Then, they slept.
SOMEWHERE IN MEXICO
GENERAL ESCOBAR’S COMPOUND
Miguel and Julia
Old nightmares invadedMiguel’s sleep. The demons who chased him were always the same, but now they wore the faces of Axis and Axalia. They tore Julia from limb to limb and feasted on her heart, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to stop them as invisible chains bound him. Their demonic faces leered at him, mocked him as Julia’s blood dripped from their razor-sharp teeth.
Miguel woke up in a cold sweat. His breath came in short gasps as his heart raced. The bed sheets were tangled around his legs, evidence of his thrashing helplessly during his nightmares. Darkness swamped his room. He shivered and glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. It was only 5 a.m.
Knowing sleep would evade him, Miguel rose and headed into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and inspected his gunshot wound while he waited for the water to heat. The butterfly bandages had come off, but he didn’t need them anymore. The skin had fused back together, yet it was still tenderand sore. During his fight with Axis, and possibly Axalia, too, if they tag teamed, he’d have to do his best to protect that side of his body.
After he took a shower, he dressed in a pair of sweatpants and T-shirt he found among the clothes he’d been given and dropped to the floor to do pushups. He did over a hundred, then switched to squats. He hoped the General’s compound had a fitness room, so he could lift weights and run on a treadmill. The best he could do right now was jog in place and practice kicks and jabs.
By seven-thirty, Miguel had grown impatient and decided to check on Julia. He flung open his door, startling Juan who stood with his fist raised, apparently in the act of knocking. Julia was with him and dressed similarly in sweatpants and a T-shirt.
“Good morning, Miguel,” Juan greeted him with a somewhat grim grin. “The General has requested that you and Julia join him for breakfast.”
“Thank you, Juan.”
Miguel kissed Julia and noted her serious demeanor. It brought to his mind how she looked when he’d first met her almost three weeks ago. Though he loved her independence and ability to take care of herself, his protective instincts washed through him as he took her hand in his.
“It ends with us, Jules.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m with you, Miguel, no matter what.”
He grinned. “You sound like Adrienne inRocky IV.”
“We’ll be channeling his fighting spirit for the next three days.”
General Escobar wasn’t alone in his private dining room. Two big, burly men with crew cuts and dressed in olive green cotton shirts and fatigues sat with him. Ink stained their skin.Dog tags hung around their brawny necks. They were identical twins.
Miguel and Julia sat across from the twins, and General Escobar introduced them.
“Raúl and Ricardo Monterrey served with me while I was in the army. They are consummate warriors and will be your trainers.”
The brothers merely nodded an acknowledgement. Miguel figured they were men of few words and constantly on high alert. They couldn’t afford to be distracted by small talk. Miguel and Julia returned their chin nods.
“Fill up on carbs and plenty of protein,” the General continued as he swept his arm across the table. “You’re going to need the energy.” He rose. “Please excuse me. I have business that requires my attention.”
They ate in silence until Miguel asked, “Is there a training facility or a gym onsite?”
“Sí, Agent Rivera,” answered Raúl. “Be prepared.”
Miguel understood the gist. No mercy.
By the endof their third day of intensive martial arts and physical training, Miguel and Julia were leaner, faster, and more agile. The skills and techniques they’d learned from the twins Raúl and Ricardo Monterrey made them formidable opponents. When Miguel mentioned that it almost seemed unfair to the Andersons, Julia shushed him.
“They kill without remorse, Miguel. Don’t forget that.”
They sat in his room after retiring early to mentally prepare for the fight the next day.
“I know, Jules. But… Jesus. They’re just kids. Teenagers.”
“Teenagers without a conscience. Didn’t you tell me that Justice shot and killed Rosie’s brother because he murdered his entire family?”
“Yes. We suspected afterward that he’d been recruited by Axel Anderson.”
