Stories from the War: Military Dystopian Thriller by Autumn M. Birt
Stirrings
March 2056
“She left! I offered her everything and she walked away!”
Byran spun on his heel a fraction too close to the table. A chair crashed sideways, its legs tripping him. Derrick laughed harder. Byran ignored him and the fallen chair.
“I don’t know what else she wanted. She won’t return my calls.”
Derrick laughed so hard that he wheezed.
“It isn’t funny!” Byran shouted, sending the words flying with a sweep of his hand. He hit the wine bottle, spinning it in haphazard circles across the table. Somehow it stayed upright.
“It sounds like you’ve finally experienced the treatment most of us get. Which is about time, I might add. Please, this is the first woman who has denied you anything. That is all that has your goat. She won’t submit to you.” Derrick chuckled again, waving Byran’s angst away.
Byran’s pacing ran out of fuel. He stared out at the moonlight rippling across the Mediterranean waves. Six months ago he had been here with Arinna, dining with her on some dignitary’s yacht. She would like this view. Dios, it hurt. Her absence pained him almost more than her dismissal. He’d shed the ache that filled him like an unwanted skin if he could. But all he could think about was the near kiss when she had almost admitted she was his. What had gone wrong?
Byran turned back to the disheveled room, righting a chair to find a place to sit. Derrick heaved with silent laughter. “No. She is different. This is different,” Byran told his oldest friend.
Derrick finally sobered, laughter dying so that he sat up from the bed and returned Byran’s gaze.
“One of the last things she said to me was that she would never betray her husband,” Byran said, snorting in memory of the nights Arinna had spent with him and away from Michael. Not once did she mention her husband’s name. Not then.
Byran swiped up a glass of wine that had survived his pacing. “And even if that weren’t so, what had I ever done to ‘recommend myself to her?’“ Saying those words shot the pain of that moment through him again. He heard the phrase in her voice, sky blue eyes distant and cold as she stared at him.
Byran downed the wine, spinning the empty glass in time with his thoughts.
“You love her,” Derrick said, voice split between incredulousness and support. Byran didn’t answer. “Did you at least tell her that?”
“I think so,” he finally replied.
“Well, making sure would be at least one place to start.”
“She won’t answer my calls! How can I tell her anything?”
“She’s married, Byran. You should just forget her.”
Byran stared at his friend, too angry and scared to speak. He’d come to Derrick for help, not laughter and being told to forget her.
“Fine. Don’t forget her. Chase her across the planet if you like. Did she go back to the USA?”
“No,” Byran said, the truth catching in his throat. He didn’t want to tell Derrick that Arinna now worked for Derrick’s father. The irony of it would send Derrick rolling again. Byran was certain he couldn’t take any more amusement at his plight. “She took a job in Europe.”
“Well, at least you don’t need to bribe someone for a plane ticket over there. That place is a nightmare. So she turned you down and didn’t go back to a country shredding itself. Smart woman. I might like her.”
Byran sighed.
It took more wine and another hour before Derrick nudged Byran out of his mood. Not by much, but enough to make him sociable for dinner. Byran picked through rice and seafood as the wine wore off, wishing he hadn’t let Derrick convince him to go out.
“That was the third, no fourth, woman to walk by trying to catch your attention. Your pouting is more successful than when you are trying to charm someone!” Derrick said, leaning back into his chair.
“What did they want?” Byran asked, glancing at his friend, and not surprised to see Derrick’s amusement. It disappointed him though.
“I think to cheer you up.”
“Hunh. Don’t imagine that would work.” Byran hadn’t been with anyone since Genevieve. She had been a celebration brought on by the giddiness of nearly winning Arinna. Love, was this love? If so he could see where Arinna’s American ideals would not have understood. The thought of her choosing Michael was driving him mad.
“So how long where you chasing this married girl? Two weeks?” Derrick’s eyes shimmered with laughter.
“A year actually.”
It was gratifying to watch Derrick tip his balanced chair, saving himself from a spill with a grab for the table. Along with the smile came a realization. Arinna was mad at him for his night with Genevieve. It bothered her.
“She said that I didn’t care as much as she’d hoped,” Byran said aloud.
“What?” Derrick asked. “When?”
Byran waved the answer away as he reached for his fork. “Doesn’t matter. I need to cut my visit short. I suddenly have an urge for a drive.”
—
Byran had imagined Arinna gone. She wouldn’t answer his calls. He had no address. She had disappeared. As he drove into Brussels, he realized how wrong he had been. Wrong about so many things.
First, he knew exactly where she was working and for whom. He could have made his journey very easy. He could have asked Derrick where his father’s offices were located. Heck, he could have asked Derrick to come along and get him in. But after his friend’s laughter, Byran didn’t want Derrick’s teasing-filled help. Seeing her again and saying what he needed to say was not something he wanted anyone else to have a part of.
He got a room near where Minister Eldridge’s offices were listed. Late the next morning after making some calls, he walked by the building. Arinna was sitting outside at a café. It was that simple.
“You look like you aren’t sleeping,” Byran said. He stood next to her table, too nervous to sit without being asked and frightened that she wouldn’t.
“Byran,” she answered, looking up from the sheaf of papers in front of her. He wondered if he’d really heard her linger on his name. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to make sure you were doing alright.” It took effort to pull his gaze from her face and nod to the empty chair across from her. He felt like it had been a lot longer than a month since they’d spoken. “I don’t want to interrupt, if you are busy?”
“Sit. Please. I didn’t think you’d want to speak to me again after ... well, the last time we spoke.”
“I’ve tried to call. You never answered.”
Arinna caught her breath. “We had to leave our phones. Most of our things went back to the States actually. They were expecting us to go. Now ... we are AWOL. In hiding, except they are too busy to actually look for us.”
“Busy? I hadn’t heard of anything going on in the USA.”
Arinna frowned, sweeping her hands through her shoulder length hair. “No. It has been quiet. But it isn’t over. I can’t convince anyone here of that or that the silence matters. The FLF are planning, not inoperative.”
“Well, what does it matter?”
“Excuse me?”
He laughed, more because of how happy he was to be sitting across from her and talking than because of anything she’d said. “Why does it matter to anyone here if the FLF are planning something in the USA? You don’t work for them anymore.”
