Dauntless (Taurian Empire Book 5), page 15
Jake waited until the guard was focused towards the end of the street before he pushed off the steel wall and rushed him. The distracted attention would give him one or two extra steps. Get him ten feet closer.
This was it, he thought as he took a last deep breath. Now or never.
The big thug turned at the sound of Jake approaching. His eyes grew as big as melons when he realized how close Jake was and that nothing was going to stop him.
Reaching inside his jacket, the thug pulled a three-foot section of steel pipe. Bringing it up over his head with two hands like an ancient Samurai, ready to clobber Jake as he rushed him.
Jake reacted without thinking, bringing the single-jack up to catch the pipe while his shoulder drove into the man’s chest like an avalanche into a shallow lake. The air rushed from the thug’s lungs with a whoomph sound as Jake continued through the man, shoving him into the steel wall behind him. This was where being a man his size came in handy. The mass plus momentum couldn’t be stopped.
Twisting away, he swept the man’s legs out from under him. That was the problem with these hired muscle, they had never really had to face someone who knew what they were doing. Intimidating business owners and drunks were easy. Fighting a trained Imperial Marine, not so much.
Jake let the man fall then followed him down, his knee sinking into the guys gut. The air exploded from inside the guy as his face turned a nasty shade of green. Jake ignored the plea in his eyes and brought his fist down, catching the man on the chin.
A nasty crack let him know the guy would be eating through a straw for the next few months. The thug slumped, out like last week’s garbage. Jake sprang up, there was no need to tie the guy up with tape. Things would be over long before he could help.
Jake took a deep breath, adjusted his grip on the single-jack, and stepped into the Red Rose.
The place was empty, then a slight movement in the corner caught his eye and his world came to a crashing halt.
There, back by the far end of the bar, stood Tony Rose with a wide smile. And next to him Limey Mike holding a knife to the side of a frightened Miss Cassie Walters.
Chapter Nineteen
Jake froze as his eyes locked onto hers.
“I’m sorry Jake,” she said, her eyes pleading with him to forgive her. “They were waiting for me onboard the Yocona.”
Jakes insides turned over. He had been wrong and sent her into a trap. It seemed Tony’s reach did extend even onto one of the cargo ships. He should never have let her out of his sight.
“You were right,” Tony said to Limey Mike then turned to address Jake. “I told him to kill her right off. But he insisted we hold onto her in case you made it through.” Tony smirked as he nodded his approval to his second in command.
Jake swallowed hard as his fist clenched the single-jack hammer in his hand. He would kill this man for hurting her.
Taking a deep breath, he forced the red rage out of his head and tried to bring himself back under control. This would take finesse, not brute strength. He knew with a certainty that Tony would kill Cassie if he had the chance.
“I’m surprised,” Jake said to Limey Mike as he took a step forward. “You killing girls now? You’ve sunk pretty low.”
Limey Mike swallowed hard and gave his boss a quick look. Jake saw something there. Just a hint of distaste and shame. He could work with that.
“That’s far enough,” Tony said, holding out a hand. “Drop the hammer.”
Jake ignored him as he continued to stare at Limey Mike. “You know who she is? Right?”
Limey Mike shifted his weight but the knife never moved from her side. The wrong action on Jake’s part and twelve inches of cold steel would pierce her heart.
“Of course we know,” Tony said. “She’s told us enough times.”
Jake ignored him and continued to focus on Limey Mike.
“There is no way this ends well,” Jake said. “Her family will bring the wrath of God on this place when they find out she’s been murdered. But they will have to get in line behind me. What I will do to you will not be pretty.”
Tony laughed, “No her family won’t. She’s still registered on that Cargo ship. A ship that will be accidentally destroyed sometime tomorrow when it passes through the wormhole. A minor adjustment to the Higgs Engines and the ship will cease to exist.”
