Page 9 of Fallen Roses

I’m pushed into the alley and I try to keep calm, even though my heart is racing like a winner at The Kentucky Derby.

“I found a spy.”

My assailant says in a deep voice and the five men glance up as I stumble deeper into the alley.

“Ana!”

James yells in shock and one of the men laughs out loud.

“Well, what do we have here? I told you to come alone, not bring your girlfriend.”

James replies roughly, “She’s not my girlfriend, just an associate who must have followed me from the office.”

The man turns and I shiver at the cruel expression on his face, illuminated by the lit end of the cigar falling from his fingers.

“Did you follow him?” He asks, flicking the ash to the ground, and I nod.

“I saw him and had some questions that rose at the office and hoped to snatch a word.”

The men laugh and the one behind me presses the gun deeper into my back and hisses, “Slide the purse from your body and throw it to the ground.”

James says quickly, “Do it, Ana. You have nothing to hide.”

I edge the strap from my shoulder as I assess the situation, noting there are five hostile men with guns. James may be hostile or friendly, I’m still figuring that out, but if they open my purse, they will find my gun and, on closer inspection of my phone, discover the photo I forwarded to Titus. My cover could be blown by my own foolish curiosity, and I consider my options carefully.

The ringleader senses my hesitation and stepstoward me and slaps my face hard, causing my head to spin as my purse is wrenched from my shoulder.

James yells, “Leave her the fuck alone! She is not involved in this.”

My face hurts like hell and as the mist before my eyes clears, I watch the man unzip the purse and spill the contents to the ground.

“Well, well, it looks as if the lady may have something to hide after all.”

He bends down and retrieves my gun from the ground and nods to his men, who grasp hold of James in a sudden move, trapping his hands behind him as the man with the cigar presses my gun to his temple.

“We have a promising situation here, gentlemen.” He laughs, “We hold the money and we don’t need either of you now. One shot from this gun will end one problem and the subsequent suicidal one will wrap the case up.”

I face him with derision and none of the fear swirling inside me as he presses my gun to James’ temple and removes the safety.

“You have what you wanted, let us go,” James hisses, a bead of sweat trickling from his temple.

The man merely laughs as the one behind me pulls me roughly against him, his hand around my throat, a knife cutting into the soft skin.

I hate how helpless I am as the man says roughly, “Say hi to Dylan when he joins you both in hell.”

As he tightens his grip on the trigger, I watch the resignation in James’ eyes as he faces him with a braveryI certainly don’t feel inside. When the shot rings out, my agonized scream gurgles against the knife at my throat, but it’s not James who falls.

I’m pushed violently to the ground and the weight of the man behind me almost knocks the breath from my lungs as he falls against me, and then a strong arm lifts me and drags me back down the alley.

I notice six bodies on the ground and scream when I see James is one of them and as I’m pulled from the scene, a familiar voice whispers in my ear, “Don’t look back.”

The black car waiting is a familiar one and as I’m pushed inside, my rescuer follows and as the door slams, I turn and stare into the malevolent eyes of my brother Mikhail.

No words are spoken as he pulls me hard against him, wrapping his hand around the back of my head, and whispers, “Mission over. You’re going home.”

CHAPTER 6

JAMES

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