Page 34 of So Deadly
Or behind his back where his arms were clasped.Robert thought for a moment.Not a gun, obviously.Probably not a nightstick either considering the kid’s arms were skinnier than most nightsticks.A taser, maybe, or pepper spray.Robert suspected the latter.It was a lot easier to avoid lawsuits with pepper spray.
He chuckled.“Okay, kid.Tell you what.I’ll sic my dog on you, and you try to pepper spray him.Think you’re fast enough to get him before he bites off whatever pathetic excuse you’ve got going on between your legs?Think you’re fast enough to stop me before I break your arm, take your spray, and hold your eyelids open while I empty it into your face?”
The kid’s calm vanished.His face turned white, then green.He swallowed and stammered what sounded like, “I’m calling the police.”
“Yeah, you do that,” Robert said.“Fucking little coward.”He moved on, jerking his head forward.“Come on, Achilles.Let the little boy piss his pants in peace.”
The guard remained where he was, staring at the ground.A few yards behind him, some twig of a girl, probably his girlfriend, looked at him with a mixture of sympathy and embarrassment.
Find yourself a man, girl,he thought to himself.
He heard other people on cell phones, talking in low voices and looking darkly at him.Little bitches.All of them.Had to call Daddy to come spank Robert.
It just pissed him off.Why was he always expected to consider other people?Why did he have to slow down, stop, share, smile, and speak softly just because he was tall and lifted weights and didn’t look like some pasty-ass roll of dough?He’d fought for his country.He was a man.He’d earned the right to be treated with respect.What had these soft assholes done but complain every time a politician didn’t celebrate their choice to be different by looking, thinking, and acting like every other soft asshole on Earth?
He reached the end of the farmer’s market and broke into a jog.Achilles kept up with long, loping strides.Other people walking on the sidewalk, looked at him, and kept coming until he was right on top of them.Only then did they jump out of the way, throwing a curse at him as he ran on.
And again, why did he have to be the one to stop?Why was he expected to move for them?Whyalwayshim?
Clouds covered the sun, and a chill crept into the air.Robert’s lips thinned, and when the first splashes of water hit his head, he said, “Oh yeah.Go ahead.Rain on me.I love that shit.”
He wasn’t sure who he was talking to.It didn’t matter.No one.Everyone.
He picked up speed, remembering the day he’d been discharged.The base commander was another soft asshole named Colonel Tell.He’d called Robert into his office, and there were four MPs waiting there, all of them widebodies almost as big as Robert.Four MPs to escort one man.
He’d read the charges, mostly bullshit about Robert not kissing ass with enough tongue, the same bullshit they covered during his court-martial.Remember, officers are gods, and you need to be on your knees with your lips puckered at all times.Bullshit.
The sentence was two years in Leavenworth because he finally got tired of the shit and reminded his company commander that he actually was a soft little shit and shouldn’t presume to tell Robert what to do.It was commuted in favor of kicking his ass out of the Army.Those four MPs had escorted him out of the office, but not before Robert looked the colonel in the eye and said, “Remember this, Colonel.When you look in the mirror tonight, remember that you had to hide behind four big men.Remember that you were a coward.Know that you’re not a man.”
And he’d seen the knowledge of that in the Colonel’s eyes.That was enough to soften the blow.Mostly.
The rain was coming down in sheets by the time Robert reached home.Achilles trotted up the porch steps, whining and preparing to shake.
“Hey!”Robert snapped.“Hell no.Get your ass down here.”
Achilles gave him a beseeching look, and Robert—fumbling for his keys—said, “No.You can shake in the garage.I’m not gonna have the house smell like wet dog.”
He found the button, clicked it, and watched the garage door slowly rise.Achilles whined and slinked inside, giving Robert a reproachful look.
“Yeah, yeah, cry me a river and drown in it.I’ll come back out with the blowdryer in a second.We’ll get you dry, and then you can come inside, and I’ll feed you some bacon bits.How about that?”
Achilles perked up immediately and barked enthusiastically.Robert chuckled.“Little wimpy-ass puppy.”
Achilles barked again, baring a wide puppy grin and thrusting his chin at Robert.Up yours.
“Up yours too,” Robert replied, also grinning.
So, some little bastards wanted to have a problem with him at the farmer’s market.Whatever.Achilles was the only friend he needed.
He closed the garage and opened the back door to get into the house.Achilles stiffened, then barked rapidly and rushed for the door.
“Nope!”Robert said, closing it before the dog could get in.“I told you I’ll be out in a second!”
Achilles slammed against the door, and Robert flinched.“Hey!Knock it off!Christ, one second!”
He shook his head and turned around.“God, it’s like…”
He forgot entirely what it was like when he saw the figure in front of him.It was the size and shape of a petite woman, but it wore a mask that looked like Achilles snarling.
