It was a simple thing.

Virginia needed Shannon. Virginia did care about her. In fact, Shannon was the only person in the world she cared about.

That was enough reason for Virginia to fight for Shannon.

And they were in too deep.

There was no going back.

But now this: a shoot-to-kill order. Virginia hadn’t expected it. It went to show how dangerous Calvert was. USI didn’t want him to find out they were going after him. They were afraid of him coming after them. He had access to almost everything. And everyone.

Which is why Virginia had to take him down.

With or without support from USI.

Shannon didn’t know how to do this. Apparently Virginia did.

There were two ways out of this large room. Paige was blocking the back door, standing between her and it. An additional field agent had stepped through the other door and joined the first. Three people. With guns.

Bearing arms.

For some reason a line from ‘Pineapple Express’ popped into her head: ‘Why are we bearing arms?’ said Seth Rogen’s character. Somehow it didn’t cause her to smile. Not right now, anyway.

She could see that her supervisor wasn’t holding a gun in hand, but she knew he conceal-carried, and he was about twelve feet from her. Too long to rush. He’d be able to whip out the gun and shoot her. She’d seen him at the training gym. He was fast.

How? thought Shannon, there’s no way.

“She’s highly trained,” Paige told the field agents. “Approach carefully.”

As the supervisor took a few steps toward her, additional moonlight gathered in his face, causing it to glow, exasperating the former shadows.

His grey eyes and beard matched as if it were a fashion statement. His lips were chapped, as if he always had more important matters to attend to. He was a gruff and tough sixty-year-old. Bulging muscles. Ate steel at the gym every day of the week. Not to be messed with.

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Shannon didn’t think she could take him.

“You passed Rigorous with flying colors. You passed unarmed and armed combat top of your class. And yet you’re a computer nerd,” Paige said.

“Thanks for reiterating my resume,” said Shannon with only the slightest shade of a sardonic tone.

“Why aren’t you in the field? Why aren’t you out there with your friend Virginia?”

Shannon shrugged.

“What is it you want? Whatever you want, we can give it to you. We can help,” said Paige.

“Stop chasing Virginia,” Shannon said flatly.

He took more steps toward her. His boots attempting to land softly against the old floorboards.

“I heard you ordered a shoot-to-kill.”

He stopped in his tracks. “Where did you hear that?”

“Shoot-to-kill,” said Virginia, staring into Jake’s eyes, trying to read them, knowing that it was his job to kill her. Priority one.

Reynolds’ bulky bodyguard was banging on the door.

Virginia couldn’t tell what Jake was thinking. His thoughts were unknown, hidden behind his glossy, impenetrable eyes.

“What are you thinking?” she asked.

The bodyguard was yelling and pounding on the door. “I’m gonna break through this door. I saw his body. You were the only one back there, blondie. I’m going to kill you.”

“And that’s supposed to make me want to open the door?” Virginia answered with a smile on her face.

Brandon said, “You shouldn’t mess with him like that.”

Virginia shrugged.

“I’m not going to kill you,” said Jake.

“I don’t think you will. But you should kill me. If you want to save your job.”

“But I won’t kill you.”

“But you should.”

“Don’t worry,” he said.

“Okay,” Virginia said.

“Why do you believe me?” Jake asked.

“Because you’re telling the truth.”

“How can you tell?” Jake asked.

Brandon interrupted. “That guy’s liable to bust through here. You going to do something about that?”

The knocking ceased.

Virginia was safe for now. She needed to get Shannon to a safe place.

“Shannon, follow every one of my instructions and you’ll get out of there.”

“Unlikely,” Shannon said.

“First thing—“

That’s when a gunshot sounded from just outside the cockpit door.

Virginia and Jake’s eyes widened.

A second passed. They realized that the bullet hadn’t passed through the door. The shooter must have shot upwards, through the ceiling, or downwards, through the floor.

“Hey,” yelled Jake, booming voice. “Watch it! Or we’re all gonna go down.”

“We have parachutes out here,” a voice yelled. “Come out of there.”

“And how would your employers feel about having to jump out of a plane—in this storm, nonetheless?”

No response.

“Shannon,” Virginia said. “You need to make a move now. Against Paige. How close is he to you?”

No answer.

“Shannon!”

“Five feet.”

“You can cross that. But you’re going to have to be fast. He’s a good fighter, but he won’t expect you to fight dirty. So fight dirty. He’s going to take you to the floor. That’s where you can win. He’s too big. Too much bulk.”

Shannon mumbled something.

“Get out of there!” the bodyguard yelled, voice muffled outside the door. “We’re counting to three!”

“Shannon. You have to hurt them first. It’s you or them.” Virginia raised her voice. “You have to fight dirty.”