~Chapter 25 & Epilogue~
14 years ago
Monday, July 13, 2009
Cover Concepts
Hey, I posted the covers for all 3 books to the right in the sidebar. Since I don't think you can comment on the pictures, and I really would like ya'all's opinions, post comments about the book covers in response to this post.
~Chapter 7~
~Chapter 7~
The next day was the day Josh would forever say was the day everything started to really fall apart.
The morning started out like normal, Josh and Agent Vale did their rounds of the Estate before breakfast, Rosas and Callaway escorted the President to the Whitehouse, and Nathan let Lexy beat him in a game of poker. At about 10:00Am Josh’s phone rang.
“Josh here.”
“Hey Captain, this is Rosas, I’m at the Whitehouse. We have a strange car parked out here in front of the main gate; it’s a black ’95 Accord, no plates or distinguishing markings.”
“Have you checked it out?”
“No, it has a not that says and I quote; “For Josh”. So the boys over here don’t want to touch it until you give the order.”
Josh sat back, his mind working quickly.
“Okay, thanks Ralph. I’ll be over as soon as I can, but I have to secure some things with Director Nicolas and then iron out some specifics with the new agents; so I might be a few hours. Until then have security check it out, but be careful about it.”
“Aye, Sir. We’ll look forward to seeing you.”
With that short exchange Josh hung up and went to the Estate’s performance hall to brief the new additions to his security team.
Lexy and Nathan sat together in the performance hall at one of the circular tables. Lexy absent-mindedly shuffled a deck of playing cards while Nathan sat flicking a butterfly-knife in one hand and swirling a bottle of vodka in the other.
Lexy nodded at his bottle, “I thought you and Josh hated that stuff.”
Nathan sat up and looked at the liquid in the bottle as if he would find an answer there. It took him a moment to find one.
“Man can’t live on tequila alone.”
Lexy smiled sweetly at him, “You seem to be able to.”
Nathan leaned back in his chair again.
“Yeah, whelp… once you head’s spinnin’ it don’t matter what you drink. After that it all tastes the same.”
Al Bono sauntered in and sat next to Nathan. He eyed the knife and bottle.
“You looking to fight or party?”
Nathan threw him a condescending look.
“What’s the difference?”
Al shrugged, “I guess there is none for some people. I guess my view of a good time just doesn’t involve getting my teeth knocked out.”
Nathan nodded sagely and took a drink.
“The trick, Bud, is to not get your teeth knocked out. That’s when you can party safely.”
Al laughed and looked at the ex-soldier in wonder.
“I’ve never met anyone like you, Nathan. You’re different than most Marines I’ve met.”
Nathan threw a lopsided look at Al, “That’s ‘cause you never met one born in Portland Oregon who was raised by thieves and a half-blind dog.”
Lexy looked at Nathan in surprised.
“You were raised by a dog?”
Nathan grinned at her, “Is it really so surprising, Hon?”
Lexy laughed and started dealing a game of solitaire onto the table in front of her.
“I guess not. Don’t you have any family?”
Nathan shook his head and examined the blade of his knife.
“Nope. Born on the streets of Portland and raised by a pickpocket who wanted to train me to do what he did. He was pulled in by the cops when I was 5 and I met this black lab I called Kay. We stuck together until he was killed by bad-ass Tat in New York. I met Josh and stuck with him since then.”
Al leaned forward with interest.
“What’s a “Tat”?”
“The Tats were a big gang in New York a few years back. But I hear they got nailed by the Pinks recently.”
“What happened to the Tat who killed Kay?”
Nathan’s eyes grew narrow and hard as he stared at the silvery shine of his knife blade.
“He ended up leaking blood in a dumpster off of Times Square. I can guarantee he aint killed a soul since.”
Lexy stared at Nathan in horror.
“You killed him?”
“Play with fire you get burned. In his case he’s probably playing with fire and brimstone right about now.”
Pyros had been practicing his aim. He was getting good, even if he did say so himself.
And his weapon? A Pacific Aerospace Corporation Cresco topdresser. A near cousin of the PAC 750XL skydiving platform, the Cresco normally was used for either crop-dusting or aerial firefighting. It was an agile craft with a single prop engine and a payload of around 5,300 pounds. With a cruising speed of 140 kilometers per-hour and 1,560 feet per-minute rate of climb, the plane was perfect for Pyros’ little scheme.
He was just out of Reagan National Airport and on his way to bring fire down from the sky onto the heads of his enemies.
Ralph Rosas shouldered his MP5A5 and looked over the small scene before him.
Parked against the outside fence of the Whitehouse grounds was a black Honda Accord. It had appeared somewhere during the night with a sticky-note with the message “For Josh” scrawled in what Rosas assumed was a black Sharpie marker. The car was currently surrounded by Secret Service agents and a few local cops, being searched for bombs or anything that might explain the car’s mysterious appearance.
Rosas threw a glance across the car’s hood to Agent Callaway, who was receiving reports from the agents checking the car. Callaway gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head, communicating the fact that nothing out of the ordinary had been found. Nothing that is, except for the car.
Acknowledging Callaway’s message with a shake of his head, Rosas turned his gave to the ground. As he shifted his weight, the burden of his SMG across his shoulder caused him to remember an event a few months back.
Agent Bono had just joined Josh’s newfound team, and had proven himself capable, if not slightly eccentric. He was a smart kid, but was obviously a rookie.
The event Rosas recalled was the time Bono tried to switch out his privately owned Galil assault rifle for his issued MP5A5. The Galil was an Israeli weapon designed in the 1970’s as the response to the AK-47. Bono had purchased the weapon worn and damaged from a gun show, and miraculously nursed the antique back to perfect working order.
