Read Hard Case V: Blood and Fear (A John Harding Novel Book 5) for Free Online Page A

they’re drinking.” My answer to this goofball no win situation was to win. I could tell Tommy approved of my first maneuvers. The trouble maker downed his drink, and slid around the group, moving quickly toward the door.
    She slapped the side of my head with real compassion, and a little angst. “I’ll have them at hand for you in seconds, Champ.”
    Marko Hristov shaved his head, wore an earring of a skull on his right ear, and kept a closely shaved stubble beard. My height and maybe ten or fifteen pounds heavier, Marko moved with a fighter’s light stride with little side to side movement. His slate gray suit looked form fitted to his body, nearly a second skin. Muscles bulged through the material everywhere. He looked up to the mark to me.
    Yuri could have been a walking illustration of a Hollywood gangster. His shoulders hunched slightly, and at a couple inches over six feet, he carried about thirty extra pounds. His graying black hair, cut and styled to perfection barely touched the collar of his black suit coat. He had one of those crooked grins that form after time when the guy usually has a cigar sticking in one end most of the time.
    “Did something happen, John,” Alexi asked.
    “Someone bought some bait, used it to prime the trap, but the wolf smelled a rat, and sprung the trap without damage. No need to discuss your guests’ ploy right now, Alexi.”
    “Are you accusing me of something, pug?” Yuri wasn’t happy with my inferences.
    “It almost worked,” Tommy said. “John’s been around. He doesn’t get caught easily. Let’s get a table and talk over this fight deal. John needs something to rest his drinks on.”
    “I don’t think I like you two,” Yuri said. “Are these really the best you can do, Alexi? Harding won’t last fifteen seconds against The Assassin. Show me what you got, Harding. Why the hell do I have to make all these intricate arrangements for a pug like you?”
    “He just beat ‘The Rattler’ in a huge match at the Mandalay Bay,” ‘Rique said. “What the hell did your pug do?”
    The Assassin reached for ‘Rique. I snatched his wrist, while blocking him into the bar. I saw Oakland’s finest coming quick to back ‘Rique, and they weren’t reaching for party favors inside their jackets. Earl and ‘Rique stepped away, with at least four of their fellow officers surrounding them. Marko tried to move, but quickly found I had leverage he couldn’t break free of. Surprise showed in his eyes. “Don’t do it. These men around you are Oakland police officers. Touch one of them, and there not only won’t be a fight, but you’ll spend some time in jail. Let’s quit insulting each other and sit down.”
    Yuri clasped Marko’s shoulder. “Let us sit as he suggests, Marko. We will settle with the pug soon. This was a bad venue for the meeting, Alexi.”
    Alexi smiled while I released Marko. “I think it a perfect setting, Yuri. Marla, I wish to take care of all open tabs here. I apologize for the disturbance, my friends. Please return to your meals and drinks. We will proceed in a much more reserved manner.”
    Alexi’s instant generosity ended the tense standoff with many happy faces around us. I exchanged silent understanding with my friends. ‘Rique patted my shoulder. “I hope Earl and I get security duty if the fight gets arranged, John.”
    “If it does, count on it,” I replied. ‘Rique and Earl had been watching my back for a long time in the street fighting game. We also had an arrangement due to them knowing my background for a while with government agencies. They let me know if anything has a terrorist angle from what they hear or see.
    Marla led us to a table that was cordoned off in a room corner after Alexi made his reservations earlier. Tommy and I kept a polite distance from our companions, not willing to make any fake forgiving gestures, or put ourselves within reach of these bozos. Marla expertly took drink orders, and supplied menus. When we