Breathe Anna.
I take a deep breath and check my façade’s firmly in place. I hear the steps moving from outside and I see yet another Security Guy, dressed in clothing identical to the other two guards. I skim his body and spot the same artillery the others are carrying.
Coming in behind him is Katsu.
Let’s play.
I stand as he enters the plane. As soon as he spots me, he strides over, giving his briefcase to Security Guy three. He shoos the Security Guy away without even a glance, just a wave of his hand.
“Good evening my smart, beautiful, Anna. I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long?” Katsu’s voice is mocking our conversation yesterday. “You look simply breathtaking,” he says as he examines my deep purple, figure-hugging Gucci dress.
His eyes take in my breasts hungrily and follow down to my hips, while his mouth parts slightly. He raises an eyebrow in appreciation as he continues looking, taking in my bare legs, all the way down to my dark purple Louboutin heels. “You’re stunning,” he says as he takes a deep breath and his eyes make their way slowly back up to my face.
He leans in and gives me a gentle kiss on the cheek. That serpent-bite feeling even follows his touch to my cheek, but my façade’s firmly in place and I won’t allow him to see the repulsion I feel for him.
“Where are we off to?” I ask Katsu, my voice innocent, but interested.
“Oh, my sweet treasure, I’m taking you to Ottawa.”
“Excuse me? As in Canada? Why?”
“Because, Treasure, I can.” He takes my hand and I fight the urge to snatch it back from his. He leads me over to the plush chair I was sitting in earlier and sits next to me. He calls for Lindy, barely raising his voice.
She hurries in and stands smiling at Katsu, waiting for instructions.
“Bring me a Jack and see that Miss Moore is looked after,” he orders in a display of power.
Lindy turns to me, “Ma’am can I get you anything else?” Her voice is gentle and sweet.
“You know, I’m not really fond of champagne. I’m partial to Jack myself, please. Double, straight up.” And I hand back my half-consumed, horrible-tasting flute of champagne. I don’t care how expensive champagne is. I’d rather have the enticing burn of Jack Daniels than the best champagne in the world.
“A woman after my own heart, treasure,” Katsu says.
It takes every ounce of strength not to head butt him and kill him. But I know I need to gather as much information on him as I can, seeing as he has no digital footprint.
“Katsu, it appears you have a lot of people working for you. I don’t think you ever told me what exactly it is you do?” I ask him, looking around me and pretending to be in awe of my opulent surroundings.
“Oh, a little of this, and a little of that.” He shifts closer to me, but the arm rests are in the way. Thank God.
“Now, that’s an elusive answer if ever I heard one.” I smile.
I need to gain his trust so I’m going to have to quash my internal cringing if I’m going to be successful at this mission. But I can also see Katsu doesn’t trust easily, so I have a feeling this is going to take a lot longer than I want it to.
I should just kill him and get it over with. But then I won’t know what forces are going to come after me, and I need to prepare for every possible scenario.
“You truly are just stunning,” he says as he leans forward and runs his hand gently down my cheek. I close my eyes and imagine his hand is Ben’s. The feeling’s not the same. His hands aren’t as strong as Ben’s, but I still wish it were otherwise.
I lean into his grasp and let out a small mewl. His voice brings me back to reality when he mumbles in a carnal tone, “You’re a real treasure.” I open my eyes to find the sensual deep blue eyes I imagined looking into are not the ones I see. Katsu’s black eyes are filled with lust and want, and they are the ones looking hungrily back at me, not Ben’s.
“Katsu, you’re very generous in your compliments. You’ll embarrass me if you continue.”
“A woman as stunning as you should be told on a daily basis just what a treasure you are.” He runs his hand up and down my arm while his voice oozes seduction.
Lindy comes back with our drinks and once she’s served them, she announces the flight will be leaving in ten minutes, and we need to fasten our seat belts for take-off.
“Anna, please excuse me for a moment. There’s something I need to do. I’ll be back before we take off.”
