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Back The Neighborhood Save as PDF
Chapters (59)
  1. Part I Reconnaissance
  2. Chapter One
  3. Chapter Two
  4. Chapter Three
  5. Part II Incursion
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Part III Under Siege
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Part IV Course Correction
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Part V Balance of Power
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-One
  27. Chapter Twenty-Two
  28. Chapter Twenty-Three
  29. Chapter Twenty-Four
  30. Chapter Twenty-Five
  31. Chapter Twenty-Six
  32. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  33. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  34. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  35. Part VI Spy versus Spy
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Part VII Winds of War and Flame
  41. Chapter Thirty-Four
  42. Chapter Thirty-Five
  43. Chapter Thirty-Six
  44. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  45. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  46. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  47. Chapter Forty
  48. Chapter Forty-One
  49. Part VIII Strong to the Finish
  50. Chapter Forty-Two
  51. Chapter Forty-Three
  52. Part IX Spy Games
  53. Chapter Forty-Four
  54. Chapter Forty-Five
  55. Chapter Forty-Six
  56. Part X What Goes Around
  57. Chapter Forty-Seven
  58. Chapter Forty-Eight
  59. About the Author

As traffic began to flow, and the first line of cars moved down Hidden Refuge Drive to leave the neighborhood, Esli opened the door of the QX80 and felt the cool air of fall whip around his head. He heard his son speak to him, but the words were muffled like those of Charlie Brown’s teacher. The dream had no purpose for the words, as there was nothing that could prevent Esli from his solitary objective—to stop the men with guns.

Esli began to run, building speed with each purposeful step. He heard shouts from behind him, but he paid them no heed. In this dream, he was the one with the power, and his will would be the one imposed. He would not be a victim again. He ran harder and saw the men with guns react. This time, you will be the ones that suffer, and the village will be saved.

And with each stride, Esli Flores ran toward his destiny.

Chapter Eight

Chapter
EIGHT

Sam stirred in her bed, the push-to-talk radio squawking loudly. She’d left it on as she’d drifted off to sleep, hoping that Ben would let her know everything was okay. His parents had been fighting lately, arguing about something they’d been keeping from him. The arguments hadn’t been personal or vindictive, and he’d told Sam he didn’t think they were getting a divorce. It was something else, something more fundamental, and he figured they’d let him know in due time. His unnatural patience, especially for a teenage boy, was another trait that she respected and admired in him.

“Sam! Sam! Where are you?” Ben asked urgently, penetrating her semiconsciousness with immediate effect.

Sam opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling and then grabbed her iPhone. 3:05 a.m.? What’s going on?

“Sam! They’re evacuating everyone. Please tell me you’re somewhere in this car line.” A pause. “Sam!”

Evacuation? What’s he talking about?

She grabbed the radio and spoke, still trying to shake off the cobwebs of sleep. “Ben, where are you? What’s going on?”

“Sam!” he exclaimed with palpable relief in his voice. “Thank God! I was worried sick. Did the police come to your door? Where are you?”

Police? She stood up from her bed and moved quickly to the door, flipping on the light switch as she did. “Ben, I’m fine. I was worried when I didn’t hear from you. What happened?”

Whatever it was, it had to be serious, and she needed to get dressed. She tossed the radio onto her bed and started grabbing clothes from her white Pottery Barn dresser.

“I’m sorry. I was exhausted after martial arts and collapsed on my bed after showering. I lay there for a second, planning to radio you, and the next thing I know, my parents are waking me up. I forgot to turn on the radio before I passed out.”