Epilogue
Henry
The next morning, Vega joined us in the living room. Yes, we were up just after dawn. She did look surprised that we were wide awake and ready.
We all ate fruit and drank a bit of coffee. She explained that today would be rough. Like on a trail then sit in the heat until darkness falls. Finally, she asked us outright, “You have someone you wish to retrieve, Si?”
The three of us stared at her.
Maya spoke up, “They took my family three years ago. They are supposed to be in the ritual tonight. This is my only chance to save them. Our only chance.”
Vega’s expression remained unmoved. “And you expect to take on all of them?”
“Of course not,” I replied.
“So, you are the ones then.” Vega crossed her arms over her chest.
“The ones?” I asked her.
“Si, the Mexican Mafia here has reported that they have been paid to wipe this group out. The victims are to be saved. They have wanted to do this for a decade now. They just never had an incentive like they were given by the Italians yesterday.”
The three of us did not reply. We had already revealed enough. But I wondered what incentive Mancini and his Italian Famiglia had offered. Money could buy you a bloody battle and freedom apparently.
Vega said nothing more as she went to put some things into her pack.
I did not wear a backpack, but Rain did. One that held extra ammunition, a first aid kit and bottled water.
I assumed Vega was not aware of who we really were.
Rain and I had faced death and looked it in the eye many times in our line of work.
We were well trained and would not hesitate to kill to protect Maya and her family.
In reality, Maya herself had looked death in the eye as well in order to protect the twins.
The determined looks we wore seemed to satisfy Vega today however, as she said nothing more then led the way out.
We did get a short ride in the cage boat as I referred to it. Then Vega pulled it up to another alcove and revved it enough to slide it up onto the beach under some heavy trees. It hid the contraption quite well as she parked it with great skill.
We then trekked it on foot. The jungle seemed even thicker here. The heat was almost unbearable as the thick humidity made it hard to breathe properly. And yes, the mosquitos were the size of freaking tennis balls here.
After an hour or so, Vega stopped to raise her hand.
We halted and knelt like she did. Then we heard voices speaking in rapid Spanish. I only caught a few words that I understood. Families, beer and money. I decided to keep hush and wait until the three linguists with me could translate.
After about ten minutes the voices stopped. I heard some rustling sounds and then nothing.
Vega looked back at us to whisper, “They were a few of the League. They seem unaware that anything is amiss.”
“Da, they could not wait for it to be done with. They spoke about afterward. Beer, women and going home,” Rain explained to me.
Vega snapped her gaze over to Rain. “You speak Spanish?”
He gave her a nod.
If only she knew he spoke three or four languages. But I remained silent as did Maya.
We stayed where we were all afternoon. We drank just enough bottled water to keep our mouths from being like cotton.
The waiting was torture. I knew my job and expected this part to be a bit of hell.
But with the occasional appearances of snakes, the sounds of wild animals catching their prey and the relentless monster-like insects, I mused that there were new hells that the devil could think up from this violent environment.
Poor Maya nodded off as the heat was somewhat oppressive. It did seem cooler where we hid though. Deep under the foliage.
I closed my eyes but no sleep came to me. I knew I wouldn’t be doing that until we had Maya’s family safe on that jet.
Finally, the day had gone and the sun dipped into the atmosphere.
Seemingly unbothered by the horrendous elements here, Vega had sat the entire time while peeking through the underbrush. The woman was formidable. She reminded me of… I paused. Women in Special Ops. Trained, disciplined and deadly. I looked up to catch Rain’s gaze.
He gave me a slow nod.
I realized he had figured it out as well, but what did this mean? Her being with the law. It had to be a help to us, I hoped. Better than her being…a criminal element.
Maya was awake now. She stared at Vega and whispered to her, “Are you going to fight too?” Leave it to her to just ask honest questions.
Vega turned to look at her. “If I have to.”
Good answer.
After another hour it got truly dark. Except there were torches being lit in the area Vega had been watching.
“The star?” Maya asked Vega about the seven pointed star they had symbolizing the ritual.
Shaking her head, she whispered back, “They have set it up on the plateau rock.”
I decided to tell Vega the plan, “Look, there will be men in black with gold X’s on their masks. They will be killing everyone who is in on this. We will be springing forward to get her family.”
Vega again showed no expression on her face as she replied, “My people will be rescuing the other victims. There are five.”
“Your people?” Maya asked.
“Her team,” I said and looked at Vega. “We figured you out and we are glad you are here.”
“Been under for two years,” Vega acknowledged as she did not look surprised at being discovered either.
“Under?” Maya asked in a confused voice.
“Undercover,” I told her in a whisper.
Maya blinked at me then looked back over at Vega. “Oh, now it makes sense.”
This was when the area lit up like daylight.
“The star,” Vega said, indicating that it had finally been set ablaze.
Rain and I scooted forward.
“Maya, please stay here,” I told her.
She nodded at me.
“I mean it,” I told her, worried that she might get hurt or worse. I could not lose this woman. If so, I knew I would lose my mind.
Gunfire broke out and shouts rose up.
Rain and I moved forward to peek out.
As soon as my eyes adjusted, I could see bedlam ahead of us.
The men in black had surrounded the blood plateau rock as it was called.
They fought with other men. Some with bloody machetes and others with guns.
For a brief time, it was hard to tell who was who, but as Rain and I got closer, we could see the gold X’s.
Some of them were surrounding the bloodletting victims, seeming to protect them from the other men here.
There were just five victims here like Vega had said.
I recognized the older pair that had to be Maya’s parents from the photo Maya showed us.
Instead of waiting for the others to fight it out, we feared for her parents’ lives.
So, Rain and I fought our way forward as we took shots at the men in jeans and commando clothing.
I shot one in the head and turned to see Vega stabbing one in the heart, then she whirled around to kick another in the teeth.
Rain shot three in a row and knifed a fourth one.
Blood splattered everywhere as it became an all-out fight to the death.
We finally made it to the flat rock. The Blood Plateau as it was called here.
The older couple looked terrified as they held onto each other.
I got super close to them and leaned in. “We are with Maya,” I told them.
Their eyes rounded at us as they looked shocked.
Rain motioned them toward the jungle. “Let’s go!”
I raised my hand. “Where is Lera?” I asked about Maya’s sister.
Her mother started to cry now as her father just shook his head.
Rain and I rushed them to the jungle underbrush.
We all ducked down and crawled in.
Myra gasped as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Mama…Papa!’ She scooted over to embrace them.
Vega and two unknown men brought the other victims in.
They were all younger and they looked terrified as well.
Maya looked up at them, then over at her parents.
Her father took a hold of Maya’s hand and told her, “After we were captured, we never saw Lera again. We do not know why.”
“I know why,” Vega spoke up. “But right now, let’s go.”
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