Blazing Rattles (A Harley and Davidson Mystery Book 10)

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Blazing Rattles (A Harley and Davidson Mystery Book 10) Page 8

by Liliana Hart


  “You’re wrong,” Hank said, trying to get to his feet. “You’re a killer, and nothing you say or do will ever erase the blood on your hands. You’re a monster.”

  McIrish drove his foot deep into Hank’s gut, and Hank curled into a knot on the floor. Every click and clack of the train jarred his aching body, and he sucked in a deep breath, trying to control the pain.

  “You didn’t care about those innocent men,” Hank said. “You’ve never cared about anyone but yourself. They had families. They weren’t even armed.”

  “You get paid to put on a uniform, then you better be ready to fight for whatever it is that matters to you,” McIrish said. “They knew the risk.”

  Something in what he’d said snapped Hank back into reality. He loved Agatha, and if he was going to keep his promise to protect her, he’d needed to fight for her.

  McIrish slammed the 2x4 into Hank’s shin, and something cracked. It was now or never. He wasn’t going to lay down and die for a man like McIrish.

  “I’m going to stop you,” Hank said, preparing to launch himself.

  “Really?” McIrish said, his laugh pure evil. “Like you were going to stop me back east? The only thing that stopped you then was a crooked politician. I could’ve done anything I wanted and gotten away with it. How does it feel to be a puppet? Senator Coglin told you to stop the investigation after that last robbery. That we’d gone underground and it was a waste of time, money, and manpower. How do you think he knew when went underground?”

  Hank tried to compute. Coglin wasn’t from the past. Coglin was the one who’d screwed up his investigation in the future. But it made sense. Hank hadn’t thought about there being someone on the inside.

  “I had no choice,” Hank said, knowing he hadn’t. “You can say what you want, but I had no authority to pursue you. I don’t operate outside of the law. And maybe you got away then, but men like you always get what’s coming to them.”

  McIrish laughed. “You’re a fool Hank Davidson. Men like me always get exactly what they want in life. Where are you now? You lost your wife and gave up everything,” he taunted. “And then you get a second chance at love and you’re going to screw this up too. It doesn’t seem to matter what time period you’re in. You’re a coward.”

  Hank shook his head, hoping to unscramble his brains. Did McIrish know he was from the future? What was happening? Maybe it was the brain damage, but nothing was making sense.

  “This is crazy,” Hank said.

  “Is it?” McIrish taunted. “Agatha has been wanting to marry you for almost a hundred and fifty years, and you still haven’t got it right. It doesn’t matter though. I’ll kill her before I kill you. Just so you can watch. You like watching your women die, don’t you? You hid her behind that crate there, but she’s hurt pretty bad. That takes some of the fun out of it. I want to be the one to cause the hurt. I’m going to haunt you in every life you live.”

  Anger fueled Hank like nothing ever had. It coursed through his body, and acted like a pain killer.

  McIrish moved to hit him with the 2x4 again, and Hank rolled toward the middle of the boxcar so it missed him by inches. He swept out his leg into the back of McIrish’s knees, using a little modern day Jiu Jitsu, and brought him to his knees so they were on a level playing field.

  From that point on it was street fighting at its finest. Fists and feet connected with flesh, and blood flew and ribs and noses crunched beneath the force of well placed punches.

  They were evenly matched and at a draw, and McIrish must have come to the same conclusion because he rolled out of the way and reached for the board again. Hank made a split second decision and launched himself at McIrish’s middle, pushing the man to the other side of the car and out the open door. Hank let go at the last second and grabbed hold of a metal rung before sending them both to their deaths.

  But McIrish didn’t fall how he’d planned. He clung to Hank’s leg and dangled over the ravine they were crossing. Hank looked down and saw true fear in the man’s eyes, and then he saw him reach for the Bowie knife hidden in his boot.

  “Die!” screamed McIrish.

  Hank acted on instinct and swung his free leg so it connected with McIrish’s face. Blood and sweat dripped into Hank’s eyes, and he couldn’t see. Blood rushed in his ears. But he kept kicking, survival mode taking over.

  “Hank,” McIrish said.

  The calmness of his voice made Hank freeze. There was something odd about it. Something out of place. He tried to clear his head and his eyes and look down at McIrish.

  “You’re getting a second chance,” McIrish said. “Don’t screw this one up.”

  “I don’t understand,” Hank said.

  “You will.” And then McIrish let go and fell into the blackness of the ravine. All Hank could do was watch until he disappeared for good.

  His hands slipped on the metal rung he held onto, and he used every ounce of strength he had left to pull himself back into the boxcar. He crawled around the crates until he saw Agatha, safe and unconscious. He curled up next to her not knowing where they were going, but he didn’t care because they were together and alive. And the bad guys had lost.

  “Hank.”

  Something trickled across his forehead and he thought it might be blood.

  “Hank.”

  This time he felt a light pat against his cheek, and he groaned in pain. He couldn’t be dead. There wasn’t supposed to be pain in death.

  “Hank, wake up,” Agatha said.

  His eyes cracked open, and he was surprised they weren’t swollen shut. That fight with McIrish had been a doozy.

  “Hank,” Agatha said again.

  He smiled and tried to bring her into focus. She was so beautiful.

  “We won,” he said, bringing his hand up to push her hair back from her face.

  “What did we win?”

  “The fight. We beat the Copper Cove Boys once and for all.”

  She raised her brows, looking concerned. “Okay, baby. Are you hurt? One minute we were eating and the next you were passed out cold on the floor. The champagne cork conked you right in the head.”

