All's Fair in Love and War: A story of love and betrayal

by J Theron

  Gabrielle jumped up and started pacing. She stopped abruptly and stared at him. “That no good, son-of-a-bitch James drugged you! He knew I would go to you if he gave me the night off. He must have had some hold over Jennifer and they did it together.”

  Ryan sat frozen, a look of horror on his face. “That fucked up, little mangy dog!”

  “My father is the director of the CIA. I’ll find James when we’re back in the States and I’ll make him wish he had never laid eyes on me. He will rue the day he tried to mess with me!” she said, unable to get a grip on her rage.

  “Well you’ll have to get in line. He’ll probably have to get facial reconstruction once I’m done.”

  “What on earth possessed him? He’s a psychopath! I still can’t believe that somebody could do such a thing!”

  “I’m not surprised. I knew from the start that there was something off about him,” Ryan said in a slightly calmer voice as the revelation began to sink in.

  Gabrielle narrowed her eyes. “You know the saying, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?”

  Ryan grinned. “I do.”

  “Well, he’s going to find out what that means,” she replied.

  “I’m sure, but unfortunately our plans of revenge will have to wait. I think we should get some sleep. I’m so tired, I can’t think straight anymore,” he said.

  She sighed. “You’re right, but I’m so furious, I have no idea how I’m going to fall asleep.”

  “You look exhausted though and you also need to rest. I’ll wake you at sunrise,” he said.

  She did not move. She felt like crying all of a sudden.

  “What’s wrong?” Ryan murmured.

  “It’s just so incredibly fucked up! We lost three years! Three years of wasted time.”

  He pulled her down onto his lap and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I love you. I’ve never stopped loving you. I was adrift the last three years, but now we know what happened.”

  “I know, and it’s changed everything. I still feel cheated though, in the worst possible way. I just can’t imagine anybody being that devious.”

  He brushed his thumb over her lower lip. “At least I get to kiss these lips again.”

  “I love you,” she whispered. “When we get out of here, we’ll be boring and ordinary and have a house and a dog.”

  He smirked. “What kind of dog?”

  “A French poodle.”

  “Hell no! I love you, but my love has limits.”

  She pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes. “We’ll see.” She leaned her head on his shoulder and felt safe when he placed his arms around her in a tight embrace. Even though they were in the direst of circumstances, she felt content and for the first time in a very long time she fell asleep without regret haunting her dreams.

  CHAPTER 15

  “I hate to break up the party, but we have to move.”

  Gabrielle struggled to open her eyes and it took a few seconds to focus on Carlos who was looming over her. It was getting close to sunrise and she could make out the pink coloring of the predawn sky through the tree tops. She was lying on the canvas with her head on her backpack and a quick glance at her surroundings told her that Ryan was not anywhere in their little makeshift camp.

  “Are you feeling better?” she asked as she sat up.

  “Well, I suppose that depends on what you’re referring to, love. My head doesn’t feel like it’s going to spontaneously combust at any second, but I’m still ready to shoot Loverboy in the face.”

  “You have to let that go, Carlos. Ryan really tried to do what was best for all of us.”

  “I don’t give a flying fuck what he tried to do!”

  Gabrielle was taken aback by the vehemence in his voice. She rose from the canvas and took a few tentative steps away from him. “I think I’ll check on Valentina,” she murmured.

  “Do that. I want to get the hell out of here,” he grumbled.

  Gabrielle turned her back on Carlos and sat on her heels next to Valentina. She placed her hand on Valentina’s uninjured shoulder and gave her a gentle shake. “Valentina, you have to wake up.”

  Valentina pulled away and said something that Gabrielle could not understand. She opened her eyes slowly and seemed to take a few seconds to focus on Gabrielle’s face.

  “What happened,” she croaked in a hoarse voice.

  “We had to make an emergency landing. You hit your head and suffered a mild concussion. You also had a dislocated shoulder, but I fixed that.”

