Lian did most of the heavy lifting on the mai tai. Jack took a few sips, just to be social, after hitting his limit on beer. In the back of his lizard brain Jack wondered if Lian’s flirtation mixed with copious amounts of rum and beer might lead to something more interesting, but he pushed the thought away. He would never take advantage of an inebriated woman.
When the last of the drink was consumed, Jack paid the bill and the two of them made their way to the elevator and the subbasement floor, where her vehicle was parked.
“You okay to drive?” Jack asked.
“I think so. But just to be certain, do you mind?”
“Not at all.”
She handed him the keys as they headed back to the northeast corner of the huge garage where the Range Rover was located. It was a beautiful evening, the sushi was good, and he’d had enough to drink to feel completely relaxed without being impaired.
That’s when he heard Clark’s voice in his brain again. “Head on a swivel, kid!” He couldn’t help smiling to himself. Situational awareness was always a good idea, even in paradise.
Every parking space was full. That made sense. The hotel, casino, restaurants, and other amusements were packed shoulder to shoulder with tourists and locals as they had passed through upstairs, but down in the garage no one else was around. Lian’s gait was steady but a little slower than before, so Jack slowed down as well. Their footfalls echoed on the concrete. Making their way to the farthest row, Jack noticed that the security camera on the concrete pillar was disabled by a disconnected cable and the overhead light nearest the Range Rover was smashed.
“Wait here,” Jack said.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Jack scanned his surroundings again. Didn’t see anything. He pushed the alarm disable on the key fob. The Range Rover beeped twice and the interior lights came on.
Just enough light to shine on the muscled mai-tai punk leaning against the SUV. He grinned.
“Hallo, mate.”
Jack noted the thick Aussie accent. “You looking for a ride home, bud? I can call you a cab.”
The Australian straightened up to his full height. He was even bigger than Jack remembered, at least an inch taller and twenty lean pounds heavier than he was.
“You see? I come down here for a friendly little chitchat and all I get is more rudeness.” He pointed a thick finger at Lian. “Her I get — she’s a stuck-up little bitch. I know the type, believe me. And you? A Yank, and rude little wanker you are, too. Manners is what you need.”
Lian shouted from behind, “Get your hands off me!”
Jack whipped around just in time to see Lian struggling in the grip of another thug from the bar, his ropy arms wrapped around her from behind. He was smiling and whispering something in her ear that made her growl and struggle even harder.
Jack started to move in her direction when he caught sight of the shadow of the third man from the bar circling around behind him.
Jack turned back and faced the ringleader, older and larger than the others. He recognized the tat on the big man’s cabled forearm. The sword Excalibur, with flames. SASR — Special Air Service Regiment.
Australian Special Forces.
Jack lifted his hands chest high, palms out, a surrendering gesture. “Dude, look, I don’t want any trouble.”
“Well, mate, you found it just the same.”
The man who was circling in the shadows stepped out. He stood to Jack’s left, four feet away.
The tattooed leader darkened. “I just wanted to buy the lady a drink—”
Jack stepped cautiously toward him, just three feet away now, his eye on the Rover’s interior light.
“I know. I’m sorry. I was in a bad mood—”
“And flashing your filthy money around.”
Jack stepped his right foot forward, closing the distance, and reached with his left hand for his left rear pocket. “Money? Sure. No problem.”
Just then, the interior light snapped off.
Just what Jack was waiting for.
He lunged forward and threw a sharp jab at the big man’s throat with his open left hand. The man tried to scream but gurgled instead, clutching at his windpipe.
Jack stepped backward and pivoted left, turning forty-five degrees, using the momentum of his twisting torso to help propel his exploding right fist straight into the nose of the other man charging directly at him. Jack felt breaking cartilage and hot blood gushing onto his knuckles as the man’s head snapped back with a crack. He crashed to the ground at Jack’s feet, splayed out in front of the gasping thug, now on his knees.
“FUCK!” echoed off the concrete behind Jack. He spun around in time to see the last Aussie doubled over in front of Lian, clutching his balls. Lian launched a kick, the toe of her shoe slamming underneath his jaw. Jack winced at the crack of his breaking teeth. The man flew backward, arms high in the air, knocked out cold before he thudded into the concrete in a heap.
Jack ran over to her. “You okay?”
“Caught me by surprise.” She turned to the downed man. “Bastard!” She spat at him, started to lunge at the body, but Jack seized her by the arm.