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Claire lay on her stoether "They’re going to meet here," she whispered "Don’t make a sound

Anderson is very paranoid That’s how he’s made it this far If you tip hiain"

I nodded, watching Bex pul his own rifle fro He didn’t set it on its stand in front of him; instead, he set it in front of hts Don’t take the shot, even if you have one It’s just for practice," he said in a low voice

I began to whisper affirmation, but voices below startled me Claire slowly put her hand on the barrel ofherself to aihts," she whispered I did so, and threewith a man in uniform "Count them How many do you see?"

"Four," I said

Bex leaned in beside my ear "Look by the entrance"

I slowly moved my rifle in the direction he referred to, spotted two more To my surprise, the men were not in unifore frames reuards," Bex said "Look closer at their jackets You see the slight bulging on each side?"

"They’re arer, Claire tuned the tiny adjustment on her rifle The tiny click sound it ine to nificant, it was inaudible to the men below

Bex touchedto account for crosswind and range-to-target, but this is an easy shot Once the gun goes off, try to relax I’ll get you down and out of here, and by the time you blink twice, we’l be on our way home in the Lotus" His low, even tone reolf tournament, or the narrator for an African Lion documentary into the scope She bit her lip, and began to squeeze the trigger

"Damn it," she whispered "Ryan just pul ed up He’s a block north You and Nina intercept hian, but before I could protest, Bex lifted me off the wooden bea ed onhis voice to a whisper

We ran down an al ey as fast asonly e reached the next street down

"This way," Bex said, leading me by the hand across the street, this time at a reasonable pace

"Nina?" a voice call ed

I turned to see Ryan walking toward us; confused, but happy to seeto control"Clocked-in already?"

"Yeah," he s this far north?"

"Uh…"

"I irlfriend’s house," Bex said

Ryan blinked, and then scanned Bex froht you were Jared"

"Bex," he said, offering his hand to Ryan "Jared’s little brother"

"Arinned

"Wel , I’ht, Nina"

"Meet your partner?" I said, surprised

"Yeah Work stuff"

Bex and I traded glances, and then Bex tugged on "

Ryan suys around"

We walked at a forced pace until Ryan was out of sight, and then Bex pul ed onful speed until we reached the next block over, where Claire waited in the Lotus

"It was a trap," I said, breathless "They aiting for Ryan"

"I know," Claire said, her eyes focused andin and out of traffic until we reached Brown University "What about Ryan?" I said

"I’ll take care of it Bex ait here until Jared’s finished I have sos to wrap up"

I nodded, and then watched from the curb as she sped away

"Telto Bex

"I only heard a little as ere leaving to cut off Ryan, but Donovan sent thoseto see what he knew about you…and us Mainly Claire"

"So now Ryan’s a target," I said, unhappy

"We’re al targets," Bex said

Chapter Fourteen

It's Your Funeral

"I was right," I said, letting Jared take my coat "It looks like Christmas threw up on the conference rooht And how ridiculous, when you’re decoration enough," Jared said, kissing my cheek

Loud, obnoxious reen and gold tinsel draped every surface in the room, and the employees, with their dates, loitered in a perfect half-moon around the DJ, careful not to cross the boundary of the dance floor

"I’ to tel the DJ to turn it down a notch or ten," I said

Jared nodded, watching with amusement as I walked with purpose across the wooden floor

"Excuseon the co him on the shoulder

"What can I do for you?" he yel ed back

"Can you turn it down? I’d like for the guests to hear each other"

The DJ frowned "Ms Bankovic asked that I keep it at party level"

"Sasha?" I confirmed "This is a business party, not a frat party," I said over the ly cohly satisfied That war Sasha had Jared cornered a few feet from the punch bowl He looked boredd and unco to the mistletoe above the me to his side

"Nina," Sasha said, surprised "What are you doing here?" I raised an eyebrow "I ed

"With the DJ, insisting he lower the music to an acceptable decibel Now, if you’re finished flirting, I’ll save er have a reason to threaten him with your dry, clumpy lipstick"

Sasha’s h ti came over the speakers, and I pul ed Jared to the center of the dance floor

His fingers pressed into er and anxious "Would it be redundant of me to say that I enjoy it very much when you’re jealous and mean?"

"Yes, but say it anyway," I s, more couples joined us, and ere lost in a sea of lovers swaying to theended, Jared left for the punch bowl line, and I stayed behind to greet co-workers and guests Some were retirees,Seeing theht back hundreds of memories, and it was soon a relief to welcome the new faces of the company