For Love and Vengeance (12 page)

Jason closed his
eyes for a brief moment, absorbing her touch. It had been too long since she
had touched him in this way. Then he took a step back and extended his arms to
his sides. Knowing he would do anything this woman asked of him.

“Okay, Angel, you
have my promise. These hands will kill nobody I find in that place. This is my
promise to you.”

Aviva exhaled in
relief at Jason's acquiescence to her wishes. “Wow,” she laughed in relief,
“these hands much be magic.”

“I agree, those
are very talented hands, especially when you do that thing where you stroke
m...”

“That's enough,
Jason,” Aviva cut him off before he said something to embarrass her in front of
his family.

“Now that
everything's settled, will you eat something?” Jason asked as he bent down and
kissed her on the cheek.

“I do believe I
could eat something, yes. What culinary delights do you have to tantalize my
taste buds?”

“I don't know. Gentlemen,
what have you got for my lady?”

“I brought over
her favorite, Sea Bass on a bed of spinach accompanied by dauphinoise potatoes,”
Jackson announced, pleased that a potentially catastrophic situation had been
averted. “Hopefully, it's still warm. Come, my dear, take a seat.”

Aviva moved
towards the table as Jackson turned to the bags to retrieve their meal. That's
how they missed the look that passed between the three younger men in the room.

Jackson withdrew
a plate, removed the wrapping and placed it before her with a napkin that
surrounded cutlery. Aviva breathed in the delicious aromas wafted towards her.
She hadn't wanted food all day, but this meal had her mouth watering.

Unrolling the
crisp, white napkin, she placed it across her lap and took her first bite of
the wonderful Sea Bass. Closing her eyes, she savored the taste of the delicate
fish. Looking around the room, Aviva smiled at each of the men in turn.

“This is really
good. Thank you, Jackson. Oh, and boys…that means that there will be no killing
with feet or any other part of your body, or implements extending from your
bodies. Am I clear?”

The younger men,
who were in various states of pulling on jackets, froze. “Yeah, that's right. Next
time, don't take me for a fool. I may not be the brain of Britain, but I'm not
stupid either.”

“Aviva!” Jason
spoke for them all, his exasperation clear in his tone.

“Don't you, Aviva,
me, Jason King. I'll have your promise right this minute.”

Jason rolled his
eyes and sighed, his brain ticking as fast as a metronome set to quadruple
time. “Okay, you have my word. Guys, give her your word.”

Both brothers
recited the words she had insisted on. She didn't trust any of them for a
moment. They were probably the trickiest people she had ever come across. But
she had no other choice other than to take them at their word.

“Gentlemen, may
we have a moment, please?” Jason asked, his stare fixed on the woman he loved.
He didn't bother to look around to see if they’d left them alone in the
kitchen, yet he knew when they were finally alone.

Jason walked over
to the chair on which Aviva sat and looked down at her. He stared at her
braided head, passed over her tilted, cat-like dark brown eyes and landed on
her mouth. He watched, riveted as she pulled her full bottom lip between her
teeth and released it to subconsciously run her tongue over her top lip. Oh,
yes, she wanted a taste of him as much as he craved a taste of her.

With one of his
sudden displays of strength, Jason spun her chair around so she was facing him,
and squatted down so they were on eye level. “Sorry, did I hurt your back?”

“Ahh...no, you
didn't hurt me.”

“Good, I never
want to do anything that would hurt you,” Jason said, his gaze still fixed on
her lips.

“I know.” Aviva's
breath picked up in anticipation of when he would move.

“You smell good.”

“Thank you.”

“You look good
too.”

“You always say
that.”

“But I've never
said...I love that quick mouth of yours, or that I've forgotten how it tastes.
For the life of me, I just can't remember...how you taste.”

Lord, have
mercy, this man is hot and he’s all mine
, Aviva
thought. Shooting out her uninjured hand, she grabbed him by the back of his
head and pulled him towards her. She fastened her mouth against his, her tongue
sweeping over his lips in a deadly stroke of intent. Her mouth devoured him. She
wanted him and she was going to take what she wanted.

