“I may be an assassin, but I’m still a girl,” she said, popping a stick of gum in her mouth.
We kept a low profile; climbing over fences, dodging dogs on chains and play equipment, and finally sneaking into a two-story building. The stairs were unusable, the bottom half lay on the floor, and the top half hung by only a few debilitated boards.
“What now?” I whispered.
Bex threw me over his shoulder, and then hopped from the wall, to a beam, to the next floor. Even from my angle, he looked like Spiderman. I couldn't imagine why he thought he needed to float — and he could climb walls easily enough.
Claire took a single leap, grabbing the landing where the stairs met the second floor, and then swung herself to our position.
“You can put me down, now, Bex,” I said.
“Not yet,” he said, taking a running jump to the half-exposed rafters. “Okay,” he said, helping me balance. We were sitting on a few beams lined together that formed what used to be the attic floor.
Claire lay on her stomach beside me, clicking the pieces of her rifle together. “They’re going to meet here,” she whispered. “Don’t make a sound. Anderson is very paranoid. That’s how he’s made it this far. If you tip him off, it will be a while before we get a chance like this again.”
I nodded, watching Bex pull his own rifle from the l bag. He didn’t set it on its stand in front of him; instead, he set it in front of me.
“Just look through the sights. Don’t take the shot, even if you have one. It’s just for practice,” he said in a low voice.
I began to whisper affirmation, but voices below startled me. Claire slowly put her hand on the barrel of my rifle, and then let go, situating herself to aim.
“Look through your sights,” she whispered. I did so, and three men in suits came into view, along with a man in uniform. “Count them. How many do you see?”
“Four,” I said.
Bex leaned in beside my ear. “Look by the entrance.”
I slowly moved my rifle in the direction he referred to, spotted two more. To my surprise, the men were not in uniform, but in suits. Their broad shoulders and extra-large frames reminded me of old movies about the Mob.
“Bodyguards,” Bex said. “Look closer at their jackets. You see the slight bulging on each side?”
“They’re armed,” I breathed.
With one finger, Claire tuned the tiny adjustment on her rifle. The tiny click sound it made seemed as loud as a jet engine to me, but the noise was so insignificant, it was inaudible to the men below.
Bex touched my elbow with the back of his finger. “She’s going to account for crosswind and range-to-target, but this is an easy shot. Once the gun goes off, try to relax. I’ll get you down and out of here, and by the time you blink twice, we’ll be on our way home in the Lotus.” His low, even tone reminded me of an emcee for a televised golf tournament, or the narrator for an African Lion documentary…minus the accent.
Claire held her breath, peering into the scope. She bit her lip, and began to squeeze the trigger.
“Damn it,” she whispered. “Ryan just pulled up. He’s a block north. You and Nina intercept him, I’ll meet you in twenty.”
“Wait—,” I began, but before I could protest, Bex lifted me off the wooden beams and climbed out the broken slats of an old vent, dropping more than thirty feet below. He landed smoothly, and tugged on my hand. “Come on,” he said, keeping his voice to a whisper.
We ran down an alley as fast as my legs could move, slowing only when we reached the next street down.
“This way,” Bex said, leading me by the hand across the street, this time at a reasonable pace.
“Nina?” a voice called.
I turned to see Ryan walking toward us; confused, but happy to see me.
“Hey,” I forced my best smile, trying to control my breathing. “Clocked-in already?”
“Yeah,” he smiled, flicking his badge. “What are you doing this far north?”
“Uh….”
“I made her drive me to my girlfriend’s house,” Bex said.
Ryan blinked, and then scanned Bex from top to bottom. “Oh. I thought you were Jared.”
“Bex,” he said, offering his hand to Ryan. “Jared’s little brother.”
“Amazing, isn’t it?” I grinned.
“Well, I’m supposed to meet my partner. I’ll call you tonight, Nina.”
“Meet your partner?” I said, surprised.
“Yeah. Work stuff.”
