cigarette smoke wafting in his wake. His cruel eyes were the color of obsidian.
This time she had no surprises up her sleeve.
“It’s not that simple, Ms. Beckett,” Beladi said. “You’ve put me in the awkward position of having to make you an example. You wouldn’t answer my questions about your interest in that crank whore. And you came to my turf, my place of business, giving me attitude and setting off grenades at my feet?”
She had no idea a man could be so sensitive about a small incendiary device.
“Forgive me, Nadir. I didn’t mean any disrespect. But I took exception to Sal using me as a pincushion for his blade. But if you say it was all a big misunderstanding, I’m good with that. We can call it a night.”
“It is too late for that, I’m afraid. For a man of my stature in the community, I must save face.”
“I won’t tell if you won’t.”
“You have a very smart mouth, Jessica. I would say that it will get you in trouble one day, but you see? It already has.” The smoker was done talking. He nudged his head toward Pinzolo and No Neck. “Do it.”
Beladi took off, leaving her alone with his men. They stepped toward her, forcing her back. She had nowhere to go except deeper into the alley behind her. And insult to injury, No Neck took her Colt Python and shoved it under his belt as Pinzolo jacked his smug face into a grin. They drove her deeper into the shadows. Her eyes searched the gloom, looking for a way out, but she found nothing to help her. When she got toward the end, the alley looked as if it veered right, but she couldn’t be sure. Old crates and a rusted Dumpster blocked her view.
Jess squared her feet and braced for a fight. She hoped the bastard wouldn’t just shoot her where she stood. Pinzolo guessed what she was thinking and laughed, a sound that echoed off the brick walls.
“I’m not gonna waste a bullet on you, but when we’re done, you’re gonna wish we had.” The smirk on his face told her he wasn’t done taunting her. “You know, there’s a reason they say paybacks are a bitch.”
The coward stuffed his gun in a holster and both men lunged at her. She got in a few good licks but not before No Neck grappled her from behind. He held her arms, wrenching them back until she thought he’d break bone. Jess shoved as hard as she could, putting all her weight behind it, as Pinzolo leered and balled his meaty fists, waiting his turn.
No Neck toppled to one side, but held strong until Pinzolo blocked the light coming from the street. He towered above her, looking like a ghost from one of her nightmares. She clenched her stomach, but nothing prepared her for his vicious first punch. It took the wind out of her and hurt like a mother.
“I have to say it,” she gasped, barely able to speak. “I’m not liking…where this is going.”
She kicked and jerked her body as Pinzolo pummeled her. Two more to the gut, and her legs gave out. Her head lolled to her chest, and he hit her with an uppercut. She saw stars, and her mind faded in and out of shadows.
The punishment continued. She fought to stay conscious although she wasn’t sure why. Oblivion would have been a mercy. But in one swift motion, No Neck let go of her arms and she dropped like a rock. Her kneecaps hit asphalt, jarring her whole body. She fell against something hard. And her head snapped back, sending streetlights spiraling out of control in a blur.
For a brief instance, she lay flat with her swollen cheek on a cold surface. All she wanted was to lie there, not be touched. But the scuff of a shoe near her head made her flinch. She cocked her face to one side and saw a man reaching for her. Jess braced her body, still fighting back, but a movement in the distance caught her fragile attention. A car had blocked the alley. Its headlights cut through the darkness.
And now a lone shadow eclipsed the light, nothing more than an eerie silhouette.
The men saw what had happened. They gaped over their shoulders at the intruder. As they moved aside, the lights from the street blinded her. Jess raised a hand to block the glare, fighting hard not to pass out. She winced and gasped for air, feeling a thousand pinpricks stabbing her eyes. The distant shadow wavered, a blurred spiraling illusion.
Eventually it came into focus.
A tall blonde wearing a long, dark trench coat walked toward them.
“Stop where you are.” Pinzolo’s voice came from the darkness. “Who the hell are you?”
“Is that any way to treat a lady?”
Quiet, but no less threatening, Alexa’s voice was nothing but a chilling whisper. In one fluid motion, she reached under her long coat and pulled out a twelve-gauge Mossberg pump-action shotgun slung under her arm—a fierce-looking weapon with a pistol grip and flash suppressor.
Without hesitation, Alexa racked the slide and took aim. Pinzolo and No Neck fumbled for their guns, shocked that a woman had gotten the drop on them.
“What the hell?” One of them cried out.
“Oh shit.” Jess scrambled for the Dumpster.
The shotgun had done its damage—and so had Alexa.
CHAPTER 17
Alexa hadn’t come to kill, but if these men were intent on using deadly force, she knew how to respond. Her prime objective was to stay alive and get Jessie to safety. With her first round, she’d aimed over their heads, raining brick down to get their attention. And with the second, she drew blood. This time when she pumped the shotgun, the men would have a choice.
She stepped closer and aimed the barrel between the eyes of the bully with the fists. He had fallen to the asphalt when he got hit.
“That last one was birdshot. You won’t sit for a while, but you’ll live. The rest are double-ought buckshot and deer slugs. And as far as I’m concerned, it’s open season. You wanna see if I’m bluffing?”
The man glared, but she saw his fear.
“No, I’ll take your word for it, but this ain’t over.” He tried a weak attempt at bravado for his friend’s benefit, but a load of lead in his ass had taken the fight from his eyes.
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with. You mess with us, and the CIA will take it real personal. You got that?” To make her point, Alexa flashed a badge. “If you don’t want feds crawling up your riddled butt, you better let this one go.”
The man’s eyes grew wide as he stared at her badge and picture ID. He cursed and stumbled to his feet with the help of his buddy, then turned to limp away. Knowing the area, they took a different way out of the alley, through the shadows behind them.
And with relief, Jessie watched them go.
“Hold on,” the blonde called out before they got too far. Alexa grabbed her Colt Python from No Neck’s belt. “And you might consider taking your friend to a veterinarian. They’ve got plenty of experience picking birdshot out of mutts.”
“I don’t care who you are. This ain’t over,” Pinzolo spat, venom in his eyes. Jess knew that look, had seen it up close. And his eye twitch was back.
“Then you’re dumber than you look.” Alexa stared him down. “Now move it.”
She watched them go, and the blonde made sure the fight was over before she got down to business.
“You sure know how to pick ’em, Beckett. But looking at you, I think we can make a good case for self- defense if the local law comes calling.” Alexa picked up her spent shell casings as she spoke. She wouldn’t leave evidence behind. “Come on. Let’s go before we draw a crowd. I’ll drop you off at your van, but I’m following you home. We need to patch you up.”
“I thought you didn’t have wheels.” She wiped blood from her brow, feeling every new ache.
“It’s a rental. Figured I could use it.” Alexa pocketed her shells. “Any bones broken? Can you walk?”
“My pride is a little bent. Help me up, will ya?” With a hand from her new friend, she winced and struggled to her feet, stretching her bruised muscles and stiff joints. “Ow, damn it. How’d you find me anyway?”
Jess steadied herself, making sure she could stand before she took a step. Once she got her wind, she hobbled alongside her tall companion, heading for the lights coming from the street. After a quick glance, Alexa returned her Colt Python and stared straight ahead, her blond hair wafting in the faint breeze. She noticed the
