The Savior Rises Read Free Page B

his death.
    “Hey, what is with that dude?” she asked a young girl standing next to her. The girl couldn’t be more than 16 years old, she thought. At 21, Stefani felt like she was ancient compared to some of the kids that worked in this place.
    “He doesn’t seem to want anyone or anything,” the girl said. “He’s chased everyone away who approaches him. All he’s done is sit there, all afternoon, staring at the stage. It is almost like he’s waiting for somebody.”
    At that, Stefani sauntered over, waving the girl off, mumbling mostly to herself, “He’s probably been waiting for me.”
    The girl didn’t wave back, and the look of disgust on her face said everything anyone needed to hear. Stefani could be a little too cocky for her own good at times.
    “What’s up?” she asked as she grabbed a chair and sat down next to the stoic figure, sitting all alone in the glitter-filled room.
    He didn’t even look at her as he replied, “Sorry, babe, not tonight. Find yourself another sucker, and leave me alone, please.”
    “Bummer,” she responded. “Not sure you’re giving me the attention I deserve, big boy. You might want to loosen up a little bit, fella.”
    Dennis Zeiba wasn’t used to people ignoring his requests. At 6 foot 3 inches, he had less body fat than most guys registered in last year’s Mr. Universe contest. He didn’t hold much respect for the mirror-hogging zealots, either. He had yet to meet a body builder that he couldn’t lay out cold with one right-handed punch, and he was primarily left-handed. Still, it seemed there was always one in every crowd, and it appeared this young lady was going to have to be told point blank to leave him alone.
    “Look.”
    He managed to get only the one word out when he caught the smell. It made sense, after all. She approached him with an air of arrogance; and if he were more rested, he probably would have noticed her a little quicker.
    This was the girl he’d been searching for over the past three years. Now he was staring directly at her, and he couldn’t find the words. He never was much for speaking. Her beauty caught his breath in the air and held it there for a few moments, as if caressing it with her full, luscious lips. Her eyes were dazzling with the light sparkling from deep inside her poor, tortured soul. What she must have gone through growing up, he thought.
    “Dude, you’re starting to creep me out a little bit,” Stefani said.  “Can you talk or has all the blood rushed to other parts of your body that quickly?”
    “Let’s go in the back,” Dennis said. “Money is not a problem.”
    “First, a couple of rules,” Stefani countered. “I just need to make sure you and I are on the same page. I don’t…”
    “Whatever, just get your butt up, and let’s get going. I will make sure my hands stay by my side at all times. This is your show; let’s just get moving. Now!”
    All he really wanted to do was get her alone. He had to tell her she was in danger. This girl had no idea who she was or what was really happening. He tried to recall her file and remembered she was 21 – so young and so inexperienced. He was pretty sure he’d done things in his lifetime that might shock her. God, it made him a little nauseated to even think about some of his past activities. How far would a good person sink in order to fight for a greater cause?
    “Crap,” he muttered to himself. “It’s too late.”
    With that, he grabbed Stefani by her hair with his right hand, jerking her head straight down and kicking the chair out from underneath her at the same time. She fell hard, hitting the solid floor with her elbow first. A tingling sensation of pain shot up her arm, and she screamed, “What the heck…”
    Then, there was chaos.
    Dennis spotted three of them. There were two by the bar, which served no liquor, and the third one had already pulled out a 9MM Berretta and clipped off two rounds. Both shots barely missed Stefani.
    One of the