Page 39 of Palace of Betrayal

“That’s a good idea.”

“We should also get a feel for Emily and see if the same is happening with her. Have you had any contact with her since I arrived?”

“No, but I wasn’t expecting any to be honest.”

The hairs on his neck rose a split second before a bullet pinged past his head. Before he could react, Bebe threw herself on top of him, knocking them both to the earthy ground of the field.

Time slowed as he listened, letting his senses concentrate on everything around him as he pulled his weapon from the holster beneath his jacket. He grabbed Bebe, angry for a split second she’d been the one to put herself in danger to save him before he saw the gun in her hand and remembered who she was. He still didn’t like the idea of her risking her life for him, though, and would be expressing that later.

“We need to move. Is there a second exit from this place?”

“Yes, but it’s toward the mountains where the shot came from. We’d need to run toward the shooter.”

“Fuck.”

Another bullet hit the ground where they were now crouched with nothing but flowers to hide them from the sniper.

Bebe glanced around them, barely flinching as another bullet hit close by. “Okay, new plan. I want you to move back the way we came. I’m going to cover you and head towards the mountain. Stay down and see if you can come around behind them.”

“No fucking way. You’re like a sitting duck.” It wasn’t in his nature to let someone run into danger while he ran from it, and especially not this woman.

“Yes, way. This is my job and I know what I’m doing. Now go or stay here and argue and we both die.”

Before he could answer, she was already up and running, firing towards the mountain and drawing heat from whoever was shooting at them. With no choice, Leo cursed and took off in the direction they’d come from, keeping low and doing everything he could not make too many big movements.

As he arrived at the gate they’d entered through, he didn’t hear any more shots being fired and chanced a look toward the mountain to see if he could identify the shooter. His eyes scanned the space, taking in every familiar tree and bush of the vista he knew so well before he backtracked, running his gaze over the space. There, on the second ridge, between two olive trees, was something that didn’t belong.

He cursed not having a long gun, he could’ve taken them out from here with a rifle but it was what it was. Dropping low again, he scanned the area looking for Bebe. In her pale pink top he should have been able to spot her easily, but she was a ghost. There was no sign of her on the mountain or in the field of flowers.

With no time to dwell on the twisted feeling in his gut at the thought of her down from a bullet, he focused on what he could do, and that was take out the shooter. Skirting the gate, he rushed down the side of the field, keeping as close to the ground as possible. He made it to the edge of the mountain where the ground beneath his booted feet was coarse gravel, and began to edge up the path, keeping his eyes on the area where the shooter had been.

More shots rang out towards the field but there was no return fire and he prayed it was because she’d made it past the mountain ridge. He should have stayed or followed her, gone at this together, but his operator’s brain knew this had been the best plan.

As he neared the tree line where he spotted the sniper, he used the olive trees to shield him from view. Heart pumping hard from the adrenalin, he glanced to the left and saw a shadow moving and recognised Bebe as she came up behind the man lying flat on the ground.

Watching Bebe was like a lesson in how to operate. Her movements were lithe and fluid, like a panther on the hunt for a kill. She didn’t fumble or hesitate. She was confident and sure as she bent and held her gun to the man on the ground.

“Hands out to the side where I can see them.”

Leo walked toward them, his eyes scanning the landscape for any other threats.

Bebe glanced up at him and he noticed blood coming from a wound on her arm. He motioned at the cut which looked like a deep scratch and tried to resist the temptation to take her in his arms and check her all over for any other wounds. “You, okay?”

Bebe glanced down and shrugged. “Meh, I’ve had worse cuts shaving my legs.”

Leo grinned and rolled his eyes before concentrating on the man on the ground, relief like the removal of a thorn in his side.

He bent and pulled the weapon away from the man’s reach. “Turn over slowly and don’t give me an excuse to end you.”

The man who was dressed head to toe in black turned and Leo took a staggering step back at the sight.

“Hey, cousin.”

“Alain?”

“Alive and kicking.”

Alain moved to sit up and Bebe raised her weapon. “Slowly.”