Bex and I traded glances, and then Bex tugged on my coat. “Well…don’t want to keep Mandy waiting.”
Ryan smiled. “No man, you probably don’t. See you guys around.”
We walked at a forced pace until Ryan was out of sight, and then Bex pulled on me again. He was barely at a jog, while I was sprinting full speed until we reached the next block over, where Claire waited in the Lotus.
“It was a trap,” I said, breathless. “They were waiting for Ryan.”
“I know,” Claire said, her eyes focused and menacing.
She raced down the street, weaving in and out of traffic until we reached Brown University. “What about Ryan?” I said.
“I’ll take care of it. Bex will wait here until Jared’s finished. I have some things to wrap up.”
I nodded, and then watched from the curb as she sped away.
“Tell me,” I said, turning to Bex.
“I only heard a little as we were leaving to cut off Ryan, but Donovan sent those men to collect him. They were going to see what he knew about you…and us. Mainly Claire.”
“So now Ryan’s a target,” I said, unhappy.
“We’re all targets,” Bex said.
Chapter Fourteen
It's Your Funeral
“I was right,” I said, letting Jared take my coat. “It looks like Christmas threw up on the conference room.”
“You were right. And how ridiculous, when you’re decoration enough,” Jared said, kissing my cheek.
Loud, obnoxious music made it necessary to talk loudly to each other. Red, green and gold tinsel draped every surface in the room, and the employees, with their dates, loitered in a perfect half-moon around the DJ, careful not to cross the boundary of the dance floor.
“I’m going to tell the DJ to turn it down a notch or ten,” I said.
Jared nodded, watching with amusement as I walked with purpose across the wooden floor.
“Excuse me,” I said. The DJ bobbed his head, concentrating on the computer screen in front of him. “Excuse me!” I yelled, tapping him on the shoulder.
“What can I do for you?” he yelled back.
“Can you turn it down? I’d like for the guests to hear each other.”
The DJ frowned. “Ms. Bankovic asked that I keep it at party level.”
“Sasha?” I confirmed. “This is a business party, not a frat party,” I said over the music. “Turn it down.”
The DJ grudgingly complied, and I walked away, thoroughly satisfied. That warm, fuzzy feeling from my small victory didn't last long. Sasha had Jared cornered a few feet from the punch bowl. He looked boredd and uncomfortable; she was giggling, gesturing to the mistletoe above them.
“Hi, Baby,” Jared said emphatically, pulling me to his side.
“Nina,” Sasha said, surprised. “What are you doing here?” I raised an eyebrow. “I mean…where have you been?” she hedged.
“With the DJ, insisting he lower the music to an acceptable decibel. Now, if you’re finished flirting, I’ll save my fiancé from beneath the mistletoe so you no longer have a reason to threaten him with your dry, clumpy lipstick.”
Sasha’s mouth fell open, but I didn’t give her enough time to fire back a reply. A slow song came over the speakers, and I pulled Jared to the center of the dance floor.
His fingers pressed into my skin, eager and anxious. “Would it be redundant of me to say that I enjoy it very much when you’re jealous and mean?”
“Yes, but say it
anyway,” I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck. Before long, more couples joined us, and we were lost in a sea of lovers swaying to the music.
When the song ended, Jared left for the punch bowl line, and I stayed behind to greet co-workers and guests. Some were retirees, men and woman that had been with my Titan since the beginning. Seeing them brought back hundreds of memories, and it was soon a relief to welcome the new faces of the company.
“You shouldn’t be standing around when there’s a slow song, Peanut,” Grant said. He undoubtedly wore his most charming smile.
“I’m here with Jared, Grant,” I sneered.
“Oh, c’mon,” Grant grinned. “Just one dance?”
“No.”
He laughed and shook his head. “You look,” he gave me a once-over, “incredible. Red is…wow.”
“Thank you,” I said, looking in every direction but his.
“Are you sure you—,” he said, trailing off. “Jared! Nice to see you.”
