The warehouse smelled of rust and saltwater.
Alyssa crouched behind a stack of shipping containers, her Glock resting steady in her grip. Across the dim space, Dominic stood in plain view, deliberately exposed bait.
Eleanor's voice crackled in her earpiece. "Cole just took the bait. He's inbound with four armed men. ETA two minutes."
Alyssa exhaled slowly. This was the plan; Lure Cole into admitting his ties to Volkov on tape, then turn the evidence over to the authorities. Simple. Clean.
But nothing about this was clean. The warehouse door screeched open.
Andrew Cole stroll in, flanked by mercenaries. His sharp suit and polished shoes looked out of place against the grime.
"Dominic." Cole's smile was advertising all teeth. "I was surprised to get your call."
Dominic didn't move. "Cut the crap, Andrew. We both know why you're here."
Cole chuckled. "Because you're finally smart enough to negotiate.? Volkov's offer still stands hand over your research division, and he'll let you walk away."
Alyssa's finger hovered near the trigger. This was it the admission they needed.
Dominic's voice turned dangerous. "You sold out my company to a war criminal."
Cole shrugged. "Business is business."
Alyssa moved.
She stepped from the shadows, gun raised. "And murder? Is that just business too?"
Cole's men snapped their weapons up, but Dominic was faster, he lunged, disarming the nearest mercenary in one swift brutal motion.
Then the lights went out. Gunfire erupted in the dark.
Alyssa hit the ground, rolling behind covers of containers as bullets tore through the air where she'd been standing. She couldn't see clearly what was going on....
A hand grabbed her arm. Dominic.
"Plan's changed," he growled, dragging her toward an exit. "We need to go now."
They burst into the alley just as the warehouse exploded behind them.
Alyssa whipped around, shielding her face from the heat. "Eleanor! The feed"
"Gone." Dominic's jaw was tight. "This was never about negotiation. Cole came to erase us."
"Good thing you just found out " he added and then footsteps pounded nearby more men were closing in.
Alyssa met Dominic's eyes. For the first time, she saw no calculation there. Just raw, unfiltered fury. And something else. Trust.
She nodded.
"Then let's return the favor."
"With pleasure"
They pulled out guns and moved in to attack.