Arinna stared at him until a smile and self-conscious laugh made her look away. “Why the bloody hell couldn’t you have come a week ago? Do you realize how crazy I have been trying to get someone to listen to me?”
“Oh well, it is difficult to get David Eldridge to listen to anyone.”
“Says the best friend of his son!”
“Exactly. I could give you a few pointers though. Derrick and I got very good at getting his attention ... when we wanted it. And his car actually.”
Arinna’s laugh rolled over him. There was a pleased twinkle in her sky blue eyes when she smiled at him. But damn him, he still had
to hear her actually say it. “You are happy, just a little, to see me. Aren’t you?”
“Yes,” she answered reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. He kept himself from holding on. “God help me, I know I shouldn’t be. But yes, Byran, I am happy to see you. It has been ... difficult here. Lonely. In Madrid, we had the embassy. Here, we can’t contact anyone. And we haven’t really met many people yet. Minister Eldridge is difficult to read. Michael misses flying. There are times I’ve thought it was a huge mistake to come. But to go back now, we’d be arrested. Being sent to the front lines would be the least of my problems.”
“Well, you know me. And I have friends, even here. I can help.”
“After everything, you are going to come back and help me. Again?”
“Of course, Arinna. I ... care about you.”
When she broke away from his gaze, there were tears in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she said hoarsely. “Now I just need to convince NATO that something is going to blow up in the States and suck them in unless they are prepared and I’ll be having a good day.”
“With Eldridge, you want to lay out the groundwork of why before you get to the what,” Byran said.
“I’m not even going to ask what you and his son managed to get out of him,” Arinna said, pushing her chair closer as she shuffled papers his way.
He stayed a week, introducing Arinna to friends of friends and peers. During drives or walks to meetings, they discussed Eldridge’s quirks and how to manage them. Byran never asked about Michael. Arinna did not volunteer where he was or if Michael knew Byran was in town. It was like the times they’d spent together the summer before.
When he finally made it back to Madrid, his supervisor called Byran into his office. The pallid man nervously asked about Byran’s absence.
Byran answered with the first thing that came to mind. “I’ve been in Brussels working with NATO. I’m thinking of running for the Cortes Generales.”
The lie became the truth. The contacts he helped build for Arinna as he took her for introductions proved to be enthusiastic backers in a late bid for a Senate position. Campaigning raced him through the summer with only a few respites to see Arinna. Mostly, he spoke to her on the phone, happy to learn that she was well and succeeding with Eldridge.
When the phone woke him predawn in late September, he thought it was Arinna. The voice and number confused him.
“Isabella?” he said, remembering a pretty girl with long brown hair and dark eyes.
“There has been a series of attacks across the United States of America tonight. You should be ready with a statement in the morning on how you feel Spain should react. May I come over to help you get ready?”
“Have they asked NATO for assistance,” he asked, grogginess dispersing at the news.
“I’m not certain. I can find out?”
“No. Come over. I can find out myself,” he answered. Before scrambling for clothes and to make coffee for his imminent guest, he called Arinna. She answered on the first ring.
“You’ve seen the news?”
“I just heard. They want me to prepare a speech for the bloody election.”
Arinna’s breathy laugh hissed across the receiver, filling his gut with sudden warmth. “Aren’t you having fun?”
“It must not be so bad if you are in such a good mood. You are at the office, yes?” It was as close as he asked about Michael. He doubted she’d have answered so quickly if she’d been home.
“Worse than that actually. I think I’m in shock ... and grateful. I could have been there.”
They fell silent to that possibility for a moment. Byran coughed his throat clear. “Have they asked NATO for help?”
“Yes, a few military posts and cities did. There honestly isn’t a clear message or one authority at the moment. Byran, I’m not sure Washington DC is still there. I’m not certain where Congress or the President are. I’m certain that in the next few hours we’ll learn more. Right now the satellites are looking at fires and explosions in the middle of the night.”
Byran rested his head against the wall. “You were right, when we talked this spring. They were planning something. The FLF, right?”
“Yes. Freedom Liberation Front,” she said with a snort.
“Arinna,” he said, pausing to be sure he had her attention. “I’m glad you aren’t there too. What should I say at my press conference?” he asked, quickly.
“That depends. Do you actually want to win?”
“Haha. Yes, I do actually. Maybe I can get on the defense council or something. Then you’ll see me at work again.”
Breaths of laughter again. Dios, he missed her. “Tell them until it is clear what has happened and that the government of the United States remains intact, any assistance would be a wasted effort resulting in high losses against an unclear target. For goodness sake, you wouldn’t even be certain if you were targeting FLF or the US military right now.”
“Thank you,” he said, meaning he loved her.
“I owe you for all the help you’ve given me. I’ll call you when I learn more. Good luck, Baron Vasquez.”
He was grinning when he made his way downstairs to make coffee and let in Isabella.
—
“You won the election with how you handled the outbreak of the civil war in the United States. You know that?” Isabella asked him, eyes shining on too much champagne and victory. Her dark eyes framed in long lashes were alluring like that, wide and hopeful as she smiled at him. She had very nice full lips.
Byran yanked his attention back to replying before it wandered any lower. “I had help,” he said.
Isabella blushed. He realized that she thought he was referring to her. Looking at her again, he decided not to correct the impression. She looked too happy, which was stunning on her.
His phone rang, vibrating in his hand with a call he’d been waiting for. Isabella nodded as he gestured he had to take it. There would be many congratulating him tonight. He was only waiting for one.
“Congratulations, Byran.”
“Thank you, Arinna,” he said, walking out to the terrace. The party faded to a dull roar behind him. “I wish you could be here.”
“I wish I could too. I’ve been working on something ... it’s kept me busy.”
“It must be serious then. The war in America? Has NATO decided to help yet?”
“No. We are staying out of it for now. There is no single front to aid. It looks like there are over a dozen sections of military fighting FLF with angry citizens causing riots between. I never wished for a centralized military before, but a core base would make the decision to help so much easier.” She laughed. “And seriously, I called to congratulate you. Not talk about work! Go back to your party and ... have fun.”
“No. I want to hear what is keeping you away.”
“It isn’t good news, Byran.”
“Oh, well now I need to know. It is my new job, you know?”
“As of tomorrow! Fine. Look, don’t tell anyone. This is just a ... possibility.” Her voice ran cold through him, chasing away the merriment and alcohol. “I found an FLF cell in the EU.”
“Where?”
