The HiT Series

by Margaret McHeyzer

  Lukas’s eyebrows rise in surprise, then furrow before the life in his eyes is extinguished.

  I lie on the floor looking at a now-lifeless Lukas.

  One night I saved this man in the park.

  He chose to save me from a life of ruin.

  Now I‘ve taken his life.

  I pack up the artillery and take Lukas’s keys to the Porsche. My Porsche now.

  Two out of the top four assassins are now dead.

  I sling the duffel over my shoulder and say one last goodbye to my mentor.

  Taking the steps two at a time, I quickly open the Porsche with the fob.

  Bringing my phone up to my ear, I dial the only number that will ever hold any importance to me.

  “15.”

  “Agent, I require information.”

  It’s time to find the other two assassins.

  It’s just the beginning.

  HiT for Freedom

  Anna’s Battle

  Anna has decided to break off her steamy affair with Ben Pearson and leave St. Cloud, when she suspects a new threat to him. Katsu Vang is rich, powerful, and very interested in Anna. He’s also evil to his core. Join Anna as she plays a dangerous game, getting closer to Katsu to discover his real purpose, while trying to keep Ben safe. Secrets are exposed and the future Anna hoped for is snatched from her grasp. Will Ben be able to save her?

  Ben

  It’s been 15 long fucking months since all that shit happened. But my biggest problem is that now, Anna’s disappeared. Anna and I were having breakfast, arguing because I wanted her to tell me how many people she’s killed and she was being her usual stubborn self and wouldn’t tell me. That’s the last thing I remember of that near-fatal day.

  15 months earlier…

  “What the fuck,’ I have the most excruciating, intense, burning pain in my chest.

  “You’ve been shot,” a deep, rough male voice announces in a monotone delivery.

  I try to focus on where I am and I recognize the familiar surroundings of my safe room. Despite the pain, I manage to turn my head slightly to the left to see a strange man sitting on a chair four feet away from me, looking at his iPad.

  “Who the fuck are you?” It hurts for me to breathe, let alone manage a conversation.

  “I’m the Doctor,” is the deadpan response.

  “What happened? Why are you here?”

  “You were shot. I patched you up.” Great, another person who says almost nothing.

  I’m getting pissed off, but I’m so tired I don’t have the strength to talk or even stay awake. I close my eyes and darkness takes me.

  I open my eyes and keep blinking until they focus on their own.

  “Don’t try to get up.” There’s that deep, rough male voice again. The Doctor.

  The pain in my chest is still there, but the intensity has diminished a little. I turn my head and see the Doctor standing in the kitchenette with a cup in his hands. It smells like coffee. Just then my stomach grumbles and I realize just how hungry I am.

  “How long have I been out?”

  “I’ve had you sedated for four days; it’s time for me to bring you back to reality.” Doctor hasn’t moved from the spot where he’s been standing in the kitchenette. He’s an older man, and it looks like he hasn’t shaved for a few days. His gray hair is all ruffled and he’s in the same clothes I saw him in the last time I surfaced. His face reads like he has thousands of secrets and he certainly doesn’t look like the sort of man who’d spill those secrets any time soon.

  “What happened?”

  “As I told you yesterday, you were shot. 15 brought me here to patch you up.”

  15…

  Anna…

  Then it occurs to me the Doctor most likely doesn’t know Anna’s name and he only knows her as 15. “Where is 15 now?” My throat is scratchy and constricted.

  Just thinking about Anna makes my body come alive. I love her so much.

  “I’m sorry. You’ll need to speak to 15.”

  “Where’s my phone?” I try to sit up and Doctor’s by my side instantly.

  “What part of ‘don’t try to get up’ did you not understand?” The Doctor’s voice is caustic. I’m still in a lot of pain. I have an IV in my arm; I’m starving and weak. I decide it’s a good idea to listen to his instructions.

  “Can you please tell me where my phone is so I can call 15?” I’m begging Doctor for information now.

  “No.” He’s standing over me and checking my vitals. “You seem to have improved immensely.”

