Hard Man to Kill (Dark Horse Guardian Series Book 4) (21 page)

Meanwhile, Lara trained with the Silver Shadow diligently at the shooting range built in the back of the house behind the garden.  It was off limits for the children, but she and Monique and Rusty spent hours in there.  The place was filled with smoke when they were done, but Lara loved the smell of spent ammunition.  The hot molten aroma became familiar to her, as well as the feeling of shooting the double barreled AR. 

More than ever, she wanted to shoot outside.  The weather had become warm and balmy.  But, it was too dangerous to linger in the yard.  They never knew who might be watching.  The children had been amazingly well-behaved under the circumstances.  They played games and stayed inside.  The entire basement of Clearwater Farm had been turned into a giant playroom, sectioned off by age groups.  One area had mats for tumbling and wrestling.  Lara would often join the older children showing them basic self-defense moves and the holds Ben had taught her. 

Today she sat alone with Monique, as Rusty cleaned up the spent ammo at the gun range. 

“I’m ready to kill these guys….do you think you can do it?” Lara asked Monique point blank.

“Yes.  I have had enough of this.  I wouldn’t hesitate.” Monique seemed deadly serious.

“You can’t hesitate.” Rusty added.  “If they are shooting at you, there’s no time for hesitation.  Just shoot.”

Rusty finished and approached them, “One more thing, Lara.  You and Monique will be protecting the women and children, as well as yourselves.  You understand these terrorists could very well follow you to the fort and come after you.  You have to be ready for that, if it happens.” 

Lara was well aware of the possibilities.  She’d been in the Dark Horse game many times and that very scene played out before her in high resolution 3D.  Every time it did, she imagined pulling the trigger on the Silver Shadow killing as many of them as she could with rapid fire.

She turned to Rusty, “Has all of the equipment been delivered for the beach party?  And, the other stuff?” 

“Yes,” Rusty answered.  “We are putting everything together in the basement and will try it out there, first.  Everything has to be done with great care.  Ben Keegan is going to be a hard man to kill.”

~ Ben ~

Secretly provisioning the sailboat was a challenge, but not one that he couldn’t mount.  He had ordered the sailboat out of storage and once it was launched into the water, he checked all of the systems and started the diesel engine.  It purred and chugged to life.  Elvis, Ben’s personal mechanic, had just gone over every inch of the engine room, and was wiping his hands on a rag, “Everything’s in order, Chief.” 

After the sun was down for an hour, the two men guided the 40-foot Hinckley sailing sloop from the yacht club to the mooring in front of Clearwater Farm.  It was love at first touch for Ben, as he stood at the helm.  His hands grasped the leather-wrapped stainless steel wheel, sensing the weight of the keel beneath him.  This sloop was designed to sit in the water and sail, but it was a piece of art as well as a well-designed yacht.  He spent a few minutes examining every tiny detail in the cockpit with only the interior running lights on.  The sails were pristine.  He couldn’t wait to really take this thing for a ride.

While the boat was moored a few hundred feet away from the dock, Ben and Elvis took care as they slid the dinghy into the water and paddled soundlessly from the dock.  Later that night, with snipers at their posts, Ben donned his wet suit and slipped beneath the water with provisions for the sailboat.  Night after night, he swam by the light of the stars and moon, placing items into the cockpit with careful stealth.  It also gave him a chance to observe the farm from the water.  With the G’s, he could detect any movement.  They provided the best high resolution night vision he had ever experienced.  One night, he saw someone move, but quickly realized it was his own man.  Over the course of a week, the boat had the things necessary to sustain them for a few days, possibly longer. 

The next phase of the operation would take place the last weekend in May.  It was the day prior to Memorial Day.  The set-up was in progress.   In a few more days, they’d start setting up the picnic on the beach.  The furnishings were assembled and piece by piece items were placed gradually, to create the setting they wanted.  The only unknown was:  how many uninvited guests would arrive at this party?  There were many eyes and ears watching and listening to his plans.  He had an open communication channel going, allowing Saleh to tape record the phone calls.  As actors, each played his part, although Ben continually felt a sense of dread regarding the uncertainty. 