“Of course. I’ll be fine.” Katsu leaves me and disappears into the back of the plane.
I don’t go looking for any details about him, because I know I’ll need to earn his trust before I can start gathering the information I require. If I get caught snooping now, he’ll simply take my life.
Six minutes pass and Lindy has taken away my now-empty glass of Jack. Katsu returns and sits in the chair beside mine and leers over at me.
Yet another Security Guy, the fourth so far, follows him out of the rear of the plane and goes to the front in the Lindy’s direction. Katsu is holding an A4 envelope.
He and I sit in silence as the plane ascends and soars into the beautiful oranges of a dusk-filled sky. Moments later, Lindy announces we’re free to remove our seat belts.
Katsu turns his entire body toward me and holds the envelope in my line of sight.
“Do you know what I’m holding, Anna?”
Oh shit….. What now?!
Anna
“This, my dear Anna, is your background check.” This guy’s seriously pissing me off. I have to remind myself why I just don’t kill him now.
“Um…..okay.” I plaster a surprised, almost hurtful look on my face. And he falls for it.
“You see in my line of work, I need to know everything about the people with whom I become involved.” Yuck. “I always need to know about those coming into my life. I have too much to lose to become involved with the wrong people.” Yuck…again.
“And am I the ‘wrong people’, Katsu?”
Façade’s in place. I school my face to appear offended. It’s not hard.
Breathe Anna, you’re doing this for Ben.
“I’ll tell you by the time we get to Ottawa.” He opens the envelope and starts reading. He totally ignores me. If I wasn’t the strong person I am, I’d be panicking about how easily he’s disregarding me.
However, I know this little game he’s playing. It’s a game of power. He’s been playing this game since our phone call yesterday. In fact, I’d venture to guess he’s a master at it. He’s probably played it all his life. Katsu may want power over me, but I’m about to let him know he’ll have to work hard to get it.
Of course, it’s all just business to me.
“You know, Katsu, what you need to know about me can be quite easily derived by simply talking to me.” I say in a haughty tone, and pause for effect. “But if you insist we spend the next few hours in total silence, I think I may just ignore you, turn over, and have a nap.”
Katsu stops reading and growls, angry. “You will not turn your back on me, do you understand?” Yep, he gives me the reaction I’m looking for, a stony glare.
“What do you expect me to do? Sit here and watch you read? If I knew this was what our date would be like, I would have turned you down.”
“No, Anna you would not have turned me down, because I would not have allowed it. I’m a man who gets what he wants.” Katsu’s hands crumple the sheets he’s holding, as they ball into fists out of anger.
“Sorry, Katsu, but I was under the impression this was a date. I don’t recall giving you the right to speak to me like that,” my tone’s abrupt and cold with him. I’m genuinely pissed now.
My challenge to him is evoking a reaction I need to be wary of. I need to push him to see the things he’s capable of. But, I know I’ll also need to accept responsibility for his reactions when I cross his boundaries.
“This isn’t open for discussion. You’ll do as I say, and I’ll spea
k to you in whatever manner I see fit. You’re damn lucky I…..” He breaks off his spiel and looks into my eyes, now artificially wide to mimic shock. He takes in a deep breath and lets it out through his nose, visibly calming himself down.
“Lucky that you what?” I spit the words out, clearly angry at him.
“It doesn’t matter, but watch your tone with me and speak with respect,” he says, now talking through clenched teeth.
“I’ll speak to you in a respectful manner, as long as you treat me the same way. You can do whatever damn background check you want, spend your time any way you choose when we aren’t together. But if you want me to just sit here while you scrutinize a report about me, that’s probably not even accurate, it is rude and seriously fucked up. Just ask me and I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
Katsu stands and angrily stalks from the cabin toward the back of the jet. I hear a door slam and then I hear the sounds of breaking objects coming from that direction. The smashing sounds eventually diminish into silence.
I check my watch. Katsu’s been gone for over an hour when I hear the door finally open and he re-emerges to take his seat next to me.
