“Where now?” asked Luis. He was driving aimlessly and Sean should have called.
“Just head to the airport and make sure you get Katie to the CIA, please,” replied Sean, squeezing off a round and stopping the first semblance of an attack.
“OK!” it was as close to a question as Luis could manage, given what he was hearing. It didn’t sound good.
“Not really. Bit of an issue with a few pissed off Mexicans!” replied Sean.
Suddenly the noise outside stopped. Silence had descended. Sean struggled to see why. Then he saw a man walk through his troops in a white vest, muscular and covered in tattoos. He fitted the description of El Jefe, although, he was surprised that nobody had described how ugly he was. It would have been his first word in describing the man that commanded his troops’ silence.
“Come out!” he commanded.
Sean looked down at James whose head was buried deep in his thigh. He owed him a last try and to fight for their lives.
Sean remained silent and made no move.
“Come out and I’ll let the boy live!” was the next offer.
Sean didn’t think it likely but it was a far better prospect for James than was currently facing him.
Sean opened the door, dropped his gun and swinging his leg with James attached to it, he walked out into the courtyard to more than a few gasps.
Chapter 61
Luis pulled into Quetzalcoatl International and drove straight for the private hangars. An area he was well acquainted with as Los Zetas owned more than its fair share of the jets stored in the area. It was of course the first time that Luis had realized how poor a venue the airport was. There were at least ten Los Zetas men permanently on duty protecting and directing Los Zetas products and aircraft.
Juan instructed him to slow down next to one of Los Zetas’ own hangars and instructed the guards to watch the woman. He would call and instruct them when he was ready. He signaled for Luis to continue and Luis drove towards the private apron where two of the three jets had already landed. The third was powering down the runway to land and, thanks to favorable wind, all had landed early.
Agent James Smith waited aboard the second jet. His phone wasn’t ringing. Without orders to the contrary, he was to proceed as agreed. He opened the door and nodded at Luis in the car.
“Tell him to bring the men to that hangar!” said Juan pointing to one of the Los Zetas hangars.
“We are both supposed to board the jet,” argued Luis.
“We’ll do it my way or no way. I am not getting on an American jet!”
Luis exited the car and walked alone towards Agent Smith.
“Is he not coming?” he shouted nodding towards Juan.
“He will meet in that hangar over there or not at all.”
Smith looked around; the area was devoid of any activity. His orders were to allow the meeting to happen on the plane, get the woman and get out. He did not have instructions to allow the meeting to happen elsewhere. He shook his head.
Juan opened the window and held up his phone. “If I don’t give the OK in,” he checked his watch, “two minutes, the bitch dies! Your call!”
Smith looked helpless but the voice in his head saved his indecision and said OK.
***
“Look unhappy and nod half heartedly,” said the voice in Agent Smith’s earpiece.
The Team Leader of the CIA hit squad sent to assassinate the Los Zetas bosses and the majority of the East coasts drug dealers, checked the infrared scope again. There was nobody in the hangar. No bright spots to indicate anything other than an empty hangar.
While the FBI and DEA were rousing the drug dealers, the CIA team was being quietly parachuted into a location as near to the airport as they dared. They had spent the afternoon securing the best sniper spots and checking the lay of the land. Nobody outside of the CIA was aware of the plan. The other agencies leaked like a sieve when it came to information regarding the cartels. The CIA was on foreign ground, Mexican ground and with five of their men down, there was a serious thirst for blood. This was their fight and their fight alone.
“Tell them they need to give us the woman and then we’ll send them in.”
Smith relayed the message but got a negative response; the woman would only be let go only after the meeting was over.
“Team 2, do you have the woman in sight?”
“Negative.”
“Thirty seconds!” shouted Juan. The Team Leader heard him loud and clear.
“OK, we’re going to kill the fuck anyway. May as well not lose the woman,” said the Team Leader in Smith’s earpiece.
***
Luis stood between the car and the jet as Juan dictated how things would be done.
