Page 95 of Queen of Misfortune (Shadows of Redemption)
She shakes her head. “No… another man. He said Liam had to die.”
“What about Donovan and Niko?” Does she remember them? She’d only met them briefly when she’d come to the penthouse to say goodbye to Elena before going into Witness Protection.
"I don't know." She takes in a steadying breath. "I just… I heard them say something about a building behind the warehouse. That’s where the Russian guy went."
The building behind the warehouse—could they be there? I need to check. I think about sending Kate to the car, but I don’t know if anyone else is lurking about. It’s better that we stay together.
I hold out my father’s gun to her. “Just in case.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t know how to use it.”
“Your father didn’t teach you?” I know her father was a police captain.
She shrugs.
“Just hold it and stay close to me, okay?”
She takes it, holding it with her thumb and forefinger like it’s hot. I figure if the shit hits the fan, she’ll either use it or drop it.
We move toward the rear exit. I open the back door and look out, seeing a smaller office building. My fingers tighten around the gun as I move toward it. Kate keeps pace beside me.
We approach the building. My pulse thrums in my ears. Am I close to finding Donovan, and if I am, is he alive?
I open the door and step inside. Two small offices flank the entry, and just past that to the right is a hallway. We silently turn right and start down the corridor. We nearly make it to the end when the sound of gunfire explodes.
Kate cries out and drops to the floor. I look around, finding a door to somewhere just a few feet ahead of us.
“Come on.” I grip Kate’s arm and tug her to the door. I open it, holding my gun up as I look around. It’s a basic office with a desk. Better yet, it’s empty. “In here.”
We go in, and I shut the door. We crouch behind the desk, listening as the gunfire continues. Then it slows down until finally, it stops. I have no clue who is fighting or who won, but I want to think it’s Niko, Donovan, and maybe Liam if Kate is right.
“You stay here under the desk.” I start to rise.
“No. Don’t leave me.”
“I’m going to see what that was about.”
She bites her lip. I can see she’s weighing the risks. Finally, she says, “I want to stay with you.”
We stand up. “Don’t forget the gun,” I say when I see it on the floor.
She picks it up and we move to the door. I look out in the hallway. No one.
I step out, and we continue down the hall. At the end is a left-hand turn down another hall. This one seems darker, but I can make out more rooms and a couple more hallways.
I turn left and hear movement. I wait for a moment and then start to move again.
"What if that’s the bad guys?” Kate asks.
“Then—”
"Fucking hell… that's Kate.”
I stop as I recognize Liam’s voice.
“Liam?” Kate asks.
“Come on.” I hurry down the hall. Before we reach the end, Niko steps out, gun drawn.