AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Well, it sounds like I might have something you need.’ It looked like Nable was attempting to smile, but it came out as a sneer.
‘Don’t play games with me.’
‘This is no game, Alex. This is deadly serious.’ He shifted his footing, moving slightly closer. ‘I have information you want, and you have information I need. Surely we can come up with some sort of arrangement.’
Alex took a clear step forward. ‘How about you tell me what I need to know and I won’t shoot you in the face.’
‘You know they’ll never give up. Aren’t you tired of running?’
‘That bullshit won’t work on me. You know the minute I turn dog I’m dead. Witness protection won’t stop them.’
‘What if they’re already stopped? If we can put them all away—’
‘Prison won’t shut them down.’
‘We’ve got new laws and ways of dismantling—’
‘Bullshit. You might scare off some of those new gangs who get around in their hotted-up cars, but you’ll never shut down an outfit like The Devils.’
‘We gotta try.’
Nable was like a broken record and Alex felt the last of his patience expire.
‘Who did Zep send to London?’
‘Gotta be quid pro quo.’
‘Last chance.’ He pressed the gun against Nable’s forehead.
‘Guess we’ll see who has the fastest reflexes.’ The gun appeared from the small of his back in one fluid movement. He was left-handed, rendering any attempt from Alex to block it useless. The barrel was pointed straight at his heart.
‘I ain’t got nothing left to lose Hollywood,’ he hissed. ‘Can you say the same?’
ChapterTwenty-Nine
The hostility retreated once Alex left, allowing oxygen to return. The cool air stilled the inferno inside Sarah, as she drew breath for what seemed like the first time since mentioning Tom. She perched on the edge of the sofa, as though expecting reprisal at any moment. Her whole world was caught in the grip of a slow-moving earthquake. It reverberated from the core, throwing everything slightly off-balance.
How could Alex think I would betray him? I just wanted him to see that maybe we had a chance, a way to survive.
She felt a surge of sorrow. Alex was so broken inside, his only defense was to shut everyone and everything out. Well, not this time. Resolve tightened her stomach and stemmed the tears that prickled behind her eyes. They had a chance to get out of this. And that rested with Tom Nable.
Regardless of what Alex thought or did, she couldn’t walk away. Somehow, she had to convince Alex that this was worth a shot. Sarah took the stairs two at a time. She retrieved her gun, their passports and some cash. She started to arrange them in her waistband and various pockets, along with spare ammunition. Even though her intention was to go find Tom and bring him back to speak with Alex, she had no intention of being caught unprepared.
Sarah hurriedup the three stairs that led to the foyer of the Hotel Medieval. A weary looking man with a battered backpack at his feet was hunched over the desk talking with the receptionist.
‘Ces gens sont ridicules. Il dit de la clarté et apporte de petites valises dans la brochure…’ He appeared to be complaining about something that receptionist agreed with.
‘Bonjour,’ Sarah continued through as though she was exactly where she should be. Tom had told her he was staying in Room fourteen.
‘Bonjour,’ nodded the receptionist.
She found the stairs just past the desk. The white walls were adorned with sketches of battle scenes from centuries gone by. Vases of imitation flowers, dust settled permanently on the faux velvet, sat on rickety hall stands on every landing. At the third-floor, open doors and lots of chatting and laughter towards the back of the building suggested a tour group or family. She made for the front end, slowing her step as the light cast over the floor indicated the door to Room fourteen was wide open.
That was odd.
She stopped a meter or so from the door but could hear no noise or detect any movement. Her hand hovered over the gun in her jacket pocket as she crept forward. She sensed the tension before she saw it. Her heart leapt into her throat, the scene in front of her surreal. Two men with guns drawn at point blank range. One was the love of her life and the other was, perhaps, the only hope of having a life.
‘What are you doing?’ Her words came out as a breath. ‘Alex, no.’ She tried to insert herself between them.
