Page 62 of Wraith
“I can stay here and hold them up.” Aleksei offered.
“Not on your life.” Beast told him. “Let’s move.”
Wraith pulled the man on the floor up and they headed toward the door Aleksei showed them. While he entered his access code, Beast, Barbie and Wraith had their guns drawn. Amelia led their captive. Right as the door beeped, assailants barged into the office. Shots rang out, clanging off the steel of the emergency exit, smashing through the computer on the desk and blowing up a fish tank.
Wraith returned fire then all but dove through the door. It clanged shut and they all darted down the steps. On the other side of the door was a thunderous mess of voices, things falling over and Russian profanities.
They continued down the stairs until finally, emerging on another floor. The silence of it rattled Wraith but not for very long. Men in black filled both ends of the hallway, trapping them in the middle.
“How?” Aleksei asked, a tremble in his voice. “No one is supposed to know where the emergency door leads to.”
“It seems you have a mole.” Barbie grumbled. “We’re getting out of here—even if we have to kill every last one of them.”
“Usually, I’d say killing isn’t the answer,” Amelia said in a hoarse whisper while pulling out her gun. “But I’m not dying here.”
“All right, then.” Wraith took aim and was about to fire when the group melted aside and a man he’d known anywhere stepped through.
Amelia shifted as though to run to him, but Wraith grabbed her.
“Dad?” Amelia asked. “What’s going on?”
“You made it this far, huh?” Leonard asked. “You know, I didn’t really believe Wraith would come back to Russia after the last time. But I guess a nice pair of tits and a big ass make a man do crazy things.”
“What’s he talking about?” Amelia asked.
“I’ll tell you later—you were behind this?” Wraith asked. “You made us think Storogenko was doing this—why drag your daughter into it?”
“Because I wanted the painting back,” Leonard said. “I had no idea where it was and couldn’t figure it out.”
“So, you make up the bullshit about me being in danger, sent me to Liam knowing he would do everything to make sure I was okay.” Amelia’s voice broke. “Liam’s a soldier, he does what he’s told despite the consequences but I’m your daughter! You would do this to me?”
“It’s nothing personal,” Leonard said. “And for the record, you’re not my daughter.”
“Now is not the time for an episode of Maury,” Amelia said.
“Your mother had a fling on vacation—came back with you.” Leonard explained. “It’s nothing to me what happens to you at this point.”
“Fine.” Amelia’s voice held a coldness Wraith hadn’t heard before. “If you’re not my father, then I will feel no ways shooting you.”
Leonard laughed. “You? Shoot me? Child, please. Now, be a good girl and hand over the painting.”
Wraith hadn’t realized she’d grabbed it before leaving the office. How had he not seen it? Still, he shifted to stand closer to her. Leonard was not getting his hand on the painting—ever.
But he had no time to tell Amelia what he was thinking. Guns were being cocked and aimed and he wasn’t about to get shot again on the trip.
Wraith fired, taking out one guy by clocking him between the eyes. Barbie and Beast were busy with the attackers at the back. Igor pulled the other man down out of the way. In the foray, they somehow separated. Wraith didn’t like it and fought through the din to be by her side again. The moment he reached her something heavy crashed against his back. He fell forward into her chest then was dragged backward.
“Liam!” She screamed.
“It’s okay!” Wraith called, shoving his elbow back.
The familiar shape of a gun was pressed to the side of his head and he paused.
“Give me the painting!” Leonard said from close to Wraith’s ear.
Amelia seemed to be contemplating the request.
“Don’t do it, Amelia,” Liam told her.