“The UK. I work for them now. I checked there first.”
“First?”
“I’m just starting to look at the continent.”
“God damn it.”
“I could be wrong.”
“You are never wrong.” He took a breath, imagining the war in the USA. “Thank you for telling me. We must stop it.”
“I think that is your job now.” Her teasing brought some warmth back to him, spawning desires he tried not to dwell on. “I shouldn’t have told you tonight ... during your party, for God’s sake! Shoot, hang up on me and go. Please.”
He didn’t want to. He wanted to get in the car and drive to Brussels. But Isabella appeared at the terrace door, the light from the party imprinting the silhouette of her full figure against the light material of her dres
s. Which did nothing for his current sanity.
“I will go, but we will talk later. And I will see you soon.”
“Of course,” she answered as he hung up.
“They want you. Victory speech and all that,” Isabella said, holding out a hand. Giddiness, champagne, fear, and desire swept through him in a clammy sweat. He let Isabella lead him back into the crowded room.
—
“Sleep,” he told Isabella, kissing her shoulder. She glanced toward his phone before stretching and further displacing the sheets.
“I’ll be waiting.”
His gaze lingered on Isabella as he took his phone out of the room. He knew it was Arinna, which was the only reason he was willing to get out of bed between the hour and Isabella. Two months after his election, he still hadn’t tired of the dalliance.
“What is wrong?” Byran asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
“I’m sorry to wake you,” Arinna replied, making Byran realize his tone was gruffer than he intended.
“No. I didn’t ... it’s fine,” he finally managed to spit out with a quiet laugh. “You can call anytime. You know that?” Byran glanced through his notifications, nothing appeared to be going on, in Europe at least.
“It’s just ... the unrest in Poland yesterday. It feels like FLF, but I can’t prove it. This is how it started in the US. Byran, I’m afraid. I’m afraid it is going to come here too.”
“That frightens me too.” That she was on the phone at such an early hour telling him this didn’t escape his notice no matter how little he’d slept that night. “I’ll come this weekend. You sound like you need a distraction.”
“Alright,” she answered after a pause. “That would be nice,” she added, voice warmer. “I’ll see you Friday night?”
“Yes.”
He hung up, wide-awake and humming. Friday was three days away. There was nothing to do to make the time move faster, so he returned to Isabella, who also didn’t mind waking up.
He never made it to Brussels. Thursday morning, a bomb ripped through Barcelona. It was not a large attack, but it damaged power lines, cell towers, and communication relays. It was strategic. Byran didn’t need Arinna’s call to tell him it was FLF. He did need her to tell him there had been five other attacks across Europe, he’d been so distracted by the one in Spain.
“Plus two others in Russia.”
“How bad is it?”
“Actually ... they were all small. It is different than the US. The attacks caused less damage and didn’t take any weapons. Just took out power and communications.”
“Well, we don’t have giant caches of weapons lying around.”
“Well, you did. But I’ve had NATO working on that,” Arinna said with a laugh. “I just don’t know why these are different. The US is in complete chaos. I actually think the FLF might win the country.”
“So maybe that is what is different? They don’t need Europe if they have the USA as a base?”
“Maybe.”
“You don’t sound sure.”
“Something doesn’t feel right. Trouble is starting here. Be careful, Byran.”
He grew accustomed to unrest as the brief winter dissolved into an early spring. Arinna remained skeptical that the level of attacks would follow the progression taking place in the United States. Or the chaos that filled that country. They talked often, excuses to see each other unneeded as small riots and interrupted outages and communications erupted on what felt like a weekly basis. If it weren’t for the growing fear of war and the discussion of preparation rolling through the Spanish Senate, he would have been happy.
“Is there news from the USA?” Byran asked as they enjoyed the sunlight over breakfast. A plane streaked across the skyline. Arinna shaded her eyes to watch it blast by. She would smile at a military jet. It unnerved him to watch it race over the city.
“Some. We try to feed information to the bases that are not in the FLF’s control. I actually don’t believe the FLF is active right now.”
“But the fighting? Wouldn’t it be over if the FLF was gone?”
“No. The FLF touched off a spark. Now it is fighting for control of the government or territories, whatever survives out of this. The people are fighting out of anger from so many years of oppression, even if it was for their protection. If the FLF dropped off the radar, it will still be all out civil war for years.”
“Where do you think the FLF is?” He didn’t ask if they were here, but she read it with a quick glance at his face.
“Planning something. I just don’t know what. Or where. You need to be careful.”
“You worry about me?” he teased.
“You are a popular new senator with contacts to things some people would probably prefer you stay out of. Yes, I do worry about you. More than I should.”
He grinned. “I thought we were supposed to be distracting each other from bad news.”
“Right,” she said, draining her teacup. “I have the day free. What shall we do?” He kept smiling. Arinna rolled her eyes. “Besides things that we won’t be doing but you would like to,” she added.
“Oh, and you don’t.”
“That is not your concern,” she said, her laugh softening the tone.
—
Byran downshifted his Bugatti, happy for the diplomatic plates. These speeds made even him nervous.
“The level of devastation is unprecedented ...” His phone ringing cut off the news on the radio.
“Arinna?”
“No.” The woman’s voice was frightened with a sharper glaze of anger spawned by hurt feelings.
“Isabella.”
“I guess at least I am second,” she said, voice shaky. “Where are you?”
“Tell anyone in the Senate looking for me that—”
“I’m not asking for the Senate.” The sharp rebuke over her trembling voice nearly made him turn the car back to Madrid.
“Isabella, Arinna, she is American. Ok? And married. And a good ... friend. I need to make sure she is all right. I’m on my way to Brussels, but I’ll be back in two days. I’m sorry to leave you without saying anything. Will you be ok?”
“Yes. Of course. I understand. Come back soon, please. I miss you, Byran.”
“I miss you too. I’ll call as soon as I can.”
God help him, he meant everything he’d said. He counted up eight months. He’d been sleeping with, seeing, Isabella for eight months. They’d been dating seriously, apparently based on his reaction, which included a wrenching pull in his gut that she’d find comfort somewhere else while he ran to Brussels to see Arinna. And he was only just realizing it. He wanted her before he had a chance to say no.
“The UN has cancelled all flights to North America until it can be determined if the bombs used were nuclear. As soon as we can, we will be bringing you a live feed from Quebec, Canada where the bomb that detonated over New York could be seen early this morning,” the news reported.
