Free Elite by Joseph C. Anthony Page A

Richfield, once the world’s greatest assassin. Who knew if Charles Richfield was even his real name. Daniel suddenly began to fear a little for his life, and rightfully so.
    “Then I thought a little about all those targets, and all their failed attempts to protect themselves, and it hit me – I could train others to protect high profile people from would be assassins like myself. If anyone could do it, who better than me? So I found Mister Blank, and we rounded up the best of the best – Ex-special forces, FBI, CIA, you name it, we got them all. I taught them everything I know and then some. I got in touch with some of my old contacts at the company, and found potential targets for agencies both foreign and domestic, legal and illegal, and offered them our protection. Sure they were skeptical at first, but they soon realized that there was no one on God’s green earth that could protect them better than my men. No secret service agent, cop, or bodyguard in the world can do what my men can. They are in better physical condition and have received more extensive training than any Navy Seal or Army Ranger. We are the elite. And so this company you see before you began. Our reputation now precedes us in many circles, and high-profile individuals are constantly begging for our protection – from celebrities to senators – and they’re willing to pay top dollar for it. Some of them are just paranoid rich folks, while others have had their lives seriously threatened. Either way, if they’re willing to pay, we will be there to protect them from anything.”
    Daniel continued to stare and tried to absorb all of the insane information that Richfield had just delivered. “That’s intense,” he managed. “You guys are like the Justice League or something.”
    Richfield chuckled. “Something like that. Just without the super powers. My men and women are just that, men and women. But they’ve been trained so that their bodies and minds can reach their absolute potential. At least as much as modern science will allow,” he concluded.
    That last part struck Daniel a little funny. As much as modern science would allow. He guessed it was just a reference to the super powers quip.
    “I still don’t understand though,” Daniel said, realizing the truth of his statement as it came out. “What does all of this have to do with me? I’m not ex-military, I’ve never been a cop or in any type of government agency. I’m not at all qualified for any of this.”
    “That’s exactly why you are perfect for this special project,” Richfield responded.
    Again with this special project! Daniel thought to himself, frustrated. Just tell me what the damn thing is!
    Before he could get the question out, Mr. Blank chimed in, “You have the one thing we are looking for with this project kid – the overwhelming desire to be better.”
    That remark stopped Daniel in his tracks. Blank was right about that. Daniel wanted more than anything to improve his life, to improve himself, to have more to offer than assholes like Gordon Demérs.
    “So then tell me,” Daniel said, mentally exhausted at this point, “what is this special project?”
    “Well I can’t tell you everything just yet,” Richfield began, the mood on his face becoming lighter again as he came out of the darkness that was his past. “The specifics will have to wait until you decide whether or not you’re interested.”
    Daniel dropped his head in frustration. This was getting ridiculous. How could he ever agree to something when he had absolutely no clue what he was agreeing to, other than the fact that his boss was a trained assassin for the CIA and his company now protects rich people from others like him.
    “What I can tell you now,” Richfield continued, sensing Daniel’s frustration, “is that I believe I’ve developed a way to take someone with absolutely no related training or experience at all, such as yourself, and turn them into the most…let’s say