Project Rescue - A Shifter Novel (NaNoWriMo19)
Chapter 33 - Plans

“Now for our plan,” Matheus gleefully said.

I laughed at Matheus. He had a bad boy look on his face, watching every team member and lighting up with glee. You could tell he was going to enjoy explaining the plan and putting the plan in motion. He was lit up like a Christmas tree.

“Selina was a great help with this plan. She showed me all the secret tunnels he should have if it’s anything like his California compound.” He turned, angling his head to see Madrid past Warrior. “Is there any way for us to get a thermal and ground penetrating look at the compound? We need to make sure his compounds are the same or close to the same.”

Madrid got up from his seat and smirked as he reached for his rucksack. “I think I could get a shot of both.”

I was looking at Matheus with a questioning look as if to say ‘what’. He shrugged his shoulders back at me. He was as clueless as I was. We watched for a minute as Madrid made it back to the table. He was holding a radio up, getting ready to talk.

“Give me about an hour and I should have everything you need. I will need to have it faxed to me or to my phone. I don’t know anyone who has a fax machine close,” Madrid explained.

Matheus stood up with a smirk on his face. “And, you still doubt me. Hold on and I will turn on the fax machine. It’s hooked up to my cell phone, so give them my phone number.”

Madrid looked at Matheus and shook his head. “Okay,” he said drawing it out.

Matheus walked over to a wall and pressed on it with his thumb. It opened and he turned it on. He walked back to the table and gave a thumbs up, smiling as he did.

We all laughed and quickly quieted down so Madrid - the General - could hear his call. He let them know the coordinates, telling them to rush it. He hung up and gave a thumbs up too.

The laughing started again. This time at Madrid and Matheus. They acted as if they were two and not twenty-two and whatever age Madrid was.

“How fast do you think they will be, General,” Claw questioned, scratching at his neck.

“Fast. Those boys owe me a case of champagne every week for another six months and they want for me to owe them a favor so they can use to make the debt go down. I don’t drink cheap. Actually, I don’t drink it at all. I can’t stand the taste of champagne. I give it away for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries,” he remarked with a smile covering his whole face.

“So, that’s where the champagne came from,” Eagle mused. “It’s alright if it’s from those Army guys.”

“That it is. That it is,” Madrid boasted, smiling at his men.

I got up and pulled the chicken off the burner, waiting for it to cool. I took a pan and put butter into it, setting it on the burner. I took the chicken out of the broth and set the pan on the back burner, adding butter, salt and pepper. I added the onions and bell peppers to the butter, stirring it continuously. I turned the flame down on the butter mix and started to pull the chicken off the bones, adding a little at a time to the butter mix, bagging up the bones and put them in the deep freeze. The water was boiling so I added boxes of noodles to the big pot. I focused on the other pan, with the onions, peppers, butter and chicken, stirring it constantly. I added a little more butter. After the mixture was ready I was set to add the blanco cheese with some milk to make the blanco cheese go further. I checked my noodles and headed back to the table.

“Food is almost ready. But, if you want to eat I suggest you set the table, leaving room for one huge pot,” I almost ordered.

The men jumped up, almost running into each other as they tried to get the table set. It was a funny sight to see. I guess the guys were hungry. This food should stick to their ribs. It had a lot of carbs in it.

I walked back over to the burners and stirred the blanco cheese mix. I added a little more milk to the mixture, stirring it constantly. I added the Rotel tomatoes and diced tomatoes. When the mixture was hot and the cheese was the right thickness I turned down the burner. I only wanted the mixture to stay hot until the noodles were done. I checked on the noodles, taking a bite to check it’s readiness. It was ready but I was going to need help to drain the water.

“Matheus, do you by chance have a huge strainer hid behind a wall or somewhere?” I smirked, not thinking he could fulfill this one thing.

He smirked and I lost mine. Was he a boy scout or something? He was always prepared and always shocking all of us. He reached into a foot locker, one I had already looked into, and pulled out a round contraption. When he opened it, it made a perfect oval and would fit on the big pot, holding it in place.

“Are you always prepared?” I questioned, causing everyone to laugh.

“Yes!” They all yelled.

I shook my head and reached for the noodles but was blocked by my mate. “I’ve got this. Where do want the noodles when they are strained?”

“Back into the pot your holding. I don’t have enough room to add all the other ingredients.”

He nodded and walked over to the sink, draining the chicken broth into the sink. He brought the pan back over to me and kissed my cheek. He walked back over to the table and started talking to Madrid.

I added the mixture into the noodles. I stirred everything together, noticing I needed more blanco cheese and another can of diced or rotel tomatoes. I quickly walked over to the foot locker and pulled out a tall can of both. I walked over to the counter and opened both cans and poured them into the pan, adding some more milk. I heated the mixture back up and stirred the mixture until it was hot and ready. I grabbed two spaghetti ladles, adding them to the pan and took it over to the table, startling Matheus. He must have wanted to help. Oh, well too late. I went back and got the salt and pepper along with the bread I had made earlier in the morning, taking everything back to the table and sitting down.

“If you want something to drink you are going to have to get it for yourself. Oh, and get me one too.” I smirked but the guys didn’t seem to notice. They got up quickly and grabbed their drink and mine. I had eight drinks in front of me, one from each guy here, excluding Manuel, who was still asleep.

“Well, dig in. I’ll get some in a minute. I have to sit here and rest for a moment,” I told the men as I wiped the sweat from my face. I was exhausted. After doing the surgery on Manuel and the ambush on the monster, I was ready to fall on my face. Oh, but I didn’t need to worry about not getting a plate. Matheus filled mine and Madrid’s plate.

“I could have gotten it myself,” I mouthed to Matheus as he shrugged and made his own plate.

“Is this bread homemade?” Flirt asked with his mouth full. “This is so good. One of the best meals I have had in a long time.”

“I made the bread this morning. I knew what I was going to make and I wanted to have bread with my meal,” I explained.

“What is this called,” Madrid asked pointing to his plate.

“It’s southern chicken spaghetti. It was one of the first recipes I tried of my mothers.”

“Well, I have to say it’s better than what my mother calls chicken spaghetti. I love the flavor. It’s a little hot but I love it,” Madrid exclaimed.

“Thanks, General.” I smiled a little at the compliment, not used to having anything I did cause a reaction such as this one.

I heard something spin before the men, causing me to get up with the men giving me confused looks. I didn’t glance over at them but went straight to the wall and pulled the papers from the fax. I headed over to Matheus and Madrid and handed them the papers as I took my seat and started eating, snatching up the pepper and adding more to my meal.

“She did it again!” Madrid yelled. “By damn, she remembered everything.”

I blushed and tried to hide behind my hair, but it was too short on the sides and I wasn’t that girl who hid anymore. I was the girl who kicked ass.