Page 81 of No Lies No Promises

A slice across the neck brings down my target. Hers dies by a blade sunk into the base of the skull. Remorse may come, but I doubt it. Who the hell signs up to guard toy helicopters containing deadly viruses?

Raising our night goggles, we join six masked soldiers standing beside the semis, still idling under the parking lot lights. The rest of our team are nowhere to be found. I pray they made it back to the vehicle.

“Did you find them?” A gorilla-sized merc with dark eyes over a crooked nose steps toward me.

Frowning at my two thumbs down, he raises his weapon at Lil. “Lower your mask.”

Damn, Jesus, Dante, where are you?

When five others point their rifles at her, I do the same.

As I edge behind them, my partner hooks her fingers under the edge of her balaclava, exposing the lower half of her face.

“What the…” The man’s furrowed brows rise. A second later, his eyes light with joy.

Tone bright, chin down, he says into his chest, “Sir, we have your daughter.”

A celebration of sorts erupts. Men congratulate themselves and discuss how they’ll spend their bonuses, but not for long. A black town car speeds up the drive. As it stops in front of us, the back door opens.

Oh, fuck me dead. It’s Liam Boyle.

My index finger slips to the trigger, but I won’t take the shot. Not yet. Too risky.

Smirking, her father strides forward. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist my laptop.”

“Doesn’t matter.” My brave woman juts out her chin. “You’re a dead man walking.”

Keep him talking, babe. I shrink further into the growing crowd. Clueless, they high-five me as I shuffle to the side.

“You thought you could play me?” A rabid dog, Boyle wipes the spittle from his mouth. His obsession isn’t about heirs. It’s all about winning. He can’t handle the fact that his daughter is smarter than him.

“I won, Father. If you’re fast, you might make it to the airport.”

“Quiet!” His hand whips across her face with such force that she drops to her knees. “Where’s your boyfriend?”

The abusive asshole just sealed his coffin.

“There.” Holding her cheek, Lil stabs an index finger toward the boots of the fallen we shoved under the bushes.

When all heads turn, I grip my knife, step forward, and wrap my arm around Liam’s neck, the blade drawing blood.

“Guns down. Now! Or he dies.” My command booms over the idling trucks and echoes off the cement.

“Let her go.” Sensing their reluctance, my bicep tightens. “A dead boss can’t pay you.”

Lungs empty, Boyle claws at my arm. He’s lucky I don’t break his neck.

“Behind me, Lil.”

Once she’s in place, I fix my gaze on monkey-man. “Those flying toys in there? They’re carrying a deadly virus.”

“You’re lying.” Uncertain, he glances at the warehouse.

As his buddies grumble, I force Boyle away from the crowd, further into the lot.

“If even one crashes,” I raise my voice. “We’re all dead.”

The distant thump of helicopter blades gives me a sliver of hope. If it belongs to Dante, Lil and I are saved. Otherwise, I’m out of ideas.