Lana just shook her head with a no and said, “yes, it is true of his father and yes he has had some employees do some things to others in the course of business, but he would never hurt the woman Laurie or you. He is a ruthless business man yes, but a kind soul with ones that he cares for, as yourself.”
I smiled and said, “I am so glad that you are my protection and not some stuffy old man that does not speak English well and smells of vodka.”
We both laughed at that statement and continued down to the parking garage.
I was about to open the door to the garage when Lana stepped in front of me and opened it. I shook my head and said, “I am going to have to get used to this, it is all new to me. I usually do things for myself and have for a long time. That is why the gun and not minding my new under garments to protect me.”
We both smiled and continued to my car. I have the spot right outside of the door to the garage, no walking in a dim lit space for me. And then I saw a motorcycle parked next to my car and Lana walked to it.
I said, “alright girl, riding in style today.”
She answered with, “I feel that if any problem arises on the drive, I could maneuver in and around the traffic if I need to pursue someone that may bring harm to either one of us.”
I nodded and didn’t smile but said, “so Lana, something is up, am I right?”
She nodded with a yes then said, “but don’t worry, you have many protecting you today. Many you will not see, but they are there. Also, if a certain person or persons try to do something, Mikhail will then know for sure who is against him and could have something to do with the disappearance of his friend Laurie.”
I looked at her and without a smile either said, “so Lana I am, Bait!”
With concern on her face now she responded to that with, “yes! Terri in a way you are bait, but not without more protection then a World Leader would have. We don’t feel that you are a target, but we are careful now.”
She paused then continued with, “I know that you are thinking what I did I get myself into but feel good to know that when this is all over and you can be with Mikhail without any worries of harm coming to either one, it will be worth it.”
“I hope so,” I said, then got into my car and together we drove out of the garage. Me in front and Lana on her motorcycle following close behind me.
We made it all the way to the college without any problems, so I thought that just maybe they are paranoid about what happened to me the other day and are just overly protective right now. After all I think with their security and the security that I have from the assets that are around me from my unit, I am sure that nothing could possibly happen that would harm me.
We parked and enter the school, I to my class and Lana with a book not far from the door to my class room. She found a bench to sit on that would not be unexpected by another person just sitting and reading a book.
Chapter 30
When the class was over, I left the room and still sitting on that bench reading the same book was my new friend and body guard, Lana.
When I was walking up to her, she got up immediately and came towards me. She did not have a smile on her face, but she had a very stern look instead.
I asked her, “what is wrong?”
Without any other words she said, “we must go, Mikhail has been ambushed in his car. He is ok, but he sent a text for me to get you as far away from the city as possible. Most of your security detail took off to help him, so we have Oleg, Ivan and me. So, let’s get going.”
As we were walking, or should I say running to the parking lot to the car, I said, “Lana what if the attack on Mikhail was a ploy so that my security would all be with him and leaving me with a few. Not that you three couldn’t take on an army of attackers, you know what I mean don’t you?”
Lana could only nod as we ran, she tried to use her phone but there was no reception, I tried mine and the same. I looked around quickly and then I saw it, an old white van with a very expensive antenna on the roof. That tech on a rusted old van. Must be the cell phone signal blocker. I pointed it out to Lana, and she picked up on that immediately, no words needed by two pros as ourselves.
She then said to me, “get into your car because Ivan and Oleg will lead you and I will be following you. We need to leave the area not just the school.”
I gave Lana a look as we were about a hundred feet or so from my car and motioned to a man that was sitting oddly on a bench near my car with a baseball cap on. I then said, “Lana, that is Ivan and he looks dead.” She quickly ran to Oleg and when she got to his car she turned and said, “him too. Terri run, there is a rally or protest going on in that field. Run into it and try to blend in with them and make your way to the guard station near the entrance.”
I nodded with an ok and just about to run when I heard a snap, then I watched as Lana’s head jerked back and blood was all over her face. She was shot by a sniper I thought. I turned in the direction that I assumed that it came from and I was right, up on the roof of a building was the sniper. I now knew that it wasn’t Mikhail or my security that they wanted alive, but me.
I took off in the direction of the crowd of students ranting something. I had no idea what they were saying, my only thought was to get out fast. I ran into the crowd and as I did, I quickly turned to see if anyone was following. I am glad that I did because behind me was about 12 men and they didn’t look to be students.
As I ran through the crowd, I was just about to take off my jacket to change my look just a little when I remembered that my 9mm was attached to by a belt on my back. I know that I only have a credit card, drivers license and a few dollars in a paper clip in the jacket along with two extra magazines for my pistol.
I saw a yellow jacket that was just thrown into the air by a girl and I quickly jumped to get it and started to look for an area that I could change coats. I saw at a pavilion there was a group of people and they were looking at the crowds, so I went by them changed my coat and the paper clip, but I didn’t have time for the extra magazines for the gun. I then grabbed a baseball cap from the table and took off running in the direction of the guard house.
