Golden State Partisans Read online

  Trevor chuckled. “There’s a certain wisdom in that.”

  “Barona tribe have good culture. I like. I respect.”

  They could just make out the house, on the road to the left, and the collection of tents in front of them. It was dark. The fire that was going earlier had been put out, but you could still smell it.

  “We won’t get a full night’s sleep, will we?” Kaylee asked.

  “Nope,” Ji-Ho said. “Suck up. You young.”

  “How did the girls take it?” Angel asked. “The meeting? The memorial?”

  “Tears, but proud,” Ji-Ho said. “Good strong women. You treat well. Be men.”

  “See you in the morning,” Kaylee said, dragging Trevor into their tent. Seth looked around, hoping to see Kaitlyn, Angel standing next to him.

  “Looks like we won’t see them until tomorrow,” Angel said. “It’s okay. Better chance to sleep.”

  “You have a point there.” Seth smirked.

  “I didn’t mean it that way,” Angel said.

  “Neither did I. Good night.”

  Seth unzipped his tent and got inside, using his cellphone flashlight to close the door and unzip the sleeping bag. It was too hot to climb in the bag, so he just opened it, spread it on the floor, and got undressed. Suddenly his whole body ached, and sleepiness hit him, first in the forehead, and then washing all over his body. He laid back, looking at the roof of the dome tent as it fluttered peacefully in the wind. He could hear hushed talking and footsteps here and there, receding into the back of his brain as he drifted off.

  “Seth?” a voice whispered.

  His eyes jerked open, heart beating. “In here.”

  He heard the zipper moving on the door, and then smelled her, an intoxicating mixture of sweat and something else. She came inside, knee bumping his leg as she entered and zipped the tent door closed.

  “I’m naked,” Seth whispered. “I’ll put something back on.”

  “Why, it’s pitch black in here,” she whispered. He heard her clothes coming off, and then the warm soft flesh of her back was next to him. “We can’t do anything, but we can lay together, okay? Sleep?”

  “Oh God,” he said as she moved tighter against him. “Yes, it’s fine.”

  “You didn’t come looking for me,” she whispered.

  “I wanted to,” he said. “Angel did too. We thought we should let you grieve.”

  “Megan’s with Angel,” she whispered.

  “Then he’s as happy as I am,” Seth whispered to her. “Can I kiss you? Just once?”

  She sucked in air and turned towards him, the feeling of her soft body against his shooting through him like a lightning bolt. Their lips touched, a gentle kiss, becoming more passionate. She broke it and looked at him in the darkness.

  “Feels like I’d better turn back around,” she whispered.

  “Probably a good idea,” he said, trying to see in the dark as she turned on her side and spooned into him. “Good night, Kaitlyn.”

  “Good night,” she said, pulling his arm over her waist. They were asleep in a few seconds.

  Morning came too fast, light coming through the red nylon, the sound of people floating over the huge group of tents. Seth woke, forgetting for a moment what the warm softness was next to him, opening his eyes to take in her naked back, with the curve of her hips and waist.

  “I feel that,” she whispered, turning towards him. He feasted his eyes on her.

  “Take a picture, why don’t you,” she said softly, eyes on his. “You want me pretty badly.”

  Seth chuckled. “You don’t know the half of it.”

  “Well, that gives you something to look forward to someday,” she said with a coy expression, picking up her shirt and pulling it on. She worked on her pants as Seth got dressed.

  “Hurry up,” she said. “We need to break down this tent.”

  Seth put on his shoes. “We need to break down your tent too, I suspect.”

  She giggled. “I did that last night, silly.”

  Chapter 4 – Volvos

  Gil pulled the ’78 Ford into the empty service stall at the car dealership. Ted hit the button to lower the garage door, and everybody piled out.

  “What about the weapons?” Robbie asked.

  “Let’s get them out,” Sparky said. “Just in case somebody figures out where we are.”

  “I’ll open the trunk,” Gil said, taking the keys out of his pocket. “Miss my key fob.”

  “That car was comfortable, though,” Sparky said. “Miss those old heavy cars. C’mon, let’s go talk to Jules.”

