Ceremonial Rites

Eleven - The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend

There was a sudden change of atmosphere in the three vehicles running back to the resort. Jose is clearly terrified to the possible danger they may face. They may be safe within the walls of Roberto Suarez but after leaving the gate, it's a different story. This is where territories meet and each drug cartels fought to have a strong hold.

Contrary to what everyone's feeling, Vincent has been calm the entire time they left. Rod who anxiously glanced every intersections, buildings and vehicles they have passed by clenched his jaw when he saw the groggy face of Vincent. What else could go wrong?

Without the knowledge of everyone else, Vincent has also made a deal to the famous middle man controlling the battle arena for all drug cartels in the city. There's a certain rule here to each territory they can claim and Vincent made a deal with Sandro Cortez controlling a few streets in the city, including the ones they're using right now. One gunshot is an implication of crossing the boundaries. Don Juan is not stupid enough to mess with those boundaries. Losing Sandro as a middle man will severe his connections with his clients and dealers.

The real problem will be their safety at the resort but Vincent managed to secure that too. This is the biggest provocation to his once great ally Don Juan that he no longer take him as one. Private armies from another drug cartel, Martinez, who Don Juan stepped over to monopolize the drug trade secured the perimeter of the resort.

All of them sighed in relief when they reached the resort safely. Under the well carved arch of the entrance, Marco waited for Vincent to finished a phone call. Harshly grabbed his sleeves, dragging him to the west wing. They need to know what's going on exactly. They've been walking in the dark for a bit long and Marco will not let that continue.

"You need to f*****g start talking." All his frustrations joining his tone.

Vincent fought the blazing gaze and took his arm back feeling very furious for his designer clothes has been a victim again to this fiasco.

"Careful, captain. Your entire paycheck cannot afford this."

Marco stepped back biting his lip as he controls his temper. He will be court martialed if he lay a hand on him. They only got a glimpse to who Vincent is and from what they have gathered, he has a wide internal connections in the government. Messing with him is like signing his own death sentence.

"I swear to God, if you don't share your plans with us. I'm gonna f*****g bring you to Don Juan myself!"

Vincent laughed like a lunatic hearing that empty threat. They were the only ones left at the lobby. Only the curious personnel of the resort were left to see two foreign looking men arguing near the reception area. But they were not able to hear any words from them. Only their obvious facial expressions were a give away to the heating argument. The manager cleared his throat and abolished the curious ears.

"Fine! I'm taking down Don Juan on Friday. That's the reason I met Alejandro earlier." Vincent muttered in gritted teeth.

"Our instructions were clear, Dr. Alderige! We are not to engage!"

"Your instructions, Gomez. Not mine. If you try to mess with this one, I'll deal with you myself. Don't test me." With the emphasis of 'your' and a very firm pointing of his finger to the man in front of him.

"You are under military jurisdiction, doctor!" Marco levels the pressure.

"Every minute Don Juan breaths is my company plummeting to economic downturn. Don Juan will die on Friday. Anyone stands on my way, they'll gonna regret it."

With a deliberate pause, Vincent looked at Marco dead in his eyes.

"Anyone." He repeated.

Marco Gomez is not stupid enough to ignore the threat but as the commanding officer of this mission he needs to remind doctor Alderige his place. But as oppose to his beliefs, they are under the doctor's command as the white house instructed. This is a personal affair of the doctor and they are his military escorts. Still under the circumstances they are currently in, doctor Alderige should comply. If Marco can make him so.

"Let me remind you how vital that move, doctor. If we are to be caught on that conspiracy with Alejandro, Don Juan will have our heads. We are not even sure if we can trust Alejandro!"

"I have a leverage to him. If he does not comply to my request, heads will roll."

Taken aback by that statement, Marco swallowed a few times. It dawned to him what kind of person he is dealing right now. Not just a mere doctor but also a businessman losing his business.

"And if Don Juan knows about this lunch at Suarez? How are we suppose to protect ourselves here?"

