Chapter 2

Present day

Huntington Beach, California

My boots clicked along the planks of the pier. My brown leather duster jacket was flapping around me in the wind coming off the sea. I kept my dark brown cowboy hat lifted slightly, I pulled the brim down and the hat settled securely on my head. My brown hair flew in the breeze, I really needed to tie it up or get it cut short, having it down to the middle of my back was getting annoying. My sharp blue eyes took in everything behind my sunglasses.

The people on the pier were leaning over the fencing to look at the crashing waves and sinking sun as the days sky slowly filled with stars and darkened. Families walked up and down, children laughing and nagging their parents for ice-cream from the shop at the end of the pier. I clocked the man standing at the end of the pier, leaning against the banister and smoking.

I smiled as I recognised his old striped shirt, his ripped jeans and scuffed boots. his bulky biker jacket couldn't hide the bulge at the small of his back. This would be risky, there was a lot of bystanders. I moved my hand away from my holster on my hip, I'd try and do this without sending any bullets flying.

Only I was unlucky, before I was even five feet away he casually turned, tapping ash off his cigarette to the floor, our eyes locked. Shit!

In a flash I dashed forward, my fist getting ready and my other hand preparing to go either for my pepper spray or gun. He dived sideways, and did the worst thing I needed in this situation. It turned into a worst case scenario, as he grabbed a young African girl and pulled her away from her family. He held her up high and pulled his gun out, aiming it at her head. He had a hostage, he had the leverage.

Pandemonium struck, the girl screamed and eventually froze in fear, the family became hysterical, people either stood and watched shocked or ran in fear. I stayed perfectly still.

"Nobody fucking move! Don't come closer! Or I'll shoot."

"I know you will. But who are you going to shoot? You shoot the girl and I have no reason to hesitate. You shoot me well, then you'll have no one chasing you across states. You could walk right on out of here."

Richard Mason was wanted for rape, murder, theft, fraud, twenty five missed court dates, avoidance of capture, human slavery auctions and many more. All in all, he was a bad person. There was a bounty on his head for $2600. A couple other bounty hunters had gone after him and had gotten killed or landed in hospital, I was called in cause I was the best. So I would not get a dead kid put on my record, conscience or my soul.

I saw his green eyes narrow as he considered his options, then something clicked in that shaved head of his. I saw his grip tighten, that was bad.

"Why miss Singer I do think you're right."

His arm flexed and the little girls body sailed over the railings, then she plummeted into the sea. I jumped forward, smacking Mason's head into the wood behind him and knocking the gun away before he could fire it, then in one move dived off the side of the pier into the choppy waves. My hat flew off and landed on the piers decking, my glasses fell into the sea seconds before I did.

Cold blackness surrounded me, I couldn't hear the people shouting above the sound of the crashing waves. I could see the little girl though, struggling to keep her head above water, the waves were pulling her towards the piers pillars, if she hit them she'd be messed up. With strong strokes and kicks I swam as fast and as hard as I could.

Her head went under water and I pulled her up with a strong arm wrapped around her tiny chest. I left my arm secured on her so that I could pull her with me as I swam, keeping her afloat on her back so she could gasp in air. It was hard going but eventually the pull of the waves lessened, I could feel the calmer waves, then the crashing ones as I stumbled on to the shore. Sand sinking under my feet. I pulled the crying child with me till I crouched on the sand checking her over for injuries

People were running to us, lifeguards, paramedics, police, the child's family and curious bystanders. Mason was long gone by now.I waved off their worries and the families enthusiastic thanking. I walked out of the group with a sigh. I had made a mistake, I shouldn't have confronted him in public, I had gotten hasty because he knew I wouldn't normally go after him in the publics eye. I'd saved that little girl but if I didn't catch Mason soon, he'd find more victims.

I walked up a ramp to the sea front. A tiny tug on my coat drew my eyes down at the little girl peering up at me with blazing eyes. "Here, this is yours."

