HARD CASE (A John Harding Novel - Special Ops, Cage Fighter, CIA Agent) (33 page)

“Pleased to meet you. Help your ladies into the car and I’ll take you all to Lora’s house.”

I winked at the giggling Alice and ran around to get in the driver’s seat. There were some heated words exchanged I couldn’t quite make out but they all did get in so I had figured we’d at least be arriving at Lora’s house as a group. Alice insisted on sitting up next to me in spite of Grandma trying to persuade her otherwise. Lora attempted conversation as I drove out of the airport, but it didn’t go over well, so it was very quiet back there.

“Are you in trouble, John?” Alice had whispered over at me. “I thought Aunt Tess liked you.”

“I think your Mom may have saved me as a surprise and it was a little too much of a surprise for your Aunt Tess and Grandma,” I had whispered back. The separator had been pulled closed between the driver’s compartment and the back passenger area, but I didn’t want to take any chances of getting Alice in trouble. She rightly sensed something wrong with the adults.

“Will you still be coming over for Thanksgiving?”

That was only two days away and I didn’t think at the time it was possible. I wasn’t mad at Lora because I knew my future in-laws were all going back to Boston. Like I mentioned before, she kind of owned me in that I was hooked for the first time. I loved her and Alice. It didn’t seem like a big deal if the relatives were a little standoffish.

“I’m not sure, Al. It may not be such a good idea if your Mom can’t convince them what a great guy I am.”

Alice giggled. “I want you to come. You promised. I’ll make them understand.”

“My advice would be to let your Mom handle it. Maybe it won’t be so bad.” Then we reached Lora’s house. Boy, was I wrong.

I unloaded all the bags while Lora urged her guests inside. I let Alice take a small bag to help and Cal grabbed a couple on the way in. Minutes later, we were all standing in Lora’s living room listening to Alice fill her Grandma in on how her second grade year at school was doing. Grandma, who was an older, slightly heavier version of her daughters, alternated between smiles at Alice’s school update and frowns up at me. Tess could not wait any longer to launch at her sister.

“Are you insane? You know what Harding is. How could-”

“He’s a government employee, Marine Corps reservist, and a business owner,” Lora cut her off. “I needed a job and he pays me very well. I love the work, and I’ll be getting my law degree soon. I’m already paying Mom back again.”

Tess’s face went from angry to apoplectic. “He’s a leg-breaker and a killer. I was kidnapped and taken hostage twice because of him!”

“Yet here you are, Sis, big mouth and all. It’s done. I’m with John. Alice loves him. I love him. Get over it.” Lora turned to her Mom because she had straightened from her talk with Alice and had a stunned look on her face topped off with mouth hanging open in disbelief. “Mom, I’m working doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I’ll be paying my debt off to you in no time. I didn’t get a chance to introduce you before. This is John Harding, my employer, and fiancé. John, this is my Mom, Marion Connagher.”

Lora held up her hand with the diamond engagement ring I’d given her. Oh… did I mention I had fallen hard and fast.

I stuck my hand out once again. “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Connagher.”

She shook my hand after only a moment’s hesitation. Some color came back to her face. The color never faded from Tess’s face. Tess looked about ready to explode. Cal kept silent, standing next to Tess with a neutral attentive look on his face. I could tell he was less than happy with the first few minutes of his visit. And yes, I did notice I’d been called a leg-breaker and a killer. Since I’d absorbed many more colorful epithets it didn’t really bother me. Tess could have catalogued the number of times I saved her life but no use beatin’ a dead horse. Grandma did admire the diamond ring.

I decided to break the ice. “Cal, would you like a drink?”

“Sure. Bourbon straight up if you have it.”

Tess didn’t like that at all. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Cal patted her shoulder. “Believe me. It really is.” He held his hand out to me. “Congratulations, John.”

I shook his hand gratefully. “Thank you. I’ll get your drink. Anyone else?”

“I’ll have a double,” Grandma accepted, ignoring Tess’s open mouthed stare of shock.

Alice raised her hand. “I’ll have a double too, John.”

