“Let her go, Peter!”Alan shouts.
Peter squints between the door and Alan, afraid to lower his guard.I’m trapped in the middle and I can do nothing but tremble.Is that all I can do, shake with fear?
Both my hands claw at Peter’s arms locked across my neck and shoulders.I pull harder, but he clamps down.I choke.I refuse to give up.
“Don’t move, bitch!”Peter growls.
“Peter, don’t be rash.Please let her go.”Alan steps in as I fight to break free.My legs are swollen and raw, my bare feet burning as he drags me.My knees buckle, but I don’t want to give up.I have to do something.
“Don’t come closer or I’ll shoot.Don’t move!”Peter threatens.
I jerk my head back hard into Peter’s chin.He screeches, stunned by the blow.Pain blooms at the back of my head, but I shove away under his loosened arm and roll to the floor.
Alan lunges.Peter fires once—sharp and raw.I flinch; my jaw drops.Gunpowder stings my nose.It’s so loud my ears ring and my vision blurs.When sight returns, Peter falters and the gun clatters free.Alan snatches it and they crash into each other.
They roll across the tiles, punches flying.Alan lands a kick to Peter’s groin, lunges for the sidearm, and grabs it.He turns and fires—this shot hits Peter’s shoulder.My heart jumps against my ribs.Peter groans; his suit darkens with blood.He screams and collapses.
“Fuck!Alan, you son of a bitch!”Peter roars.
We breathe hard.Alan levels the gun at Peter.His eyes are wide and flat with a look that says he might pull the trigger.
“You’re the damned one.How dare you point this at Fenella?No one touches her,” Alan hisses, hand steady on the gun.
“Alan stop!Don’t do it!Don’t kill him!Please stop!”I scream.
“Listen to her.There’s no point killing me.”Peter raises his hands weakly, a useless shield against bullets.
Alan’s jaw clenches.He stares at Peter, and for a moment my words seem to blunt his fury.He boots Peter’s face into the wall.Peter groans and goes limp.
Alan and I are gasping, but it’s not over.Alan turns to me.His eyes are still hard, and now his anger hits me.
“Did you call the FBI?You can’t possibly be connected to them.”His voice cuts off.His eyes widen as if he has just pieced something together.
Pain slices my ear as the earpiece tears free and blood wells.A hot wetness runs behind my ear and a metallic tang hits the back of my throat.Alan rips the earpiece away, hears the voice on the other end for a heartbeat, and slams it to the floor.
“You’re the one who called the FBI?Are you with Laird?”Alan looms over me.
I look up with tears streaming down my cheeks.I am cut off from Golden’s directions and can only cry.“Please, Alan.Let me go.”
“Fenella, what did you do?”Alan holds his head, eyes flashing with panic and disappointment.
“I’m sorry.Please, Alan.Let me go.”I beg him.
“I make a plan and you ruin it!”Alan roars, his whole body shaking.
He notices the necklace that’s the same style as my earrings.He points the gun at me.“Take that necklace off.What is it, FBI tech too?Take it off or I’ll shoot you.”
My hands shake as I grab the clasp at the back of my neck.I struggle with it while my mouth keeps begging Alan not to shoot.
When I finally remove it, Alan snatches the necklace from my hand and throws it on the floor.A sound comes from the door behind us.Only the door isn’t opening.Someone is banging on it from outside.
“Alan!Peter!I know you’re in there!Just give up!”
It’s Laird.I know his voice.The painful pounding keeps going.The tip of something sharp keeps slashing through the door.
“Get up.Get in the car.”Alan grabs my arm and drags me to the driver’s seat.
“Let go of me!”