The Captain had had to hide his smile when Agent Vale brought Bono and his pet firearm in to see him. An obvious admirer of antique weapons, Josh had looked the gun over and praised Bono for his restoration of the piece. But, the gun wasn’t regulation, so Bono had to go back to his MP5.
About four days later the enthusiastic rookie had tried to switch his Glock 9mm for an antique Luger. This time Josh had to tell him if he kept trying to bring his hobby to work, Josh would have to put him on suspension for a time.
That had stopped Bono from bringing his ancient guns to work, but every once in a while he brought a knife of small sword to show the Captain. He had gotten major kudos for brining in a Japanese katana in perfect condition. Rumor was that the Captain had even offered to buy the sword for quite a large sum, but Rosas didn’t know how valid the rumor was.
“Agent Rosas, the car is clean.”
Callaway approached and stood next to Rosas.
“Should we take it off to HQ until Agent Taske can look at it?”
Rosas shook his head.
“No, the Captain said he’d come here. We’ll just move inside the gate and leave it until he gets here.”
Callaway nodded and started for the gate.
“I’ll check on the President’s security detail and meet you inside.”
Rosas nodded and watched absent-mindedly as an agent got in and started the car with the car’s valet key they discovered in the glove box.
As the car was being driven slowly past him, Ralph noticed a fast ticking sound coming from the engine. He wasn’t a mechanic, but he knew that that sound did not belong in that car.
And as that thought crossed his mind, the car exploded.
The next day was the day Josh would forever say was the day everything started to really fall apart.
The morning started out like normal, Josh and Agent Vale did their rounds of the Estate before breakfast, Rosas and Callaway escorted the President to the Whitehouse, and Nathan let Lexy beat him in a game of poker. At about 10:00Am Josh’s phone rang.
“Josh here.”
“Hey Captain, this is Rosas, I’m at the Whitehouse. We have a strange car parked out here in front of the main gate; it’s a black ’95 Accord, no plates or distinguishing markings.”
“Have you checked it out?”
“No, it has a not that says and I quote; “For Josh”. So the boys over here don’t want to touch it until you give the order.”
Josh sat back, his mind working quickly.
“Okay, thanks Ralph. I’ll be over as soon as I can, but I have to secure some things with Director Nicolas and then iron out some specifics with the new agents; so I might be a few hours. Until then have security check it out, but be careful about it.”
“Aye, Sir. We’ll look forward to seeing you.”
With that short exchange Josh hung up and went to the Estate’s performance hall to brief the new additions to his security team.
Lexy and Nathan sat together in the performance hall at one of the circular tables. Lexy absent-mindedly shuffled a deck of playing cards while Nathan sat flicking a butterfly-knife in one hand and swirling a bottle of vodka in the other.
Lexy nodded at his bottle, “I thought you and Josh hated that stuff.”
Nathan sat up and looked at the liquid in the bottle as if he would find an answer there. It took him a moment to find one.
“Man can’t live on tequila alone.”
Lexy smiled sweetly at him, “You seem to be able to.”
Nathan leaned back in his chair again.
“Yeah, whelp… once you head’s spinnin’ it don’t matter what you drink. After that it all tastes the same.”
Al Bono sauntered in and sat next to Nathan. He eyed the knife and bottle.
“You looking to fight or party?”
Nathan threw him a condescending look.
“What’s the difference?”
Al shrugged, “I guess there is none for some people. I guess my view of a good time just doesn’t involve getting my teeth knocked out.”
Nathan nodded sagely and took a drink.
“The trick, Bud, is to not get your teeth knocked out. That’s when you can party safely.”
Al laughed and looked at the ex-soldier in wonder.
“I’ve never met anyone like you, Nathan. You’re different than most Marines I’ve met.”
Nathan threw a lopsided look at Al, “That’s ‘cause you never met one born in Portland Oregon who was raised by thieves and a half-blind dog.”
Lexy looked at Nathan in surprised.
“You were raised by a dog?”
Nathan grinned at her, “Is it really so surprising, Hon?”
Lexy laughed and started dealing a game of solitaire onto the table in front of her.
“I guess not. Don’t you have any family?”
Nathan shook his head and examined the blade of his knife.
“Nope. Born on the streets of Portland and raised by a pickpocket who wanted to train me to do what he did. He was pulled in by the cops when I was 5 and I met this black lab I called Kay. We stuck together until he was killed by bad-ass Tat in New York. I met Josh and stuck with him since then.”
Al leaned forward with interest.
“What’s a “Tat”?”
“The Tats were a big gang in New York a few years back. But I hear they got nailed by the Pinks recently.”
“What happened to the Tat who killed Kay?”
Nathan’s eyes grew narrow and hard as he stared at the silvery shine of his knife blade.
“He ended up leaking blood in a dumpster off of Times Square. I can guarantee he aint killed a soul since.”
Lexy stared at Nathan in horror.
“You killed him?”
“Play with fire you get burned. In his case he’s probably playing with fire and brimstone right about now.”
Pyros had been practicing his aim. He was getting good, even if he did say so himself.
And his weapon? A Pacific Aerospace Corporation Cresco topdresser. A near cousin of the PAC 750XL skydiving platform, the Cresco normally was used for either crop-dusting or aerial firefighting. It was an agile craft with a single prop engine and a payload of around 5,300 pounds. With a cruising speed of 140 kilometers per-hour and 1,560 feet per-minute rate of climb, the plane was perfect for Pyros’ little scheme.
He was just out of Reagan National Airport and on his way to bring fire down from the sky onto the heads of his enemies.
Ralph Rosas shouldered his MP5A5 and looked over the small scene before him.
