Page 48 of Bullets and Dandelions

Rodriquez interjected. “Would you be? Saraki’s a vicious tyrant.”

“Masters is furious, but our government wants access to the bitumen deposits on his lands. Wilson did a recon of the mango grove. There are eight heavily armed mercenaries guarding the stilt house. He has the satellite pictures and our gear.” Stone screwed the lid back on the whiskey bottle. “We have three hours to come up with a battle plan.”

I raised my hand.

“What is it, Tess?”

“Is there anything to eat? I’m starving.”

Stone grinned. “I’m sure we can find something.”

Chapter Eleven

Hawke’s Bay airport is small, isolated and surrounded by wetlands. Kamous landed the Learjet and taxied over to a metal hanger Jeb Wilson had rented for us. He shut down the engines. “Copy tower.” Removing his headset, he walked out of the cockpit with a wild look in his eyes. “The King’s plane landed behind us.”

Stone handed him the bottle of whiskey. “How many men did he bring with him?”

“Twenty.” Kamous guzzled down some booze. “He is also very interested in your female.”

Stone’s worried gaze settled on me.

I frowned. “Wait a minute. You’re talking about me?”

“Yes,” Kamous nodded. “Sergeant Stone has publicly claimed you.”

Oh yippee. I bet that had pissed off my father too. “Why would the King be interested in me? I’m not beautiful or sexy.”

“You are blonde and an American.”

“So?”

“The King has married eight blonde American women. He likes breaking their spirits.”

Gee he sounded a lot like Pops and Roberts. “He can’t make me marry him.”

“After a few weeks in the pit, you will do whatever he wants. Pray he does not discover you are the Scorpion; he will take you even if that means killing your man,” Kamous said grimly.

Over my dead body. “My father might have something to say about that. He’s a CIA assassin and he’s very good at what he does.”

Kamous glanced at Stone. “Is this true?”

“It is and do you really think I would let the King take her?”

Kamous shrugged. “You are outnumbered.”

I glanced out the window and did a double take. An obese, black man wearing a flowing neon green robe exited a cargo jet. I raised my binoculars to get a better look at him and shuddered. Blue tribal tattoos covered the man’s face making him appear demonic. His dreadlocks poked out wildly and reminded me of angry snakes. Fifteen soldiers in camouflage uniforms followed him across the tarmac. They were carrying enough weapons to start a small war.

“Kamous, is that the King?” I pointed at the large black man.

“It is.”

“Shit!” Taking the bottle of whiskey away from Kamous, I gulped half of it down and wheezed, “God, this stuff is nasty.”

Stone stared at me thoughtfully. “What are you up to, Tinkerbell?”

“By the time I’m done, the King will not want anything to do with me.” I put all my weapons in the restroom and stood behind Stone.

The guys were once again wearing their stone-cold killer expressions as King Saraki wobbled up the stairs. He snarled at Kamous, revealing sharp pointy teeth. “You allowed my daughter and granddaughter to be taken.”

---