The Dom Who Loved Me (Masters and Mercenaries #1)(93)

Grace screamed as she saw Sean’s shoulder fly back. He didn’t miss a beat. He rolled and took his shot. Parnell looked down at his chest. His gun dropped, and he hit his knees.

Grace was upright in an instant. She chucked her shoes and ran to Sean, who was already back on his feet. Grace was careful, but she inspected the wound. There was a neat little hole in his dress shirt, and his shoulder was bloody. It was his left arm that had taken the bullet, and he held it close to his side. His right kept a gun trained on Parnell.

“Go back down, Grace.” Sean’s face was set in fierce lines as he approached his fallen opponent.

Grace merely followed behind him. It wouldn’t do to argue, and she wasn’t about to leave him.

Sean held the gun at Parnell’s head and turned him over. It was a repeat of what had happened with Adam, though Parnell was shot through the chest. Blood bubbled up through the small but deadly wound. Grace knew she should feel something, but he’d killed Kayla and Matt and probably Adam. Satisfaction that he’d gotten what he deserved was the only emotion she had.

“Son of a bitch, I knew I should have killed you when I had the chance.” Parnell choked on the words.

Sean’s face was devoid of sympathy. “Who are you working for?”

Parnell laughed, a terrible sound that rattled his chest. “The only person I can trust, *, me. You’ll learn. Maybe not. If you’re working for Nelson, you’re as dead as I am.”

That seemed to disconcert Sean. “Was Nelson your handler?”

Parnell’s voice got farther away. “He taught me everything I know. Now he’ll teach you. You deserve everything he gives you, you son of a bitch.”

Parnell’s head fell back, and he was gone.

“What does that mean?” Grace looked up at Sean. She needed to believe this was over. The look on Sean’s face didn’t give her much hope.

“Are you okay, brother?”

Sean seemed to deflate a little as his brother stalked onto the roof. He had a gun in his hand, and his eyes darted around the area, looking for new threats. He was still dressed in his waiter uniform. It didn’t look like the man had even wrinkled his clothes when he apparently took down a foreign agent.

“Is he down?” Ian nodded at Parnell’s body. His face showed absolutely no emotion.

“I got him, but he won’t be available for interrogation. I know I was supposed to bring him in alive, but he didn’t leave me much choice.” There was no pride in Sean’s declaration. He was merely answering a question.

“How bad are you?” Ian’s voice was tight as though he was only capable of using the absolute minimum number of words necessary.

“He’s shot in the shoulder,” Grace said quickly. Sean allowed himself to slump to the ground. He groaned as he tentatively touched his shoulder. Grace followed him down, getting to her knees beside him.

“It’s not a big deal. Adam’s worse.” Sean’s breath came out in pants.

Ian nodded and lowered his weapon. He seemed satisfied the danger had passed. He pulled his phone from his pocket. “Yeah, Alex, we need another bus. Sean. He’s fine, but he’ll need someone to dig out the bullet.” Ian looked down at his brother. “Adam’s still hanging on. Jake and Eve are treating him. The ambulance should be here in a minute. And the cops. Do we have the package?”

Grace touched Sean’s good shoulder, needing the connection. “I have it.”

Ian held out his hand. “Good. Give it to me.”

She looked to Sean who nodded. She was just about to hand the thumb drive over when she saw another figure darken the doorway. He raised his gun and fired.

Ian Taggart moved like a cheetah. One minute he was the man’s target, and the next he was gone. Grace pulled back the thumb drive. She had never felt more vulnerable in her life. She looked around for cover, but she couldn’t leave Sean. Sean struggled to get to his feet. His arm came up, but he was slow. The man in the door wasn’t injured. Grace screamed as the night cracked around her again, and Sean went down for a second time. Grace crawled to him, her knees scraping over the rough floor. Sean’s right thigh was torn open. Blood seemed to be coming from everywhere.

“Good evening. Young Taggart, if you raise that gun, I’ll shoot the female. Toss the gun away, and she might live through this.” The man with the gun was backlit. She couldn’t discern the features of his face, but she knew that voice. Mr. Black. Evan Parnell had been correct in his assessment that his old boss would turn on the team.

Sean’s face twisted bitterly. Grace looked around trying desperately to figure out where Ian had gone. He couldn’t have simply left them. Sean tossed the gun toward the doorway with a curse.

“You should get out of the business, Little Tag. Your brother is much more suited for it than you are.” He came slightly out of the doorway, and Grace could see Mr. Black’s urbane face. If he was worried about betraying the team he’d hired, he didn’t show it. “And I know you’re here, Ian Taggart. Did you think I didn’t know you were on to me? I knew. But you’re a game player to the end. And you used your brother and his little woman to try to catch me. I admire you, Tag.”

Grace felt Sean stiffen under her. He was trying to move, trying to force her behind him.

“I’ll take the package, Ms. Hawthorne,” Black said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.