Hostile Home Front [Black Ops Brotherhood 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (5 page)

About three hands into the game, Amy wasn’t doing well and was almost out of chips. Gavin noticed she was going over almost every hand. He, on the other hand, was doing pretty damn good. He handed her some chips.

“Here you go,” Gavin said.

Amy smiled weakly and took the chips that Gavin offered. He was a little puzzled by her expression.

“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Amy replied.

After four hands, she was running pretty low, again. Gavin was surprised at how bad she was at this game. This game wasn’t rocket science! She just had to stay below twenty-one. Amy was busting almost every hand. The dealer took a momentary break to change out the deck. He turned and looked at her.

“Maybe you should try another game?” Gavin suggested, handing her more chips.

“No, I like this one. Are you enjoying the gala?” Amy asked, making polite small talk.

“I should’ve eaten before I came,” Gavin retorted.

Amy giggled at the dig. Gavin looked at her and smiled. That giggle had the power to turn him liquid.

“Yeah, that’s why I’m trying to get rid of these chips. I want to go home, too,” Amy said quietly.

“I’ve been helping you right out, huh?” Gavin chuckled.

“Thank you.” Amy giggled again.

“How about we go get a real dinner? Right now,” Gavin suggested.

A hand was dealt and Amy got twenty-one with five cards, despite her best efforts.

“Um, I don’t know. I came with Irene and David and I was thinking about asking David to drop me off. Irene has to stay,” Amy said in an uncertain tone.

“Would you like for me to ask Irene?” Gavin offered.

Gavin, recalling he had an ally in Irene, turned and scanned the crowd for her. Another hand was dealt. Irene came up from behind.

“How are you two doing? Are you getting acquainted?” Irene asked Gavin.

“I offered to take Amy home,” Gavin said bluntly.

“Are you tired, mi hija?” Irene asked, stroking Amy’s arm.

“Actually, I’m hungry. I didn’t eat because I was so nervous. I have some leftovers at home,” Amy said.

“Well, I can’t think of anyone she’d be safer with. Will you stop on the way so she can get something?” Irene asked Gavin.

“No, Tía, it’s okay, I can…” Amy shook her head.

“Sure, be glad to,” Gavin said.

“Good! I’ll call you when we get home, Amy. Thank you, Gavin. I have to stay all night since this is my gala,” Irene said.

Gavin took both sets of chips and handed them to the guy in the next seat, wishing him good luck as he and Amy got up to leave. She picked up her small evening bag and stood as he escorted her out of the banquet hall and to his truck. He glanced at her and saw her nervous agitation as she toyed with her evening bag.

“I’m still kind of new around here. What’s good?” Gavin asked.

“Really you don’t have to take me anywhere. I know you’re being nice, but it isn’t necessary.”

“I’m under orders from the boss’s boss. Sorry, ma’am, I’m taking you somewhere to eat.”

Amy shook her head and smiled.

“If you take a left at the light, there’s a Subway just past Lowe’s on the left side. We can pick it up and both go home,” Amy said.

“Is that where you want to go? Quite frankly, I’m starving,” Gavin said as they stopped at the intersection.

“It really doesn’t matter, Lieutenant,” Amy said quietly.

“I thought I saw some kind of steakhouse on the way in. I don’t live very far from here.”

“Greek Brothers is right here, and then there’s Montana Mike’s,” Amy suggested.

“Then again I saw a Red Lobster and an Olive Garden. Which one do you like? Which one is quieter?” Gavin asked.

Amy hesitated as she looked at him.

“Greek Brothers isn’t quiet. I really don’t care,” Amy said.

“Pick one.”

“You want steak?” Amy asked as the light turned green.

“Are you a vegetarian?”

Amy giggled and Gavin felt his cock twitch.
Damn it! Stop that! I won’t be held responsible for my actions!

“Do I look like a vegetarian? Lieutenant, the light is green. Shouldn’t we go?” Amy asked as the driver behind them honked.

“Not until you tell me where you want to go and call me by my first name,
Amy
. Otherwise, I’m about to really irritate these people behind me.” Gavin put the vehicle in park.

“Lieut—” Amy started.

“Yes, Dr. Livingston?” Gavin asked stiffly.

“Gavin! You really should go!” Amy exclaimed as the driver honked again.