“Please don’t speak like that to me again. Your disrespectful tone doesn’t do good things for my temper. I really do enjoy your company, but don’t push me like that in the future.” Again this ridiculous power play is tugging between us.
“I apologize for making you angry. But you can’t speak to me like I’m nothing more than a pet to you and expect my compliance. I’m sorry, but if that’s the woman you want, Katsu, it’s not me. I don’t have a submissive nature.”
“I can clearly see that.” He rolls his eyes at me and looks away, but a small smile plays on his lips. “I apologize as well, Anna. It’s just difficult for me to allow people to speak to me like that,” he says as he looks away. “You also seem to lack the ability to just shut up and do what you’re told.”
Oh boy. I can feel my hackles rise as he says this to me. He’s really lucky I love Ben or he’d be no more than a grease stain on his fancy jet’s upholstery.
“So, let’s just land in Ottawa and do whatever it is you’ve planned for us. By the way, what do you have planned?” I change the direction of this confrontation. I’ve seen enough to know he has deep-seated control and anger issues.
Katsu relaxes into his seat and starts tapping his hand on his knee. “Well, I have dinner planned of course, and then we’re going to the museum before retiring for the evening at my hotel.”
“Whoa, hang on. I’m not sleeping with you tonight, Katsu.” I need to get it out there because really, no thank you.
Stopping that outward cringe is going to be difficult.
“I understand that, treasure. And in all honesty, as much as I really want to fuck you, I’d also be greatly disappointed in you if you did want to have sex with me so quickly.” Or at all, but I don’t say that out loud. “Which is why I’ll be staying on the top floor of my hotel, and you can have a suite on another floor.”
“I can live with that.” I shoulder-bump him and wink.
The rest of the flight goes by without another outburst. The most positive thing is I didn’t kill him, no matter how much he makes my skin crawl.
The drive to dinner though, now that’s where I got a genuine glimpse into Katsu Vang.
Anna
We land at another air strip and there’s a black limousine waiting for us at the tarmac.
Katsu stands to the side and with his hand to the small of my back, he guides me toward the limousine. “That really is a very lovely dress you’re wearing tonight, Anna.” He’s standing dangerously close to me, invading my personal space.
“Thank you.”
As we approach the limousine, I see a dark SUV beyond the gates and down the road about a hundred and fifty yards. To me, it sticks out like a sore thumb but no one else seems to notice it, or maybe they have and haven’t alerted Katsu.
We get into the car and I take in the thickness of the glass of the windows, and I instantly understand it’s bulletproof. I also see a quick glance is exchanged between Katsu and his security guard. Maybe they just silently alerted him to the SUV. Interesting.
Once the limo starts moving, I’m busy taking in my surroundings, appearing innocently curious, rather than wary and cautious.
“Have you been to Ottawa before?” Katsu asks as he takes my hand in his.
Yes for two assassinations – but I can’t say that out loud.
“Yeah I’ve been, but I came for business and was in and out within a day.”
“It’s rather beautiful and I can see you’re appreciating the view. Please don’t think it forward of me, but I’m definitely appreciating a different view.” He eyes my bare knees and lets his stare wander further up to my breasts.
“Well, Katsu, I didn’t dress like this and expect you not to look, but please don’t be offended if, for right now, I’m captivated by this beautiful city.” And that damn SUV following us you and your dumbass security haven’t picked up on yet.
Katsu laughs, a deep rumble and says, “Treasure, I do love how straightforward you are, even though it can sometimes piss me off. There’s one thing that interests me about you though.” He stops and waits for encouragement from me to continue.
“And that is?” I say, playing my part.
“You don’t seem particularly concerned about my wealth or the security I have to keep around me. You didn’t even question me about coming here to Ottawa, except to ask why, and then you were satisfied with the answer I gave you. You seem very, now what’s the word, accepting?” he says the last word smile and a questioning tone.
