Still, they were hired to do a job and, after recovering enough to speak, one of the men who had been leading a team reached a bloody hand into a pocket and took out his radio. He needed to send a warning to the team stationed outside, while praying he wasn’t too late.
They had knocked out the security guard and chained the lobby doors, but left four men at the alley exit. Those four men needed to be warned that Tanner was headed their way.
“Team Golf, be advised, teams Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo and Foxtrot are down. I repeat, we are down, but subject is active and heading your way. Come in.”
There were a few seconds of static and then a voice spoke.
It was Tanner.
“Teams Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo and Foxtrot, be advised, team Golf is unconscious and bleeding. Whoever you are, if you come at me again... I’ll kill you all.”
The radio went dead. Tanner had smashed it against the wall and let the broken pieces fall atop the men he had just shot repeatedly with rubber bullets.
They had been waiting for him outside in the alleyway, after having correctly guessed the path he would use to make his departure from the building.
Tanner had aided them in coming to that assumption by leaving obvious signs that the door lock had been tampered with, leading them to assume that he had entered the building that way and would be leaving by the same door.
In actuality, Tanner had entered through the front door with a phony ID that identified him as the tenant of an office on the 37th floor. If he had been trapped inside, he wanted to have a reason for being there, and most cops would have just taken the ID at face value and let him walk.
He had performed many difficult hits over the years and had escaped many traps because he was meticulous in his preparation.
The bulletproof glass at Sara’s apartment had been a surprise, but not completely unexpected, and could have been counterbalanced by using an incendiary round that would have set her apartment ablaze.
Tanner had decided against using one, because he couldn’t be certain of who else would be in the apartment with her, nor if the blaze would spread to engulf and harm her neighbors.
He was a professional killer, not a mindless butcher, and he was confident that in time he would kill Sara Blake, although, he had to admit, the woman was gifted at surviving.
The men in the alley had been waiting for Tanner to emerge, and were ready to blast him as soon as he stepped out the door. Unfortunately, for them, Tanner had placed a cheap cell phone behind the dumpster at their backs before entering the building, and he called it a second before making his exit.
Team Golf were all turned towards the dumpster after the phone went off with a shrill ring and Tanner shot them from behind with the rubber bullets, which, while generally non-lethal, were still devastatingly painful, especially when fired at close quarters.
With the threats handled, Tanner headed for the side street, which was empty of anything other than the occasional passing car.
But, as he stepped from the alleyway after removing his helmet, he nearly shot the man who was waiting there in the face.
The man was holding his hands up at shoulder level, to reveal that they held no weapons.
“I come in peace.”
Tanner sent Joe Pullo a smirk.
“Since when?”
Pullo smiled and gestured back at the building.
“Are they all dead?”
“They’re alive, but they’ll remember this night.”
“You thought they might be cops, huh?”
“I couldn’t be sure, now tell me, why are you here?”
Pullo turned and walked towards his vehicle, a black Hummer.
“We’ll take my ride.”
Tanner nodded and off they went to talk.
CHAPTER 2 - The curse of the human race
As they rode along in the Hummer, Tanner asked Joe Pullo a question.
“How did you find me? I know you weren’t connected to those Mercs back there.”
“Sara Blake sent them after you, but when I saw that building go dark, I knew for sure that was where you were. I was also following them.”
“What do you know about Sara Blake?”
“I know that she wants you dead. I also know that she’s Johnny’s girl.”
“Rossetti and Blake are together?”
“Yeah,”
“That’s not good. I was hoping to mend things between myself and the Giacconi Family, and once I kill his woman, Rossetti is not likely to want to make friends with me.”
Pullo laughed.
“You can say that again, but Johnny already likes you, well actually, he likes Romeo.”
“I see that Blake has been talking.”
“Oh yeah,”
“It’s her or me, Joe. The woman wants me dead and she won’t stop coming.”
“So I hear, and to tell you the truth, I’m amazed that she’s still alive.”
“Don’t underestimate her. I made that mistake and caught a bullet for it.”
“Maybe there’s a way to make peace. That’s why I’m here. Are you willing to listen?”
“Yeah, but let’s talk over coffee.”
***
Inside Sara’s apartment, Duke lowered his phone and spoke through gritted teeth.
“The bastard escaped and he injured most of the men I sent after him while doing it.”
Sara took a deep breath before asking a question.
“How many are dead?”
“None, but one man will lose an eye.”
Johnny stood and took Sara in his arms. The two of them had grown much closer since her return from Ridge Creek, as she had essentially been a prisoner in her own home as she waited for Tanner to strike.
Her life had been put on hold, and she had even resigned from being an active participant in the financial blog and newspaper, Street View, of which she was a part owner.
In truth, her heart had never really been in the financial news business. She had only acquired Street View as a means to an end, and increased her involvement in it at a time when she thought Tanner was dead. That was when her main target of revenge became the former head of The Conglomerate, Frank Richards.
