Young Guns Box Set

by Kane, Remington

  “I forfeit the fight!”

  The crowd came to its feet in protest, but Maz quieted them down.

  “Are you boys sure about this?” Maz asked.

  “I’m not hurting Romeo just to prove how tough I am,” Cody said. Then he spoke to the crowd. “Would any of you risk seriously harming your brother for a trophy?”

  Maz nodded in understanding, while a change came over the crowd. Many in attendance had been angry, some of those same men began to clap at the decision.

  A voice shouted over the sound. It was Throne. He had a black right eye that was puffy and closed tight as a result of the kick Romeo had given him the day before.

  “Hey, Maz,” Throne said. “If they forfeit, does that mean I’m the winner?”

  Maz looked over at Yang, whose right arm was in a cast. There was no way he would allow the man in the ring even if he asked.

  “Yes, Throne. I guess that makes you the winner.”

  Throne grabbed the trophy from the table where it sat and ran to the middle of the sand ring in his street clothes. While leaping up in the air he proclaimed his victory.

  “I’m the champion again!”

  Many of those gathered laughed at him, while most of the rest shook their heads at his behavior. He had clearly not been the best and should be ashamed to claim the trophy.

  During the feast that followed the end of the tournament, Throne was ignored. He left the party early, trophy in hand, and all alone.

  28

  Someday

  ARIZONA, AUGUST 2018

  Kayla and Zoe’s kids all had activities to attend, leaving Tanner alone to have dinner with Kayla and Zoe. When Zoe learned about the money Tanner had given them, she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.

  “You’re a good friend, Xavier.”

  They ate outside on a screened-in deck. The conversation turned to Tanner’s upcoming wedding and Kayla asked him if they were planning to have children.

  “We are.”

  “Will you still be a Tanner when the babies start coming?” Zoe asked.

  “I’ll be one for as long as I can. I’ve never really wanted to be anything else.”

  Kayla became wistful as she said, “Granddad tried to make it work, but once our grandmother died he knew he couldn’t do it alone. That’s why our dad was raised by his aunt.”

  “Spenser said the old man regretted that, which is why he did his best to take care of you two when your parents died.”

  “He was great,” Zoe said. “And he taught us so much.”

  “Although I’ll still be a Tanner, I know that I can’t operate with a family the way I do now. I’ve been away from home for days and miss Sara. I’ll want to spend even less time away once we’re married and have a child. That’s why I’m making changes.”

  “What sort of changes?” Kayla asked.

  “You tracked Harvey down. How did you do that? I know you didn’t just happen to find us inside that restaurant.”

  Kayla tossed a thumb at her sister. “Zoe’s quite the computer hacker. She managed to get a copy of Harvey’s credit card activity. Once we had a list of the places he shopped at and visited, we went looking for him. He ate at that restaurant we found you two in several times. It was the third place we checked and there he was.”

  “I could use a good hacker. The guy I’m using now does it for free, because I saved his life, but I’d rather have a business arrangement with someone. I’d like to put you two on retainer and have you help me out from time to time.”

  “You want us to track people down for you?”

  “I do. Times are changing. I don’t think a Tanner can operate as a lone wolf anymore and still be the best. It takes a team effort these days. That’s something I’ve recently learned, and I’m trying to change.”

  “How involved would you want us to be?” Kayla asked.

  “Nothing like you did this outing. I can handle the Russell’s and Tonya’s of the world on my own. I just don’t want to waste days tracking them down anymore, not when a hacker like Zoe might do the work in a matter of hours. We’ll also set things up so that there’s no way anything can be traced back to you.”

  After asking how much their retainer would be, the women stepped away from the picnic table to talk. When they came back, they were smiling.

  “We’ll do it,” Kayla said, “and thank you. Not only will the extra income help, but we’ll also feel like we’re a part of the Tanner legacy, like Granddad.”

  “I’ve already got something I can put you on. It doesn’t involve a target but is more like research. I’m expecting trouble any day now, and I want to know more about the people who will be bringing it.”

  “Who are you talking about?” Zoe asked.

  “I killed a mobster named Moss Murphy who was the leader of the Boston mob. He was what they call a Made Man. The Mafia’s Commission frowns on that sort of thing. Despite my reputation, they’ll make a move on me eventually. When they do, I’ll want to know who I’m dealing with.”

  “You want to know everything there is to know about these men?”

  “Yes, but don’t do anything that would risk yourselves.”

  “That shouldn’t be too difficult,” Kayla said. “We also have connections inside the FBI that might help.”

  “The commission is based out of Chicago. Someday, they’ll send a bunch of windy city hoods after me. I’m tired of killing minions. This time I’ll go straight for the leadership.”

  “Taking on the mob does not sound healthy, Xavier,” Zoe said.

  Tanner smiled. “They started it.”

  * * *

  They each had more wine and began to talk about the old days. When Kayla asked Tanner how he and Spenser met, he grew quiet.

  “Xavier, what is it?” Kayla asked.

  “My real name is not Xavier, it’s Cody Parker.”

