The next morning Buttercup woke up early. Next to her, she found Butch sleeping soundly. He looked so sweet, like a like a little baby. She looked over at her ring, and then it hit her. The wedding wasn’t just a dream. It really happened. She was content for the first time in her life, and it felt good.

She cuddled close to him and fell back asleep. Just as she drifted off the phone rang. She remained asleep, while Butch awoke and picked up the phone. He slid out of bed, putting on a pair of shorts while he answered it. It was his brother on the other end.

“Hey, Brick, what’s going on?” he said just above a whisper. He didn’t want to wake up Buttercup. He left the room and closed the door.

“Turn on the news, and you’ll see,” Brick said through the phone.

He walked into the living room and turned the television on low. He flipped onto the news. A news reporter started with a special report.

Late night, famed crime boss only known as Him escaped from jail last night, killing two jailhouse guards in the process. Officers Johnny Rinaldi and Philip Coen were the first to enter the scene. When questioned they just reported that Him simply disappeared. The city is in a panic at this recent development and fear for the Mayor’s life.

Butch became white as a ghost seeing the news report. “Butch?” he brother called through the phone. “Hey, man, you okay?”

“Yeah, I think so,” he said. “What are we gonna do?”

“Nothing for now,” Brick said. “Unless Him wants us to find him we won’t.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” Butch said. “What if he…?”
“Hey, don’t think that way,” Brick said. “I’m worried about the girls too, but they can handle themselves.”

“But Buttercup’s pregnant,” Butch said. “If anything happens to her or the baby…”

“Nothing’s going to happen, Butch. We’ll make sure of that.”

“I wish I could believe that,” Butch said. At that moment Buttercup came out into the living room. She was in her dark green silk robe that only went to just above her knee. “Brick, I gotta go.” He ended the call and looked over at Buttercup. “I thought you were sleeping.”