“And set me up to make it look like I was doing the same thing. Clever.”
“It was either turn you or eliminate you.”
“You were never going to turn me. Might as well get started with the eliminating.”
“Sir? What are you doing?” Jude glanced in my direction before turning back to the group of weapons pointed at us. “I don’t see how getting her angry works for us.”
“Pathetic,” Delilah said. “You are children playing in a world of gods. Did you think you alone could stop me? Stop Tigris?”
“No. It’s not just me,” I said as Luca rolled out from behind a crate and began firing. Delilah jumped behind boxes and returned fire. I grabbed the Tigris operative with our guns and violently convinced him to return them with an elbow to the side of his head.
“This time I’m going to make sure you’re dead,” Luca snarled.
I heard the screech of brakes outside but couldn’t see a vehicle.
“Nice to see you too, Luca,” Delilah yelled over the gunfire. Bloodhounds filled the space and began returning fire. “I’m sorry I can’t stay and catch up. Give the Director my regards.”
A grenade sailed over the boxes and landed near us. I grabbed Luca and catapulted over another row of boxes. The explosion rocked the area and flung us back. When I finally got to my feet and managed to look through the smoke and rubble, Delilah was gone.
THIRTY-FOUR
I SAT ON the ground near a wall as Luca gave commands to the men and had them remove the women and children from the coffins to the waiting ambulances.
“We aren’t going after her?” Jude asked as he sat down next to me. “She can’t be far.”
“People like Delilah have contingency plans set in place for situations like this. She probably had a plane fueled and ready to go on a runway near here. Once it got too hot, she cut her losses and bailed.”
“At least we stopped them.”
“Stopped them? I doubt it. We slowed Tigris down today. We did get the women and children. I’ll call that a win.”
Jude nodded. “That is a win.”
Luca came over to where we were sitting. “The Director lifted the SOS. You ready to come back to the fold?”
“You okay?” I looked up at her. “Thanks for the assist.”
Luca looked away at the women and children being gently lifted out of the coffins.
“I’d like to think we did some good today.” She looked back at me. “You’re not coming back, are you?”
“I will. Just not right now.”
“What about you, rookie?” Luca turned to Jude. “Are you going rogue too?”
“No, ma’am. I’d like to stay in Division 13 if that’s possible.” He looked at me. “Sorry, sir.”
“No apologies needed.” I held out a hand and we shook. “Keep training and studying, grasshopper.”
“Thanks, sir. For everything.”
He nodded and walked away to help with the transport. Luca stepped closer and tentatively placed a hand on my chest.
“He’s a good operative.” I looked into her eyes. “A bit stiff, but good.”
She nodded, following Jude with her gaze. “What are you going to do?” she asked. “You know this is your life.”
“I think it’s time to see who’s really helping out our friend Delilah. Tigris is a real threat.”
“You can do that with Division 13.”
“No, it’s better this way. No blowback.”
“If you don’t return, the Director will designate you rogue. You won’t be able to come back.”
“I’ve always worked best with little to no rules. You know me.”
“I do. Be careful out there. If you get in over your head, and I know you will, you know how to find me.”
“I’ll be in touch. You take care of yourself.”
“I always do.”
She walked away and began coordinating the effort to get the ambulances to Haven. I didn’t know if I would return to Division 13. There were still too many unanswered questions.
I couldn’t go back. Not until I answered them all.
THE END
AUTHOR NOTES
THANK YOU FOR reading this story and jumping into the world of Ronin and Division 13. You’ll notice this is a bit of a departure from the Montague & Strong Detective Agency Novels.
I wanted to create an organization that existed in Monty & Simon’s world, but oversaw all of the supernatural activity. That organization became Division 13.
With each book, I want to introduce you to different characters in the world Monty & Strong inhabit, (in this case, Ronin and Division 13) slowly revealing who they are and why they make the choices they do. If you don’t know who Monty & Strong are, I invite you to read their first story NO GOD IS SAFE, which is a short story explaining how Tristan and Simon worked their first case.
There are some references you will understand and some…you may not. This may be attributable to my age (I’m older than Ronin or feel that way most mornings) or to my love of all things sci-fi and fantasy. As a reader, I’ve always enjoyed finding these “Easter Eggs” in the books I’ve read. I hope you do too. If there is a reference you don’t understand, feel free to email me and I will explain it…maybe.
Each Division 13 story will follow Ronin in a thrilling quest to uncover who is behind Tigris. Why do they want to destroy the Division? How is Delilah connected? Will Ronin ever return to the Division?