Parked against the outside fence of the Whitehouse grounds was a black Honda Accord. It had appeared somewhere during the night with a sticky-note with the message “For Josh” scrawled in what Rosas assumed was a black Sharpie marker. The car was currently surrounded by Secret Service agents and a few local cops, being searched for bombs or anything that might explain the car’s mysterious appearance.
Rosas threw a glance across the car’s hood to Agent Callaway, who was receiving reports from the agents checking the car. Callaway gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head, communicating the fact that nothing out of the ordinary had been found. Nothing that is, except for the car.
Acknowledging Callaway’s message with a shake of his head, Rosas turned his gave to the ground. As he shifted his weight, the burden of his SMG across his shoulder caused him to remember an event a few months back.
Agent Bono had just joined Josh’s newfound team, and had proven himself capable, if not slightly eccentric. He was a smart kid, but was obviously a rookie.
The event Rosas recalled was the time Bono tried to switch out his privately owned Galil assault rifle for his issued MP5A5. The Galil was an Israeli weapon designed in the 1970’s as the response to the AK-47. Bono had purchased the weapon worn and damaged from a gun show, and miraculously nursed the antique back to perfect working order.
The Captain had had to hide his smile when Agent Vale brought Bono and his pet firearm in to see him. An obvious admirer of antique weapons, Josh had looked the gun over and praised Bono for his restoration of the piece. But, the gun wasn’t regulation, so Bono had to go back to his MP5.
About four days later the enthusiastic rookie had tried to switch his Glock 9mm for an antique Luger. This time Josh had to tell him if he kept trying to bring his hobby to work, Josh would have to put him on suspension for a time.
That had stopped Bono from bringing his ancient guns to work, but every once in a while he brought a knife of small sword to show the Captain. He had gotten major kudos for brining in a Japanese katana in perfect condition. Rumor was that the Captain had even offered to buy the sword for quite a large sum, but Rosas didn’t know how valid the rumor was.
“Agent Rosas, the car is clean.”
Callaway approached and stood next to Rosas.
“Should we take it off to HQ until Agent Taske can look at it?”
Rosas shook his head.
“No, the Captain said he’d come here. We’ll just move inside the gate and leave it until he gets here.”
Callaway nodded and started for the gate.
“I’ll check on the President’s security detail and meet you inside.”
Rosas nodded and watched absent-mindedly as an agent got in and started the car with the car’s valet key they discovered in the glove box.
As the car was being driven slowly past him, Ralph noticed a fast ticking sound coming from the engine. He wasn’t a mechanic, but he knew that that sound did not belong in that car.
And as that thought crossed his mind, the car exploded.
~Chapter 6~
~Chapter 6~
~June 20th, 2014
Nathan Wolv stood barefoot on the grass; the sun gleamed off his bare back and highlighted his muscular build. White scars crisscrossed his back, and a number of smaller scars showed on his chest and stomach.
Across from him stood John Callaway in black combat pants and a white T-shirt, also barefoot. The off-duty members of Josh’s security team surrounded the two in a large circle, whispering softly to each other and taking bets.
Everyone but Nathan had awoken early that morning and gotten right to work. Josh had left to see John Nicolas, head of the Secret Service, about his augmented task force. He left Agent Vale in charge while he was gone.
Nathan had woken up sometime during the second morning shift, and had made his rag-tag appearance in the Gold estate’s performance hall. He had taken the time to drink one and a half bottles of tequila, consume three scrambled eggs, two pieces of toast, some fried potatoes, and a poppy seed muffin, before he started asking around about who was the best at close-combat among Josh’s team.
John Callaway had gone through the Rangers and CIA before becoming a Secret Serviceman, and he was voted to be best qualified.
Upon hearing this, Nathan took no time in issuing a challenge to the off-duty agent to a sparring match. Along with the other off-duty agents, they had gone to one of the estate’s side-yards and the two were now facing off across less than a yard of lawn.
Nathan was completely relaxed; he shook out his arms and shoulders and barely glanced at the S.S. agent in front of him.
Callaway was standing rigid, hands in the Karate “ready” position, just waiting.
None of the men gathered noticed Josh silently watching from behind them.
The two combatants walked to the center of the circle and shook hands. Then they each took two steps back and dropped into combat-poses.
John was the first to move, lashing out with a foot at Nathan’s head. The kick was caught, but before Nathan could flip his opponent over John leaped in the air and kicked with his other foot. Nathan was forced to let go of his leg in order to defend himself from the second kick.
Blocking the kick with his forearm, Nathan spun his body towards John and struck at his throat with the edge of his palm. John ducked under and managed to land a punch square in Nathan’s stomach. Nathan flinched and took a step away, but he didn’t seem to be phased much.
Nathan took a sudden step forward and launched a spinning drop-kick, which John managed to jump over. But Nathan reversed the kick and swept John off his feet. The S.S. agent landed on his back and rolled up into a defensive stance.
Nathan held his position, forcing John to press an attack. He snapped four or five karate-punches, but all were neatly deflected by the assassin.
After defending against Johns attack, Nathan made a surprise move and, switching from his current martial-arts stance, moved into a boxing stance. Before John knew what hit him Nathan had pounded him with four lightning fast boxing-jabs. He finished by switching to a kick-boxing form and catching the agent in the side of the head with his foot. While John was still dazed, Nathan executed his drop-kick again, this time causing his opponent to hit the ground like a sack of rocks.
Nathan offered his hand to the felled agent.
“Well, I haven’t had that much fun since my drill sergeant offered to spar with me.”
John took the hand and rose, smiling.
“I haven’t seen moves like that since my CIA training! And the boxing trick really caught me off guard.”
“Don’t it? Josh taught me that one.”
A voice from behind them caused them to wheel about in surprise.
