Retaliation (The Assassins Book 1)
Retaliation
Book One
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T.L. COULTER
Retaliation
Book One
Copyright © 2015 by T.L. Coulter
This is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, even or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of T.L. Coulter.
The sale of this book without its cover has not been authorized by the publisher. If you purchase this book without a cover, you should be aware that neither the author nor the publisher has received payment for this “stripped book”.
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Cover by RE Creatives (Renee Ericson)
Photo by Fotolia
Written by T.L. Coulter
Edited by Melissa Van Natta
Retaliation
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by T.L. Coulter
ISBN-13: 978-1514770535
ISBN-10: 1514770539
Email: t.l.coulter1@gmail.com
Visit my blog: http://tlcoulter.blogspot.com/
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Note from the author
I have to say that I really enjoyed writing this book. This book really let me get out of my comfort zone and try something new. The idea came to me one night in the form of a crazy dream. As the story began to take shape, I realized that it needed to be told right.
With that being said, I highly recommend this book for ages 18+ due to some language, violence, and even some sex scenes. Although I didn’t go too graphic with the sex scenes, as I like to leave some things to imagination, I still feel better making the recommendation for 18+.
On another note, I want readers to remember that this is just a story. I don’t condone violence, nor do I have any ill will toward the government. The beauty of bringing a story to life is all about imagination and the possibility of what if’s. I truly hope you enjoy reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Thank you for your support.
T.L. Coulter
1
It is especially dark out tonight, not even a glimmer of light from the moon can be seen. This is the perfect night to make my move. Most people wouldn’t even be able to see their hand in front of their face, but I can though. I’m wearing the night vision goggles that were given to me by Brina. She’s my instructor, my guardian, and my voice of reason. I met Brina shortly after that fateful night two years ago. But that story is for another time. Right now I have to concentrate. I’ve been watching and waiting for months to take this guy down. I’ve already taken down two of the six that are on my list. The first two were easy, they didn’t cover their tracks very well. However, this guy had. It’s as if he knew I was coming for him. But, no matter how much he thinks he’s planned for an attack, tonight I will kill him.
I hear their voices before I hear their footsteps coming down the hallway. He’s not alone, but that’s not a problem for me. I just have to re-assess my plan of attack. I had a lot of training with Brina, before I ever started working through my hit list. She taught me how to think on my feet and change tactics at a lightning fast rate.
I need to concentrate on the job right now, I slow my breathing and listen. They should be close now. I can hear them on the other side of the door, whispering lightly to one another.
From the tone and timbre of their voices, I can tell that there are just two of them. My target and a woman. I can hear them start to make out, I roll my eyes and wait; my timing must be perfect. There is no room for errors.
Their moans get louder and I hear a thump against the door, he’s backed her against it. Well, they’re certainly taking it up a notch. I feel sick to my stomach, and I find myself starting to breathe hard in anticipation. I have to control my nerves. I’ve worked too hard to give up my position now. In their current state, I’ll be able to catch them off guard easily.
I hear someone fumble with the doorknob, I mentally ready myself for the attack. I want to get to them before they turn on the lights, that way they never see me coming.
I quickly make a game plan, I’m going to attack the man first, mainly because he’s the largest and hardest to take down. A positive by-product of this is the fact that she will be confused by what’s going on and I can take her out in the confusion.
I hear him say something to her, by the sound of their voices, I can tell they’ve been drinking. I smile to myself while thinking that this is almost too easy.
As the door opens I ready myself for the attack, I crouch low to the ground and watch. I see him reach for the light and that’s my cue to move. I quickly and quietly sneak up behind him, taking him by complete surprise. I put him in a chokehold and pin one of his arms behind his back so his chances of fighting back are limited.
I quickly put him to sleep, but I’m careful not to kill him just yet. The moment isn’t quite right. I want him to see me, I mean really see me before he dies. I want him and all the rest of the men on my list to know whose taking their last precious moments of life away. I want them to know who their killer is.
These are the men that the so called “soldiers” of the capital can’t touch. Men that have killed and hurt so many people, including me. I want to put them six feet under where they can’t hurt another person, ever again.
I turn now and face the woman. When she realizes that she’s my next target, she starts to scream. She has no idea what’s going on or if I’m going to kill her.
I quickly grab her, putting her to sleep as well. I hope her screams haven’t drawn attention to this room. I look down the hallway, assessing the situation, but I don’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary.
I return to the unconscious man, and get to work. First, I tie him up, and then I take care of her. I give her an injection in the arm, tomorrow she’ll wake up with a massive hangover, but with only minimal recollection of tonight’s events. Brina supplied me with these little cocktails to help erase the minds of innocent bystanders, such as this woman. I try not to use them if I can help it, but tonight is one of those nights.
