Ezio
I looked over the new plans in the morning light when I was not about to drop over from exhaustion. They were quite detailed in their hostile takeover of Abstergo. "This is quite good. I mean, I wish I had thought about it." I looked up at Shaun, who sat across the table from me.
No one else was awake, save the two of us. The sun was just barely over the horizon, and I knew that the two oldest would be waking soon, followed shortly by Conner. I was surprised when Desmond woke before the clock hit the double digits.
Shaun smiled and sipped his coffee. "I'm glad you approve, Ezio, but will the others?"
Sitting the papers in the table, I leaned slightly back in the chair. "I believe they will. To tell you the truth, we have been growing tired of this life." I sighed as I leaned forward and rested my arms on the table. "When you have been at the game as long as we have, sometimes you just get tired of the same song and dance."
He looked over at me, eyebrow raised in question to what I just said. "You want to walk away?"
I shook my head and took a drink from the glass in front of me. "A thought only, you should not be worried. We would not leave the world for the Templars to take over."
Blowing out the breath that he was holding, he slouched in his chair. "You have me worried there for a bit. A lot is riding on you guys agreeing to doing this."
Standing, I walked across the room, and laid a hand on his slumped shoulder. "You don't have to worry about that. We will do what is called of us to finish something we started."
"But, you didn't start this?" He looked up at me.
I removed my hand. "No, I didn't, but we are just going to clean up the mess left behind."
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Once everyone pulled themselves from a bed and to the dining room, we reconvened our meeting from last night. Altair jumped on board, as did Alanna. Conner was already up for it, and Desmond just shook his head.
"Hey, I know I am just here to shoot someone. I don't have the funds to back this up. That is all on the four of them." He looked at us.
I sat in one of the chairs, and turned my eyes on Altair. "Where did you put Alanna's money? You were the one that withdrew it."
"It's in a safe at my other house in Florida." He smiled and took a drink from his coffee. "I guess I am going to have to go pick it up, huh?"
"That would be a good idea." I rolled my eyes. "Now, onto the killings. We are going to have to scout out these people and figure out the best place to kill them. I would say to make it as public as possible without getting caught."
Conner slouched in his seat and looked over at me. "I would agree to that, but they know our faces. They know who we are."
Shaun nodded. "That's true, but how did you guys give them the slip in Italy?"
"Makeup, and new looks." Alanna looked out the window at the falling snow.
"Then do that again. I mean, you are going to have to adapt. That is the whole idea behind this plan. To adapt to the changing times and take them down from the inside, but we need some of these people out of the way. I have Rebecca and Dawson coming into town in a week. I also have William sending a few people to help." Shaun paced the room. "This is not just a five person plan. This is going to take many people in many areas. You guys cannot handle it on your own. Not anymore."
Altair leaned forward in his chair. "You should have told us this in the beginning, Shaun. We do not play well with mortals."
Alanna looked at him. "Speak for yourself. I am fine with having others help. Frankly, we have been doing a shitty job taking them down. Maybe striking them from that many angles will keep them off balance long enough for us to get this done."
That was the Alanna I remember. She had been coming back, piece by piece, but still retaining the innocence she had found when she was Anna. She would stand up to Altair, and that made me smile. "I am with Alanna. I think we need the help, but I would feel better if one of us was paired with one of the mortals."
"I don't think so." Altair growled. He was not a big fan of being away from Alanna for any length of time. He had confided in me that he was afraid that if he was not near her, he would lose her again.
I looked over at him. "I know what is going through your head, but I think it has to be done. We have the most experience at this and with that knowledge, we can do this. That would leave Shaun, Kim and Rebecca to take care of the financial part of this. Five teams of two would be better."
"If it would make you feel better, I will take Dawson with me. I know him, and I have worked with him. He is a good partner and you know he would watch my back, just as you would." She walked over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders and began to rub.
I watched the older man's head drop and a slight moan escape his lips. "Fine, I can live with that."
"Now that is settled. We need to figure out how we are going to get you guys everywhere." Kim spoke up from her place near the door.
Conner held up his hand. "I have a few cars at my place in Texas. They never did go there. It is safe and there are weapons there. If you can get another car for us, we can drive down there and get them. It would be a few days there and a few days back."
I shook my head. "That would take too long. I say we find local."
"Are you talking about stealing, or having Shaun and Kim buys a few for us?" Desmond asked. He had been quiet for a while.
"No stealing. We buy a few cars." I stood and popped my back.
Altair lifted his head. "That will not work. You can only have so many cars in your name before you have to get a dealer's license. We would need at least five. One for each. Plus, if they are watching, which I know they are. If five cars were bought by two professors at one time, that would send up red flags. I have a few cars stashed places. I mean, I need to back it to St. Petersburg, Florida. I just need a lift to Manhattan to grab one of them then someone can come with me to Florida to grab another. I also have three stashed in Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia."