“Let’s see if you remember anything else I taught you.”
Josh stepped into the circle and tossed Nathan one of his Sais.
Nathan caught the weapon and groaned, “Ah Hell, Josh! You know I hate knife fights!”
Josh flashed one of his rare grins and flicked his knife so the blade rested against the underside of his forearm.
“Your point?”
Nathan sighed, “What’s is the point? I’m might as well pick out my tombstone now.”
Nathan mirrored Josh’s stance, and the two started circling.
The agents watched in suspense. Besides the other night with Josh’s spectacular throw into Trissex’s shoulder, no one had ever actually seen Josh use the knives he always carried. That and, even the most gung-ho combatants among them never used live weapons to spar or train.
Another thing crossed a few of the agent’s minds; Josh was still injured! It wasn’t that long ago that Trissex had put two bullets in him, and he was already sparring with their newest sparring champion? The Captain must be crazy.
But Josh’s speed belied his injuries. Nathan took a step forward and slashed at Josh’ stomach with the Sai. Josh took a step back and a sudden step forward, catching Nathan’s knife in the pronged cross-hilt of his own weapon and flicking it out of Nathan’s grip. He tossed it into the air, and he caught it in his free hand. And the same time he launched a powerful side-kick into the surprised assassin’s chest, knocking him on his back. Josh then leaped forward and, placing one knee on Nathan’s chest, crossed the two blades across his throat.
Nathan grinned up at Josh, “Am I dead yet?”
“Nah, I think I’ll let you live.”
Josh helped Nathan up and, after a stunned silence, the circle of agents erupted into clapping.
Josh and Nathan headed into the house on route to the bar.
As they entered the front door Nathan whispered to Josh.
“They’ll be talking about that display for a while, eh Sharky?”
Josh grinned, “That was the idea.”
At the same time as the events outside on the estate’s lawn, Lexy and Gwyn Nettleson sat in Lexy’s bedroom, discussing important events, namely, Josh, Nathan, and shopping.
Lexy sat on her spinning chair, twirling between glances into her mirror and over at Gwyn.
Gwyn was a nice looking girl. Not model status, mind you, but the kind that would catch a boy’s eye and hold it long enough for him to become interested. She had wavy brown hair and soft eyes. She considered her height of five-feet, four-inches, and embarrassment, but still had a good view of herself. She and Lexy were cousins and had known each other since childhood, and she acted as Lexy’s counselor and PR manager.
Currently, she was sprawled out on Lexy’s bed, discussing Nathan, who she had a hopeless crush on.
“Lexy, dear, did you see the way he looked at me? He so strong and handsome, and I think that scar gives him a rather rouge-ish look, don’t you?”
Lexy twirled to look at her cousin.
“He is a rouge, Gwyn, you two wouldn’t work together.”
“Why not?”
“Where do I start, his drinking, his language, or his manners?”
Gwyn’s face fell for a moment, “Well, I guess he does have some rough spots…”
Lexy laughed, “Rough spots? He’s like sandpaper! But I do like him. Under all of his toughness I think he is a really nice man.”
Gwyn winked at Lexy, “Hey, what about that Taske guy? Now he’s a hunk! And he’s been watching you, Hon.”
“I know, isn’t he cute?”
“But dear, what did you do to him? He walks around you like you are a bomb about to go off!”
“I didn’t do anything. He’s been like that since I met him. It’s as if just the sight of me pains him.”
Gwyn sat up, “Well, if you want to go anywhere with him you better figure out what his problem is with you. You can’t have a meaningful relationship if the guy is afraid you are going to blow up in his face.”
Lexy nodded and smiled, “No kidding. Hey, you hear about the sale at the mall?”
And with that, the mystery of Josh Taske was dropped, and the two girls moved on the next important thing.
In a small apartment room at a secret location, Carl Mash and Pyros Lite stared at each other with Regent Taske standing between them.
Carl was not happy, “I did not sign up to work with a butcher and an arsonist!”
Pyros was seemed to be a little annoyed as well.
“Well I wasn’t really to happy to be teamed with a tea-sucking Brit! God damn the Queen and all that crap!”
A Sig Sauer P226 materialized in Carl’s hand.
“Damn Yank, I’ll kill you.”
Regent stepped between the two men.
“Now, boys, the enemy is out there. I know neither of you are happy with this arrangement, but it is necessary. Mr. Mash, the Board was not willing to let an operative from any foreign country work unrestricted in our territory. I’m sure you understand their concerns in that matter. So, in order to guarantee your services I was forced to agree to send Mr. Lite along with you, just to keep the Board happy. Now, if it really is that disagreeable to you, we can add an extra one-hundred to your fee.”
“One-fifty.”
Regent smiled winningly, “One-fifty it is then! I’ll tell Miss Janelle of the change. Now please, it should only take the two of you a week and a half at most, right? So as soon as the Sharktooth is dead you, Mr. Mash, can go back to London and never even think about Mr. Lite again!”
Carl nodded, but he did not take his eyes off Pyros.
“It is agreeable. But if he goes out of his way to hinder my work, I will send his Yankee soul straight to Hell.”
Regent nodded, throwing a warning look at Pyros.
“I’m sure Mr. Lite will be more of a help than a hindrance. Now I must be off to attend to other matters. I assume I can leave without you two killing each other, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Sure, Boss.”
Regent smiled and headed out the door.
“Good!”
After he left, Carl and Pyros stood there for a time, just starring at the other.
“Damn Yank.”
“Hell-sent Brit.”
And with that final exchange the two assassins turned and went about their business.
