“And you had no problem doing it,” Chessy replied.
“You know what? You have no idea what that life was like or what I was at risk of losing, so judge away, little miss perfect!” Jasmine barked back.
“Ok, calm down. Let’s stay focused. How do we get to her?” James inquired.
Marie smiled. “Just follow me.”
Chapter
7
Ray was still fuming as he re-entered the house. He wanted so bad to call Warren and tell him what was going on, but he was still annoyed with his games, as well. Ray felt played. Everyone knew something he didn’t and was keeping him in the dark for some reason. Taking a deep breath was all he could do to stop himself from screaming. As he composed himself in the lobby, he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. It was Huntsman. “So, I see you are back. Do you intend to yell and make demands again, or are you just hanging out?” Huntsman smirked.
“No sir, I apologize for my behavior. It was not appropriate. I am just worried about my team. They are going to be joining me here shortly,” Ray replied apologetically.
“Oh great, they are coming back. Do you intend to return my missing assistant, as well? Or is her safety not of your concern?” Huntsman huffed back.
“Sir, I am not aware of her whereabouts, but I promise you, I will locate her. She has not made any contact at all, since the day I sent her away?” “If she had made contact, I would not be worried about her like I am. You came here and threw everything into a mess, all because of your paranoia or whatever it is. It is not fitting, nor appropriate, for a man in your position. You’re lucky I haven’t had you removed and reprimanded by your superiors.”
Ray could feel his blood boiling. He was not a fan of being bossed around and threatened by a rich politician type, who knew nothing of what was really going on, but his desire to remain professional was stronger than his desire to punch him in the face. “Again sir, I am very sorry for my behavior. I am only concerned about everyone’s safety. I assure you I have your best interest at heart.”
“Fine, if you say so. I will wait in my office for your team to return. Alone,” Huntsman replied as he made his way back up the stairs.
Ray was relieved to be free of talking with Huntsman. He could only stand so much of him before his patience would run too thin. Ray made his way to the green room and took a seat. He knew he would just have to wait this one out and see what was in store for him.
Chapter
8
Marie, on the other hand, knew exactly what she was going to do as she led her new team across town to the estate of Paloma Barez. The over-the-top mansion was surrounded by concrete walls and steel gates. It was a fortress from the exterior, but rumor had it that her home had technology that was still considered science fiction to the rest of the world. This would be no easy task, as Ms. Barez had every security measure in place to keep her secrets. As they approached the sprawling estate, Marie held her team back. “I have a plan for getting in and getting to her, but I need each of you to do exactly what I say. Is that clear?” Marie’s eyes were locked on Chessy.
“Yes, we understand,” Chessy replied.
Marie dropped the large duffle bag she was carrying on her back. She pulled out three black ski masks and handed one to Jasmine and one to Chessy. Jasmine instantly put hers on. She knew what Marie had in mind. Chessy stared at the mask as James and Greg looked confused.
“So, no masks for us?” James questioned.
“No, these are for you.” Marie pulled out two sniper rifle cases and handed them to James and Greg. “You two are not going in with us. You are to provide cover. Find a spot up on the hill to have a clear shot of the compound. Only the girls are going in.”
Jasmine lifted her mask. “You want this to look like Ming sent us, don’t you? This has all the trademarks of one of her attacks. How long have you been tracking her?” Jasmine looked impressed. This woman, her mother, was the ultimate badass in her mind.
“She tried to add me to her collection before you were born. After you were born, I made it my mission to find out who she was. I finally began to uncover her secrets when you were already one of her girls. I will never forgive myself for taking so long.” Marie smiled. “But we will make her pay for what she did to you and all the rest of those girls.”
Jasmine smiled back. Marie was quickly becoming her idol.
Chessy was less impressed. “So the three of us are going to go in, impersonate Ming’s girls, and take her out?”
“You catch on quickly. Mask on and follow my lead,” Marie ordered. Jasmine quickly pulled her mask over her face.
