Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(77)

“Manuel Hernandez,” Janet called out. “We’re DEA agents. You’re under arrest by the authority of the US and Mexican governments. Put down your gun and lie on the ground.”

Valeria yelled it out in Spanish even though she knew Manuel spoke perfect English. She wasn’t going to have him suddenly claim he didn’t know what was happening because he didn’t understand what they were saying.

Manuel responded by firing a shot at her. It pinged off the metal base. Janet began to fire and Valeria ran. It would be much easier if they didn’t want him alive. Valeria pumped her arms as she pushed herself faster. Right before she jumped, Manuel turned and fired.



* * *



Grant shoved open the front door right in time to see Manuel raise his gun and fire it at Valeria. The momentum of the bullet counteracted her forward movement and sent her flying back.

“NO!” Grant yelled, running straight at Manuel, firing. Manuel turned to run, but then Valeria rolled over onto her hands and knees behind Manuel. She raised her gun and fired. Manuel’s knee buckled as he fell to the ground. In a flurry of Spanish and Gaelic, Valeria cursed as she slowly pulled herself upright and tugged at the Velcro holding on her Kevlar vest. With a gasp, she dragged in air as the vest dangled open at the sides.

“Motherfucker!!” she yelled in three different languages as Manuel turned and raised his gun. Valeria slammed her foot into his face, sending him flying backward and crying out in pain.

He struggled through the pain, trying to find the gun he’d dropped as Valeria kicked it out of the way. Janet raced forward with her gun drawn, reciting his rights. Grant hobbled forward. He needed to see that she was safe. He needed to touch her, to hold her.

“You bitch! I should have killed you the last time I had you!” Manuel surged up, grabbing her legs and pulling her to the ground. The impact of her hand hitting the ground was unexpected and sent the gun skittering away. Her back was to his chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist, clawing for her secondary weapon.

“You already tried what, twice, to kill me? What makes you think you can succeed this time? Locking me in a barrel for days and you still couldn’t kill me.” Valeria raised her right arm across her face and slammed her elbow back into Manuel’s face. She rolled off him as soon as his grip loosened and sprang to her feet, pulling her second gun.

“Make one move toward her, and I’ll blow your fucking head off. We have Roland. You’re expendable now.” Grant’s hard tone caused Manuel to pause and look up. Janet and Grant had him completely covered. He wasn’t getting out of this alive unless he surrendered.

Valeria was standing slightly behind him as Janet stepped forward with cuffs in her hands. “Put your hands on your head,” she ordered, but when Manuel moved his hands, it wasn’t to his head.

“Gun!” Valeria yelled as Manuel pulled up the back of his shirt and reached for the gun, located in the small of his back. It happened too fast to stop. Manuel pulled the gun and swung it toward Janet. A trio of gunshots erupted as Manuel was hit from all directions.

Silence. Only the sound of Manuel’s quivering body hitting the ground was heard. Valeria slowly moved forward and kicked the gun from his hand. Janet hurried over and pressed her fingers to his neck. “Dead.”





31





Janet blew out a breath, and Valeria looked surprised to see Grant limping. He had tried to hide it, but he was losing blood, and the pain was growing. “What happened?” Valeria asked, running toward him. “Are you hurt?”

“Nothing major,” Grant smiled even though his lips were thinned with pain.

“Nothing major? You’re leaving a fucking blood trail!” Valeria was immediately under his arm giving him something to lean on. “Where were you shot?”

“Biceps and hip,” Grant grunted as they made their way inside. “I can see you’re hurt, too.”

Valeria looked down at her shoulder. Blood had soaked her shirt. When she looked up and smiled at him, Grant forgot all about the pain. “I couldn’t let you have all the fun.”

Janet led them into the house where Roland was cuffed and sitting on the couch, waiting for them. All he was missing was a big red bow.

Dalton’s eyes quickly assessed the damage. Grant could tell he was worried, but he wasn’t about to stop now. Not when the mission was so close to the end. Lizzy nodded to Janet who moved to have a clear view of Roland’s crumpled and dusty suit-clad body. It looked as if he’d put up a fight after Dalton dragged him out from under the bed as one eye was beginning to swell.

Janet read him his rights as she leaned against the wall, keeping her body cam pointed right at Roland.

Lizzy sat on the coffee table in front of Roland and leaned forward, putting her elbows on her knees. “Roland, you’ve fucked up.”

“You can’t come into Mexico and assault me like this,” Roland said, trying to put on his elitist airs.

“I can when I have a joint warrant from the US and Mexico. Also, you attacked a federal agent.” Ah, so it was Lizzy who gave him the shiner. Grant looked at her knuckles and saw her right hand was slightly red.

Roland froze and shook his head. “My lawyers will eat you for breakfast.”

“I don’t think so. Now, you sit here and listen to me. Then you can talk or not talk. Okay?” Lizzy asked. Roland looked skeptical, but nodded. “Manuel is outside. Sebastian Abel is in DC. What do you think they’re saying right now about you and your role in Mollia Domini? An organization that has attempted to assassinate the president and failed to blow up the world’s exchanges.”