Tossing and turning at night in bed, Lara would soothe him.  This was the closest he had been to bringing her on a mission.  Except, this time, the mission was brought to his doorstep.  He was amazed that he could function at all, but pleasantly surprised that she managed to divert his attention just long enough to stop the horrible thoughts that invaded his mind every night. 

Sexual romps with her became his tension reliever.  He suspected it was the same for her, too.  Often, they’d shower together and make love in the morning with the hot water pulsing over them.  Whenever they did, it reminded him of St. John and the first time he made love to her, only a year ago. Now that moment seemed to be in the distant past. 

Occasionally, she would pull him into the master bedroom in the middle of the day and start removing his clothing hurriedly, as if she couldn’t wait to have him.  She seemed to know what he needed before he did.  She put a deadbolt on the bedroom door, and for an hour she could take him to a place that was heavenly.  Once she whispered to him, “If I’m going to die, I want to be in your arms, kissing you, loving you.  When I get lost like this, I forget what is taking place out there.  I need you, Ben.”  His heart melted when she said things like that.   He felt so lucky to have her for his wife.  The tension of all that was happening only served to bring them closer, which was what he hoped for all along. 

As he pulled off the wetsuit in the quiet pre-dawn hours in the mud-room, he padded softly toward the master bedroom and slipped back into bed.  He thought Lara was sleeping, but when she rolled over to face him, her sensual kiss surprised him. Her hand moved over the back of his neck as she kissed him like he had never been kissed before.  Whenever she brought her lips to his, it activated something in him, primal and raw.  Velvety and full, her lips were on his and he was overwhelmed with the love he felt for her at that moment.

When she pulled away and moved atop him, he perceived an eagerness in her eyes. With hair askew, she held his gaze for a long moment and he felt a potent energy rush through him.  Her glance was seductive, filled with longing.  His eyes dropped slowly to her shoulders, then to her erect nipples; he felt something instinctive stir within him.  With one hand he pulled her closer, putting his mouth over her breast, gently touching her nipple with his lips.  Her breathing became shallow, irregular and he felt her becoming stimulated as her dark hair fell over him.  This was the response he wanted to provoke.  Immersed in pleasure, he heard her make a delightful sound that spurred him on.

~ Lara ~

Ben’s lips on her body made her quiver, and she knew in a moment she’d be losing control, but it was what she wanted right now at this moment.  As he suckled her nipples, she felt his hands slide down past the curve of her lower back to her bottom.  Instinctively, as he cupped her bottom with his hands, she moved her hips back and forth over the hardness she felt between her thighs.  There was no stopping as waves of pleasure engulfed her.  She was riding his erection and losing control.  She pulsated and tingled with pleasure for a moment, then tumbled down upon him, breathing irregularly in his ear.

“I’m sorry, Ben.  I couldn’t stop myself…” she exhaled.

“Don’t
ever
be sorry.  I love that…so much, you will never know.” Ben smiled.  His dimples were showing.  A hint of mischief sparkled in his blue eyes.  “You have no idea how much you make me want you, when you move….like that.” 

He took her hand and guided it to the place she had just straddled.  As her hand moved over his hardness, she felt an insatiable desire to caress him.  She smiled as his hands brushed her hair away from her face and his mouth was on hers, tongue probing the seam of her lips.  She gently sucked on his bottom lip and felt him inhale sharply, as her hand moved over his hardness.  “I want you.” She whispered. 

She watched his eyes close and she took her cue to move lower, covering his chest and abdomen with wet kisses along the way.  Her hands were both on him as she looked at his handsome face in the dim light.  He was observing her every movement, every touch, every kiss, immersed in a state of full arousal.  Her fingers tightened around his straining erection and her lips lightly encircled the swollen masterpiece.  As she continued with a slow and steady motion, she could hear him making a sexy sound, one of pleasure, she knew.  Stroking and sweeping her tongue over and over, she felt him growing.  His body tensed and she moved her mouth away to watch the glorious reaction.  A sensual volcano erupted before her eyes.  She was mesmerized watching him explode with pure gratification.  Strong desire coursed through her as she viewed his pleasure on full display.

