aHunter4Life (aHunter4Hire)

by Cynthia Clement

  “He didn’t want his son’s picture taken.” Catal leaned back.

  “No.” Selena remembered the incident vividly. It was the first time she’d realized what a risk she took by working for Nikki. She’d brushed it off at the time. There was no reason for Tarrin to be hurt by her job. Now she knew better.

  “It’s not unusual for celebrities to feel that way. They want to protect their children from the press.” Selena looked up at Catal. “Did I do wrong by letting Tarrin play with Gates?”

  “No.” Catal’s voice was soothing. “The boys are friends.”

  “There was just the one incident?” Partlan interrupted.

  Selena nodded. “It’s the only one I’m aware of.”

  “It hardly seems enough to make these men seek revenge.” Malac peered at his computer monitor. “There is no mistaking that they left with the ransom money, though.”

  “So either they kidnapped the boys, or they know more about it than they should.” Partlan’s voice was decisive. “Drive to the Gordon’s house.”

  Firbin put the directional lights on and turned at the next stop. Within in a few minutes, they were on the freeway.

  “We will speak with Nathan and Mike.” Catal sat beside Selena.

  “You have no proof that they’re involved.” Selena touched Catal’s arm.

  A shiver of awareness passed through her. She inhaled a sharp breath. It was as if she was awakening after a long sleep. It had been years since she’d felt this thrill. She had buried her memories so deep that she had almost forgotten how intense and complete being with Catal felt.

  “We won’t hurt them.” Catal’s voice was steady. “They are the best lead we have. We need to ask them questions about the ransom. They knew the location of the drop site. That means they are either the kidnapers or in contact with someone who knows where the boys are hidden.”

  “I understand, but since leaving Columbia, I have lived a life of peace and non-violence. I’ve raised Tarrin the same.” Selena’s voice ended on a sob.

  “There is no honor in violence just for the sake of violence.” Partlan’s voice was quiet. “As long as these men have not broken the code we live by, then we will not harm them.”

  “What is the code?” Selena’s voice showed her confusion. Catal had not mentioned a code, only that he lived by honor.

  “All Hunters live by the Sacred Code.” Partlan nodded toward Catal. “Even as a child and alone, Catal understood that.”

  “The first rule is that no harm should come to women or children.” Catal rubbed her hand. “If they had nothing to do with the abduction, then they haven’t broken the code.”

  “What if they are the kidnappers?”

  “We will kill them.”

  Chapter 12

  Catal pushed back his disgust and anger. He was a warrior. There should be no emotion attached to following the life of a soldier. Yet a part of him wanted to rip apart the men who were responsible for causing his mate pain.

  “No.” Selena shook her head. “I want them left for the police.”

  “That won’t be possible.” Partlan spoke now. “If they have harmed a child once, they will do it again.”

  “The police will put them in jail for life.” Selena’s voice was firm. “They won’t be able to harm anyone there.”

  “It does not make sense to keep them alive.”

  “I have seen enough violence and death in my life.” Selena straightened her shoulders. “I don’t want to be associated with any more. All I care about is getting Tarrin and Gates back alive.”

  “What if these men have hurt the boys?”

  Selena’s body sagged and she brushed her hand over her forehead. “I’ll think about that. Right now, all I care about is getting the boys back alive. If these men were only involved in the ransom drop, then I want them left for the police.”

  Catal shrugged and glanced over to Partlan. He nodded. Selena was a woman, and as Hunters, they’d been trained to obey women. As much as he wanted to destroy these men for the pain they’d caused Selena, he would abide by her decision. If they did anything to harm Selena though, he would destroy them.

  “As you wish.”

  Firbin slowed the van down. It came to a stop and the front door opened. Breanon jumped into the vehicle. They were in a small residential neighbor in Central Los Angeles. The house was a bungalow painted lime green, with a link fence and gate across the front yard.

  Partlan looked at Breanon. “Have they left the house?”