Byran stopped thinking and drove, gas pedal pinned to the floorboard. Damn him if despite Isabella, he didn’t still love Arinna too.
He expected Brussels to be in an uproar, considering the scale of the attacks. Instead, Byran found it quiet with the streets mostly empty. Those who were out walked with attention fixed on the news feeds scrolling on electronic devices. He parked, wrung out from the high-speed drive as much as anxiety.
Now that he was there and hadn’t heard from her, Byran finally called Arinna. After the fifth ring, nerves dampened his palm.
“Byran,” Arinna answered after two more rings. “Where are you?”
“Outside.”
“Really?” Relief filled her voice, making the insane drive worthwhile with one word. “I’ll come down. Give me a minute.”
He’d have given her hours. Hadn’t he already waited two years? Within five minutes, she was out the main door, launching herself into his arms.
“I could have been there. It is selfish. But I’m just happy that I was
n’t there, that we stayed.”
“I know,” Byran said. “I’ve been thinking the same thing.” He waited until she pulled away before he released her, though he kept a hand against her back. “Do you have time?”
“Yes,” Arinna answered, wiping her eyes. “Everything is chaos. Let’s go get coffee. Lunch? What time is it?”
“I’m not certain,” Byran admitted. “We’ll figure it out.”
It was after noon. They ordered food and sat together as if it were a normal visit except for the lack of noise or people.
“Everyone must be watching the news,” Byran said as the glanced at the empty tables. One man sat in a sunny corner, nose in a computer. Besides that, the café was empty.
“Not that there is much the news is saying,” Arinna replied.
“No. They are not sure of much. I left as soon as I heard. What’s happened or at least what do you know?”
“Simultaneous explosions across the US in almost a perfect grid. Nothing will be untouched. I knew the FLF had weapons, but not like this. Or this level of planning.”
“But why? Why destroy a whole country?” Byran was holding his coffee cup too tight. He put it down, the smell of it reminding him of Isabella. She drank her coffee strong. He felt lightheaded.
“To set an example? To say ‘this is what we can do and what you face if you don’t listen.’“
Byran shivered. Arinna rubbed her eyes. “How long have you been locked up in there?”
“I don’t know. Hours?”
“Will NATO offer a response?”
“No,” she said, pausing. “No, we moved beyond that in the first few minutes. Byran, this changes everything.” She reached across and took his hand. “We thought the FLF wanted to take over the United States. They destroyed it. We think they’ve moved their base south, somewhere between Mexico and Brazil. But there are factions here. NATO is on high alert to protect Europe.”
“Why come here?” he asked, sitting back heavily in his chair.
“The same reason the US maintained ties to Europe: agriculture and industry. You are better prepared for the future. This is why the attacks were different. The FLF used the US to gain weapons, but never meant to control it. Europe, they have been very careful not to destroy.”
“I hope you’re wrong,” he said.
“So do I. Though, my guess is we’ll find out soon. They won’t disappear for long after this spectacle.”
He watched her for a moment. “Are you really alright? Your country has gone up in cinders and you are talking strategy for Europe. I wouldn’t have imagined ...” He didn’t finish, not sure what he had thought as he’d just raced across several countries to make sure she was okay.
“It doesn’t feel real, honestly. I saw the fires on the monitors, though there is too much smoke during the day to see anything clearly. But ... I can’t see it in person. And I’ve been here for what, two years now? It doesn’t sound like much, but this has become my home. Now it has to be. I don’t want to see Europe make the same mistakes.”
“We are lucky then.”
Her phone buzzed. Arinna glanced at it but didn’t answer.
“Eldridge?”
“No. I thought it might be Michael.”
The name struck Byran’s chest. “Really? You haven’t mentioned him lately. Where is he?” Byran asked, voice grating his throat raw.
“He is a trainer pilot with the RAF over at the NATO component base. I thought I told you that?”
“You know you didn’t,” Byran said. He’d meant to say, “No, you didn’t,” but it came out differently. Arinna blushed.
“You are right. I didn’t tell you. It’s stupid. I enjoy you coming to Brussels and appreciate everything you’ve done for me. So I never mentioned Michael,” she said, her gaze resting out the window.
She turned back to face him. “Byran, I care about you and I know you ... have feelings for me. But we’ve talked about this before. It won’t work. Go and find someone who doesn’t care who you spend your weekends with and is just happy you come home. But that isn’t me.”
“I have found someone, I think.”
Arinna gave him a startled glance, expression flickering with too many emotions for him to catch them all. Relief? Disappointment? Both and more maybe.
“Really? Then why are you here? You should be with her.”
“I will be. But when I heard the news, I thought of you first.” Tears shimmered in her eyes as she reached for his hand. “When will Michael be home?” Byran asked, trying to put to right a year of ignoring her husband, ignoring that she was married. It seemed it was going to be a day for facing big things.
“I’m not sure. I’ll check with him later. He is flying recon over the Atlantic. NATO wants to know what types of bombs were used and if they were nuclear. It will give us an idea what we are up against here. Not to mention the fallout.”
“The RAF you said? Don’t you need to be a UK citizen for that?”
“Technically, but the VISA I was given to work for Eldridge was broad enough to cover Michael. And once the threats started, and they moved fighter planes to the NATO base, well, they were happy to get him. I think they would have found any excuse to get him flying for them.”
“It explains why you’ve had so much free time,” Byran said. “You don’t mind he is flying?”
“No. He loves it. I knew it was a part of him when we married. What is her name?” she added.
“Isabella.”
“I don’t know her?”
“No. I met her after you left.”
There were tears in Arinna’s eyes again. “Good. No, that’s good. You should be with someone.”
“Yes. Well, I’m with you right now and plan on staying until Michael is back at the least. He should seriously learn not to leave you unattended.” Byran gave her a slow smile. She coughed a laugh.
“Especially with you around.”
“Someone has to distract you from all the depressing news.”
“Distracting me ... that is something you are very good at. I’m more annoyed you have a girlfriend I didn’t know about than I am my country was just annihilated.”
“You’re in shock.”
“I’m scared,” Arinna admitted, blue eyes wide. “Byran, I’m really frightened by what is coming.”
He pulled her against him, kissing her hair and realizing it was the first time he’d done that only after he had. It felt so natural to hold her. Arinna settled against him, their meals forgotten in a need for contact and comfort.