  * * *

  Tanner went on to tell them what had happened to his family, and how Spenser had saved his life.

  Zoe wiped at her eyes. “It was hard for us when we lost our parents at about that age. I can only imagine how monstrous it was to lose everyone, and your home too.”

  “I survived because of Spenser, and soon after, Romeo was there for me. They’re my family too.”

  “You kept that hidden all these years?” Kayla said. “Why tell us now?”

  “Sara wants me to reclaim my life and not live solely as Tanner. To do that, I have to become Cody Parker again, as soon as I figure out how. I’m also tired of lying to you two about my real name.”

  Kayla grinned. “I always said you didn’t look like a Xavier. Cody fits you much better.”

  The children returned from their various activities. When Tanner shook the hand of Kayla’s thirteen-year-old son he thought about how much the kid resembled his great-grandfather. The boy was already six-feet tall and was still growing.

  Zoe’s girls were both beautiful. The oldest, Juliet, was blonde, while the younger girl named Tara was a redhead like her mother.

  Kayla smiled at Tanner as she introduced him. “Kids, this is one of our oldest friends. His name is Cody Parker.”

  29

  Off To See The World

  PADANG, INDONESIA, NOVEMBER 2001

  Nadya hugged Romeo in a tight embrace as she said goodbye to him.

  The boys were headed off to Australia to meet up with Spenser. There were tears in Nadya’s eyes, and Romeo felt his own growing moist. Other than Emma and his family, no one had ever displayed more affection toward him than the child, Nadya.

  Bagus shook the boys’ hands and insisted that they must return someday, while Nadya’s mother, Permata, looked relieved that they were leaving. She believed in her daughter’s gift of second sight but hoped she was wrong about Romeo.

  Permata did not want the American for a son-in-law, not when there were so many respectable Indonesian boys who would be more fitting. With the young man and his friend off to see the world, perhaps Romeo would never return, and Nad
ya would forget about him.

  “I’ll miss you, little chick,” Romeo told Nadya.

  Nadya wiped at her tears. “I’ll miss you too, but you’ll be back someday. I know it.”

  The boys said their goodbyes and headed for the airport.

  * * *

  SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, NOVEMBER 2001

  Although it had only been two months since he’d last seen them, Spenser thought that Cody and Romeo looked more mature than he remembered them being. He had called Maz to thank him for training them and learned how the competition had ended.

  The boys had only informed him that they had failed to win the trophy. When Spenser learned the reason behind it, he swelled with pride. They might not be his sons, but Spenser felt as much like their father as if they were blood-related.

  Despite competing for the same honor, to be chosen as the next Tanner, his boys valued each other over anything. What parent could ask more of their children?

  The three of them shared hugs amid bright smiles. With their training done, Cody and Romeo were no longer apprentices. They were now equals and planned to travel the world together with Spenser for a year, while taking the occasional contract.

  Spenser had already said goodbye to Willow. After exploring Sydney for a few days, he and the boys would travel about Australia, before heading to the Orient, and beyond.

  “I’ve missed you two,” Spenser said, while tousling their hair.

  Cody grinned at him. “We’ve missed you too.”

  Romeo looked around the airport. “I can’t wait to explore Australia. I hear the surfing is great here.”

  “We’ll do some,” Spenser told him.

  * * *

  Spenser had rented a jeep. The boys piled in with their luggage and were headed off to the hotel where they would be staying. Romeo sat in the rear. He leaned between the seats and asked Spenser about Ryker.

  “Without having seen his body myself, I can’t be certain he’s dead. Still, there was no way Damon was faking the grief he felt. He believed his father was dead, and he wanted to kill me for causing it. I didn’t want to harm the boy, but I didn’t want to spend life looking over my shoulder for him either.”

  “Ryker’s son would have also claimed the title of Tanner as well,” Cody pointed out. “That can’t happen. The legacy of Tanner will either go to Romeo or me. There’s no room for wannabes and pretenders. You did the right thing in killing Damon Ryker, Spenser. If you hadn’t, I would have.”

  “I hope Ryker is rotting in hell,” Spenser said. “He had no business training his son, seeing as how the boy was obviously unsuited to become an assassin. But enough about Ryker, he’s in the past. Let’s talk about our future.”

  “I want to see Japan during the trip,” Romeo said. “That short layover we had in Tokyo made me want to see more of the country.”

  “Then we’ll go there,” Spenser said, “and we’ll have the time of our lives. Training is over, boys, now it’s time to live the life.”

  “It’s all we’ve ever wanted,” Romeo said.

  And although Cody nodded in agreement, he knew he wouldn’t be satisfied being just another hit man, elite or not. He ached to be Tanner Seven, and the greatest assassin of all time. There was nothing he wanted, or needed, more.

  Epilogue

  AUSTRALIA, JANUARY 2002

  Weeks after Spenser and the boys had left the country, two figures traveled to the land where Ryker’s training camp had been. One of the figures was whole, healthy, and exuded the confidence of youth. The other one, the youth’s mentor, looked older than his years, after having nearly died. The mentor was also missing the lower portion of his left leg. He had lost it to an infection that nearly claimed his life. His name was Vince Ryker.

