Dead No More

by L. R. Nicolello

  JB jerked her upright, his fingers biting into her arm.

  “You shouldn’t have gone into the family business, Lily. It isn’t good for you.” Rowland paced, his arms tucked behind his waist. “Or for your new little makeshift family.”

  Realization swept over her. “George.”

  “Yes, I killed that old man. I’d gone there for you, actually. Seems a bit serendipitous, don’t you think?” Rowland flicked his hands in the air, as if he were swatting away a fly, and laughed. “Bad night for him, I’d say, wouldn’t you? Wrong place, wrong time.”

  Another wave of grief crashed into Lily, followed by a tsunami of rage. Rowland killed George. Her beloved George. She looked up at Rowland and tightened her fists until her nails bit into the flesh of her palms.

  “Just like your family,” she whispered.

  Anguish and rage flashed in his cold eyes. His fist connected with her face again. “You don’t know anything. You don’t get to say a word about my family.”

  She spit out a mouthful of blood and glared at him. “I’m going to kill you.”

  “Somehow I doubt that.” The edge of his lip twitched into a cruel smile. “Now, if the family connection wasn’t surprise enough, imagine my disbelief when I found out there was not one, but two little bitches spying on me.”

  Lily’s heart pounded as she fought to keep her breath steady. Evelyn. Please, God, don’t let him have Evelyn. She shook her head. No. Marcus had said Evelyn was home. Safe.

  Rowland snapped his fingers. JB released his grip on Lily. Her insides shook as he stalked to the sofa, reached behind it and hauled a woman to her feet. Please don’t be Evelyn. The woman’s head hung limply to the side, and her long, dark hair concealed her face.

  JB grabbed the woman’s head and jerked it up.

  Lily bit back a cry of relief at the same time her heart sank. Alyssa Montgomery, Rowland’s assistant, stared blankly at Lily. Tears poured down Alyssa’s cheeks, rolling over the tape that covered her mouth.

  “Tell me, Lily. Do you know this woman?” Rowland pointed at Alyssa. “Choose your words carefully. Her life depends on it.”

  Lily glanced at the trembling woman. She could smell fear pouring off her body. “That’s Alyssa.”

  “Wrong answer.” Rowland’s eyes darkened, and his face hardened. “I’ll ask you again. Do you know this woman?”

  Blood pounded in Lily’s ears, and her heart thumped against her chest. She had no idea who that woman was. CIA? FBI? Interpol? No way. Whatever she answered, she would be wrong.

  And that woman would be dead.

  Lily rushed to answer. “Her name is Alyssa Montgomery. She’s your assistant.”

  JB smirked.

  “Wrong again.” Rowland moved to her side and yanked Alyssa’s hair, exposing her throat.

  “Stop!” Lily held up her hands. She took a step toward him. “I swear to you, Rowland. I do not know that woman.”

  Rowland grabbed the knife on his desk. “And why should I believe one word that drips from your lying tongue?”

  Alyssa’s eyes widened. Terror mixed with tears as she struggled against his hold and shrieked behind the tape.

  Lily lunged, every muscle in her body screaming at the sudden movement. JB caught her by the neck. She clawed and kicked, but he lifted her off the floor.

  “She’s a spy,” Rowland said, his tone cold as death, his eyes wild. “I told you not to fuck with me, Lily. This is how I deal with such treachery. This one’s on you.”

  JB tightened his grip. Lily fought for air and watched, helpless, as Rowland reached up and, in one swift motion, pulled the knife.

  Alyssa’s throat opened. Blood spurted everywhere.

  Bile rushed into Lily’s mouth. Rowland let go of Alyssa as she fell to the floor like a rag doll. Lily’s breathing came in short, shallow bursts. She dug her fingers into her palms and flipped her gaze to Rowland. He had to be stopped. Adrenaline surged through her body, numbing the pain until Lily felt nothing. Only rage.

  Hot, dark rage.

  She kicked with all the strength, and her foot connected with the side of JB’s knee. It buckled, and his grip loosened. She wrapped her hands around his neck and twisted, waiting for the soft pop, then let go.