Tired with the unending inquisitions, Vincent rolled his eyes and pointed the new armed men guarding the perimeter of the resort. Marco watched those unfamiliar men who he didn't see this morning. Few more men arrived from an SUV securing the entire grounds.

"Martinez cartel private armies. If Don Juan shows any kind of agression here, that will be an implication of war towards the cartel. All of them will be killing each other, captain, and we will be sitting in front row seat."

For the second time today Marco stood agape staring back and forth to Vincent and the Martinez cronies settling at the resort. How can he pulled this all? The doctor may be more dangerous than Don Juan himself.

"Martinez cartel owns me a favor which I don't intend to tell you. Now, if you may, enjoy the rest of your vacation while it last."

                                                                ***

Casa Juanito, Villa El Grande

"Me cago en todo lo que se meña!"

Alejandro braced himself to Don Juan's outburst. Words have reached him that Doctor Vincent Alderige has forged a deal with Sandro and Henrico Martinez. One is a vital network and the other is a powerful rival next to Roberto. Another expensive vase dismembered in front of the three high rank officials of Don Juan. All of them were afraid of their boss' wrath.

"Alejandro!"

With the sympathetic looks from his co-workers, he walked above the broken glasses and vases to the awaiting judgement. He bowed down avoiding eye contact with his boss.

"Look at me!" Don Juan shouted.

He quickly averted his eyes back to the frowning man in front of him. Alejandro may be scared of Don Juan but Vincent holds a powerful card against him. If he exposes Vincent's plan to Don Juan, his sister may not live to see another day.

"Mierda!"

In a snap, Alejandro was taken away from his own thoughts. Holding his left cheek after a solid slap hit him. A consequence for not paying attention. Don Juan has been asking him about this sudden betrayal of their most powerful ally and he dared not paying attention. Another slap with the same intensity followed by a series of profanities pounded Alejandro.

"Can you explain to me how did Dr. Alderige managed to have connections with our important ally and enemy? I personally instructed you to keep them on sight!"

"I'm sorry, señor. We were deceived by Dr. Alderige. He had a private meeting with them, probably that time he visited the city." Alejandro could feel every heartbeat and sweat on him.

"Is that so?"

Don Juan pulled his pistol out of his jacket and pointed to Javier. The poor watchman immediately begged for mercy but it was too late. His blood started mixing to the broken glasses on the floor. Horror creeped in to every person in the room. Don Juan is already pissed. Alejandro swallowed a few times when he felt the cold metal pinned on his temple. He may have diverted the blame to Javier but his trial is not over.

Drops of sweat formed instantly on his forehead as he tries to plot an escape. What could possibly save him right now when all the questions thrown at him have no answers. He blinked nervously.

"They have a meeting!" Was all he could say.

The pistol on his head started drilling as Don Juan pushed motioning him to continue with the details. He cleared his throat deeply thinking a proper sentence to this. He took out the picture.

"Great Gatsby restobar! 9:00 o'clock in the evening! Biyernes!" He muttered quickly before Don Juan could pull the trigger.

Alejandro blow a breath of relief when Don Juan withdraw the gun slowly. He had extended his death row but he is still on the list. The picture was torn out from him. He watched how Don Juan stared suspiciously at the picture. Full of hatred and revenge.

"You are lucky you have this. You are coming with me in case you are lying, puta madre!"

Don Juan ordered the housekeepers to clean every mess he has made including the lifeless body of Javier. With shaking hands Alejandro helped the tensed maids on Javier. He was the reason his brains were all over the place.

The maids refused his help but he insisted. He didn't give them an explanation. He volunteered to drag the dead body of Javier and gave it a proper burial. Afterall that happened to him, he wondered if he could have this decent goodbye. He would probably float or lay dead somewhere in Brazil if he piss one of his bosses.

It's also an excuse to make a phonecall to Vincent. As instructed, he has to give a green light when Don Juan takes the bait.

"He's going there, señor."

"Good." Vincent answered.

"What about my sister?" He clarified.

"I told you, Alejandro. We'll talk when this is over."

The line was cut instantly making Alejandro curse his own phone.