After a few moments, he pulled her to him and kissed her tenderly.  She loved this moment the most, when Ben was spent, totally relaxed, and he held her in his strong arms.  She felt his hot breath in her ear.  “I want you again, you know…” she could feel his smile against her face. 

“Yes.  I want you, too,” she whispered back.  That morning was one she would remember forever.  A perfect morning tucked away to dream about when Ben wasn’t there.  Lovemaking with Ben was always filled with surprises mixed with tenderness.  She couldn’t imagine life without him, without this connection, their hearts beating together.  Although the carnal pleasures were intoxicating, she was in love with the man inside.  That’s what made her heart rate quicken, Ben, as a man -- and all of the qualities that made him who he was. 

~ Abdul ~

Tonight would be the big moment Abdul had been waiting for.  Even though the celebration Keegan had been planning was supposedly kept under wraps, Abdul’s men had reported back to him hourly about the movements at Clearwater Farm.  It was a warm spring day, a Sunday, the infidels’ sacred day.  The day before Memorial Day. Good.  Let them enjoy their memorial for the dead.  Soon, they’d be among them.  And, Abdul would secure the half million bounty and the coveted place next to his father, second in command.

Saleh had proven himself to be a good foot soldier.  His information was constant and detailed.  Perhaps he had gauged him wrong after all.  Ibrahim was bringing ten more Americans from the cell in Massachusetts.  They were not familiar with the Clearwater Farm layout, but he was showing them what needed to be done.  They would be good to use as an offensive line.  If they got killed, it was no big deal.  They could shout Allah Akbar and go to hell for all he cared.  They were expendable, and in the scheme of things, would be used to draw the enemy’s fire.  Abdul knew he was walking into a dangerous situation.  He didn’t trust the devious Navy SEALs.  But, he knew how they worked.  He’d have to find them in order to shoot them.

Khouri had proven to be a wildcard, just as he’d expected.  Not knowing how to stifle his urges, Abdul tried to keep a tight rein on him, but Khouri was out at night drinking alcohol, picking up women in bars and fornicating.  He knew this was against the teachings of the Quran, but he did it anyway.  Khouri was a hypocrite, but then so was he, on occasion.

Abdul had bedded a young American girl in her teens just a few nights ago.  Khouri brought her to the apartment and she was drunk.  She was fourteen, so she said, and he knew that she was old enough to supply him with what he needed – a release from all of this pent up tension and aggression.  She cried when he experienced his lustful urges, but then all women seemed to cry.  They didn’t understand him.  The American women were arrogant.  Didn’t they know they were supposed to be subservient?  That was one of the reasons he so hated American women.  They thought too highly of themselves and often lived without a man.  Although he was aroused when he watched them gyrate on pornographic websites, he was disgusted with them in the same vein.  He wanted women, yet he felt a self-loathing, at times so strongly, he could not tolerate it. 

Islam was an all or nothing proposition.  Abdul knew little else except for what his father had taught him and what he learned in school.  As a young child, he was taken from his mother and put into a Madrassa, taught Wahhabism, and was often beaten for not following every rule.  He knew he was not living by the tenets of the ideology he was taught, but then wasn’t it all a matter of interpretation?  He was taught to be deceptive in order to serve Allah.  So, deception was how he lived his life.

The Quran sat on his bedtable as he had sex with the fourteen year old American girl.  He had glanced at it with no feeling, as he performed what was his duty as a man.  He practiced the rules and regulations that suited him.  Most often Abdul thought of how proud his father would be if he died in the line of duty killing the infidels.  Would his father love him then?  But, after thinking about being a martyr, ending it all, not having sex, not enjoying life, he would pull back from those thoughts.  It was his father who needed to be killed.  Then, he, Abdul, could take his position of power.  He knew what he had to do. 

The killing of Keegan had to come first to garner the respect he so deserved.  Then, his father’s superiority would be over.  The will he exercised over Abdul and Ibrahim would be finished.  Abdul would take him down.  His father would no longer rule.  It was his destiny.