  Upon seeing the burnt trailers, it became obvious to Ryker that something horrible had happened to his son.

  A careful search of the surrounding terrain disclosed the shallow grave of Damon Ryker. He was dug up and identified by his wallet and watch. The watch was engraved on the back. From Dad with love.

  Ryker wept over his son’s body, then instructed his apprentice to bury Damon again.

  * * *

  Ryker was staying at a private rehabilitation center and making plans to be fitted with an artificial leg. There was also a puckered scar on his neck, from where Spenser’s blade had come close to ending his life.

  A day after discovering Damon’s body, the apprentice returned to Ryker with news.

  A man matching the description of Spenser Hawke had been in Australia searching for Ryker, as Ryker suspected Spenser would do. Hawke was with two younger men toward the end of his stay. His apprentice wanted to know if they were the protégés he had spoken of previously.

  “Yes,” Ryker said. “I wanted Damon to believe I was dead so that Spenser would buy the story and move on. Never for a moment did I think the man would murder my son out of spite. I blame myself for letting that happen. I let Damon think I was dead, so if questioned, his grief would seem genuine. I should have realized that he would want to seek revenge and travel to the training camp.”

  The apprentice asked to be allowed to track Spenser down and kill him, but Ryker shot down that notion.

  “No. You’re not ready to face a man like Hawke. I don’t even think you’re ready to take on those two students of his.”

  Protests erupted from the apprentice along with assurances that Spenser, Cody, and Romeo would die.

  “I said you’re not ready. Even if you were, I’m not ready. I need time to heal and you need more training. We’ll also need a plan. They are too damn good to risk a blatant attack. We’ll have to be wise and patient.”

  Ryker grabbed his crutches and stood, to hobble over to the window and stare out at the grounds of the rehabilitation center.

  “Spenser Hawke is mine. If it’s my last act on this planet, I will kill him for murdering my son. I will have my revenge. As for you, you can murder his students.”

  Ryker turned his head and smiled at his apprentice.

  “Hawke and his lackeys think we’re both dead, when we finally do strike, they won’t even see us coming.”

  YOUNG GUNS 6 - CONTRACT TO KILL

  30

  Audacious Plans

  DECEMBER 2002

  Cody and Romeo were driving along the I-5 interstate in California and headed for Oregon. They had been back in the United States for only a few days after returning from their travels around the world.

  The boys had spent more than a year exploring other countries with their mentor, Spenser Hawke, and it had been the best time either of the young men had ever experienced.

  During their travels they had lived in Japan, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, England, South Africa, Brazil and Norway. As it had for many before them, traveling had broadened the boys’ perspectives of the world. And they were hardly boys anymore, as Cody was twenty-two and Romeo twenty-three.

  What they were was a pair of young men at the beginning of their careers, and like most young men, they wanted to make a name for themselves.

  They had a plan to accomplish that, an audacious plan, and one fraught with danger. If they succeeded, they would be legends. If they failed, they would simply be dead.

  Although young and with limited experience, Cody and Romeo considered themselves to be among the elite of their profession.

  They had been trained by the best assassin on the planet and they knew their abilities were far above average. One of them would someday succeed Spenser Hawke and claim the title of Tanner. To be worthy of that honor, they intended to prove themselves exceptional.

  * * *

  In Oregon, there is a legendary refuge named the Citadel. For decades the Citadel had granted asylum to anyone with enough money to seek safety within its confines. That protection not only kept one safe from any enemies that might wish them harm but also offered immunity from the law.

  The Citadel is known to have numerous secret exits by which one could be ferreted away if
the police or federal authorities ever came knocking. The Citadel’s amenities also included the services of a doctor for those who needed it. That same doctor was purported to be a talented plastic surgeon.

  Many who entered the Citadel with one face were said to have left with a different one. It was also assumed that they were living lives in peace in exotic locations around the world.

  To date, there had been seventeen failed attempts by assassins, with only a man named Roy Hutchins surviving his assault on the Citadel.

  Cody and Romeo were headed to Oregon to speak with Hutchins, who was an expert on the Citadel. Talking with the man came with a fee of a thousand dollars apiece. It would be money well-spent if Hutchins provided insight into a way to breach the fortress. Hutchins also had connections with black market weapons dealers.

  Although the boys would have no formal contract on anyone taking shelter inside the Citadel, such people inevitably arrived there with a price on their heads. Regardless of any financial incentive, Citadel clients would also be disreputable and prime candidates for assassination.

  Whoever was in the Citadel when they made it inside would die. Cody and Romeo were willing to risk their lives on getting in and out safely, but they needed to kill a target under the Citadel’s protection for their venture to be deemed successful. Once they made their kill, they would be legends among assassins, while assuring Spenser that he had taught them well.

  * * *

  While traveling, Cody had let his hair grow long. Romeo, who often wore his hair shoulder-length, was wearing it shorter, and he had grown a beard too. The beard had come in two shades darker than his hair and gave Romeo a more mature appearance.