  “No.” Breanon turned around so that he faced the rear of the van. “They were here when I started my surveillance. There has been commotion in the house, but no one has come or gone.”

  “What kind of activity?”

  “Packing.” Breanon picked up a rifle. “They have also been burning stuff in their fire.”

  “They’re getting rid of the evidence.” Catal nodded. “We had best stop them.”

  “Any sign of the boys?”

  Breanon shook his head. “They seem to be alone. If the boys are there, they’ve hidden them.”

  Partlan frowned. “Firbin you will stay with the vehicle. Pull up alongside the house and wait for us. It is time we had some answers from the Gordon brothers.”

  “What about me.” Selena leaned forward. “I should be there.”

  “It’s too dangerous.” Catal placed a hand on her arm. He wasn’t going to risk her life until he was certain the brothers weren’t armed. “Once we have secured the place, then you can join us.”

  Selena held his gaze for a second and then nodded. “As long as you let me question the men too.”

  “As you wish.”

  Catal and the others left the van. Breanon took a position near the entrance. The large front window provided a clear line of fire into the house. The lights were blazing and the brothers could be seen inside. Breanon crouched down behind some shrubs that bordered the front entranceway. Once the house and brothers were secured, Breanon would change his position so that he could defend them from any intruders.

  Catal pulled his pistol.

  He eased his heart rate in preparation for battle.

  He and Partlan crept along the house to the rear. Malac and Ranon positioned themselves at the front entrance.

  “Go.” Partlan’s commanded by mind connect.

  In unison, both teams broke open the doors at the same moment and rushed into the house. Catal entered the rear first. He skirted past the kitchen and moved into the front room. Malac was there ahead of him and held a gun to the head of Nathan. Ranon’s knee was in Mike’s back as he held him down on the floor. Partlan brought up the rear. He scanned the room and then shut the front curtains. That was Breanon’s signal to watch for any intruders, including the police.

  “Get these two into chairs.”

  Nathan laughed. “It won’t help you now.”

  Catal’s eyes narrowed. He pulled Nathan up by his neck and backed him into the wall. He held him up from the floor and tightened his grip on his neck.

  “Where are the boys?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Nathan struggled to get the words out. “You don’t frighten me.”

  Catal threw him down on the floor.

  He went to stand up, but Malac grabbed him by the arm and pushed him into a chair.

  Malac stood back and held the pistol to the side of his head. “Answer the question.”

  Mike was already being held in a chair by Ranon.

  “You’re too late.” Nathan grinned over at his brother. “You can do whatever you want to us, but it won’t change a thing.”

  “What do you mean?” Selena’s voice pierced the air. “What have you done with the boys?”

  “I mean we got rid of them.”

  Catal went to Selena. “We told you to wait.”

  “When the curtains closed, I knew you had secured the house.” Selena twisted in Catal’s arms. “The back door was open. I shut it so the neighbors wouldn’t think anythi
ng suspicious was happening here.”

  “Good.” Partlan nodded toward the brothers who were being held in chairs. “It would be best if you let us interrogate them first. It is not a proper place for a woman.”

  Selena shook her head. Catal could feel the horror and panic that filled her body. He eased his hold on her and stroked a hand down her back. He sent her a wave of calm. They didn’t know yet what the brothers meant. It was best not to jump to conclusions.

  “Let us handle this.”

  Nathan snickered. “Nothing is going to bring those boys back now.”

  “You killed them?” Selena’s voice was a hoarse whisper.

  Her legs gave way and she sank to the floor. Catal grabbed her before she fell. His heart beat furiously as he watched all the life and hope go from her eyes. He forced himself to push aside his anguish at her pain. It wouldn’t help get the answers they needed. He held her close.

  “You said you still felt Tarrin alive.” His whispered into her ear. “Hold onto that.”

  She nodded. She straightened her back and stood. She turned to Nathan. “What did Tarrin ever do to you?”

