The Defiant: An Unbeaten Path (16 page)

“You presume to know why I’m here, but you’re wrong,” Chad said and gave Nicholas a hard look.

This was the fear he had before he went down to see Chad.

“Before you say anything else, let me tell you how sorry we are, and none of this was meant to happen, it just happened. My family and friends in there have nothing to do with this. I would like to request you remove these guards so they can move on.”

“These men here are for your protection, and no one can leave. All of you will be called as witnesses in the trial.”

“Chad, be reasonable, this idea of a trial is—”

“Is how we do things here. We are a good people. We opened our arms to you, and when we sent our people out to help find your lost people, one of them murdered my son. Logan told me what happened. It’s disgusting, truly. My son begged her to listen, but she didn’t. She just opened fire on them. Her negligence resulted in the murder of Brock and the unfortunate death of the other person in your group.”

“You have to understand it from her position.”

“I will, we will. Our court will be impartial and just. We will get to hear her side of it very soon. In fact, I heard she’s awake and talking. Her health seems to be good enough to proceed as early as the weekend.”

“That’s two days away. She’s been shot, she’s injured. She needs time to talk to someone, some sort of legal representation.”

“She’s well enough to fight two nurses and cause mayhem at the hospital. That girl is trouble, so much that we’ve had to sedate and restrain her.”

“Chad, you wanted us to stay and now this?”

“Clearly I made an error in judgment. Consider this conversation my revocation of our invitation.”

“When can I see her?” Nicholas asked.

“When the trial starts.”

“Doesn’t she get legal representation for this kangaroo court you’re holding?” Nicholas snarled. His congenial tone was now gone. He couldn’t pretend anymore, he was upset, and by what he heard from Chad, there was no negotiation available to him.

“We will appoint someone. I understand you talked with Tom this morning; he has volunteered to take her case. He’s scheduled to meet her tonight.”

“What about Rob’s body?”

“We don’t have it; we never recovered it. It’s still out on the highway where the poor soul died. I’m sorry, but our concern was getting the wounded back.”

“You left his body back on the road? We’re going to go get it and bring it back so we can bury him.”

“Like I said, Nicholas, you’re going nowhere. If we have a spare team, we’ll send them out to get it,” Chad said with a sneer.

“You can try to stop us, but we’re going,” Nicholas declared.

“I can’t be held responsible for what happens.”

Nicholas felt like reaching into the car and pulling Chad out and beating him.

“I’d suggest you let us get him so there’s no more bloodshed,” Chad said snidely.

“I was hoping we could work something out, but it doesn’t look that way,” Nicholas said, biting his tongue for fear his own rhetoric would get him upset further to a point he may not be able to control his actions.

“Have a nice rest of your day, Nicholas,” Chad said. The driver of the truck started it and revved it loudly. “And Nicholas, I feel honesty is the best policy, so make sure you prepare yourself and your group.”

“For what?”

“Bryn will be found guilty, there’s no doubt, so prepare your people for Bryn’s execution, which will be handed down immediately following her conviction,” Chad said and grinned.

The truck sped off before Nicholas could respond. He stood for a moment, stewing on the conversation. Across the street a few townspeople came by and made disparaging comments. Nicholas raised his middle finger and mouthed, “Fuck you.” He turned and marched back inside the house.

“What did he say?” Becky asked.

Nicholas looked at everyone; their faces longed for news that would be promising. However, what he was about to tell them could lead to more death and a possibility that they’d never see Montana, but he couldn’t allow the trial to go forward and would never let them kill her. They had to take a stand, and this was their time. “He said what I expected him to say, but what he finished with leaves us no choice. We will have to free her, and I can’t guarantee the outcome of doing so.”

“But what did he say?” Marjorie asked.

“He said the trial is going forward, that she would be found guilty, and her sentence would quickly follow. In a nutshell, if we do nothing, Bryn will die.”

“We have to go get her,” Frank declared.

“I agree,” Becky stated.

“What did he say about Rob?” Abigail asked.

“They never brought him back; they left him out there,” Nicholas answered.

Abigail was quickly overcome with grief and began to cry.