The pleasant expression on Jared’s face as he handed me the small, plastic cup faded abruptly when he turned to Grant. “I wish I could concur,” Jared said, noticeably restrained. “You might have better luck with the interns,” he nodded to a dark corner of the room, “who are spiking their punch, and might be more susceptible to your persistence.”
Grant’s smile didn’t budge. “Happy Holidays to you both.”
“Merry Christmas,” Jared said.
The people around us were beginning to stare, so I looked to the floor, attempting to downplay the spectacle Jared had made.
“What is with you?” I said, trying to keep my head down.
“I didn’t want him to be under the impression that I liked him.”
“You made your point. Now, can you please be the reserved, controlled Jared I know and love? I need to earn the respect of the people here.”
“I’m sorry,” Jared said, kissing my hair.
“Nina?” a voice called from across the room. I winced at the horrid sound, and then turned to see Sasha barreling toward me with someone in tow.
“Practice what you preach,” Jared said with a contrived smile.
Sasha's annoying smirk twisted her face in a way that made her already sharp features seem cartoon-like. She gestured to the brawny, dark-headed man behind her.
“I’d like for you to meet my date, Ryan Scott. Ryan, this is a fellow intern of mine, Nina Grey.”
I couldn’t hide the instant shock and dismay that came over me.
Ryan held out his hand. “Intern? Doesn’t she run the company?” he winked.
Sasha laughed once, caught. “Er…not yet.”
I took Ryan’s hand. “I believe we’ve met.”
“Oh?” Sasha said, genuinely intrigued.
Ryan glanced at Jared, and then back at me. “Could I…steal you for a minute?”
“No,” Jared said without pause.
I chuckled nervously, and then peered up at Jared from under my lashes. “Sweetheart, I’ll just be a minute.”
Jared frowned, but he didn’t argue.
“Well,” Sasha said to Jared in her high-pitched, irritating voice, “I guess it’s just you and me, then.”
“I’ll be right back,” I said, staring directly at Sasha.
Ryan held me by the arm, quickly stopping in a quiet corner. “I thought we had a deal.”
“A deal?” I hissed. “I agreed that I owed you for helping me fool Jared. I didn’t say I would help you talk to Claire. Ambushing her is not a good idea.”
He sighed. “Well, I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. My partner was murdered, and I think it has something to do with the other police deaths over the last year. I think they’re all connected. I need to talk to her before I can get my head on straight enough to investigate this. It’s big, Nina. Really big, and I can’t focus on it if my mind is always on Claire.”
“You’re investigating the police murders?”
Ryan’s features were so stern I was suddenly nervous. “Not officially. Anderson and I were both on the case before he was killed. I wasn’t sure before that they were connected, but now that Kit’s dead…I know. Even the one’s that appeared to be accidents.”
“Listen—,” I began, but Ryan cut me off.
“No, you listen. I’m in a lot of trouble. No one else at the station knows what we were up to, and if they did, they’re not going to let a rookie take the case. They killed my partner, Nina. It’s personal. But, if I don’t figure this out soon, you can kiss my ass goodbye. This is serious, and I need to be focused, and Claire’s eyes above me in that hell hole is all I can think about.”
“Are you finished?” I said, irritated.
“No,” he said, frowning. “And, just so you know: I’m really, really sorry.”
“For what?” I said, returning his expression.
Ryan grabbed each side of my face, and kissed me. Not just any kiss; his tongue was inside my mouth, and he kissed me so passionately, it was beyond obscene in front of everyone I worked with, not to mention my fiancé.
Before the embarrassment soaked in, Ryan was thrown across the room, and slid on his side along the dance floor, stopping just before he crashed into the DJ station.
The music abruptly cut off, clearing the air for the screams and audible panic.
“Jared, stop!” I shouted, watching him charge.
I ran across the wooden floor, hoping to stop any bloodshed, but before I reached Ryan, Claire appeared in front of him, in a protective stance, facing her brother.
