Killing the engine, I slid out of the car and followed her into the building.
Luckily for me, she decided to take the stairs. If she’d taken the elevator, I’d have been searching every individual floor, which would cost me precious time.
I trailed behind her, stopping at the edge of the stairway when she reached the second floor and stuck the key in one of the doors.
Leave the door open, baby. You’re expecting that real estate agent shitbag, remember?
She shoved the door open and walked inside, leaving it ajar.
Thank. Fuck.
Pushing off the stair rail, I followed her inside. At this point, I knew I had to make myself known. She’d be pissed, buthopefully she’d understand. Hey, I was just trying to help her out.
I stepped into the sunny and spacious apartment, bare of furniture. The windows were open, and a summer breeze swept inside. Tierney had her back to me, staring out at Old Town Bridge Tower. Her now-black hair danced in the wind. A waft of its flowery, clean scent entered my nostrils and my knees went weak.
It seemed like the coast was clear. Still, my heart thrummed wildly in my chest.
I took another step forward.
What the fuck do I say?
Hi, Little Flame, I know I made a big stink about never seeing you again… Well, surprise!
Or: Oh, hi, Tierney. Fancy seeing you here. How about another quickie?
Suddenly, she turned around. Our eyes locked.
She looked…scared.
Why wouldn’t she be? You were sent to Europe to kill her, idiot.
“Achilles…” Her mouth dropped in shock.
I opened my mouth to say I wasn’t here to hurt her, just to ensure no one else did.
But before I could do that, a quiet, deadlypopof a bullet muffled by a suppressor sliced through the air.
Tierney’s body dropped to the floor. Her emerald eyes were still wide-open, staring at me with terror, as blood trickled from the back of her head.
WHAT THE FUCK?
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
I careened toward her, falling to my knees, holding her limp head between my hands. Blood vined around my fingers, spilling onto the floor.
“No!” I roared. “Little Flame…no… I ca—can’t… You have to stay. I’ll do anything… I promise…just…please… I can’t do this without you.”
I plastered my forehead to hers, a savage cry ripping from my chest. With one hand, I took out my phone and called the 112 emergency line. In my other, I gripped her head wound tightly, trying to stop the blood loss.
Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck.
I couldn’t breathe.
Not that there was a point doing so if she wasn’t around.
But on the off chance I could save her…
Fuck. I couldn’t lose her.
