I'll Remember You (Hell Yeah!) (24 page)

“What? Are you going to drug him again? We could give him some Devil’s Breath, that would make him manageable. You could do whatever you wanted to with him then.”

Martina didn’t comment, but she had actually considered it. They had used scopolamine before. It was usually blown into the faces of the victims or put into their drinks. The victims became zombies, coherent, but with no free will whatsoever. Aron would be docile, perhaps even cooperative, but he would no longer be Aron or Austin, he wouldn’t be the man she loved. It was his fire she admired. And Martina wasn’t willing to put out that fire, she would almost rather snuff out his life.

“Have you become soft?” Esteban laughed. “I have seen you beat a female police officer to death with a two by four while her colleagues watched. Wasn’t it you who had three traitors dismembered while still alive? Didn’t you stuff Judge Escobar into a 55 gallon drum and set him on fire because he refused to take your bribe?”

“This is different.” She watched Aron wipe his forehead on his bicep. He was so beautiful and she wanted him so much. Tonight, she was going to try one last ditch effort to win him over. “Give me a little time.”

“You’ve had almost two weeks; he’s not going to break. The man has an iron will.”

“Diosa! Diosa!” Paco came running to get her. “Come, you must come!”

“What’s wrong?” She turned to see what the problem could be.

“Your father and sister have been in a car wreck on the way to the airport.”

***

Tebow Ranch

Jacob decided he had no choice but to tell Jessie what was going on. He had run himself to death between training with the men, overseeing the ranch and checking on BT and Jessie at the hospital. He spent most nights there sitting with his son so his wife could sleep. “I have something to confess.” He’d told her the very best version of their plans, one that didn’t include the machine guns, bombs and mercenaries. But his wife was no fool.

“Take care of yourself. You have a baby to think of.”

“Yea, I have two.” He held her close. “But I have to do this. He’s my brother.”

“Of course you do.” She clung to him and cried.  

Joseph had tried to lie to Cady, but he didn’t get very far. “We’re going on a hunting trip to…” Joseph thought quickly. “Colorado!” His magical wife raised one delicate eyebrow. How do you lie to a woman who can basically read your mind?

“A hunting trip to Colorado?” She stared him down. When he stared right back at her, she relented, kissed him and hugged him tight. “Please be careful. You are my world.”

“I’ll be home in time for the wedding, I promise.”

At home, after they’d seen the men off, Avery and Cady looked at one another. “Where was Isaac going?” Cady asked.

“Wyoming with Joseph.”

“Joseph went to Colorado with Isaac.”

Skye didn’t say anything and they quickly determined she was the weakest link, so they pounced. Libby was upstairs writing, so the coast was clear. “Okay, Miss Blue.” Avery grabbed her arm. “Spill.”

“You might as well. I’m picking up some strong vibrations.” Cady coerced her for information.

“Okay, okay, but you have to promise not to say anything to Libby or to any of the men if you talk to them.”

They agreed.

Skye looked at them solemnly. “They’ve gone after Aron.”

“What?”

“He’s alive!”

“That’s great!”

“Shhhhhh,” she shushed them. “They’re not telling Libby.”

“Why?” Avery asked. “She would be over the moon.”

“Do they want it to be a surprise?” Jessie asked.         

“Maybe.” Skye frowned. “I mean, yes, they want to surprise her.” She looked down. “But it’s also dangerous. Aron is being held captive by a Mexican drug cartel. Our men have gone down with guns and bombs and a helicopter to break him out.”

“Good God!” Avery had to sit down.

“They’ll be okay.” Cady sat primly, calmly with her hands folded. “We have to have faith.”

“I agree,” Skye said, but she was nervous as well. “I saw that woman who’s holding Aron prisoner. She’s one cold looking bitch.”

Avery covered her mouth. She wanted to laugh, but it wasn’t funny. “A woman?”

“Yes, did you know there are women drug lords?” Skye led them to the kitchen. “Let’s make some hot chocolate.” She knew they were going to worry themselves to death. They might as well do it over something sweet.

“Wouldn’t that make them drug ladies?” Avery grabbed Cady’s hand, seeking what comfort she could.

“Listen to me, girls.” Cady took control. “Everything will be fine. Our men are McCoys. They’re a special breed. The best thing we can do is keep busy and get ready for Christmas. They’ll be home before we know it.”

