CHAPTER TEN

"Where's the pilot?" asked the man seated near the fire pit.

"We're not sure. She got help. We know that. There's no way she got out of the woods by herself. I lost five boys because of that fucking jacket."

"What about the helicopter? What did you recover?"

"Nothing. Every last piece of it was burned to ashes. I've never seen anything like it before." The man nodded, pursing his lips.

"I didn't think we'd find anything. I was just hoping. She'll be hard to get to, but we need the rest taken care of. I can't risk that someone recognized me. What about the other Marines?"

"We haven't been as lucky there. We got one yesterday, but the boys couldn't finish the two from the bar. A bunch of other Marines on the inside came out and interfered. They survived. The one we hit was tougher than we thought."

"He's a fucking Marine. What did you expect? I want them all dead," he growled. Another man walked toward them, nodding at the two men.

"That will be harder than we thought. They're all under protection now and can't be reached. Honestly, sir, I don't think they saw anything or recognized anyone. I don't think you have a thing to worry about."

"Really? You don't think. I don't think I asked for your fucking opinion. We can't risk anything stopping this. Nothing. With the new crackdowns on opioids and other drugs, we're going to make millions on this new drug. They all think we're making just another opioid.

"We live in a weight-obsessed culture, gentlemen. Women willing to do anything to have their high school or college bodies back. Men worried that their beautiful wives will leave them. All the new weight loss drugs are great, but eventually, people have to get off of them. We're offering something different. Something unique. Something addictive.

"They won't be able to get off of them. They won't be able to turn away from them. They'll crave them until they don't crave anything any longer. Those fools think we're selling opioids. No," he laughed, "we're selling something much more addictive. Youth."

The men all grinned at him, nodding.

"Find out where those Marines are and see if we can get to them. Then, find the pilot. I want to handle her personally."