“I’m frightened too,” he whispered in her ear.
March 2056
“She left! I offered her everything and she walked away!”
Byran spun on his heel a fraction too close to the table. A chair crashed sideways, its legs tripping him. Derrick laughed harder. Byran ignored him and the fallen chair.
“I don’t know what else she wanted. She won’t return my calls.”
Derrick laughed so hard that he wheezed.
“It isn’t funny!” Byran shouted, sending the words flying with a sweep of his hand. He hit the wine bottle, spinning it in haphazard circles across the table. Somehow it stayed upright.
“It sounds like you’ve finally experienced the treatment most of us get. Which is about time, I might add. Please, this is the first woman who has denied you anything. That is all that has your goat. She won’t submit to you.” Derrick chuckled again, waving Byran’s angst away.
Byran’s pacing ran out of fuel. He stared out at the moonlight rippling across the Mediterranean waves. Six months ago he had been here with Arinna, dining with her on some dignitary’s yacht. She would like this view. Dios, it hurt. Her absence pained him almost more than her dismissal. He’d shed the ache that filled him like an unwanted skin if he could. But all he could think about was the near kiss when she had almost admitted she was his. What had gone wrong?
Byran turned back to the disheveled room, righting a chair to find a place to sit. Derrick heaved with silent laughter. “No. She is different. This is different,” Byran told his oldest friend.
Derrick finally sobered, laughter dying so that he sat up from the bed and returned Byran’s gaze.
“One of the last things she said to me was that she would never betray her husband,” Byran said, snorting in memory of the nights Arinna had spent with him and away from Michael. Not once did she mention her husband’s name. Not then.
Byran swiped up a glass of wine that had survived his pacing. “And even if that weren’t so, what had I ever done to ‘recommend myself to her?’“ Saying those words shot the pain of that moment through him again. He heard the phrase in her voice, sky blue eyes distant and cold as she stared at him.
Byran downed the wine, spinning the empty glass in time with his thoughts.
“You love her,” Derrick said, voice split between incredulousness and support. Byran didn’t answer. “Did you at least tell her that?”
“I think so,” he finally replied.
“Well, making sure would be at least one place to start.”
“She won’t answer my calls! How can I tell her anything?”
“She’s married, Byran. You should just forget her.”
Byran stared at his friend, too angry and scared to speak. He’d come to Derrick for help, not laughter and being told to forget her.
“Fine. Don’t forget her. Chase her across the planet if you like. Did she go back to the USA?”
“No,” Byran said, the truth catching in his throat. He didn’t want to tell Derrick that Arinna now worked for Derrick’s father. The irony of it would send Derrick rolling again. Byran was certain he couldn’t take any more amusement at his plight. “She took a job in Europe.”
“Well, at least you don’t need to bribe someone for a plane ticket over there. That place is a nightmare. So she turned you down and didn’t go back to a country shredding itself. Smart woman. I might like her.”
Byran sighed.
It took more wine and another hour before Derrick nudged Byran out of his mood. Not by much, but enough to make him sociable for dinner. Byran picked through rice and seafood as the wine wore off, wishing he hadn’t let Derrick convince him to go out.
“That was the third, no fourth, woman to walk by trying to catch your attention. Your pouting is more successful than when you are trying to charm someone!” Derrick said, leaning back into his chair.
“What did they want?” Byran asked, glancing at his friend, and not surprised to see Derrick’s amusement. It disappointed him though.
“I think to cheer you up.”
“Hunh. Don’t imagine that would work.” Byran hadn’t been with anyone since Genevieve. She had been a celebration brought on by the giddiness of nearly winning Arinna. Love, was this love? If so he could see where Arinna’s American ideals would not have understood. The thought of her choosing Michael was driving him mad.
“So how long where you chasing this married girl? Two weeks?” Derrick’s eyes shimmered with laughter.
“A year actually.”
It was gratifying to watch Derrick tip his balanced chair, saving himself from a spill with a grab for the table. Along with the smile came a realization. Arinna was mad at him for his night with Genevieve. It bothered her.
“She said that I didn’t care as much as she’d hoped,” Byran said aloud.
“What?” Derrick asked. “When?”
Byran waved the answer away as he reached for his fork. “Doesn’t matter. I need to cut my visit short. I suddenly have an urge for a drive.”
—
Byran had imagined Arinna gone. She wouldn’t answer his calls. He had no address. She had disappeared. As he drove into Brussels, he realized how wrong he had been. Wrong about so many things.
First, he knew exactly where she was working and for whom. He could have made his journey very easy. He could have asked Derrick where his father’s offices were located. Heck, he could have asked Derrick to come along and get him in. But after his friend’s laughter, Byran didn’t want Derrick’s teasing-filled help. Seeing her again and saying what he needed to say was not something he wanted anyone else to have a part of.
He got a room near where Minister Eldridge’s offices were listed. Late the next morning after making some calls, he walked by the building. Arinna was sitting outside at a café. It was that simple.
“You look like you aren’t sleeping,” Byran said. He stood next to her table, too nervous to sit without being asked and frightened that she wouldn’t.
“Byran,” she answered, looking up from the sheaf of papers in front of her. He wondered if he’d really heard her linger on his name. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to make sure you were doing alright.” It took effort to pull his gaze from her face and nod to the empty chair across from her. He felt like it had been a lot longer than a month since they’d spoken. “I don’t want to interrupt, if you are busy?”
“Sit. Please. I didn’t think you’d want to speak to me again after ... well, the last time we spoke.”
“I’ve tried to call. You never answered.”
Arinna caught her breath. “We had to leave our phones. Most of our things went back to the States actually. They were expecting us to go. Now ... we are AWOL. In hiding, except they are too busy to actually look for us.”
“Busy? I hadn’t heard of anything going on in the USA.”
Arinna frowned, sweeping her hands through her shoulder length hair. “No. It has been quiet. But it isn’t over. I can’t convince anyone here of that or that the silence matters. The FLF are planning, not inoperative.”
“Well, what does it matter?”
“Excuse me?”
He laughed, more because of how happy he was to be sitting across from her and talking than because of anything she’d said. “Why does it matter to anyone here if the FLF are planning something in the USA? You don’t work for them anymore.”
