Bodyguard: Ransom (Book 2) Read online

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  Chapter 68

  Chapter 69

  Chapter 70

  Chapter 71

  Chapter 72

  Chapter 73

  Chapter 74

  Chapter 75

  Chapter 76

  Chapter 77

  Chapter 78

  Chapter 79

  Chapter 80

  Chapter 81

  Chapter 82

  Chapter 83

  Chapter 84

  Chapter 85

  Chapter 86

  Chapter 87

  Chapter 88

  Chapter 89

  Chapter 90

  Chapter 91

  Chapter 92

  Chapter 93

  Chapter 94

  Chapter 95

  Chapter 96

  Chapter 97

  Chapter 98

  Chapter 99

  Chapter 100

  Chapter 101

  Chapter 102

  Chapter 103

  Chapter 104

  Chapter 105

  Chapter 106

  Chapter 107

  Chapter 108

  Chapter 109

  Chapter 110

  Chapter 111

  Chapter 112

  Chapter 113

  As an author, Chris Bradford employs a technique he terms ‘method writing’. For his award-winning Young Samurai series, he trained in samurai swordsmanship, karate, ninjutsu and earned his black belt in Zen Kyu Shin Taijutsu.

  For his new BODYGUARD series, Chris embarked on an intensive close-protection course to become a qualified professional bodyguard. During his training, he acquired skills in unarmed combat, defensive driving, tactical firearms, threat assessments, surveillance, and even anti-ambush exercises.

  His bestselling books are published in over twenty languages and have garnered more than twenty-five children’s book award nominations.

  Before becoming a full-time author, he was a professional musician (who once performed for HRH Queen Elizabeth II), songwriter and music teacher.

  Chris lives in England with his wife and two sons.

  Discover more about Chris at www.chrisbradford.co.uk

  Books by Chris Bradford

  The Bodyguard series (in reading order)

  HOSTAGE

  RANSOM

  The Young Samurai series (in reading order)

  THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR

  THE WAY OF THE SWORD

  THE WAY OF THE DRAGON

  THE RING OF EARTH

  THE RING OF WATER

  THE RING OF FIRE

  THE RING OF WIND

  THE RING OF SKY

  Available as ebook

  THE WAY OF FIRE

  For my godparents, Ann and Andrew,

  Thanks for looking out for me all my life

  PUFFIN BOOKS

  Praise for Bodyguard: Hostage

  ‘Bone-crunching action adventure’

  Financial Times

  ‘Breathtaking action … as real as it gets’

  Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl series

  ‘Bradford has combined Jack Bauer, James Bond and Alex Rider to bring us the action-packed thriller’

  Goodreads

  ‘Wholly authentic … the action and pace are spot on. Anyone working in the protection industry at a top level will recognize that the author knows what he’s writing about’

  Simon, ex-SO14 Royalty Close Protection

  ‘A gripping page-turner that children won’t be able to put down’

  Red House

  ‘Will wrestle you to the ground and leave you breathless. 5 Stars’

  Flipside magazine

  ‘A gripping, heart-pounding novel’

  Bookaholic

  Winner of the Brilliant Book Award 2014

  Diagram of the Orchid

  ‘The best bodyguard is the one nobody notices.’

  With the rise of teen stars, the intense media focus on celebrity families and a new wave of millionaires and billionaires, adults are no longer the only target for hostage-taking, blackmail and assassination – kids are too.

  That’s why they need specialized protection …

  BUDDYGUARD is a secret close-protection organization that differs from all other security outfits by training and supplying only young bodyguards.

  Known as ‘buddyguards’, these highly skilled teenagers are more effective than the typical adult bodyguard, who can easily draw unwanted attention. Operating invisibly as a child’s constant companion, a buddyguard provides the greatest possible protection for any high-profile or vulnerable young person.

  In a life-threatening situation, a buddyguard is the final ring of defence …

  The girl felt the cold hard barrel of a gun thrust against the back of her head.

  ‘Kneel,’ ordered the man, his voice as dry and cruel as the desert wind.

  With no choice but to obey, the girl blindly sought the floor. The dusty rag round her eyes let in only glimpses of light, its fraying cloth reeking of stale sweat. She winced as the dirt floor grazed her bare knees and drew blood. Then, hearing the ominous click of a round entering the gun’s chamber, her body instinctively stiffened.

  Her captor leant in close. His breath, a bitter mix of coffee and nicotine, was warm and familiar in her ear. ‘Farewell, my little sparrow.’

  So this is it, she thought with a numbness born out of exhaustion. After weeks of uncertainty and too many sleepless nights to count, she was beyond caring. Beyond even fear. In truth, her heart almost welcomed the end to her ordeal.

  But, as she waited for the inevitable bullet, a small voice of fury rose within her.

  Why have I been abandoned like this? Why hasn’t the ransom been paid? What’s gone wrong?

  Despite all the promises and hopes she’d clung to, she was going to die. A bullet through the head. Her body dumped in the desert.

  Will a
nyone find me? Will they recognize who I am after a few days in the blistering sun? And will they even care?

  ‘Get it over with,’ she muttered, willing her executioner to pull the trigger and end her suffering.

  Silence.

  No click. No bang. Not even a reply. Only the buzz of flies circling in the stifling heat.

  What’s taking him so long? Is this another one of his mind games?

  A bead of sweat rolled from beneath her blindfold and down her grime-covered cheek.

  ‘Lost your nerve, have you?’ she croaked, her voice quavering as her impatience turned to frustrated anger. Still no answer.

