Page 42 of Master of Lies

Jed’s voice. Low and clear in the hushed stillness.

The man holding me spun around toward the direction of his voice, keeping me in front of him as a human shield.

There was Jed at the edge of clearing. He held what looked like an AR-15.

“Jed Clearwater.” The masked guy’s voice was an oily hiss. “Brought low by a dumb little cunt.”

“Don’t hurt her.” Jed’s gaze was locked with the guy’s.

“Drop the gun,” the man said. He dug the gun barrel into my cheek again. “I could just shoot off the bottom of her jaw. It wouldn’t kill her.”

Jed tossed the AR-15 into the snow.

The masked man studied him, suspicious. “Let’s see the other guns,” he said. “If you don’t show me two more, I shoot her face.”

Jed reached back, pulled a pistol from the back of his jeans. He tossed it into the snow. The masked guy jerked his chin. “The others.”

Jed bent down, unfastening a snubbie from his boot holster and then tossing it with the others. “I’m not carrying any other guns.”

“Lift your shirt,” the man said. “Turn around. Show me.”

Jed lifted his coat, spinning around to show he had no hidden guns holstered underneath or stuck into his pants.

“That’s all.” His voice was astonishingly detached.

“Back away from the guns. Hands up, dickhead.”

Jed did as he was told, walking slowly backward, arms up, fingers spread. I kept my eyes on him, as if he were my salvation.

“So, what did that little whining fucker Mickey tell you, anyhow?” the masked guy said.

“Nothing,” Jed said. “He was making me wait until I got him out before he gave me anything. You got there first. So I got nothing.”

The masked guy was silent for a moment. “Who else did he tell?”

“Not her,” Jed said, gesturing with his chin at me. “She doesn’t know anything.”

“That explosion,” the guy said. “I assume that was my team?”

“Yes,” Jed replied.

“You’ll pay for that, asshole.”

“Yeah, I guess. But she shouldn’t.” Jed jerked his chin again in my direction “She’s got nothing to do with this. She’s never seen your face. Let her run and hide until you’re done with whatever you’re going to do. She’ll never say a word. Right, Sandee?”

I open my mouth to agree, andwhack. The guy smacked the side of my head with the pistol. I yelped at the bright starburst of sickening pain.

“…dee? What Sandee? Is that the name she told you?” The man let out an evil chuckle. “This fuckbunny isn’t Sandee, Jed. She’s Freya-fucking-Masters. Surprise!”

Jed couldn’t hide the startled flash in his eyes.

The other man saw it, too. “Oh, my fucking God,” he crowed. “You actually didn’t know! You were just fucking her for the fun of it! What an idiot.”

Jed looked at me, asking with his eyes if it were true.

I couldn’t speak. The guy’s arm pressed too hard against my throat for more than a dry, soundless croak. But he saw from my face that I wasn’t denying it.

“So this sneaky bitch has been trying to fuck intelligence out of you? Tough job, with someone like you, eh? The cupboard is bare.” The masked guy slid the gun down my chest. “Nice titties. I could shoot those off, too.”

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