Jason's libido
jumped to maximum. There was no in between, it just skyrocketed. This hadn't
been his intention but he wasn't about to pass this over either. This was his angel,
and she wanted him as much as he wanted her, and he was more than ready. It
seemed as though a lifetime had passed since he had made love to her, and he
wasn't prepared to wait another moment.

Aviva's toes
literally curled at the feel of Jason’s smooth lips running over hers. That she
was once again experiencing his touch drove her wild.

Fisting her hand,
she grabbed hold of his hair and licked his lips once, twice, and then a third
time, but the last pass demanded entrance. He didn’t resist, needing to taste
her as much as she needed to taste him.

Never a man to
relinquish control, Jason took over, deepening their contact. His mouth
insistent, demanding she hold nothing back. He wanted everything, she was his
everything, and it had been too long since he held her in his arms.

Conscious of not
wanting to hurt her, Jason also had a need to express his love for her in a
physical way, and to feel her response to his touch.
Lord
, he thought,
if he lived to be a hundred, he would never grow tired of this woman. With
extreme care, he picked her up and reversed their positions. He seated on the
chair, she astride his lap. He wanted her to feel the evidence of how just one
of her kisses affected him. He wanted her to feel his arousal. He needed her to
be in no doubt that she was special to him, desired by him, and that she alone
was his need.

With his hands on
her hips, he pushed forwards, just enough to make contact with her core,
careful not to start something he had no time to finish.

“Do you love me,
Angel?”

“Yes.”

“What do you love
about me?”

“I love
everything about you.”

“No, don’t say
that…I need to know
what
you love about
me
?”

Aviva was a
little taken aback by his insistence and could tell how important her answer
was to him. “I love the way you love me. From the very first day we met, I
began to feel something. I didn’t know what it was then, or maybe I just didn’t
want to acknowledge my feelings. But you accepted me, exactly as I am with all
my flaws and imperfections. I know I’m a bossy cow and you’re prepared to put
up with me. Those are just some of the things I love about you, Jason King.”

“That’s a good
enough start, but you’ll need to tell me all the other reasons soon, very
soon.”

“Jason,” Jake
called from behind the closed door. Lord, what was he thinking? His father was
in the house, and could have walked in on them at any moment, and his brothers
were waiting for him outside. Yet all he wanted to do was carry his angel
upstairs and make love to her until the sun rose.

Pulling away was
one of the hardest things he had ever done. But this wasn’t the right time.
When he next made love to her, it would be slow and easy and they would have
all the time in the world. He would make sure of that.

“You know what
I'm going do when we get home? I'm gonna take you away on a boat in the middle
of the ocean for a month. Just you and me and no interruptions.”

“Baby, while that
sounds wonderful, especially the part about just the two of us. I think I must
decline the offer.”

“What...why?”

“A month is too
long for you and me to be on a boat alone.”

“What are you
talking about?”

“How are we going
to eat? You can't cook and I'm not cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner for a
month. I'm not crazy! I've seen how much you eat,” Aviva concluded with a
cheeky smile.

Jason shook his
head at her comment. “For that, I'm making it two months. You know how much you
love me. You'd do it for me.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really, and
I'd make it worth your while.”

“Oh, I like the
sound of that...tell me more.”

“I know what
you're doing, Angel. It's not going to work. I need to go.”

Aviva had decided
after their earlier conversation that she wanted him to stay away from those
men, but she knew his mind was made up. “Please, be careful. I don't want
anything bad to happen to you, to any of you. I couldn't live with myself if
any of you were hurt.”

“Trust me, Angel,
we’ve got this. None of us is going to get hurt.”

She tried to
smile but tears sprung to her eyes. She didn't try to hide them. What was the
point? She wanted him to see exactly how she was feeling.

Pulling her
closer, Jason again enfolded her in his arms. Resting his forehead against hers,
he closed his eyes and savored the feel of her in his arms. He then rained
butterfly soft kisses along her neck, under her jaw, across her cheek, until
his lips finally touched hers.