Surprisingly, the CIA guy accepted and the two large Italians disembarked from one jet while four disembarked from another and another five from another. Eleven men in total walked towards the hangar. Luis noted that Juan made no attempt to move and realizing, he wasn’t going to exit the car, Luis ran back and drove Juan to the hangar. Juan remained seated as Luis first had to stop, exit the car, open the hangar door and finally drive in.
As the men started to enter the hangar, the first and most worrying thing Luis noted was the warmth in the greetings between Juan and the East coast drug dealers. These were men with whom they had had no contact since Fat Jake had been the intermediary. These were men who every time they had been contacted had suggested that there was a contact that supplied their product and they would need to speak with him first.
It seemed Luis knew the contact very well after all. Juan Torres was the East coast contact they had been trying to find for three months. It all became clear. Fat Jake was just a patsy who worked for Juan. Juan was skimming billions from Los Zetas and making up for El Jefe’s inadequacies.
Juan looked at the open mouthed expression stuck on Luis’ face.
“It doesn’t mean I love him any less!” promised Juan. “I just needed a fairer cut. After all, I made Los Zetas what it is!”
Luis couldn’t argue. Not because he agreed but because of the bullet that hit him right between the eyes.
Juan lowered the silenced revolver he had slipped from his belt and turned to his customers.
“Gentlemen, I suggest we board as a matter of urgency!” he indicated towards the aircraft that lay with its engines exposed.
They looked at him with some confusion but he herded them on. Walking to each of the engines, he pushed the tool carts aside and flipped the switches that lowered the engine covers.
Within a minute, he had them aboard and was preparing to start the engines. He picked up the cell and called his men.
“Take her out with all your men and release her. As soon as she is about to board the aircraft shoot her!”
“Of course, Mister Torres.”
“I’ll wait on the phone as you do it.”
***
The first sign that their plan had gone to shit was when the ten men appeared with the woman at gunpoint. The Team Leader watched in despair as she was let go and all ten Mexicans trained their weapons on her. It was a long walk to Smith’s airplane.
The sound of the jet engine kicking to life in the hangar was when he really knew he was screwed. He didn’t have enough men to protect the woman and stop a plane. He wished she would run but she had been clearly told that wasn’t an option. She walked slowly and carefully as though her life depended on it which was probably exactly what she had been told.
When the hangar doors opened, the Mexicans raised their weapons and assumed a stance that suggested they were about to fire. Ten shooters against five snipers. They didn’t stand a chance but he had to save the woman. That was his first order of duty. As it became apparent they were about to shoot, he had no option but to issue the order to shoot.
He instructed Smith to scream at Katie to get down. At least if any of them pulled the trigger, she’d hopefully get out of the way. As Smith screamed and Katie fell, the jet shot out of the hangar
faster than the Team Leader thought possible. He would later discover that the plane was fitted with rocket boosters, allowing it to use much shorter runways than otherwise expected for a Citation X, perfect for picking up drugs in deepest darkest Columbia.
As the last of the ten Mexicans fell, each of the snipers rushed to catch the jet but it was already up and tearing into the sky. They lost the Los Zetas boss and every one of the East coast crime lords. Not only that, Katie remained stationery, flat on her face where she had fallen.
“Fuck!” screamed the Team Leader almost bursting Smith’s eardrum.
Chapter 62
El Jefe crossed himself as the ghost of the man he had killed all too easily stood before him.
A few of his men, those who had witnessed El Jefe carve the man to bits, stepped back; it had to be a devil of some sort.
Sean saw the fear in their eyes and realized this was going to end badly, just because they thought he was a ghost. Rifles were twitching and there was every chance that James was going to be killed just because of some silly superstitions.
“It was my twin!” shouted Sean. “My brother, identical twin!”
Those who understood English well enough translated and an audible sigh of relief circled the group. El Jefe was less convinced and strode towards Sean, eyeing him closely. He circled him two or three times before jutting towards Sean unexpectedly. Sean moved with lightning reactions, swinging James out of danger and readying for an attack.