“What do you think they’ll do? Call the cops?” Gavin asked sarcastically.

The light was turning yellow and then red. Gavin was tortured with that giggle again.

“Montana Mike’s is fine. Please let’s just go,” Amy pleaded.

Gavin put the vehicle in drive and went through the light as soon as it was green.

They spent two hours at the restaurant, just talking. For the first time in his adult life, he lost track of time and place. The restaurant started to close before either of them realized what hour was approaching. It was almost eleven o’clock. He finally got Amy home, and without thinking, drove straight to her house. She looked down at her hands as they pulled into the driveway.

“Gavin, how did you find my house if you’ve never been here?” Amy asked, directly looking at him.

Gavin cleared his throat and smiled. Amy had managed to disarm him again and he had done something without thinking about it.

“I’m a police officer. I have…good…deductive reasoning skills,” Gavin faltered.

“Really?” Amy asked with a smile.

Gavin’s cell phone rang before he could answer Amy. He had barely answered the call when all hell broke loose at the other end of the call.

“Where the fuck are you and where’s my niece?” David Ortiz roared at the other end.

“We just got to the house, boss. I’m walking her inside,” Gavin said with a smile.

“Where the hell have you been? We’ve been calling her house for an hour! Don’t answer that, let me talk to Amy,” David demanded.

“It’s David. He wants to talk to you,” Gavin said, handing Amy his phone.

“Yes, David. No, I’m fine…We went to Montana Mike’s. I guess we just lost track of time…No, we didn’t go anywhere else. We just got here…No, I’m sorry, I put my cell phone on silent for the gala. I must’ve forgotten to change it back…Okay, here he is.” Amy handed the phone back to him.

“Yes, sir,” Gavin answered, bracing himself.

“Listen, badass, you walk her to the
door
, and no further. And you keep your fucking dick beaters to yourself. You read me?” David demanded.

“Crystal clear, sir,” Gavin said, looking at Amy.

“You call me when you drive out of her driveway, badass. I want to know what time you leave,” Ortiz demanded.

“Yes, sir, Chief Ortiz, sir,” Gavin said as Ortiz ended the call.

“How old are you again?” Gavin asked.

“They worry. It’s been a rough couple of years.” Amy laughed.

Gavin walked Amy to the door. She opened it, turning to him.

“Thank you, Gavin. I had fun. I hope I didn’t get you into any trouble,” Amy said as her eyes twinkled.

“Nah, nothing he won’t forgive me for later,” Gavin said with a smile.

Gavin looked away, considering his next words.

“I’d really like to do this again,” Gavin said.

“Are you talking to me?” Amy asked, surprised.

“Did we have someone else along tonight?”

Amy giggled. Gavin had been sweetly tortured with that giggle all evening and every time she did it, he felt his cock stiffen.
I’ll wind up with cock burn over this little hottie.

“Yes, with you. When can you go?” Gavin asked.

“I don’t know, Gavin.” Amy hesitated.

“How about Friday at seven thirty? We can do a movie, too. If not Friday, when?” Gavin pushed.

“Are you always so direct?”

“Pretty much. What you see is what you get with me.”

Amy was hesitating and she looked very uncomfortable.

“So? When?” Gavin asked once more.

“I close the library on Friday night. I guess that would be okay.”

“Okay, I’ll be here at seven thirty. Good night, Amy.”

“Good night, Gavin, and again, thank you.”

Gavin watched as the door closed behind Amy. He walked to the truck, got in, and called Chief Ortiz to report in before driving the couple of blocks to his duplex. Gavin let himself in and headed to the fridge for a beer before changing his mind and simply going to bed. He fell asleep thinking about Amy.

* * * *

David Ortiz hung up the phone and looked at his wife. He was a little angry with her for sending Amy off with Gavin Walsh.

“He just left her house,” David stated.

“I like him. Where did you say he was from?” Irene asked.

David was in a bad mood and he didn’t want to argue with Irene about how he was too overprotective of Amy.

“According to his personnel record, he was born in Bangor, Maine. He moved here from Fairfax, Virginia,” David replied.

“
Ta chulo
. I’m thinking about inviting him over for Thanksgiving, unless he goes back to Maine,” Irene said.

