Page 44 of No Reason to Trust

“Thank you,” Alexei said, but it sounded as if the words caught in his throat. “Have a safe trip back to Washington.”

“Thank you,” Jake said. He pushed away from the table and let the men see him replace his gun in his shoulder holster. “You go ahead. I’m going to put these tables back where they belong.”

Alexei and his men didn’t seem to like the idea, and Jake wondered if their plan was to ambush him on his way back to his hotel. But Jake smiled as the men stood and pulled on their jackets. And as they filed out the door, he was pushing the tables back where they belonged.

The same manager who’d given him the coffee coupons hurried over. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll put the tables where they belong.”

“Thanks very much,” Jake said, knowing Livvy was watching Alexei and his men. “We all appreciated the coffee. I’ll come back here if we have another meeting in this area.”

“Thank you.” The manager gave him a wide smile. “We aim to please.”

“I think everyone was pleased with the coffee,” Jake said. But clearly, Alexei and his men were not pleased with the results of the meeting. Jake saw the quick glances at Alexei. The tension in every man’s shoulders. Jake wondered what they had up their sleeves.

He’d been watching Alexei and his men since they walked out the door until they disappeared into their office building across the street. He blew out a breath, knowing how close a call he’d had. Thank God they’d placed those cameras in Alexei’s office so they knew what the plan was.

When all the Bratva members were inside the building, Jake turned to Livvy. “I don’t think we should be seen together,” he said. “Why don’t you walk up to that first alley, move a few feet in and wait for me. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Got it,” Livvy said. She tucked her newspaper beneath her arm, dumped her coffee cup in the trash and pushed out the door.

Jake waited until she was around the corner and out of sight, then he stepped out the door, as well. He studied the Bratva building and didn’t notice anyone lurking near the door. As he began walking, he felt an itch between his shoulder blades. He wanted to turn around to look. Knew he didn’t dare. He used the windows in the shops to watch behind him. He didn’t see anyone. They were staying back.

When he turned into the alley, he spotted Livvy a hundred feet ahead of him. He hurried to catch up, and he’d just reached her when he heard footsteps turn in behind him. He and Livvy took the first turn, and as they moved down the second alley, Jake glanced behind him. A long-haired, slight twenty-year-old stooped to tie his shoe. Jake remembered the guy from the meeting. So taking him out was still on the agenda.

“We’re being followed,” he murmured to Livvy. “One of the guys from the meeting.”

“Not surprised,” she said as she walked a little faster. “They clearly wanted to kill you. They’ll try to gun you down in this alley.”

“Yeah,” he said, nodding at two large green dumpsters beside a garage. “Behind there.”

They slid between the dumpsters and the peeling paint of the garage. It didn’t take long for the footsteps to turn into this alley. As the steps got closer and closer, both he and Livvy pulled their Glocks. Waited and listened until the steps were right in front of them.

The footsteps slowed. Stopped. From where he crouched behind the dumpster, Jake could see the man turning in circles, as if wondering where he’d gone. Jake tightened his grip on the gun, heard Livvy do the same.

Jake took a deep breath. Glanced at Livvy, who must have read his intention, because she nodded.

Jake duck-walked to the edge of the garbage bins, with Livvy right behind him. He stood up, and the man waiting in front of the bins spun around to face him. He lifted his left arm and pointed his gun at Jake. Center mass.

He clearly meant business.

Chapter 17

“Drop it,” Jake called. “Right now. I’m not gonna fuck around with you.”

The man smiled. Tightened his grip on his gun.

Jake raised one eyebrow. “You’re gonna shoot me here? With no Gowanus Canal to dump me into?”

The man reared back, apparently shocked that Jake knew their plans. “Don’t worry,” he said. His smile showed several rotten teeth. “We’ll manage.”

“Yeah, I bet you will,” Jake said. “One more chance to put the gun on the ground before I shoot you,” he called.

The man smiled more widely. “Not going to happen,” he said, and Jake saw his trigger finger tighten.

Lowering himself behind the dumpster, he murmured to Livvy, “Now.”

Livvy had moved into a position where she could see the guy but the edge of the dumpster kept her hidden. Livvy fired, and the shot hit the man’s thigh. He screamed, a high-pitched, agonized squeal, and dropped onto the pavement. Jake hadn’t wanted to shoot the guy, but he’d left them no choice. Jake wiggled out from behind the dumpsters and saw the gunman grasping his leg. Blood flowed through and over his fingers, leaving a growing red puddle on the cement.

Jake’s stomach churned. He didn’t have to fire his weapon very often, and every time he or his partner did, it took another piece of his soul.

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