James leaned in towards Chessy. “Hey, just stay behind her. She knows what she is doing.”
James touched his gun case. “I have your back.”
Chessy's face was flat. “Quit being sweet. We have to kill someone today.”
James frowned.
Chessy knew he was just trying to be nice. “Thank you for your support. I will feel much safer, knowing you have my back.”
James smiled as Greg grabbed him by the arm. “Let’s go, man; we need to get into position.” Chessy gave James a small smile. It wasn’t just James, though, who noticed. As James and Greg made their way to the hilltop, overlooking the compound, the girls watched, but Marie didn’t. “If you hurt him, you are dead. Do you hear me?” Marie barked at Chessy, drawing her and Jasmine’s attention.
“What?” Chessy questioned.
“You heard me. I know that look he is giving you. His father used to look at me like that. He is in love with you, and if you hurt him, you will have me to deal with.”
Chessy was speechless. Jasmine started to laugh lightly. “Add me in on this one. He is my brother, after all.”
“Can we please focus on the mission?” Chessy replied, trying to change the subject.
“Fine, here is the plan.” Marie reached back into her bag, pulling out several knives and handguns, laying them on the ground. “Arm yourself. We follow Ming’s rules of combat. Men suffer, female death is quick and preferably bloodless. Necks snapped.”
Jasmine nodded. Chessy shuddered a bit, but knew Marie had to have her reasons for making this look like Ming ordered this attack.
“You two are to follow me. Jasmine, you go behind Franchesca, as she is the weak link.” Chessy bit her tongue. She was done arguing with Marie. Franchesca strapped a pistol to her hip and slipped a knife into the black sheave in the back of her black pants. Jasmine only went for a couple of knives. She wanted to impress Marie with her knife skills. Marie smiled with approval. “Follow me.” Marie moved quickly towards the left side of the compound. Jasmine and Chessy followed.
From their vantage point on the hill, Greg tracked the women as they moved. “They are going to the west side of the compound. I have them in sights. Do you see any movement within the compound, James?”
“No, none,” James replied as he scoped out the movement within the compound walls. “It looks like they are in the clear, for now.”
“We can’t be sure. You know we are responsible for making sure they make it in safely.”
“I know.” James took a deep breath. Once they were in, they had no ability to help them.
Marie found the spot she was looking for, which was no real challenge. She had been surveying the property for years, looking for a way in. Marie reached down and pulled up some green weeds that had grown in the spot. She grinned as she looked at the small metal box in the ground. Going to work, she pried open the box, exposing eight wires, all red. Marie looked back to Jasmine and Chessy, “Once I cut these wires, we will have approximately ten minutes to get over the wall and into the building, before the backup power kicks in. Put on your mask.” Marie pulled out a grappling hook from her bag and placed it next to her.
From their vantage point, Greg and James watched as Marie cut the wires. There was a flash of lights on the walls, then they all went black. James and Greg quickly switched their scopes to night vision, so they could keep
track of their team. Marie threw the grappling hook up, catching it on the metal post on top of the wall. Pulling it tight, she scaled the wall with speed. Chessy and Jasmine followed, racing to keep up with her.
“They are over. Can you still see them? I am trying to track them,” James questioned nervously as he frantically scanned the compound.
“I got them. They are going in the back door,” Greg replied, readying his gun to take out anyone they came into contact with.
James re-positioned and saw them as they disappeared into the mansion. “Shit! They are out of sight.” James dropped his gun in frustration. “I hate that we can’t help them.”
“If the rumors about your mother are true, nobody in that building is a match for her, which is why it is odd that she waited this long to do this. I don’t think she needs any of us.”
James held his breath; for once, he hoped the rumors were true.