El Jefe smiled warmly at Sean’s move and nodded his head approvingly.
“You are indeed a different man!” he announced confidently.
Sean bit his tongue. Of course he fucking was. The other Sean was in bits in an evidence box.
“The man that I thought you were when we first met.”
They had just met thought Sean. Luis was right his uncle was a psycho.
“I will offer you the same deal I offered that night!”
Sean waited, nothing came. He actually believed Sean knew what the deal was. He really was mad.
“What deal?” asked Sean quiet enough for only El Jefe to hear.
“We will fight to the death. If you beat me, my men will let you leave here alive!” he announced to the group of soldiers.
“Can you repeat that a little louder, the guys at the back didn’t hear?” asked Sean.
El Jefe ignored him. He didn’t repeat orders, he didn’t need to.
“Take the boy!” he shouted to one of his soldiers.
The soldier stepped forward and carefully extracted James from Sean’s leg and took him back into the outbuilding.
El Jefe ripped off his vest to expose his bare chest and received a huge cheer from his men. A circle formed creating a ring for the fight.
Sean took up a stance and as El Jefe came to him, easily dodged his first attack. The second was not as easy to dodge and he received a punch to the side of the head. Fortunately, it was a glancing blow and had little effect. A backward swipe almost caught Sean after the initial attack but he again just managed to avoid any contact. There was no doubt El Jefe was good, quick and intelligent. His moves were designed to expose a weakness if the first attack didn’t land, allowing a second strike in quick succession to land. Sean soaked up a few of these moves and El Jefe landed a few half punches much to the delight of his men. After a third punch landed, Sean was left shaking his head to clear it.
El Jefe danced on the spot. His men cheered and hollered with delight while Sean regained his composure. El Jefe could not have been happier with himself. He grinned from ear to ear. Sean was moving like a pro and as well as anyone El Jefe had ever encountered before. Not an ounce of fat showed on his torso and not a drop of sweat had formed on his body. El Jefe could keep the pace for hours. Tiring him out wasn’t going to be an option. Sean looked at the men that formed the ring. He really did not believe they would let him go if he beat El Jefe.
“Your men will really let me go if I kill you?” asked Sean spitting some blood from his mouth.
El Jefe laughed as he bounced. “My men will let you and the boy walk out of here over my dead body!” he shouted and waited for his men to acknowledge.
“Fair enough,” replied Sean, pulling himself up to his full height and preparing for El Jefe’s next move.
El Jefe came at him as before. Only this time, Sean knew exactly what he had planned. Sean ducked, twisted and delivered a stunning blow to El Jefe’s kidneys. The shock alone could have killed him, such was the difference in Sean’s demeanor and movement.
Sean smiled to the quiet crowd as El Jefe screamed in pain.
Sean stepped back and egged El Jefe towards him. El Jefe went for the move that had caught Sean twice already, glancing blows but this time, threw everything behind it. Sean moved with a speed that belied his size and far faster than he had earlier.
As El Jefe was left mid swing and totally exposed, Sean delivered a powerful punch to El Jefe’s jaw. The crack was not just two bones connecting but El Jefe’s jawbone snapping. El Jefe stumbled back unable to scream as his jawbone failed to function. He looked at Sean with some bemusement.
“What can I say, your decidedly average!” offered Sean, resulting in El Jefe charging at him in a total rage.
Sean moved and delivered another crushing blow. A short kick with his leg as he sidestepped El Jefe was timed to perfection and snapped El Jefe’s kneecap from the leg, his leg twisted at an impossible angle as he fell to the ground.
“I was merely sizing you up. You know, like the Princess Bride when the swordsman confesses he’s actually left handed!”
El Jefe looked at Sean like he was crazy as he struggled to hobble onto his good leg.
The one good point and so far encouraging was that, despite obviously beating the shit out of their boss, his men had honored his instruction. He may just manage to survive after all.
