Slide

3

Slide could feel his anger surging through him as Norm knocked on a big, raven-black door. He knew that he could maintain his composure in the face of a challenge. It was what made him so trustworthy in the eyes of the authorities. But he had never been so close to a possible escape attempt.

Would letting his anger fill him be the right tactical move? Or should he remain calm and take time to assess the situation.

Norm led Slide into the office, and he decided, right then and there, to keep himself together. The office had only one window, and it was barred. The walls were decorated in dark, navy-blue paper with pastel yellow flowers on the surface.

She swiveled around to face him with a smug grin already painted on her face.

“Good morning, Slide,” she said.

Her bright blue eyes could easily deceive the ignorant. She was an older, attractive woman with so much power that she didn’t know what to do with it. She took advantage of her attractiveness and used people around her, especially men, to do her bidding.

It was even difficult for Slide, when he saw her, to completely compute that she was the horrible person who had created this vile prison.

She motioned toward the door with her chin, and Norm shut it. Slide heard the sliding sound of the lock, then he turned to face the General. She held out her hand for him to sit down.

Slide did as he was asked. He had on no handcuffs, once again, due to his level of trust, and a part of him wondered if she was intimidated by this fact. But when he met her eyes and her consistent smirk, he knew it took a lot to rattle the woman.

“Good morning, General,” he replied.

She had a folder on her desk that she opened. She picked up a pair of glasses beside her and placed them on, looking through them propped on the end of her nose.

“You’re a very dependable man, aren’t you?” she asked.

Slide sat with his hands in his lap. He nodded, staying firm and solid. She smiled at him with shining, flawless teeth. She glanced back down at the folder, moving her finger down the page like a teacher reading out recent grades.

“You have been working in the forestry section for a few years now,” she said. “Has that made you feel satisfied here?”

Slide knew that the question was rhetorical. He knew she didn’t give a s**t. But he nodded in response, measured and tranquil.

The General closed her folder and leaned against it. She was wearing military greens, her breast bulging forward and leaning on the desk. Slide did not flick his eyes downward. He kept looking at her, serious but with a glimmer of knowing.

“I have something for you that might satisfy you more,” she whispered. “I have a job for you.”

Slide crossed his legs and sighed. She gave him another grin, then squinted, looking over her frames.

“An ambassador’s daughter has gone missing in Efrana,” she said. “I think you know the place.”

Slide felt the rate of his heartbeat pick up. His muscles seized, and he blinked heavily, attempting to veil his response. But she must know why he was there. She was trying to trigger something in him, and he didn’t want to take the bait.

“A young woman named Ember Rogers,” the General said, removing her glasses and standing behind her desk, “was kidnapped this morning.”

Slide nodded, watching her move behind him and unlock the door, and opened it.

“I’m sure you are interested in what is in it for you,” she said. “Follow me.”

Slide stood and clenched his fists. He followed her into the guards' lounge room, then passed through what looked like an operating room. A silver table was set up, and a doctor, dressed in blue scrubs, was standing nearby with his hands folded into each other.

“You will have your chip removed,” Nydia said. “Replaced by a GPS tracker, of course.”

“Of course,” Slide said.

The General beamed at him as he finally spoke. She held out her hand, gesturing to the operating room.

“If you succeed in your mission, I will be offering you your freedom.”

Slide looked at Nydia, attempting to hide his true feelings of both hope and hesitation.

He knew that she knew about General Luis Amadou. The man who had framed him would probably still be around. The bastard could finally be within his grasp.

Nydia was able to see through him. She had a way about her, likely from many experiences rendering her wise beyond her years.

Slide stepped through the doorframe and walked toward the table. The doctor instructed him to remove his shirt and lay face down.

He did as he was asked, feeling the cool rush of the sterilized table move through his chest as he settled. He surged with adrenaline at the thought of his lion returning and the possibility of finding the man who had taken away the most important people in his life.

It fueled him with an incomprehensible motivation. It made his heart beat fast, his muscles tighten, and his brain set on fire.

The doctor lifted something that looked like a glue gun and then placed it on the back of his neck. Slide closed his eyes and was transported into the past, somewhere warm and sparkling with promise.

Somewhere he wasn’t so pissed off all the time.