Page 40 of Fighting for Julia (Laguna Beach Cops #6)
SOMEWHERE IN MEXICO
GENERAL ESCOBAR’S COMPOUND
Miguel and Julia
Old nightmares invaded Miguel’s sleep. The demons who chased him were always the same, but now they wore the faces of Axis and Axalia.
They tore Julia from limb to limb and feasted on her heart, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to stop them as invisible chains bound him.
Their demonic faces leered at him, mocked him as Julia’s blood dripped from their razor-sharp teeth.
Miguel woke up in a cold sweat. His breath came in short gasps as his heart raced. The bed sheets were tangled around his legs, evidence of his thrashing helplessly during his nightmares. Darkness swamped his room. He shivered and glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. It was only 5 a.m.
Knowing sleep would evade him, Miguel rose and headed into the bathroom.
He turned on the shower and inspected his gunshot wound while he waited for the water to heat.
The butterfly bandages had come off, but he didn’t need them anymore.
The skin had fused back together, yet it was still tender and sore.
During his fight with Axis, and possibly Axalia, too, if they tag teamed, he’d have to do his best to protect that side of his body.
After he took a shower, he dressed in a pair of sweatpants and T-shirt he found among the clothes he’d been given and dropped to the floor to do pushups.
He did over a hundred, then switched to squats.
He hoped the General’s compound had a fitness room, so he could lift weights and run on a treadmill.
The best he could do right now was jog in place and practice kicks and jabs.
By seven-thirty, Miguel had grown impatient and decided to check on Julia. He flung open his door, startling Juan who stood with his fist raised, apparently in the act of knocking. Julia was with him and dressed similarly in sweatpants and a T-shirt.
“Good morning, Miguel,” Juan greeted him with a somewhat grim grin. “The General has requested that you and Julia join him for breakfast.”
“Thank you, Juan.”
Miguel kissed Julia and noted her serious demeanor. It brought to his mind how she looked when he’d first met her almost three weeks ago. Though he loved her independence and ability to take care of herself, his protective instincts washed through him as he took her hand in his.
“It ends with us, Jules.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m with you, Miguel, no matter what.”
He grinned. “You sound like Adrienne in Rocky IV .”
“We’ll be channeling his fighting spirit for the next three days.”
General Escobar wasn’t alone in his private dining room. Two big, burly men with crew cuts and dressed in olive green cotton shirts and fatigues sat with him. Ink stained their skin. Dog tags hung around their brawny necks. They were identical twins.
Miguel and Julia sat across from the twins, and General Escobar introduced them.
“Raúl and Ricardo Monterrey served with me while I was in the army. They are consummate warriors and will be your trainers.”
The brothers merely nodded an acknowledgement. Miguel figured they were men of few words and constantly on high alert. They couldn’t afford to be distracted by small talk. Miguel and Julia returned their chin nods.
“Fill up on carbs and plenty of protein,” the General continued as he swept his arm across the table. “You’re going to need the energy.” He rose. “Please excuse me. I have business that requires my attention.”
They ate in silence until Miguel asked, “Is there a training facility or a gym onsite?”
“Sí, Agent Rivera,” answered Raúl. “Be prepared.”
Miguel understood the gist. No mercy.
By the end of their third day of intensive martial arts and physical training, Miguel and Julia were leaner, faster, and more agile.
The skills and techniques they’d learned from the twins Raúl and Ricardo Monterrey made them formidable opponents.
When Miguel mentioned that it almost seemed unfair to the Andersons, Julia shushed him.
“They kill without remorse, Miguel. Don’t forget that.”
They sat in his room after retiring early to mentally prepare for the fight the next day.
“I know, Jules. But… Jesus. They’re just kids. Teenagers.”
“Teenagers without a conscience. Didn’t you tell me that Justice shot and killed Rosie’s brother because he murdered his entire family?”
“Yes. We suspected afterward that he’d been recruited by Axel Anderson.”
“He and Lola destroyed their own children.” Julia paused. “Sometimes I can hardly believe how easily Lola turned so cold and heartless.”
Miguel drew her close to him. “She met the wrong person at a terrible time in her life.” He tilted her chin toward him. “But I don’t want to talk about them anymore.” He molded his mouth against hers in a slow, thorough kiss.
“No sex, remember?” Julia teased him.
