Page 89 of Run

Abasi went first; his gun trained on the women, who startled when they saw him but, strangely, didn’t make a sound. “Cara, Susan, I need you to get into the pantry.”

The taller woman turned gray. “Did he send you to kill us?”

“No.” Abasi’s eyes hardened. “If this goes as planned, you two will be able to walk out of here forever.”

The shorter woman’s lips trembled. “I overheard them say we’re to go to a brothel in Germany.”

It was clear they didn’t believe Abasi would just let them go.

“I’m with the CIA,” David lied. “We’re raiding this house as part of an investigation, and Abasi here is undercover. If you do as we say, we promise you’ll be protected.”

The women shared a look and began to shed silent tears. With encouragement from Abasi, they hurried across the room and entered the large walk-in pantry. Abasi handed them the key.

“Lock it from the inside,” he said. “Don’t come out unless we come for you or you hear the cops.”

They nodded hurriedly, then the taller one’s eyes widened with terror. Abasi spun just in time to avoid the fist of one of Tommy’s soldiers.

“Lock it now,” David told the women as he turned to see Abasi aim at their attacker.

“No gun,” David snapped before jumping on the soldier’s back and trapping him in a headlock until he passed out.

“You need to teach me how to do that,” Abasi said with clear admiration.

“No problem. But let’s wait until after we’re done here. Where can we put him?”

Abasi pointed to one of the many doors leading off the vast kitchen. “Walk-in fridge.”

He bent to grab the guy’s feet while David took his arms. Together, they dragged him into the fridge and hid him at the back.

Abasi handed David some nylon twine. “Best I can find for tying him up.”

“I’ve got it. See if you can dig up something to gag him with.” He set about hog-tying the unconscious man.

Meanwhile, Abasi grabbed an onion off the shelf, opened the guy’s jaw, and wedged it in his mouth. “That should do it.”

When they were done, they stood side by side and surveyed their work.

“Looks like we’re going to spit-roast him,” Abasi said.

With a shake of his head, David divested the soldier of his weapon before they shut the door firmly behind them.

“Cellar?” he said.

Abasi pointed to the last door in a row of three. “There’s a camera directly above the door as you open it,” he warned. “Tommy’s bodyguards will probably be waiting in there too.”

David considered him. “Do they know you’ve abandoned ship?”

“Not unless Tommy’s told them. Far as the world is concerned, the Albanians killed Marcus. They might think I disappeared to get some payback.”

“You want to risk it?”

“You got my back?” Abasi raised a brow.

“Don’t ask stupid questions.” David motioned toward the door. “Leave it open a crack, and I’ll take out the camera.”

“Just remember, any place I get shot, you get shot too.”

“Stop complaining and get on with it.”