“More deaths,” Jake said as he shook his head while continuing to stare at Limey Mike. The man was having second thoughts. Jake could see it in his eyes. As if confirming it, a small bead of sweat broke out on the criminal's forehead.
“You realize,” Jake said to Limey Mike. “If something happens to her, there is nowhere in the galaxy you can hide. Too many people know about this. Are you going to kill them all?”
“Shut up,” Tony snapped. “Drop the hammer and come over here.”
Jake never took his eyes off of Limey Mike as he slowly shook his head and said, “No.”
Cassie gasped.
“If you don’t, he will kill her, I promise,” Tony said, the smile on his lips having long departed from the scene.
“No, he won’t,” Jake said as he took another step forward. “Because if he does, he knows I will kill him. You two lose the only thing keeping you alive. I laid out a half dozen of your men between here and the shipping dock. Believe me. There is nothing you can do to stop me.”
Cassie smiled at him, her eyes full of confidence in him. His heart turned over, at a time like this and she was trying to help him by silently telling him she believed in him. What a woman.
“Let me deal with Tony,” Jake said to Limey Mike. “This is between the two of us. And you can have his operation. You could be the boss.”
“Kill her,” Tony snarled. “Just kill her, then we can both take him.”
Jake continued to stare at Limey Mike. It was there, in the background of his eyes. The doubt, the shame, the disdain he had for Tony.
“Everything that has gone wrong,” Jake continued, “it’s all Tony’s fault. You know it. You had a nice thing going but he got greedy. Tell me Mike, who killed Nelson? A sweet old guy. Salt of the earth.”
“He did,” Limey Mike said in a whisper as he nodded to Tony. “He wouldn’t listen to me. Had to do it. The girl too, just because she turned him down. And the shuttle pilot too. It was stupid.”
Jake glanced over in time to see Tony scowl at his second in command. But the look was lost on Mike, his eyes were looking off into the distance as he obviously remembered the incident.
Tony growled under his breath then lunged for the knife in Mike’s hand. “If you won’t do it. Then I will.”
Limey Mike pulled back out of range. Shifting the knife so that it pointed at Tony, His brow furrowing with anger as he stared at his boss. His arm still around Cassie, keeping her in place.
“He’s right,” he yelled. “This is all your fault. You’ve screwed it all up. Do you know what they will do to us? Her family will have half the Imperial Fleet parked outside. We will spend the rest of our lives in some dark dank hole on a forgotten planet waiting to die.”
Tony stared back at him, his mouth open, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Limey Mike’s shoulders relaxed just a little as he said to Jake, “He’s all yours.”
Jake shifted as he smiled at Tony while he hefted the single-jack in his hand. Tony caught the movement and dived over the top of the bar to reach under the counter. Grabbing something, he turned back to face them.
Jake’s gut turned in on itself as Tony came up, waving an ugly black pistol back and forth. The kind made by a three-D printer. He must have smuggled the software onboard. His movement back and forth kept both him and Mike under control. His beady eyes frantically searching for a way out.
Limey Mike gasped. His former boss had just broken the cardinal rule on the Bethlehem. “I knew it,” he muttered under his breath.
Tony’s attention shifted from Jake over to his former subordinate. A hateful stare told everyone what he thought of the man as he slowly raised his pistol and took aim.
Jake didn’t think, didn’t try to figure out what he should do. He reacted. The hammer flew from his hand before he realized what he was doing. The heavy tool had no sooner left his hand than he followed it in.
Tony flinched as he saw the heavy metal coming right for him.
The shot echoed through the room with an evil bang. Jake’s guts clenched up into a ball as he worried about Cassie, but he couldn’t hesitate as he grabbed at the weapon with one hand while he tried to drive the top of his head through Tony’s chin.
The lead thug, however, had been in too many fights. He knew every trick as he shifted to slip the headbutt.
Jake however ignored the move as he focused on the weapon. He needed to bring it under control before Tony fired again. Cassie was in danger. Nothing could be allowed to threaten her. Grabbing the wrist, he twisted. The pistol dropped from Tony’s hand to slide off the far end of the bar.
