aHunter4Life (aHunter4Hire)

by Cynthia Clement

  aHunter4Life

  By

  Cynthia A Clement

  Text copyright © 2014 Cynthia A Clement

  Kindle Edition

  ISBN: 978-0-9920189-9-3

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of the copyright owner and publisher. For the purposes of a reviewer, brief passages may be quoted in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, or journal.

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters and incidents are from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual incidents or persons, living or dead, is coincidental and unintentional.

  Book Cover designed by RomCon®

  Cover Image: Jenn LeBlanc / Illustrated Romance

  Dedication

  To my editing team. Thanks to you, lair is not liar.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  aHunter4Hire Series

  Chapter 1

  She was near.

  Deep in his bones, her essence surrounded him. The memory of her was an ache that eight long years had not dulled. His head spun with the possibilities of what this meant. His breath caught in his throat; he forced himself to exhale. He’d been frantic to find her, but his efforts had been futile. She chose this moment, when he was on assignment in Beverly Hills, to reach out for him.

  Why now?

  Why here?

  She had lived in Columbia when he’d last seen her. Her brother Juan had hired a unit of Hunters to help defeat a group of local guerrillas. They’d gone out on a mission and he’d returned to a massacre at the compound. All of Juan’s security team was dead. Juan and Selena were missing.

  He’d feared the worse.

  He hadn’t given up, though.

  All his energy had gone into finding her in Columbia. She had blocked him from sensing her thoughts and feelings. He refused to believe that her silence meant she was dead. That was too painful to even consider. He would die trying to find her, because accepting that she was gone, wasn’t an option.

  The night air was cool and sounds of barking dogs and night owls gnawed at the edge of his consciousness. Catal took a deep breath and blocked out everything. He focused on her. Fear and anxiety flooded him. She was in trouble, and she was in the house that he was headed for.

  He was lightheaded with relief.

  There was still time to help her.

  He spotted a hand signal to his right. Partlan was motioning for him to climb the fence. He nodded and edged along the shrub covered border. He pushed away the white berries of the firethorn bush and was rewarded with torn skin. He shook his hand and continued through the barrier. All that mattered was that she was beyond the wall. She needed him, and he wasn’t going to fail her.

  The fence was stone, with an electric wire running along the top. Malac was at the house’s junction box on the street dealing with the perimeter alarms and security. Catal took a deep breath and tried to mind connect with her, but still she blocked him. He shook free of his regret. He had to focus on the job at hand. Later, he would make things right with her.

  “It is safe.”

  Malac’s voice reverberated in his head. He jumped up and hung onto the first handhold protruding from the wall. The stones were warm from the retained heat of the day’s sunlight. It was a welcomed contrast to the brisk breeze of night. He clenched his arm muscles and pulled his body up, reaching for the upper ledge with his free hand. His feet dangled in the air before he heaved himself to the top. Two strands of coiled wire ran along the edge. It pricked his skin, but no electricity flowed through. He nodded to Partlan before jumping to the damp grass below.

  He was inside the estate’s grounds.

  Firbin joined him next, followed by Ranon, and Partlan. Breanon stayed on top of the stone fence as lookout. His body was angled along the edge, his rifle and scope scanning the house and gardens. He would remain there until it was safe. Malac would manipulate the security and communications from outside the compound. Once his job was finished, he would follow the others into the house.

  They grouped together at the base of the fence. Partlan took the lead. Catal veered to the right and kept pace. He’d done similar operations for many years. There was nothing complicated about it, but it didn’t pay to be preoccupied. Just knowing she was near was distraction enough for him.

  Partlan put his hand up for them to wait.

  Memories came flooding back. Hot and humid nights spent in the jungle wrapped in each other’s arms. Kisses that lingered. Tongues that dueled. Sighs as their bodies twisted against each other, teasing and exciting with each movement. Catal’s body hardened just thinking about the love they had shared.

  The slam of a door brought him back to the present.

  His ears strained as he made out the echo of feet on concrete. He was hiding in the dense garden foliage a few yards away from a fountain. The steady splatter of water from its spout was interrupted for a few seconds. Someone had stopped for a cooling splash of water. Catal held his breath and waited for the sound of receding footsteps.

  The darkness surrounded him, along with the seclusion and luxury of the estate they had infiltrated. The call for help had come from here. It had been verified before Ardal, their leader, had sent them on the mission. Everything looked normal, but it was a façade.

  Two children had been abducted.

  Partlan motioned them forward. Catal kept his body low to the ground, his powerful leg muscles straining as he crept closer to the house. The whole south side of the building was glass. Bright lights shone from the inside, but there was no movement. It was too exposed. Only those who wanted to be seen, would occupy these rooms.

  Catal couldn’t blame them.

  Fame had its price, and the first one was privacy.

