“Not long enough, if you ask me.”
The client actually laughed. “I suppose I’d feel the same if I were in your shoes. But there’s no reason you need to worry about it too much. We both know how this is going to end. Why not come down now so we don’t have to drag things out?”
“If you’re in such a hurry,” Felicity said, “why don’tyoucome up? I’m sure we could settle things just as quickly.”
Parker glanced around to pick out the best way to make a quick exit. But instead of noting escape routes, his gaze was drawn to movement coming from the hall he and the others had just entered through.
He immediately ducked to avoid being seen, which was the only reason he didn’t die on the spot, from a bullet that pierced the air right where he’d been standing.
“Fuck this,” he whispered.
Staying low, he rushed toward the front door.
Behind him, the gun that had nearly taken his life went off again. He heard the client cry out and something hit the floor, but he didn’t look back.
He reached the door just as someone outside opened it. Not recognizing the man, he barreled into him and sent the guy sprawling to the ground. Parker then sprinted away from the house, acutely aware he needed to find cover as soon as possible.
Ahead to the right, he spotted the open side door to the garage and veered toward it.
Chapter 43
Stone, Dino, and Ed heardBronsky’s conversation with Felicity as they sneaked toward the living room.
Drawing close, Stone chanced rising enough to peer ahead. Two men were standing near the stairs, one with his back to Stone and the other looking around.
The second guy turned far enough that Stone got a look at his face.
Stone blinked in disbelief. It was Andre Parker.
The man he’d first met as Samuel Jones on Trenton’s yacht.
The man who had killed Trenton, six members of the crew, and nearly Stone himself.
And now he was here, helping Bronsky.
The how and the why weren’t important at the moment.
Parker needed to be stopped.
Stone raised his gun just as Parker’s gaze landed on him. He pulled the trigger a beat after Parker dropped out of sight, his bullet barely missing the man.
Bronsky twisted toward the gunshot.
Stone adjusted his aim and squeezed off another round.
In the best of conditions, his accuracy with a handgun was mediocre. This was not even close to the best, and instead ofhitting Bronsky in the chest, his bullet grazed the side of Bronsky’s arm.
The Russian shouted in pain and spun into a side table, knocking several books to the floor and taking himself out of Stone’s direct sight.
By the time Stone, Dino, and Ed rushed into the living room, Parker was out the front door with Bronsky only steps behind him.
Both Stone and Dino shot at the Russian, neither hitting their mark before Bronsky was gone.
On the floor at the base of the stairs was a third man. He wasn’t moving.
“Felicity?” Stone called.
“Here,” she responded. “Did you get them?”