I quickly drag the woman’s body into the stairwell where she’ll remain until she’s discovered in the morning.
I walk back into the room with a glass of cold water that I got from the bathroom in his office, and I throw it in his face in order to revive him. He comes too groggily, looking around the room slowly.
His eyes grow wide when he sees me standing over him. I can see his mind working, he’s trying to figure out who I am, why I’ve captured him.
He begins to panic when he realizes that he can’t talk or move. I’ve covered his mouth with tape and tied him pretty tightly to a chair. After letting him stew for a bit, getting more panicky with each passing second, I finally speak.
“There’s no use in trying to get free. I hate to pat myself on the back, but I tie a pretty mean knot. I’m sure you’re wondering why I attacked you and tied you up. Well, you’ll find out in due time. Now, before I introduce myself, or should I say, reintroduc
e myself, you need to understand that you had this coming. You need to realize that you attacked the wrong couple that night.”
I walk over to the light switch and flick on the remaining lights. It’s time to let the scumbag sitting in the chair know who I am.
I turn back to face him while I slowly pull my mask off, uncovering my face and hair. Recognition of who I am is written all over his face, and his eyes grow wide with fear. He panics, it’s as if he’s seen a ghost.
I ignore his panicked look, and resume my story.
“So, as you can see Mr. Bentley, I’m in fact not dead, but very much alive. I’m here to make you pay, and pay you will. You murdered Johnathan Blake, and I will have retaliation for your crimes.”
Now that he’s seen me, and knows just what crime he’s dying for, I’ll torture him a few more minutes. Then I’ll kill him and make my escape.
I already have it all planned out. I always survey the buildings inside and out before going after the scumbags on my list.
I continue to taunt him for a few more minutes as planned. I tell him how I over-powered his other two friends, and what the next three have coming. I will hunt them down for the rest of my life, if that’s what it takes to get the retaliation I desire.
I soon grow tired of toying with him. With my mind made up and my face a steel mask, I walk up to Kristopher Bentley and punch him hard, directly in the face knocking him out cold. I do it for no other reason except that it felt so good to hit him. I quickly inject him with a serum that will stop his heart.
I wait until I can no longer hear or feel his heart beating.
I grab his wrist and check his pulse just to make sure he’s dead.
I don’t bother to untie him. I want him to be found just like this. I want him to be a message to the others. I want them to know that they’re being hunted, and there is nothing they can do about it.
I shoot one last glance in Kristopher’s direction, then walk over and turn off the lights.
It’s now time to make my escape. I only make it halfway out of the building before I realize that something is wrong. I feel a tingling sensation on the back of my neck; I’m being followed. How is this possible? Did Kristopher have someone watching over him? It shouldn’t be possible. I was nothing, if not thorough. If it were Kristopher’s men, then surely they would have stepped in to help him.
I try not to panic. I steel my nerves and decide the best course of action is to follow through with my escape plan. If I move as fast as possible, I should make it out before they can catch up to me.
I realize my mistake much too late. I’m so focused on the person I hear following me, that I don’t see the person that comes up on my right. I feel a blinding pain on the right side of my skull, my last conscious thought before the world goes black is; “I’ve failed.”
2
I awake with a start. The last thing I remember is someone knocking me out cold. I try to move, but I quickly realize that I’m tied to a chair. My first thought is, “how ironic.”
I take a deep breath, and calmly assess the situation. My mask is still on; meaning whoever took me is in no hurry to find out my identity.
I struggle to untie my hands. Whoever tied the knot is very good at it. I can’t even get out of it, and that’s one of my specialties.
I look up as I hear voices enter the room. They’ve realized that I’m awake, they must be monitoring me somehow.
I raise my eyebrows when I see the men that the voices are attached to. One is tall, about six feet and slim. He’s got the look of a man who is intimately connected to a gym. His legs are long and toned under his nicely tailored pants. I bet he has an amazing six-pack hiding under that shirt. He has light sandy blonde hair and looks to be in his mid-twenties. The other guy is a little shorter, but not by much, with dark brown hair, and striking green eyes. He has a slightly stockier build, but not by much. He’s in amazing shape as well. The only thing that comes to mind is Adonis. Great, I’ve been kidnapped by the descendants of the Greek Gods.
I watch as the taller one walks toward me. He bends down a little to look into my eyes before finally speaking to me.
“So, who do we have here?”
The stocky guy comes over to stand beside his taller companion.
“I’m not sure Colonel, we found him fleeing the scene. Whoever he is, he got to Kristopher Bentley before we could.”