Lexy sat on her bed, just thinking. Her clock said it was about 1:30Am, but she couldn’t sleep. She didn’t know if it was Josh, the attempt on her life, watching Josh pull bullets meant for her out of his leg and shoulder, or just the fact people were most likely trying to kill her that bothered her most. She had voiced her worries and confusion to Gwyn, but all the advice her cousin had for her was to get a good night sleep. Gwyn had left about 10:15, but Lexy had barely managed to change into her nightdress.
She couldn’t figure out why this all bothered her. It wasn’t really that people were trying to kill her, there had been that risk since her father’s election to governor of the state of Washington. And it wasn’t the fact that she had literally seen two people put their lives on the line just to protect her; it was Josh. That must be it; Josh bothered her, but why?
It wasn’t the blood she had been forced to endure when he had taken care of his injuries, the dizziness and nausea had long left her. It was Him, that was all there was.
She wanted him, but he didn’t want her back. It annoyed her to no end. No one had ever turned her down, no one. And she was determined Josh wouldn’t be the first.
A soft footstep in the hallway outside her door broke her train of thought. She threw a dark purple bathrobe over her sheer black slip. So attired she stuck her head out of her doorway and looked up and down the hallway. She just barely caught a glimpse of Josh Taske turning the corner into the large room they used as a combination oversized breakfast nook and observatory. Barefoot and clutching her bathrobe around her body, Lexy followed quietly.
She stopped short at the door, unsure of what to do. Josh stood, dressed in black and carrying his normal arsenal, at one of the tall windows looking out over Washington DC. He seemed older, as if he was allowing all the feelings he normally kept in such careful check seep into his stance and bearing.
Lexy thought it looked as if the world was weighing on his shoulders, and although he was more than up to the task of bearing the burden, even he grew weary of it.
She padded softly up behind him and was about to say something, or maybe even put her hand on his shoulder, when he spoke first.
“You shouldn’t sneak up on someone like that; especially me or Nathan.”
Lexy stepped next to him and looked out the window.
“I don’t think either of you would hurt me.”
“You should be in bed, it’s late.”
Lexy cocked her head and looked at him, “Shouldn’t you be in bed to?”
“It’s my job to stay up late.”
Lexy blushed at the obvious answer, “Oh, right.”
Josh’s gray eyes gleamed from the light of the distant city.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s like a field of stars God allowed to land on earth and grace those distant enough to notice with their light.”
Lexy looked out of the window, a small smile of wonder played across her mouth. Was this really the same man who just days earlier shot a man through the head after taking two bullets himself?
“I never thought of it that way. It’s a pretty thought.”
Josh nodded, a sad look in his eyes.
“It was pretty; it was my wife’s view of cities. She hated the fact we lived in one.”
Lexy’s heart fell slightly, “You’re married?”
Josh shook his head, “No, she… she died a few years back.”
Hope filled her again, but it was a guilty hope.
“Oh… I’m sorry. Did you love her?”
“Yes.”
She waited, but he didn’t say anymore. She looked at him, this warrior with a lover’s heart; and she wanted him all the more.
But the thought caused her to think of something; she thought she loved him, but not him her. And yet he had taken bullets for you. This wasn’t the way it worked in the stories. The prince always saved the princess because he loved her, but Josh didn’t seem to love her. Or maybe he just didn’t show it.
Lexy turned to face him, “Mr. Taske, I mean, Josh; why did you let that assassin shoot you? You could have not shouted at him and shot him anyway.”
Josh turned to her, looking down at her.
“Because in the time it would have taken me to draw and fire, he would have shot you. I couldn’t allow that. Not to anyone, especially not to you.”
The words seemed to catch in his throat. Bewilderment also seemed to be effecting Lexy’s thoughts and speech.
“Why do you say, “especially” me?”
Unthinking, Josh put his hands on her shoulders.
“Because I…”
He stopped, and his head slowly dipped towards hers.
All Lexy could hear was the beating of her heart, all she could see was his gray eyes. They had lost their hardness; they didn’t look so cold and emotionless.
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP…
The moment was lost, Josh’s lips only centimeters away from hers.
Josh straightened, his emotions bottled up behind those gray eyes once again.
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
Lexy looked towards her bare feet and, noticing her bathrobe had come open, quickly wrapped herself with it again.
She was almost embarrassed, although disappointed might have been closer to the truth.
“I’m not sorry…”
Josh was already halfway to the entrance to the hallway.
He turned to look at her, and the soft, almost pained look was back in his eyes.
“You should be.”
Then he was gone, off to whatever he needed to do.
Lexy turned back to the window, desire quelled, and a new emotion taking its place; loneliness. And loneliness was followed closely by sorrow.
She looked out at the city lights and started thinking out loud to herself.
“Hmmm… Stars from God…”
The call Josh received wasn’t as urgent as most people would think. Definitely not important enough to leave Lexy like he did, but perhaps it was for the best.
Josh’s fridge was out of beer, and Nathan might need therapy.
The next day was completely uneventful. Uneventful except for Lucy Vale slapping Nathan across the face for some offhand comment he made, Lexy constantly trying to catch Josh’s attention, three or four phone calls from the head of the Secret Service to Josh complaining about the loss of about forty of his best and most experienced agents to Josh’s team, and some minor tragedy with the electric motor that opened and closed the Estate’s front gate broke down.
That night was Vale’s turn for patrol, so Josh had the opportunity to go back to his little apartment-style house behind the estate and crash. Nathan soon followed and, after grabbing another beer from the fridge, sat himself at the small round table near the front door.
“Hell of a day, eh Sharky?”
Josh had selected a Jack Daniels for himself and now lay sprawled on the bed.
“Yeah, Hell is right.”
Wolv eyed his friend worriedly.
“You okay, man? Shoulder and leg still given yah trouble?”
Josh shrugged and, propping himself up against the wall, took a long drink of whiskey before replying.