  He walks away and goes to his phone to make a call. As he walks away, I’m left wondering what the hell’s been happening for the four days I’ve been sedated.

  “Patient good for transportation,” Doctor talks into his phone. “I understand,” he says and looks over to me. He ends his call and moves to the side of my bed. “A car will be here for you soon to take you to the hospital.”

  I really don’t care about the hospital. All I want to know is where Anna is.

  “Please, what can you tell me about 15?” I’m now pleading for the tiniest scrap of information he can give me about her.

  “I’ll assist you upstairs,” Doctor says but gives me no indication he even heard my question. He either knows nothing or he’s not permitted to tell me what he does know.

  I’m getting really pissed off at this man who is refusing to give me any fucking information. He’s as closed off and secretive as Anna herself, and I’m being kept in the dark. Again.

  The Doctor’s by my side and helping me to sit up. It takes a few minutes for my head to stop spinning and for my equilibrium to return. Once he’s removed the drip I manage, with his assistance, to make my way upstairs on shaky, weak legs. I turn to glance into the kitchen where I was shot and everything’s been restored. There’s no blood anywhere and the shattered window has been replaced. Other than the persistent pain in my chest, it’s like nothing’s happened.

  “The car’s here,” he says.

  Slowly we head outside and I get into the car waiting for me. “Where are we going?” I ask the driver, momentarily forgetting the Doctor’s words from earlier. My head’s still clouded by sedation and I’m not thinking clearly.

  “Hospital,” the driver says. Another big talker. I roll my eyes and shake my head.

  The Doctor closes the back passenger door and I watch him disappear into a second waiting car.

  That was the story of how I spent the first few days after I was shot.

  There was only one thing I knew for certain, and that was Anna was gone. This time, I didn’t expect to see her ever again.

  Anna

  Katsu Vang.

  Who are you, Katsu Vang?

  It’s been a week since we had coffee after I picked Katsu up at the gas station, or maybe he picked me up–but either way, it appears this man’s an enigma. I had Agent on the phone the moment I left Katsu at the coffee shop, and ordered him to gather as much infor-mation as possible.

  Of course, I was my normal, charming self, and managed to extract Katsu’s phone number with a promise of another coffee the next time I was back in St. Cloud. What Katsu didn’t know was after our meeting, I decided not to leave.

  In the last fifteen months, I managed to secure a property on the opposite side of town from where my now-demolished cabin once sat, its skeleton still exposed from the fire I had set to destroy it.

  Although I own many acres here, I’ve only built a small house, equipped with a fully-equipped, steel-lined safe room. As a matter of fact, after what happened fifteen months ago with Ben, I made sure all my safe rooms were fully equipped with everything I need, including emergency living quarters.

  Agent hasn’t been able to unearth much information on Katsu. In fact, all he found out was that Katsu has no identity at all. He has no bank accounts, no driver’s license, no police record, no sealed records, no international records. Nothing. It’s like he doesn’t exist.

  The phone number he gave me was
a pre-paid, disposable phone, which of course meant there was no information attached to it. Agent tried to monitor that phone, but being a disposable, it was impossible to identify. Agent was frustrated, and Katsu’s identity seems impenetrable. Agent calls me periodically, angry at himself that he has nothing new to report on Katsu Vang.

  I’m sitting on a stool in my kitchen, doing my own research on Katsu when my disposable phone rings, and the number displayed on the screen was Katsu’s. The devil himself.

  “Hello?” I answer as if I didn’t know who was calling.

  “Hello, Anna?”

  “Yes…..” Again feigning vulnerable uncertainty.

  “It’s Katsu. We met last week and had coffee.” He seems almost unsure of himself.

  Strange.

  “Oh, hi there Katsu. I was thinking about calling you too, but didn’t know what a respectable amount of time to wait was.” I add a giggle, pretending to be sweet and innocent.

  “I really enjoyed our coffee date last week and was hoping you might like to get together for dinner soon.” His voice now sounds confident and controlled.

