PRIMAL Vengeance

Chapter 41



Unknown Location, Sudan



Bishop's head was throbbing. The fact that it was bashing against the window of a SUV probably didn't help. As he slowly regained consciousness, he realized his feet were bound and his hands were firmly secured behind his back. He shuffled up into a sitting position and looked out the window at the landscape racing past.

"Our guest is awake."

The rough Chinese accent caught Bishop's attention and he glanced forward into the vehicle's rear vision mirror. Yang's reptilian stare glared back at him.

"Thanks for the wake-up call. How long till room service?" asked Bishop.

"You still think you are funny. That will change," said Yang.

Bishop turned his head and realized that Jess was sitting next to him, still unconscious.

"Jess." He shuffled over towards her. "Jess, can you hear me?"

"She will be awake soon. She is not as big as you. The drugs will take longer. How is your arm?"

Bishop glanced at his left shoulder. It was wrapped in a heavy bandage.

"I took the liberty of closing the wound for you."

"Shit, makes me feel bad about sticking a knife in your leg."

"Somehow I doubt that, Aden."

"No, you're right. That was a pretty sweet move."

There was silence as Yang glared in the mirror of the SUV. Bishop ignored him, focusing his attention on the still unconscious doctor.

"Jess, wake up."

She groaned and opened her eyes. "Aden, Aden!" She panicked, struggling against the plasticuffs that bound her hands and feet.

"It's OK. I'm here."

He shuffled across to help her into a sitting position. Her hair was a total mess, a line of dried saliva marked her shirt and her eyes were bloodshot.

"You OK?" asked Bishop.

"A little groggy. I think they hit us with Ketamine. How's your arm?"

"Ah, the beautiful doctor has decided to join us," interrupted Yang. "I trust that you are feeling well?"

"Go to hell!" snapped Jess.

"You really should be more pleasant. This may be our last opportunity to chat. I can assure you that when we reach our destination our interaction will be far more—formal!"

"What does he mean by that?" Jess asked.

"Means he's going to get rough," said Bishop quietly. "There's no need to bring her into this. She doesn't know anything about us."

"This I already know, but it would seem that you have become quite fond of her. So maybe you should start talking now."

Bishop stared out the window at the African savannah flashing by. It was mid-afternoon and the land was starting to cool. Soon the big cats would start to stir, preparing for darkness and the hunt. He turned his head to face the front of the vehicle and for the first time he realized there were a number of gun buggies escorting them.

"You already know who I work for. My agency isn't going to sit on its hands, you know. They will be looking for me. They know who you are and where I'll be."

"I doubt that very much. Mainly because I don't believe that you work for the CIA. I think you're a mercenary, a gun for hire. The question is who has hired you?"

Bishop laughed. "You're a fool, Yang. What private contractor has access to the sort of support that's behind me? Face it, you f*cked up snatching me and before you know it a SEAL team is going to be kicking in your door and dragging you away by the hair. Then we'll see who's the funny man."

Yang smirked in the mirror. "We will see."

The SUV slowed and Bishop instantly recognized the high fences, earthen berms and heavy concrete security posts of the PETROCON refinery. He had studied satellite imagery and UAV footage but he had not anticipated seeing it this close up, in person.

The buggies in front of them passed through the chicane of concrete barriers, stopping to have their undersides checked by mirror-wielding guards.

When it was their turn, Yang wound down the window and snapped a set of orders to the guards. They waved the SUV through the checkpoint and into the compound.

The vehicle pulled up in front of a number of boxy buildings. Yang and the driver jumped out of the vehicle, leaving Bishop and Jess alone.

"What happens now?" asked Jess.

"Nothing to worry about," lied Bishop. "They're after me, not you."

Footsteps could be heard approaching the vehicle. "They won't hurt you, Jess. I promise." Bishop spoke quickly.

The doors were wrenched open and both of them were pulled out. Bishop landed on his flank, his legs still tied together. A hood was slipped over his head and he was forced to his feet. He heard the snick of a knife slicing through the plasticuffs at his ankles. Strong hands guided him forward.

"This is where it's going to get really fun," Yang hissed in his ear.

"Why? Because you finally get to play out all those homoerotic fantasies bouncing around in your sick little head?" Bishop's voice was muffled in the hood. He braced for the inevitable and when the blow landed, it lifted him off his feet and sent him sideways. He embraced the darkness and dropped to the ground unconscious.