Avery eyed her soon to be sister-in-law. “Do you
know
this?”

“Yes,” Cady said calmly and prayed she was right.

Upstairs, Libby worked on her project. She’d finished the scrapbook; it had turned into a legacy of love. Now, she was writing their story. Wiping a tear, she wrote about the time they’d gone skinny dipping in the pond and the perch had nibbled on her toes. Yesterday she’d related the night they’d first made love after she’d swam in the stock tank. This morning she had laughed about the time Molly threw her and Aron had gotten so mad. “I can’t forget about the bar fight with Sabrina or our wedding.” 

Wait.

Libby put the pen down. She realized she was thinking of Aron in the past tense. A trembling began in her knees and worked its way up to her hands. “When did this happen?” She couldn’t let herself give up. Standing up, she went out and stared out the window at a moon so big it seemed to cover half the sky. “Please, please, God. I need him. Send him back to me.”

***

La Dura Headquarters – Sonora Mexico

Aron stared out the window at a moon so big it seemed to cover the sky. “Please, please, God. Help me. I don’t want to die without remembering her face.” He had been chained up so long his arms were numb.

Earlier, something had happened; he had heard an uproar in the hall. Martina had screamed. Honestly, he hadn’t thought her capable of remorse over anything. What she could have been suffering over so, he had no idea. How much longer she would let him live was another mystery. There was no way she was going to let him go. These thoughts were torturing him, so when the door opened and he looked up to see her standing there, he was shocked.

The look on her face was different. She walked in slowly. Moving gracefully, she came to within a couple of feet from where he was tied. He saw she was wearing a silk robe. Slowly she began to unbutton it. And she began to speak. “Tonight, I realized something. I’ve been wrong. My father and my sister were almost killed tonight.”

“I’m sorry.” He was. He liked Tomas and Alessandra. “They are too good for the likes of you.”

She lowered her eyes. “My priorities have been different.”

Aron could see she was naked beneath the robe. Then she slid it off her shoulders and let it fall to the ground. Her body was graceful, sensual and perfectly formed. Leaving him absolutely cold. “Cover yourself.”

She was not deterred. Coming to him, she moved a hand down his chest, tracing his muscles. He knew he had to smell. Regular baths had not been part of his torture regime. But she acted as if she did not notice. “If you will have me,” she offered. “I will leave El Duro. We can start anew, somewhere else.” Stepping closer, she kissed him on the chest.

Aron felt as if an icepick was being thrust into his heart. “No.”

“Please.” She moved her hand down to cup his cock, trying to coax it to life. She molded it and massaged it.

Aron gritted his teeth. He wasn’t made of stone. But he refused to respond. He didn’t want to respond. “No.”

“For you, Aron. For you, I will change. For you I will become like other women. Like your wife.”

She looked into his eyes and he looked back. “You could never be like my wife. I know you’ve stolen my memories of her, but I know I would never choose anyone like you. I don’t want you, Martina. I wouldn’t have you and all your money tied up in a neat little bow.” She stepped back, withdrawing her hand as if she’d been burned. “If that’s what you’re keeping me far, you might as well kill me.”                 

***

Operation Aron

Two planes and a helicopter winged their way from Texas to Mexico. They belonged to Chancellor Industries. Inside were friends who were willing to place their own lives on the line to bring one of their own home. Harley LeBlanc was one of those friends. She sat drawing a diagram.

“Do you have your plan finalized, cher?” Her husband sat beside her. Beau had stepped up to the challenge, furnishing enough firepower to take down a small country. He’d also worked tirelessly with the McCoys to make sure they all felt comfortable handling the weapons.

“Yes, I do. Jet and I have this part covered.” She lifted her eyes and smiled at her new friend. He was an intimidating looking man. Of course, during her time in the Navy she had met her share of tattoo-covered muscle men.

Everyone knew their place. Everyone knew their role. There were some more dangerous jobs than others. Aron’s brothers had demanded to be on the front line. “Has anyone talked to Brock, again? Do we have any idea how many men will be at the hacienda?” Joseph asked. He’d been keeping up with everything, but he was getting married in a few days, so his thinking was fragmented.

