Page 41 of Sigma

“Bullshit. Wrong answer. I was planning on using you as leverage, but I’m perfectly willing to blow your brains out.”

He frowns, eyebrows wrinkling. “You will? Really?”

“Doesn’t he have files on us?”

“He does not share with me, if he does have this information.”

Car doors open and close. Feetclick-clock-scuffon concrete. A voice calls out a question—What’s taking so long?I don’t speak German, but that feels logical based on context.

“Don’t answer.”

“They will shoot me to get to you.”

I put my back to the pillar, dragging him backward by the hair. “Fine by me.”

“I know things.” He scrabbles backward toward me to keep the pressure off of his hair.

The footsteps are close, now. They’re repeating their question. “Kai? Was ist los?”

My lungs seize, and my hands want to shake; I force my lungs to work, force my hands to be steady. Kyrie is locked in a box, deep inside. Do what has to be done.

I check the safety; off.

Keep it pressed to Kai’s temple.

Two men round the corner, coming into view from the car. Submachine guns out, at the ready.

Shit.

I swallow—too late to go back now.

Hunkering behind Kai, keeping his body fully in front of mine, I wait until they’re both a few steps closer.

I think they’re expecting me to negotiate—their guns are at the ready, but not trained on me, pointing in my direction but at the ground.

There are no negotiations.

BLAMBLAM!

One-two, the men drop with holes in their foreheads. Nausea roils in my gut at the spew of mess, at the wet thunk of bodies hitting cement.

“Sheisse.”

Clear enough.

“Not expecting that, were you?” I wait. The drivers are next—doors open and I hear footsteps running.

They’re trying to flank me, now, one each way. I shove Kai face down to the ground, his cheek in the puddle of my urine, and I kneel on his back, gun in both hands now, the way Duke taught me. Elbows in, support hand cupping the butt. One driver, coming my way as I’m facing him. I don’t wait for a full view—I send a round at him the moment his torso in view; it hits the right side of his chest and he drops. Spin in place, still kneeling on my prisoner; just in time, I see the other driver coming around. This one actually gets a shot off, but it’s high and wide, and his only one. He drops, clutching his gut.

“Can they contact what’s his name?” I ask.

“Nein. They report to me, and I report to him.”

I haul him to his feet, keep the gun trained on him. “Now that we’re alone, let’s see if you’ll answer my questions.”

He’s still in shock—all four of his friends or subordinates are dead, and it happened in less than a minute. “You—what did youdo?”

I press the barrel into his cheek. “I handled the situation, Kai.” I hold his eyes, now, and let him get a good look into me. “Do you want to become one of those situations?”