Shit.
A terrible lead in Germany. Who had sent Lach on a wild goose chase instead of trying to kill him outright?
Someone who wanted him out of the way.
Gina didn’t stop moving, only smiled at the handsome Italian trying to upsell her with a bottle of olive oil but she scanned the street behind her sunglasses. The market had drawn a huge crowd of locals and tourists both, but she felt a particular pair of eyes on her. A cold, predator’s gaze. Gina handed the man some Swiss francs and took the bottle from him while Sana bought a loaf of bread.
“Now for cheese,” Sana said.
“I think it’s time for lemons.”
To her credit, Sana’s expression didn’t change from her smile though her eyes darted behind her sunglasses to where one of her guards had last been standing. He was nowhere in sight.
“Ah, yes, I see,” she sighed. “I wasn’t expecting them to be ripe so early in the season. My fault.”
Gina handed her the bottle of olive oil.
And then Fleur’s leash.
“You head back to your apartment. I’ll go find them on my own.”
“Regina. No.” Sana refused to take the leash. “It’s not far. We’ll go home together. Maybe Lachlan is already there. Maybe?—”
“Please. Take Fleur and go. It’s already too late.”
“I’m so sorry, my friend. We shouldn’t have left the flat.”
“No. He’s known where I was this whole time. I was never safe here. He’s one of the best.”
Sana started to take out her phone. “I’ll call home and we’ll get an escort.”
“Put your phone away now. Take my Fleur to safety. Please. For me.”
“I’ll keep you both safe.”
“No. I’m done running. I’ll take care of this.”
Sana’s eyes filled with tears but finally she nodded and took Fleur’s leash. The dog wined and looked back and forth between the women.
“You are not abandoned. We’ll find you. I love you, my friend.”
“I love you, too.” She hugged Sana and dropped to her knees in front of Fleur.
“There aren’t words, puppy. My sweetest girl.”
She stood up and walked away without looking back.
TWENTY-FOUR
Gina, present day, Switzerland
Acold, steady calm descended on Gina, as familiar as a lover.
Time to go back to work.
She walked about a quarter mile in the opposite direction of Sana’s apartment. She felt his eyes on her back right up until she walked into the restaurant. She went straight to the bar and sat down. She took out her vape without letting the bartender catch sight of it.
“English?” she asked him.
