Page 112 of Fallen Hero

“Absolutely,” I replied.

From the second the thought had crossed his depraved mind to take my sister from me, his fate had been sealed.

Quicker than I thought Jason could move, he swung his Colt—or was it mine that I’d ordered from Tanner—in Arlo’s direction and fired.

Two-hundred and thirty grains of stopping power slammed into the man’s head.

Before Arlo could drop, Jason had Archie in his sights and double tapped.

What the fuck just happened?

The pounding in my head got a friend called tinnitus.

Jason turned back to me. “Let that be a lesson to you, Calista. I don’t tolerate traitors or incompetence.”

Well, fuck. So much for me using the traitor for help.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The tall dark-haired woman standing in front of me did not match the voice I’d heard earlier this morning on the phone.

“You lied to her,” I fumed. “Again. That’s twice since I’ve known her, and you want me to trust you?”

The corner of Atlanta’s mouth hitched up, but she schooled her features before the smile could fully form. “I love this for her.”

My patience was nonexistent. The anger I was barely keeping in check was in danger of spilling out and eviscerating Calli’s friend.

“My woman’s missing.” My woman? Fuck. “I’m not sure what you love, but I’m not loving any of this, including the part where you told her you were in Berlin when obviously you’re standing in front of me.”

“I know it looks bad,” Atlanta began, taking in my team huddled behind me. “Fine, it is bad. I lied, but I did it for a reason. I had no idea she was going to quit today. And when she asked if Tom had contacted me to take her out, I knew she’d freak if she found out I was here. She’s a lone wolf and has serious trust issues.”

“Can you blame her when the people who are supposed to be closest to her lie to her?” I snapped.

“You’re one of those black-and-white guys, aren’t you?”

The growl that slipped out of my mouth sounded feral. I was beyond social graces—not that I had many to begin with, but I could oftentimes stop myself from snarling like an animal.

How the fuck did I get here, debating with some woman I didn’t know about my moral compass? Oh wait, I knew. The woman showed up in the lobby and told us to ring her up.

“I’m as gray as they come, lady. Except when it comes to loyalty and lying.”

Atlanta shrugged like it was all the same to her, and she didn’t care where I fell on the moral spectrum—lily white to pitch black to every shade between.

“Technically, I was in Berlin today. My flight landed here at eight this morning. If she wouldn’t have quit, I wouldn’t have lied. But I needed to make sure she trusted I had her back, so I told her I was in Berlin.”

I wanted off this merry-go-round.

“Who’s Jason Anderson?”

I’d asked Atlanta, but it was Pete who answered. “Liliya’s boyfriend at the time of her disappearance, and the man responsible for her kidnapping.”

All of the pieces locked into place, revealing the whole picture.

Fuck me. Fuck me. Fuck me.

“Jason Anderson is her endgame. Her one more thing.”

“Yes,” Atlanta confirmed.