The Key To Micah's Heart (Hell Yeah!) (23 page)

She was bound, hanging by her wrists from a hook in the ceiling on the right hand side of some type of stage. Her tongue was so dry that it stuck to the roof of her mouth. She’d been whipped, the clothes on her body hanging as rags. Screams, unholy screams, echoed around her. Her eyes were glued to a chair in the middle of the room. A young woman sat there, her hands tied behind her back. One by one, a trio of men came to her, forcing her to give them fellatio. They wore hoods over their faces, but she assumed they were the same three who’d threatened her before. The woman being used was held in place by an armed guard. Sofia shut her eyes to erase the scene, but when she looked again, the monstrosity was always in front of her. She wanted to add her screams to the unholy scene, but a gag in her mouth prevented her from making any noise beyond desperate moans.

Through the haze of delirium, Sofia saw another figure with a camera recording the vile scene. This was like the set of a horror film, only this wasn’t acting, this was appalling reality. Seeing the woman violated in such a way turned her stomach. But when the men were through with her, what happened next would be imprinted on Sofia’s brain forever. The shorter man walked up to the molested woman with a gun and shot her between the eyes.

As the poor girl slumped forward, Sofia screamed a silent agonizing scream.

“How long are we going to keep the old puta alive?” The voice emanating from the hood made Sofia think of the grim reaper.

“She came to us, she wanted to know what was happening to these girls. We shall let her live to satisfy her curiosity–and then we’ll kill her. Who’s ready for a drink?”

Ni una muerta mas.

“You two seem to have a close relationship, why didn’t you stop her?” Noah asked, a quiet desperation in his voice.

Mateo stared at the man who looked so much like Angel Rubio. “After you spend more time with your mother, you’ll understand that she is a very stubborn woman.”

Noah jammed his hands in his pockets, feeling more helpless than he’d ever felt. “I hope I get an opportunity to find out.”

“Your friends, they are on their way? You have a plan to rescue her?”

“Yes, the Equalizers will be here soon. I’m not sure about the plan,” he sighed. “I just can’t understand why she did this. I don’t understand why she’s done anything.” Noah whipped around and glared at the young Hispanic man, realizing how jealous he was of him.

“I want to be included. I can shoot a gun. She saved me, I want to save her. I should’ve gone on my own…” Mateo’s voice trailed off.

Noah looked at the young man. There was fire in his eyes. One day his body would grow as big as his heart. “Waiting for us was best. I’m sure she knows how much you care.”

“Your mother is a great lady.” Mateo spoke softly. “Ni una muerta mas, not one more death, Sofia’s mantra. She saved my life and she has saved many others.” He resented having to explain something so obvious to the American. “You were the first.”

Noah turned his head slowly. “What do you mean?”

Mateo narrowed his gaze. “You don’t know?”

“What do you mean and how would I know?” Noah raised his voice. He half-way expected the door to open and one of his brothers to step inside to check on him, they were just outside, keeping watch and giving him some privacy with Mateo. “The first inkling I had of her existence was when I found my mother–Sue’s–diary. I was kept in the dark about all of this. No one gave me a say in the matter. Later, I was given a photo. I’ve had to dig for every scrap of information on my mother. Clearly, she never expected for me to ever find her.”

“She called you.” Mateo grated.

“Yes, but not because of our relationship. She called to save others.” Noah blasted out his feelings. “I know I sound selfish and I want to save these women…but this is my mother. My mother!”

Mateo stood to approach Noah McCoy. Having sympathy for this man wasn’t easy. Their worlds were so far apart–vast wealth and abject poverty. Yet, they had something in common. Angel Rubio. “Sofia gave you up to save your life. Her husband, a vicious man, threatened to kill you when he found out you were not his own. She hasn’t told me a great deal about this man, Garza, but I do know that she was more of a prisoner than a wife. After your birth, she managed to get you to safety and then he sold her into prostitution. This life was never your mother’s choice. But once she found herself embroiled in it, she not only survived and escaped it, she vowed to help others who met with the same sad fate. No one expected for her to stumble onto this madness.”

“It’s hard to comprehend it all.” Noah hung his head. “I wish I’d known years ago. I would have brought her home and she’d never been in this danger.”

“Destino is difficult to challenge. Sofia sees this as her purpose.”

Noah felt selfish, but he couldn’t help it. “What scares the hell out of me is that I’ll be too late. She’s not some Joan of Arc, she’s my mother. Doesn’t she want that?” 

“Sofia kept up with you as best she could, even made friends with the Madre of your brothers. She has treasured photographs of you, pictures that she takes out of this box and handles like they are the most precious of jewels.” Mateo walked up to Noah and placed a hand on his shoulder. “She is very brave. If anyone can survive this, she can. Take heart, you’ll be taking her to your home soon and I will be the one left behind.”

“No, you won’t.” Noah looked Mateo in the eye. “You’ll be going home with me. My mother cares about you and I could always use another brother.”

A small band of Texans invade Mexico…

Santiago and three of the McCoy brothers were waiting for them on the tarmac when they touched down in a small airport outside of Juarez. Bowie Travis and Tanner Barron were also there with them.

“Strange meeting the Governor of Texas on the wrong side of the border.” Santiago teased Kyle with a handshake.

“Landing here is easier than crossing the border unnoticed,” Kyle observed dryly. “Although my wife is from Mexico, I come down here often enough. Maybe, I should hold official ambassador status if nothing else.”

“Yea, when the rumors leak out that you’re considering a run for the presidency, some might be confused which nation you’re more interested in running,” Micah teased.

“I could see some benefit in uniting the two nations.” Kyle knew he was talking nonsense, but the situation needed some levity. “Do you have everything ready?”