“Kind of, but I’ve got Lexy on my mind.”
Nathan grinned and shook his head, “I wouldn’t worry about that gel, she’s got some sense. Now her cousin, what’s ’er name, Gwyn? Now that’s a tigress I could loose sleep over. She’s been stalking me all day, giving me “the eye”. She couldn’t be more crushed than if a semi truck came and…”
Josh interrupted, “I almost kissed her.”
Wolv stopped, slightly confused, “You almost kissed her? You mean you… Oh.”
Nathan’s eyes widened and he stared at Josh in a mix of amazement and dismay.
“Damn Josh… You gonna get yourself in trouble again.”
Josh sat up and rubbed his temple.
“I know. But I look into her face and I see Mariah.”
Nathan’s eyes softened, “I know how you feel. You love someone, but either they don’t love you or they can’t love you. I think you know who I’m thinking about.”
Josh looked up and grinned, “You know that if she knew she’d kill you.”
Wolv grinned back, Josh’s bedside lamp making his eyes gleam.
“Hell yeah, and I wouldn’t be happier than to let her do it.”
Josh rubbed his injured leg and laughed.
“Nathan, you are insane, did you know that?”
Wolv leaned back in his chair and smiled at the ceiling.
“That’s what they all tell me.”
~June 20th, 2014
Nathan Wolv stood barefoot on the grass; the sun gleamed off his bare back and highlighted his muscular build. White scars crisscrossed his back, and a number of smaller scars showed on his chest and stomach.
Across from him stood John Callaway in black combat pants and a white T-shirt, also barefoot. The off-duty members of Josh’s security team surrounded the two in a large circle, whispering softly to each other and taking bets.
Everyone but Nathan had awoken early that morning and gotten right to work. Josh had left to see John Nicolas, head of the Secret Service, about his augmented task force. He left Agent Vale in charge while he was gone.
Nathan had woken up sometime during the second morning shift, and had made his rag-tag appearance in the Gold estate’s performance hall. He had taken the time to drink one and a half bottles of tequila, consume three scrambled eggs, two pieces of toast, some fried potatoes, and a poppy seed muffin, before he started asking around about who was the best at close-combat among Josh’s team.
John Callaway had gone through the Rangers and CIA before becoming a Secret Serviceman, and he was voted to be best qualified.
Upon hearing this, Nathan took no time in issuing a challenge to the off-duty agent to a sparring match. Along with the other off-duty agents, they had gone to one of the estate’s side-yards and the two were now facing off across less than a yard of lawn.
Nathan was completely relaxed; he shook out his arms and shoulders and barely glanced at the S.S. agent in front of him.
Callaway was standing rigid, hands in the Karate “ready” position, just waiting.
None of the men gathered noticed Josh silently watching from behind them.
The two combatants walked to the center of the circle and shook hands. Then they each took two steps back and dropped into combat-poses.
John was the first to move, lashing out with a foot at Nathan’s head. The kick was caught, but before Nathan could flip his opponent over John leaped in the air and kicked with his other foot. Nathan was forced to let go of his leg in order to defend himself from the second kick.
Blocking the kick with his forearm, Nathan spun his body towards John and struck at his throat with the edge of his palm. John ducked under and managed to land a punch square in Nathan’s stomach. Nathan flinched and took a step away, but he didn’t seem to be phased much.
Nathan took a sudden step forward and launched a spinning drop-kick, which John managed to jump over. But Nathan reversed the kick and swept John off his feet. The S.S. agent landed on his back and rolled up into a defensive stance.
Nathan held his position, forcing John to press an attack. He snapped four or five karate-punches, but all were neatly deflected by the assassin.
After defending against Johns attack, Nathan made a surprise move and, switching from his current martial-arts stance, moved into a boxing stance. Before John knew what hit him Nathan had pounded him with four lightning fast boxing-jabs. He finished by switching to a kick-boxing form and catching the agent in the side of the head with his foot. While John was still dazed, Nathan executed his drop-kick again, this time causing his opponent to hit the ground like a sack of rocks.
Nathan offered his hand to the felled agent.
“Well, I haven’t had that much fun since my drill sergeant offered to spar with me.”
John took the hand and rose, smiling.
“I haven’t seen moves like that since my CIA training! And the boxing trick really caught me off guard.”
“Don’t it? Josh taught me that one.”
A voice from behind them caused them to wheel about in surprise.
“Let’s see if you remember anything else I taught you.”
Josh stepped into the circle and tossed Nathan one of his Sais.
Nathan caught the weapon and groaned, “Ah Hell, Josh! You know I hate knife fights!”
Josh flashed one of his rare grins and flicked his knife so the blade rested against the underside of his forearm.
“Your point?”
Nathan sighed, “What’s is the point? I’m might as well pick out my tombstone now.”
Nathan mirrored Josh’s stance, and the two started circling.
The agents watched in suspense. Besides the other night with Josh’s spectacular throw into Trissex’s shoulder, no one had ever actually seen Josh use the knives he always carried. That and, even the most gung-ho combatants among them never used live weapons to spar or train.
Another thing crossed a few of the agent’s minds; Josh was still injured! It wasn’t that long ago that Trissex had put two bullets in him, and he was already sparring with their newest sparring champion? The Captain must be crazy.
But Josh’s speed belied his injuries. Nathan took a step forward and slashed at Josh’ stomach with the Sai. Josh took a step back and a sudden step forward, catching Nathan’s knife in the pronged cross-hilt of his own weapon and flicking it out of Nathan’s grip. He tossed it into the air, and he caught it in his free hand. And the same time he launched a powerful side-kick into the surprised assassin’s chest, knocking him on his back. Josh then leaped forward and, placing one knee on Nathan’s chest, crossed the two blades across his throat.