  The entranceway to the estate had been ten deep with paparazzi. Iron gates twenty feet high and controlled by electronics kept even the most determined photographer at bay. The only way to get access had been from the forested area to the south. They had skirted through the neighboring estates to reach this one. So far they’d been undetected, but now the real problems began. Police and FBI were stationed around the house.

  That was good. It might mean that there would be leads to follow. Catal had some experience with kidnappings. He’d been involved in a few investigations when he had hired out as a mercenary. The others in the unit were more familiar with recovering the victims of abduction. They would never have done anything as dishonorable as snatch a child. He’d learned a lot in the past months with Ardal’s unit.

  Like the others, he was from another world, Cygnus. He’d been on Earth since he was ten, but it wasn’t until Ardal’s unit had crashed on the planet last year, that he’d fully understood what it meant to be an elite warrior. Ardal was the commander, and he’d taken Catal into his unit and finished his training.

  This was the first recovery mission he’d been deployed on. It was a common
operation for Hunters on Cygnus. They followed the trail left by others, and rescued those that needed it. Catal now lived by the same Sacred Code that all Hunters vowed to obey. After this mission, he would have earned the right to be a full member of Ardal’s unit. His training would be finished.

  “The rear door is clear.” Malac’s voice whispered in his mind.

  Partlan nodded at Catal.

  That was his cue to move.

  He sprinted to the edge of the house and skimmed along the wall. He was the expert on surveillance and monitoring equipment. Once he had located the main bank of computers, then he would disable everything so the others could follow. At the door he moved his hand along the casement. A thin white wire ran along the edge. He pulled pliers from his combat jacket and took a deep breath before snipping it.

  Silence.

  He eased the door open and moved inside. It was empty. Leather bound books lined the walls and several red wingback chairs stood in the center. Everything was in pristine condition. A room straight out of a design magazine that was probably used for interviews and photo ops. He leaned against the wall, gun ready, and waited a minute to be certain no one was coming to investigate. He released the breath he’d been holding and then crossed the room.

  Their knowledge of the house was limited. The security room had to be on the main floor and common sense would put it at the rear of the house. Catal hoped that would be enough. He didn’t relish wandering around this mansion for long. He had a job to do. Once the area was secure, the rest of the team could help.

  He crept down a hallway and heard the distinctive noises of pots and pans being banged together. He glanced in at the huge expanse of cupboards and gleaming stainless steel. There was a woman in a maid’s uniform standing at the sink. Her back was to him, so he slid past the doorway and moved further down the hall.

  The next two rooms he came upon were a laundry and a storage room. To his right, across the hall, was a closed door. Catal twisted the handle and opened it a few inches. Banks of screens and glowing lights glared back at him. A guard, with his back to him, was doing a crossword puzzle. He was seated in front of the computers. Catal pulled the taser from his side pocket.

  Ardal’s orders were clear.

  No unnecessary casualties on this operation.

  The jolts of electricity made the guard’s body shake and then go limp. Within seconds, Catal had gagged and tied him to his chair. By the time the guard recovered, Catal would have finished his work at the computers.

  His fingers flew across the keyboards as he rerouted the camera feed and disconnected the monitors at the rear entrance. He’d been lucky. The guard was sloppy. Otherwise, his entry to the house would have been noticed. Catal shook his head. Most humans took the easy way out. Within a couple of minutes, he had all cameras online again and had looped a feed that showed no activity. It was safe for the others now.

  “Coast is clear.”

  “What coast?”

  Catal rolled his eyes. He forgot that the others were new to English and Earth. Idioms did not work with them. They took the words too literally. He really had to start teaching these guys the nuances of the language.

  “The security is off-line. You can enter now.”

  The guard shifted in his chair. Catal looked behind his shoulder. The guard had twisted his body so that his arms were high on his back and his chair was tipped back on two legs. Having a hostage was a new situation for him. Usually, he killed the people he encountered.

  “You’ll hurt yourself.” Catal’s voice was devoid of emotion. “Struggle is useless. We mean no harm, but this was the only way to access the house.”

  The guard tried to shout through his gag and he bucked his body so the seat jumped across the floor. Catal shook his head. He checked the bindings before securing the chair to a table bolted to the wall. The man might struggle, but he wasn’t going anywhere. Catal pulled a syringe from one of his pockets and jabbed it into the man’s upper arm. It was a sedative and should keep him quiet for a while. He left the room.

  “We are in.” Partlan’s voice echoed in his head.

  Within seconds, the rest of the team was beside him. Partlan took the lead. They crept down the hall until they reached a large foyer. A massive crystal chandelier hung in the center of the ceiling. The walls were covered in a soft green silk material and the dark marble floor was glossy enough to reflect their feet. The entry screamed elegance and money on a large scale.

