“Wait a minute—you’re suggesting we attack him? That’s crazy! I’m not a soldier!”
“I’m not either, but just sitting here waiting for what I know is coming is foolish.”
“Things could go horribly wrong. I don’t know about this.”
“Scott, I understand your reservations about this. But we’ve spent a lot of time out there surviving. Hell, we almost didn’t make it out of the last community we lived in,” Nelson said, his voice growing louder and more animated. He didn’t want Scott to feel he was wrong, but wanted him to see for himself that offense is sometimes the best defense. “Listen, I totally understand you feeling uncomfortable about this, but we must, at minimum, see where these guys come from. Let’s see who we might be up against. Then we can sit down and have another conversation about this.”
Scott didn’t answer right away; he was looking off toward the snow-covered hills. After a moment, he sighed. “That’s fair. Let’s go take a look, then we can discuss it further.”
Nelson thought that now would be a good time to have Gordon around. After all, they weren’t soldiers. Regardless of this fact, the responsibility fell on him. Tomorrow he’d set out to see exactly what they were up against.
Sacramento, California
Pablo examined the bottle of wine, holding it at an angle.
“I hear the Alexander Valley is superior to the Napa varietal,” he commented, then filled two long-stemmed glasses full of the cabernet.
“I don’t know anything about wine,” Isabelle said, taking the glass by the stem. Her hand shook slightly. She was nervous and didn’t want to make one wrong move. She knew by his invitation that he was attracted to her. She was repulsed by the idea of having an overtly romantic dinner with him, but what other option did she have? If she refused his wishes, what happened then? Would he kill her and her father? At the moment, this was just a dinner. If he tried to make it into something more physical, she didn’t know if she could stop her urge to lash out at him. But until that happened, she bit her lip and smiled.
“Oh, you should learn. Wine is truly God’s gift to mankind,” he said with a smile as he picked up his glass and swirled the wine. He admired how the wine changed colors from a dark burgundy to an earthy red when he held it up to the light. He set the glass down on the table and inspected the wine’s legs. “Impressive,” he said again. “You Americans have really come a long way in the wine-making process.”
“Why am I here?” she asked.
“I’ll put this bluntly: You intrigued me. I’ve seen a lot in my life. I’m not an old man but I’ve lived enough to fill several lives.”
“That’s it. I’m something for you to look at. I’m a novelty?”
“Yes and no. You intrigued me because of the way you expressed yourself. You’re a smart and beautiful woman. I won’t lie to you; I’m attracted to you, but beyond the conventional sense of attraction. I felt a connection with you yesterday when you talked to me. There’s a common saying I remember from university: You ‘got’ me.”
She looked at the knife in front of her, then looked at Pablo. A strong desire came to take the knife and stab him. Only the knowledge that her father was being treated by his men caused her to control that urge.
“What are your plans for us?”
“Let’s talk about something else. Do you have any brothers and sisters?” he asked as he relaxed into a tall fabric dining chair.
She didn’t want to be here, especially answering questions from a madman, but she couldn’t see any other option at the moment.
“No brothers or sisters. You?”
“I’m like you, the only child. I have found that being the only child has some real positives and negatives. I wanted a sibling so badly when I was growing up. I didn’t have what you would say was a normal upbringing. I didn’t go to normal schools. I didn’t have many playmates. That was a big negative for me,” he said, smiling sadly.
“I felt the same way. Not having someone to play with was difficult. I did have some friends, though.”
“I found solace in my books and studies. Education was very, very important to my father,” he said, taking a large gulp of wine.
“Are your parents still alive?” she asked.
He shot her a look that frightened her, then said, “Yes, did someone say otherwise?”
“I’m sorry. No, no one has said anything to me. It was just a question. I ask because my mother died years ago. My dad is all the family I have.”
Pablo regretted snapping at her. “Please accept my apology. That was wrong of me. Both of my parents are alive. They’re both retired and living in Mexico.”
“That’s nice,” she responded. She was now apprehensive about the questions she asked.
Sensing her discomfort, he shifted the topic of conversation. “I hope you like lamb and fingerling potatoes,” he commented.
“Sure,” she said unenthusiastically.
He picked up on her hesitation when he mentioned their meal. “Sure? Wait a minute. Are you a vegetarian? I know that’s very popular here in California.”
“No, the menu sounds wonderful,” she said while looking around the grand dining room.
“I’m sure it must be odd to be sitting here. I didn’t want to just stay anywhere. The governor’s mansion seemed fitting.”
Isabelle had been there a few times for events, so it was even more jarring to be there under the current circumstances.
They shared conversation and even an awkward laugh a few times. If Pablo was one thing, it was charismatic. She tried to get him to talk about what his plans were for his army, but he always found a way to deflect and bring the conversation to a topic that was more palatable.
“Do you like port?” he asked as they had their plates taken away.
“I do, but don’t ask me about anything specific about them,” she answered with a slight smile.
“Let’s go into the parlor. I have a fire going and there we can sit and enjoy a glass of Quinta Do Vesuvio. I find it’s not too sweet for a vintage port,” he said. He enjoyed showcasing his knowledge of the finer things in life.