Nathan grinned up at Josh, “Am I dead yet?”
“Nah, I think I’ll let you live.”
Josh helped Nathan up and, after a stunned silence, the circle of agents erupted into clapping.
Josh and Nathan headed into the house on route to the bar.
As they entered the front door Nathan whispered to Josh.
“They’ll be talking about that display for a while, eh Sharky?”
Josh grinned, “That was the idea.”
At the same time as the events outside on the estate’s lawn, Lexy and Gwyn Nettleson sat in Lexy’s bedroom, discussing important events, namely, Josh, Nathan, and shopping.
Lexy sat on her spinning chair, twirling between glances into her mirror and over at Gwyn.
Gwyn was a nice looking girl. Not model status, mind you, but the kind that would catch a boy’s eye and hold it long enough for him to become interested. She had wavy brown hair and soft eyes. She considered her height of five-feet, four-inches, and embarrassment, but still had a good view of herself. She and Lexy were cousins and had known each other since childhood, and she acted as Lexy’s counselor and PR manager.
Currently, she was sprawled out on Lexy’s bed, discussing Nathan, who she had a hopeless crush on.
“Lexy, dear, did you see the way he looked at me? He so strong and handsome, and I think that scar gives him a rather rouge-ish look, don’t you?”
Lexy twirled to look at her cousin.
“He is a rouge, Gwyn, you two wouldn’t work together.”
“Why not?”
“Where do I start, his drinking, his language, or his manners?”
Gwyn’s face fell for a moment, “Well, I guess he does have some rough spots…”
Lexy laughed, “Rough spots? He’s like sandpaper! But I do like him. Under all of his toughness I think he is a really nice man.”
Gwyn winked at Lexy, “Hey, what about that Taske guy? Now he’s a hunk! And he’s been watching you, Hon.”
“I know, isn’t he cute?”
“But dear, what did you do to him? He walks around you like you are a bomb about to go off!”
“I didn’t do anything. He’s been like that since I met him. It’s as if just the sight of me pains him.”
Gwyn sat up, “Well, if you want to go anywhere with him you better figure out what his problem is with you. You can’t have a meaningful relationship if the guy is afraid you are going to blow up in his face.”
Lexy nodded and smiled, “No kidding. Hey, you hear about the sale at the mall?”
And with that, the mystery of Josh Taske was dropped, and the two girls moved on the next important thing.
In a small apartment room at a secret location, Carl Mash and Pyros Lite stared at each other with Regent Taske standing between them.
Carl was not happy, “I did not sign up to work with a butcher and an arsonist!”
Pyros was seemed to be a little annoyed as well.
“Well I wasn’t really to happy to be teamed with a tea-sucking Brit! God damn the Queen and all that crap!”
A Sig Sauer P226 materialized in Carl’s hand.
“Damn Yank, I’ll kill you.”
Regent stepped between the two men.
“Now, boys, the enemy is out there. I know neither of you are happy with this arrangement, but it is necessary. Mr. Mash, the Board was not willing to let an operative from any foreign country work unrestricted in our territory. I’m sure you understand their concerns in that matter. So, in order to guarantee your services I was forced to agree to send Mr. Lite along with you, just to keep the Board happy. Now, if it really is that disagreeable to you, we can add an extra one-hundred to your fee.”
“One-fifty.”
Regent smiled winningly, “One-fifty it is then! I’ll tell Miss Janelle of the change. Now please, it should only take the two of you a week and a half at most, right? So as soon as the Sharktooth is dead you, Mr. Mash, can go back to London and never even think about Mr. Lite again!”
Carl nodded, but he did not take his eyes off Pyros.
“It is agreeable. But if he goes out of his way to hinder my work, I will send his Yankee soul straight to Hell.”
Regent nodded, throwing a warning look at Pyros.
“I’m sure Mr. Lite will be more of a help than a hindrance. Now I must be off to attend to other matters. I assume I can leave without you two killing each other, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Sure, Boss.”
Regent smiled and headed out the door.
“Good!”
After he left, Carl and Pyros stood there for a time, just starring at the other.
“Damn Yank.”
“Hell-sent Brit.”
And with that final exchange the two assassins turned and went about their business.
Lexy sat on her bed, just thinking. Her clock said it was about 1:30Am, but she couldn’t sleep. She didn’t know if it was Josh, the attempt on her life, watching Josh pull bullets meant for her out of his leg and shoulder, or just the fact people were most likely trying to kill her that bothered her most. She had voiced her worries and confusion to Gwyn, but all the advice her cousin had for her was to get a good night sleep. Gwyn had left about 10:15, but Lexy had barely managed to change into her nightdress.
She couldn’t figure out why this all bothered her. It wasn’t really that people were trying to kill her, there had been that risk since her father’s election to governor of the state of Washington. And it wasn’t the fact that she had literally seen two people put their lives on the line just to protect her; it was Josh. That must be it; Josh bothered her, but why?
It wasn’t the blood she had been forced to endure when he had taken care of his injuries, the dizziness and nausea had long left her. It was Him, that was all there was.
She wanted him, but he didn’t want her back. It annoyed her to no end. No one had ever turned her down, no one. And she was determined Josh wouldn’t be the first.
A soft footstep in the hallway outside her door broke her train of thought. She threw a dark purple bathrobe over her sheer black slip. So attired she stuck her head out of her doorway and looked up and down the hallway. She just barely caught a glimpse of Josh Taske turning the corner into the large room they used as a combination oversized breakfast nook and observatory. Barefoot and clutching her bathrobe around her body, Lexy followed quietly.
