Page 10 of Silk and Steel

So I wind up sitting there, feeling helpless, and hating Julian Lovejoy’s guts. How would Jake describe a piece of shit like Lovejoy? Oh, yeah. Meat to be wasted.

An image of Jake flashes through my mind. Sitting on the deck of a massive destroyer, his legs dangling over the side while he puffed on a half-bent Lucky Strike. Squinting in the sun, he turned his freckled face to me and said…

Not even bacteria should have to be nourished by that kind of person.

“Cole?”

I snap out of it, and turn to Jax.

“Sorry, I didn't catch that. What did you say?”

“I asked if you understand the nature of what we’re up against?”

I nod. “Yeah. Being incarcerated didn’t make Lovejoy any less rich. Or any less connected. Probably a lot of his Hollywood friends think Emory is hysterical or vengeful and made the whole thing up to frame him.”

I turn to her and bow my head slightly.

“No offense. I know that’s not what happened.”

She nods, and I continue.

“Lovejoy will still have plenty of people willing to help him stay on the lam. Whether that help comes in the form of finances, or a place to hide, it doesn’t matter. He’s going to be elusive for the police to track down, so I will buckle down to guard Emory for the long haul.”

“Impressive,” Jax says nodding.

“I’m not finished. Lovejoy is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, ninth dan black belt in Judo, and eight dan black belt in Shotokan Karate. He attended counter-terrorism and anti-abduction training classes, which included use of small arms. In short, he’s a very dangerous man, and not to be taken lightly. Did I leave anything out?”

Jax snorts. “Show off. How in the hell do you know so much about this guy already?”

“I was stuck in a dentist’s office with a dead phone battery and only a copy of Time magazine to read. Lovejoy was the cover story.”

Emory wears a worried frown.

“I didn’t know about all that extra training, I just knew he was into Karate. I guess I’m right to be scared.”

“You’re right to be cautious, and hire protection,” Jax corrects her gently. “And as dangerous as Lovejoy might be, I’m giving you a bodyguard who’s more than up to the task.”

Jax glances over at me.

“Go ahead, tell her what a badass you are.”

I shrug. “I used to be in the Navy.”

Jax leans back in his chair and grins.

“Please forgive Mr. Drake here. He is painfully modest. For the record, Cole Drake is a former Lt. in the Navy SEALs with extensive training, including a specialty in underwater demolitions. That would be the most dangerous military assignment in the world.”

“Jax, come on, you don’t have to–”

“Lt. Drake has been in over twenty-eight active combat sorties. He has been decorated with two bronze stars, four purple hearts, one silver star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Service Medal, and…”

His voice drops an octave in respect.

“...The Medal of Honor. I hate to be so overbearing about it, but his modesty forced the issue. Cole Drake is a fucking one-man army. If I had to take on Godzilla and King Kong, Cole Drake is the first man I’d call. If God himself–”

“I think she gets the point, boss. I’m a killer.”

I turn to Emory.

---