Marie and the girls had easily made their way to the back of the main house. The security system was still down, so it was easy for Marie to pry open the door with her knife. As they entered, the house was eerily quiet. “Be ready for a fight, girls. They know we are here,” Marie whispered, pulling her other knife, twirling them in her hands. Jasmine followed, pulling her knives. Chessy pulled her gun. The made their way through the back foyer into the sitting area. The room was dark. It had a casual but expensive feel. The leather lounge chairs were only a small indicator of the elegant décor that must fill the room. A gunshot rang through the air, the bullet finding its mark in Marie’s abdomen. She dropped to the floor as Jasmine and Chessy dove for cover. The room quickly began to fill with four armed guards. Their guns pointed at Marie’s body on the floor. Fear filled Chessy. She was supposed to be able to take a bullet with no problems. Why was she not getting up? She made eye contact with Jasmine from behind the couches, where they were hiding. Jasmine knew they didn’t know they were back there. They had the element of surprise. As Jasmine was signaling to Chessy to attack, Marie beat them to it. Pushing herself up, Marie lunged forward, stabbing the guard in front her. The shock of seeing Marie alive put the remaining three off-guard. Jasmine saw her chance and went for the guard standing behind Marie, slicing his throat. As Jasmine turned from taking him down, Marie already had the other two guards bleeding on the ground. Slits to their upper arms, artery hits, they would bleed out in seconds. Chessy emerged from the back of the couches too late to help, the blood pooling around their feet. The site of Marie’s bullet wound had healed. All that remained was the blood around the entrance site. The lights suddenly came back on. Marie looked around at the blood soaked white throw rug below them.
“Let’s go mess up some more carpet.” Marie winked to Jasmine, who smiled in approval. “Try to keep up,” Marie directed to Chessy as she moved from the room towards the grand staircase. Marie charged up the stairs, with Jasmine swiftly behind her. Chessy, trying to keep up, saw a man approach the staircase from the top before Marie and Jasmine. Pulling her gun, Chessy took aim and fired, striking the man in the head, knocking him to the ground. Marie barely noticed and continued up the stairs. Paloma’s office was directly ahead. Marie knew she would be there; she always was. Marie barged through the door, kicking it open. One female assistant stood before them. Jasmine knew what to do. She charged, grabbing the woman by the throat and pulling her to the ground. The sound of the snap gave word the job was done.
Paloma held herself with grace as she sat still in her seat, watching the scene unfold before her. Her office was lined with screens; she had eyes everywhere. “So, you cut my power, so you could get in. Good for you. I knew you would come for me. I know who you are. Everything is recorded. If I die, the world will know it was you. They will hunt you and destroy you.”
Marie grinned as Chessy entered the room, closing the door behind them. Marie twirled her knife in her hand. “Oh, I know this video will make the news. The world over will see it. Do you honestly think I would just cut the wire to the power? I cut the wire to the sound. This will all be on tape, but no audio, baby.”
Rage filled Paloma’s face. “You were a mistake. I said it from the beginning, a true failure. You could have been great; instead, you are an unstable freak. You will not win this. They will destroy you and everything you have left.”
“If you want to shoot me to make yourself feel better, you can,” Marie provoked.
“What if I shoot one of your little buddies?” Paloma pulled a gun quickly from under her desk. Marie was quicker, jumping over the desk and knocking the gun from Paloma’s hand. Marie pulled Paloma’s arm back and restrained her. Marie’s eyes shifted to Chessy. “You do it.”
Chessy held her ground. “No, she is no threat to me.”
“No threat?! She was just ready to shoot you! Do it!”
“No.”
“Let me do it. I have wanted this bitch dead for years,” Jasmine interjected.
“No, I told her.”
“I won’t do it. You have the issue with her. You kill her.” Chessy would not budge.
Paloma laughed. “You don’t have these puppies as well-trained.”
Marie snapped Paloma’s neck. As she dropped Paloma’s body to the ground, she stormed from the room. Jasmine followed, but Chessy just stared at the body on the floor and shook her head. She then turned and followed them out.
Once off the compound, they met James and Greg on the hill.
“We need to get as far away from here as possible. It is only a matter of time before they discover the bodies,” Marie ordered, storming past Greg and James, her mask still on her face.