She held up my black cowboy hat, I took it gratefully and ran my fingers along the crocodile teeth secured around the base with leather strips. It had been a gift from an old friend in Australia. I'd travelled all over the world, I had cherished memories of each place but I couldn't settle. I had to keep moving.

"Thanks kid." My Texas accent hitched my words slightly. I wasn't born a Texan, I'd just been there for a while and had picked up the accent. Normally my voice was plain, but accents from all over the world influenced my words some days. I remember having the uncanny skill as a child.

"Are you going after him?"

I plopped the hat on my wet head and brushed off the dripping water on my front. I grinned from under the hats brim. "Aye lil' girl, I'm going to hunt him down and take him to the authorities. You stay safe now and take care lil' miss." I grinned at her and tilted my hat. Playing the whole cowgirl thing up for her girly giggles. She enjoyed my little show and pretended to tilt her own imaginary hat at me in a farewell.

I walked back to my car that was parked two miles away, I'd picked up Mason's trail and walked the rest on foot tracking him.

I unlocked the car doors when I reached and fished for my phone which I had thankfully left in the car, or it would have had a swim with me as well. I pressed speed dial and immediately the call was picked up.

"I'm guessing it's not good news?" A deep rough voice asked.

"No its not." I uttered climbing into my car still dripping wet. "I cornered him at the pier, he chucked a girl over the side so I dove after her. I'm guessing he's halfway at the airport by now. Alert the airports, he'll be out of the country, he knows I can track him across states easily, he'll be bound for a country with a not so well known town. Check the flights at the nearest airport, ones that are leaving immediately and check emergency bookings. He'll be on the first leaving straight away as soon as. We wont be able to catch him straight away, he'll use a fake ID and the terminal's will be too hectic at this time of day. I'll have to follow him till I get close enough again." I paused for breath and heaved a sigh in frustration. This target was good, he knew his stuff and how to hide in plain sight. No wonder they'd hired me, I was the best but even this was turning trying.

"Listen, Cooper, I'm sorry I screwed up. I'll catch this guy if it's the last thing I do."

He chuckled on the other end of the phone. "Relax Trinity, you'll get him in due time. Remember what's the most important rule in hunting 'em down?"

"No matter how long it takes wait and persevere. It takes one mistake and one chance, you or them."That was the first rule he taught me in this job. There was another mantra that he taught us to live by as well, 'if you can save just one life, it's all worth it.' Yeah Cooper was full of zen life teachings to help guide us on the right path. I was expecting him to start telling me to use the force and start acting like Yoda. I respected him.

"Good you remember that. Head to your hotel room and get ready to move out. We'll book your flight once we find his trail, he'll be using one of the fake ID's and credit cards, we know what we're looking for so take it easy. don't get anxious, that's when you start making mistakes."

"Yeah, okay old man. Stay in touch." I called into my phone.

"You too senorita."

I closed my phone and started up the car. I needed to pack up and head out. Get on the hunt while the trail was still fresh. I wasn't going to let Mason get away. No matter how long I had to track him down.

3 months later in the Carpathian Mountains

I was sooooo bored…I needed something to do. I would die from boredom. Even my cousins were being dull. We were all staying here for a family reunion. Everyone was here, well nearly everyone, just one cousin away, I wasn't even sure if she'd come. She was always soooooo busy. She needed to relax some more. The minute she got here I'd be dragging her to the lake for skinny dipping, hehe just like the old days when we were kids, then we could have a expensive meal, then I'd drag her to a club and after that we could crash in our luxury paid for beds and have the best nights sleep we ever will have…so far.

Now if only she'd hurry up and answer my phone calls. I skipped down the stairs in my designer heels, they were so cute. They matched my gold necklace that was tied around my neck, my red skirt swished around my knees and my blouse made me feel like a little country lass. I loved clothes.

I snapped my phone shut and stormed over to my mother who was standing by the receptionist. "She's not answering her phone Mum!"