“Why did they leave him out there?” Marjorie asked, her demeanor cool and levelheaded, a vast departure from the more emotional approach she’d had just weeks before.

“Because they don’t care,” Sophie said.

“I don’t understand why they would do that,” Marjorie said.

“Mom, it doesn’t matter why, they did it, but our biggest concern is getting Bryn,” Becky said, raising her voice above some of the side chatter that was starting.

“Nic, Becky, I’m sorry, but I can’t vote to help in this. I vote against it,” Katherine said.

“No one has to go along, but this isn’t up for a vote. I’m going to get her. If you don’t want to participate, then that’s fine, but you don’t have a vote as to whether this happens. It’s going down,” Nicholas said.

“Then I don’t need to sit here and listen to this insanity.” Katherine stood and left the room, Evelyn in her arms.

Nicholas looked at Colin, who shrugged and said, “You know where I stand; they’ve got my girl. It’s time to crack some skulls.”

“I think we should vote on this because the consequences could affect us all,” Marjorie said.

“Give me a gun, son. I’ll help,” Frank said defiantly.

“I need you here to defend everyone. Colin and I are going to get her. I need you back here to help ensure Becky and the others get out.”

“We have to vote!” Marjorie demanded.

“Sorry, Mom, not going to happen, we’re pressing forward regardless. The life and death of one of our own is at stake. We’re going to get her.”

“What’s the plan?” Colin asked.

Marjorie sat silent now, knowing that even if they held a vote, her point of view would lose.

Nicholas pulled everyone in close and said, “The first part of my plan is a diversion, something spectacular, and from there it will be brute force, so I want everyone prepared to fight hard.”

Carlsbad, CA

“Well, that was a clusterfuck!” Francis bellowed.

“Should we see if there are any survivors?” Karina asked.

“No one survived that,” Michael said.

Following the battle and subsequent helicopter crash, Michael, Karina, Anatoly, Francis and two additional security men escaped down the steep embankment behind Nicholas’ house. When they reached the bottom, they were cut up, bruised and unsure of where to go from there. Fortunately a park was within walking distance, and they made for that. Finding shelter along a grove of shrubs, they devised their next steps.

“You have a radio?” Anatoly asked Francis.

“I have something better, a satellite phone. I’ll make the call,” Francis answered as he pulled the phone out from a pocket on his tactical vest and dialed out.

Michael looked at Karina and saw a trickle of blood on her face. “You’re cut,” he said, pointing to her face.

She reached up and wiped it off only to have another drop of blood form on the small superficial cut. “If that’s the worst following that, I’ll take it.”

“Well, that muddles our plan a bit.”

Francis pocketed the phone and said, “A bird is en route to our location. I’ve turned on a tracking beacon; they should arrive in a couple of hours. I had to call in a favor, so I hope you don’t mind that it’s not one of ours.”

“Good man, thank you,” Anatoly said to Francis.

“Who has a chopper ready to go at a moment’s notice, especially one that works?” Michael asked suspiciously.

“The company I work for.”

“Company? You mean he’s not a Knight or part of our group?” Michael asked Anatoly, concerned about having a third party involved.

“We’ve suffered some losses over time, so we contracted some help,” Anatoly replied.

“Can we talk?” Michael asked Anatoly.

“Say whatever you’re going to say?” Anatoly responded.

“I know I hit my head hard and my memory isn’t what it was, but I know that you can never trust a fucking merc.”

“If you have a problem with me and my men, you can leave,” Francis shot back.

A cool westerly breeze swept in, blowing trash and leaves across the park.

“You hired guns to take us? What kind of Mickey Mouse operation is this?” Michael asked.

“I told you, we have suffered many losses,” Anatoly replied.

“You knew about this?” Michael asked Karina.

“You’re overreacting. Francis is trustworthy; he’s been with us for a while. He’s a bit hotheaded but dependable.”

Michael looked back at Francis, shook his head and said, “What is the name of your outfit?”

“What does it matter?”

“It matters.”

“We have two hours; let’s just get along, okay?” Anatoly requested, chiding both men.

Francis stood and joined his team, who were posted outside the grove.

