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I call the guard I left in charge at the old house. “How are things there?”
“Everything is quiet, sir.”
“How long since you’ve checked in at the new house?”
“Thirty minutes, sir. We call in every ten minutes.”
“And they reply promptly?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m getting a bad signal. Go over there now and let me know what the status is.”
“Pronto, sir. The drone may be faster.”
“The drone is in Bonifacio. It’ll take too long to fly it back.”
“We’re having strong winds. The signal is fine here, but it’s always been iffy on that side of the mountain. What’s the status quo on your side, sir?”
“Tell the men the kids are safe, but I want them to keep vigilant.” My voice drops an octave. “Waldo isn’t with them. Can you spare two men?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Send them to search for him starting with the area around the school. I’ll send you the route the kidnappers took. When you get to the new house, tell my wife to call me. Don’t leave until you’ve spoken to her in person.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Call me back with an update in five,” I say before hanging up.
As I cross the field, I allow myself for the first time to consider how things could’ve ended. If I’d thought about what could’ve happened to the kids, I wouldn’t have been able to operate like a soldier going to war. This could’ve easily gone a whole lot worse. I’m lucky to have the children back in one piece. It was almost too easy. Hurting or killing children isn’t beneath Marziale. He wouldn’t have hesitated to slit their throats just to get to me. Instead, he paid those inexperienced rookies to pull off the job.
Perhaps the kidnapping was meant as a warning. If my uncles made a deal, Marziale is coming for me. That’s a given. He’s bargaining on joining forces with them and outnumbering me. But I know how he operates. I make it my business to know my enemies better than I know myself. Marziale likes to play psychological games. He first hits his rivals where it hurts them the most. Then, when their defenses are down, he goes in for the kill.
If that stunt was meant to put the fear of the devil in me, it worked. I have an advantage over him though. He doesn’t know I’m aware of my uncles’ betrayal. He doesn’t know I already eliminated their armies. He’s counting on the fact that I’ll rely on their numbers when he attacks. He thinks I’ll be taken by surprise. Well, the surprise is on him. He crossed a line when he touched the kids. I’ll be on him before he can say attack. I’ll find that bastard, and when I do, he’ll pay in ways that’ll make him cry for his mother. I swear that to myself as I climb through the ditch. Before the sun goes down tomorrow, he’ll be strung up like a turkey, hanging from his feet.
Johan hops from the 4x4 and meets me on the shoulder of the road. He eyes me from under his fringe. “Are they dead?”
The hardness of his expression reminds me a lot of myself. “Don’t concern yourself about that. I took care of everything.”
“I’m not a kid. I can handle it.”
I place a hand on his head to ruffle his hair but catch myself. He won’t appreciate being treated like a child. “Like I said, stay a kid for a little while longer. You have enough time ahead of you to be a man.”
His nostrils flare. “What did they want?” He spits out the word. “Money?”
“Yeah.” It’s best I keep my thoughts about that to myself. My tone is gentle. “Get back into the car. We better get your sister home.”
The responsibility I just put on his shoulders is something he can work with. He straightens his spine, nods his agreement, and goes back to the vehicle.
My phone rings. It’s the guard from Bonifacio.
“Did you get the guy?” I ask.
“Yes, sir. He confessed. Marziale sent him to deal with the Remingtons.”
My command is clipped. “Get rid of him. Dump the body in the sea.”
“Yes, sir.”
