The Blackfire Protocol by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 19

Frank’s appetite for power was almost unnoticeably churning into a feeding frenzy. The more he read about the Bill of Rights, the more he began to consider changes that would benefit only those in power. Certainly, the wealthy would not be left out of the picture. Their money could buy anything— Congressional votes, the judicial system, perhaps even the power of God. It was all a matter of creating a plan and executing it in an almost invisible manner, taking place over such a period of time that no one would notice until everyone saw it as plain as day. By that time, the effect would be irreversible and absolute would be within reach. However, Frank was in his first year of college, and the thoughts that ran through his mind amounted to nothing more than a complicated pipe dream. Realistically, he would earn his Master’s degree and end up in a law firm or working for the city, maybe going back home and running for city council. But he was determined to never settle for anything less than the goal he set out for himself. There would never be anything else.

It was near the second week of the new semester, and everyone was beginning to feel the pressure that seemed inherent in higher education. Adding in the study of law only increased that stress exponentially,

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and feeling its effects, Frank looked forward to the coming weekend when he would spend time with Ava. But there was something amiss. Given her express feelings for him, he knew he had to bring their courtship to an end. He didn’t have time for a relationship, and already he felt the accompanying emotions interfering with his ability to focus. This could not be allowed to continue. But how does one break up with someone when one has never been in a relationship to begin with? Frank thought it would be cruel to simply come out with it and risk stomping on her feelings. They were to spend Saturday and Sunday together. This might provide him with enough time to formulate a way of telling her what was on his mind, while doing so gently. By the time Friday had arrived, he had decided that he would casually work his way into the subject but would do so before he slept with her. Should he break this to her the next morning, she likely would accuse him of using her sexually. What he wanted was a calm ceasefire, not a protracted war. But having known Ava as he did for the short time he had, he believed that their immanent conversation would likely not go well. As much as he prepared himself for an emotional outburst, the more he was convinced that he was about to burn someone who truly loved him. And the more he thought about it, the more he hated himself for what he was about to do. But it was his future he had to consider first. Nothing was more important than that -- even a woman, no matter how beautiful she might be.

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