“I love you. I
want you to finish your meal, get some rest, and try not to worry. Can you do
that for me?”

Aviva, nodded,
wanting to reassure him. But she knew she probably wouldn’t be unable to rest
until all of them returned.

“Good. That's my
girl. We'll be back before you know it.”

Pulling slowly
away, Jason rose from the chair and deposited her in his place, then took a
step back.

Suddenly, she
knew she had to say something that he could hold on to. Something that he would
remember. “I, Aviva Johnson, love you, Jason King, very, very much.”

“Thanks, Angel.”

“Why are you
thanking me?”

“Thank you for
loving me.” Jason didn't wait for a response. Turning, he strode from the
kitchen, closing the door silently.

Aviva sunk down
into her chair and her tears began to flow in earnest. Tilting her head back,
she offered up a prayer for their safety.

“I have three
very stubborn sons, Aviva. It would seem, once their minds are made up there is
no chance of diverting their course. I know you and I would much rather this situation
not take place, but it is out of our hands.”

On the way to the
house in East London, the brothers made a detour, at Jason's request. His plans
had changed. He had given Aviva his word and he would keep it unless his life
or one of his brothers’ were in danger.

He had already
filled them both in on what he expected of them, and they were now all as ready
as they could be. They would have to readjust and improvise as the situation
dictated, but the end game, as far as he was concerned, was set in stone.

The men were all
silent, each preparing in his own way. Josh drove while Jason and Jake were
both checking their phones. His task completed, Jake turned his gaze towards
the window, looking at the streetlights that were few and far between in the
industrialized area of London.

Jason, sitting in
the passenger seat, also completed his task on his cell, and stared out the
window, lost in thought.

“What time does
the train arrive?” Jake broke the silence.

“One forty-five,”
Jason replied. “You guys better be able to do the shit you assured me of, and I
don't want any heroics. I have no intention of having to answer to your father
or Aviva if either of you get hurt!”

“Whatever, man,”
Jake said, not even bothering to take his eyes from the passing scenery.

“As a matter of
fact, I think we should change our plans slightly,” Josh suggested.

“No.”

“You haven't even
heard what I'm proposing!”

“I don't care to
hear it. The answer is still, no!”

“I think I should
go in first,” Josh continued, as though Jason hadn’t spoken.

“What part of
no
don’t you understand?!”

“You should let
him,” Jake said, supporting his younger brother's suggestion. “As I mentioned
before, he's a complete freak. He can move really quickly.”

“Well, thank you,
bro. You're no slouch either.”

“Yeah, but I'm
not a freak.”

“I don't care if
he's freaking grease lightning, the answer is still
no
!”

“Bossy, ain’t
he!” Josh said with a laugh.

Jake didn't
comment on his younger brother's attempt at lightening the mood in the car. He
had long ago learned to tune him out when necessary.

“You need to
trust us more, Jason.” Jake said.

“I could say the
same for the two of you. You
both
need to trust
me
more –
I'm
going in first.”

“It's a moot
point now anyway. We're here,” Josh told them.

Josh cut the
engine while Jake slid silently from the car, crossed the road, and disappeared
down a dark alleyway. Jason didn't move for a few moments then he too alighted
from the car. Once his feet touched the cobbled stones of the paving, he stood
still, eyes shifting from side-to-side, taking in his surroundings. The area
was poorly lit by the street lamps, something he had noticed on the drive over.
He also noted that the area was more than a little rundown.

He had done his
homework and knew that the area had once been a thriving industrial
manufacturing district way back at the turn of the nineteenth century. At that
time these boarded up buildings had played a major part in London’s economy.

Most of the
buildings in the area looked derelict with missing windows with semi legible
paint flaked names. Narrow alleyways separated each building, and it was quiet,
very quiet.

Jake came
strolling back towards them weighed down by a large bag. Jason turned to watch
his approach. “You got everything I asked for?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Okay,
let’s get ready.”