  They carried the guns into the office area, setting them in a cubicle on the back wall, then walking down the hallway to the office. Jules, Ted, Tex, and Jordan were sitting in there sipping coffee.

  “Hey, want some java?” Tex asked.

  “Hell yeah,” Gil said.

  Justin and Robbie nodded yes too. “I’ll help you,” Robbie said.

  Tex and Robbie disappeared down the hall.

  “Grab chairs from next cubicle, and have seat,” Jules said, smiling. “We talk.”

  Gil nodded, looking nervous.

  “I remember you,” Ted said. “You were at the restaurant.”

  “Robbie’s boss, right?”

  “Yep,” Ted said.

  “How’d you get into this?”

  “Ex-special forces,” Ted said. “I knew most of these reprobates from past battles.”

  “Be nice, partner,” Tex said, coming back into the office with the coffees. Robbie followed with more cups. Justin brought in the extra chairs, as they took a seat.

  “Problem on road?” Jules asked.

  “We had to leave the UN van in the garage at the house,” Sparky said.

  “Why?” Ted asked.

  “The checkpoint at PCH and Vermont was on fire,” Sparky said. “I didn’t want some of our own firing at us.”

  Jules chuckled. “I see that. Good. Welcome, Gil. I hear you know how to shoot.”

  “Yeah,” Gil said. “What will we be doing?”

  “We go up north, wipe out checkpoints like here. Take Bay Area out of martial law, then target Sacramento. Much work to do. Dangerous. You game?”

  “Yeah, I’m game,” Gil said. “We have to take back California.”

  “Good, I like to hear,” Jules said.

  “Tell him about the organization,” Sparky said. “We need to make sure he’s okay with what he’s signing up for.”

  “Yes,” Jules said, looking Gil in the eye. “You tell, Tex. My English not as good.”

  “Sure, partner,” Tex said. “Here’s the deal, kid. You’ll become part of the crew. Loyalty is a must. If you ever betray us, you’ll be killed.”

  Gil’s eyes got wide, and he glanced at Justin and Robbie.

  “Look, Gil,” Robbie said. “We’ve joined an organization that was built out of the Russian mob. These guys are tough. They’re also unforgiving. I’m okay with it. Make sure you are.”

  “So, if I quit you’re going to hunt me down?” Gil asked.

  “No, no, that’s not what we’re saying,” Tex said. “It’s just this. If you go to the UN, the Islamists, or the US authorities and rat us out, then you’ll be hunted down and killed.”

  “Oh,” Gil said. “I can live with that. I won’t sell you guys out. No way.”

  “Good, that’s what we want to hear,” Jules said.

  “How many of the women are joining up?” Sparky asked.

  “More than expected,” Ted said. “Over half. The under-aged girls all want to join, but we’ve got to get them back to their parents. That’s a top priority, as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Under-aged girls?” Gil asked, face horrified.

  “Yeah, man,” Justin said. “Sick bastards in the UN were raping them too.”

  “Oh, God,” Gil said. “What about Karen?”

  “Ahh, nice redhead,” Jules said. “She join. You know?”

  “A little bit,” Gil said. “She’
s my boss’s daughter.” He choked up, tears coming.

  “You worked for her dad, partner?” Tex asked. “She told us what happened to him. Didn’t mention you though.”

  “She doesn’t know I’m alive,” Gil said. “I’m not planning on making any moves on her. She might not even recognize me. I was just one of the hired help.”

  “Understand,” Tex said.

  “What about the women that don’t want to join?” Sparky asked.

  “We’ll leave them on the Central Coast with enough green to live for a couple months,” Ted said. “They can do what they want after that.”

  “Why not just let them go here?” Gil asked.

  “The UN thugs know where they live,” Tex said. “Their lives ain’t worth a plug nickel here.”

  “Oh,” Gil said. “Makes sense. What about Morgan and Katie?”

  “They’re both gonna join,” Robbie said.

  “And what about Steve and Colleen?” he asked.

  “We don’t know what happened to them,” Robbie said. “Can’t raise them on the phone.”

  “Dammit,” Gil said. “They’re probably dead.”

  “Let’s not think that way,” Justin said. “We don’t know. If they got to Mountain High, they might be okay. They left right after the first set of checkpoint attacks, so the enemy was in a panic. That might have allowed them to slip through, and don’t forget that Steve can be pretty resourceful.”