I knew that the guard would have a land line in his hut so that way I can call Charlie for help. Since I was under the protection of the Russian Mob, so to speak, my unit was to be a safe distance away so that they would not pick up on them. The only problem is that now with the jammer, I cannot call until I get to the guard hut. And since there was no warning of this happening now, Charlie had no idea that I was in trouble. Or maybe by now he does since Mikhail was attacked and that would raise a red flag that there may be more trouble in another place, and that place would be where I am.
I could only hope that they are somewhere close now and if not then it is all up to me to get away safely. I was about 50 to 75 feet away from the guard hut when I saw two men walk up to the window and shoot the guard in the head. I bent down behind a bench and waited for the two men to leave. After they did, I ran to the hut, not to try and help the guard but to use the land line phone.
I reached into the hut to get the phone, because it was right on the wall by the window. As I took it off the receiver, I then noticed that as they reached into shoot him one must of cut the cord to the phone. So now no cell services and no land line that I know of, that is close by.
I ran back to the bench and crouched down behind it. Next to the bench was a trash container. So, I put my cell phone on emergency and when the cell service in this area goes back on, my phone will send out a signal and my last known GPS coordinates. So, I then dropped it into the trash can and took off into the wooded area next to where I am at.
I would normally run down the drive and out to the street but with a dozen or more people looking to capture me, why capture, because they could have killed me first instead of Lana. I knew the woods had a walking path that runs through it and leads, well I am not sure, but far better then the alternative, and that is being taken.
When I was wal
king through the woods instead of running, that is because if I was the only one running, well, guess who they will be after first. I kept looking back every so often, and as I did, I tried to make it look as if I was looking back at a boy that was behind me. Hopefully he doesn’t take my looks as an interest in him, because that would be his last time, he would want to say high to a girl that seemed to be interested in him on this path. He just may get in the way of a bullet that is meant for me.
I then saw a road just up ahead of me and I slowed down. I knew that who ever is looking for me will have just about every road or path covered, so when I was just about to the road, I went into the woods deeper,
Then I made my way through the brush to the street. I know that no one would be expecting me to emerge from a group of bushes, after all I am a school teacher not a government agent.
I peeked out at first to be sure that if there was anyone nearby, that I then could sneak back into the woods and try for my exit in another spot.
I looked in both directions, I looked left and saw two men walking back towards the school, then right and saw another two going away from me. I thought that my only choice was to run across the street and behind the house there. I could either wait out my time until help arrives or find some where I can go from there.
I know that I am wearing running shoes, yoga pants, light jacket, baseball cap, and a tank top, not really a look for guerilla warfare. But at least I do blend in around this area with the college and thankfully some rally of sorts.
Those on the left made the bend of the road towards the college, and the other two were far enough away that they shouldn’t hear me run across the street. So, I took off and made it just in time, because another group that were in cars came by. I do hope that they didn’t see me cross the street, because my mind was on running not looking for any others to come by.
I was now kneeling behind a bush in front of the house that I ran to. I know that I should go around back and hide until I see if any friendlies come by, but I wanted to be up front just in case one saw me run here that way I will be ready to fight if they come for me.
What seemed to be an hour or so went by. I now know that either they have not turned off the cell signal jammer or my guys aren’t coming for me because they are probably more interested in capturing Mikhail and having him secure somewhere, so that they can interrogate him.
Now that people are after him it seems, the general would trade his agent for information on this new Crime Syndicate. And I would too.
Chapter 31
It was just starting to turn dusk. Now I thought that if I wait just a bit longer, with the darkness it will be easier to hide along any road to get to another area that would be safer.
Just as I was about to stand up and head away from my hiding spot, I saw lights from a vehicle coming down the road from the college. I noticed that it was the jammer van. I thought that just maybe I am saved. If the jammer is off and the signal goes to the unit that I am in trouble, I could have some friends arriving soon. Or as I thought before, let them chase me instead of Mikhail. I will soon find out which it is.
I then saw three more vehicles leave the college, all may be them or just some students that stayed late and are just now leaving. After those went by, I started to walk on the side walk slowly so not to seem to be in any hurry.
I walked about 100 feet and then I saw something that I hoped that I didn’t tonight.
Four men coming out of the woods not far from me, I kept calm but that didn’t matter to them because I feel that they were going to see who was walking on the street at night.
I kept walking but had that feeling of them following me. So, when they were just a few feet behind me, I knew this was it and time to fight. I turned around and there in front of me was not four but six men.
I shook my head and with the ego of a lioness I said, “so gentlemen, only six to try and take me in?”
Two smiled at what I said but the others didn’t seem to think that it was to funny. So, I went for the two smilers first. I didn’t pull my gun just yet because I wanted that as a surprise for them when I feel that I have no choice.