David gave Irene a dark look. “I doubt he ever goes back to Maine. I don’t think he has a real home and probably hasn’t for some time. Irene, this guy isn’t cute and fluffy. He’s more like a pit bull. This is the kind of guy you keep locked in a cage and once a week feed him raw meat, just to keep him hungry and pissed off. We only let him out when talking doesn’t work anymore. Gavin Walsh is a retired Navy SEAL, which means for most of his adult life he killed people on a regular basis. He’s a dangerous man. He’s not what Amy needs.”

“David, I saw Tim two days ago, near my mom’s house. He was at the Speedy Stop, getting gas,” Irene said conversationally.

“I told that son of a bitch not show his face in my town,” David said in a low growl.

Irene turned and looked directly at her husband. “I think a man like Gavin Walsh is exactly what Amy needs right now. He’ll keep her safe. I think it’s time we quit talking to Tim. Maybe a pit bull biting him in the ass is exactly what
he
needs.”

Irene considered Tim, Amy’s ex-husband, for a moment. She shivered when she thought about the evil little man and the abuse Amy had suffered at his hands. She sensed that if things got serious between Amy and Gavin, Tim would get the justice he deserved if he ever tried to make good on the threat of
taking
Amy back. Irene smiled inwardly, because Gavin Walsh would be one hell of an obstacle for Tim. She watched Gavin soften when he looked at Amy.
Yes sir, Gavin is the perfect pit bull.

FCC Beaumont

Cell Block F, Cell F3546

Near Beaumont, Texas

November 14, 2007/0129 Zulu

Jorge Rivera leaned his head against the concrete wall of his prison cell. Four more days and he would be out of this shit hole. He was being as patient as he could. Everything was ready, the bank accounts set up, and the network would come together as soon as he could get home. He smiled to himself. Soon he would be a major player in something a lot bigger. His hometown of Victoria, Texas, would be the perfect hiding spot. There was only one glitch. There was a new threat in his town. News had reached Jorge that the FBI had planted a task force in Victoria. He had been assured the problem had been taken care of by his new associates. The agent would be watched and the right people paid off to do just that.

“Jorge?” Abdul called.

Jorge got up and walked to the iron cell door. Soon it would be lights-out.

“Wassup, homes?” Jorge asked as he leaned against the bars.

“We’ve heard from Marco. He’ll meet you as planned. My friend will be flying in from Pakistan in two weeks. Do you have a man yet?” Abdul asked.

“Of course. My guy on the outside will make sure that we do what he needs. I got the perfect guy. He’s legit and owes me big. He won’t say no,” Jorge said.

“What about our friends that need to come into the country?” Abdul questioned.

“No sweat, homes. They’ll get in,” Jorge said dismissively.

“I cannot stress to you how important this is.”

“Get some sleep. I’ll get to work the day I leave this shit hole.” Jorge turned to leave.

* * * *

Abdul turned away. He needed to talk to Mummar in the morning in the yard when they were allowed to exercise. He wondered when they would transfer them to Guantánamo
Bay. The money was gone. At least it had been placed where the Americans couldn’t touch it. These plans had been made ever since America declared war on Afghanistan. Everyone knew it was a matter of time before the Americans tried to take over Pakistan, and their puppet, General
Musharraf, would let them right in. So far the traditional believers had kept Musharraf in check.

Abdul
briefly wondered if Rivera could be trusted. He was surprised that he was being released so quickly. Perhaps Rivera was better connected than they had first thought. He had paid off the right people. Abdul had tried to get him to surrender and accept Islam. It was useless and he found out that Rivera was only loyal to one thing.
Money
. They had money, and when the time came, that small-time punk would be of no use and must be slaughtered like the rest of the infidels. The next few weeks would prove to be extremely long, but Nayyaf would ensure that the groundwork they had laid was not interrupted. He smiled because M-22 had proven to be most useful.

Abdul knelt facing east. He was late with his evening prayer, but he prayed just the same. He prayed for the total destruction of the West as well as all of their allies. At one point he actually believed he could start over here and make a new life in America. He had never been so wrong about anything in his life. He prayed for his own martyrdom and prayed that they would send him to Cuba soon. He knew it would be a matter of time before they sent him back to Pakistan to rejoin his brothers in their struggle against the great Satan.