Alpha One (Shadow Agents 1)

arned early how to do all of those things.”

And she learned how to blend in and become someone else. Juliana stared at the gun and realized she didn’t have a choice. Susan or Becky Sue or whoever the hell the woman really was—she wasn’t going to let her escape.

Death wasn’t an option. Juliana wasn’t ready to die. She had too much to live for.

She took another step forward. Susan didn’t even seem to notice that only a few precious feet separated them now.

Can I move fast enough?

She’d have to because there wasn’t another option.

But first, Juliana knew she had to distract the other woman. “He’s going to torture you before he kills you. Just like he did with Ben.”

Susan was sweating. “Shut up.”

“That’s what he does. Sure, he’ll kill me. That’s a given, but he’ll kill you, too. You won’t get the money or the house or anything because you’ll be rotting in the ground with me.”

Another step.

Susan’s eyes were wild. “Shut...up!”

“Why? I’m already dead, right? What more are you going to do to me?”

“I’ll kill your Logan.”

No, you won’t.

“Some men just don’t see the attack coming. They think we’re weak, helpless...all because of some tears and a little blood.”

A little blood? Susan’s shirt had been soaked with her blood.

“Their mistake,” Susan whispered.

“You’re not going to hurt Logan.” Juliana’s fingers had clenched around the knife so hard that her hand ached.

Susan’s head jerked. “You still care about him.” Now she sounded shocked. “You know what he did. I mean, I had to spell it out for you! The guy killed your mother, used you—then walked away.”

Another step, close enough to strike.

“And you still love him.”

Rat-a-tat. The sudden burst of automatic gunfire had Susan’s head whipping toward the window.

“Yes,” Juliana growled. “I still do.” Then she lifted her knife and lunged for Susan. Susan sensed the attack a few seconds too late. She screamed as her head swung back toward Juliana.

The knife shoved into Susan’s left shoulder, and Juliana twisted her body, bending low for another attack.

Susan’s fingers tightened around the gun and—

Gunfire erupted. Not down below, not outside. But from in the room. Gunner had crawled forward, and Juliana saw that he’d reached into his ankle holster and pulled out his backup weapon.

“Don’t think—” his voice was a rough rasp “—you’re...helpless...”

Susan staggered back. A balloon of red appeared on her chest. Her eyes were wide, her mouth hanging open in shock. She took another step back, another, her feet stumbling.

Then her eyes closed. Her head fell backward—her whole body fell—and she tumbled straight through that glass window.

* * *