Arinna stared at him until a smile and self-conscious laugh made her look away. “Why the bloody hell couldn’t you have come a week ago? Do you realize how crazy I have been trying to get someone to listen to me?”
“Oh well, it is difficult to get David Eldridge to listen to anyone.”
“Says the best friend of his son!”
“Exactly. I could give you a few pointers though. Derrick and I got very good at getting his attention ... when we wanted it. And his car actually.”
Arinna’s laugh rolled over him. There was a pleased twinkle in her sky blue eyes when she smiled at him. But damn him, he still had
“Yes,” she answered reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. He kept himself from holding on. “God help me, I know I shouldn’t be. But yes, Byran, I am happy to see you. It has been ... difficult here. Lonely. In Madrid, we had the embassy. Here, we can’t contact anyone. And we haven’t really met many people yet. Minister Eldridge is difficult to read. Michael misses flying. There are times I’ve thought it was a huge mistake to come. But to go back now, we’d be arrested. Being sent to the front lines would be the least of my problems.”
“Well, you know me. And I have friends, even here. I can help.”
“After everything, you are going to come back and help me. Again?”
“Of course, Arinna. I ... care about you.”
When she broke away from his gaze, there were tears in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she said hoarsely. “Now I just need to convince NATO that something is going to blow up in the States and suck them in unless they are prepared and I’ll be having a good day.”
“With Eldridge, you want to lay out the groundwork of why before you get to the what,” Byran said.
“I’m not even going to ask what you and his son managed to get out of him,” Arinna said, pushing her chair closer as she shuffled papers his way.
He stayed a week, introducing Arinna to friends of friends and peers. During drives or walks to meetings, they discussed Eldridge’s quirks and how to manage them. Byran never asked about Michael. Arinna did not volunteer where he was or if Michael knew Byran was in town. It was like the times they’d spent together the summer before.
When he finally made it back to Madrid, his supervisor called Byran into his office. The pallid man nervously asked about Byran’s absence.
Byran answered with the first thing that came to mind. “I’ve been in Brussels working with NATO. I’m thinking of running for the Cortes Generales.”
The lie became the truth. The contacts he helped build for Arinna as he took her for introductions proved to be enthusiastic backers in a late bid for a Senate position. Campaigning raced him through the summer with only a few respites to see Arinna. Mostly, he spoke to her on the phone, happy to learn that she was well and succeeding with Eldridge.
When the phone woke him predawn in late September, he thought it was Arinna. The voice and number confused him.
“Isabella?” he said, remembering a pretty girl with long brown hair and dark eyes.
“There has been a series of attacks across the United States of America tonight. You should be ready with a statement in the morning on how you feel Spain should react. May I come over to help you get ready?”
“Have they asked NATO for assistance,” he asked, grogginess dispersing at the news.
“I’m not certain. I can find out?”
“No. Come over. I can find out myself,” he answered. Before scrambling for clothes and to make coffee for his imminent guest, he called Arinna. She answered on the first ring.
“You’ve seen the news?”
“I just heard. They want me to prepare a speech for the bloody election.”
Arinna’s breathy laugh hissed across the receiver, filling his gut with sudden warmth. “Aren’t you having fun?”
“It must not be so bad if you are in such a good mood. You are at the office, yes?” It was as close as he asked about Michael. He doubted she’d have answered so quickly if she’d been home.
“Worse than that actually. I think I’m in shock ... and grateful. I could have been there.”
They fell silent to that possibility for a moment. Byran coughed his throat clear. “Have they asked NATO for help?”
“Yes, a few military posts and cities did. There honestly isn’t a clear message or one authority at the moment. Byran, I’m not sure Washington DC is still there. I’m not certain where Congress or the President are. I’m certain that in the next few hours we’ll learn more. Right now the satellites are looking at fires and explosions in the middle of the night.”
Byran rested his head against the wall. “You were right, when we talked this spring. They were planning something. The FLF, right?”
“Yes. Freedom Liberation Front,” she said with a snort.
“Arinna,” he said, pausing to be sure he had her attention. “I’m glad you aren’t there too. What should I say at my press conference?” he asked, quickly.
“That depends. Do you actually want to win?”
“Haha. Yes, I do actually. Maybe I can get on the defense council or something. Then you’ll see me at work again.”
Breaths of laughter again. Dios, he missed her. “Tell them until it is clear what has happened and that the government of the United States remains intact, any assistance would be a wasted effort resulting in high losses against an unclear target. For goodness sake, you wouldn’t even be certain if you were targeting FLF or the US military right now.”
“Thank you,” he said, meaning he loved her.
“I owe you for all the help you’ve given me. I’ll call you when I learn more. Good luck, Baron Vasquez.”
He was grinning when he made his way downstairs to make coffee and let in Isabella.
—
“You won the election with how you handled the outbreak of the civil war in the United States. You know that?” Isabella asked him, eyes shining on too much champagne and victory. Her dark eyes framed in long lashes were alluring like that, wide and hopeful as she smiled at him. She had very nice full lips.
Byran yanked his attention back to replying before it wandered any lower. “I had help,” he said.
Isabella blushed. He realized that she thought he was referring to her. Looking at her again, he decided not to correct the impression. She looked too happy, which was stunning on her.
His phone rang, vibrating in his hand with a call he’d been waiting for. Isabella nodded as he gestured he had to take it. There would be many congratulating him tonight. He was only waiting for one.
“Congratulations, Byran.”
“Thank you, Arinna,” he said, walking out to the terrace. The party faded to a dull roar behind him. “I wish you could be here.”
“I wish I could too. I’ve been working on something ... it’s kept me busy.”
“It must be serious then. The war in America? Has NATO decided to help yet?”
“No. We are staying out of it for now. There is no single front to aid. It looks like there are over a dozen sections of military fighting FLF with angry citizens causing riots between. I never wished for a centralized military before, but a core base would make the decision to help so much easier.” She laughed. “And seriously, I called to congratulate you. Not talk about work! Go back to your party and ... have fun.”
“No. I want to hear what is keeping you away.”
“It isn’t good news, Byran.”
“Oh, well now I need to know. It is my new job, you know?”
“As of tomorrow! Fine. Look, don’t tell anyone. This is just a ... possibility.” Her voice ran cold through him, chasing away the merriment and alcohol. “I found an FLF cell in the EU.”
“Where?”
“The UK. I work for them now. I checked there first.”
