Cold Blooded Assassin Book 6: Red Horizon (Nick McCarty Assassin) by Bernard Lee DeLeo Page B

comforting hand on Jarrod’s shoulder. “Ah… thank you for your concern. I hope Biff and Ray weren’t your besties or anything. I already guided them into hell earlier.”
    Jarrod’s eyes widened, staring at Nick in shock. “You did Biff and Ray both… man… what the fuck are you… the reaper?”
    “Wrong movie,” Cala giggled from the front. “He’s Muerto, the Terminator.”
    “Oh shit!” Jarrod’s chin dropped to his chest. “We fucked with the Unholy Trio. I…I seen those videos. Please… don’t do me like those guys.”
    Nick injected Jarrod with the hotshot Johnny gave him before they split up. He watched Jarrod stiffen with eyes wide before slowly relaxing into his smiling journey to hell. “You earned a quickie, homeboy. Say hello to Biff and Ray for me. Tell them no hard feelings, it was just business.”
    Jarrod’s eyes closed for the last time, his mouth trying to form a last response.
    “I think the cruise tomorrow will be very important,” Cala commented.
    “Yep. We have to get after this Carone guy. We don’t want him to have a chance to send King Kong and Godzilla after me.”
    * * *
    Rachel lay on her side, panting as Nick stroked her side lightly, causing her to shudder. “What did you do to me?”
    “A little of everything.”
    Rachel turned in his arms, pulling Nick in close to her. He kissed her with the tenderness of a lover’s care. “God… I love you.”
    Nick continued his light touch along Rachel’s side, the sheen of sweat coating both partners an indication of their intense interlude. “I love you too, baby. I am sorry I didn’t call you after our beach combat session. I should have, but I needed to help Kabong and Cleaner with our room temperature cruise passengers for tomorrow. I lucked out and caught Jerry. He took the Camaro with short notice on a weekend day.”
    “I know. I didn’t mean to sound like I needed an apology earlier, but apology accepted and thanks for the penance. Gus remembered we were waiting in the safe-room, so it was only an hour in the vault. Jean and Sonny of course relived every aspect of the event. Do you think they could have killed us all before you stopped them?”
    “It depends,” Nick said truthfully. “Their choice of car with altered exhaust sound would have probably triggered a look and put me on alert. Because of Jean’s warning, I was able to get you armed and undercover with Quinn. That’s golden because I could focus on the bad guys.”
    “You sure did that. I’m glad it was still early in the morning and the joggers weren’t all over Ocean View Blvd. Would you have called Neil if some of the weekend runners or gawkers had witnessed it?”
    “Maybe. I needed to find out how deep the shit pile was that left us in the target zone on my beach. I’m not giving up Otter’s Point, even if I have to kill every ‘banger and thug from the Monterey Peninsula to Salinas.”
    Rachel brushed her lips over Nick’s shoulder before hugging him. “I’m glad the kids went out like lights tonight. The day long strategy session, morning combat, and afternoon knife throwing contests wore Jean out. Sonny was dragging too when I took him home. Quinn’s been eating well so he’s finally sleeping easily. You sure put our small space of alone time to work in a pleasurable cause.”
    “I enjoyed it as much as you.”
    “Want me to make you something to eat? I know you didn’t have much chance to get a meal today.”
    “No. I don’t feel like it.” Nick rolled over on his back.
    Rachel moved atop him, stroking his cheek. “Why, what’s the matter. You should have worked up an appetite.”
    “I don’t know what it is but I can’t taste anything but tuna fish right now.”
    Rachel gasped, smacking Nick on the side of the head while he tried and failed to suppress amusement over his sexual innuendo. Rachel began chuckling after a moment. “Not funny!”
    “You’re laughing,” Nick pointed out. “It’s funny because you