Conner looked over at him. "And why do you have cars stashed all over the States? Are you that paranoid?"
Desmond raised a brow at him. "Do you really need an answer to that question? That is Altair you are talking to. He has a paranoid streak a mile wide."
That got a glare from the ancient assassin. "Hey, don't be making fun of my paranoia, Desmond. If I recall right, you are the same way about some things. And to answer Conner's question. I have cars all over the place because for a long time I was flipping cars and putting them on display at car shows and museums. All I have to do is walk in and claim them back."
"Oh." The Mohawk nodded.
I had to get them back on track. "Anyway! We need to start scouting. Altair, you head to Florida and get the money. Conner, Desmond, Alanna, you can ride with him and get a few cars. That way we will have them when the others show up. I think that is fair. I will stay here, help coordinate and find the people we need to scout."
There were nods all around. Finally, there was progress!
Alanna
In day following our strategy meeting with everyone, more plans were made and more cars picked up. I rode with Altair all the way to Florida to get my money and grab one more car. Coming back was adventurous to say the least. Stopping for gas in Virginia, we were found by an Abstergo agent and he gave chase. My car was faster, but took a few hits. Finally lost him on the other side of D.C., and after that, we split up.
Altair took a longer route up through New York and avoided the major cities. I drove up the Eastern seaboard and only stopped when I needed to. I made it back three hours before he did.
I was in the kitchen, helping Kim and Kate cook something for the growing army that had invaded Kim and Shaun's house when Altair finally showed up. I smiled at him when he walked into the room. "I see you finally made it back."
He inclined his head. "Yeah, I'm here. What? Did you think I wouldn't come back?"
Smirking, I chopped the bell pepper I had on the cutting board. "One could only hope."
That stopped him in his tracks. "Do what?"
The two other women in the room began to laugh at the confused expression on his tanned face. I sat my knife down and walked over to him, placing a kiss on his cheek. "You really have no sense of humor. I was only playing with you, Altair. I am glad you are back though."
He exhaled and looked down at me. "You had me worried there for a minute. I thought I did something to piss you off again."
"Well, I was pissed when you didn't show me that car sooner. That was a rocket ship on wheels." Heading back over to the cutting board, I began to chop the pepper once more. We were making fajitas.
He chuckled. "That is it. You can have it if you want. Call it a present."
"Thank you." I smiled over at him. "Now, what is going on with the scouting? I know you have already gone and talked to the General."
That was the nickname we had taken to giving Ezio when he was in this mode. "After we eat, you and I are heading into Manhattan to scout two men. Desmond is heading to Trenton, Conner is driving up to Maine, and Ezio has two marks in Boston. He already sent the others out."
He was talking about the other assassins we had on loan from William. Rebecca and Dawson were here as well. Dawson was going out as well. Rebecca was still working on getting everything set up to start the stock buying. That was hers and Kim's territory. We were staying away from that.
"How is Becca doing on syphoning money out of a few of yours and Ezio's accounts?" I scooped the onions off the cutting board and placed them in the bowl next to me.
He shrugged. "Don't know, didn't ask. I would assume she is doing fine." He grabbed a seat on the barstool.
"Altair, could I beg a favor from you, dear?" Kate asked from her place in front of the stove.
"What do you need, Kate?" He looked around me at her.
"I need the fajita mix in the fridge." She smiled.
He nodded and stood. "Sure."
I smiled. Kate always included everyone in whatever she was doing. To her, we were all her family. A highly dysfunctional crazy family, but I don't think she would have it any other way.
"You might want to grab the sour cream, salsa, avocadoes and shredded cheese while you are in there." She told him, not looking up from the meat she was cooking.
Kim laughed. "Kate would you like him to clean out the fridge while he is in there as well. Although, that would be wonderful. I've been trying to get Shaun to do that for a week now."
"Don't push your luck with him, Kim. He may be willing to help now, but he will walk away." I chuckled, and handed her the bowl with the cut vegetables.
"I knew I should have waited until you women were done in here to come in here. I'm feeling used at this point in time." I could tell he was joking.
Taking a few things from his arms, I sat them on the counter and began to make fresh guacamole. "Will you go tell the others that the food is almost ready?"
He sat the other things down. "Not a problem." He walked from the room, and I shook my head when he walked around the corner.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Smoothing the wrinkles out of the midnight blue cocktail dress I was wearing, I walked into the upper class bar. Altair was tracking the other man. He was not happy about me taking this one, but I could blend in here to where he could not. I knew he was not fond of dress clothes. Jeans and t-shirts were his thing. He was downtown, watching the other man.