  “Thank you.”

  Gabrielle smiled. “You’re welcome. Can you sit up?”

  Valentina turned on her side and sat up slowly. She grabbed her head and swore softly in Spanish as she squeezed her eyes shut. “Do you have any pain killers? My head’s pounding.”

  Gabrielle nodded. “Wait here.” She opened the medical kit and removed some tablets. She handed it and a bottle of water from her backpack to Valentina who murmured her thanks as she swallowed it.

  “Where’s Ryan?” she asked anxiously as she scanned the area.

  Gabrielle frowned. “I don’t know. I…”

  Valentina interjected before she could explain. “What do you mean you don’t know?” She sat up abruptly and her face became frantic.

  “He’s okay Valentina. I assume he’s looking for the road we saw just before we crashed,” Gabrielle replied.

  Valentina sagged back and closed her eyes. “Okay. I just want to wait for the medication to work before I try to get up.”

  “Okay. Try to rest a bit and we’ll get going as soon as Ryan comes back. If you feel up to it.”

  Valentina opened her eyes and fixed her determined gaze on Gabrielle. “I will get up, even if I have to crawl out of here.”

  “Okay. But you need to tell me if you feel unable to move.”

  Valentina snorted. “I’ve had worse injuries that this and walked, but I thank you for your concern.”

  Gabrielle just shook her head as she rose from her crouched position next to Valentina. She really did not have the energy to deal with hostile companions, but she had no choice. She was on call for her patients so to speak and her shift was not going to end anytime soon.

  She turned back to Carlos who was checking the contents of his pack. She froze for a second when he removed his handgun and checked the chamber. He looked up and he must have seen something on her face because he quickly pushed the gun into the back of his pants and pulled his shirt over to conceal it.

  He smirked and said, “Don’t worry, love. Not going to shoot anyone in the head today. My stomach is still feeling queasy after Loverboy clubbed me on the head.”

  Gabrielle rolled her eyes and started to collect the items she used to make camp. “Thanks. I’m glad you feel too nauseated to shoot someone today.”

  “Now Gabrielle, no need to be bitchy. It doesn’t suit you.”

  “Carlos, just keep quiet,” she huffed.

  Gabrielle was relieved when she looked up and noticed that Ryan was making his way towards them. He was pushing his way through the thick undergrowth and Gabrielle was wondering how they were going to travel any significant distance when they had to make their way through that. Ryan smiled at her and she had to suppress the urge to jump into his arms.

  “I found the road. I must have just missed it last night. I don’t know where it leads, but it’s better than travelling through the jungle,” he said as he reached her side.

  He leaned down and pulled her tight against his body before kissing her firmly on the lips. She was slightly taken aback at his display of affection and stood like a statue in his embrace. When he released her, she noticed how both Valentina and Carlos momentarily stopped what they were doing and gaped at them.

  “All roads lead to Rome. In the case of Colombia all roads lead to a cartel,” Carlos said sarcastically.

  Ryan looked up and studied Carlos with narrowed eyes. “I’m glad to see you’re up and about. I’m sorry I hit you so hard.” />
  “You’re not strong enough to do me permanent harm,” Carlos replied.

  Ryan was quiet for a few seconds and Gabrielle could see the wheels turning in his head. He could choose either to react to Carlos’s insult or ignore it. Ryan nodded. “Fine. Let’s get out of here.”

  Gabrielle let out the breath she had been holding. She turned to Valentina and helped her up. Valentina shrugged off her hand and said, “Ryan will help me from here.”

  Gabrielle put her hands in the air and tried not to show any reaction on her face. “Okay. As you wish.”

  Ryan glanced at Gabrielle over Valentina’s head and mouthed the words I’m sorry as he placed his arm around her body and helped her to walk.

  “Guess Carlos and I will have to carry the supplies,” Gabrielle said under her breath as she gathered the packs and medical kit.

