My Brother's Keeper

Aiden turned to Kendrick. "The Duck In can be frightening, but it's the only place close by that sells tampons to help keep women from bleeding to death and condoms to help create children."

Kendrick blinked. "Aiden, I don't think that's how it works."

Aiden held up his hand. "Trust me. I am an expert."

Right.

"Okay, so let's go." Kendrick leaned forward and grasped the door handle.

"Wait!" the men yelled in unison.

Kendrick jumped back. "What?"

Colton turned to Aiden. "We need a plan of action. I have a feeling these warriors only sell their valuable cookies to those who have proven themselves in battle."

Darian nodded. "That makes sense."

Kendrick shook his head. "No, seriously guys, I think we can just..."

Colton shook his head. "Quiet Kendrick. You're the new man on the team." He then turned to Aiden. "What kind of firepower are we keeping in the SUVs now?"

Kendrick's jaw dropped.

Gavriel bent over the back seat and lifted the lid on their arms cases. "We have two grenade launchers back here," he called.

Aiden nodded, smiling. "I think we should go big. The more impressive we look, the easier this will be."

Kendrick shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, it won't."

"Okay men. Mission is to negotiate with the ninjas, secure the cookies, and take them back to the women." Aiden met the eyes of each man in the SUV. "Remember, we don't leave our people behind. If one of us is outmaneuvered, fall back to the SUV."

"Yes, sir!" Colton, Darian, and Gavriel yelled.

They all turned to Kendrick. He sighed. "Yes, sir."

As they were climbing out, Aiden turned to him. "I'm not feeling the team spirit here."

Kendrick pointed to the men who were putting on every piece of tactical gear they owned. "We're about to go negotiate with ninjas in front of a supermarket; I'm not seeing this ending well."

Aiden smiled wide and clapped him on the shoulder. "Dealing with humans is my forte." Humming, he walked past Kendrick.

Didn't Meryn beat him with a toilet?

Kendrick walked behind the four men as the approached the tiny ninjas. Immediately, Kendrick got the feeling something was very wrong.

Aiden stepped forward. "We would like to negotiate."

The ninja with metal in her mouth looked up. "What's negotiate?"

Aiden leaned back and winked at him. "Evasive answering. They are professionals. Look, she has the most badges, she is clearly their leader."

He then leaned down and got right in the ninja's face. "We want your cookies."

That was when she and the three other ninjas began to cry.

Colton looked at Aiden and frowned. "Commander?"

Aiden held up his hand. "This is a negotiation technique, it's meant to evoke feelings of pity in their victims."

Colton brightened. "Oh."

We're going to jail.

"What in the Sam Hill is going on out here?" Kendrick looked up to see an older man shuffling toward them.

Aiden smiled. "Bart! Good to see you again, friend."

Bart looked at their group then over to Kendrick. Kendrick just shrugged, lifted his hand, and wiggled his fingers at him. Bart turned back to Aiden. "What is wrong with you boys?"

Aiden frowned. "Sir?"

"Why are you harassing these sweet angels?" Bart demanded.

Aiden snorted. "Sweet angels? Ha! They have you tricked, my friend. I will let you in on a secret." Aiden leaned in close to the old man. "They are actually ninjas."

Bart didn't say anything right away; he just stared at Aiden. "Son, did your wife hit you with that toilet again?"

Aiden shook his head. "No, sir."

Kendrick pushed his way between Aiden and Colton. "Sir, what I believe my well intentioned, well armed friends were trying to do was buy some cookies."

By this time, angry looking mothers were swooping in to stand by their daughters.

Darian leaned into Aiden. "Abort mission, sir, abort!"

Aiden shook his head. "No! We came here for cookies for the women."

"Bart, get these maniacs away from my daughter before I call the police!" one especially shrill woman demanded.

Kendrick watched as each man took in the scene in front of them.

Crying baby girls, check.

Murderous mothers, check.

Angry mob forming, check.

Slowly, each one began to pale.

Kendrick turned to the furious mothers. "We want to buy your cookies."

The women looked at each other. "How many?"

"All of them!" Aiden blurted out.

Good answer, Commander!

Kendrick watched anger slowly ebb away as cash began to exchange hands.

It took all five of them to carry the ninjas' entire stash of cookies to their car. Once inside the SUV, Colton wiped his brow. "Those women were grown ninjas; you could tell."

Gavriel glanced down at his orange and green boxes, looking a bit harried. "I do not ever want to face them again."

Aiden was in the driver's seat, drawing deep breaths. "Good job, men. Though it may look like we got away easily, we can't be too careful. Darian, I want you to watch behind us to see if they try and tail us."

Darian quickly crawled into the backseat. "Yes, sir!"

Colton looked a bit wild around the eyes. "She had metal in her mouth. Are they supposed to have metal in their mouths like that?"