Tony pulled away, bringing his fists up in a defensive posture.
Jake’s heart pounded in his chest. He needed to finish this man off. If he failed, Cassie would die. Every fiber of his soul wanted to turn and check on her. That shot might have hit her. Even now, she might be bleeding out.
“I’m okay,” she said from behind him as if reading his mind. “Now kill him and let's go home.”
Jake smiled to himself as he stared into Tony’s eyes. The man swallowed hard as he realized just how much danger he was in.
“The smart move would be to surrender,” Jake said to Tony as the two men slowly circled each other.
Tony scowled back and slowly shook his head searching for an opening.
Jake shifted to make sure he stayed between Tony and the front door. No way was he letting this bastard escape. Remember, he told himself. This man has fought his entire life. He knows every dirty trick. Every way possible to hurt and maim his opponent.
“I’m going to make this slow and painful,” he said to Tony as he stepped towards the man.
Tony yelled and charged. Jake tried to slip the rush, but Tony had anticipated his move, landing a solid left upside his head then another to the mouth.
Jake staggered, surprise rushing through him as he spit out a mouthful of blood.
Tony smiled as he followed it up with a heavy right to Jake’s gut and then stomped down on the top of Jake’s foot.
Jake, backed off and smiled through bloody teeth. His blood was up, the red haze of kill or be killed had returned. Nothing else mattered in this world except that he end this man’s existence.
Stepping forward into range, he threw two quick jabs to Tony’s face then a sharp punch to the man’s ribs. Receiving a gratifying grunt in return.
Now, Tony no longer seemed so confident. He’d landed solid punches on Big Jake but the man hadn’t even faltered. Instead, he had responded with serious blows of his own. The kind that could destroy the fight in any man.
Jake didn’t let the man gather himself. He followed up his flurry with several more punches as Tony desperately tried to block and slip the shots. Jake kept pushing, kept attacking, then kicked out and caught the man in the knee.
A solid crack echoed off the far walls. Sending a satisfied sensation through Jake’s body when terror and pain shot into Tony’s eyes.
Jake grabbed the man by the front of his shirt to stop him from falling. Cocking his arm high over his head, he brought his fist down squarely in the man’s face.
Tony’s head slumped forward as he passed out. Thinking of Nelson, Jake brought his fist up again to punch the man again.
“Jake, no,” Cassie yelled as she ran forward to pull at his arm. Her hands holding him back from finishing the man off. “Please,” she begged.
Every muscle screamed to complete the job. To pound this man into oblivion. To make sure he never hurt the ones he loved ever again.
Cassie continued to hold onto his arm as she stared into his eyes. Silently pleading with him.
At last, Jake sighed heavily and let the man fall to the deck. He knew he was probably making a mistake. But it was Cassie asking him to stop.
Cassie smiled at him when he relented, her eyes shining with pride in him. The kind of smile that could make a man glad to be alive.
“This isn’t over,” Jake told her. “We can’t just leave him. He’ll just come after us again.”
Cassie nodded as she reached up to caress the bruise on his cheek. “I know,” she said with an evil grin. Turning back to look at Limey Mike she asked, “I assume you are an officer of Red Rose Incorporated?”
Limey Mike frowned as he nodded.
“Then I assume that means Jake’s loan for the Dauntless is paid off. And that you will sign off to that fact. The papers will be delivered tomorrow.”
A slow smile spread across Limey Mike’s face. “What would I need with an old scow like that.”
Jake’s stomach relaxed as he realized he now owned the Dauntless free and clear.
Cassie smiled at him. “In that case. There is only one thing left to do.”
Chapter Twenty
Cassie smiled to herself as she followed Jake down the middle of the road. He had a firm grip on the back of Tony’s collar as he dragged him through the streets. The criminal’s legs bumping over the deck.