Mum turned around and grinned at me, flipping her salt and pepper hair over one shoulder. "Well Katie, we cant make her pick up. Lord knows where that girl is now anyway. She'll call you when she's not busy. Don't worry about her." Mum laughed as she walked off to see Andrew in the lounge. My sisters were in the ballroom, trying to dance gracefully, they reminded me of penguins.

I huffed and walked out onto the porch. I pressed redial, when I had no answer I tried again, then again, and again. I finally gave up and snapped my phone shut, waving it at the sky. "Where ever you are you better pick up the phone. This isn't funny anymore Trinity!" I blinked in surprise at the couple looking at me curiously. I grinned, "Sorry if I disturbed your evening." I tucked my phone in my pocket.

"Quite alright, boyfriend trouble is it?" The woman asked as she swung on the arm of her partner.

"Not quite. More like a no show cousin. I mean she travels all over the world for her job, never stays in one place, then when the family gets together no one can get a hold of her. Not unless you're her boss."

I grinned and registered their amused looks.

"Sorry, I'm Katie." I stuck my hand out in greeting, finally remembering to introduce myself.

The woman laughed and took my hand, "Joie. And this is my husband Traian. I take it you're here for the family reunion being held here?"

"Yep I am, it would be even better if I could track my cousin down. Is it really obvious we're all related?"

"Well you share similar traits and word travels fast around here. May I ask why you're having a reunion here in the Carpathian Mountains?"

I grinned even more, a mischievous twinkle lighting my eyes. "Well I don't know a lot about it, but Mum tells me somewhere down the line of my family, we can trace our ancestors here. We're all over the world, but there's this huge fascination with the tales Grampa and Uncle Leo tells us. Its really fascinating, but completely illogical, definitely a fairy tail."

"And what is that tale?" Traian asked nicely.

Awwwww, they were such a cute couple, Joie was petite and curvy with muscle and a cap of dark brown hair framing her sweet face with large grey eyes. Traian was a great match for her, dark hair to his shoulders, a strong build, angular face, eyes so dark I could mistake them for black. He definitely had the tall dark and handsome thing going for him. In fact a lot of the locals had the similar looks, maybe they were all related? I hope there was no incest. That would be just gross. But if I could find one of those charming locals who wasn't a dull boring rock and even the ones who weren't were already married to beautiful women. It wasn't fair. I wanted MY prince charming. Where was he?

"Just some old tale about our ancestors being fearless warriors, who stood against the Turks, then there's the stories of them fighting against beasts, monsters, the fictional. Apparently they guarded a secret of the earth, then after years of battle their magic was taken from them and they became cursed. Like I said fairytales, but we're playing it up for the kids, Trinity would be loving this if she was here. She was always digging into the past, and she loves the fairytales, things that go bump in the night."

I sighed and stared up at the moon, as if it had all the answers like when we were all children.

"Well that's a very odd story for a family to remember." Traian murmured.

"Well I don't know if the monsters are true, a few thousand years ago, who knows what existed, history can forget some things but not everything. The warriors were true though, our family has fighters from all parts of the world. Trinity is a testament to the past, if we were in the past I'm certain she'd be a warrior leading armies. She'd probably take on Genghis Khan if she had the chance to."

"Joie are you coming in?" I turned to look at the young man behind me. Dark hair arranged over his head and similar grey eyes that matched Joie. My breath hitched and that charming face smiled back at me.

"I'm coming now Jubal." Joie replied, smiling.

"And I see you've made a friend. I'm Jubal."

I shook his hand and tried not to blush. "I'm Katie."

I glanced down at his hand and nearly giggled, wasn't a talk-less rock and not married according to his ring-less finger. Wait till I told my sisters, I had met my prince charming. My mouth froze opening halfway, my phone was ringing. It was playing the Rocky theme tune. Yay Trinity!

I opened the phone and answered smiling wider than ever. "Trinity! You called back. Where are you, are you coming?"

I heard a few huffed noises and a few banging noises. It took me a while to realise it wasn't slamming doors making the noise. "Katie….-op…calling….eeee."