James turned to see Chessy bringing up the end of the pack, pulling her mask off as she approached. James stopped her. He could see tears in her eyes. “Are you ok? What happened?” Chessy shook her head. “We need to keep up,” she replied, wiping tears from her eyes.
James grabbed her by her shoulders. “Tell me what happened, please.”
Chessy shook her head as she buried it in his chest. James held her tight, looking towards Marie, leading the pack with everyone else in tow. James wrapped Chessy in his arms and led her along to catch up.
Once a safe distance had been established, Marie threw off her mask and unleashed her rage on Chessy. “You are a fucking disgrace! You are weak and not worthy of the position you have. When I give you a Goddamn order, you follow it!” Marie screamed, coming towards Chessy.
James was done with Marie’s behavior and stepped between them, pushing Marie back. “Stop it! I am not going to stand by while you bully her!” James yelled. “I don’t know what happened, but you have done nothing but pick on her since you met her, and if you don’t back off, I am gone. Do you hear me? I am out of here, and I won’t come back!”
Marie was shocked by James’ act of aggression. “Ok fine, she is your responsibility. She will never be where she needs to be to be any use to us.”
“Any use to you,” Chessy barked back, pushing past James. “We are not like you, and you are sick in the head if you think we should be. Is this really what you wanted for your children? To be monsters!”
Marie snapped, grabbing Chessy by the throat. James grabbed Marie by the arm, trying to pull her off Chessy, but it was no use. She was stronger.
“Do it. I am no use to you, anyway,” Chessy gasped. “What would their father think of what you have done?”
The mention of Michael shook Marie to the core as she let go of Chessy and backed away. Chessy slumped to the ground. James rushed to her side. Marie just stood there, looking at her hands. There was so much blood on them. The people she had killed, the life she had led was nothing she or Michael ever wanted. Looking from them, she saw James comforting Chessy. She saw nothing but Michael comforting her after Frederick choked her.
“I am a monster,” Marie whispered as tears filled her eyes.
Greg and Jasmine had watched the situation unfold, unsure of what to do next. Greg knew he had to keep the group moving for their own safety. Greg gently approached Mari
e, placing his hands on hers. “We need to get back to Ray. He is waiting for us.”
Greg’s gentle touch instantly calmed Marie. She shook her head ‘yes’ as James helped Chessy up. Greg grabbed the bag from Marie’s back and pulled out some clothing for Jasmine, Marie, and Chessy to change into. Once changed, the group began moving again.
Chapter
9
They arrived at the Ambassador’s residence shortly after nightfall. Flashing their badges, they all easily gained access, with the exception of Marie. They had to make a few excuses to get her in. Once through the front door, they were instantly confronted with a very unhappy Ray. His sights were fixed on Marie, who had finally reestablished her composure. Grabbing her and pinning her against the wall, Ray pointed a gun at her heart. “Give me one good reason to not shoot you, right now,” Ray sneered.
“It would just piss me off,” Marie replied with a wink. “And then you wouldn’t get the information I have.”
Ray stepped back, placing the gun back in its holster. “Follow me.” Ray gestured for them to follow him up the stairs. Once locked in an upstairs office, Ray finally noticed ‘Blossom’ was with them. “So did you bring me Ming’s spy as a peace offering?”
“No, she is with us, now. Ming disowned her, so now, she is one of yours.”
Jasmine smiled. “Nice to meet you.”
Ray rubbed his forehead. “Fine, what is this intelligence you have?”
“I will give you everything you need, but first, I need you to assemble your teams at these coordinates.” Marie pulled a pen from the desk and wrote down a set of coordinates and handed it to Ray. Ray stared at the numbers, trying to figure where they led. “You want me to take them to the middle of Missouri? Why?”
“It’s actually more central northern Missouri. Just get them there, and I will meet you. I have business to attend to this evening. They are under your protection until then. Get all of them there in two days.”
Jasmine (Teumessian Trilogy Book 3) Page 3