  Nathan’s face fell. His shoulders sagged. “We didn’t want to take him, but he wouldn’t let Gates go on his own.”

  “Tarrin was protecting Gates?” Selena shook her head. “You had no right to take either of the boys. Gates was innocent too.”

  “We had no choice.” Nathan’s voice was defiant. “It was the only way to retaliate.”

  Catal led Selena to a sofa. “If you were angry with me or the Walters, you didn’t need to take the boys.”

  “Steve Walters deserves everything he gets.” Mike spat the words out. “He broke Nathan’s camera. He thought an apology would do, but that camera was irreplaceable.”

  “It was just an object.” Selena’s voice was low with confusion. “He gave your brother a new one, which was much more expensive than the one he broke.”

  “Our father gave that camera to Nathan.” Mike’s voice cracked. “He’s dead now and that was the only thing we had to remember him by. So Steve can apologize all he wants, but now he’s lost something that is irreplaceable too.”

  “There’s no way you can compare a child with a camera.” Her voice held a hint of hysteria.

  Catal sat on the couch beside her and touched her arm. A sizzle of electricity went through him as he sent comfort and reassurance to Selena. He was a man used to killing, but he couldn’t understand how anyone could harm a child or cause a woman pain. It was against everything he held sacred. These men needed to die, but not until they found out what they had done with the boys.

  Selena looked up at him, begging him with her eyes to help. His stomach clenched at the anguish there. He brushed a strand of hair from her face just as her shoulders started to shake. Her tears came in a flood of grief and he pulled her close to his chest. He felt her devastation and he rocked her back and forth trying to ease the sorrow Mike’s words had caused.

  “Where are the boys?” Partlan’s stern voice boomed through the room.

  “I don’t have to tell you anything,” Nathan said with a sneer. “I don’t even know who you are.”

  “You know me.” Selena pulled away from Catal. “How could you hurt young boys?”

  “We didn’t injure anyone.” Mike’s voice was apologetic. “Honest. We don’t have the stomach for it.”

  “What did you do then?” Catal’s voice was a roar.

  He jumped up from the couch. His patience was at an end. These men had taunted and pained Selena enough. They spoke in riddles, and he wanted answers, even if he had to kill one of them to get at the truth.

  Mike shrugged. “I know my rights. We’re not speaking to you without a lawyer present.”

  Catal picked Mike up from the chair. He grabbed his neck and pushed him against the wall. His fingers bit into the man’s throat.

  “We are not the police.” Catal’s voice was a low threat. “You have harmed a child and the code we live by says I have the right to shake you until you’re dead. Maybe your brother will talk when I throw your limp body at his feet.”

  Mike’s eyes bulged from his face. He struggled in Catal’s grasp, but there was no release. His fingers pulled at Catal’s hands, but it was futile. His feet were at least a foot from the floor, and he tried to kick out at Catal, but he evaded him. His face was blue before Nathan yelled.

  “We sold them.”

  Partlan who had been watching with his arms crossed, frowned. “What does that mean? I did not think you had slavery in this country.”

  “Oh my god.” Selena’s body shook.

  Catal glanced at her. Horror and disbelief were written over her face. He dropped Mike to the floor and went to her side.

  He clasped her close. “It means they’ve sold them to people who will probably harm them.”

  “Explain.” Partlan continued to look at Catal.

  Catal cleared his throat. He glanced down at Selena and smoothed a hand across her back. She sighed and turned her face away from the brothers. He knew the others would find it impossible to believe. It was something that was foreign in Cygnus, yet all too common on Earth. He had never understood how a being could do that to another, especially a child.

  “The boys will probably be traumatized for life.”

  There were several seconds of silence before Partlan spoke. “Is this true?”

  Partlan leaned over Nathan. He was inches away from the photographer and his stance was threatening. Selena shivered beneath his hand. The brothers were monsters. Only the fact that they still needed information from them, kept Catal from ripping them apart with his bare hands.