Taking a corner booth, a waiter walked up, took my drink order and walked away to retrieve it. Scanning the room, I saw my mark sitting with a few other men towards the back. Young, but not too young. Early to mid-thirties, dark blond hair. You could tell he came from money. His father was a Templar as well. That was who Conner was going to watch for the night. His jacket was on the back of his chair, tie discarded. The other three men he was with were from Abstergo as well, but they were not on the hit list. He was for his position.
The waiter sat the glass of wine in front of me, and I gave him a small smile. He returned the smile with one of his own and walked off to help someone else.
I sipped on the wine and watched the man for a bit. An hour or so passed and I was growing bored. He was not moving and all they were talking about was football and the weather. I needed to know where he lived or where he was going after this.
A glass was sat down in front of me. I looked up at the waiter. "I didn't order this."
He smiled. "I know. The gentleman over there took the liberty of ordering it for you." He pointed to, of all people, my target. "Enjoy."
I could use this to my advantage. Carefully standing, I picked the drink up from the table and walked over the men. I made sure to put a bit more sway in my hips. They all looked at me as I approached. "I wanted to come over and properly thank you for the drink."
Smiling, he looked at me. "You are quite welcome. Are you here alone?"
Thinking quickly, I nodded. "A friend set me up on a blind date. I guess he decided not to show."
"That's too bad. I don't see how anyone would want to stand you up. I'm Kevin McDaniels, and you are?" He stood and held out his hand.
I switched my drink to my other hand and placed my hand in his. He brought it up to his lips and kissed my knuckles. I faked a blush. "Olivia Houser, a pleasure to meet you."
"Would you like to join us?" He pulled out the chair at the end of the table.
I shook my head. "I really should be going. I have work in the morning."
One of the other men smiled. "Just join us for one drink."
"One drink and I really must be going." I smiled and sat down.
Kevin smiled and sat down in his chair. "Olivia, what do you do for a living?"
"I am a corporate assassin." I smiled over the rim of my glass. The four men looked at me, eyebrow cocked. I chuckled. "Not the way you are thinking. I go to businesses that are in trouble and buy them for my clients. After that, I help sell them off piece by piece, or I figure out if they can be saved. The reason I call myself a corporate assassin is because the people don't know the company is dead until I get there. I am the one that kills it for them. Well, most of the time."
They smiled and nodded. "You sound very cutthroat, Olivia." One of the other men said with a smile on his face.
"I can be, but that is at work. I am not that way outside of the office." I took another drink form my glass, and sat in front of me.
I carried on small talk for a bit. Once my glass was empty, I smiled. "Gentlemen, it was a pleasure to have such wonderful company, but I really should be going." I stood and grabbed my purse.
Kevin stood. "Let me walk you out then, if you really have to go, or I could give you a ride home?" He smiled.
Now this was getting interesting. "My car is in the parking lot. If you would like, you could walk me there." Altair had left the car here, and I was to pick him up when he called. All he was doing was watching the other target from the comfort of a taxi. He had 'borrowed' a taxi from a livery. Well, more like commissioned one for the night.
"Let me get my jacket." He pulled it off the back of the chair, put it on and walked over to my side. Grabbing my jacket before I could, he held it out for me to put on.
I would give him credit. He was turning on the charm heavy. Taking my arm, he lead me out of the bar, we walked to the rear of the building to where the private lot was for the bar. I hit the unlock button for the GTO. "Thank you for walking me out here. I don't normally take my own car, but I have to leave in the morning and my hotel in over by the airport."
He released me and pulled out a business card from the breast pocket of his jacket. "This has my personal cell phone number on it. You should give me a call when you are in town again. We can grab drinks again."
I smiled, batted my lashes, and took the card from him. He would be dead before the end of the week. "I would like that. It was nice to meet you, Kevin." I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Well goodnight."
I climbed into the car, and fired up the motor. He stepped away from the car as I placed the car into reverse. Pulling out my cell, I dialed Becca's number. It rang three times and she answered. 'Hey, what's going on?'
I pulled into traffic, and followed the flow. "I need you to do a reverse search on a number for me. I have McDaniel's cell number. I need his address. Can you do that?"
'Will you live forever? Yeah, I can do that. Give me the number.'
I pulled the business card from my purse when I came to a red light, and rattled it off to her. "I am driving right now, so I have no way to write it down. Can you text it to me?"
'Sure thing. While you are in the city, will you get me something?'
I chuckled and switched ears so it was easier to shift the gears. "Sure, what do you want?"
To give you heads up, the next chapter is going to be taking place at the same time this one was. Just so there is no confusion. I have been working on turning this story around. I noticed it was starting to drag and there was little to no action as of late. Now, here they are in prey mode. Enjoy!
