Page 52 of The King's Boy

I started to turn to flee when reason—and a shitload of panic and fear—took a hold of my mind, only to be brought up short by a low laugh and the very distinct sound of a gun cocking.

I froze, half turned.

"You're not leaving are you, Spencer?" someone behind me asked. "Not after I worked so hard to bring us together."

So, whoever it was, they obviously knew who I was.

I slowly turned around and searched for the source of that voice. There was enough light in the narrow corridor that I could see almost every inch of it. I did not see who was speaking.

I took a small step back.

"Oh, don't leave. We were just getting acquainted."

The hell we were.

"Who are you?" I asked.

I still couldn't see anyone.

"An old friend."

I seriously doubted that.

My eyes narrowed when I saw a flash of dark fabric and then a woman dressed in black from head to toe stepped out of the doorway just beyond Boden's prone form. For just a moment, I tried to remember where I had met this woman.

And then it hit me.

"Why would you think we were friends?" I asked her. "I don't tend to befriend people that kill other people."

She looked better in the red sequined dress.

She shrugged as if trying to kill someone was no big deal. "It's not personal."

Oh, yes it was.

"Why are you trying to kill King?"

"Who says I am?" she asked.

I tilted my head and just stared.

"Okay, okay." She laughed as if she found this whole thing amusing. "I am going to kill Angus King, but that's just business. You, however." Her smile made my skin crawl. "You are personal."

I cocked one eyebrow. "I thought you said this wasn't personal."

"Oh no, the hit on King wasn't personal, but you are. You interfered in my work, and I can't allow that."

I almost rolled my eyes, but I wasn't about to look away from the woman or the gun in her hand. "Gee, my bad."

Her smile waned and she gestured with her gun. "Come on."

"You're not going to kill me?" I had no idea why I asked that. Sometimes my mouth acted before my brain engaged.

"Oh no." She laughed again. "I want to, but I was offered a better deal. The people I am taking you to are paying me to take you to them. They are going to kill you, not me. Either way, I get paid and you die. It's a win-win for me."

Great, more people wanted me dead.

"Yeah, that doesn't work for me." I needed to stall until Boden woke up or someone figured out that I hadn't made it to the safe room. "Dying isn't on my list of things to do today."

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