  That snake-bite sensation of dread and evil starts to swirl around in the pit of my stomach, just from listening to Katsu’s voice. It makes the hair on my arms rise and makes me feel as if a serpent is slithering nearby, ready to strike at any moment.

  “Katsu, that sounds like a terrific idea; I was hoping you’d offer. I was embarrassed to ask, afraid I misread the attraction between us.” I want to sound shy, gullible and most importantly, fragile.

  “Anna.” He pauses for a few seconds, “You most definitely haven’t misinterpreted the signs between us at all.” His voice is husky with a hint of danger. This is how I want it. Katsu feeling confident and believing in the illusion he’s in control.

  “Actually, I returned last night, so I’d love to take you up on your offer of dinner.” As I’m speaking with Katsu, I hack into St. Cloud Police Department’s network and search the roster to see when Ben’s working. I don’t want to cross paths with him. I really want to keep Ben out of danger, and Katsu is undoubtedly dangerous.

  “Oh, Anna, you’ve made me a very happy man. I’ll send a car for you at five.”

  “Katsu, please don’t be offended, but I’d rather meet you there.”

  My earlier groundwork, behaving as if I’m shy and innocent, is paying off because I can hear a sly laugh in his voice when he replies, “That’s my smart, beautiful Treasure. You can never trust a stranger. But Anna, I’m hoping after tomorrow night you’ll no longer consider me a stranger.” His voice goes from proud approval to darkly sensual.

  “Where…uh…hmmm.” I’m trying very hard to appear flustered by his blatant advances. “Where would you like to meet?” I roll my eyes at how naïve he actually is.

  “There’s an air strip just off the highway, out near the gas station where we met. Do you know it?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Good. Meet at the hangar at five. And Anna….?”

  “Yes, Katsu?”

  “I don’t like to be kept waiting.” He’s trying to guide any future relationship between us by asserting how he already has power over me.

  “Of course, Katsu, I’m looking forward to it. Oh and before I forget… I don’t like to be kept waiting either.”

  I hear a small gasp and Katsu clears his throat, his voice more formal now. “Until tomorrow, Anna.”

  Yes until tomorrow.

  Anna

  I wake to sun streaming into my room, and my mind immediately turns to the dinner date with Katsu that lies ahead. I have no information on Katsu, but have cultivated an impression of myself as a shy, almost timid woman.

  He has tried to assert his authority with me early on, and I feel he’s a man who demands full control of the people around him; he takes what he wants from everyone.

  As I lay in bed, I try to plan my performance on our date/infor-mation-gathering event tonight. So far, my sweet, innocent and somewhat assertive persona has captured his attention. So I’ll roll with that, until 15 needs to come out.

  I know how situations change from one moment to the next. I can never fully anticipate everything that may emerge, so I’ll have to think on my feet and hope not to get myself killed.

  I drag my body into the shower and set the water as hot as I can stand, letting the water run over my body from head to toe. I close my eyes and let my thoughts go wherever they choose, where they always go–to Ben.

  My heart rate spikes as I think about what Ben and I could have if we weren’t the people we are today. I smile when I think back to that last night we were together, before I realized being with me could be fatal to him. We shared all our emotions and unspoken promises were made. Our touches and caresses deepened our feelings into a love that’ll never fade.

  The water falling over my body is bewitching, and lures me into a false state of happiness. There’s nothing happy about the love I have and can’t give to Ben, or the love he holds for me but can’t reciprocate because of who I am. I break away from the spell of the hot water and start to think about my reality, and the dangers that always surround me, and by extension, Ben.

  Once I’m out of the shower I regain my perspective and don’t let my brain, or any other part of my body think about Ben. Or his delicious eyes, his tasty mouth, or his delectable…Snap out of it Anna.

  The day passes slowly while I try to find out what I can about Katsu from phone calls with Agent, and by doing my own internet research. But both of us continue to come up empty-handed.