“Don’t remind me. All I want to do is hold you in my arms.”
They cuddled on his bed and kissed and caressed until Julia reluctantly rose and went to her own room. That night Miguel slept peacefully.
The fight was scheduled to take place at ten o’clock in the morning on the open field.
It was the most unprotected area in the compound as it backed up to the mountains.
Miguel dismissed that random thought as he dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt.
The sweatpants hung loosely on him, so he tightened the drawstring around his waist. He drank plenty of water but refused to eat anything for fear he’d feel heavy and sick to his stomach. It already churned with dread.
Thirty minutes before the fight, Miguel called Justice. “It’s today, Chief. Any last-minute advice?”
“Yeah. Duck.”
Miguel let out a nervous chuckle. “Got it.”
“Seriously, Miguel, remain calm and coolheaded. The Andersons will be fueled by their anger and arrogance. Make them do all the hard work.”
“So, I should just stand still?”
“Yeah. Then duck.”
They laughed.
“Chief…give my love to everyone. I miss you all.”
“Will do. And we love and miss you.”
“Catch you after the fight.”
“You bet.”
Miguel dropped to his knees next to his bed, bowed his head, clasped his hands, and prayed until a sharp rap on the door alerted him that it was time. He crossed himself and glanced at the crucifix above the bed.
“God help me.”
Raúl, Ricardo, and Julia waited in the corridor. Julia stood with rigid tension, her body coiled tightly like a spring, and her dark eyes shone with intense focus. He wanted to offer a reassuring kiss but refrained. Julia, though, grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
“Let’s end this quickly so we can go home.” Then she leaned forward and kissed him. “I love you, Miguel Rivera.”
He swept her into his arms and slanted his mouth across hers in a hard kiss. “I love you , Julia Washburn.” Miguel addressed the twins. “We’re ready.”
After passing through the maze of corridors, they stepped into the bright morning sunshine and headed toward the open field.
A large crowd, absent of children, had already gathered, and a hush fell over them as Miguel and Julia approached with Raúl and Ricardo.
Details pressed themselves into Miguel’s mind.
The position of the sun. Don’t let it blind him.
The foothills and the mountains beyond. Easy for someone to hide there.
The line of ATVs parked nearby. They provided a way to escape.
Where was Juan? Miguel’s eyes scanned the crowd.
There he was. Standing two deep on the left side of the field.
They made eye contact, and Juan nodded almost imperceptibly.
Alfredo caught his eye and gave him a huge smile with two thumbs up.
Miguel and Julia chose their spots and started to warm up, as if they were preparing to run a marathon. They swung their arms and bent their legs behind them. While they stretched their muscles, the spectators began to murmur in low voices. Miguel ignored them and concentrated on the ordeal ahead.
And then everyone grew quiet again. General Escobar strode toward the field. Axis and Axalia flanked him. The expression on the siblings’ faces reminded Miguel of starving wolves. Predatory. Hungry.
General Escobar shouted, “No weapons! No rules! No mercy! No interference! The fight isn’t over until one pair has defeated the other to the death!” He stepped off to the side.
Axalia screeched like a banshee, maybe hoping to unnerve Miguel and Julia, but they stood still several feet apart.
She flew at Julia, nails extended like talons.
Julia held her ground, then sidestepped and grabbed Axalia’s arm, throwing her to the ground.
Axalia growled like an animal and leaped to her feet.
She lunged toward Julia who threw a powerful punch that broke her nose. Blood spurted.
In the meantime, Miguel and Axis slowly circled each other.
His strategy was to force the younger man to wear himself out; and when the time came, Miguel would break his neck.
Quick and easy. The thought made him sick to his stomach, and bile rose in his throat.
He swallowed it, forcing it down with his compassion.
Axis was far more coolheaded than his sister.
He bided his time. Miguel watched him calculating his first move and tried not to be distracted by the battle now raging between Axalia and Julia.
But Axis wasn’t as careful as Miguel. When he diverted his attention by glancing at his sister, Miguel struck the first blow.
He swept Axis’ legs out from beneath him and stomped on Anderson’s wounded leg.
The kid grunted, then laughed as he dusted off himself. “That won’t happen again.”
He ran toward Miguel who stopped him with one hard punch to Axis’ gut. And then it was on.