  They walked in silence for what felt like ages. Gabrielle had to suppress her irritation every time she looked at Ryan and Valentina a few feet ahead of them. Ryan was the only one who knew where the road was and had to walk in front. Unfortunately Gabrielle was forced to watch them as Valentina held Ryan in a death grip every time she had to step over a fallen log or dense underbrush. She injured her arm, not her leg, for goodness sake. Why did she have to lean on him so heavily? Surely she wasn’t that lightheaded anymore!

  Gabrielle was still fuming in silence when Carlos, who was walking beside her, whispered, “Are you jealous, love?”

  Gabrielle shot him an angry glare and replied, “Of course not!”

  “Then why are you shooting daggers at their backs?”

  “I’m not!”

  Carlos chuckled. “All women are the same. Even the cool as cucumber Gabrielle Durand.”

  Gabrielle shrugged. “Have you ever been in love, Carlos?”

  “Why do you want to know? Are you applying for the position of my one true love?”

  “Don’t deflect. Tell me.”

  “No, I haven’t. If you go by the name of Carlos, the Killer, it doesn’t exactly inspire everlasting love, more like fear and loathing.”

  “Well, that’s going to change soon when we get back to the States and all this is behind us. We can go on double dates. I have some sexy friends I can set you up with.”

  “Please, no! I’ll stick to anonymous fucks, thank you,” he retorted.

  Gabrielle was thinking of a response when Ryan exclaimed, “I can see the road!”

  She looked ahead and the rudimentary dirt road was visible. It snaked through the trees and recent tire tracks marked the uneven surface.

  “I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse,” Ryan continued. “At least we’ll be able to walk easier.”

  “And Valentina can walk by herself,” Gabrielle mumbled.

  They continued walking in silence and it was close to noon when Ryan stopped. “Let’s rest and eat something.”

  Gabrielle dropped her pack in the dirt and sat down. “I’m not going to say no.”

  She took some bottled water from her pack and eyed it wearily. “We don’t have a lot of water left.” She swiped the back of her hand over her face and she grimaced when she saw the dirt streaking the back of her hand. She did not want to know how bedraggled and dirty she looked, but the others were just as sweaty and dirty.

  “I’m hoping we’ll run across a settlement. We could always look for running water and boil it if we don’t find people.” Ryan replied.

  Gabrielle looked at Carlos. “Do you have any idea where we are?”

  Carlos shook his head. “None. But we’re walking in a northerly direction. At least we’re going the right way,” he replied as he sat down next to her.

  “How’s your head?” she asked.”

  “Okay. I still have a headache, but I can live with it.”

  “What’s the plan? Are we just going to keep walking?” Valentina asked.

  “Do you have any other suggestions, Einstein?” Carlos snapped, unable to mask the irritation in his voice.

  Valentina sat down as well and glared at Carlos. “Fuck you, Carlos.”

  Ryan was standing quietly to the side, observing them when his head perked up and he appeared to listen intently to the sounds surrounding them. “I hear a vehicle and it’s coming our way.”

  Gabrielle scrambled to get the pack and supplies she was carrying and ran into the forest thicket that walled the dirt road. She was followed by Carlos and Valentina and they crouched behind the trees, hiding from immediate view. Ryan was still standing in the road and did not appear to make any effort to hide.

  “Ryan,” Gabrielle hissed. “What are you doing?”

  He kept his back to them and said in a hushed tone, “Stay hidden until I call you. If they shoot me, run!”

  Gabrielle started to get up from her crouched position, but Carlos pulled her back. “Get the hell down, Gabrielle!”

  She tried to pull her arm from his grip and hissed, “Leave me! I won’t let him get shot.”

  Before Gabrielle could resist, Carlos folded his arms around her in a death grip and completely immobilized her. He placed his palm over her mouth and stopped her from crying out. She struggled for a few seconds before admitting to herself that she was defeated. She became still in his arms as the vehicle stopped in the road a few metres away from them.