Jason walked to
the trunk of their vehicle and pulled it open. He removed his jacket and flung
it inside leaving just his combat pants and form fitting top. Josh followed
close behind him and rummaged around the content of the trunk and pulled out a
folded bundle. He snapped it through the air, and slipped his arms through a
long black duster.

Jason watched his
every move with a raised eyebrow of disbelief. “You have got to be kidding me,
right?”

“This is my lucky
coat, and I never fight without it.” Josh told him with a grin.

Jake came abreast
to them and threw in the bag he carried. He too removed his jacket and threw it
into the trunk in silence, revealing his long sleeved close fitted crew-necked top.
He then unzipped the bag and reached in and began withdrawing its content.

He threw one pouch
to Jason and another to Josh. They both snatched them out to the air, opened
them and peered inside. Each pouch contained ten, six sided throwing stars,
also known as shuriken. He then turned back and bent over the bag and removed a
sack. This one was thin and long which he handed to Josh.

The bag Jake
handed to Josh contained a three sectioned staff which could be snapped into
one long pole by the flick of his hand, and he tried it out. In the flash of an
eye the staff was extended and ready. Familiarizing himself further with its
balance he twirled it around at incredible speed before again snapping it back
into its original three sections.

Josh could see
that he had Jason’s undivided attention and grinned at him once he had
completed his flourish of lightening quick moves.

“Want to know
what I call her?” Josh asked nodding at the staff.

“Not really.”
Jason replied.

“Sure you do. Meet
the ‘Rod of Correction.” Josh told him with a big grin.

Jason rolled his
eyes, silently amused that his younger brother had named a piece of wood.

For himself Jake
withdrew a pair of wooden Tonfa a weapon that had a horizontal handle extended
from a foot long pole. He too tested his weapon of choice for weight and
balance completing a series of equally fast moves. With his black pleated front
pants and crew neck sweater, Jason couldn't help thinking he looked as though
his immaculate clothing were better suited to a night out in New Your city than
a back street alley on his way to kick ass.

He knew their individual
displays had been for his benefit, and he could see, as he watched them, that they
were masters of their weapons of choice. This was it, he was tired of standing
around in the damp London night air, he was ready to take care of his business
and get back to Aviva who he knew was probably still worrying about their
wellbeing.

The men tucked their
weapons away as he reached back into the trunk one last time and removed a long
coil of rope which he put over his head and under one arm so it rested over one
shoulder. He closed the trunk with finality. This was it.

“Ready?” Jason
asked.

“Ready.” His
brothers replied.

“One more thing,”
Jake said as they readied themselves to move out. “There's a basement, maybe we
should consider going in that way, you know, take them by surprise.”

Jason turned and
looked at his twin. By now he knew Jake well enough to realize that although he
reportedly had the lowest IQ of them all, and he seriously had his doubts about
the validity of those test results, Jake was a deep thinker. This man thought
about every nuance of every situation, remaining silent, watching until he
understood exactly what was going on.

Josh knew the
brother with whom he had grown up. Jason was just learning, so Josh remained
silent to see how Jason would interpret the information he had just been given.

“This isn't your
fight. If you want to go in through the basement, I'll respect that. For me,
I'm going in through the front door, those fuckers are gonna see me coming.”
Jason finished.

Jake sighed, “I
knew you'd say that.”

“Then why are you
telling me about the basement entrance?”

“I'm the oldest,
you two are my responsibility.”

“Whatever, Jake,
I'm a grown man and I can take care of myself. I've been doing exactly that
long before you came along. Now show me where this building is.”

With a tip of his
head, Jake started walking. He led them through an alleyway littered with
debris. They passed everything from beer bottles to old furniture. He stopped
at the end of the alleyway and raised his chin towards a squat, square building
directly opposite where they were standing. The building stood alone at the
bottom of an embankment, a train line running about a hundred meters behind it.
Their final destination appeared just as dilapidated as all the other buildings
in the area.

