Page 8 of Xavier

Son of a bitch. It’s going to be a disaster if they made their way into the States.

Six years ago, my team was confident going into the underground bunker. For weeks, we scoped out the place, keeping a close eye on who was coming and going.

The intelligence committee got word that our target was already inside, but purposefully not coming out because they knew we were watching.

I didn’t want to go in blind, but my commanding officer made the call. So, later that night, we started the mission.

Even to this day, six years later, I remember the scared looks on the civilians faces as we pushed our way through the underground compound.

I can remember the fear on the children’s faces as I aimed my gun at the target.

Fucking coward thought he would be spared if he surrounded himself with children.

Little did he know, our orders were clear as day: do not let him get away under any circumstances.

We wouldn’t murder children, but if they helped him escape, things would have been different.

Like all past wars, civilian lives were lost. Women, children, and the elderly. Their decomposing bodies littered the streets, cast to the side without a care in the world.

Those memories were the nightmares that haunted me for years.

I shake those memories away. There’s only one thing I need to know. “Does Brianna know about the death threats?”

Hudson glances toward the front door as the bell rings. “No, and her parents want to keep it that way.”

This doesn’t make sense.

Why would the cartel target a small town like this?

What does Brianna’s family know about them?

I whisper because the bar is getting busier. “How is her family connected to the cartel?”

He shrugs and finishes his beer. “That’s what I’ve been trying to find out.”

“I’ll try to get closer to her and see what I can figure out without raising any alarms.”

“Or falling in love.” He grins, like he’s a comedian that just told the funniest joke.

“You’re hilarious. That won’t be happening.”

I glance toward the front of the bar, where a man is yelling for the bartender.

Hudson rolls his eyes. “Yeah, that’s what I said, and look at me, I’m married and discussing babies.”

The man at the bar continues to yell and cause a scene. By now, the entire bar is quiet and staring at this man.

A woman to his left places her hand on his arm and whispers in his ear.

His face turns beet red as he glares at her. “Shut the fuck up, bitch. I don’t need your opinion.”

I down the rest of my beer, stand, and make my way to the belligerent man with Hudson following close behind.

The big, drunk man doesn’t even look scared as I stand a few feet away from him.

“Can I help you?” He slurs his words, showing how intoxicated he already is.

“Yeah, for starters, you can apologize to the woman you just disrespected.”

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