“We’re still waiting. There’s been a set-back. He says the old man and the sister were in a car accident. Brock has been at her side and he also had a run-in with Martina. Apparently, she’s decided she doesn’t approve of Alessandra’s low-class boyfriend,” Jacob stated. “His words, not mine.”

“What time do we arrive?” Isaac was nervous, fidgeting in his seat. He wasn’t scared, he just wanted this over with and for them all to be back at Tebow—Aron with them and this whole nightmare to be nothing but a bad dream.

“In half an hour,” Roscoe answered. “We’ve sent everything to Cisco, and if our timing works out, they’ll be arriving right about the time we’re through. Clean up crew, I guess you could call it.”

Joseph couldn’t help but ask. “How are they going to feel about a group of Americans coming into their country and waging war?”

“Well.” Roscoe laughed. “I don’t know. This could turn into an international incident. They ought to be grateful, though. We’re doing their job for them. The info Brock gave us is enough to shut down El Duro and their suppliers.” 

“Good.” Noah nodded. “No use letting Aron’s information go to waste.” He looked out the window at the wispy clouds passing by. “I wonder if he’s remembered more.”

“I don’t know.” Micah put his food tray aside. “I do think you ought to be the one to approach him when we find him. At least he’ll recognize your face and you can explain things. We don’t want to have to fight him once we turn him loose.”

“I wonder what they’ve done to him.” Bowie didn’t want to alarm anyone, but he was familiar with the cold, sadistic practices of the drug cartels. Frankly, the fact he’d survived this long was testament that he meant something to the Delgado woman.

“I’m afraid to see,” Jacob spoke lowly, echoing the same sentiment everyone else was feeling. “I’ve got a doctor alerted back home, in case any of us or Aron is injured. I’ve also contacted a neurobiologist in case his memory is still fouled up from the drugs or the operation. His name is Scott Walker, he comes highly recommended.”

“Good idea,” Kyle agreed. “I want us to get together after all of this is over and celebrate. When we were training and working together, I realized we all have a great deal in common, a lot more than just our mutual love for Aron.”

“I like that.” Bowie smiled. “If we can pull this off, it’s going to be a helluva Christmas.”

Nerves were tense and there wasn’t a lot of conversation when they landed and began to get ready for the planned assault. Vance had arranged for their transportation. Getting away after it was over was going to be as dangerous and tricky as the attack, they’d just have to make sure they damaged them enough to make their exit possible. “All right. It’s time.”

Before leaving the airport, they loaded up in three black SUV’s, everyone armed. Beau had made sure they all wore bulletproof vests and Kevlar clothes. It wouldn’t keep them from getting shot, but it would even the odds a fraction. Harley held her bomb in her lap, ready to hook it up and watch the fireworks display. Patrick and his team, would storm the gate. Revel would lead the charge. They had it timed out so the distraction of one assault would camouflage the next. As soon as the west wall was blown and Kyle’s team had moved in, Tyson would lower the brothers and Bowie down by helicopter to storm the house and rescue Aron.

Jacob hoped to high heaven they hadn’t missed anything.

The weather was warm as they made their way through the streets of Cantanea. Destry and Patrick rode at the windows, their rifles at the ready, just in case they were fired upon. Stray dogs ran across the road, kids played in the ditches as they passed. Life seemed to be going on as normal, but all were aware that every eye watched them closely as they went by.

“What do these people think about a drug lord in their neighborhood?” Jaxson asked. When he’d been down before, he had just gone to the airport and the ranch, not venturing out into the countryside.

“I suppose they’re used to it, much like gang activity in the states, plus so many of them make their living one way or another off the cartel. I’m sure their presence stimulates the economy.” Noah mused.

“That’s debatable,” Bowie commented. “Down here, it’s either cooperate or die. In the last six or so years, the authorities estimate over a hundred thousand people have been killed in the drug wars. Mass graves have been uncovered. Added together over twenty-four thousand people have just been thrown away like garbage. Dismembered body parts are found in the streets or rotting in barrels of acid. They find dead bodies hanging from bridges, journalists are killed, women are raped...the drug war takes no prisoners.”

“You can bet your ass someone has let them know we’re here. I think we stick out like a sore thumb.” Isaac’s pessimistic streak was letting itself be known.