  Carlos whispered in her ear, “Keep very still. And pretend you don’t like being in my arms.” He slowly lifted his palm from her mouth while watching her intently. His expression left no doubt that he would silence her if she tried anything.

  She relaxed her body completely and tried to ignore his strong arms around her. Her heart was beating rapidly as she watched an old man getting out of a beat up, red pick-up truck. There was a boy in the front passenger seat and he seemed to be about ten years old.

  Gabrielle tried to hear what they were saying, but Ryan was between them and the old man. She could make out a few Spanish words here and there, but not enough to follow the conversation. It seemed like an eternity before Ryan turned around and motioned for them to come out of hiding.

  Gabrielle struggled out of Carlos’s grip, but he seemed reluctant to let her go. Valentina gave them a knowing look as she walked past them. “Get a room,” she chuckled.

  “Let me go,” Gabrielle said through gritted teeth. She scrambled to an upright position and stumbled towards the road as soon as Carlos relaxed his steely grip. She did not look back to see if Carlos was coming.

  Ryan was still talking to the old man in Spanish when Gabrielle reached his side. She smiled at the man who seemed friendly. He was dressed in simple work clothes and boots and his hair was completely gray. His face was weather beaten and there were lots of lines around his eyes, as if he smiled constantly.

  “Hola. Soy Gabrielle,” she said, as she held out her hand in greeting.

  The man took her hand and shook it. “Hello, young lady. I am Luis. I am glad to help,” he replied in perfect but heavily accented English.

  “Get in,” Ryan said as he indicated to the back of the pick-up truck. “Luis is going to give us a lift to the nearest village. He said we should be able to catch a ride from there to where we want to be.”

  It did not escape Gabrielle that Ryan did not reveal their final destination and she simply nodded. Carlos looked at the old man and the boy before turning to Ryan. “Does he know who we are?” he asked in French.

  Ryan shook his head. “I don’t think so,” he replied in French.

  Gabrielle snorted. “I guess I can add French to the list of languages you speak,” she said as she nudged Ryan with her elbow.

  Ryan winked as he helped her into the truck. “Attendre jusqu’à ce que nous sommes seuls.”

  “And what exactly are you going to do when we’re alone?” she whispered.

  He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Everything I’ve been dreaming about for the last three years.”

  “Do you mind if we get going?” Valentina asked in an irritated tone of voice as she climbed onto
the truck. She sat down and frowned at Carlos who sat next to her with a big smile on his face.

  “Fine. I’m going to sit in the front with Luis. I want to ask him a few questions,” Ryan replied.

  They sat in silence as the truck started to move. Gabrielle watched the trees as the truck snaked along the dirt road. The going was very slow because of the poor condition of the road and the many potholes. Gabrielle wondered if they would reach the village before dark. She was surprised when the truck slowed down after an hour and she started to notice signs of habitation. The forest seemed less dense with areas cleared for crops. Small huts started to appear and she saw men and women working the small plots of land. The truck came to a stop when they reached the centre of the village and she noticed there were telephone lines, but that the only store in the village operated with a large generator.

  They got off the truck and waited patiently next to the road while Ryan thanked Luis. Ryan shook his hand and then walked towards them.

  “Luis told me that there’s a small hotel at the edge of the village. Apparently there is the occasional tourist who travels through here, believe it or not. He also said that we would be able to find transport from there,” Ryan said.

  Carlos looked around at the dilapidated buildings making up the village. A few villagers gave them curious looks but did not try to approach them. “Well, let’s get going then. I feel like a fish in a fishbowl. We must get off the street.”

  Ryan nodded. “You’re right.”

  They followed Ryan as he walked in the direction Luis pointed out before he got into his truck and drove off. They came to a stop before a three storey building with a sign that read Hotel California. The building looked sound but the white paint was peeling from the walls and many of the shutters lining the windows were hanging askew, looking as if they were going to fall to the ground at any second.

  Gabrielle smiled in amusement. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Hotel California.”