  With a trembling hand, she removed the rag. Blinking away the dust, she discovered she was alone … abandoned in the centre of a single-roomed mud-brick building. A makeshift wooden door barred the only entrance through which beams of sunlight speared the darkness.

  Should I try to escape? But she had no idea what lay beyond the doorway. Her captor? The barrel of a gun? Most likely miles of unbroken desert –

  Suddenly the door burst open and she was dazzled by the glaring African sun. A shadow passed across her face as a huge man filled the doorway. Dressed in khaki army fatigues and his finger primed on the trigger of an assault rifle, he swiftly scanned the room for threats before his gaze targeted her.

  ‘Emily Sterling?’ the soldier grunted.

  Her throat too dry to reply, Emily managed a weak nod.

  The soldier thumbed his radio mic. ‘Yankee Four to X-ray, hostage found alive, I repeat, ALIVE.’

  Scooping Emily up in his arms like a fragile doll, the soldier carried her to the door.

  As the realization of her rescue hit her, Emily began to sob uncontrollably.

  ‘It’s over,’ promised the soldier. ‘You’re safe now.’

  No, thought Emily as her tears dripped on to the man’s shirt. I’ll never be safe again.

  ‘Keep your head down!’ Connor shouted as a barrage of bullets raked the brick wall.

  His Principal had gone into shock and kept trying to bolt from their hiding place. But that was the worst possible reaction the boy could have. A casual stroll down the street had turned into a bodyguard’s nightmare and now they were pinned down in a well-planned ambush.

  Connor knew his next move would be crucial. In his head, he ran through the A-C-E procedure …

  Assess the threat. Two shooters. One in an alley. Another behind a tree. Intention to kill, not capture.

  Counter the danger. His first priority was to find cover and secure the Principal. But the low brick wall they had hidden behind provided only temporary protection. As soon as the shooters repositioned themselves, he and his Principal would be exposed again.

  Escape the kill zone. Easier said than done!

  Connor tapped his mic. ‘Alpha One to Control. Request Emergency EVAC.’

  His earpiece burst into life and he heard Charley, Alpha team’s operations leader, respond, ‘Alpha One, this is Control. Back-up on its way. Three minutes out.’

  Three minutes? thought Connor. They’d be dead meat in that time. And, without any firepower of their own, they were defenceless. Connor needed an exit strategy … and fast.

  Covering the Principal with his body, Connor peeked over the wall and scanned the immediate area. A clump of bushes off to their right gave some visual cover for an escape, but no physical protection from gunfire. A car parked further down the street provided little hope either; he was fourteen years old and had no idea how to drive, let alone how to hot-wire a car! He looked at the building behind them – a small warehouse with offices attached. The back entrance was only ten metres away, but it was across open ground. Checking on the enemy’s progress, Connor saw that the shooter behind the tree was advancing to get a clear shot. He had no choice but to risk it.

  ‘Move!’ he growled, seizing his Principal by the arm and sprinting towards the warehouse.

  Keeping his body close, Connor shielded the boy as the enemy opened fire. Bullets whizzed past. One almost clipped his ear. Their feet pounded across the tarmac and, whether through speed or pure luck, they made it to the entrance unharmed.

  Connor yanked on the handle.

  ‘NO!’ he cried, tugging furiously at the locked doors.

  He spun round. They were now sitting ducks. Connor shoved his Principal into the shelter of a large wheeled refuse bin. The boy tried to run on, crying, ‘I don’t want to die!’

  ‘Stay down,’ Connor ordered, forcibly pushing him to the ground. Then through clenched teeth he added, ‘Amir, you’re not making this any easier for me.’

  ‘Sorry,’ replied his friend, offering a flash of a grin from behind his safety goggles. ‘But I’m supposed to be a panicking Principal.’

  ‘Well, panic less,’ Connor pleaded as several bullets thudded into the metal bin.

  Amir flinched and covered his head with his arms. ‘A bit difficult under the circumstances, don’t you think?’

  Richie, who was playing the part of the first shooter in the training scenario, had left his position in the alley and was unleashing a hail of paintballs from his assault rifle. So too was Ling, the other shooter, who by now had reached the far end of the low wall. If either of them managed to hit Amir with even a single paintball, Connor would instantly fail the exercise.

  Ever since his successful assignment protecting the American President’s daughter the month before, the rest of Alpha team had been impressed but also a little envious of his newly acquired status. The only other person on the team to have earned a gold Buddyguard badge was Charley – and she truly deserved it – whereas he was just a first-time rookie.

  That’s why certain fellow buddyguards had made it their mission to test him to the limit – in Ling’s words, ‘to make sure Connor doesn’t get too big for his boots’. While Connor had no problem with a bit of good-natured ribbing, deep down he questioned whether his first assignment had just been beginner’s luck. It was true his father had been in the SAS and one of the best bodyguards on the circuit. But that didn’t mean Connor was made of the same stuff. For his own peace of mind, he needed to prove himself … beyond a doubt.

  Connor clicked his mic again. ‘Alpha One to Control. Where’s my pickup?’

  ‘Alpha One. Thirty seconds out. Maintain position.’

  As more paintballs thudded into the bin and splattered the paving at their feet, Connor wondered, Do I have any other choice?

  Richie closed in, setting his sights on Amir. Connor pressed Amir further down behind the wheelie bin. Paintballs rattled off it like hailstones. A black 4x4 Range Rover roared down the road, its tyres screeching as the driver braked hard and spun the armoured vehicle to form a shield against Richie’s attack. The paintballs now pinged harmlessly off the bodywork.