A sense of pride flowed through her. He had done it. Saved her, defeated a monster. And then pulled himself back from the brink and stopped himself from killing his enemy. How could she not be proud of him?
Holding onto her happiness, she thought about the pain and heartache that had swallowed her when she had left him. Every part of her had known it was wrong to leave him. That she was leaving any chance at true happiness.
Now, they were together again, and she refused to think of ever leaving him again.
People were coming out of their homes to watch them pass. Staring with silent eyes. An occasional smile breaking out at the sight of the mighty Tony Rose being humiliated like this. But most of them just stood silently and watched them pass by.
Jake ignored them, focused on delivering his prize.
When they reached the mill’s offices, Jake brushed past the security guards. Shooting them a quick look that dared them to try and stop him.
Both men looked at the comatose Tony Rose, then up at the small giant who had taken him down. Then at each other. Being smarter than the average security guard. They wisely stepped back and let him continue on.
Jake shifted his grip on his burden as he turned down the hall.
Secretaries and aids jumped up from their desks, but no one moved to stop him. Cassie smiled to herself as she followed him, enjoying the look of shock and awe in their eyes.
He searched back and forth until he found what he wanted. Stopping before a door, he glanced back at Cassie and raised an eyebrow, silently asking if she was ready.
She nodded, encouraging him. Telling him that he was doing the right thing.
Jake frowned, obviously thinking she was wrong, but doing it anyway. Just because she had asked him. Taking a deep breath, he slammed the heal of his hand into the door. Crashing through and into the office.
The man behind the far desk and the three people arranged around the desk all reacted with shock. mill directors were not used to being interrupted by small giants.
Jake ignored their reaction and marched across the room to throw Tony up onto the director's desk.
“Here,” he said. “Trash that needs to be taken out.”
The director’s brow creased with confusion as he looked down at the man lying across his desk. Then up at Jake and finally coming to rest on her.
Cassie could see the thoughts race through his mind. Shock at seeing Tony Rose defeated. Anger that blood was getting all over his reports. Bewilderment as he tried to figure out what he was supposed to do.
Cassie had to give him some credit. The man didn’t take long to react. Shifting to a uniformed man on his right. The director pointed at Jake and said, “Chief, arrest this man.”
Cassie sighed heavily. She had hoped this would go easier. The man had been quick to react. But he didn’t have the brains of a Valerian Wombat.
“Sir,” she said as she stepped up to stand next to Jake. “Before you do that. Give me just a second. You might want to hold off until you know all the facts.”
The director stared back at her, his eyes taking in her T-shirt and jeans. Obviously dismissing her as a silly girl.
“What, that Tony Rose is a criminal? Who cares? This is a steel mill. No one bashes into my office and demand I do anything.”
The security chief reached behind his back to remove a set of handcuffs from his belt. The man hesitated a moment as he stared up at Jake.
Cassie put a hand on Jake’s shoulder to calm him down. The man was still keyed up ready to fight the galaxy. The last thing she needed was him tearing the director into a dozen pieces. At least not until she was done.
“Sir,” she began again. “I assume that over the years you have received correspondence from the legal department of the Imperial Conglomerate.”
The director frowned, then held out a hand to hold back his security chief.
“If you check,” she continued, “you will see that a Mr. Tom Walters signed them. Please call up his bio. Page three I think.”
The director frowned as he shot his aid a look. The young man frantically started tapping on his tablet.
Jake frowned and shook his head. “Cassie, this isn’t necessary.”
She smiled and gently patted his shoulders. “You’ve done your part. Now let me do mine. This will all go so much easier as soon as these people start listening to me.”
The director scowled. “Listen to you?” he barked. “I can assure you miss, I don’t care who you are. This is my mill. People don’t storm into my office and demand anything.”
Cassie smiled gently as she turned to the aide and waited for him to finish. The young man found what he was looking for and gaped then turned to his boss and stuttered as he held out the tablet for him to see.
