Page 12

Colton rubbed the soreness of his wound where Zaire’s bullet had struck him, requiring him to stitch himself up that night. He had slept in his car stationed close to where Zaire had parked his car. He didn’t know what hotel room he was in, but he didn’t need to know. He could wait for his prey to return, which he did in the morning. Colton remained lying flat in the backseat watching the video footage on his dash cam. He saw the moment Zaire returned to his car, how he looked around, being very cautious of his surroundings.

Damn, he was gorgeous! Exactly Colton’s type. Young, rugged, super easy on the eyes, and extremely alluring to his cock. But more importantly, he was hard to catch, off limits to be more exact, and that made him want him even more. But to his disappointment, he’d have to get his satisfaction in the kill. He smiled as he watched Zaire inspect his car, looking all over for a tracker. He remembered thinking how surprised he’d be if he’d actually found it. He didn’t and that was why they were back on the road.

He had to be careful, because his target was a crafty one, taking silly exits and turns just to see who’d do the same. After falling for it the first time, he realized what was going on and didn’t bother to fall for it again. Since he’d already had the tracker on Zaire’s car, he could take his time and he caught up when the car stopped moving, which was at the hotel. He noticed Zaire taking an exit that wouldn’t get him to Memphis, so he kept going and then pulled off on the next exit. He waited, watching the GPS, and chuckled when he saw the tracker make turns that seemed to take his target in circles before getting back on the interstate again. He waited until he passed him, then he got back on it as well.

Yes, this game of cat and mouse was quite interesting.

After driving for another three hours, they were in Memphis and he pulled into another three-star hotel. This time, Colton wasn’t going to wait in his car. He parked in the lot where he could see Zaire’s car, then climbed out and opened the trunk of his car.

For moments like this, when things took an unexpected turn, he had his kit. In it were tools of his trade, extra weapons, three changes of clothes, and two outfits he considered “costumes”. One being a cheap suit and the other, another set of black cargo pants and a t-shirt. Colton dressed quickly in the suit, making sure no one could see him, then he grabbed his suitcase and walked inside, looking every bit of the professional businessman that he was. He made sure not to look rich, just someone on a business trip. Upon entering the lobby, he spotted his target checking in and he walked up to the other receptionist.

“Do you have a reservation?” the lady asked him.

“I had one at the Embassy Suites,” Colton lied. “But after all the driving I've been doing, I knew I wasn’t going to make it there. So, no reservation, but do you have space available?”

She smiled and nodded. “Of course, sir, I can help you.”

Out of his peripheral vision, he noticed his target looking slyly at him as he waited for his room key. He took his time, made small talk like one would do if they were on business. Asking about internet access and the restaurants that were in the area.

“We have free breakfast,” the lady informed him.

He nodded and looked in the direction the receptionist was pointing where the breakfast he had no plan of eating would be located in the morning.

“Room 234, view of the parking lot as requested. You can take the elevator right around the corner,” the receptionist told his target.

Wonderful, now he knew which room he was in. His target nodded, took the key, and walked away. He got his key, then walked over to the elevator too, where his target was still waiting.

The two men stood side by side, not saying anything to each other as Colton pretended to be busy texting on his cell phone. When the doors opened, they both climbed on. Even though his room was on the third floor as requested, 338, he pushed the number “four” button on the panel, while his target pressed “two”.

Colton could feel something in the air, something electric making the hair on the back of his neck rise. The sensation made him look up, and he locked eyes with his target. “Hi,” he said, giving the man one of his charming smiles that he hoped threw the man off his scent.

“Hi,” his target replied in a deep voice that held a level of menace just beneath the surface. The look in his eye wasn’t friendly, but it wasn’t quite threatening either, yet Colton could tell that it was on the edge.

Damn, his dick jerked at the sight. He had to play his part. He moved away a step, trying to act as if the man unnerved him, which was what a normal person would have felt. He went back to looking at his cell phone just as the doors opened and his target stepped out. Nothing else was exchanged between them and the doors closed. He sighed, reached down, and grabbed his hardening cock, giving it a loving squeeze. Ever since their tense face-off the night before, he decided Zaire wasn’t a target he wanted to take out from afar. He needed to kill this man with his hands. To stand over him and watch as the light left his beautiful green eyes as Zaire took his last breath.

The door opened again, and he climbed off, then took the stairs to the third floor. He went to his room, walked onto the balcony, and looked around. The view wasn’t anything to marvel about. Mostly traffic, restaurants, and other mid-level hotels like that one. He also had requested a view of the parking lot if they had one. He’d done so to ensure he was on the same side as his target. Looking over the railing, he did a mental count of the rooms and noted the one his target would be in. No doubt, the man had secured the room, probably barricaded the door, and closed the curtains.

