Confrontation, A Jake Stone Thriller (Book 20)

By T.L. Peters

In this fast, action-packed read, Jake and Snowflake travel cross country on an impromptu vacation, not realizing the lethal danger that awaits them. The author plans one more volume in this popular series, a much longer work he hopes to release some time next year.

• Language: English
• Publisher: T.L. Peters
• Release date: Nov 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310173363

T.L. Peters

"There's no question that Peters is a master wordsmith." Gerry B's Book Reviews About the author: T.L. Peters is an ex-lawyer who enjoys playing the violin and giving his dog long walks in the woods. In between, he writes novels.

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Confrontation, A Jake Stone Thriller (Book 20)

By T.L. Peters

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013, T. L. Peters

License Notes

This e book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

To read more about the author and his other books, go to http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tlpeters.

CHAPTER ONE

Jake leaned down over the back of the couch to kiss his lovely wife, Snowflake, who was quietly watching television. It was a mistake that he would not soon repeat. Just as his lips touched hers, she grabbed him by the lapel and tossed him onto the floor in a magnificent judo arc. Jake rolled over a few times before slamming against the far wall. They were in the living room of their rustic Pennsylvania home. Aside from the participants, only their faithful Golden Retriever Samsom witnessed the unruly scene, and Samson was too busy scratching his paw over the newly cleaned carpet to pay much attention to the antics of his owners. And why should he? Samson had been observing Snowflake kick the tar out of his master Jake for many years now. This incident hardly seemed exceptional in any way, and so Samson kept on busily scratching.

Jake was already groaning as he rose wobbly to his feet. Snowflake smiled generously as she turned her head slowly toward the flat screen TV bracketed onto the ceiling a few yards away. She folded her massive arms under her sturdy chest and prepared to watch the end of another episode of her favorite action series starring a female karate expert whose moves and dexterity Snowflake greatly admired. The actress was reputed to be a black belt in five separate martial arts disciplines, seven fewer than Snowflake, but who was counting? Snowflake sometimes wondered if she should have gone into the movies. Certainly she would have cut an imposing figure on the big screen. But maybe she was too larger than life even for Hollywood. It was probably a moot point now, Snowflake thought resignedly. She had already cast her lost in life doing the Lord's work of battling villains of all stripes around the globe, or so she believed. Jake wasn't so sure about Snowflake's high blown theories regarding her supposed mission in life, but Jake was occupied at the moment with far different and more pressing matters as he watched his mate glare fiercely at the illuminated screen above. He crept steadily toward her while rubbing his sore wrist, which he had just determined was not broken or even sprained. He was lucky. Now if he could just catch her unawares, perhaps he would have a chance for a bit of payback, a rare commodity when it came to his strident wife.

Jake got to within a yard of her meaty thighs before launching himself headlong into her chest. The force of the collision was so violent that it toppled the couch over backwards, sending the two love birds sailing through the air. They landed a few feet apart near a large glass sliding door leading to the second story deck in back.

Snowflake was so surprised at her normally demure husband's sudden assault that she was a second or two late in launching her counter attack. This smidgen of hesitation allowed Jake to pounce on her brawny frame with all his might while managing to straddle his knees on either side of her head. From there he hoped to lock her cheeks and ears into a grinding scissors hold that would quickly force her to submit. It would have to be a quick submission, because Jake knew he couldn't ride on top of her for long. Snowflake could bench press well over five hundred pounds, and the last time Jake had weighed himself he had come to only 195 pounds soaking wet. Jake quickly closed his legs around her skull and squeezed with all his might. Had Snowflake been a normal person, he might have popped her head like a grape, but Snowflake was no normal human being. After letting out a thunderous roar that would have scared the mane off a male lion, she wedged her palms between Jake's bony knees and her own ruddy cheeks and proceeded to push outward in both directions. Jake struggled against her with admirable tenacity, trying to keep his balance while maintaining the pressure on her head. After all, it was essentially his legs against her arms, and what was more he had leverage on her. But her superior strength soon proved too much for the mere male to overcome, and a few seconds after the wrestling match had begun, it was already over.

After being tossed about like some raggedy doll Jake found himself lying on his back painfully staring up at the TV monitor high overhead while Snowflake loomed over him like some great brooding hulk. The only signs of life from her enormous physique were the stern flashing of her bright green eyes and the ominous pounding of her fists against her heaving chest. Jake feared that he had finally gone too far and she was about to kill him, as she had long warned that she might one day do. He tried to prepare himself for the sickening series of lethal blows and easily envisioned her stomping him into a lifeless mass. But Snowflake, as usual, was full of surprises.

You had me, my darling, she exclaimed, a smile suddenly brightening her otherwise dour countenance. You're quicker than I thought. Or maybe I'm getting slow. I haven't had much action lately, you know.

What do you mean? Jake shouted with befuddled relief. It's only been a few months since we tangled with Margie and that punk, Justin Bradshaw. You're in the best shape of your life.

Maybe so, Snowflake conceded, reaching down and roughly grabbing his outstretched hand. She lifted Jake to his unsteady feet with such ferocity that had she not held onto him the top of Jake's already woozy head would no doubt have slammed against the ceiling, Which makes your failure all the more disappointing, she added quickly.

Jake shook the cobwebs out of his brain and then wondered for a moment if he were dreaming. He often dreamed of tangling with his nubile spouse and emerging the victor. But that, alas, was only a dream, and he was certainly not the victor here.

What did you just say? he asked submissively as they returned to the couch, where Jake proceeded to sit quietly on his wife's strong, firm lap, wrapping his arm around her burly shoulders to maintain his balance.

I was saying how disappointed I was in you, she noted, relishing the flickering images on the TV screen as the karate actress easily dispatched a roomful of male thugs with a lethal flurry of kicks and chops.

No, before that, Jake said, focusing on his wife's chiseled neck, which was nicely revealed by a low cut, body hugging red vinyl top.

Snowflake scrunched her nose almost girlishly.

I can't remember.

You said that I almost had you, Jake reminded her.

Snowflake frowned with such ferocity that Jake was frightened she might wallop him again, but he had had so much experience being frightened by his darling wife that he persevered.

You did say that, Jake reiterated. Were you just teasing me? What did you mean exactly?

Snowflake whirled her head toward him and kissed him on the lips. Then she grabbed his mouth between her thumb and forefinger and squeezed tightly until he squealed, whereupon she finally let him go.

You're so cute sometimes, she cooed.

Relieved that he was not about