Free Hard Ride by Trixie Pierce Page A

am.
    He punched the bed of the truck, the immediate pain calming him enough to think.
    They had his Hellcat, and she didn’t know the inherent dangers. How could she fight, if she thought she was with someone who loved her? Or even see death coming?
    Jumping into the truck, he went to the storage unit he kept in North Little Rock, away from those that knew him. Or thought they did. What was inside would scare the shit out of most . The drive across the river took another twenty minutes of precious time. Parking in front of the small unit, he unlocked the door and pushed on the portable light he kept on a shelf in the front.
    Gleaming silver shelves, filled with weapons from personal to oh-shit-he-means-to-kill-us-all, he shouldered into the vest, a utility belt, and strapped a holster to each thigh. He filled the numerous pockets with various non-lethal weapons like smoke grenades, others with extra ammo, and one he inserted a small digital recorder.
    In the truck, he made a call. “Yes, this is former Major Houston Colby Moore, clearance eight, Charlie, November, Papa, niner, five, zero.”
    “Clearance verified . State your situation.”
    Houston explained, and waited verification. When the clearance was given, his former commanding officer picked up the line.
    “Isn’t this a bit much for a woman, Moore?” Gary laughed across the lines.
    “Well, it’s more than just Parker. You do know who her father was?” He switched lanes on the highway, heading for her house first.
    “Should I?”
    “Yes, you should. How many of his weapons did we use?” Houston found an open lane and pushed the truck past eighty.
    “Wait, it’s that Parker?” The sound of surprise filtered across the connection.
    “Yes, and I don’t think she knows exactly what her father’s company did, only that it was corrupt. A lot of people in high places have her sighted. If they can get her out of the way, they can restart the company. And you know of the new contracts available.”
    “Oh, holy shit. Yes, I know, but getting new contracts would be almost impossible, even with greased palms. Halliburton and several other companies already have those earmarked. They are going for a lost cause.”
    “You know that. I know that. But everything I have says they feel they have a chance. Top it off, there is someone on the inside helping, giving information, and using her own companies to help fund their scheme. We only discovered it last week.” Houston took the exit for Cantrell, driving through four way stops until her house was visible. “I’ll call you back. I’m at her house, I have to find her uncle’s favorite hiding spot. He’s taken her AMA, and I’m not certain she agreed.”
    He pounded on the front door, looking over a harried Heather. “Did Katie’s uncle bring her here?”
    Emotions crossed her features, “She’s not due home for at least another week.”
    He frowned, “Where would her uncle take her?”
    “Why, Houston? What is happening?”
    “Please, where would he take her? Where is his house?”
    “They often went to Petit Jean, he has a cabin up there. His house is in Mayflower, off the main highway, in the new subdivision.” She grabbed his arm. “Why are you asking these questions?”
    “I’ll let her tell you, I don’t have time.” He left, knowing time was being wasted, but he had to go one step at a time.
    *
    Houston sat in the truck, forehead on the steering wheel, listening to the fire engulf James Parker’s new home. That escalated quickly. That’s what happens when you hire wanna-be mercenaries.
    Putting the truck in gear, he pointed the front end towards Petit Jean Mountain. At least he’d gotten the location.
    Taking the turns in the highway a bit too fast, he spotted the big red Escalade he’d been told belonged to her uncle.
    Weighing his options, he hated the only one left. He was going to have to flip the bitch.

 
    Chapter Sixteen
     
    Katie settled into the plush seats of the big SUV.