Colton stepped back into his room and looked over his weapons and equipment, the ones he’d use. He packed knives, a glass cutter laser, and one gun, just in case. Rappelling wasn’t anything he enjoyed doing in particular at his age, but he’d do it to get to the lower level. Next, he changed clothes, something comfortable, a pair of black cargo pants and a shirt, then he settled in to wait. Colton monitored the GPS, watching to see if his target made any movement. An hour later, the GPS started moving and he sat up, alert, and watched the signal. Ten minutes later, it stopped at a restaurant. He decided right then was the perfect time to make his move. Looked like he wouldn’t need the glass cutter after all. He took his favorite device, the one that could get him into any hotel room that used key cards.

Putting a cap on to shield his face, he left his room and took the stairs to the second floor, and walked to Zaire’s room. Using his device, he quickly got inside and took a look around. The man packed light and his clothes were still inside his backpack. His suitcase required a fingerprint to open, but Colton knew that it contained weapons. The good thing was that his target was coming back and he’d be waiting for him.

Twenty minutes later, he heard the beep of the key card and the click of the door opening, then footsteps and the crackling of a bag. He could smell the food his target had purchased; the spices had the room filling with the succulent aroma of what was certainly egg foo young and beef pepper steak. Colton had been crouched low on the side of the dresser, hidden from immediate view, even after his target turned on the light. When he heard footsteps getting closer, he lunged, catching his target off guard with a cut to his forearm, which he managed to put up at the last second. That meant his target had great reflexes. Zaire recovered quickly, swiftly moving into a defensive position as Colton charged at him, his blade in his hand with lethal intent.

Zaire fell on the bed, then bounced off, rolling away, which gave him enough time to pull out his own knife. The look in his eyes that was just on the edge of danger before in the elevator was in full bloom now. Deadly, and it made Colton’s pulse race even faster than last night’s encounter. Colton’s senses were firing on all cylinders, his vision sharp as he sized Zaire up.

“You’re good,” Colton told the young man. “Most people wouldn’t have been able to dodge that attack, let alone counter as quickly.”

“I’m not most people,” his target said, then flipped the knife in his hand into an offensive grip. Colton noted the fighting style as Kali and his eyes watched every move as his mind worked out how to counter whatever was coming. Now his prey was on the attack and he had to dodge some slices and jabs. His target thrust and he dodged, but then got cut on his arm with a backward slice he wasn’t able to move away from. It was followed up with more until their blades clashed together. Zaire headbutted Colton, busting his nose and knocking his head back enough to cause a bit of disorientation. The room tilted a bit, his vision blurred, and Colton blinked to clear it. In that instant, he took a punch and had to leap back to put some space between them until he gathered himself. Zaire came after him and kicked the knife out of Colton’s hand, then cut him twice on his chest with slashing motions. Colton countered before he took another injury, and grabbed Zaire’s wrist. He followed that with a backhand to his target’s jaw, snapping Zaire’s head back. Both men fought over the knife Zaire still held.

Zaire’s gaze was boring into Colton’s, both men knowing each was the predatorandprey at this point. Their chests heaved with the adrenaline flowing through them and from their physical exertion. Blood seeped from wounds they’d inflicted, but both men had an iron focus on the other, not themselves. It was life and death and everything relied on what they did at this moment. They were locked in a grip as Zaire tried to stab Colton, but he continued to block the movement with his grip on Zaire’s wrist. Their faces were perfect masks of intense grimaces and bloodthirst. Zaire released his knife, then caught it with his other hand before it fell to the floor in a move so skilled, it caught Colton by surprise and he ended up getting stabbed in his thigh, but not deep enough to cripple him.

“Arrg!” Colton growled from the pain. Again, he stopped Zaire’s thrust and followed up with a headbutt of his own that sent Zaire staggering, his nose bleeding.

Colton pulled the tip of the blade out of his leg and flipped the knife in his hand so he was using it offensively. Zaire reached behind his back and pulled out another knife, making himself ready for another attack. They went at it again. Slashing, stabbing, punching, kicking, and dodging. It looked like an intricate and violent dance performed by two highly experienced performers. At one point, Colton disarmed Zaire, but before he could stab the man, he too was disarmed. The knives now out of the picture, the men begin fighting with fists and feet.

Colton’s cock was rock hard as he dodged kicks and punches, catching some and countering with his own. He dealt Zaire a roundhouse kick that slammed the man against the dresser and TV, his body hitting hard enough to crack the screen and knock the coffee maker to the floor. He was on him, slamming Zaire back against the TV again and this time, their bodies were touching and he felt Zaire’s hardness rubbing his own. Blood seeped from their lips and noses, and Colton had a cut above his eyebrow. But he’d never been as horny as he was at this moment.

Zaire grabbed Colton’s arm in an armbar and wrapped his legs around the man’s shoulders to lock it in. “Thought I’d be an easy kill?” he taunted.