Sean was thinking best to end it quickly despite the fact El Jefe deserved to suffer a lot more. As El Jefe came at Sean again, he side stepped easily and with a little mischief sent a short sharp punch into El Jefe’s throat. It was a killer blow but not instant. He would suffocate over the next couple of minutes. Time to feel a little more pain, thought Sean. He could have gone for many more humane methods but quite frankly the guy didn’t deserve it.
As El Jefe crumpled to the ground, his men stepped back and allowed Sean to walk to the outbuilding.
Sean strode confidently into the small building, scooped up James and walked towards the main gate. He couldn’t believe it. As he neared the gate, they really were going to let him leave. Right up until the cell rang in the crowd, that was.
Sean could almost hear the scream from the caller from forty yards away. It certainly had the fifty or so soldiers rushing towards their weapons. Sean ditched the confident walk and ran towards the gate. If only he could get over it, he had a chance, but it was too far. There was no way he’d beat the bullets.
***
The rocket thruster took the jet from zero to take off speed almost instantaneously; it really was a most remarkable piece of equipment thought Juan, as he guided the jet into the sky. He would drop the East coast bosses off at the nearest commercial airfield and then head back by car. The Americans would probably be dissecting how they had failed so miserably. They thought they had been smarter than Los Zetas. They had learned a very important lesson that day. Do not underestimate Juan Torres who, with the irritating Luis out of the way, could resume his position with El Jefe unabated.
El Jefe would be disappointed Luis was dead but Juan would use it to his advantage, turning El Jefe’s anger on whoever seemed a reasonable target. He’d also engineer a new patsy to replace Fat Jake. He probably should have done it sooner but Juan enjoyed El Jefe’s displeasure at Luis’ failure to secure the contacts. He realized a lot of his issues were jealousy when it came to El Jefe and Luis but whatever it was, the issue was resolved once and for all. He hit the speed dial button. He had to tell El Jefe his plan had worked but he had som
e dreadful news. He practiced his voice ensuring all happiness was excluded.
The words hit him like a freight train.
“El Jefe is dead. The American killed him!” answered the soldier at the ranch.
“Did you kill the American?” he screamed.
“No!”
“Kill him!!!” His eyes almost popped from his skull, such was his fury.
“El Jefe said we have to let him go!” replied the soldier meekly.
“I am El Jefe now, kill him!” he demanded.
***
As Katie moved for the first time, the Team Leader breathed a huge sigh of relief. He had at least succeeded in one part of his mission.
“Team Two?” he called. “Los Zetas has escaped, I repeat Los Zetas has escaped.”
“Team One, we have a situation here, will update shortly, out.”
“Team Two, what is your issue?”
The line was dead.
A few seconds later. “Fire!!!” came through clearly on the Team Leader’s headset.
***
With James in his arms, Sean sprinted for the gate.
'Kill him!!!” came the scream from behind him as Sean leapt for the gate.
Bullets began to fire but none came near, heavy gunfire, M60, if he wasn’t mistaken. Sean knew his weapons.
As he reached the gate and threw James unceremoniously over it, he looked around as he vaulted over himself. The Mexicans were falling and squirming on the ground.
As he reached the other side, a soldier almost invisible in camouflage fatigues held James safely in his arms, while another trained his machine gun on any threats from the other side of the gate. A burst of fire ensured another threat was eliminated for good.
“Afternoon, Sean,” offered the soldier holding James, a man Sean had known for many years.
“How long have you guys been here?” he asked, irritably.
“Long enough, obviously,” replied the agent, not really answering Sean’s question. “Katie’s OK also,” he added, ending Sean’s interest in how long they had been there, or for that matter, how many were in Team One. And more importantly, who had authorized Team One. He had specifically told Mike not to endanger the boy’s life by sending a second team to the ranch. But then if the ten-man Team Two hadn’t surrounded the ranch, Sean and James would have been dead. Sean decided to let Mike off, at least on that occasion.
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