"OH my god." I gasped as the static voice told me to stop bugging her.

I ran back into the inn with a confused trio following from outside.

"OH MY GOD! MUM! UNCLE LEO!" I ran to my family calling for them at the top of my voice as panic set in. Half the inns patrons watched me as I frantically informed them. "I got Trinity on the phone. And there's gunfire!"

I guess I was the only one grinning, for some odd reason everyone looked shocked and stunned, Uncle Leo looked annoyed and exasperated.

"Katie let me work!" We all heard Trinity scream down the phone line as she hung up. I knew what that meant, if she had called back, even to just tell me off. That meant she'd eventually come here, mission accomplished. I still couldn't stop myself from calling her back. I kept trying even though I was certain she wouldn't answer.

I ducked for cover behind a cop car, the windows glass shattering behind me as bullets whizzed into it. Damn that Richard Mason! Wanted dead or alive, I was considering handing him over with his head on a platter at this rate. He wasn't the one shooting at me, no he was too smart for that. I had nearly had him, only he'd lead me straight into the middle of a cop/gang fight. He'd run off and I'd gotten caught in the crossfire. Took me a while to convince the cops I was on their side, the gang was having fun targeting me as well, seeing as my phone kept going off and giving away my position. I was going to kill Katie when I saw her next.

"Will you shut that thing off!" One of the cops snapped at me as he fired over the hood of his car.

"Yeah because I so have the time to do that." I snapped back, ducking as a bullet skimmed passed where my head had been. "Bugger this, haven't you got any heavier guns than these damn pistols?" I asked in annoyance.

"Yeah, firearm powered rifles, the heavy artillery, but it's in the trunk, that's too dangerous. If you try to pop the boot they'll take you down."

His warning fell on deaf ears and a grin graced my lips. Finally, some handy weapons. "Whatever hoss, try to cover my back will ya." I stood up and stepped up to the boot of the car. The cops around me cursed and fired more, trying to distract the gangs, bullets whizzed at me, slamming into the metal of the car with a loud bang. None hit me, just gave me a scare by getting close, that meant the gang was firing blindly, they were afraid they were going to get caught. Oh and they were.

I lifted the lid of the boot and smiled down at the 7600 rifle. I was in love, but it wasn't as good as my Winchester, or Smith & Wesson, or my Colts. Yeah I liked my guns.

I lifted the beauty out with gentle hands. A bullet whizzed past my ear, making my hair blow in my face. Now I was mad.

There was three officers and me, across the street, hiding behind a wrecked Camaro and behind a phone box where five men. All heavily armed and big muscled. They wore the local gang colours with twining snake tattoos curling up their biceps. I'd show them how to be fearless and fight like you mean it.

Without hesitation I brought the rifle up and aimed carefully, in seconds I pulled the first shot. The man standing behind the telephone box fell backwards, a wound on his stomach, the glass shattering. I quickly swung the rifle and gave three quick pulls of the trigger, the three men hit the floor, one with a fatal wound, I turned to the last man who wasn't in my line of fire yet. I frowned and got down on one knee. All I could see was his hand as he waved it over the top of the car, firing blindly. I got down on my stomach and took aim under the car, the bang of the gun was nearly quiet compared to the mans screams as the bullet passed through the tendons in his ankle, he dropped, letting go of the gun and sending it skittering across the floor.

The cops stared at me in shock as I placed the rifle back in the boot. One even crossed himself.

"Listen I gotta go, I need to try and catch this guys trail. If you need me for any evidence contact my boss, Diego and Cooper, THE original bounty hunters, they aren't that hard to get on the phone."

I walked down the street waving my hand in farewell, I bent and scooped up my hat from where it rested by a bullet destroyed post box. I needed to catch this guy, I was getting really pissed off he kept slipping away when I was inches from snatching him and hauling his ass back to Montana State County.

My phone started ringing again. Then again, maybe I'd kill Katie first. She was always bugging me. This time I turned my phone off.