In a greater sense, Sara’s life had been on hold since she found her lover, Brian Ames, murdered, and since that day, all her energies had been directed at exacting revenge on the men who had killed him, and on Tanner in particular.
When Tanner disappeared from sight after their encounter in Pennsylvania, Sara entered a limbo between fear and relief, as she waited to learn if Tanner was dead or alive, and if dead, would his body ever be found?
The days of waiting had been unnerving for Sara. Still, she did what she could to prepare for an eventual attack. On this night, those precautions paid off.
During that time of waiting, she and Johnny lived together, as he was unwilling to leave her side for very long, and the two of them had become more than just lovers.
Johnny brushed a stray hair away from Sara’s face and caressed her cheek.
“Okay, we tried Duke’s way, now we try mine.”
Sara looked up into his face, searching his eyes.
“You have a plan?”
“I do. My plan is to keep you alive.”
Duke made a sound of derision.
“Would you care to share some details, or do you just hope that Tanner will go away?”
“I’m going to talk to the man. I know him, somewhat, and I think I can get him to listen.”
“How will you get in contact with him?” Sara asked.
“Joe Pullo is working on that right now, but no matter what, baby, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Duke placed a suit jacket on over the vest he wore.
“I have to go clean up one hell of a mess. Sara, stay safe honey and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Duke left the apartment and Johnny and Sara settled on a loveseat.
“I’m staying again tonight,” Johnny sa
id. “I don’t want to leave your side until we know the threat is over.”
Sara leaned against him as he wrapped an arm around her.
“I’ll only be safe when Tanner is dead.”
Johnny said nothing, but he hoped that Pullo was able to put his plan in motion.
***
Tanner shed the body armor and tactical belt before following Pullo inside an all-night eatery on Sixth Avenue.
After inhaling the aroma of the food, both men decided to eat, and were enjoying steak and eggs with their coffee while they talked.
“Johnny wants a meet, you, him, and Blake.”
“When and where?”
“At the club, tomorrow at nine a.m.,”
Tanner stared at Pullo.
“Rossetti must think I’m stupid. He’s asking me to pinpoint my whereabouts for Blake.”
“This isn’t a trap. You have my word on that, and while I’m talking to you, Johnny will be talking to Blake.”
“So, she hasn’t agreed to this either?”
“No, and he’s not going to tell her until it’s time for you to show, that way, she can’t plan any double-crosses.”
“Rossetti is willing to take my word that I won’t kill her?”
“No, but I’ll take your word and he’ll take mine, so, what’s it going to be, are you willing to talk?”
Tanner said nothing for a moment, but then nodded.
“I’ll show. I actually don’t want to kill the woman if I don’t have to, but I’ll tell you right now, I’ll have to. She’s obsessed with killing me, no, more than that, she wants to torture me and I don’t think there’s a damn thing in this world she wants more.”
“Because you killed her lover?”
“Yes, he was acting as a rat, giving up info on The Conglomerate, and Richards put out a contract on him.”
Pullo smirked.
“The funny thing is, The Conglomerate is dead, at least here it is, we’re back to being independent, but the European branch is still hanging on. A German guy named Heinz, Bruno Heinz, has taken Richards’ place and he’s as big a bastard as Richards ever was.”
“What makes him a bastard?”
“He wants us back in The Conglomerate and won’t take no for an answer. He even had Sullivan Silva from Chicago whacked and then moved one of his people into his slot, also, he owns the MegaZenith building after his company acquired Richards’ holdings.”
“Does he have people here?”
“That’s the rumor, but if they’re here, they’re lying low.”
“You think there will be a war?”
“Maybe,”
Tanner smiled.
“Good, then it sounds like Rossetti can use me, and it’s time I got back to work.”
“So I can tell him yes, that you’ll show at the club tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”
“And you won’t kill Blake? I have to have your word on that.”
“I won’t kill her, at least, not until after we’ve had this meeting.”
“Good, then tomorrow at nine it is.”
The two men grew silent as they finished eating their meals, but after taking his last bite and wiping his mouth with a napkin, Tanner leaned back in his chair and stared at Pullo.
“How’s Laurel doing?”
A flash of surprise crossed Pullo’s face, but then his lips curled in a smile.
“I should have figured that you’d know about us.”
“Have you told her that I’m alive?”
“Yes, I told her... it seemed to please her.”
Tanner nodded and grew silent.
Pullo pushed his plate aside and leaned forward.
“Do you want her, Tanner? Are you going after Laurel?”
“No, Joe, she’s much better off with you. Deep down, Laurel wants the straight life, a home, maybe even a kid, and while you’re not a nine-to-five type of guy, you still lead a stable life compared to mine. Plus, I’ll never marry, but you would, wouldn’t you?”
“Yeah, I’d marry Laurel, someday, if she’d have me.”
“Take care of her and I’ll keep my distance.”
“She loves you, you know that?”
“I know.”
“And you?”
Tanner laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“Love, it’s the curse of the human race and makes every man a fool.”
