Hard Case V: Blood and Fear (A John Harding Novel Book 5) (15 page)

Clint gripped her hand with both of his. He kissed her hand with royal adoration showing on his features and through his eyes. “I have more imagination than you think, Dear. We only have one downside. If anything happens to either one of us, many innocents may die.”

Lynn shrugged. “Most of them will be bad. Let’s go home. I’m horny as hell after John disrespected me. Oh yeah, and how dare you stop me from Tasing that prick.”

Clint leaned again into his seat while still gripping her hand in his right. “I didn’t mean to be disloyal. I only meant to protect the best friend I’ve ever had. John put together the team that came and got me out of that hellhole I was in after I escaped, at Laredo’s request. If not for him, I and Laredo would be dead as I plan on making everyone in charge of this latest bullshit threat.”

Lynn leaned in to kiss him on the lips with tender feeling. “I know, love. Even thinking about Tasing John after his great strike to the pole was wrong. You do know I’d do it again in a heartbeat though, right?”

Clint nodded, gripping the wheel again. “I’d expect nothing less. I doubt John does either, but he’ll be more observant about checking weapons the next time. He got complacent. It almost cost him a toasting.”

Lynn giggled as Clint drove home. “Yeah, it did.”

“He’s my best friend, babe. John initiates things beyond imagining. He’s kept you and I in action with backup. I don’t want you Tasing him.”

“What’s in it for me?”

Clint laughed. He knew his wife would be immune to any plea from him about anyone. “Nothing. Would you at least keep it in mind when you thing about sparking him into oblivion?”

“I will under one condition.”

“Name it,” Clint replied immediately.

“When Clint Jr. arrives, you do the nighttime feedings, cuddling, and anything else he requires. I hate… hate… hate springing up at night unless it’s to kill or torture something. You don’t want that mentality with your son, and our future kids.”

“Absolutely.” Clint reached out his right hand without looking away from the road. “I agree to your terms. I have a feeling you’ll take them away from me after you give birth to Clint Jr. but who knows. I agree without angst. I’d love to spring up with our newborn son. Shall we shake on it, or is my word enough.”

“Damn it!” Lynn crossed her arms while leaning back in her seat. “You were going to jump up every time no matter what. I need to restate the terms.”

“Fine, but I’m siding with Jess every time he accuses you of being a ‘give but not take lightweight’, I will have to agree with clear conscience you may be flawed, my love.”

Lynn giggled appreciatively. “And then some, Cowboy, same as you. Damn, Clint, I never thought in a hundred years anyone could put America at risk in reality.”

Clint snorted back an outright belly laugh, which earned him a glare from Cruella Deville, who shifted into an arms folded demeanor. “Sorry, babe. Were you being serious? The baby boom after World War II vets returned was the last significant time of cultural population upheaval in a good direction. Once abortion became a legitimate choice of birth control, along with sex, drugs, rock and roll a creed of lifestyle, family began to descend into darkness.”

“You mean divorce, right?”

“Kids are kids,” Clint replied. “They take the easy way out when not guided by principal from a two parent home. If you can be convinced an unborn baby is an unviable tissue mass, then Western Civilization is doomed no matter how many assholes we kill. You may be the most dangerous and immoral woman on the face of the earth, but you never mentioned aborting our child, Lynn. That fact goes way beyond a bunch of words. I love you so much, even the thought of losing you initiates my kill button. I won’t bore you with what I’d do to any cult causing your death on a mission. We need to prevent anything like that happening. By the time the authorities caught or executed me, the death toll would be staggering – not to mention the West Coast Avengers, specifically John Harding would be at my side without hesitation.”

Lynn leaned into Clint again as he drove. “That’s straight up, Hon. I promise to be circumspect when shooting my mouth off or Tasering a friend like John. You have to allow me some space though. I’m not a robot. I’m a psychopathic whore who can’t keep her hands off of you. Is that a bad thing?”

Clint clutched the steering wheel in both hands, squeezing the life out of it as if it were ambient. “Nope. Tonto and I flourish because of you. We both have purpose, family, and an outlet for duty. How we survive will be up to God, not us.”

