CHAPTER 2 "You have to do better than that." "All right, two hundred thousand. That's my final offer." "Two fifty in cash, unmarked." The chairman signed. "Done." "You'll get them back soon enough. Any details?" He held out a photo. "They were taken by her." I lifted a puzzled eyebrow. "Chan's daughter?" "Yes. She's to deliver them to her father. All the groups will be after her for the same reasons as us. She won't be a problem." "Let me guess, spoiled rich brat who wants to please her daddy?" "Yes. And a total idiot. The problem would be the other gangs. You have to get her and bring her to the place mostly unharmed. Try not to draw attention. Mr Sushiharo wants those diamonds." He said solemnly. "Whatever. Your wars don't concern me. I'll get the girl." I walked out of the warehouse carrying the fifty grand hire charge. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ *Body guard work. I hate bodyguard work.* I flipped on my black visor, revving my motor bike as I followed her. She wasn't what I had expected in the least. All my sources say that Grace Chan is a nitwit and complete ditz. They all said she only knew mandarin as well. Either this wasn't Grace Chan, daughter of one of Hong Kong's most powerful crime bosses, or she's fooling everyone. Both aren't very good prospects for my bank account. The girl was older than she looked in that photo, other than that, it had to be the same person. Not as much make up as I would've thought or the choice of clothes for someone who had everything since she was born either. *This could prove to be a problem.* I shut the engine off, watching her enter a five-star hotel. She was definitely pretty enough to be Chan's daughter, that's for sure. At least she knows how to defend herself, I thought with a grimace. Personally I thought she was a very annoying harlot. I melted into the shadows, noticing a black car pull up to the door. *Those bastards never give up do they?* I click my glock off safety, silently watching as five suit clad men got out, surrounding the car. *Great. Just great.* I thought lethally. The back alleys were clear, hell, they always were. Moving with ease through grime filled sidewalks, I reached the hotel staircase. A life in the streets teaches you things, I thought, pulling the ladder down, there's always another way in. A slithering shadow moved above me. *Amateur.* The guy could've woken the whole building with those metal boots. *Idiot* I climbed, melting into shadows holding the glock ready in my hands. The metal of the staircase screamed under the shadow's boots. I walked steadily gaining on him. It was almost pathetic when the guy fell with one kick. Of course, that one kick took him flying soundlessly in surprise into the squelchy mess three storeys down, but who gives a crap? The girl's window was only two storeys away. A climb easily managed. *Shit.* My hearing picked up the familiar sound of choking. Something I myself performed at times, for the right sum. "Do that again and I blow you brains out." Came a hissed threat. I moved. With a growl, I hurled the man off the bed, clubbing him to the jaw before raising the glock to his head and blowing off two rounds. He was fast I'll give him that. With desperate strength he rolled and tried to hit me with the small handgun in his hand. Bullets flew everywhere in rapid fire. I dodged and rammed him hard, an elbow to the stomach. He grunted and yet amazingly still had the strength to kick my glock out of my grip. And, hitting me in the process. Now I'm getting annoyed. I grabbed the bastard by the shirt collar, fist drawing back......... BANG!! *What the fuck?* The body in my hands limped, a bullet dead center between the eyes. I dropped him in disgust, turning and saw, to my surprise the girl holding my still smoking glock. I was impressed to say the least. She faltered and typically, fainted. I rolled my eyes. *Women.* Going over, I holstered the gun and gently lifted her head up, looking for injuries. Only a few bruises on her neck, the guy wasn't trying too hard. 'Click.' I froze. "Get away from her you son of a bitch." I turned slowly to see two females standing above me holding the other guy's handgun. They had no idea at all how to use a gun. It showed, they'd just switched it back to safety. "Get away from her." The one holding the weapon repeated, waving it. She was obviously not Asian with brown, orangy hair that fell to her waist and dark, grounded eyes. I just looked at them and saw their breaths draw. With quick reflex, I grabbed the gun out of their hands and tucked it in my leather jacket before they could blink. I stood, staring at them, annoyed. They drew back in fear. "W.......what do you want with us?" The one behind the brunette stammered, clinging to her larger friend in fear. The other was clinging just the same with her. "I don't want anything with you. I just came to collect her. You are no use to me." I gestured to Chan's daughter on the bed. One of them, the one who had the gun stepped forward. "Y.....y...you can't have her." Her words stammered. Please. I looked back down at the girl. Then threw a ruthless smirk at them, making them step back. "I don't want to have to hurt you." I hesitated, contemplating what's easiest. "If she stays here she'll be killed, kidnapped, tortured, maybe all three. I can get her out." I settled for the stupid 'rescue' lie, which as it was, technically true. They looked at me, eyes wide in distrust, alarm and fear. Just then, the form on the bed let out a groan. The two, friends I presumed, immediately ran over. "Nova! Nova! Are you okay?" They both screamed in worry. She spluttered, coughing. Nova? The brunette rushed out, returning with a glass of water which was swallowed by Chan with help, chokes escaping her lips. "Nova?" The Asian one asked hesitantly, frowning. "Just give me a moment and I'll be less than dead." She hoarsed, holding up a finger for silence as her eyes opened slowly. They went wide immediately. "You!!!" Her voice screamed, then winced in pain. I snorted, crossing my arms. "Yeah." She looked around in obvious horror. The room was in shambles, bullet holes in the walls, broken furniture, all regular sights for me. "Get dressed we're going." I looked around. "Now." They all stared at me. "WHAT!?!" One of them, the Asian one, screamed, her eyes wide with horror. I rolled my eyes. *Females!* "H.....hey mister! Nova isn't going anywhere with the likes of you!!!!" The brunette cried loudly, eyeing me annoyingly in distrust. I stared down at them. "She comes with me or she dies. Simple as that." All three paled. "Are you going to kill me?" I looked at my target with a cold smirk, not caring either way. "Don't have to. The guys downstairs will do it." She swallowed, wincing again. "Who are you?" She rasped, a gleam of curiosity and fear in her eyes. "You don't need to know. Get dressed. Or, get your brains blown out." I smirked. My eyes swept around the ruined room. "Where did you hide them?" "Hide what?" She asked, obviously lying. Knowingly my eyes chilled. "The diamonds lady. You, are useless to me without them." "I......I don't know what you mean......" BOOM!!!! I raised my eyebrows at her. "Better hurry. Here they come." They scrabbled off the bed as another crash came from the door. Chan, I noticed ran into another room and came out just as quickly pulling on clothes left and right, a bag in her hand. The same bag she had before. I narrowed my eyes in annoyance. With a grunt, I swung her over a shoulder, heading for the window. "Oh. I suggest you two get out of town. Fast." I directed over my shoulder at the two others. A loud wail came over my shoulder. "Let me go you brute!!!! My friends.....!!!" "Are no business of mine." I grabbed my ultra fibre rope from inside my jacket, latching the release on the railing. The first volleys of muffed bullets whizzed past as I leapt over the railing. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |