Page 96 of Ford
The Bratva couldn’t search the entire city.
He opened the final door and was just about to step out when he heard a shout from down the corridor.
The conductor. A big woman in a dark gray skirt and suit coat strode toward them. “Perestan!”
“That’s our cue, ladies,” he said and reached for RJ’s hand. Not that she needed help—in fact, it might be that he did it more for him than her, but somehow he just felt better knowing he had a grip on her.
The train had reached the platform, slowing to a crawl. “Ready?”
“Go,” RJ said.
He leaped off the edge of the steps, pulling her with him. She landed easily behind him, and he looked, spotting Kat coming off behind him too.
They quick walked across the platform, but instead of going through the main doors, he walked them around the end, jumping off the edge and onto the tracks, away from the lights.
He turned to help RJ, but she leaped off and landed beside him. Kat too.
“Now where?” RJ asked.
He pointed to an alleyway between two buildings, a short fence cordoning it off from the street. They followed him without argument. He made a step with his hands and lifted RJ, then Kat over the eight-foot fence. They landed in darkness. He leaped over the fence then took off down the alleyway.
Safe. He could nearly taste it. At least for tonight.
Tomorrow, he’d have to figure out how he’d untangle them from this John le Carré novel.
Footsteps sounded behind him, the noise like bullets through him, and he turned. Who—?
He slowed, grabbing RJ and pulling her with him behind a UAZ truck parked in the alley. “Kat!” He hissed, but he didn’t have to. She was already following him behind the truck, breathing hard.
“What is it?” she said.
He hunkered down. “Someone’s following us.”
RJ stared up at him. “What are you—” Her eyes widened. “York, no—let’s keep running. Please.”
He grabbed her shoulders. Met her eyes. “I don’t know who is behind us, but they can’t keep following us. If the Bratva finds out we got off the train, they’ll comb the city for us. And you can’t be here when they do.”
“But you don’t have a gun. You’re unarmed.”
“I don’t need a gun."
She drew in a breath.
“Listen to me.” He cupped his hands around her face. “This is what I do, Ruby Jane. I get people out of trouble. Let me do my job. Please.”
“But this isn’t your job. I made you do this. You got roped into saving me against your will—”
“No.” He put his forehead on hers. “I signed up the minute I saw you standing there in the bold streetlight trying to save the world all by yourself.”
Her eyes glistened with tears, and she was shaking her head.
“Yes, RJ. Listen to me, for once, okay? You have to let me go if you want to save yourself and your sister.”
She closed her eyes, as if his words stung. But he had no choice— “As soon as I leave, I want you to run. And you don’t look back, okay? Whatever you hear, whatever you see—keep running.”
She opened her eyes, hers fierce in his.
“Bristow, promise me you’ll go. Because if he—they—whoever gets past me, I can’t have you here.”