Page 62 of No Man's Land

“I doubt anyone will miss you.”

That was probably truer than Dutta knew. Still, stiffening his spine, in every sense, Josef said, “I’m not going to stand here and watch you murder him.”

“Then leave.”

“If I leave, I’ll go straight to theClarion. News of Lord Alexander Beaumont’s gruesome murder at the hand of his friend will shift a few copies, no doubt.”

“Josef, for God’s sake,” Alex growled.

Cooly, Dutta said, “You’re not making this any easier on yourself.”

“Or you, I hope.” Josef turned and found Dutta only a couple of feet away, his gun aimed point-blank at Josef’s head. In the gloom, the man’s face was entirely in shadow, his expression impenetrable.

He’ll do it, Josef realised with a thud of sick fear.He'll shoot me, then kill Alex.

And Alex won’t stop him.

Heart hammering, his vision narrowed, the world going dark at the edges until all he could see was the blind eye of that gun.

He didn’t want to die.

He didn’t want Alex to die.

He didn’t want to accept that those were his only fucking choices.

Fists curling at his sides, Josef prepared to fight. If he could duck beneath the gun, slam his head into Dutta’s belly, maybe he could wrestle the gun from his hand before—

“Lower your weapon.”

Josef spun around. Behind him, Alex stood with his Webley raised and pointed at Dutta.

“I mean it,” Alex said. “Dal, put the gun down.”

Dutta’s astonishment was visible in the uncertain wobble of his arm. “What the devil are you doing? You've been bitten. We both know how this ends.”

“For me, yes. Not for him.”

“For God’s sake, Beaumont, you heard what he said. He’ll go to the press.”

“I’ll handle that.”

Dutta didn’t lower his weapon. “Didn’t I tell you this would happen? I warned you in Poperinge. Itoldyou he’d be trouble.”

Alex didn’t answer. “Josef,” he said, “come here.”

Josef didn’t move, frozen by the unblinking gaze of Dutta’s gun.

“Joe!” Alex barked. “Now.”

With his gaze fixed on Dutta, Josef backed towards Alex. As soon as he was within range, Alex grabbed his arm and pulled Josef behind him. To Dutta, he said, “I’ll handle this my own way.”

“Which is what?”

Alex didn’t answer, and Josef’s stomach pitched in alarm. What the fuck was Alex planning? If he thought Josef would let him put a bullet in his own stupid head, he could bloody well think again.

After a long pause, Dutta said, “I’ll have to tell Saint.”

“I know.”

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