Renegade: The Alliance Chronicles, Book Six

Chapter 14

Mark

"Keeping my feelings quiet for my best friend maintains our friendship. Whoever said falling in love was easy?"

—from "It Happens: When Friendship Turns to Love," by Dr. E. Rich

We take a day and a half to reach Mirante da Serra in the state of Rondônia, Brazil, the last place Ko's group was seen. The place is hot as hell and dry as a desert.

I'm so glad to be off the plane. If it hadn't been for Liam on board, I could have enjoyed my frequent trips to the mile-high club. Every time Kapernecki and I exited the bedroom, his eyes bore through me, making me feel like a bug under a fucking microscope.

Things don't improve on the ground.

Despite Liam's ability to breach the language barrier, the locals are as hospitable as Hitler was to Black Americans competing during the Berlin Olympics. Steve's intel underestimated the sentiment here. These people hate Americans without question. It seems to go a lot deeper than our killing Raman Bashur and his men.

I drag my hand across my forehead and wipe away sweat and dirt. We're standing at a desk in the Central de Polícia. A heavyset officer, like a fat raven with jet-black hair and beady eyes, watches over us from a corner of the room. Other officers stand behind him. Their tight jaws, twisted mouths, and harsh squints let me know they wouldn't hesitate to kill us and forget we ever existed.

My instinct is to protect Kapernecki. I know she can take care of herself, but it doesn't stop me from moving closer to her side.

After too many heated words, Liam turns to us. He pretends not to notice my hand on her arm. "It wasn't easy, but I finally got some info. The captain said a group of Americans were here a week ago. They were en route to Porto Velho, five hours north of here."

I comment, "If we leave now, it'll be nightfall—"

"Not advisable," Liam interjects. "Think about Castaneda. Her team probably wanted to avoid stopping overnight."

In that regard, I don't blame them. I have no desire to sleep in a place where people despise us. The decision to stay isn't up to me, though. Fletch is in charge.

Our commander asks, "So, Martinez, where do we go from here?"

"I don't trust the sergeant's recommendations for housing. I know a place where we can go."

Although no mention was made about Liam having family in Brazil, he's comfortable in the town. More so than any of us. So we allow him to lead us from the building. He stops a frail-looking elderly man in the street. The stranger nods and gestures for us to follow him.

Minutes later, we're piling into a van so rusted I'm doubtful it'll move. To my surprise, the engine cranks up and purrs. Honestly, sitting inside the decrepit vehicle feels a hell of a lot safer than walking.

As the driver inches through the street, carefully maneuvering around people walking and riding mopeds, I see the curiosity and hatred mingled on their faces.

I'm kind of glad Asher didn't come. He'd want to help the forlorn souls in the crowd. It's probably what attracted Ko to him. But this isn't a place for soul-saving. Even with my fondness for danger, I wish to God I didn't have to be here.

Kapernecki, sitting beside me in the back, must sense my apprehension. Her fingers twist around mine. For once, I welcome the sentiment.

§

Minutes later, the man pulls up to a rundown, two-story building on a corner. As far as I can tell, it could be a house or a store with living quarters over the top.