Page 164 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

Burke jerked his head towards the back. Mark yanked her down the corridor and half dragged her up the stairs.

Mark threw her down amongst the beer crates and barricaded the door as Burke started pacing.

“They’re not coming.” Maddie taunted him and he glared at her. Her nose was still bleeding and she tried to wipe her face with her hand. Her body felt sore, bruised, but she knew she could still fight, could still defend herself when the moment arose.

“No one’s coming. Only BlackWater.” She added.

“Shut the fuck up.” He growled kicking her and she groaned as his boot collided with her side.

“They’re here.” Mark said staring out the window down at the street below.

“What you gonna do Burke? Huh? They’re not just gonna sit there waiting at the doors.”

“I said shut the fuck up Maddie.” He snarled kicking her again and she cried feeling her ribs crack.

They heard the loud shrill noise of grinders cutting though the shutters downstairs and then the sound of boots moving fast beneath them.

“Get up to the roof. We can wait for them there.” Mark said and Burke nodded.

Mark grabbed Maddie wrenching her to her feet and dragging her across the room to the stairs in the corner.

“You can’t beat them Burke. You know that right?” She cried and he glared at her before climbing up after her.

Mark let go of Maddie and she ran then, staring over the edge and seeing the vans below, seeing the barricade. It was too high to jump, too high for her to escape from.

“Get back here.” Burke yelled grabbing her and she cried out as he yanked her back hard against the wall.

She sat holding her side, glaring at him. How was it Burke, she thought, out of all of them, out of everyone? How was it him?

He was on his phone, messaging, furiously typing. She glanced at Mark, he was on his phone too.

“Why Burke?” She asked him and he looked at her.

“Why what?” He asked.

“Why are you doing this? Stealing state secrets, passing on them on? Who are you even working for? Is it the Russians? Is it China? Tell me you arsehole.” She shouted and he laughed.

“Oh Maddie. You always think things are so black and white.”

“What does that mean?” She snapped.

“It means that maybe it’s not any country at all, maybe it’s something else entirely.” He said.

“What?” She replied frowning because that made no sense whatsoever.

He smirked and she shook her head.

“Stop talking in riddles and answer the god damn question.” She half shouted.

“You’re not interrogating me here. I’m the one in charge.” He stated.

“Yeah great job you’re doing. You’re stuck. Surrounded. BlackWater are literally at the doors. Look around you, there are probably snipers taking aim as we speak.” Maddie retorted.

He snarled grabbing her and yanking her over onto his lap as she kicked out.

“Get the hell of me.” She cried and he laughed yanking her head back by her hair so that her face was just below his. His cheek, his stubble brushing against her skin.

“Any minute now we’ll have our escape and you’ll see how wrong you are.” He said into her ear. His arms wrapped tight around her, holding her against him, using her as a shield against any would be snipers.

“Why me huh?” She asked. She could smell the sweat of him, feel the heat of his body against hers. He was breathing hard, she could feel his heart thumping too.

“You really want to know?” He asked.

“Yes.” She said.

He shrugged and she felt the movement against her body. “Because of Mitchell.”

“What?” She gasped.

“You were on a list, just a name, just a potential and then you got yourself noticed.”

“Mitchell‘s involved in this?” She said.

“Nah not involved but I worked with him, I worked in his team for 6 years. He was a good guy, a good Agent and you came along and tried to screw him over.”

“I did not. He singled me out. He betrayed everyone in our team, led us to our deaths or as good as.” She snarled.

“Yeah well that’s not how he sees it.” He replied.

“Sure, bet he’s got a real convincing story.” She said through gritted teeth.

He smirked. “You did this to yourself Maddie. You raised your head above the parapet.”

“So you set me up because of that?” Maddie said.

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