Within the hour Carols had been informed, calls were made and the five of them were on the plane to Curitiba.

Alice. Alice. Alice he mentally repeated for the hundredth time. Clayton was anxious, tapping his leg aggressively against the leather seats as he gripped the armrests, his knuckles turning white. He really wanted a cigarette, anxiety mixed with rage was coursing through his veins as he struggled to keep still. Yet, as he sat there, he made a mental list:

One: Clayton couldn't help but think for the millionth time that Alice, his little, green-eyed nymph, was definitely it for him - the love of his life, eclipsing all others
Two: This was his last open season before retirement
and finally Three: Philip had royally fucked up - his time clock was up. Clayton now actually had a reason to kill Philip and he was happy about it. The hunt was on.

He shifted in his seat as the flight attendant walked past. For his own safety now, Clayton was now fitted with a bulletproof vest over his shirt. Having spent years in the military, the vest didn't bother him at all - actually, it settled him and bought the memories of structure back into the fold.

To calm the leftover nerves he had, Clayton focused on the tiny, turquoise gem on his pinky ring. He traced the smooth edges with his thumb, its cool surface grounding him as he took another deep breath.
He loved that he had a piece of Alice, her kindness was rubbing off on him and all he could imagine was her sage green eyes, - those stunning, unusual eyes, staring across from him with that smile, so genuine, so loving.
"Clayton?" Claudia's voice called out over the video screen as all eyes turned to him. Clayton could feel his pulse slow. She was debriefing like the old days, he had to admit still he never really listened.
He turned his attention away from the robin blue stone, his posture softening as Claudia continued from her office in Washington, a seal visible behind her.
"The plan is in place. Don Luis has agreed to help. Frankly, Curitiba will be the safest place in the world with him around. I mean, you could drop a million reals in the centre square and no one will touch it"
That's great....his subconscious nervously purred as Claudia continued, "Alice will get the best medical care in the world when we get her back. Thermo imaging shows she's still in the compound with him and the three women. Arrest warrants have been issued."
All the air was sucked out of Clayton's lungs as he noticed Claudia hesitation,
"Clayton. She's still alive for now."
He was grateful for her as he glanced at the tv screen. But he had to admit that he was ready to burn the fucking whole city down to get her back.
"Ruth?" Claudia said to his cousin sitting next to him. Crossed legged and jittery.
"I'm sorry that he did this to you. Philip's time is up,"
"Ruth..."
Claudia paused
"Let go. Let him go"
Then he saw her. There was something about her that shifted. Ruth had been holding back for years. She was scared of him. Philip truly did a hard number on her, the years of abuse and now she was finally letting him go.
Fucking Daffodil his subconscious hissed
The screen when blank and Clayton forced his eyes shut for the rest of the flight, finally getting some sleep.

The compound was a solid concrete structure, one road in and one road out. Guard-post. Electric gates, barb wire. Clayton remembered the interior well from his younger days when he was a hired by Carlos and had to sneak in the local whores and his sisters' in without his suspicion. It's mostly overgrown now with trees and wild pigs but still accessible to those who are brave enough.
"Ok. Let's go" Don Luis announced, surrounded by his followers as Clayton stood next to him and Ruth, the latter crossed arm and blank faced. It was dusk when they arrived, the amber glow of the sun barely visible as crickets sang.
"I want Senhorita Alison alive. Do not hurt her. I'm sure Mr Clayton would not appreciate that. He is extremely protective. Kill the rest, no witnesses"

A few people shifted uncomfortably Clayton made note.

"Antonella. Leya. Go ahead. Flirt. Toy with the guards. Be the lookout after you shoot the fuckers. We will drive in after the others," Don Luis called over to the women, both leaning against a motorcycle, old and busted - it definitely needed a tuneup.
They looked thin but not as youthful. Dirty even, a few years older than Alice, maybe even Ruth, and only a foot taller than them combined.
The dirt bike started with a high pitch rumble as the two girls made their way towards the country road and towards the compound. Clayton felt always like this before a fight, even as a child — the world fell into an odd calmness, like before the breaking of a thunderstorm
"Clayton?" Daniel called over, arms folded.
"Ready?" It was the only sentence he needed.
"Always" as he climbed into the truck, next to Luis.
They waited in silence a few miles up the road. Suddenly Clayton heard one gunshot, the familiar sound, before another two, then five.
"Vamos!" Don Luis called out as the truck roared to life. Clayton griped the grab handles tighter than normal as Luis started to drive.