I thought, what the hell, I’ll bring out the Dark Lord I’d been entertaining Lora and Alice with for the last couple months. “The Dark Lord does not serve liquor to underage pixies!”

Alice immediately giggled and clapped her hands. Lora busted out laughing because by now I had the Dark Lord down pat – voice, attitude, and scowl. I pulled him out sparingly but with very good results. Tommy hated him. He warned me already he’d cap my ass the next time I channeled the Dark Lord. I got mixed reviews from the rest of my crew depending on my timing. Apparently, there weren’t many Star Wars fans other than Lora and Alice in this group either. Cal laughed but shut up immediately when he got a Tess death stare burst.

I went to get the drinks. I returned with a tray - sodas for Alice and me, doubles on ice for the other adults. Alice was regaling her audience with my Darth Vader act from Halloween. I had danced the robot in costume when we drew a crowd outside Porky’s Pizza on the way by. I had kids trying to follow me home. Alice got appreciative laughter from everyone. Even Tess couldn’t resist chuckling at Alice’s imitation of me. She had the robot down pretty well. I passed out the drinks. Tess took hers reluctantly. We toasted to good health. The next question of course ruined the new feel good vibe real quick.

“He’s not staying here… is he?” Tess asked.

I wasn’t, but Lora immediately went on the defensive. “What business is it of yours?”

There were an immediate jumble of voices as Grandma and the two sisters began jawing at the same time. I decided maybe it was time for the Dark Lord to vacate the premises.

I moved into the middle. “Hold on. Hold on. I’m not staying here. Everyone calm down. I’m going to take the limo back. Dev and Jesse have a gig in a couple hours. It was nice seeing you, Tess. Good to meet you, Cal. Nice meeting you, Ms. Connagher.”

My leaving silenced everyone as I waved and walked toward the door. Alice followed. She gave me a hug and whispered she’d fix things. Good, now I needed an eight-year-old little girl to have my back. Lora looked a little fearful when I straightened from my Alice hug. She wrapped her arms around me with Alice watching for signs of ill will.

“I’m sorry I chickened out on telling them. Every time I talked to them on the phone I was going to say something, but I lost my nerve. Please forgive me, Dark Lord.”

Alice giggled of course.

I reassured her because…well… like I said, I’m hooked. “No blood, no foul. As long as you’re not kicking me to the curb, I’ll survive.”

“I’d kick them to the curb first. I love you.”

I kissed her and turned to the door. “I love you too. Call me if it’s not good for me to show up on Thanksgiving. You’re officially off work until next Tuesday. Don’t fight the whole week. If you need a referee, I’ll send Jafar over.”

“Very funny.”

“Alice, I expect you to fill in for the Dark Lord if there’s any more fighting.”

Alice immediately bowed her head. “Yes, Dark Lord.”

I shut the door behind me, breathed a sigh of relief, and took the limo in to work. For the next couple days I endured complaints about my business skills without Lora, but with Thanksgiving holiday we mostly increased our limo/escort calls. Lora felt we should limit bond enforcement to me and Tommy like before so our regular clients would always know who was handling the skip. Tommy agreed so Dev, Jesse, and Jafar worked the limo/escort part with Jafar handling customer relations. I came in only if my language skills required it.

The fights Tommy contracted we handled as a team for practice so my crew would be ready when the Dubai UFC fight came around. Tommy had contracted another fight for Wednesday night we didn’t let Lora in on. It was a sweet payday with Bonasera and Alexander giving us our upfront fee. Because of my notoriety on YouTube we’d been getting fight challenges from all over. Most offers were freebies looking for a name with no backing.

Bonasera offered this one to Tommy because the guy had backing and was actually fronting our fee to Bonasera who tacked on an extra thousand to the guaranteed five. His backers wanted their fight fast tracked into UFC and figured a win over me would be just the match to do it. They had a cute gimmick too. The fighter’s cage name was Abdul the Terrible, The Syrian Slayer. We couldn’t find anything on him because supposedly he fought in Europe for big money. This would be his first fight in the states. They wanted the fight in New York but Tommy told them to take a hike. After I added to my status with the YouTube video fight with The Big O, the New Yorkers offered to come to Oakland. Tommy didn’t like not knowing what I was up against. They had offered it on real short notice but I told Tommy to take it and I’d come up with something the guy probably hadn’t seen yet from me.