Jason looked at
the building for a few moments, imprinting everything to memory. Shouldering
his way past Jake, he took the lead. He rolled his neck from side to side and
seemed to grow right before their eyes. Looking over his shoulders, he glanced
at his brothers. They, too, were ready. Jason stepped out of the narrow pathway
and started walking, his eyes focused on the building before him. With each
step, he picked up speed, first to a slow jog then he was running full out. His
brothers kept pace with him, stride for stride, as he began to move faster and
faster, heading directly toward the front door of the building.

Jason reached
down into the pockets of his combat pants and withdrew a couple of the throwing
stars. Two steps away from the huge door, he took a flying leap and broke
through it, landing in a crouched position inside the building, his eyes
darting quickly around the space. It wasn't what he expected. The outside of
the building belied the interior which looked as though quite a bit of money
had been spent on its renovation.

He took all this
in within moments, even as he focused on the three stunned men staring at them
in disbelief at their sudden appearance. Jason rushed them, unwilling to waste
the element of surprise, his long legs eating up the distance that separated
them. He dropped the throwing stars back into his pockets and grabbed two of
the stunned men by their shirt collars and slammed their heads together. They
were out cold. The third man, now recovered from his stupor, threw a punch at
Jason's jaw. He caught the man's fist in one of his huge hands and in a
continuous motion, twisted it downwards until he heard a snap. He then followed
up with an uppercut of such force the man rose off the ground before landing in
a heap at his feet.

The breaking in
of the door as well as the man's scream of pain at his broken arm caused more
men to run into the room. A quick glance around showed Jason that their
information had been incorrect.

“Ten guards,
Jake…really, your guy needs some math lessons!”

“Yeah, gonna have
to have a word with him about that,” Jake said with a smile, his eyes darting
around the room.

“Come on, guys.
By the looks of it, Jason could take out ten on his own. Where's the fun in
that?”

As the brothers
bantered, they moved until they were standing back to back, protecting each
other. They were surrounded by at least fifteen men of varying sizes and
descriptions.

“Let them come to
us,” Jason whispered.

“Hey, fucknuts,
whicha you English pussies is gonna be first to come and get some?” Josh
taunted as he beckoned the men he was facing towards him.

“You just can't
help yourself, can you, Joshua!” Jake snapped at his brother.

“I'm not the tall
silent type. I'll leave that shit up to you two,” Josh shot back, enjoying
himself.

Jason didn't
utter a word. He was focused and already in a fighting stance with flexed
knees, his arms bent at the elbows, and fists clenched. These guys didn't
appear to be armed with guns but he couldn't be sure at that stage. There was
his answer. One of the men in his peripheral vision was pulling a firearm from
a holster at his side. Jason's hands shot into his pockets, removing two
throwing stars, releasing them through the air with incredible speed, force and
accuracy. Both stars arrived at the same time, embedded in the hand that held
the gun. The man cried out in pain as he dropped the firearm and tried to
remove the metal stars. Jason took him completely out of the fight by sending
two more stars in his direction, one to his uninjured hand and another that
lodged in his hip bone.

Then it was on.
His sudden movements triggered the other guards into motion. Jason felt his
brothers’ movements as they removed their weapons.

It became clear
to Jason that these British boys’ weapon of choice were knives. The five men
coming at him all had blades extending from their hands. He now knew what they
were up against, so he moved out. Five men rushed towards him with deadly
intent written across their faces. He was ready for them.

Jason always
fought in silence, his visage expressionless and cold. One man tried to end the
fight before it had even begun by throwing his blade. Jason watched it shoot
towards him and at the last moment, he dodged it and sent a star on a direct
path back towards its owner. He found his mark, a direct hit to the leg, the
star buried so deeply only one point was still visible.

~~~~~~~~~~

Jake pulled out a
couple of fighting stars and loosened them at two of the men who were rushing
towards him. They were the closest and he only had time to slow them down. His
mark was their shin bone and be made sure he buried the stars deep.