Lynn gripped Clint’s arm. “You believe in God!”

“Hell yeah, I believe in God,” Clint stated with some disbelief in his tone. “Damn… I’m sorry, honey. I thought you knew. I’ve seen so many things in combat surpassing normal human perception I have no doubt there is a God… a force beyond imagining… a force that cannot be conquered or swayed.”

“I believe.” Lynn relaxed in her seat. “I’m not waiting on heaven or hell, but I damn well believe in a presence beyond. Any universal force of creation would barf at the callings to prayer by a cult butchering human beings around the world. Surely the millions in the cult should have dealt with their failings long ago as Christianity did centuries past. Unfortunately for us, the death cult worshippers still butcher without protest from their clan, constantly executing ways to subjugate the world into their twisted perception. I’m glad you said something about this. I’m at a crossroads in believing we do what is justice in the world. I really don’t give a shit. I guess that means a belief in God, or a universal force is really creepy coming from me.”

Clint gripped her hand. “Nothing about you is creepy to me. We’re running into all this shit because we’re the best, and last call the jackasses in charge make. They know we operate without orders or authority. If we get the job call, the ones who pointed us at the target realize they have no control until the job’s done. This op is beginning to look like one nasty possible kill zone.”

“I’ve been thinking about what you said. If power to everything goes black there will be blood on a scale we have yet to see,” Lynn replied. “If these Isis, Soldiers of Allah, Hamas, and the other ding-dongs all have hidden cells throughout the nation as they claim, we’re in for some killin’ if the power grid goes black.”

“It’s a damn shame the government is so down on militias. They’re treated like terrorists, but in the event of an EMP attack, they would be low tech enough to fight the cells until we could get boots on the ground in numbers. I… hey… what the hell is going on now?” Clint had turned onto their street. Their fenced and gated property gave them plenty of time in the event of a frontal attack. It did not protect them outside the property. Danessa stood outside the gate with Tonto at her side. It was obvious their caretaker had been jogging with Tonto. A crowd of seven men in suits gestured and pressed closer, only to be warded off by the ever observant Tonto.

“Damn, Clint, I’m going to start the killin’ early, honey,” Lynn said as she exited the Toyota. “They’re fuckin’ with my protégé and the best damn dog since Lassie. Buckle up, Cowboy, it’s goin’ to be a bumpy ride.”

“On it, babe.” Clint followed his wife, gauging distances and hiding points for unseen snipers, his hand on the butt of his .45 caliber Colt. He had no fear. Clint could hit a target within a hundred yard range with deadly accuracy. He had no peer in close order combat, even amongst his killer elite brethren under John Harding. “Launch Tonto if it goes south.”

“Will do,” Lynn called out while diving directly in between the opposing forces. “Well hello boys. I’m not a strict Mom, but my ward Danessa is not allowed to play with strangers. I, on the other hand would love to mix it up with a bunch of third world troglodytes. What’s your beef, and why the fuck should I care.”

“We are here to collect Amara Nejem, woman,” a foaming at the mouth Middle Eastern man shouted at Lynn, his moderate black beard catching most of the projectile spittle. “Show us to her immediately.”

Lynn grinned, drinking in the tension, danger, and threat to loved ones with an all-encompassing pleasure built into her being. She did not look away for an instant. “Dannie? Speak to me, kid. What the hell is this goon referring to?”

Danessa rushed to her mentor’s side. Having experienced Lynn’s monster side, both physically and mentally, she did not hesitate for a second – not because she was afraid for herself, but because she knew there could be seven dead bodies in an instant. “Amara from the Sacramento Masjid, we retrieved the little boy from last year, asked me for shelter. She wishes to quit Islam. It carries a death sentence. I’m not sure how they could have known Amara was here.. I jogged with Tonto after she arrived, same as usual. I shouldn’t have!”

After a moment’s emotional break, Danessa went on with her explanation. Tonto pranced over to sit next to her. “I should have texted you, Lynn. I never thought for a moment they would come to your house. She must have a tracker on her somewhere, or they have been monitoring her phone calls. I…I didn’t know what else to do.”