They came to the road, passing the two girls as they stood together, letting the convoy pass, Don Luis driving over the now dead guards lying in the middle of the road. Clayton stared straight ahead, eyes focused on the road, as he ignored the obvious thumps and bumps under the car tires.
He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Haggard, scarred, battered. He didn't like seeing himself this desperate, this hungry, this scared. One thing he was sure of, he was ready to fight for his Alice regardless.

When they arrived, it was strangely silent. Like Philip was waiting for him. It made Clayton a little nervous as he climbed out of the passenger seat, tightening his vest in the process as an extra safety measure, not it will do much.
He, very suddenly but not surprisingly, walked through the brutality of men against men as the five of them went through the thick, mental gates. Some getting beaten alive as their screams for mercy slowly fell silent. Open executions, naked paramours screaming for help as the buildings were crumbling around them.
Clayton didn't have to lift a finger and for the first time he didn't mind as they just kept walking, his hands trembling as he tried to keep them still.
Chaos. The looting of dead men. The Don hated Carlos and this was his excuse for all out war, Clayton was grateful Luis chose the right side to be on.
Clayton's eyes slowly looked towards the sky for some odd reason. In this moment, he fell desensitized to his surroundings. Taking a deep breath in, suddenly his ears pricked up towards the loud chatter of the men around him.

He saw her.

Helena. Hanging from the steel beam in the courtyard. Nose cut off, eyes blood-shot. A white sign hang from her neck in English, written in Philip's handwriting, something Clayton recognized in a heartbeat

Traitorous Whore.

She died it pain. She didn't deserve that

Clayton stared up at her for a moment. Guilt washed over him, followed by rage and maybe a little sadness. She wasn't a bad person, just easily manipulated and maybe a little desperate.
"Cut her down. No one is to touch her. She needs to be returned to her family" Daniel voice echoed as Clayton cleared his throat, backing up a few steps as some of Don Luis's men stood forward.

He surveyed the courtyard again as screams continued, he soon realized that the exits were blocked with burnt out cars.
It can't be that easy his subconscious whispered at the nape of his neck.
"It's not" Clayton said out loud like a crazy person and to the audience of Ruth and Daniel as they moved quickly through the compound, following the pipes he was oh so familiar with.
"Alice!" Clayton's voice call over to her in a panic. They found her in what looked like a steal bathtub. The water was just below her nostrils, hands bound behind her back.

Philp, Vanessa or Martha, no where to be found, but Clayton could sense they weren't to far away.

Clayton leaned over the side, quickly reaching in and with a strong pull, he lifted Alice out of the water, dragging her toward his chest as he fell backwards on to the concrete.
He ripped the duct tape off her mouth, quickly moving her wet, tangled hair away from her face.
"Babe? Alison. Breathe. Fuck. Allie!" Clayton pleaded, emotional controlling his voice.
She blinked as he lowered her onto the floor, Ruth supporting her head under her jacket, rolled up for comfort.
"Ruth. Is she ok? What's wrong with her?"Clayton said, realizing that Alice was not able to speak because of Helena's knife. Her hands were bloodied; a few fingernails ripped out, almost naked. She just stared up at the ceiling, deep black veins visible under her pale white skin. Those emerald green eyes, more vibrant than usual
Suddenly Alice lifted her head after what felt like a century, and in one breathless whisper, she gasped "What took you so long?"

There was a moment, suddenly all five of the bursted out laughing, with even Ruth cracking a smile. Then a shadow appeared in the doorway, followed by the familiar thud of boots hitting the ground.

He stood up, eyes all on him as he brushed off the imaginary lint from his shirt, preparing for whatever awaited beyond the threshold with a crack of his knuckles and the squaring of his shoulders.

Clayton was more than ready to face what was next.