Page 2 of The Stolen Dagger
Rusted shipping barrels surrounded Adrian and another man, who stood next to a dark blue convertible about twenty feet away from where I was.
Adrian was dressed in the same black suit as this morning. The pale moonlight shone off his black cropped hair and tan skin. There was a beat of silence as he ground his squared jaw and glared at the man across from him.
The man, a few inches shorter than Adrian, was bald and wore a gray suit, carrying a brown briefcase in his right hand. Something thin and shiny glinted in his other hand, but from this distance, I couldn’t tell what it was.
“That wasn’t what we discussed, Henry,” Adrian snarled, pointing one finger at Henry as he tucked his other hand in the pocket of his black slacks. “Don’t make me take what I want. You and I both know it won’t be pretty.”
The anger in Adrian’s voice surprised me. This was not the man I knew when we first met. Something had changed over the last few months. He had become more secretive and was on edge—paranoid, almost.
I didn’t want to believe he was involved in something sinister, but now, watching him with this man, I wasn’t so sure. I needed the truth.
Henry raised the item in his hand. “This was a lot more difficult to steal than you let on. You’ve heard my offer. I’m not backing down. You either agree, or I’ll take my business elsewhere. You aren’t the only one willing to deal.”
Adrian chuckled, and a shiver worked its way up my spine at the lack of humor in it. “Look at you making demands. Do I need to remind you of what will happen if you back out on me?”
Henry raised his goatee-covered chin. “I’m not backing out. I’m renegotiating. Turns out the others are just asinterested as you are. They’re willing to offer me more money, and I want what’s due to me. I deserve it!”
“You deserve nothing, you rat!” Adrian spat. He reached for something behind him.
When he pulled out a handgun and aimed it at Henry, I gasped.
Oh, my God!
I slapped a hand over my mouth, my heart pounding. A chill ran through me, but it had nothing to do with the cool breeze.
Then Adrian cocked the gun.
“No, no, wait, think about this for a second,” Henry pleaded, raising his hands out in front of him. “Don’t do anything rash. You know what would happen if you killed me? They’ll come for it. They’ll come for her.”
“I’d like to see them try.” Adrian chuckled. “I’ve already secured my future.”
“Please,” Henry begged. “Do you really think an engagement will stop the Reaper from getting her back?”
Adrian tilted his head as if in thought, then shrugged. “I’ll take my chances.”
Three shots rang out.
Henry’s body crumpled face first into the dirt at Adrian’s feet.
This time, I couldn’t contain the gasp that stole all the breath from my lungs. My vision blurred, and silent tears cascaded down my cheeks.
H—he’s dead.Adrian killed him.
My body shook with fear, and my hand tightened around my phone. I should have called 911 right then, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from Henry’s still, lifeless body.
My gaze flickered to Adrian, who lowered his weapon and approached Henry, picking up the item that Henry still had clutched in his hand.
With Adrian’s back to me, I released the breath I’d been holding and slowly backed away.
I have to get out of here. He can’t know I followed him.
With each backward step I took, my mind spun. I couldn’t help but think I was next. I shuffled back more quickly with each panicked thought.
What if he saw me? What would he do? Would he shoot me, too? Would he?—
A loud clang reverberated through the alleyway, and I quickly glanced down at the tin paint can as it rolled across the ground.
No. No, no, no. Shit!