  Before I realize, it’s already three and I’ve wasted the day finding nothing out about a man who doesn’t exist and who will be taking me out on a date in less than two hours. It’s so frustrating not knowing what I’m getting myself into. Katsu’s dangerous, possibly one of the most dangerous men I’ve ever had to deal with. That much I can sense. He goes to extremes to protect himself and his identity.

  He sounds like a male version of me.

  I decide to leave my guns in the safe room and go completely unarmed. If he’s half as dangerous as I assume, then I’ll be thoroughly checked out sometime soon.

  I arrive at the air strip and make my way to the hangar, not entirely sure what to expect, but apparently, a trip somewhere is in my future. When I arrive at the hangar, it’s 4:45. There’s a security guy with dark glasses, dressed completely in black, standing at the gated entrance. I pull my Audi up and Security Guy comes to stand next to the driver’s window. I can tell by the way he stands beside the car, with his body angled away from me, that he’s trained. I also see he has holstered over his chest two P90’s.

  P90’s are super light, super-fast, and are mostly plastic. They have the potential to slip through metal detectors. The Security Guy carrying the guns sees where my gaze is focused. He smiles at me and starts talking.

  “Don’t be alarmed, Ma’am. I’m armed only for your protection and Mr. Vang’s.”

  “Of course, I’m just slightly taken back, that’s all.” My façade’s in place – let the games begin.

  “Miss Moore, Mr. Vang is expecting you. His ETA is nine minutes,” he says as he checks his watch.

  “Thank you. Where would you like me to leave my car?” I ask in an innocent way, acting a little afraid of the guns.

  “Miss Moore, please leave your vehicle where it is. I’ll take care of it until you return. I’ll radio for another guard to accompany you to the hangar.”

  Yeah, I’m sure you’ll take care of it. Just like Ethan Martelli’s goon did when he put a damn tracking device in it.

  “Not a problem, please take care of her. I love my car.” I feign attachment for a material object just to show my ‘human’ side. I’m sure I’ve been on display for Katsu Vang from the moment I arrived at the hangar.

  “Ma’am, I guarantee nothing will happen to your car, but if it does, it will be replaced with an even better model,” Security Guy says with a chuckle, almost making fun of me for being so sentimental.<
br />
  I‘ve switched cars and no longer drive the Lexus. It is registered under a different alias and I want Anna Moore’s identity firmly established. So, until I know more about Katsu Vang, I’ll be driving the Audi.

  I smile at Security Guy and take my evening bag with me when I exit my car. I give him a smile and a small nod indicating I clearly understand what he said to me. As I give him the keys, a golf cart approaches and another Security Guy in exactly the same clothing stops directly in front of me. He’s carrying the same P90’s and I quickly notice a pattern emerging with weapons of choice.

  “Ma’am, Mr. Vang will be here in six minutes. Please get in the cart so I can make you comfortable on the plane before Mr. Vang arrives.” His voice isn’t as friendly as Security Guy number one.

  “Thank you.” He refuses to make eye contact with me.

  We make our way over to the hangar, and I see Katsu owns a jet. As I step inside, I notice it’s decadently luxurious. The interior sports gold trim, leather seats, plush carpet, a state-of-the-art enter-tainment center, and it’s absolutely spotless.

  “Welcome to the Jet of the Sky, Miss Moore, my name’s Lindy and I’m the hostess on today’s flight. May I take your bag and your jacket and may I offer you a refreshment until Mr. Vang arrives?” Did she just say that in one breath?

  “Thank you.” I hand over my jacket and bag to Lindy and she disappears toward the front of the plane. She’s back within thirty seconds carrying a tray with a single flute of champagne.

  “Ma’am,” she says as she stands in front of me waiting for me to take the flute.

  “Thank you Lindy.” I give her a warm smile which she returns genuinely. Her eyes are gentle and full of life.

  “Is there anything else I can get for you, Ma’am? Mr. Vang’s just arriving on the tarmac.”

  “Thank you, Lindy, I’m fine.” She turns, heading toward the front of the plane again.