Page 102 of Deathtoll

Every muscle in Murph’s body clenched tight, then tighter yet when Kate stole soundlessly down the stairs, stopping a dozen feet behind the unsuspecting hitman. She had Murph’s backup weapon in her hand.

Oh hell, love. You shouldn’t be here.

Murph hadn’t broken down through the whole torture, but he almost did at the sight of her. And not just because her right eye was purple and nearly swollen shut. Although, somebody was going to die for that.

Don’t hesitate.

Like I showed you. Feet apart. Both hands on the weapon. There you go, honey. Aim for center mass. Don’t give the fucker time to turn around.

That was the key. Except, civilians always hesitated. Killing another human being went against instinct. Most decent people needed a few seconds to override their lifelong beliefs.

Kate was the most decent, kindest person Murph had ever met.

Shoot.He silently begged her.Don’t think. Drop the bastard dead.

He held his breath.

Shoot!

He flexed his arm, almost out of the damn restraint. He needed another minute, time he wasn’t going to get.

Asael picked up the carving knife again. Then he paused.

Run!

Kate pulled the trigger.

Perfect hit. The bullet went in through Asael’s back and tore a chunk out of his chest in the front. The hitman’s eyes snapped wide with surprise, then he staggered forward and fell on Murph, nearly stabbing him in the liver.

“Left pants pocket!” Murph shouted.

Kate lunged forward, pinned the guy in place with her body weight, and got the detonation device. Then she let Asael fall, trembling and panting, looking as if she was on the verge of a panic attack.

“There’s a toggle on the side.” She looked at Murph, eyes impossibly wide, voice shaking. “In the Off position. I don’t think it was armed.” She showed it to him before gingerly setting it down on the workbench above his head.

“Breathe. It’s over. You did it.” He yanked his hand free at last. “Hell of a shot.”

She put the safety back on the gun, laid that next to the detonator, then attacked Murph’s other restraints. “You’re okay.”

“Then why are you crying? Do I look that bad?”

“No,” she lied through her teeth as she freed him.

He sat up, and the cuts on his chest pulled, but he ignored the pain. He couldn’t take his eyes off Kate.Safe.She was safe. Asael was dead.

“Did he hurt you?” He swung his legs over the side of the table and slid off, went to his knees next to Asael and grabbed the phone from the man’s shirt pocket.

He looked into the camera.

“Show’s over, Fucker. Now I’ll be coming foryourballs next.” Then he turned the phone off. He had no time to waste on the bastard. “Where’s Emma?” he asked as he stood. “Is she all right?”

“She’s fine. I’m fine.” Kate’s voice cracked. She hugged him carefully. Held him with heartbreaking tenderness. “I was so scared I wouldn’t reach you in time.”

“I swear my heart stopped when you popped up behind him.” Murph luxuriated in the sheer relief of having her safe. “Let’s not do this again.”

“Deal.” Kate pulled away, and Murph glanced down at the gaping hole in Asael’s chest, at his blank, frozen face. The bastard had gotten off too easy. “He died so damn fast, it’s almost anticlimactic.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”