Page 59 of The Sniper
I shoot Todd with an apologetic look, and he nods.He only cares that the diamonds are still around her neck.
Tiffany brushes her dress down and checks her hair.She gives me a questioning look.It’s similar to the one Liam has.
Fuck me.
My pulse is rapid, my armpits wet.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“You okay?”I ask her, and when she nods, I introduce her.“This is Liam.”
He reaches out his hand; the one not tucked under his gun holster.“Captain Liam Rutherford, aka this guy’s best friend.”
“Unnecessary,” I mutter, and rake my hand through my hair.“Let’s go.”
Tiffany gives Liam one of her one-hundred-watt smiles.“Nice to meet you.”
I hear him chuckle, but in my ear he adds,let’s meet for breakfast tomorrow.
Crap.
He wants answers, and after that display, I doubt I’ll get away with brushing him off.
When we step inside the pavilion, there are hundreds of people, cameras, and a large stage.Tables fill the room, layered in red and black linen, champagne and flutes, plates, cutlery, and some random glass and floral centerpiece I suspect is a letter N.For the NetAwards, I guess.
Who knows?I’ll leave the creative stuff to others.Give me a bolt-action or semi-automatic rifle and I’ll talk for hours with authority.
I do miss my Barrett Mk 22, my sniper weapon of choice, and there are days I miss being in the force.But not how it fucked up my brain...and nervous system.
Jesus, I’m glad I didn’t pull my weapon a few minutes ago.I could have shot her.
That Tiffany didn’t freak out speaks to her experience having security most of her life.
“Tiffany, darling,” a Russian accent rings out across the crowd.“Come sit.Here.With us.”
Nadia Volkov and her boyfriend, Alexei.
This is the first time I’ve seen him in person.Since starting in my position, after Nadia first visited, they haven’t visited like Tiffany advised they might.
The weekly Wednesday morning tea was cancelled.
Why?
Tiffany didn’t seem fazed.“Sometimes we both can’t make it; it’s no big deal.”
Alexei calmly sips his vodka or water—my money’s on vodka—and looks me in the eye briefly as we walk over.Nadia wears a bright green dress, her hair up, showing off a diamond choker.
Interesting.
I glance around, wondering if every woman in this town has a rent-a-diamond-necklace on tonight.
No.
“I’ll be over by the door there,” I say quietly.“My eyes will be on you the entire night.”
Not only because it’s my job.
Tiffany turns, and perhaps it’s the sparkle in her eyes, or the half smile she gives me, but I know she’d rather I stay right beside her.I don’t think it’s because she’s concerned about her safety, either.