Jared stood motionless, breathing heavily from the angry adrenaline running through his veins. “He did it…on purpose,” Jared huffed.
“And you played right into his plan,” Claire said, livid. She turned to Ryan. “Kissing my sister? That’s how you planned to get my attention?” she said, pulling him up by his tie.
Ryan choked a bit before loosening up the knot around his neck, and then smiled. “I did what I had to,” he said to Claire, and then looked to Jared, “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care what you’re reasons are, don’t ever touch Nina like that again. I can’t kill you, but I’ll make you wish you were dead.” Jared grabbed my hand, and then led me from the party, down two flights of stairs, and out to the parking lot.
When we reached the Escalade, I covered my mouth with one hand. Jared was still angry, but when he looked at me, I couldn’t help but smile.
“He so got you,” I said, trying not to laugh out loud.
Jared smiled. “He did, didn’t he?”
We both laughed aloud, uncontrollably, more than we had ever done before. By the time we were finished, I was breathless, and the muscles in my stomach were sore and tight.
We drove home, hand in hand, smiling at one another at each stoplight. Ryan finally getting face time with Claire should have been a disaster, but a sense of relief surrounded us, as if our group was finally complete. I had no idea what Claire would tell Ryan — how much truth she would really share — but Ryan being Claire’s Taleh, and the fact that he was now in love with her, was proof that we were supposed to be in each others lives. Jared’s prediction was wide of the mark, but he had never looked so happy to be wrong since we’d met.
The next day, I awoke to large flakes of snow falling gracefully from the sky. Each fluffy white piece drifted downward as if it were orchestrating its own symphony. Looking out the window, the ground was already covered in at least two feet of snow, and the gray clouds above didn’t foretell anything but more of the same.
“It’s been like that since four A.M.,” Bex said from the hallway.
I tightened my robe around me, and opened the door.
Bex stood before me, bored and holding a half-eaten apple. He took another bite, crunching loudly. “He’s bringing coffee.”
“Good,” I said, leaving him to head for the bathroom.
Steam from the shower quickly surrounded me, but before I rinsed the shampoo from my hair, I heard the door open.
; “Jared?”
“It’s me,” Claire said, shutting the door behind her.
I peered through the fuzzy glass, barely able to make out her tiny frame. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been up all night with Ryan. We talked a lot. We fought more.”
“Oh? About what?”
“About what he saw in the desert, and if I was there or not. He knows the men that stabbed him last year were cops. He knows a lot more than we thought. Finally…,” she sighed, “finally I just told him.”
“Everything? You confessed about the other cops, and the commissioner? About Anderson, and…and about what you are?”
“Not yet.”
“How did you explain without telling him everything?”
“I promised I would explain later.” She frowned. “It doesn’t feel right to tell him, Nina. We were raised on the belief that this secret kept our family safe.”
“Then don’t tell him until it feels right.”
“What if it never feels right?”
“I don’t know,” I said, turning off the water. A towel flew up and over the shower door, landing on my head. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it,” Claire said, shutting the door behind her.
By the time I was dressed and ready, Claire, Jared and Bex were downstairs in the kitchen, discussing Ryan. Just by entering the room, it was obvious it was not a constructive conversation.
“You’re such a hypocrite!” Claire growled.
Jared slammed the side of his fist on the table. “Are you in love with him?”
“No!”
“Then it’s a different scenario!” Jared glanced in my direction, and then took a breath, attempting a calmer tone. “You said it yourself. It doesn’t feel right to tell him.”
I sat down, scanning the siblings with my eyes before speaking. Outwardly, Claire was angry. But her eyes were begging for understanding. Telling Ryan anything was a huge step for her, and just as Jared struggled with it two years before, Claire was now fighting with her conflicting feelings. She needed her brothers to support her
I took a seat across from Jared, and next to Claire. The choice was meaningful, and I hoped that they would notice. “Maybe Claire is looking for your blessing, Jared,” I said.
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