  “True,” Gil said.

  Cody walked in and eyed Gil. “Hey, man, how’s it going?”

  “Cody,” Gil said, shaking his hand. “I’m good. How are you?”

  “Great,” Cody said.

  “You two know each other?” Tex asked.

  “I saw some of Gil’s handiwork,” Cody said. “He wasted a couple gang-bangers in front of Robbie’s condo with that 30-30 of his. Good to have you with us, man.”

  “Thanks,” Gil said.

  “What are we gonna do next?” Cody asked.

  “Finish working the underage girls problem,” Ted said. “Then get outta dodge. Does Ivan have those vehicles lined up for us?”

  “Yes, we pick up in storage yard, in Santa Clarita Valley,” Jules said. “Spend one night there, then off. Straight up I-5.”

  “Vehicles?” Robbie asked.

  “Motorhomes,” Tex said. “We’re gonna live on the road, partner.”

  Robbie chuckled. “Just like my parents.”

  “You tell them cover story?” Jules asked.

  “Yes, right after I signed up,” Robbie said. “Called them.”

  “Cover story?” Gil asked.

  “Yeah, I’m going into the service,” Robbie said.

  “If you have family, make up cover story and call,” Jules said. “You’ll disappear. They need story if UN thugs investigate. Don’t mention Ivan.”

  “I already called my folks with a story,” Justin said. “Felt weird to lie to them.”

  “It for your good, and family’s good,” Jules said.

  “I know,” Justin said.

  “Okay, I’ll see if I can reach mine,” Gil said. “They’re on the road, making for San Diego County.”

  “That tough trip,” Jules said, eyes showing worry.

  “Yeah, I know,” Gil said. “I’ll call them after this meeting.”

  “We just about done,” Jules said. “We leave tonight if we can handle underage girl situation.”

  “What if we can’t solve it?” Ted asked.

  “Then I leave them with dealership manager, and he finish,” Jules said.

  “You’d leave them with Harry?” Ted asked. “Sure that’s a good idea?”

  “He know I kill if he does bad thing,” Jules said. “Rather deal with it before we leave.”

  “Then let’s get back on it,” Tex said, glancing at Ted. They got up and left the room.

  “I want to go see Morgan,” Robbie said.

  “Yeah, let’s go in the other room for a while,” Justin said.

  “I’ll call my folks and then join you,” Gil said. “Where?”

  “Third door on the right,” Justin said.

  “Okay,” Gil said.

  “Motorhomes, huh,” Justin whispered to Robbie as they walked. “I’m ready for a road trip.”

  “We might have to fight on the way. Motorhomes can be vulnerable.”

  “True, but we’re heavily armed,” Justin said. “It’s gonna be what it’s gonna be, man.”

  Robbie chuckled. “You’re even more gung-ho than I am. Didn’t expect that.”

  “What they did to Katie really pissed me off. You’ve been able to kill some of these creeps since you found out. I haven’t yet.”

  Robbie nodded. “Okay, I guess that makes a certain amount of sense.”

  “Robbie!” Morgan said, rushing to him as he came in the door. Katie rushed over to Justin. Both couples embraced.

  “Is Gil here?” Morgan asked, her arms around Robbie’s waist.

  “Yep,” Robbie said. “He’ll be along in a minute. He’s calling his parents with a cover story.”

  “Oh, yeah,” Morgan said. “Nobody likes to lie to their parents.”

  “No choice,” Robbie said. “It’s for their own good.”

  “I know,” Morgan said. “But still.”

  “Any word on Steve?” Katie asked.

  “I’ve got to call him again,” Robbie said. “You could call him too, you know. You have his number, right?”

  “I have his number, but I don’t have my cellphone.”

  “Here, use mine,” Robbie said, tossing it to her.

  Gil walked into the room, eyeing the women and girls, who eyed him right back. Karen perked up, but she didn’t say anything.

  “Any luck?” Robbie asked.

  Gil shot him a grim look. “No, couldn’t raise them.”

  “Don’t give up hope,” Morgan said. “Good to see you again.”