Lynn put an arm around Danessa, while holding concentration on the men. “It’s okay, baby. It’s a misunderstanding. Now, who wants to go home without being hurt, maimed or killed? You idiots have been very lucky so far. Danessa didn’t say the magic word to our blood thirsty dog, Tonto. If she had, the only things left when we arrived would have been your bloody corpses. Seriously, are you stupid? Where the hell do you think you are, Tehran?”

The men had been staring in disbelief at the pregnant woman belittling them to their faces, shocked into inaction because of Lynn’s dismissive attitude towards them as a threat. Clint quietly moved in behind the men, making eye contact with Tonto. He used his open hand held palm downward to signal Tonto silently into a crouch.

“We are through talking woman!” The bearded man who addressed Lynn originally, lost all semblance of sanity. “We are here on behalf of Amara’s father! Bring her out to us now!”

“Well aren’t you just the most precious thing,” Lynn replied. “If you think I’m handing Amara over to you turds so her daddy can run her ass over in some parking lot, you need to change whatever you’re smokin’ in the hookah. Do yourself a favor. Gather your demented flock, and get the hell away from here while you’re still in one piece. If I have to ask Tonto to escort you, some parts might make it to your vehicle, and others might not. Tonto tends to yank the wrong body parts sometimes.”

One of the men at the rear eased a hand inside his jacket. Clint pistol whipped him. “No guns. Next one who reaches will need a body bag.”

Stunned, the men lurched away from Clint, but the leader reached to grab Lynn. Tonto ripped the man to the sidewalk by the arm, pouncing across his chest, jaws enveloping his neck.

Lynn made a quick flipping action with her hand, returning the butterfly knife to the closed position with a sigh as Clint chuckled. “Damn it, Tonto! Did I ask for an intervention? Oh hell. Come over here dog and give me a hug.”

Tonto leaped from the sobbing man to Lynn. She hugged the big dog. “Don’t kiss me with that tongue you’ve had on that flake’s neck. There’s no tellin’ where it’s been or when the last time he washed it.”

Lynn straightened. She kicked Tonto’s victim in the side. “We’re done here. Stand up before I get Tonto to help you. My girl Danessa is going to scan each one of your licenses, or whatever kind of ID you have, and take your pictures. I don’t want to miss anything.”

Clint showed his FBI credentials to the group of men once the leader staggered to his feet. “I’m Special Agent Clint Dostiene, and this is my wife, Special Agent Lynn Dostiene. Please get your licenses out now. Then, one at a time, hand them to Danessa. Don’t hesitate, or Special Agent Tonto will assist you.”

Tonto settled in front of the men, snarling face, and dripping fangs making it clear he could take down any runner within a split second. Tonto added a low pitched growl for good measure. Each man carefully retrieved their licenses, handing them to Danessa one at a time while she used the scanner app on her phone. When finished, she then took photos of each man.

“We will report this travesty to your superiors!”

“I don’t think so,” Lynn said. “Now that you’ve dried your eyes from Tonto’s attitude adjustment, you worthless prick, listen up. Our security cameras have everything you’ve done since arriving here on HD video, including threatening our ward, Danessa. If you have a brain in your head, you’ll go tell daddy dearest he’ll have to do an ‘Honor Killing’ on some other poor sap in his family. Amara will be under our protection. We have your faces, names, and addresses. Guess who we come for if anything happens to Amara.”

The leader began to spout another diatribe, but his companions dragged him away, the ease in which they’d been handled convincing the saner members of the group any further confrontation would end badly. Lynn hugged Danessa.

“Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about. I get just a little bored, and you give me an entertaining gift like that. You’re a treasure, kid.”

“With all those guys shouting at me at once, I almost yelled the magic word for Tonto,” Danessa said, hugging Lynn back with all her might. “He is so good. Tonto never moved from my side. He sat still as can be, without interfering. You are an incredible trainer, Clint.”

“I’m happy you didn’t have to say the magic word, Dannie,” Clint replied. “Tonto only intimidates for about two minutes after the word. Then he rips out throats. I guess now would be a good time to tell you if you use the magic word, when things are under control, follow it with ‘Hold’.”