Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“You looking for the big dude?”
Igor is pretty big. Chances are I’m indeed looking for the big dude. I nod.
“He left about an hour ago with a suitcase. I don’t reckon he’ll be back. He was driving a white, battered looking Ford,” she says.
“Thanks,” I shout, tipping her a wave as I get back into the car. “Take me back to the office, Jerome. I need to collect my car from there. See if you can find anything about this battered white Ford. It looks like he’s heard we were coming for him and split, so there’s a possibility he might end up spending a night or two living in it.”
Jerome nods, then we pull away. There’s still no sound of sirens, nothing to suggest anyone called the police on us.
Jerome heads back to my office. The roads are still busy, but it doesn’t matter now. There’s no rush to get back. After nearly forty-five minutes, Jerome pulls into my office parking lot.
“Sorry. I really thought we had him there, boss,” he says.
“Yeah, me too. But he’s running out of places to hide now. He’ll fuck up sooner or later, hopefully sooner, and when he does, we’ll be waiting,” I say. “Keep looking for him. Don’t let the trail go cold. And call me the second you have anything.”
“Got it, boss,” Jerome says.
I get out of his car and walk towards my own. I check my watch. So much for being early. Never mind. I can still get a curry delivered and try to salvage some of the night. The adrenaline is leaving me now, leaving me feeling pissed off and vaguely uneasy. I’m sure some quality time spent with Amelia can soon make me forget my troubles though.
I get into my car and head towards my estate. I put the radio on, but it instantly frazzles my nerves. I turn it straight back off again and drive in silence. I bang on the steering wheel as I quietly fume that Igor has evaded me once more. He’s starting to make me look like a dick and no fucker gets away with that.
I’m near home when my phone rings. I almost ignore it, but it could be Amelia and so I pull it out of my pocket. It’s not Amelia. It’s Lenny, my chief of security up at the estate. He only ever calls me if there’s a problem. I feel dread seize me. Something bad must have happened for him to be calling me, and Amelia is at the estate.
“Hello,” I answer, then switching the call to speaker and dropping my phone onto the passenger seat.
“Viktor, it’s Lenny. Where are you?”
“I’m almost home. What’s going on?”
“There’s been a breach. We believe there’s an intruder in the main house. Please stay away until we get the situation under control.”
“What the fuck?” I demand, furious and frightened beyond belief. “How did this happen, Lenny?”
“I don’t know right now, Viktor, and I’m more concerned with containing the situation right now,” he says.
Amelia is in that house. And I’d be willing to bet my last dollar that I know who the intruder is. The feeling of ennui is gone. My heart is hammering in my chest as I slam my foot down. I have no intention of staying away. I want to make sure Amelia is safe.
And deal with Igor once and for all.
Then I want to have a long, detailed chat with Lenny and his team and find out how the fuck someone got through their defenses. All Igor has done by breaking onto my estate and into my house essentially means, he’s just delivered himself to me on a silver fucking platter.
I pull up outside of the house and jump out of my car. My blood runs cold when I hear a gunshot ringing out. Please be Lenny’s gun, please be Lenny’s gun, I pray as I fly into the house and follow the sound of a scream towards the lounge.
The door to the lounge is ajar and I slow myself down enough to take stock of the situation. If Lenny has the situation under control, knowing he told me to stay away, he won’t be expecting me and if I burst in there, there’s a reasonable chance he might shoot first and ask questions later. It’s what he’s been taught to do in these situations.
I peer through the crack in the door. There’s no sign of Lenny or any of his security team. Instead, I see Igor. On the ground is Lacey, bleeding from her leg. And opposite him is Amelia with Justine a step behind her.
Igor has his gun aimed right at Amelia’s chest.
30
VIKTOR
“Where the fuck is Viktor?” Igor snarls.
Amelia’s mouth opens and then it closes again, and I know it’s time to end this shit. I step into the doorway, giving away my position to Amelia and Justine. Igor has his back to me. His shirt is clinging to his back, soaked in nervous sweat that I can smell even from here.