  “Likewise,” Gil said. “So sorry about what happened to you. You too, Katie.”

  Katie nodded to him, phone to her ear.

  “Who’s she calling?” Gil whispered.

  “She’s trying to raise Steve and Colleen,” Robbie said.

  Karen got up and made her way to Gil. “Hey. You worked for my dad, didn’t you?”

  “I did,” Gil said, looking at her beautiful face and red hair. “So sorry about him. I really liked him a lot.”

  She tried to choke back tears, but was having a hard time. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

  “I’m sorry,” Gil said, standing there, not sure what to do. She hugged him as she sobbed, then backed up. “Sorry. I don’t know anybody here.”

  “You know me a little,” Gil said.

  “I never gave you the time of day,” she said. “I noticed you looking.”

  “It’s okay,” Gil said. “I was an employee.”

  “You quit, didn’t you?” she asked.

  “Yeah, before this nonsense started up,” Gil said. “I got forced back under martial law.”

  “Why did you leave?” she asked.

  “Let’s not talk about it,” Gil said. “Your dad and I mended fences, and he treated me like gold after I came back. That’s all that matters.”

  “Okay,” she said. “Sorry to pry.”

  “No problem,” he said, sitting down on the floor.

  “Can I sit with you?” she asked.

  “Yes, of course,” Gil said. “You joined up, didn’t you?”

  “Damn straight,” Karen said. “I want revenge. So do a lot of the others. You know Morgan and Katie, don’t you?”

  Gil shook his head yes. “Robbie, Justin, Steve, and I go way back.”

  “Who’s Steve?”

  “Katie’s brother,” Gil said. “She’s trying to call him. Steve and his girlfriend took off right before Morgan got picked up. We were all living in the same condo.”

  “Oh,” Karen said. “I hope they’re okay.”

  “Me too,” Gil said. “You got family?”

&n
bsp; “My mom, but she’s in Texas,” Karen said. “With her second husband. He doesn’t like me.”

  “Oh, sorry,” Gil said.

  “How about you?”

  “I’m worried sick about my parents. They took off for San Diego County after the attack on the Torrance civic center. I haven’t been able to raise them.”

  “Oh no,” Karen said. “I hope they’re okay.”

  “Me too.”

  Katie handed the phone back to Robbie. “Nothing,” she said. “Tried several times.”

  “They might be out of cell range up there,” Robbie said.

  “I hope that’s all it is,” she said.

  “What’s happening next?” Morgan asked.

  Robbie chuckled. “We’re picking up motorhomes in Santa Clarita Valley and taking them up north.”

  “You’re joking,” Morgan said.

  “No,” Robbie said. “I think it’s kinda cool.”

  “Yeah, if the enemy doesn’t make swiss cheese out of them,” Gil quipped.

  “We’ll be okay, or we won’t,” Robbie said.

  “Comforting,” Karen said.

  Suddenly there was gunfire outside. Everybody in the room froze. Tex ran in. “Get your guns! Now!”

  “We’ve been found,” Robbie said, rushing into the hallway. He grabbed the M60, Gil right behind him getting his 30-30, Justin, Morgan, Gil, Katie, and Karen right on their heels. The rest of the women got up and ran out of the room, picking up M-16s and shotguns.

  “I get to kill some of these creeps earlier than I expected,” Dana said, picking up an M-16 and checking the magazine.

  “They teach you guys how to use these?” Robbie asked.

  “Yeah, this morning, while you were off picking up Gil,” Morgan shouted as they ran towards the front of the building.

  Jules rushed over. “Hey, Robbie, Tex, Sparky, on roof. RPGs there. We blast vehicles, then load up and split. Got?”

  “I’m with you, partner,” Tex said, running towards the stairs with his BAR. Cody and Jordan ran over too, with Ted.

  “Some of you guys stay on the ground floor and protect the women,” Sparky yelled as he ran up the stairs with Tex and Robbie.

  The people downstairs were returning fire now, M60 machine guns and M-16 rifles spewing lead into the UN positions surrounding the building on Sepulveda and Washington Boulevard.

  The roof of the building was a parking lot with rows of new Volvos. Jules rushed over to a steel box next to the façade wall and unlocked it, handing out several RPGs.