  Voices were coming from a room on the left. They moved along the wall and crossed in front of a staircase that wound in a curve to the second floor. A matching set of stairs was on the opposite side of the entryway.

  “You can’t risk it.” A male’s voice shouted. “It’s too dangerous. The FBI has procedures in place for a reason.”

  “It’s not your son.” The words were a sob. “I want my baby home.”

  “We’re doing the best we can Ms. Nevins.” The man’s voice was conciliatory. “You have to trust us. We’ve done this many times before.”

  “How many times have you been successful?” A different man’s voice, husky and low asked.

  “We win more than we lose.” The man’s gruff answer was barely audible.

  Footsteps alerted the team that someone was coming to the door. They retreated to the wall, hiding in an alcove below the staircase. The door opened and a tall, slender man exited. He was dressed in a dark suit, and after he closed the door behind him, he straightened his tie and smoothed his jacket. With a deep sigh and a shake of his head, he moved to the opposite side of the vestibule and went into a room leading off a side hall.

  “Let’s go.”

  They hurried across the foyer. Catal and Partlan stood on one side of the door while Firbin and Ranon took the other. Their guns were drawn. When everyone was in place Partlan nodded and opened the door. He entered first. Catal and Firbin were next, with Ranon bringing up the rear.

  It was a room designed for comfort. A dark brown sectional couch was situated in front of a fireplace. Above the mantle was a huge flat-screen television. There were a couple of chairs upholstered in soft beige opposite the couch. Pillows of all shapes and colors were strewn on the furniture and floor. A long, narrow table rested against the far wall, its top was covered with liquor bottles and glasses. This was the room where all pretense was dropped.

  A man and a woman were the only occupants.

  Their faces were well known to anyone who went to the movies or read magazines. Nikki Nevins and Steve Walker. The darling couple of Hollywood. He was dark and brooding. She was blonde haired and blue-eyed innocence. They’d been married for almost ten years with only the odd rumor of a problem. Steve stood when they entered the room.

  “Who the hell are you?”

  “We are here to help.” Partlan’s voice was low. “Someone called us.”

  Nikki’s eyes widened as she scanned them. “Are you some kind of private security group?”

  Catal smiled. She wasn’t as dumb as the press made out. “You could say that. We’re called in when all else has failed.”

  “We didn’t ask for anyone’s help.” Steve Walters crossed his arms and flopped back on the couch. “You can leave.”

  Nikki held her hand up. “Not so fast darling. These men look quite capable.” Again her eyes scanned them, lingering on Partlan with a slight smile.

  “Size doesn’t mean they can be trusted.” The actor’s voice was scornful.

  Nikki went and sat on the edge of the couch’s arm. She draped an arm over her husband’s shoulders. “Somehow they managed to get inside the house. The FBI have everything monitored, not to mention our own security. They must have some talent.”

  Steve shrugged. “We’ve decided to let the police handle this.”

  Partlan cleared his throat. “If you did not request us, who did?”

  “Me.”

  They all turned to the voice coming from the door. A slender female, with dark black hair pulled back into a ponytail stoo
d there. She was no more than five feet tall, but her eyes dared anyone to come near. Catal’s heart stopped for a second before starting back at a furious beat. Joy and relief leapt through his body. He thought he’d never see her again.

  Selena.

  The one woman he couldn’t forget.

  Catal took a step toward her, but stopped when she put her hand up. Her eyes widened with recognition. A flicker of desire came to life deep within their brown depths. His mouth went dry and his breath halted in his throat.

  She remembered.

  The color drained from her face and she shook her head in slow denial. The next instant her eyes blazed fury. Her jaw clenched and she chopped the air with her hand. Catal was thrown back by the rage and hatred in her glance. He swallowed his words of greeting. She didn’t want him here.

  He pushed away the agony that settled in his chest and focused on the others. There would be time to talk with Selena later.

  “Why the hell would you call someone else in?” Steve sat forward on the couch, his arms dropped between his denim clad legs. “We’re taking care of everything, including the ransom money.”

  “You’re forgetting my son was also abducted.”

  Selena’s words ripped through Catal. She had a son? That meant she had found another man. His chest tightened and his breathing stilled. He knew it was the most likely reason she’d blocked him, but it still pierced his soul. She was the only woman he would ever love. To know she had turned to another was the worse pain he had ever experienced.

  “We haven’t forgotten Tarrin.” Nikki’s voice was low and soothing. “The FBI thinks it’s best if we follow their procedures.”

  “The boys have been gone a week.” Selena crossed her arms. “Tarrin would have come back if it were possible.”

  “Are you suggesting that Gates can’t handle himself?” Steven stood and took a step forward.

  Nikki touched his arm. “Selena was only speaking about her son. We all know that Gates would escape if it were possible.”