Thank you for taking the time to read this book. I wrote it for you and I hope you enjoyed spending a few more hours getting in (and out of) trouble with Ronin and Division 13.
If you really enjoyed this story, I need you to do me a HUGE favor— Please leave a review.
It’s really important and helps the book (and me). Plus, it keeps Ronin fully stocked with coffee and that is a good thing.
CONTACT ME:
I REALLY DO appreciate your feedback. Let me know what you thought by emailing me at: [email protected]
For more information on Ronin, Division 13 or Monty& Strong…come join the MoB Family on Facebook!
You can find us at:
Montague & Strong Case Files.
To get FREE stories visit my page at:
www.orlandoasanchez.com
SPECIAL MENTIONS
DAVID M. FOR mentioning Technomancers.
Jim Z. for Kagome metal and Cerberin
Stacey S. Your mighty eagle eye prevented Ronin from being perceived as offensive. Thank you.
Thank You!
If you enjoyed this book, would you please help me by leaving a review? It only needs to be a sentence or two and it would really help me out a lot!
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All of My Books
*Books denoted with an asterisk are only available via my website!
The Warriors of the Way
The Karashihan* • Spiritual Warriors • The Ascendants • The Fallen Warrior • The Warrior Ascendant • The Master Warrior
John Kane
The Deepest Cut* • Blur
Sepia Blue
The Last Dance* • Rise of the Night • Sepia Blue Sisters • Sepia Blue Nightmare
Chronicles of the Modern Mystics
A Dark Flame • A Dream of Ashes
Montague & Strong Detective Agency
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The Operative
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’m finally beginning to understand that each book, each creative expression usually has a large group of people behind it.
This story is no different. So let me take a moment to acknowledge my (very large) group:
To Dolly: my wife and biggest fan. You make all of this possible and keep me grounded, especially when I get into my writing to the exclusion of everything else. Thank you, I love you.
To my Sanchez Tribe: You are the reason I have stories to tell. You cannot possibly fathom how much and how deep I love you all.
To Lee: Because you were the first audience I ever had. I love you sis.
To the Logsdon family: JL your support always demands I bring my A-game and produce the best story I can. I always hear: “Don’t rush!” in your voice.
L.L. (the Uber Jeditor) your notes and comments turned this story from good to great. I accept the challenge!
Your patience knows no bounds. Thank you both.
Arigatogozaimasu
The Montague & Strong Case Files Group AKA- The MoB(The Mages of BadAssery)
When I wrote T&B there were fifty-five members in The MoB. As of this writing there are 577 members in the MoB. I am honored to be able to call you my MoB Family. Thank you for being part of this group and M&S. You each make it possible.
THANK YOU.
WTA-The Incorrigibles
JL,BenZ, EricQK, S.S.,
They sound like a bunch of badass misfits because they are. My exposure to the slightly deranged and extremely deviant brain trust that you are made this book possible. I humbly thank you and…it’s all your fault.
The English Advisory
Aaron, Penny, Carrie
For all things English..thank you.
DEATH WISH COFFEE
Kane & Sierra- Thank you!
Is there any other coffee on the face of the earth that can compare? I think not.
To Deranged Doctor Design
Kim. Darja, Milo
You define professionalism and creativity. Thank you for the great service and amazing covers.
YOU GUYS RULE!
To you the reader:
Thank you for jumping down the rabbit hole with me. I truly hope you enjoy this story. You are the reason I wrote it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Orlando Sanchez has been writing ever since his teens when he was immersed in creating scenarios for playing Dungeon and Dragons with his friends every weekend. An avid reader, his influences are too numerous to list here. Some of the most prominent are: J.R.R. Tolkien, Jim Butcher, Kat Richardson, Terry Pratchett, Terry Brooks, Christopher Moore, Piers Anthony, Lee Child, George Lucas, Andrew Vachss, and Barry Eisler to name a few in no particular order.
The worlds of his books are urban settings with a twist of the paranormal lurking just behind the scenes and generous doses of magic, martial arts, mayhem, and mischief.
Aside from writing, he holds a 2nd and 3rd Dan in two distinct styles of Karate. If not training, he is studying some aspect of the martial arts or martial arts philosophy.
He currently resides in Queens, NY with his family and can often be found in the local Starbucks where most of his writing is done.
Please visit his site at OrlandoASanchez.com for more information about his books and upcoming releases.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2018 by Orlando A. Sanchez
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
Published by Bitten Peaches Publishing NY NY
Cover Design by Deranged Doctor Design
www.derangeddoctordesign.com
The Operative : A Division 13 Story Page 12
