For a moment he looked as if he’d toss her over his shoulder and haul her ass out of there. She’d like to see him try. They were close to the same height—five feet ten inches, and she wasn’t built along the whipcord lines he was.
Maybe he thought better of using force. “Three Russian operatives arrived in Japan four days ago to kill Taka-san and his wife. They were forewarned and went into hiding. Five more Russians arrived at Narita airport several hours ago, and they’re going to want to catch up with the first three.”
“And?”
“And the first three are dead. Or close enough that it won’t matter. The newcomers don’t seem to know that their paycheck has dried up. As soon as they do they’ll go on to their next job and we’ll be safe. Unless they decide to take revenge for the loss of their friends. Whatever the case, we need to get the hell out of here before someone finds them.”
“Them?”
“The first three Russians,” he said impatiently. “Come on.”
He moved away from his spot against the door, opening it. He turned off the light, plunging them into darkness once more, and he took her hand in an unbreakable grip. “Just stay with me and look straight ahead,” he growled.
“Why did you turn off the lights? I thought we were safe.”
“There are some things you’re better off not seeing.”
Enough was enough, Jilly decided, incensed. Reno was old-fashioned and sexist, the polar opposite of his cousin. “I can judge that for myself,” she said, switching the light back on before he could stop her.
She saw the pool of blood first, then the body of the man.
His head was at a strange angle, and the blood was coming from his mouth and his ears and his slashed throat. Beyond him was another body, eyes wide-open and staring, lying spread-eagled in a pool of blood, dead, as well.
A moment later it was darkness again, and the room swung in dizzy circles as Reno picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
They were out in the night air moments later, leaving the carnage behind them. He moved fast into the darkness, and he made it to the inside of the small park before he set her down.
She immediately threw up. She could still smell it—the blood, the stink of death that she’d never known before. Reno moved away, leaving her alone while she emptied her stomach of its meager contents. He must’ve known she was too much of a wuss to run.
She took a breath, forestalling the dry heaves that were threatening, and shoved her hair back from her sweat-damp face as a stray shudder swept her body.
He turned and tossed her sneakers to her. “You finished?”
She raised her head from her knees to look at him. “Did you do that?”
“You’re still in one piece, aren’t you? Of course I did. And it’s your own fucking fault for turning the light on. I told you there were things you don’t need to see.”
“You killed them? Both of them?”
“Three of them. The other one was in the garden. Get over it. Taka is going to be pissed as hell that I even let you see that.”
She swallowed. “Isn’t he going to be more annoyed at finding three…bodies in his house?”
“It’ll be cleaned up by the time it’s safe for them to return. My grandfather will see to it.” He came back to stand over her, holding out a hand to pull her to her feet, but she ignored it, scrambling up on her own. She still felt weak and shaky, but she wasn’t about to let him see.
“Okay,” she said. “Narita airport. The hell with jet lag.”
“Change of plans. They’re watching the airports. The message came from one of my grandfather’s men, warning me. I’m going to have to keep you out of sight for a few days until I can get you out.”
“You don’t have to do anything. I’ll check into one of the big tourist hotels and wait until you kill the other five.” She didn’t bother to hide the bitterness in her voice. “I can’t imagine any place safer.”
“I said you needed to be kept out of sight. What makes you think the center of Tokyo is out of sight? They’ll be checking all the Western-style hotels, looking for you.”
“They, whoever they are, don’t even know I exist, much less that I’ve come to Japan.”
“They know,” he said, his voice as flat as his expression. “Come.” He tossed her knapsack to her, and she caught it, almost dropping the heavy weight. “You’ll need to put that on.”
She didn’t argue, shouldering it. “How far are we walking?”