved in this crime have seen the tape as well as the news footage showing that witness on the street has seen them leaving the area where the murders had just taken place and on national television. We have made it known to all here, that if anything happens to me or my friends like Mr. Carrion. The tape and the evidence I have removed will be made public and they will be hunted down like wild animals until caught.

“Therefore everyone here has been notified and has signed a blood contract that if Mr. Striker and his friends so much as seek to harm anyone here. They will be thrown to the wolves and never be allowed to enter any of our establishment. So Mr. Carrion and his son Nate knowing Mr. Striker and his friends like Mr. Gregory had murdered Mr. Tate and their boys without causes that we are unaware of at this time. Other than the fact the boys killed were too old to be a pledge. Being as today is the day is our God's holy day where he will bestow the mantle of leadership to one of our 4 candidates now that Mr. Tate is dead.

“I have informed Mr. Striker that if he can not secure his votes by the time of the final vote is taken by 6 pm or provide the necessary requirements he needs to take the throne and enter the temple where our master spirit waits and dwells on this given night. He and his friends will vacate the premises as we choose a new leader worthy to take the throne from the remainder of the 3 candidates there was five, but I withdrew my cadence when I realized what was required and felt that the price was too high for what Mr. Striker was asking me to do.

“However I and my friends are backing Mr. Wesley and Mr. Holliman, thinking either one of them would be a far better leader than Mr. Striker or Mr. Gregory or Mr. Fairchild who seems to be missing. Last I heard he was securing his buy-in. In any case, you are most welcome. I’ll have one of my men show you to your rooms so you may have a chance to discuss things in privacy.

“By the way, I left you something in the library a gift from Mr. Tate which was oddly addressed to you Mr. Granger handing him a key to a locked box that he left on the conference table inside the library.” Then said. “Plus I left a copy of the video in regards to Mr. Striker and his companions of all the things I have just mentioned. I thought you would like to see it for yourself, being as you are the man in charge until one of our candidates is crowned tonight as our new high king and lord. 

“If you need me or anything at all… just asks any of my men you see before you. The ones in white jackets handle all of my contracts and business to keep me honest and from going broke. The men behind in black are my security. The game starts at 4 pm sharp and the purse to be won is 120 million dollars. I am betting on Mr. Wesley team to win. Until then good day and welcome to my humble home.”

Stringum bowed out placing his left hand over his sternum and then turned on his heels and walked away. Then disappeared quickly into the big ballroom having his men close the doors behind him and stand guard.