“But not you?”
Tanner sighed.
“Not yet.”
CHAPTER 3 - The other Ms. Blake
In the bedroom of her Manhattan apartment, Sara’s sister, Jennifer, sighed with contentment as she snuggled deeper into Jake Garner’s arms.
The two began dating only a short while ago, after Jennifer saw the news story about Garner’s partner, Michelle Geary, being killed in the line of duty.
Garner had been shaken by his partner’s sudden death, which took place in front of him, and the emotional comfort that Jennifer offered him in the aftermath soon turned to something more.
Jennifer felt guilty at first and fought her feelings, because she thought that her sister might have eyes for Garner, but, after learning that Sara was with Johnny Rossetti, she gave in to her feelings and took Jake to bed.
It was not a decision she regretted, but often wondered if she would.
“Jake?”
Garner kissed her shoulder.
“Yes?”
“Are you sleeping with someone else?”
“What? No, why would you ask that?”
“Sara, she told me about your reputation. Was she exaggerating?”
Garner released her and sat up on the side of the bed. Jennifer moved behind him while standing on her knees.
“Jennifer, you’re the first woman I’ve been with since your sister shot me. I nearly died from my wounds and I had a lot of time to think while I was in the hospital. Sara didn’t exaggerate; I was living like a playboy, but... I want more now.”
“And you wanted to be with Sara, didn’t you?”
Garner turned his head and looked at her.
“I was attracted to your sister, yes, but there was something else there too. In a way, I pity her, because I can understand how much she’s suffered for the loss of her lover, I understand that pain only too well.”
Jennifer pulled back on Jake’s shoulders and bid him to lay down beside her again. He did so and they lay facing each other.
The bedroom was on the twenty-second floor and was lit only by the glow of the city’s lights, casting much of Garner’s face in shadow, but even so, Jennifer saw the pain in his eyes.
“You lost someone special once, didn’t you?”
“Three people, my wife... and my two children, my boy and my girl.”
“Oh my God, what happened?”
“My wife, Wendy, we were children ourselves when we married. We were only eighteen and she was pregnant with my son. Our age didn’t hinder us as it has some young couples. We were so in love that nothing else mattered. We both came from great homes, had supportive parents, and while Wendy raised the baby, I worked six days a week in her father’s factory while going to school at night.”
Garner paused, as thoughts of the past flooded his mind, and Jennifer saw a smile play at his lips.
“Those were good days, weren’t they?” she asked.
“They were the best, even though we had almost no money and lived with my parents. But, the days were full, we were happy and we had plans, you know? We had our future mapped out, and thanks to our parents helping us, we were able to buy a house by the time our daughter was born.”
“You must have still been quite young, no?”
“I was just twenty-two, but I had a wife and two kids and was entering law school. Life was good, full of family, friends, school and work. God, what I wouldn’t give to go back there for just one more day.”
They grew silent for nearly a minute and then Jennifer asked a question in a voice that was barely a whisper.
“What happened to your family, Jake?”
Garner cleared his throat. When he spoke, his voice was tight with emotion.
“Ah, our house, our house was new, a tiny place, but new, and the land developer cleared away trees and built more homes above ours after we’d been living there a year. Those homes had great views, were three times the size of ours, but the land they had been built atop... they never should have been built there.”
Jennifer held her breath, as she began to suspect what was coming.
“I went out to get ice-cream one night, just a quick trip to the store. It had rained hard for a week, the ground had grown soft, there was a mudslide and the homes above ours, they, they, fifteen minutes, I was only gone for fifteen minutes and when I returned... I found my home destroyed and my family crushed to death. The house above ours, it looked like someone had picked it up and dropped it on my home, and they were gone, all dead.”
Jennifer hugged him and felt warm tears wet her shoulder, as Jake sobbed against her. After a few minutes, he regained his composure and spoke.
“I was filled with hate for the developer and the builder. They were brothers, and after that night, they both lost their businesses, the courts awarded me and the other survivors damages which bankrupted them, but I didn’t want their money, I wanted their lives.”
“You, you didn’t...?”
“No, I thought about it constantly, even while I dreamed of becoming an FBI agent, but a year after my family died, one of the brothers committed suicide, while the other died in a drunken bar fight. Still, I understand what your sister is feeling and I can sympathize with wanting revenge, but in the end, it’s yourself that’s murdered, and not the one that wronged you.”
“And all the women that came after, that was your way of not getting close to anyone, wasn’t it?”
“Yes and I was also using sex to kill the pain, but, after the shooting, I knew I wanted more. I’ve even started seeing Dr. Whitaker.”
“She’s the doctor I consulted about Sara. But I thought she only treated depression?”
“She does, and she says that I was using sex as a way to kill the pain of loss, and to stave off depression. And I can’t ever have back what I lost, but I can sure as hell have more than what I’ve got, and I can start fresh, make a new life.”
The TANNER Series - Books 4-6 (Tanner Box Set Book 2) Page 26