With him gone, Michael lit into Anatoly. “You can’t trust people who are hired guns. Believe me, they work for the highest bidder. What if Viktor has him on speed dial and makes him a better offer?”

“He’s worked with us for quite a while; you have nothing to be concerned about,” Anatoly said in his own defense.

A swifter breeze came in. They looked up and saw the blue sky had been replaced with darkening clouds.

“A storm coming in?” Karina asked.

“A shit storm maybe,” Michael joked.

“No, it looks like a rainstorm,” Karina said.

Michael had time to kill, so he decided to ask some pointed questions to Anatoly. “You know everything about me; tell me, who are you?”

“Just a man sworn to defend—”

Michael cut him off and said, “None of the bullshit. Who are you? You’re Russian, Karina you’re Russian, and so is this guy Viktor. What’s the deal with all the Russians?”

“I’m Ukrainian not Russian,” Anatoly answered proudly.

“It’s the same, isn’t?”

“No, it is not. Viktor is a dirty Russian dog.”

Karina reached over and tapped Michael on the head. “And I’m not Russian, I’m from Latvia.”

“I guess it’s true what they say about Americans.”

“That you’re all fat,” Karina joked.

“Yes, and stupid.” Michael laughed. “But seriously, where are the other Americans or Brits? Why is everyone from Eastern Europe?”

“There were many, but Viktor had them killed,” Anatoly said sadly.

“That’s tough,” Michael replied.

“This is the God’s honest truth, this is our last stand. If we fail, there will be no one left to stop him. He’s ruthless and will murder anyone who gets in his way. He’s a monster,” Anatoly said.

“Well, let’s make sure that doesn’t happen,” Michael said.

The light aroma of smoke hit their noses.

“I can’t believe what’s happening,” Karina said, looking to the east at a thick black billowing plume of smoke.

“Looks like the fire is spreading. I wonder how many homes will be lost because of their foolishness?” Anatoly asked, his head craned, watching the heavy smoke.

“People are desperate. Things will only get worse,” Michael said.

“You’re right, things are only getting worse, and if Viktor gets his hands on the spear, things will never return to the way they were,” Anatoly added.

Michael was also looking towards the smoke and said, “Things are never going back to the way they were, Anatoly, regardless of Viktor. The world we knew before is gone forever.”

Vista, CA

“Aren’t you curious how your mom is?” Vincent asked.

Noah shook his head.

“You’re not worried?”

Again he shook his head.

“She’s been upstairs all day and not a peep. Maybe I should go up and check on her, plus I need a break from games.”

“Can we play Rummy again when you come back?” Noah asked, excited about a new card game he had learned.

“I’ll do something better, I’ll teach you how to play Spades when I come back.”

“Right on!” Noah cheered.

“When I’m done with you, you’ll be a card shark,” Vincent said as he sang the theme song from the movie
Jaws
. He exited the room and, with a single cane, walked up the stairs to the master bedroom. He was worried about her, and even though he was sure she was fine, he thought it appropriate to check in on her. If anything, she’d know someone cared, not that she’d acknowledge it. Standing outside the bedroom door, he paused, took a deep breath and tapped heavily on the door.

No reply came from inside.

He tapped louder and said, “Bridgette, you okay? You must be hungry.”

Still no reply.

A wave of concern came over him as he imagined that she might have hurt herself. He now banged and said just below a holler, “Bridgette, you awake?” He tried the doorknob, but it was locked. His heart began to race as he now vividly saw her dead by her own hand inside. “Bridgette, open up!”

Silence from the other side.

His mind now saw her struggling to hold on after making an attempt on her own life and her survival depended on him. He stepped back, braced his weight on the single crutch, and lifted his good leg to get the door open.

The door swung open and Bridgette was standing there, a towel wrapped around her. “What are you yelling about?”

“I’ve been knocking, but you didn’t answer. I was concerned,” Vincent replied, his left leg still half-cocked.

“I just cleaned up a bit. The pressure in the shower is horrible, by the way,” she said.

“The water tank on the hill must be running low. The house is on a gravity feed from it.”

She looked at his leg still elevated and asked, “Were you going to kick the door in and save me?”