“Si. I’ve arranged a room for the four of you at a separate location. All of the equipment we’ll need is in a warehouse nearby. But I caution you, we must act quickly. News travels fast around here and when word gets out there is a stash of guns and ammo sitting around unguarded, the cartels will go after it.”

Santiago’s words gave Jet an idea. “You know. That might not be the worst thing.” Everyone turned to look at him for elaboration. “Like Santiago just said, that much stuff lying around is bound to draw the attention of the cartels. Maybe we should sit on it for a few days. Let word get around and see who comes for the weapons. We could be there waiting for them, grab a few bad guys and see what they know.”

Kyle listened intently then turned to Micah for his take.

“I hate to give the big guy credit for having a good idea, but it’s actually a fairly decent plan. Make them come to us.”

Noah McCoy stepped up quickly. He was flanked by Isaac on one side and a young Hispanic boy he’d introduced as Mateo, Sofia’s friend. “This is some kind of bad joke right? You aren’t seriously considering this?”

Kyle didn’t answer right away. Micah was essentially the brains of the operation and Kyle leaned heavily on his opinions when it came to strategy and how to proceed. “How decent of an idea is it?” Kyle directed the question to Micah.

Micah mulled it over. “Well, there are many factors to consider. We are fairly certain where to find Sofia, but we don’t know what the place looks like on the inside or how many guards are there or how many weapons they have. Plus, we don’t even know where exactly in the building she’s being held. It would be a big help if we could get our hands on a few of their guys and ask them some questions.”

“I feel like I’m in an episode of the fucking Twilight Zone,” Noah snapped.

Jacob put an arm on his brother’s shoulder. “Easy Noah.”

Noah pulled away. “Bullshit! You know who your mother is. I’ve never met mine. And for all we know, they could be killing her right now, while we sit here and talk about waiting. Waiting for what? For a package to show-up with another finger? Or an ear? Or her heart?”

Jacob and Isaac pulled Noah away from the pack to calm him down.

“There’s always that too,” Micah spoke up when Noah was out of range. “As much as I do like Jet’s idea, this doesn’t seem like the right situation to bide our time. I think we have to get organized quickly and strike while we can. Sofia may not have long.”

Kyle took a second to weigh their options. Like any good leader, he hated the idea of his guys going into a fight blind, but Micah and Noah were right, time was of the essence.

They rolled out and planned to meet at the warehouse at separate times, just in case they’d been made and were being followed. Kyle wasn’t going to make it easy for the cartel’s assassins to just pick them all off if an ambush was waiting for them.

Santiago took the Equalizers to the place he’d arranged for them and then met the rest of the group at the warehouse. Kyle would wait for a call from Jacob McCoy and then meet them at the warehouse two hours later.

“You think she’s still alive?” Saxon asked Jet while they waited in a dingy one-room apartment for the call.

Jet sharpened a hunting knife he always brought with him into combat. The sound of the steel grating on the whet stone shattered the still air. “I don’t know, buddy. I know how greedy these cartels can be. Money is always at the top of their list. But they are a bloodthirsty bunch to be certain. Life means nothing to them. For all we know, she’s been dead since the day she walked into the Hidalgo. They may just be bluffing.”

“This isn’t just a cartel issue. If Sofia and Marisol are right, these men are serial killers running a snuff film ring. I know there’s money in the films, but nothing compared to drugs. I don’t really understand all of this,” Micah played with his phone, wishing he could text Madison.

“Power is a funny thing,” Saxon began, “the more you have the more you want. Being a cartel kingpin is definitely a plum job, but holding another person’s life in your hands provides a high for some that is more addictive than heroin. Combine sex with a god complex and monsters are born.”

After Saxon’s comment, their conversation died down. A disturbing realization dawned on each of them that this clash might be different. Although rescuing Sofia was their prime objective, there might be other innocents in the building and if they could take out the men responsible it would be like eradicating a deadly plague.

They all had their own way of dealing with the wait.

Kyle read emails; the governor never stopped being the governor.

Jet was quiet; he focused on the upcoming battle and readied his weapons.

Saxon was always the most nervous of the team. Micah liked to tease him about all the Red Bull he drank. “The enemy is gonna hear you vibrating a mile away,” he’d say when they went on a mission. Saxon always had a few questions to ask. He seemed to forever be asking them of Jet; it seemed the stoic warrior’s calmness helped to counteract Saxon’s anxiety.

Micah on the other hand, never let his nerves show. The wolf was always cool under pressure. He could be mere moments from parachuting into hostile territory, but still be jotting down notes for an upcoming story.

Unable to deny himself any longer, Micah fired off a text to Madison.
Everything workout okay?
Kyle would be pissed if he knew Micah was texting her. Hell, he wasn’t even supposed to tell her where he was going, nobody was even supposed to know where they were. He’d found he didn’t want to keep things from Madison, that little girl was turning his world upside down.

Madison’s response was immediate and Micah fumbled to put his phone on mute so he didn’t give himself away.

Logan was very nice. He brought Jenna with him. I like her a lot. I got my stuff and came back right away. Are you safe?

Madison sat on the big leather couch in Micah’s living room. Thunderpunch had taken to her right away and he lay next to her leg, letting Madison pet him as he slept. She was beside herself with worry. Madison didn’t know everything about Micah or everything he was involved in, but she did know some of it could be dangerous. The fact that he’d only told her he was traveling to Mexico and no further details, had her mind racing with worry.

Everything is fine down here. We just came down to grab a few margaritas.

Micah was glad she was safely back at his place. She had enough to worry about in her own life, the last thing he wanted her to do was worry about him.

We have margaritas here, you know. I would have made them for you.
Normally Madison loved their little text exchanges, but this time the mood felt heavy.

Kyle came into the room. “It’s time to go.”

Gotta go, Fellows. Fidel Castro just pulled up and I have to go say hello.