Rage of Fire
Chapter 2
Half an Inch
Ben Daniels took a double take when he saw the familiar name stare up at him from the leaf of paper.
His first though was that he couldn't do it. His second thought was: What the hell?
Alex Rider was always getting himself in trouble. Ben knew that for a fact. But the fact that Hamilton of all people, hired him, worried Ben. He shook his head. He would just tell then man that he wouldn't do it. He had enough money.
As he closed the file, a sharp knock assaulted the door. Ben whipped out his pistol and held it at the ready. Cautiously, he opened the door.
The man that was behind it was tall and muscular. He looked young, around his mid-twenties. "Benjamin Daniels?" He asked in a smooth voice.
Ben looked at the man warily. "Yes?"
"I've received intel that you have been hired to assassinate one Alex Rider. I've came to make you a deal."
Ben raised an eyebrow and opened the door wider for the man to come in.
He did, stepping in, and his eyes darting, taking everything in at a moments glance.
Ben noticed. "Who are you?"
The man turned around to look Ben in the eyes. "Scorpia sent me. Instead of killing him, they want you to kidnap Alex Rider and bring him to us. We will pay you six times more than the original destined price."
That he could do. Ben whistled appreciatively. "You have yourself a deal. How do I contact you?"
The man turned around to leave the hotel room. "You don't contact us. We contact you. Don't expect to hear from us until the mission is accomplished."
With that, the man left.
Ben turned around. His gaze fell on the file laying open on the table. He closed the top and threw it in the raging fire in the fireplace, watching in grim satisfaction as the file was reduced to a pile of ash.
Alex gasped as he was shoved once again into the rough, brick wall. He winced as it tore his already bruised skin.
He was pulled up roughly by brutal, calloused hands. He was manhandled from the underground tunnel and pushed into someone's open arms.
Alex was wrestled into what felt like a car and the blindfold was pulled from his eyes. A man, around the age of twenty five filled his vision.
"Is this him?" He asked someone that Alex couldn't see. A rough, jagged voice answered with something that was indistinguishable. The nodded as if satisfied and took out his pistol.
Alex's eyes widened as his intentions were made clear. "Hey, wait.." He began to protest but was cut off as the man pistol-whipped the seventeen year old. He grunted and turned to the driver.
"London Town Hotel, if you wouldn't mind."
The driver nodded and shoved his keys in the ignition.