  Malac, who was rummaging through the brother’s suitcases, pulled out a black backpack. “Here is the ransom money.”

  “So they are the kidnappers.” Selena’s voice was weak.

  That settled it for Catal. There was no denying the guilt of these men. They had taken the boys, extorted money, and sold them. They were going to die.

  Ranon shouted from the dining room. “I’ve found their computer. They’ve been receiving a number of suspicious emails in the past few days.”

  Partlan stood away from Nathan. “Move and I will kill you.”

  Nathan’s eyes bulged. “You can’t hurt me.”

  “I am not the police.” Partlan spoke in a soft voice. “My job is to kill.”

  Nathan looked over at Selena. “You can’t be serious?”

  Selena nodded. “They are mercenaries that I hired. Now that I know what you’ve done with my son, I don’t care what they do to you.”

  “And we will get the boys back.” Catal’s voice was a menace. “It was foolish to try and run. There is nowhere in the world that you can hide from us.”

  “The FBI wouldn’t just let you come here and do this. I’ll sue you.” Mike rubbed his neck. “Good luck trying to get any information from us. The boys are lost to you forever.”

  “I might as well kill you now.” Catal grabbed his gun from behind his back and pointed it at Mike. He cocked the hammer back and aimed.

  “Stop.” Nathan’s screamed at the top of his lungs. “The name of our contact is in one of our emails. He didn’t give us his real name, though. That’s all we know, honest.”

  Catal lowered the gun. “Where did you meet him?”

  “Los Amigos Mall in South Central LA. It’s on East Jefferson Boulevard. That’s where we set up the exchange. We couldn’t let the boys go home because they knew who we were, and we couldn’t kill them.” The words spilled from Nathan.

  “So you thought you’d sell them?” Catal didn’t hide his disgust.

  “At least they’d be alive.” Mike’s voice was gruff.

  Catal fought the urge to strangle the man. Instead he prodded Nathan in the back with his gun “When did you give him the boys?”

  “Today. He met us at our storage unit. We don’t know where the guy lives, honest.”

  “And you thought you’d got away with it?�
� Selena shook her head. “How did you expect to live with yourselves afterwards?”

  Mike shrugged. “That’s a lot of money. We could live like kings in another country. Then we would be the ones people would look up to and follow around.”

  “Not once they found out what you’d done to get that money.” Catal rolled his eyes.

  “That wouldn’t have happened. Even the FBI were fooled by us.” Nathan chuckled. “That tipoff to the other paparazzi was brilliant.”

  “Not brilliant enough.” Catal shoved his pistol back into his waistband. “We found you.”

  “How long ago did you exchange the boys?” Partlan was gathering papers and computers from the dining room. He shoved them into a large suitcase that he emptied out on the floor.

  “Right after the ransom drop.” Nathan glanced over at his brother. “We couldn’t keep the kids in the storage locker any longer. It was too hot.”

  “How did you find these guys?” Catal picked up a backpack and started stuffing photos in it.

  “On the internet.” Nathan shrugged. “We’ve got them some photos in the past, so it seemed like an easy exchange.”

  “What did you exchange?”

  “New identities.”

  Partlan glanced at Catal. “It would be best if Selena did not witness this.”

  Partlan went over to Nathan and started patting down his pockets. He pulled out a passport and threw it at Catal. Then, he went to Mike and did the same thing.

  Catal put the passports into the inside pocket of his leather jacket. He zipped up the backpack and threw it on his back before walking over to Selena. He held out a hand.

  “I’ll take you to the van now.”

  “You’re not going to kill them.” Her fingers trembled in his. “I know I said I didn’t care what happened, but I do. Let the law take care of them.”

  Catal kissed her hand before giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We have to gather more information. Time is important if we are to get the boys before any harm is done. We will leave the brothers for the police if that is your command.”

  Selena took a deep breath and stood up. “I trust you.”