  JB slumped, landing in a heap.

  Lily turned and stared down the cold, metal barrel of Rowland’s .45.

  “You’re going to regret the day you decided you could saunter into my house, into my life, and fuck with me.”

  “Yes, you’ve mentioned that.”

  Lily had no weapon. Hand-to-hand combat with a man twice her size was definitely not ideal. But she was slowly running out of options.

  And time.

  His knuckles connected with her lip. Her face exploded. A coppery, metallic liquid filled her mouth. She spit out the excess blood. A single drop dripped off her chin.

  With a strong flick, her foot connected with his ankle. He landed on his back. She sprang, straddled him, wrapped her hands around his neck and squeezed.

  He flipped her over his shoulder.

  Lily landed hard. The air rushed out of her lungs. Adrenaline fueling her every movement, she scrambled and picked herself up off the floor.

  With the speed of a viper, he struck her face again.

  Her vision blurred. Lily rolled to the left and avoided another blow. A red river flowed down her cheekbone. Blood rushed into her eyes, making it impossible to see.

  She couldn’t beat him this way. She knew it. He knew it. It was only a matter of time.

  Lily glanced around. JB’s handgun lay two feet from her. She dove and scooped up the gun from the floor. Grasping the metal grip, she drew the gun around and pulled the trigger.

  The first bullet arched and hit Rowland squarely in the gut.

  He roared in pain.

  The second two went wide.

  “It’s done, Rowland.” Lily trained her gun at him. “You’re finished.”

  “I don’t think you’re one to be giving me ultimatums, darling. Look at you.”

  He pressed his hand to his stomach and took an unsteady step toward her. Blood seeped from his fingers. He pointed at her hand. “You’re trembling, and you’re as white as a ghost. There’s no way you can shoot me. Your arm’s a mess. And I’m guessing you’re clenching your teeth to stave off losing consciousness. Am I right?”

  “It’s just my tricep, asshole.”

  She cocked the trigger and pulled.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  Thursday, October 2, 10:39 p.m.

  DEREK YANKED OFF the needle cover, tapped the syringe twice and then looked down at his boss. “Sorry about this.” He shoved the thick needle into John’s chest and drove the plunger down, watched as the serum vanished.

  Gasping, John’s eyes bulged, and then he went limp. Shit. Derek pressed his fingers to the man’s neck, felt a faint but steady pulse. He pulled John out of the chair and threw him over his shoulder, fireman-style, and headed for the elevator, gun up.

  The elevator opened in the lobby and Derek stepped out, his radio crackling to life. “I have John. He needs a medic.”

  “Copy that,” Marcus’s steady voice confirmed. “Coming in now.”

  “Also, Gina isn’t our victim.” Derek lowered John to the floor, propping him up against the wall. “She’s involved somehow in this whole thing.”

  “You sure?”

  Derek slid his hand behind his body armor, winced. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  “Well, isn’t that a bitch.”

  Derek looked down at his boss, wondering if he’d make it. That was putting it mildly. He checked his gun, crouched down next to John. “Has Lily che—”

  The sharp crack of bullets being fired cut him off, the sound of his worst nightmare.


  Derek took off at a run.

  * * *

  ROWLAND LUNGED, AND THEN his body bucked. His eyes widened. He stumbled back, dropping to his knees. He looked at Lily, his eyes glazed with surprise, and fell onto his face.

  Lily tried to clear the fog in her brain. She needed to get out, find Derek. Now. She stumbled toward the door, then stopped as a subtle flutter in her peripheral vision caught her attention. She turned, the abrupt movement tilting the room on a crazy edge.

  Jackson moved from the shadows and stood over Rowland’s body.

  The bottom fell out from under Lily. Son of a bitch. She scrambled to the far side of the room and shoved her back into the corner, raising her gun.

  “Easy, Lil.” He stepped closer, his hands up. “Take it easy.”

