The Executioner: A Love Story by Melissa Silvey Page B

Argento sighed and pulled a small case out of the inside of his jacket. In less than twenty seconds he had her front door open. He lingered in her living room as she hurried toward her bedroom. She hadn’t unpacked from her last trip, and she placed those suitcases by the door. She grabbed another bag out of her closet, and threw her stash of cash inside, along with several guns she had in her drawer, her knives, and some ammunition. The last thing she wanted to be was unarmed. She just wished she had time to put on her forearm holsters, and then she’d like to see Argento take her knives from her.
    After a few minutes she wondered if he’d left, and she looked out her door to find him gazing at the flowers she’d placed on her counter. She thought it was odd, until he quickly glanced toward the door and caught her staring.
    “What are you planning to do with me,” Arianna wondered. He walked toward her; even his stride was masculine.
    “For now we’re going to take you and Jordan someplace safe.” Argento tried to sound comforting, but his voice didn’t have quite the same tone as Jordan’s. Argento’s was rough, raspy. She could imagine being seduced by his voice, not comforted. She exhaled loudly. He took a few steps toward the bag that lay on her bed. “You know I can’t let you bring any weapons with you.”
    “I’m sorry I don’t trust you to keep me and Jordan safe,” she barked, and then grabbed the bag out of his hand.
    “I’m sure you’re tough with child molesters and rapists, but don’t try to play tough with me. I will eat you alive.” His voice was barely above a whisper. But he didn’t need to be any louder; he was standing right in front of her. She felt his strength emanate from him, and she shivered. She never showed any weakness or mercy to the men she killed, and she never showed fear. She must have been much like Argento right now.
    He tilted his head to the right side slightly, and stared at a point just past her shoulder. She knew Wolf must be speaking to him somehow. “Understood,” he said to his cuff again, and put her bag over his shoulder. “We need to go now.”
    He grabbed one of her suitcases on the way out of her bedroom, and she grabbed the other. “Do you have a cell phone?” He asked as she picked up her rarely carried purse. She shook her head slightly, but then dug around inside it. There was one of the old phones the Secretary gave her inside. She threw it down on the couch as she walked out the door. She wouldn’t miss the place.
    Apparently Jordan didn’t have the same thoughts. The back of the SUV was full of books, notebooks, and computer equipment. There were several suitcases too. She was glad she packed light. Argento groaned when he saw the stuff in the back, shook his head, and placed Arianna’s three bags with it before closing the door and heading toward the driver’s side. He helped Arianna inside, and she heard something fly past her head.
    “Get inside,” he yelled as he shoved her. He slammed the door, and spun around toward the woods to the left of the building. “Gunfire,” he announced to Wolf, and then the window next to his head shattered. He bent down behind the door, and more bullets were fired toward the SUV.
    Arianna moved quickly to grab Jordan and pull him down onto the seat. She ducked into the floor, and covered her head. The window she had been seated beside exploded into shards of glass that fell onto her back.
    “We have to get out of here,” Wolf screamed.
    Arianna knew Argento was trapped behind the door. If he tried to move his head would be exposed. She could only think of one thing to do. She crawled over Jordan, grabbed her bag out of the back, and pulled out two of her semi-automatic guns. She knew they were loaded, she kept them that way at all times.
    “Are you ready?” She screamed it at Argento.
    “For what,” he replied.
    “Now!” She yelled. She leaned toward the door and put the guns up over the