  “Bessie kicked me in the head,” he said, drowsily. But his brains were starting to put things to rights. Not Bessie. It had been a cork.

  He looked around slowly and recognized the restaurant. He was back. He was alive. And so was Agatha. It had all been a dream.

  “I’ve waited a hundred and fifty years to ask you this,” he said, not caring that they’d drawn a crowd after his episode. “Agatha Harley, will you marry me?”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. “Are you sure that’s not the cork talking?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” he said. “I love you. Without fear and without reservation. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  A single tear slipped down her cheek and she leaned down to kiss him. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” she whispered.

  “I’ve got a ring box in my pocket,” he said.

  “You can give it to me over dessert,” she said. “They’ve comped our meal. They feel real bad about what happened to you. Besides, I want to hear all about the Copper Cove Boys. That sounds like a story I might want to write someday.”

  Hank laughed. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

  Next Up: A Salt and Battery

  June 2020

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  Liliana and I have loved sharing these stories in our Harley & Davidson Mystery Series with you.

  There are many more adventures to be had for Aggie and Hank. Make sure you stay up to date with life in Rusty Gun, Texas by signing up for our emails.

  Thanks again and please be sure to leave a review where you bought each story and, recommend the series to your friends.

  Kindly,

  Scott & Liliana

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vidson Mystery Series. If you’ve enjoyed this adventure Liliana & I would be so grateful if you would take a few minutes to leave a review (it can be as short as you like) on the book’s buy page.

  Thanks,

  Scott & Liliana

  Also by Liliana Hart

  The MacKenzies of Montana

  Dane’s Return

  Thomas’s Vow

  Riley’s Sanctuary

  Cooper’s Promise

  Grant’s Christmas Wish

  The MacKenzies Boxset

  MacKenzie Security Series

  Seduction and Sapphires

  Shadows and Silk

  Secrets and Satin

  Sins and Scarlet Lace

  Sizzle

  Crave

  Trouble Maker

  Scorch

  MacKenzie Security Omnibus 1

  MacKenzie Security Omnibus 2

  JJ Graves Mystery Series

  Dirty Little Secrets

  A Dirty Shame

  Dirty Rotten Scoundrel

  Down and Dirty

  Dirty Deeds

  Dirty Laundry

  Dirty Money

  A Dirty Job

  Addison Holmes Mystery Series

  Whiskey Rebellion

  Whiskey Sour

  Whiskey For Breakfast

  Whiskey, You’re The Devil

  Whiskey on the Rocks

  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

  Whiskey and Gunpowder

  Books by Liliana Hart and Scott Silverii

  The Harley and Davidson Mystery Series

  The Farmer’s Slaughter

  A Tisket a Casket

  I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus

  Get Your Murder Running

  Deceased and Desist

  Malice In Wonderland

  Tequila Mockingbird

  Gone With the Sin

  The Gravediggers

  The Darkest Corner

  Gone to Dust

  Say No More

  Lawmen of Surrender (MacKenzies-1001 Dark Nights)

  1001 Dark Nights: Captured in Surrender

  1001 Dark Nights: The Promise of Surrender

  Sweet Surrender

  Dawn of Surrender

  The MacKenzie World (read in any order)

  Trouble Maker

  Bullet Proof

  Deep Trouble

  Delta Rescue

  Desire and Ice

  Rush

  Spies and Stilettos

  Wicked Hot

  Hot Witness

  Avenged

  Never Surrender

  Stand Alone Titles

  Breath of Fire

  Kill Shot

  Catch Me If You Can

  All About Eve

  Paradise Disguised

  Island Home

  The Witching Hour

  Also by Louis Scott

  Books by Liliana Hart and Scott Silverii

  The Harley and Davidson Mystery Series

  The Farmer’s Slaughter

  A Tisket a Casket

  I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus

  Get Your Murder Running

  Deceased and Desist

  Malice in Wonderland

  Tequila Mockingbird

  Gone With the Sin

  About Liliana Hart

  Liliana Hart is a New York Times, USAToday, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of more than sixty titles. After starting her first novel her freshman year of college, she immediately became addicted to writing and knew she’d found what she was meant to do with her life. She has no idea why she majored in music.

  Since publishing in June 2011, Liliana has sold more than six-million books. All three of her series have made multiple appearances on the New York Times list.

  Liliana can almost always be found at her computer writing, hauling five kids to various activities, or spending time with her husband. She calls Texas home.

  If you enjoyed reading this, I would appreciate it if you would help others enjoy this book, too.

  Lend it. This e-book is lending-enabled, so please, share it with a friend.

  Recommend it. Please help other readers find this book by recommending it to friends, readers’ groups and discussion boards.

  Review it. Please tell other readers why you liked this book by reviewing. If you do write a review, please send me an email at [email protected], or visit me at http://www.lilianahart.com.

  Connect with me online:

  www.lilianahart.com

  [email protected]

  About Louis Scott

  Liliana’s writing partner and husband, Scott blends over 25 years of heart-stopping policing Special Operations experience.

  From deep in the heart of south Louisiana’s Cajun Country, his action-packed writing style is seasoned by the Mardi Gras, hurricanes and crawfish étouffée.

  Don’t let the easy Creole smile fool you. The author served most of a highly decorated career in SOG buying dope, banging down doors, and busting bad guys.

  Bringing characters to life based on those amazing experiences, Scott writes it like he lived it.

  Lock and Load – Let’s Roll.

 

 

 


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