Page 93 of Stay Little Fighter

I look over my shoulder, and once I’ve confirmed she’s out of sight, I release my hold on the gun and use both hands to tug the box out.

Carrying it to the large metal table in the middle of the room, my brow furrows as my mind tries to process what I’m seeing.

There’s a lot of cash and my mother’s wedding and engagement rings, but it’s the files that have my attention.

Phone numbers and coordinates, evidence that any law enforcement officer worth their job would lose their shit to find.

My father didn’t just leave me a safety net. He left me the gasoline and match to burn the entire operation to the ground.

Before I can think about what I’ve found any more, I kick myself into gear, shoving the contents into the backpack as quickly as I can before clicking the locks into place.

When Corbin told me the bag is basically a safe that you can wear on your back, I thought he was bullshitting me, but the only key to this thing is on the jet waiting for us.

I turn, slipping my arms through the straps and start toward the door I came through only to come face-to-face with the barrel of a gun.

“Give me the bag,” she says evenly, her grip on the weapon absolute. This isn’t her first time holding someone at gunpoint, which is as reassuring as it is concerning.

“You have to know I can’t do that.”

“Just give me the fucking bag, and you and your friends will be free to go.”

I glance up at the camera in the corner, hoping that Corbin is seeing this right now, but on the chance that he’s not, I bring my hands out in front of me.

As much as I would like to reach for my own weapon, it will take me too long, and I’ll probably get myself shot in the process.

“What did they give you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“So you hold your clients at gunpoint on a daily basis?”

She huffs out an irritated sigh. “I don’t have time for this. Just give me the goddamn bag or I’ll shoot you.”

I shrug. “You could do that, but you’ll spend the rest of your life on the run from some of the most lethal men on earth, and you’ll never be able to get into the contents.”

“I don’t give a fuck. I’ll be long gone before they ever know I exist, and my job ends as soon as I hand the bag over. Getting into it isn’t my problem.”

Biting down on the inside of my cheek, I drag in an unsteady breath. “Okay.” I nod slowly. “I’ll give you the bag.”

Confusion flashes through her eyes, but I don’t wait for her to give me the go-ahead before moving as if I’m slipping my arm from the strap.

My fingers wrap around the gun, and I try to keep my movements fluid, so I don’t raise suspicion.

By the time my arm slips from the strap, there’s a look of triumph across her smug features, and I can’t help but smile a little as I train my own gun on her.

But I don’t hesitate.

There’s no way I get out of this vault alive while she’s still standing.

I pull the trigger without warning and slip the handle back over my arm as I step forward.

She thrashes in pain, her hand clutching the shoulder I shot as she curses and cries.

“Should have checked me for weapons.” I smirk and kick her gun away. “I’ll call you an ambulance once we’re out of the city.”

I press the green button to release the locks and slip out of the vault as I tuck my weapon back into the waistband of my pants.

“You got it?” Corbin asks.