Page 108 of Secret Love

Chapter 35

Dani

You can only see one target at a time through a scope.

I had him in my sights. I had Mercer’s ugly mug right between the crosshairs. My finger was on the trigger. I just had to wait for the right moment to take the shot.

I missed him sneaking in behind me.

His fingers squeeze around my throat.

“Foooox!”I choke as I dig my nails into his hands. I break skin and he growls in anger but his grip doesn’t cease. He leans forward to dodge my kicks, bringing his masked face close to mine.

I dig my nails into his face, slicing downward across his eye.

He shrieks. As he releases me, I keep my grip on his thick, black mask. It comes off his face and my heart sinks.

No wonder he was such a horrible bodyguard.

“Smith?!” I gasp.

He kicks me in the stomach. I double over as the wind hurls out of my lungs.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since the moment I heard your damn voice,” he growls.

I try to breathe, but I can barely hold it in. Smith steps forward and snatches the rifle off the floor.

“Get the fuck up,” he says.

I roll onto my knees. My eyes drip with acid tears. I look out the window and my vision blurs.

Smith points the rifle at my cheek. “I said, get up.”

I surrender my hands and stand slowly. We climb down the ladder and walk out into the field together. He keeps the weapon trained on me from several feet behind.

“You’re a Snake Eyes agent?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder.

“Sure,” he mumbles.

I think it through. Snake Eyes murders Senator Lamb and attacks me to bring Fox out of hiding. They need to keep an eye on me to find Fox. What better way to do that than to plant someone on the inside and gain their trust?

My skin crawls. He was alone in my apartment with me. “You let Mercer into my apartment, didn’t you?”

“Just keep walking.”

“You faked your attack—”

“Shut up!”

He slams the butt of the rifle against the back of my neck, sending me down to my knees. I wince in pain as he grips my arm and pulls me back up.

I start walking faster, feeling the hard barrel against my back. We reach the driveway and I see them much clearer now. Mercer has them all on their knees, Fox included.

Fox meets my eyes and they twitch when they fall on Smith. He pieces it together himself and anger spreads across his face as Smith kicks me to my knees in front of him.

“Let them go, Mercer,” he says. “You have me and the file. Let’s do the trade and leave.”

“I think we’re way past that possibility, Fox,” he replies. “Although, it’s cute you suspected this would end that way at all. What part of secret underground organization don’t you understand?”