  Why was he talking to her like they were something other than enemies? “Don’t tell me to take it easy. You killed my friend, you bastard. There’s no way Rowland would have known where to find me, find George, unless you told him. George’s death is on you. You may as well have held the knife yourself.”

  His brow wrinkled. “I didn’t...”

  Her hand trembled. Her heart followed suit. “Bullshit.”

  “Lily, I didn’t compromise your location.” Jackson ran both hands over his head and stared at her, confusion in his face. “Why would I do that?”

  She grasped the butt of the gun with both hands. “Why would you do any of the shit you’ve done?”

  “What I’ve done? I would never do anything to hurt George.” Jackson’s voice rose. He shook his head and his face dropped, a pained expression flashing through his eyes. “I’ve done nothing but try to protect you ever since you blew into Rowland’s sights at that damn gala.”

  Protect her? What the hell? Lily blinked, her guard splintering. “You were the waiter in the hallway?”

  Jackson nodded. “I tried to tell you to back off, to get out of town. I tried.”

  She bit her lip...to stave off the advancing blackness, help her focus. She’d seen that same look descend when they’d lost their teammate in Afghanistan. Maybe he hadn’t gone rogue. No. She shook her head. “All lies. I should’ve known.”

  “You don’t know anything,” Jackson snapped, his tone harsh. “I didn’t disclose your location to Rowland, and I didn’t betray you.”

  “You didn’t—” She choked on the bile that rose in her throat. “You threw me out a three-story window. I almost died. How the hell does that not constitute a betrayal?”

  “I knew the Dumpster was there.”

  She felt like she’d been sucker punched. What was he talking about? Did he really think she’d buy that bullshit?

  “There’s no way you could have known that.”

  Jackson held his hands out in front of him, almost as if in a peace offering, and took a step toward her. “Lil, I put it there.”

  Her mind raced as she backed away from him. “Move one more step, and I swear, I’ll blow your head off.”

  “No, you won’t. Despite that brilliant countermove at your loft, I know you. I trained you. And I know you won’t shoot to kill.”

  “Don’t push it.”

  “Listen to me. I had to disappear. Had to go silent.”

  Lily shook her head. The numbing effect waned, and pain fought for its rightful place once more. Her vision swam. “What are you talking about?”

  His face pinched together. Regret pooled in his eyes. “I couldn’t let them question your innocence.”

  “My what?” Her heart constricted. What was he trying to tell her? That he’d done all this for her? Her lips trembled. “Why’d you have to disappear? Nothing of what you’re saying makes sense.”

  “I caught wind of ARME’s secret undertaking. When I brought it to the director, he agreed we needed to make a move, but it came down the line that the government’s hands were tied. If I went in alone...” He shrugged, pleading with his eyes. “The message was clear. If we wanted to bring them down, neutralize the threat, I had to go off the radar.”

  She blinked hard. His story matched Derek’s version. Perfectly. Was Jackson telling her the truth? Had he really done all this out of duty? Did that mean...

  Her stomach flip-flopped. Did he still love her? She shook her head. No. It didn’t matter.

  For all she knew, he’d bugged every place she loved: her home, Ben’s, Keystone.

  “You still left me. You still committed treason.”

  He tipped his head to the side. He looked ten years older now, his face drawn. “Did I?”

  Lily didn’t know what to believe. Truth. Lies. They all blended together to make one royal mess.

  Two soft pops echoed in her ears at the same time Jackson’s body bucked. Slowly, he dropped to the ground. Crimson stains spread across his chest.

  Ducking behind the desk, she glanced around the room. Nothing. Was their sniper back? Lily kept her head low and rushed to Jackson’s side. As she knelt, she pressed her fingers into his throat, searching. A thin, erratic heartbeat thumped against her skin. He was still alive.

  Barely.

  “Stay with me.” She held her hands against the holes in his chest. Blood seeped between her fingers. “Don’t die on me now.”

  Despite the fact that Lily wanted to take Jackson down, she didn’t want it to happen this way. She didn’t want him to bleed out in her hands. Warring emotions sparred within her brain, and Lily was suddenly very tired, and very freaking confused.

