I can’t help the laugh that slips out as I shake my head and make my way over. I have a feeling this man may be the death of me today.
***
ANNA
I was right. I’m dead. The General had trained us harder than ever before. Almost as if the fight the other night, seeing what was done to Ash, lit a fire under his ass, and he wanted to do the same to us. Chase had puked twice during training. Once after the five mile run we endured, and then again half way through the two-hundred up downs the General ordered us to complete. I’m not really sure how I had managed to keep the contents of my stomach in place, other than to say it was a miracle.
Two hours into training, we had finally started sparring. Me against the General, and Chase and Cody up against each other. As the only girl going through training, I can’t understand why anyone would think it was a good idea to put me up against the biggest man I have ever seen. Seriously, I am one-hundred percent certain, any rumors about Big Foot, were actually about the General. Big Foot is real, and his name is Rob McNeal.
Thirty minutes before he had finally called an end to training for the day, I noticed two men I didn’t recognize watching closely from the back of The Castle. And that had been a mistake. I had taken my eyes off my opponent, a big no-no, and the General had charged me, flipping me over his shoulder and ending with me landing too hard on my back. The wind had been knocked out of me hard enough that I saw Luke jump to his feet, his eyes filled with concern. I had waived him off, after all, I didn’t want to look like a baby, but really I had wanted him to kick the General’s ass. You know, just a little.
When training had ended, we’d headed back to our rooms, Luke whispering about the two strangers observing our sparring session. It had been Lord Paul and Dakota, both here staying in rooms in the refinished basement. Whoever those rooms actually belong to would stay elsewhere until Mateo’s guests left. Luke had said there was still no word from the Republic, but that it didn’t really matter. They could take down my compound without their help. Or I guess it’s not really my compound anymore. I have nothing left there that I care about. My family and friends are here with me. The only person still inside those walls that matters to any of us is Andy, Chase’s cousin, and Andy’s wife. Cody and Ash arrived at the compound alone, and Chase’s mother died during childbirth inside the compound. He doesn’t even know who his father is. So that leaves me with no ties to the church. No reason to go back. No reason not to destroy everything The Way stands for.
chapter 13 - Parlay It Is
ANNA
I woke up this morning filled with dread. I know the General and Luke both said there was nothing to worry about with the council meeting, that everything would go smoothly, and that it wouldn’t end in Luke or anyone else getting hurt, but nothing they said makes me feel better. Waking up and knowing Saturday is finally here, and in just two hours Luke, Mateo, and the others will be walking into a meeting with a bunch of men I don’t know, is terrifying. What’s even more terrifying is that I won’t be allowed in the meeting with them. I’ll have to stay back at The Castle and wait.
Yesterday afternoon I had watched as several men set up a large enclosed tent in the field behind The Castle. Last night, Ash and I snuck out and got a peek inside. We saw several long wooden tables pushed together to make one long table, and it had been covered with several black table clothes. On one edge was another row of tables, lined with trays and other serving dishes, that would most likely be filled with food and drink for everyone in attendance. In each corner of the tent stood black metal lights, with a lamp post feel, and each was connected by long orange cords for power. It wasn’t really as exciting as Ash and I had anticipated. Just an ordinary meeting room, only outside.
Ash and I had discussed searching The Castle for a recording device so we could at least listen to it later, but we knew that was silly. Luke would tell us everything that happened when it was over, so there was really no point in doing that.
I had already been up for hours when breakfast was served on the back patio, where tables and chairs had been set up to accommodate the large increase in guests. Everyone was laughing and joking while Lord Paul told a story about Mateo’s uncle from back in the day. As for me, my heart just wasn’t in it. Not only was I stressed about what could happen once this meeting started, I also didn’t understand the need for all this pomp and circumstance. We knew what we were all here for. We knew what needed to be done. So why can’t we just cut to the chase with everyone involved present, instead of isolating a few people in a tent in a field while following some antiquated guidelines. The whole thing seems stupid to me.
At least they seem to be getting along over breakfast. So there was that, but I still found the whole thing ridiculous. While everyone joked around, people were suffering. Not just inside the church but outside too. Their people were suffering at the church’s hand while they sat here enjoying their bacon and