She stopped short at the door, unsure of what to do. Josh stood, dressed in black and carrying his normal arsenal, at one of the tall windows looking out over Washington DC. He seemed older, as if he was allowing all the feelings he normally kept in such careful check seep into his stance and bearing.
Lexy thought it looked as if the world was weighing on his shoulders, and although he was more than up to the task of bearing the burden, even he grew weary of it.
She padded softly up behind him and was about to say something, or maybe even put her hand on his shoulder, when he spoke first.
“You shouldn’t sneak up on someone like that; especially me or Nathan.”
Lexy stepped next to him and looked out the window.
“I don’t think either of you would hurt me.”
“You should be in bed, it’s late.”
Lexy cocked her head and looked at him, “Shouldn’t you be in bed to?”
“It’s my job to stay up late.”
Lexy blushed at the obvious answer, “Oh, right.”
Josh’s gray eyes gleamed from the light of the distant city.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s like a field of stars God allowed to land on earth and grace those distant enough to notice with their light.”
Lexy looked out of the window, a small smile of wonder played across her mouth. Was this really the same man who just days earlier shot a man through the head after taking two bullets himself?
“I never thought of it that way. It’s a pretty thought.”
Josh nodded, a sad look in his eyes.
“It was pretty; it was my wife’s view of cities. She hated the fact we lived in one.”
Lexy’s heart fell slightly, “You’re married?”
Josh shook his head, “No, she… she died a few years back.”
Hope filled her again, but it was a guilty hope.
“Oh… I’m sorry. Did you love her?”
“Yes.”
She waited, but he didn’t say anymore. She looked at him, this warrior with a lover’s heart; and she wanted him all the more.
But the thought caused her to think of something; she thought she loved him, but not him her. And yet he had taken bullets for you. This wasn’t the way it worked in the stories. The prince always saved the princess because he loved her, but Josh didn’t seem to love her. Or maybe he just didn’t show it.
Lexy turned to face him, “Mr. Taske, I mean, Josh; why did you let that assassin shoot you? You could have not shouted at him and shot him anyway.”
Josh turned to her, looking down at her.
“Because in the time it would have taken me to draw and fire, he would have shot you. I couldn’t allow that. Not to anyone, especially not to you.”
The words seemed to catch in his throat. Bewilderment also seemed to be effecting Lexy’s thoughts and speech.
“Why do you say, “especially” me?”
Unthinking, Josh put his hands on her shoulders.
“Because I…”
He stopped, and his head slowly dipped towards hers.
All Lexy could hear was the beating of her heart, all she could see was his gray eyes. They had lost their hardness; they didn’t look so cold and emotionless.
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP…
The moment was lost, Josh’s lips only centimeters away from hers.
Josh straightened, his emotions bottled up behind those gray eyes once again.
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
Lexy looked towards her bare feet and, noticing her bathrobe had come open, quickly wrapped herself with it again.
She was almost embarrassed, although disappointed might have been closer to the truth.
“I’m not sorry…”
Josh was already halfway to the entrance to the hallway.
He turned to look at her, and the soft, almost pained look was back in his eyes.
“You should be.”
Then he was gone, off to whatever he needed to do.
Lexy turned back to the window, desire quelled, and a new emotion taking its place; loneliness. And loneliness was followed closely by sorrow.
She looked out at the city lights and started thinking out loud to herself.
“Hmmm… Stars from God…”
The call Josh received wasn’t as urgent as most people would think. Definitely not important enough to leave Lexy like he did, but perhaps it was for the best.
Josh’s fridge was out of beer, and Nathan might need therapy.
The next day was completely uneventful. Uneventful except for Lucy Vale slapping Nathan across the face for some offhand comment he made, Lexy constantly trying to catch Josh’s attention, three or four phone calls from the head of the Secret Service to Josh complaining about the loss of about forty of his best and most experienced agents to Josh’s team, and some minor tragedy with the electric motor that opened and closed the Estate’s front gate broke down.
That night was Vale’s turn for patrol, so Josh had the opportunity to go back to his little apartment-style house behind the estate and crash. Nathan soon followed and, after grabbing another beer from the fridge, sat himself at the small round table near the front door.
“Hell of a day, eh Sharky?”
Josh had selected a Jack Daniels for himself and now lay sprawled on the bed.
“Yeah, Hell is right.”
Wolv eyed his friend worriedly.
“You okay, man? Shoulder and leg still given yah trouble?”
Josh shrugged and, propping himself up against the wall, took a long drink of whiskey before replying.
“Kind of, but I’ve got Lexy on my mind.”
Nathan grinned and shook his head, “I wouldn’t worry about that gel, she’s got some sense. Now her cousin, what’s ’er name, Gwyn? Now that’s a tigress I could loose sleep over. She’s been stalking me all day, giving me “the eye”. She couldn’t be more crushed than if a semi truck came and…”
Josh interrupted, “I almost kissed her.”
Wolv stopped, slightly confused, “You almost kissed her? You mean you… Oh.”
Nathan’s eyes widened and he stared at Josh in a mix of amazement and dismay.
“Damn Josh… You gonna get yourself in trouble again.”
Josh sat up and rubbed his temple.
“I know. But I look into her face and I see Mariah.”
Nathan’s eyes softened, “I know how you feel. You love someone, but either they don’t love you or they can’t love you. I think you know who I’m thinking about.”
Josh looked up and grinned, “You know that if she knew she’d kill you.”
Wolv grinned back, Josh’s bedside lamp making his eyes gleam.
“Hell yeah, and I wouldn’t be happier than to let her do it.”
Josh rubbed his injured leg and laughed.
“Nathan, you are insane, did you know that?”
Wolv leaned back in his chair and smiled at the ceiling.
“That’s what they all tell me.”
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