Man On Fire by A.J. Quinnell
Creasy - a rugged, burned-out mercenary...When he takes the job as a bodyguard for the young daughter of an Italian industrialist he is awakened to new life by a beguiling human touch - until the unspeakable atrocity occurs...The child is kidnapped by violent terrorists and Creasy is thrown into a ferocious world of treachery and turmoil. Filled with a single-minded rage, he fights for their lives, whatever the cost - and is transformed, as never before, into the terrifying killing machine he was trained to be. NOW A MAJOR FILM STARRING DENZEL WASHINGTON