I went for one of the smilers by doing a side kick to his solar plexus, that way the air will be out of him and at least for a moment be down. Then Instead of the other smiler I directed myself towards one of the men that was about to pull out his gun.
When he started to reach back and get it , one other, a big one from the Middle East I think put his hand in front of the man and said, “no, I will handle this infidel woman, she will be beaten as any dog would, and when she is unable to fight any longer then I will have my way with her as it should be.”
Now my blood was boiling at his words, and I raised my right leg just a bit, so he would feel that I was about to kick him in his groin. Well sorry, but as I raised my leg and he put his arms down to protect his junk, I stomped my foot down and gave a punch to his throat with all that I had at that moment. No longer will he disrespect any other woman, in the way he did me.
Now the one that was about to take out his gun did, and one other was just starting to reach for his. The first to pull his weapon had a smile on his face as if he has me. Well sorry buddy, but I have one too. I pulled mine out first and took my shot. He was dead before he even hit the ground, one directly to his forehead. The other staggered a second, and that was long enough for me to do the same to him.
I now found myself right next to another man and what I did was do a leg sweep and as he was falling, I hit him on his head with my gun to make sure that he would stay down long enough to get away.
Now that left one. He was only about 15 or 16 years old. He had the look of fear in his eyes and I asked him, “who wants me this bad?”
He stammered and said, “the drug Cartel from Mexico, Central and South America. The main head of them all. And the head Mullah or leader of the Islamic Cells that are staged all over the world to make it a caliphate. I am only a small boy who needs the money that they give me to send back to my family back home.”
At that moment I did the number one biggest mistake of any agent and let my guard down. As I looked at this small boy, I could see a smile come to his face and the next thing that I remembered is that I felt the hard object that was used to knock me out. I guess that I should have made sure that all were down for good instead of just awhile, so I could get away. Wrong, now I am also will be taken, just as my friend Laurie.
Chapter 32
I was very groggy when I opened my eyes. As I looked around the room, I noticed that I had no clue of anything in this place that I have woke up in. I tried to gather my thoughts to see if I knew anything about where I was at. I didn’t, and I only knew that I was in a place that I am not supposed to be in, or is it the place that I am to be in.
The room was dimly lit, and I heard no sounds, like that of people talking or cars driving by, only silence. I could only hear my own heavy breathing.
Then a door opened and entered two men. One was a Latino and the other Middle Eastern. Now I have a feeling why they took me and Laurie, but I will wait to hear from these two first.
The Latino started with, “my name is Carlos and I am from Columbia. Yes, we do have beautiful women in my country, but you are a very beautiful American.”
Then the Middle Eastern said, “we have dogs that are better looking.”
I gave a chuckle at what he said and that made him mad. He then said, “I will have my way with you any time that I want to, just as I did with the other American.”
I said, “there is another one here like me?”
Then Carlos said, “yes, she has been very nice to us here, but your fresh face will be an absolute delight. She has done much that we needed her for, but you will do much more than she could. Mikhail sure does know how to pick them.”
“Is she still here and alive?” I said.
Carlos then nodded with a yes and the other said, “for now. Now that we have the woman that means even more to Mikhail t
han the other, we will send her off somewhere to please another.”
Then I got mad and spoke maybe to soon and to forward then said, “Carlos I know that a Latino man has more respect for a woman than any Middle Eastern could ever. Latino men may abuse a woman, but they still fancy them over…what a terrorist would. You sir, are more interested in your sheep and little boys than a real woman, as me.”
With that the terrorist started to move forward towards me but was stopped by Carlos.
Then I said, “I see now why you took me, it is because you want what Mikhail has. He has the best and you are jealous of his manly image, because he can have such woman as the other and me, and neither of you can.”
Then Carlos said, “we didn’t take you because you two are his, but because with you we will have what we really want, and that is to lead the new combined syndicate.”
I looked confused and said, “so, what you want from us is that when ready you will negotiate us for the leadership?”
“Yes” Carlos said.
The other just smiled and said, “but if he doesn’t trade you two for his leadership, then I will and many of my friends will have our way with you both, and as your Christian marriage vows say, until death do, we part.” He then laughed and walked away and out of the room.
Carlos shook his head and said, “we know Mikhail and he will bend if not break for you, the other we knew starting that she may not work for what we needed her for, hence you.”
I said, “what syndicate are you talking about and how is Mikhail a leader of it?”
Carlos said, “so, you have no knowledge of any of his businesses. I guess that he does have feelings for you that are strong for him not to at least brag of his power. After I finish telling you of all the business dealings that he has done and will soon do, along with what this new crime syndicate is about and who are a participant in it, what part that he plays along with his father, then you will be more likely to give up any of Mikhail’s true weaknesses, OK?”
The Beginning: In the Families Footsteps (A Terri Walker Series Book 1) Page 11