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“Did something happen?”
“Nothing serious.A few cuts and scrapes, that’s all.We’ll be back in a jiffy.”
Fuck.Now we had a decision to make… But I could push that back to Nine.
“You’ve got three options.One, we can do as originally planned—leave you here to free yourself later.Two, same deal, but we load you into the trunk of our car and drop you off at a location of your choosing with your stuff.Or three, we keep your weapons and let you go now on the understanding that if you try any shit, I’m putting a bullet between your eyes.”
Nine gave the slightest wince as Ana packed gauze over her wound.At least the cut was clean—a simple slice, no jagged edges.And the captured assassin was calm now.The adrenaline kick from the fight was wearing off, plus her anger had simmered down.
“Why are you in Baldwin’s Shore?”she asked.“Why did you come here if not for me?”
“A follow-up on a completely unrelated missing persons case.And we only came to the craft store because my assistant loves shiny things.”
“Then set me free.I have no reason to hurt you.”
I met Ana’s gaze and raised an eyebrow.She knew what I was asking—could we trust this woman?Ana knew her former colleague far better than I did, and the final decision would be hers.
She gave Nine a more thorough pat-down and found yet another knife, this one in her bra, plus a syrette filled with an unknown liquid.Some kind of tranquilliser if I had to take a guess.Then she cut through the restraints, and Nine was free.Only time would tell whether we’d made the right decision, but I thought we had.I hoped we had.
Nine stretched languidly like a cat, her movements smooth considering what she’d just been through, then examined the bandage on her arm.Seemingly found it to her satisfaction and velcroed her dress back on.The voluminous fabric covered most of the damage.
When she stepped closer to Ana, I released the safety on my gun, but Nine just cupped Ana’s cheek in her hand.
“You look good, Nastya,” she murmured before returning the kiss.“Or did you stick with Ana?Have a nice life.”
Then she glided off into the trees, but in the wrong direction.She was headingawayfrom the Craft Cabin.
“Wait,” Ana called.“Where are you going?”
“To finish what I started before you interrupted me.”
Ana hurried after her.“But you have no weapons.”
“So?Unless it’s another of the Ten out here with the knife, I’ll be fine.”
Another of the Ten?So there were more of the original group left alive?All these little secrets…
“We can search.You should go get stitches.”
“This town is my home, not yours.Ideal with the problems.But please, make even more noise.Scare off themudakcompletely.”
“We’re coming with you.”