House of Acerbi

“How did you know we were out here?”

“We found your chopper,” Leo said. “You weren’t in it, so we started looking.”

“Ed Wilson … he’s …”

“We know, Lev.”

Alon winced as he tried to stand. “That was a pretty gutsy move having all the choppers set down.”

“It seemed like a pretty clear cut decision at the time,” Ben said. “Basically, I just wanted us all on the ground.”

In the distance, they could hear the rattle of gunfire followed by a series of explosions that lit up the horizon.

“Our guys?” Lev asked.

“Yep … we need to get moving.”

Two large soldiers reached down and lifted Alon to his feet. They continued to support him as he limped behind the others past the smoldering remains of the crashed chopper.

“Right now, I have teams out there blowing every missile site they can find,” Ben said. “They probably won’t get them all before we have to leave, but at least they’ll get most of them. I’m hoping that will give us a better chance.”

“A better chance for what?”

“A better chance to fire up the choppers and get the hell out of here. We’re still outnumbered at least ten to one … maybe more, and as soon as the sun comes up we’ll be sitting ducks out here. We’ve got to make a strategic retreat and regroup.”

Lev looked into the hardened eyes of the men staring back at him. “This stops now. There will be no retreat. We’re going to do what we came here to do … or we’re going to die trying.”

CHAPTER 60

When the attack began, Acerbi had been sitting at a table inside the hangar when the first missile streaked skyward and exploded against one of the slow-moving drones. Seconds later, flashes of missile launches across the desert floor were followed by dozens of explosions in the sky as the leading wave of drones crossed over the ranch and were instantly destroyed.

After the first series of strikes, Acerbi’s main targeting computer began to sense that it was firing on unarmed decoys and quickly readjusted as the ground-based radar began picking up the F-15’s and low-flying helicopters coming in behind the slow-moving drones.

Looking into their computer screens, Acerbi’s men waited. As soon as the fighters and choppers were in range, their commander gave the command to let loose with their remaining missiles.

Against the sound of distant explosions, Acerbi stood and held his hands in the air, indicating to his frightened guests that he was about to make an announcement.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m afraid I must leave you for the moment. It appears that a local gang war has just broken out on the highway and I must confer with my head of security. My best men are surrounding the hangar, and I can assure you that you will all be safe here until we put down this minor disturbance. I deeply apologize for this inconvenience, but for the moment, I must ask you not to venture outside until my men have the situation under control. As soon as they give the all clear signal, I will return so that we may continue our evening of celebration.”

“Nice job, Acerbi,” Thorn shouted from his table. “Maybe moving to Mexico wasn’t such a good idea after all.”

A chorus of hushed voices followed Thorn’s comment as Acerbi’s eyes met Thorn’s drunken stare with a look one gives a bug before he steps on it. Ignoring the remark, Acerbi quickly excused himself and walked from the hangar to a waiting SUV.

“Tell them to seal the doors.”

“Now, sir?’

“Yes … now.”

In less than a minute, the large doors were closed and Acerbi’s men began locking them on the outside with chains.

Inside, Dana Waters was beginning to panic. From a row of windows set high above, she had seen the unmistakable trail of a missile that ended in an explosion when it met with something in the air. This was no small incursion by a Mexican drug gang, but whatever it was, Acerbi had lied about it and she and the others were now caught in the middle.

Alan Thorn stood at his table and shouted to the others. “This is ludicrous! This hangar is nothing more than a big box of thin sheet metal. We’re sitting ducks in here. We should be going down into a shelter somewhere.”

The rattle of chains outside caused every head to swivel in the direction of the doors.

“They’re locking the doors!” a man yelled. Chairs and tables were knocked aside as a stampede of frightened people rushed toward the front of the hangar and began beating on the thin metal walls. Dana froze. Looking around, she spotted a small door in a corner at the back of the hangar. Backing away from the main group, she made her way along a side wall until she reached the door. Uttering a silent prayer, she turned the knob and pushed. The door opened. Looking back over her shoulder, she stepped out. Instantly, she heard voices approaching in the darkness. They’ll be here any second. Slipping out of her high heels, she started running barefoot across the concrete until she felt the sand of the desert beneath her feet.

Dropping to the ground, she saw two darkened silhouettes approaching. As soon as they came closer, it was evident they were Acerbi’s security men. Talking in low whispers, they locked the open door and began searching the area. Dana held her breath. In the moonlight, they would have no trouble spotting her. She saw one of the men walking directly toward her just as something began crawling on her exposed leg, but she didn’t dare move. The security man stopped and looked out into the desert for a moment, then turned and joined the other man. After some discussion, they both walked off around the side of the hangar.

Dana reached down and swatted the invisible crawly thing away as more explosions shattered the still night air out in the desert. She had to think. It was obvious to her that Acerbi’s ranch was under a more serious attack than he was admitting to, and things were bound to get worse before they got better. She had to get as far away from there as she could.

On the other side of the hangar, she heard the startup whine of a jet engine. The plane! It was her only chance. Somehow, she had to get to that plane before it left. Jumping up, she ran from her sandy hiding spot and began inching along the side of the hangar until she reached the end. Peering around the corner, she heard the startup of a second engine.

She had to make it to the plane! Dana began to run. She didn’t care if Acerbi’s men saw her as she focused on the stairs. Looking up, she saw the forward aircraft door swinging shut. She ran faster. She was almost to the stairs when she tripped and rolled across the concrete. She lay there, holding her ankle and wincing in pain as the aircraft’s automatic stairs slowly rose off the tarmac and began sliding back into the fuselage. Lifting herself up, she looked back just in time to see Acerbi’s men driving away as the deafening roar from the start up of the jet’s fourth engine drowned out the screams from the people locked inside the hangar.

Dana wheeled around and began limping after the plane as it began to move, but her efforts were useless. She could do nothing but watch helplessly as the plane taxied out and thundered down the runway before lifting into the air.

Standing there watching the flashing lights of the jet disappear into the clouds, Dana began to sob when she heard the roar of another jet coming in from the west, and it seemed to be growing louder. Peering up into the darkness, she saw a bright flash in the sky. The flash was followed by a white streak of light that headed straight for the ground in a downward arc. Whatever it was, it was headed right at her at an unbelievable speed. Unable to move, she watched in fascination as something whooshed directly over her head. A split second later, the hangar behind her disintegrated in a shattering explosion that knocked her to the ground.

Rolling over onto her back, she ran her hands over her face and up and down her arms and legs. Other than