She smiled and followed him into the parlor. The room was dark, save for the light coming from the roaring fire. Two wingback chairs faced the fireplace. In between them, a small round table stood with two glasses and a bottle atop it.
She was starting to have a difficult time understanding this man who was so savage and primitive in his actions but so refined in his mannerisms and taste. He was dichotomy embodied.
“Here you go, beautiful,” he said as he handed her the small-stemmed glass. He sat down and raised his glass. “A toast to . . .”
The main double doors that led into the parlor burst open. General Pasqual stormed in like a man on a mission.
“Emperor, please forgive me for this rude interruption!”
Pablo stood up, a look of anger and disdain written on his face. “General, what the hell?”
“Please forgive me, but something urgent needs your attention,” General Pasqual said as he walked over and handed a piece of paper to Pablo.
Pablo snatched the paper from his hand but didn’t even glance at it.
Seeing an opportunity to call it a night, Isabelle stood up and said, “It’s getting late. This is probably a good time to go.”
Pablo turned his attention back to her. “No, do not go,” he pleaded, waving the paper in his hand dismissively.
“Emperor, please read it now,” General Pasqual said in a low, urgent tone.
“I am having an evening with the lady!” he screamed at Pasqual.
“But, sir.”
Pablo tossed the paper on his chair and walked toward Pasqual. “General, leave now. We can deal with this matter later.” Pablo grabbed Pasqual by the arm and roughly escorted him out of the room and closed the door. He locked it and turn
ed around.
With Pablo distracted, Isabelle glanced at the paper. All she could read were the words urgent, sunk, and loss.
“Please pardon my army commander, he doesn’t have manners,” Pablo said and came back.
“It really is late and I should go, but can I offer two gifts to you before I go?”
“Please don’t go. It’s still early enough to have another glass. Or might I find something else for you to enjoy?”
“I really do need to go back and check on my father. Here is my offer to you. If you’re available, let’s have dinner two nights from now,” she said as she stood up.
Pablo didn’t want to argue. “I will happily receive that gift. What is the second one?”
She took a step toward him and leaned in. He met her half-way for a long, passionate kiss.
She pulled back when she felt he was getting excited and said, “That is gift number two.”
Pablo was at a loss for words. “Isabelle, it was a pleasure. Thank you for joining me tonight.” He took her arm and escorted her to the large double doors. He unlocked them and led her to the front door of the mansion. There he said, “As a token of my gratitude for your time tonight, I will have my personal physician immediately come over to take care of your father.”
“Thank you, Emperor,” she said, then walked out toward the vehicle waiting for her.
Pablo closed the door and looked at the guard standing there. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
Pablo touched his lips. Her lip gloss still clung to them. He didn’t know what was wrong with him; he had never fallen for a woman so quickly before. She had something about her, some kind of magnetism that he’d never experienced. Thoughts of her being his empress came to mind; he had visions of a coronation.
He briskly walked back to the parlor and shut the door. He picked up the paper that Pasqual had been so insistent he read.The yellow glow of the fire illuminated everything. He unfolded it and began to read it.
URGENT, ALL NAVAL AND SUPPLY VESSELS SUNK OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA. TOTAL LOSS. ESTIMATED CASUALTIES EXCEED 3300.
He finished the port and took a moment to stare at the empty glass. Pasqual was right, he needed to attend to the matter immediately, but in this moment, he would have preferred to be with Isabelle. Frustrated, he threw the empty glass into the fire and went to find General Pasqual.
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
• • •
“All war is deception.”
—Sun Tzu
Rajneeshpuram, Oregon
The sky was clear with a luminous half-moon casting its light across the hills and valleys. The drive from their campsite to the hide position for the Humvee took almost three hours. Jones and McCamey had an excellent vista from their spot. When any of Rahab’s men moved, they’d have clear shooting to take them out.
“How are you doing?” Gordon asked Lexi.
“Between you and me, I’m a bit nervous.”
“It’s okay to be scared,” Gordon said.
Lexi interrupted. “I didn’t say scared, I said nervous. I’m nervous because I don’t know what I’ll do with myself once he’s dead.”
“I know what I’m going to do. I’m heading back to my family as fast as I can get there. You’ll figure it out,” he said, then turned to walk away.
“Gordon?” Lexi called out.
Gordon stopped and turned. “Yeah.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever said it, but I’m really sorry about your son. I know how it feels to lose someone close to you,” Lexi said softly as she gently touched his arm.
Gordon opened his mouth to say something, then stopped. He was going to tease her about showing a soft side, but he knew now wasn’t the time. He also knew her comments were heartfelt. With that in mind, he said, “Thanks, Lexi. You know something? Deep down I know you’re not this ballbuster you pretend to be.”
Lexi smiled and said, “Don’t tell everyone my secret, okay?”
Gordon returned her smile and said, “It’s safe with me,” then walked away from her. He approached Rubio and patted him on the back.
“I didn’t say it before, but thank you.”
“No worries, Van Zandt. You’re a Marine just like us. We’re brothers, and brothers help brothers. Simple as that.”
