Brother and sister stood side by side glaring down at her.
“I didn’t believe Grigori,” Natasha said. “He blamed you as spy.”
“Are you?” Petrov asked. “Are you a filthy, little American spy?”
GABRIEL
Gabriel drovedown the third country road that looked identical to the one he’d just left. But as he got closer, the SUV’s headlights shone on a building—a windowless, one-story structure that looked like it had been abandoned decades ago. He turned off the lights, inched his way closer, then killed the engine. He opened the cargo area, add bullets to the CANiK’s magazine, then checked his long gun. After adding more bullets, he slid the 9mm into the holster, pulled on the strap and cradled his rifle.
The bulb over the front door had him walking with determination. His gut told him he’d find Halston there.
I need you to be alive, baby.
He approached the door, pressed his ear against the cold metal. Nothing. He turned the handle, eased open the door enough to peek inside. Halston stood in the middle of a stark room. Two people faced her, one pointing a gun at her. Behind her sat a group of people, the horror on their faces an indication of her imminent danger. He looked beyond the fat man holdingHalston at gunpoint. There were two people sitting at one of the tables behind him.
If I miss, those innocents are dead.
Not gonna miss.
He threw open the door, stormed inside. Everyone whipped their heads in his direction. He raised the long gun, lasered-in on the man, and he opened fire.
RATATATATATATATATATAT!!!
Bullets riddled his body. The man dropped.
“Do I have your attention now?” Gabriel roared.
Natasha’s blood-curdling scream pierced his ears. “You killed my brother, you motherfucker!”
As Gabriel strode toward them, Halston grabbed Petrov’s weapon.
The people at the tables ran into the corner, their screams and cries echoing in the barren space. When Halston regarded him, the relief in her eyes was all he needed to see.
Halston pointed the gun at Natasha. “Where’s the ambassador?”
“In car,” she bit out.
“He was shot,” Halston said. “We need to get him help.”
“Update me,” Gabriel said, his voice strong and loud.
“She’s an American spy,” Natasha blurted.
“Not you, bitch,” he said through gritted teeth. “You murdered my friend.”
“I’m social director. I kill no one.”
“Liar,” Halston stormed over, smacked Natasha’s face. “I’m not a violent person, but I like hurting you.”
“You tried to poison me at the nightclub,” Gabriel said. “Why?”
“Fuck you.”
“I want answers. You have three seconds?—”
“I die proud Russian to honor my country. We set up disaster for America. Power grids take out electricity. You will not be able to turn on. The end of a superpower.” She raised her fist in triumph. “Start of Russian International Regime. We conquer world, America first.”
“What is she talking about?” Gabriel asked.
