Chapter 7 - The Confrontation in the AlleyThe rain began to fall again, turning the city streets into slick, mirrored ribbons of neon light.
Josie huddled beneath a rusted corrugated iron overhang behind a downtown diner, shivering violently. Her blue coat was soaked through, her stomach aching with hunger, and her throat burning from the damp chill.
She pulled her knees to her chest, tears finally spilling down her soot-stained cheeks. She had nowhere left to run.
Clack. Clack.
The sound of slow, heavy footsteps approached the mouth of the dark alley.
Josie stiffened, holding her breath.
Two men in dark trench coats stepped into the alleyway, their faces shadowed beneath the brims of their hats. One of them held a heavy, silenced pistol.
“There she is,” the taller man muttered, flashing a cruel grin. “End of the line, kid. Boss wants no loose ends.”
Josie scrambled backward until her spine hit the brick wall behind her. She closed her eyes, raising her small hands defensively.
Bang!
A sharp crack echoed through the alley.
Josie flinched, bracing herself for the pain—but the bullet never came. Instead, the tall man spun around, dropping his weapon with a sharp clatter as a heavy black combat boot stomped down on his wrist.
“Touch her, and you won’t live to see sunrise,” a deep, ferocious voice commanded.
Josie opened her eyes.
May you like
Standing before her in a tailored black overcoat, illuminated by the flashing red-and-blue lights of arriving security vehicles, was the man she had pulled from the burning car.
Wes Barrett.