“First?”
“I’m just starting to look at the continent.”
“God damn it.”
“I could be wrong.”
“You are never wrong.” He took a breath, imagining the war in the USA. “Thank you for telling me. We must stop it.”
“I think that is your job now.” Her teasing brought some warmth back to him, spawning desires he tried not to dwell on. “I shouldn’t have told you tonight ... during your party, for God’s sake! Shoot, hang up on me and go. Please.”
He didn’t want to. He wanted to get in the car and drive to Brussels. But Isabella appeared at the terrace door, the light from the party imprinting the silhouette of her full figure against the light material of her dres
“I will go, but we will talk later. And I will see you soon.”
“Of course,” she answered as he hung up.
“They want you. Victory speech and all that,” Isabella said, holding out a hand. Giddiness, champagne, fear, and desire swept through him in a clammy sweat. He let Isabella lead him back into the crowded room.
—
“Sleep,” he told Isabella, kissing her shoulder. She glanced toward his phone before stretching and further displacing the sheets.
“I’ll be waiting.”
His gaze lingered on Isabella as he took his phone out of the room. He knew it was Arinna, which was the only reason he was willing to get out of bed between the hour and Isabella. Two months after his election, he still hadn’t tired of the dalliance.
“What is wrong?” Byran asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
“I’m sorry to wake you,” Arinna replied, making Byran realize his tone was gruffer than he intended.
“No. I didn’t ... it’s fine,” he finally managed to spit out with a quiet laugh. “You can call anytime. You know that?” Byran glanced through his notifications, nothing appeared to be going on, in Europe at least.
“It’s just ... the unrest in Poland yesterday. It feels like FLF, but I can’t prove it. This is how it started in the US. Byran, I’m afraid. I’m afraid it is going to come here too.”
“That frightens me too.” That she was on the phone at such an early hour telling him this didn’t escape his notice no matter how little he’d slept that night. “I’ll come this weekend. You sound like you need a distraction.”
“Alright,” she answered after a pause. “That would be nice,” she added, voice warmer. “I’ll see you Friday night?”
“Yes.”
He hung up, wide-awake and humming. Friday was three days away. There was nothing to do to make the time move faster, so he returned to Isabella, who also didn’t mind waking up.
He never made it to Brussels. Thursday morning, a bomb ripped through Barcelona. It was not a large attack, but it damaged power lines, cell towers, and communication relays. It was strategic. Byran didn’t need Arinna’s call to tell him it was FLF. He did need her to tell him there had been five other attacks across Europe, he’d been so distracted by the one in Spain.
“Plus two others in Russia.”
“How bad is it?”
“Actually ... they were all small. It is different than the US. The attacks caused less damage and didn’t take any weapons. Just took out power and communications.”
“Well, we don’t have giant caches of weapons lying around.”
“Well, you did. But I’ve had NATO working on that,” Arinna said with a laugh. “I just don’t know why these are different. The US is in complete chaos. I actually think the FLF might win the country.”
“So maybe that is what is different? They don’t need Europe if they have the USA as a base?”
“Maybe.”
“You don’t sound sure.”
“Something doesn’t feel right. Trouble is starting here. Be careful, Byran.”
He grew accustomed to unrest as the brief winter dissolved into an early spring. Arinna remained skeptical that the level of attacks would follow the progression taking place in the United States. Or the chaos that filled that country. They talked often, excuses to see each other unneeded as small riots and interrupted outages and communications erupted on what felt like a weekly basis. If it weren’t for the growing fear of war and the discussion of preparation rolling through the Spanish Senate, he would have been happy.
“Is there news from the USA?” Byran asked as they enjoyed the sunlight over breakfast. A plane streaked across the skyline. Arinna shaded her eyes to watch it blast by. She would smile at a military jet. It unnerved him to watch it race over the city.
“Some. We try to feed information to the bases that are not in the FLF’s control. I actually don’t believe the FLF is active right now.”
“But the fighting? Wouldn’t it be over if the FLF was gone?”
“No. The FLF touched off a spark. Now it is fighting for control of the government or territories, whatever survives out of this. The people are fighting out of anger from so many years of oppression, even if it was for their protection. If the FLF dropped off the radar, it will still be all out civil war for years.”
“Where do you think the FLF is?” He didn’t ask if they were here, but she read it with a quick glance at his face.
“Planning something. I just don’t know what. Or where. You need to be careful.”
“You worry about me?” he teased.
“You are a popular new senator with contacts to things some people would probably prefer you stay out of. Yes, I do worry about you. More than I should.”
He grinned. “I thought we were supposed to be distracting each other from bad news.”
“Right,” she said, draining her teacup. “I have the day free. What shall we do?” He kept smiling. Arinna rolled her eyes. “Besides things that we won’t be doing but you would like to,” she added.
“Oh, and you don’t.”
“That is not your concern,” she said, her laugh softening the tone.
—
Byran downshifted his Bugatti, happy for the diplomatic plates. These speeds made even him nervous.
“The level of devastation is unprecedented ...” His phone ringing cut off the news on the radio.
“Arinna?”
“No.” The woman’s voice was frightened with a sharper glaze of anger spawned by hurt feelings.
“Isabella.”
“I guess at least I am second,” she said, voice shaky. “Where are you?”
“Tell anyone in the Senate looking for me that—”
“I’m not asking for the Senate.” The sharp rebuke over her trembling voice nearly made him turn the car back to Madrid.
“Isabella, Arinna, she is American. Ok? And married. And a good ... friend. I need to make sure she is all right. I’m on my way to Brussels, but I’ll be back in two days. I’m sorry to leave you without saying anything. Will you be ok?”
“Yes. Of course. I understand. Come back soon, please. I miss you, Byran.”
“I miss you too. I’ll call as soon as I can.”
God help him, he meant everything he’d said. He counted up eight months. He’d been sleeping with, seeing, Isabella for eight months. They’d been dating seriously, apparently based on his reaction, which included a wrenching pull in his gut that she’d find comfort somewhere else while he ran to Brussels to see Arinna. And he was only just realizing it. He wanted her before he had a chance to say no.
“The UN has cancelled all flights to North America until it can be determined if the bombs used were nuclear. As soon as we can, we will be bringing you a live feed from Quebec, Canada where the bomb that detonated over New York could be seen early this morning,” the news reported.