“Damn.” The guy I now know as the Colonel, does not seem happy about my actions.
“All of those months of monitoring Bentley are gone, poof, up in smoke, just like the other two. I don’t know who this guy is, but he’s definitely on my shit list.”
“What do you want me to do with him Colonel?”
It’s about this time that I’ve decided that I’m sick of being spoken about as if I’m not even here. I open my mouth and start to speak. You can call it sheer guts, balls, or insanity, but I don’t care. I just don’t plan on being ignored, especially when I don’t have a choice about being here.
“Excuse me gentlemen.” I say making sure to emphasize that I am, in fact, a woman.
They whip around to face me, jaws dragging the floor as they do.
“I just want to clarify to you two pricks that I’m a woman, not a damned man. I’d also like to ask that you, very politely might I add, not speak about me as if I’m not here. Lastly, and most importantly, I’d like to know what exactly you plan on doing with me. I’ve got a lot of stuff to do, my time is precious.”
“Well I’ll be damned Colonel, it’s a women.”
“No shit captain obvious, isn’t that what I just said?”
I’m really starting to get angry at this point. If they’re going to kill me, I want it over with quickly. If they have other things in mind, they most certainly will have to kill me first.
The stockier guy smirks at me, obviously amused by my sarcastic comments. The Colonel, on the other hand, looks as if he’d like to hit me. But, instead of hitting me, he turns away and speaks to his partner.
He gestures to my mask before saying, “Well Sgt. Jensen what do you say we find out just who this mystery woman really is.”
“Yes, let’s do just that gentleman, I’ve remained a mystery long enough!” I mumble sarcastically, but loud enough for them to hear.
Sgt. Jensen moves to grab my mask, but the Colonel holds up his hand to stop him.
“Wait Sgt. Jensen, you had better phone the General, he’ll want to be here for this.”
I soon find out that the General is already on his way to the interrogation room. He wanted to find out, for himself, who had been screwing up their missions.
I hear the door open, but I can’t see this so called “General”, because tweedle dumb and tweedle dee are blocking my view. I can only see the top of his head. He has a nice full set of jet black hair.
I’ve seen hair like that only once before. I have to focus on something else, and not think about him. I can’t ever think about him again. It still hurts too much, and I can’t afford to break down now.
I can hear them whispering amongst themselves. My nerves can’t take it anymore.
“Are we going to do this today, or are you three stooges going to yap it up like little old ladies all night?”
The Colonel turned to face me again.
“See General, I told you she has a mouth on her. One smack might knock the sass out of her.”
“We don’t hit woman Colonel Donavan, and you’ll do well to remember that.”
“Yes sir,” Colonel Donavan replied.
I still haven’t gotten a good look at the General, they’ve all moved to the left of me, and Colonel Donavan is still blocking my view. Jackass.
My mask is then yanked roughly off my head, as it clears the tips of my hair I hear a gasp from the General, it’s almost as if he recognizes me.
I defiantly yank my chin up and look right into the eyes of Jonathan Baker, my fiancée. My eyes go wide and I gasp, before everything fades, and I faint.
“General, are you okay?” Colonel Donavan asks, the worry is evident in his tone. He’s completely confused, he’s never seen the General act like this, hell no one had. He frowns to himself, wondering why the mystery woman fainted after seeing the General, that combined with the odd way the General is acting is especially confusing.
“I need to sit down, now!”
Sgt. Jensen quickly grabs a chair for the General, who gratefully sinks into it.
Colonel Donavan sits down across from him, concern showing all over his face.
“I know it’s none of my business sir, but who is this woman? You act like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
“Your right Colonel Donavan, it really is none of your business, but since it’s bound to get out. That woman was my brother’s fiancé, Clara Mitchell, and she was buried two years ago next to my brother.
3
This time when I wake up, I find myself lying in a bed. I sit up and shake my head, trying to clear it. It takes me a minute, but then the previous events of the evening come rushing back to me with a vengeance.
I bolt out of bed and look around the room. I’m completely alone in what looks to be a bedroom.
I run to the door, my heart is racing. Jonathan is here, alive and well, but how can that be? I need answers, and I need them fast.
I try to open the door, but just as I suspect, it’s locked. I start pounding on the door, and yell out for someone to come and let me out.
It doesn’t take long for the door to open, and I immediately recognize Sgt. Jensen from last night. Without thinking, I lunge for him, but he’s stronger than me right now, as I’m full of raw emotions.
“Whoa, whoa, easy there Clara, I’m not going to hurt you.”
Sgt. Jensen pins my arms behind my back.
“How do you know my name?”
I feel like I’ve just asked the dumbest question ever. Of course Jonathan would’ve told him who I am.