Chapter Nineteen

The Slayer

Submission chokes were one of my specialties but I’d never showed off my other skills. Jujitsu holds on the hands, arms, wrists, and legs will submit a fighter just as efficiently as knocking them out. We had taken the fight two weeks prior. For those two weeks Dev and Jesse worked with me on my submission holds. I taught them some of the techniques I’d learned in Krav Maga classes with Mossad trainers overseas. Although geared to keep you off the ground, Krav Maga stresses striking and various holds such as arm bars, triangle chokes, and the guillotine. I’m mostly a striker, but I’m open-minded when it comes to winning.

So that brings me to the present: fight night Wednesday. Lora called wanting me to come over for a drink when I was in the middle of gearing up for my earlier fight time. I had a little trouble declining without letting her know about the fight. The New Yorkers planned live telecasts back East and overseas for the Slayer fans that wanted to see Abdul fight without coming to a dirty warehouse in Oakland. I figured it couldn’t be bad publicity. Apparently Oakland’s political powers sanctioned our illegal set to because Tommy told me Earl, Enrique, and Jeff were all on the payroll for security. Bonasera and Alexander had wisely cut Alexi Fiialkov in for a taste.

Jafar drove me to the fight where we’d be meeting the rest of our crew. He’d been going with me on the hard takedowns for Government Inc. Lucas and Casey had adopted him. Because he had language skills we all felt having him along on the pirate bait plan would be a plus. Denny agreed because he wanted Jafar trained for bigger things. Jafar wanted it all, but mostly he wanted Samira. She had returned home with her Father after speaking for several weeks to various Afghan groups. Jafar’s proposal for Samira’s hand in marriage was very well done. I thought he’d made a good impression on Badee Karim. We were waiting to hear about his final decision. Yeah, I know these two lovebirds were too young, but life is short. Besides, I missed Naji.

“Why hasn’t Mr. Karim called, John?” Jafar asked me for about the hundredth time.

“Why don’t we concentrate on how I’m going to survive the Syrian Slayer instead of popping off questions you already know I don’t have a clue how to answer?”

“I’ve seen you working out with Dev and Jesse. Abdul’s in trouble.”

The kid’s optimistic for a change. “Like always, maybe yes, maybe no. As to your pre-nuptial negotiations, I gave you a stellar recommendation to Badee. Samira’s in love with you and Badee isn’t the honor killing type so I like your chances.”

“When I asked him for her hand in marriage he looked at me like my next destination would be my knees, a bag over my head, and a dull knife at my throat.”

I chuckle. Yeah, he did. “Told you. Be patient. Let Samira work him over.”

Jafar parked my old Chevy up from the warehouse about a block. I grabbed my bag and we walked together toward a very loud, raucous crowd filing into our dilapidated fight arena. It was only eight o’clock and a November chilling breeze blew in our faces. Tommy, Dev, and Jesse met us halfway. They didn’t look happy.

Tommy starts the ball rolling. “This Abdul looks impressive. We saw him warming up when we went in to check out the warehouse. I wish we could have seen him fight.”

Jesse’s nodding in agreement. His ever present smile is not present. “He looks like Iron Man, John. The guy’s as tall as you and ripped like I’ve never seen out here. He reminds me of that UFC Champ Georges St. Pierre.”

Dev laughed and clapped me on the shoulder. “My condolences, dude.”

Wow, maybe I should forfeit. It seemed like they were hiding something but I couldn’t figure out why they’d bother. “Hey, can we get on with this before you guys throw the towel in before I even get on the mat? Jafar here says I’m a cinch.”

The three laughed at my using Jafar as a fight reference.

“Yeah, well Jafar didn’t see this guy yet, or our new arena, or a few other little hitches we have from the Slayer’s backers. We’re just trying to warn you,” Tommy said.

That sounded ominous. What new hitches? I guess I’d see soon enough. I speeded up the pace. “Man, T, you’re really getting to be a downer lately in the fight game.”

“That’s because we need you in our real business and not in intensive care.”