Byran stopped thinking and drove, gas pedal pinned to the floorboard. Damn him if despite Isabella, he didn’t still love Arinna too.
He expected Brussels to be in an uproar, considering the scale of the attacks. Instead, Byran found it quiet with the streets mostly empty. Those who were out walked with attention fixed on the news feeds scrolling on electronic devices. He parked, wrung out from the high-speed drive as much as anxiety.
Now that he was there and hadn’t heard from her, Byran finally called Arinna. After the fifth ring, nerves dampened his palm.
“Byran,” Arinna answered after two more rings. “Where are you?”
“Outside.”
“Really?” Relief filled her voice, making the insane drive worthwhile with one word. “I’ll come down. Give me a minute.”
He’d have given her hours. Hadn’t he already waited two years? Within five minutes, she was out the main door, launching herself into his arms.
“I could have been there. It is selfish. But I’m just happy that I was
“I know,” Byran said. “I’ve been thinking the same thing.” He waited until she pulled away before he released her, though he kept a hand against her back. “Do you have time?”
“Yes,” Arinna answered, wiping her eyes. “Everything is chaos. Let’s go get coffee. Lunch? What time is it?”
“I’m not certain,” Byran admitted. “We’ll figure it out.”
It was after noon. They ordered food and sat together as if it were a normal visit except for the lack of noise or people.
“Everyone must be watching the news,” Byran said as the glanced at the empty tables. One man sat in a sunny corner, nose in a computer. Besides that, the café was empty.
“Not that there is much the news is saying,” Arinna replied.
“No. They are not sure of much. I left as soon as I heard. What’s happened or at least what do you know?”
“Simultaneous explosions across the US in almost a perfect grid. Nothing will be untouched. I knew the FLF had weapons, but not like this. Or this level of planning.”
“But why? Why destroy a whole country?” Byran was holding his coffee cup too tight. He put it down, the smell of it reminding him of Isabella. She drank her coffee strong. He felt lightheaded.
“To set an example? To say ‘this is what we can do and what you face if you don’t listen.’“
Byran shivered. Arinna rubbed her eyes. “How long have you been locked up in there?”
“I don’t know. Hours?”
“Will NATO offer a response?”
“No,” she said, pausing. “No, we moved beyond that in the first few minutes. Byran, this changes everything.” She reached across and took his hand. “We thought the FLF wanted to take over the United States. They destroyed it. We think they’ve moved their base south, somewhere between Mexico and Brazil. But there are factions here. NATO is on high alert to protect Europe.”
“Why come here?” he asked, sitting back heavily in his chair.
“The same reason the US maintained ties to Europe: agriculture and industry. You are better prepared for the future. This is why the attacks were different. The FLF used the US to gain weapons, but never meant to control it. Europe, they have been very careful not to destroy.”
“I hope you’re wrong,” he said.
“So do I. Though, my guess is we’ll find out soon. They won’t disappear for long after this spectacle.”
He watched her for a moment. “Are you really alright? Your country has gone up in cinders and you are talking strategy for Europe. I wouldn’t have imagined ...” He didn’t finish, not sure what he had thought as he’d just raced across several countries to make sure she was okay.
“It doesn’t feel real, honestly. I saw the fires on the monitors, though there is too much smoke during the day to see anything clearly. But ... I can’t see it in person. And I’ve been here for what, two years now? It doesn’t sound like much, but this has become my home. Now it has to be. I don’t want to see Europe make the same mistakes.”
“We are lucky then.”
Her phone buzzed. Arinna glanced at it but didn’t answer.
“Eldridge?”
“No. I thought it might be Michael.”
The name struck Byran’s chest. “Really? You haven’t mentioned him lately. Where is he?” Byran asked, voice grating his throat raw.
“He is a trainer pilot with the RAF over at the NATO component base. I thought I told you that?”
“You know you didn’t,” Byran said. He’d meant to say, “No, you didn’t,” but it came out differently. Arinna blushed.
“You are right. I didn’t tell you. It’s stupid. I enjoy you coming to Brussels and appreciate everything you’ve done for me. So I never mentioned Michael,” she said, her gaze resting out the window.
She turned back to face him. “Byran, I care about you and I know you ... have feelings for me. But we’ve talked about this before. It won’t work. Go and find someone who doesn’t care who you spend your weekends with and is just happy you come home. But that isn’t me.”
“I have found someone, I think.”
Arinna gave him a startled glance, expression flickering with too many emotions for him to catch them all. Relief? Disappointment? Both and more maybe.
“Really? Then why are you here? You should be with her.”
“I will be. But when I heard the news, I thought of you first.” Tears shimmered in her eyes as she reached for his hand. “When will Michael be home?” Byran asked, trying to put to right a year of ignoring her husband, ignoring that she was married. It seemed it was going to be a day for facing big things.
“I’m not sure. I’ll check with him later. He is flying recon over the Atlantic. NATO wants to know what types of bombs were used and if they were nuclear. It will give us an idea what we are up against here. Not to mention the fallout.”
“The RAF you said? Don’t you need to be a UK citizen for that?”
“Technically, but the VISA I was given to work for Eldridge was broad enough to cover Michael. And once the threats started, and they moved fighter planes to the NATO base, well, they were happy to get him. I think they would have found any excuse to get him flying for them.”
“It explains why you’ve had so much free time,” Byran said. “You don’t mind he is flying?”
“No. He loves it. I knew it was a part of him when we married. What is her name?” she added.
“Isabella.”
“I don’t know her?”
“No. I met her after you left.”
There were tears in Arinna’s eyes again. “Good. No, that’s good. You should be with someone.”
“Yes. Well, I’m with you right now and plan on staying until Michael is back at the least. He should seriously learn not to leave you unattended.” Byran gave her a slow smile. She coughed a laugh.
“Especially with you around.”
“Someone has to distract you from all the depressing news.”
“Distracting me ... that is something you are very good at. I’m more annoyed you have a girlfriend I didn’t know about than I am my country was just annihilated.”
“You’re in shock.”
“I’m scared,” Arinna admitted, blue eyes wide. “Byran, I’m really frightened by what is coming.”
He pulled her against him, kissing her hair and realizing it was the first time he’d done that only after he had. It felt so natural to hold her. Arinna settled against him, their meals forgotten in a need for contact and comfort.
“I’m frightened too,” he whispered in her ear.