“I agree,” he said to Rubio, then walked over to Jones and McCamey. “All good with you two?”
“All good,” McCamey answered.
“Ready to do this,” Jones said.
“Let’s get this done, then,” Gordon said as he walked back to his gear and started getting dressed. After putting on his vest he took out the knife that Gunny had given him before he departed and fastened it to the outside. He just hoped he’d get the chance to use it.
“Let’s go green,” Rubio ordered.
Everyone turned on their night-vision goggles.
Rubio was in between Gordon and Lexi and signaled to move out.
They slowly walked down the hillside, careful not to trip over loose rocks. They traversed the hill and stopped at the edge of the road in front of the main building.
Gordon could see two men standing at the front doors. There were no other signs of movement. He looked to Rubio, who was squatting down, then in Lexi’s direction. She was gone. Gordon craned his neck and looked behind him—no sign of her. Then he caught a glimpse of her slinking across the road.
Rubio saw her too and quickly stood up and began across the road. Gordon followed.
They were now in the parking lot for the main building. Gordon got up and crossed over and took up a position behind a car. To his right, he could still see Rubio, who also was crouched down behind another car.
The front entrance was now only twenty feet away. Lexi had vanished completely from his field of view. Gordon was fuming. How could she be so stupid to deviate from the plan? She could jeopardize the entire mission and get them all killed.
Out of nowhere, movement at the front entrance caught his attention. Gordon looked over the car trunk and saw Lexi walking up to the two guards. He put the rifle to his shoulder and was about to engage when he noticed something he never expected to see: She didn’t have any clothes on except a T-shirt, panties, and a utility belt with two knives tucked in the small of her back.
The guards first reacted by raising their rifles, but they changed focus when all they saw was a partially naked, attractive young woman. What Gordon saw was the angel of death about to extract a pound of flesh.
Gordon readied himself and watched what he thought was the most unbelievable act he’d ever seen. Rubio could also see what was happening and was poised to move based upon her actions. He looked over at Gordon and raised his arms, his gesture saying everything that Gordon was thinking. This girl was crazy.
“Please help me,” Lexi said, just above a whisper. She stopped about ten feet away from the skeptical but intrigued men.
The men looked at each other, unsure what to do. They lowered their rifles and stepped away from the front door to approach her.
“Unbelievable,” Gordon muttered to himself. He steadied himself to leap from his position to assist when the time was right.
The men stepped toward her and couldn’t focus on anything else except the sight of Lexi’s nipples standing firm in the cold against the tight white T-shirt. Stepping up, they slung their rifles across their backs and reached for her. Lexi didn’t hesitate one second. Reaching back, each hand grasped a knife. With the speed of a viper she struck out. The knife in her right hand slammed into the temple of one man there and the other knife she inserted upward into the other man’s chin and into his brain. She turned both knives clockwise and removed them. Both men fell to the ground, dead.
Gordon couldn’t believe his eyes. She managed to use deception to achieve what he would have done with aggressive force. He and Rubio ran to the door. Rubio turned the kno
b but it was locked. As if she read his mind, Lexi walked up with a set of keys and unlocked it. She had an amused look in her eyes, as if she knew that she had just shocked two men who had thought they had seen it all.
“Wait here, I’ll be right back,” Lexi whispered to them both, then disappeared as fast as she had shown up.
“What the hell was that?” Rubio whispered.
“And they used to be against women in combat,” Gordon joked.
Lexi hustled back with her equipment and all her clothes on. “Let’s do this, boys.”
Gordon opened the door, and Lexi and Rubio followed behind him. Lexi peeled left and Rubio headed to the right. The layout of the building was unknown to them, but they assumed based upon the setup of the desert compound that Rahab would be located upstairs.
They found themselves in a large great room. On the right side of the room there was a long counter, and in the back, dozens of small tables and chairs were strewn everywhere. From the looks of it, this had once been a hotel, not exactly the “religious compound” that John the barkeep had mentioned.
A door to the left of the front desk opened. All three stopped, pivoted, and took aim.
From behind the door a little girl walked out rubbing her eyes, flashlight in hand. She headed to the back, behind the tables, and opened another door.
Lexi scurried toward the door that the girl had come from. The other two followed her instinct. They all stacked up against it, with Lexi next to the door. She grabbed and turned the handle, slowly opening it. Gordon stepped out from the wall and peeked his head around the corner. He entered a dark, empty hallway. To the left was a door with a sign above it that read STAIRS. Gordon made his way in that direction but froze when the door opened. A tall man dressed in pajamas stepped out and made a right out the door, walking briskly down the hallway. Gordon’s heartbeat quickened as he quietly crept up behind the man. He let his rifle drop to his side on the two-point sling and pulled out Gunny’s knife. Placing his hand across the man’s mouth, he swiftly thrust the knife into his neck and upward. Blood squirted out from the wound and sprayed all over the walls and all over Gordon’s face. Gordon could feel the life exit the man as he went limp. He steadied the man’s weight and lowered him to the ground. Gordon exhaled in relief.
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