Phoenix Initiative Adversaries Read online

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  THE YACHT IS hitched next to a long black oil ship. Lasalle and the others are standing on the matte black deck, watching men and women rolling barrels across the walk. Lasalle steps in the way and holds her hand out. The line comes to a halt.

  “Christie, if you can hear me, I want you to know something. I’m gonna find all the other’s in the world who’s minds are twisted just like yours and when I do, I’m gonna send em’ all to where you’re going, never to be seen or heard from again.”

  Wailing comes from the barrel right in front of her. After they pass, Gloria races to Lasalle and wraps her loving arms around her, embracing her in warmth.

  “How did you know that one was her?”

  Lasalle steps back and finds Gloria’s misty eyes.

  “I didn’t.”

  Caldwell is standing nearby. His dark brown hair is brushed back into perfect lines. His body is covered in tactical clothes. His ballistics turtleneck sweater peaks out of his collar to ankle fireproof leather jacket. His black as the devil’s heart gun straps sway in their concealed homes beneath. He stares over the waters, taking a long satisfying drag from his Caldwell special cigar. The foot lighting up in orange. Flakes of ash float up and away from the etherial grey smoke streaming up into the haunting breeze. Lasalle watches him until his steel blue eyes meets hers. He stands in awe, seeing her hazel green eyes become blue.

  “The yacht was stolen. The couple who owned it have been missing for months.”

  Lasalle quickly rushes to him, they embrace and Caldwell kisses her, firmly yet soft. Lasalle shocked at first hesitantly returns the wet kiss, then her searching arms find their place around his back. She kisses back, tears sliding down her face.

  They brake the kiss, finding each other, bodies tingling, thoughts racing. Lasalle crushes her face into his chest, hugging him.

  “How can they do this to people? I saw them. They had money. They looked like they never went without. Still they kill, they hate, they murder.”

  Caldwell’s eyes search the oil rig and then travel over to the two yachts tied off.

  “Where was Tony in all this?”

  Lasalle nuzzles her cheek against him.

  “I don’t know.”

  A large man catches Lasalle’s attention. He stands off to the side smiling. All dressed in black. He grins at her. His suit hugging his bulky frame. The sun shining on his big bald head. He steps forward.

  “That’s quite a catch you pulled in today. Six people and a yacht,” his deep voice echo’s over the large empty deck.

  Lasalle steps away from Caldwell and examines him. He beams back at her, full of life and positive energy.

  “Since my old friend Caldwell here lost his tongue, I’ll introduce myself. People call me Lil Jung.”

  Her eyes travel over his very expensive suit. His custom one of a kind watch, possibly worth more than all three ships. His gold chains resting on his chest.

  “If you’re little Jung, I’d hate to meet big Jung.”

  The large Mongolian man stares at her. His smile wipes away. All eyes are on him and Lasalle. His brow lowers. His eyes sparkle. His laugh erupts from him like a giant. His belly shakes. His good nature shining through his infectious wide smile. They all share a laugh.

  Lasalle wipes little beads of sweat from her forehead and shrugs at Gloria. Gloria moves behind her, trying to hide.

  Lil Jung chuckles and shakes his head.

  “I see you there Gloria. You should come by the club next time you’re around. We’re about do for a rematch of that race you cheated on. Finally got my car fixed up.”

  Gloria peeks around Lasalle’s arm.

  “I did not cheat.”

  “Gloria,” Lasalle calls, trying to move away from her.

  Lil Jung shakes his long jutted out finger at her.

  “You watch that firecracker. She’s mean.”

  Lasalle turns and looks at her friend.

  “That firecracker sideswiped my car, ran me off the road. I almost hit a tree. When it comes to racing, she’s a cheater through.”

  Gloria jumps up and out from behind Lasalle.

  “HE’S aggressive! He tried to pit me.”

  Caldwell shakes his head and looks at Lasalle.

  “Here,” Lil Jung says, handing Lasalle a duffle bag. “That’s your money. I put two hundred K extra for that yacht, if you’re interested.”

  Gloria leans over and bites Lasalle’s ear. Lasalle spins around and finds her grinning like a child.

  “Don’t you just love our job? Taking out bad guys. Forcing them into service. Keeping all their money and stuff to fund the whole thing,” she sucks air in through her clenched pearly whites. “It’s so exciting.”

  Tony steps out onto the walk between the two ships. The boards moan under his steps. They all turn and look at him.

  “You guys see what these girls did today? It was finished before I even got out of the bathroom.”

  Caldwell stares at him coldly.

  Lil Jung steps forward, gesturing with his hand.

  “So this is the little man?”

  “That’s him,” Caldwell states.

  “Com’mere, little man. You’re gonna ride back with me.”

  Tony stares at him and then looks back at Caldwell.

  “Tony, this is Little Jung, founder and emperor of the Dragon’s Tongue.”

  Lasalle watches Tony. He turns and looks at her. He stands still in the waving breeze. Lasalle nods her head. His eyes lower from hers.

  “I remember him.”

  Lil Jung lets out a deep breath.

  “Good. Let’s go. You’ve got some training to do.”

  “I want to stay with Lasalle.”

  Lil jung shakes his head, breathes out through his flaring nose.

  Caldwell steps forward.

  “Tony, get on this boat. You’re not going back with her.”

  Tears slide down Tony’s face.

  “Why you always tryin to keep me away from her Caldwell.”

  “She wants to help you because she sees you like a little brother. You use her because you know you can. She has a good heart and around someone like you, it’s going to become twisted and blackened by your insecurities and your fears.”

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  The raging flames devour the slowly sinking yacht. Its white body charing into dark ash. The bamboo deck slowly escape in bright shining embers. The desperate ocean wind beats the burning sail into submission. The dark red fabric impotent in the all consuming fire. There is a mad beauty to it all. The way the moonlight danced over the shining barriers. The way the swirling water bubbled around the hole. Who knew something as small as a gun had such power over something this big? It was crazy and it was the answer to all her problems.

  From a poem by Ivan Desabrais

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  Thank You from Ivan Desabrais

  I thank you for sharing this time with Lasalle and her friends. I enjoyed the journey of writing this story. You can find the first full length ebook on my blog.

  https://desabraisbros.wordpress.com/

  It’s called Phoenix Initiative - by Ivan Desabrais. This is a series so keep an eye out for the next one.

  Yours,

  Ivan Desabrais

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  To the reader:

  Thank you for taking this journey with Lasalle and the characters from Phoenix Initiative. There is still much more to come. This is a flashback from the second volume in a series by the same title. If you want to talk about this story, feel free to contact me through the methods I provided below and at the beginning of this book.

  Book two will be called: Phoenix Initiative: Transgressors. In it, we will delve even deeper into the Phoenix Initiative and the deadly enemies who hunt them. We will come to know each character, unraveling their secrets. It will be packed with action, suspense, drama and relationships. Don’t miss it.

  If I cou
ld leave you with one thing to take away from this, it would be to never let anyone direct your life. Think about every choice you make because you only get to make it once. No matter what someone else says, follow what you know is right.

  Thank you for reading this story.

  Ivan Desabrais

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  You can reach me through

  Explore the Culture of writing and the art of story telling

  https://desabraisbros.wordpress.com/

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