                                                               ***

Sao Paulo, Brazil

17:00

"Remember, commander. The president wants this clean. No controversy. Understood?" Kirkman reminded the three men who just arrived to the city through the radio.

"Affirmative, Lieutenant."

Gavin, the commanding officer, glanced at his colleagues and motioned to continue their tracks. They're on their way to Don Juan's site A laboratory located approximately five miles from Don Juan's house. According to their intel, the site is full of hostiles, heavy ordinance and fully reinforced building.

Their sniper, Ian, positioned himself in the bushes 200 meters from the laboratory. He can clearly see inside but the problem was the laboratory glass is 10 inches thick making it impenetrable. His only job left was to clear the path to the entrance.

Damon covered Gavin's back and followed him towards the lab. Don Juan's only mistake was he only posted one security on this lab. It was the request of the scientists' working. Having armed personnel walking around the area were a bit unnerving for the workers. So Don Juan posted the entire garrison at each gate.

Gavin snapped the neck of the sole security at the entrance like a piece of twig. Damon took his key card, placed it to the sensor for their entry. They quickly went inside as cautious as possible avoiding any attention.

"We're in." Gavin radioed.

It's not only Ian who is listening to the frequency but the entire monitoring team on USS Kennedy and New Amsterdam outpost. They need to maintain active connection to evaluate their assigned tasks. Also to avoid insubordination like Vincent's team.

Out of impulse, Damon leaned back after a quick glance to the left hall. He signaled one hostile posted at the end of the hall. Another one to the end of the right hall.

"We found the depot." Gavin informed.

"Permission to engage." He requested.

Captain Nottingham contemplated the current situation clearly skeptical to this. But he needs to release an order. He nodded to the command center.

"Green light."

Gavin nodded to Damon and prepared themselves. They both kneeled in one leg and aimed at the guards. The two guards dropped dead after receiving three gunshots. Gavin and Damon went straight to each vault.

There were glass windows on the hallway making it transparent to what's going on in the inside. Two scientists in each room. All of them noticed Damon and Gavin passing by.

"f**k!" Gavin cursed under his breath as he reached the door.

All scientists locked themselves to each working rooms. The scientists' problem right now is when the rooms were locked, Vincent made sure it will self destruct if the two vaults will be opened by forced. Damon and Gavin didn't know that.

"Security Breached! Site A self destruct initialize. T minus 10 minutes."

Horror drawn to everyone in the building including Damon and Gavin. They tried to help those scientists trap inside but it's fully automated. The laboratory has 10 operational room intended for the formulation of the samples. They all locked themselves hoping to keep them safe, but they were all wrong. In the event of a security breached, Vincent instructed Rod to personally organized the artificial intelligent controlling the lab to self destruct cleaning whatever evidences left.

"Sir?" Gavin asked the commands.

Nottingham visibly frustated on the situation, watched tightly to the monitor. Gavin repeated himself asking for instructions.

"All personnel evacuate immediately. T minus 2 minutes."

"Sir?"

"Negative. Get out of there." Captain muttered.

"Pardon, sir?"

The entire operations listening held their breath. There are innoncent people trapped inside. But they are not under the jurisdiction of the US. If they will be caught, it will be an act of war violating international law.

"That's an order." The captain strengthened his resolve.

"Commander Gavin, you are instructed to leave the area." The command center radioed.

Damon stood shocked clearly against the command.

"Sir, they're gonna die!" He intercepted.

"I'm sorry, Reyes, you cannot intervene. You three were not supposed to be in Brazil. If you guys will be seen, that would escalate our issue to Brazil. DOD want this clean. Over and out."

Without a blink nor a glance, Damon and Gavin left the laboratory full of remorse. The scientists who were left to die used everything in their power to break the 20 inches glass window. Joining Ian, they all left and rushed to their car few miles from the lab.

As the engine ignites, the blast from the laboratory haunted them from a far. Cloud of smoke started growing around the area hovering ominously.

"What's that?" Ian asked behind the wheel.

"Oh, s**t! Drive!"