  Jackson reached up, covered her hands with his. “Lil, I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t talk.”

  He pressed his hand against her cheek. The familiar touch sent her senses reeling. Tears blurred her vision.

  “I didn’t betray you.” His hand dropped to his side. He coughed, and a thin line of blood trickled out from the side of his mouth.

  “Shhh.” She cradled his head. “Don’t talk.”

  “I didn’t betray you, Lily. I love you.”

  Lily hung her head. Rebellious tears sprung to her eyes. All signs pointed to this man committing treason, betraying her. Could they have been wrong? Could she have been wrong?

  “Jackson.”

  “I had to leave you. It destroyed me. But it was the only way to keep you safe.” He laughed, and blood spilled from his lips. “I misjudged her.”

  Her?

  Lily frowned. She stroked Jackson’s face, his stubble scratching her skin. “Rowland’s dead.”

  “Yes, but he isn’t your problem,” a female voice said behind them. “I am.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

  Thursday, October 2, 10:43 p.m.

  DEREK BOUND UP the stairs, taking two at a time, switched channels. “Ben, I need a location on Lil. Where is she?”

  “We’re still flying blind out here.”

  Shit. “Copy that. I’m headed up to the executive level, sweeping level two first. I could sure use some cover.”

  “Say no more. On my way.”

  Derek cleared the second floor, every cell in his body on high alert. Rowland. Jackson. Gina. Derek didn’t know where the truth forged into lies.

  What a fucking mess.

  * * *

  CONFUSION WASHED OVER Lily as she glanced over her shoulder. Gina Elsworth walked out from the shadows, her gun trained on Lily.

  “Never send a man to do a woman’s job.”

  Gina noticed Alyssa’s wasted body, her throat sliced open, and clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, shaking her head in disgust. “What a waste of money. I sent her in to spy on Rowland for me. Clearly, she couldn’t cut it.” Gina laughed, high and slightly crazed, at her own twisted joke.

  Lily glanced over at Alyssa, then quickly back at Gina.

  Her spy? What the hell?

  Lily posi
tioned her body between Gina’s gun and Jackson. She was no longer sure whether or not he was a traitor, and she wasn’t about to let Gina kill him. Especially if he turned out to be innocent.

  “How did you get here? The police? You’re supposed to be at the house, with Ben’s—”

  “I called the police, told them not to come. It’s amazing what powerful people like me can get away with. And those men you stashed at my house?” Gina laughed. “Well, let’s just say they will no longer be of service.”

  “Well played, with the scared little wife act.” Lily stood and raised her gun. “Clearly, I underestimated you.”

  Gina wasn’t a victim. So was she working with Rowland? Or Jackson?

  “You did. But don’t kick yourself. Everyone does. How else do you think I could puppeteer all the men in my life? They think I’m weak, small-minded. Timid. When the truth is, they are.” She tipped her head, made a soft clucking sound with her tongue. “Always thinking with the wrong head.”

  “It was my plan from the beginning. Rowland was supposed to set it up with his contacts, but he botched the timing. My poor excuse of a husband was supposed to be at home with the kids, not me. The Black Cobras weren’t supposed to kidnap John. They were supposed to kill him and those brats. Apparently they couldn’t deliver.”

  Kill them? Lily glanced between Rowland’s corpse and Gina. “You put a hit out on your husband and your children?”

  “ARME was supposed to be mine. Clear and free. But my father refused to let me run the company alone.” Gina waved the gun in the air. “Something about him not thinking I could handle the temptation of power, or some other psychobabble bullshit.”

  Lily studied Gina’s face, the crazy glint in her eyes. Her father had been on to something.

  “So I married the son my father always wanted. And waited. I never wanted to play house with the husband and those annoying brats. But I did. I bided my time, waited for my father to die, then went to take what was rightfully mine. Only the joke was on me. The company would never be mine.” Gina sat on the edge of the desk and trained her gun on Lily’s chest. “That’s when I sought out Rowland and invited him to join us.”