“Katsu, if you’d done your background check on me prior to our date, you’d see I’m self-sufficient and affluent myself. I don’t need, nor do I want, the riches of a man to satisfy me. You’ll find I have more than enough money to sustain me for this life and several more. You’ll also notice everything I have, I have because I’ve worked my ass off for it. If you were to dump riches at my feet I’d walk away from you. And a man of your stature must undoubtedly need protection from all sorts of people, which is why I didn’t find the security detail unusual.”
Katsu brings his other hand to grasp mine even tighter, but it’s not painful; he’s just holding onto me like I’m a prize.
“Anna, you don’t know how happy it makes me to hear you say those words. What I do, it’s…difficult for many to understand.”
“Katsu don’t tell me anything you don’t want to…”
BANG!
I stop mid-sentence when I’m thrown from where I’m sitting, to the other end of the car. Something has slammed into the back of the limousine, and as I turn look out the back window, we’re rammed again, my head smacks back against the glass. I scramble to see what’s happening and there’s yet another huge jolt.
Katsu’s on his phone, screaming in Japanese, and our driver is slumped forward with his head on the steering wheel.
The jolts come more frequent, and as I brace myself, I see the black SUV from the airport continue to slam into the limousine. With the driver unconscious, the limo is slowing down, making us an easy target for whoever is ramming us with the SUV.
I reach for my guns, but shit–I left them home, in the safe room.
Shit!
Katsu produces a hand gun. It’s a pissy little G17, a toy gun, unlike my babies.
“Katsu have you got any other guns?” My voice is desperate, wanting a weapon to protect myself.
“No, only this one.”
Great. We’re dead if that’s all he has.
“Help will be here in a few seconds.” Sure enough, the moment he says that, I hear a screech of tires and look out the back to see a car full of men pull in front of the now heavily-damaged SUV. The men jump out and begin their assault on the driver of the vehicle that rammed us.
Judging by the fire power they’re carrying, it should be short work to subdue the occupant or occupants of the SUV.
>
Katsu jumps out of the limousine, and I follow behind him to view the situation.
The confused shouts and orders are in Japanese, but I can tell by everyone’s body language how things are unfolding.
Katsu barks an order to one of his men. That man goes to the driver’s side door of the SUV and pulls a man out of the car. The driver, Asian as well, looks worse for wear. Security Guy three pushes him to his knees in front of Katsu. Katsu yells and then punches the driver. The driver gives no reaction to Katsu’s anger and makes no eye contact.
Katsu cocks his weapon and aims it to the driver’s head. The driver looks at Katsu and smiles. Katsu bends and whispers something in his ear. The driver’s face pales. Katsu stands a foot away from him, holding the gun to his head, and pulls the trigger.
The only emotion Katsu shows is anger.
He totally forgets I’m there with him, until one of the security guys clears his throat and flashes his eyes toward me to let Katsu know I’m standing behind him.
“Treasure, come here.” Katsu holds his hand out to me. His face is expressionless.
This can’t be good.
Anna
Breathe Anna. Just breathe.
Katsu extends his arm out to me and I walk toward him, not knowing what to expect. I can’t take out all these men without my babies. I give myself an internal slap across the back of my head because they’re home, locked in my safe room.
Stupid, Anna.
I get to Katsu and he immediately wraps his arms around me.
“I’m sorry you had to see that. I saw him at the airport, but I thought he would wait to attack. I assumed it would happen at the restaurant.” So he did know the SUV was there and didn’t take him down first.
Curious.
Katsu roars out another order in his native tongue, and all the men turn around giving us an instant blanket of privacy. He curls his frame around my body and holds me tight, running his hands up and down my back in an apparent attempt to soothe me.
I close my eyes and see those vivid, blue orbs and relax into the touch I so desperately want to be Ben’s. “I’m sorry, treasure.” I manifest Ben’s voice in place of Katsu’s and I imagine him saying “I’m sorry, baby girl.” The more I think of Ben, the closer I edge toward Katsu, pretending my body wants and is taking comfort from his touch.
The HiT Series Page 26
