Charlie ducked into the space between buildings, her heart pounding. Voices rose behind her, the words garbled, but the anger woven through them clear as day. A bullet slammed into the brick across from her, sending dust and shards into the air.  

She’d gotten closer this time than ever before. Evidence had given her a glimpse into the seedy underworld of human trafficking and more. The man at the head of the snake was little more than slime.  

A man who made his wealth on the backs of innocent men and women, on the addictions and suffering. She’d confirmed he was under the careful watch of the local syndicate. Not that it made any difference. Crime lords or not, she was going to see him dangle by his entrails.  

A bullet shattered the brick, sending shards of stone and mortar into the air. Small slivers of it digging into her flesh. Where were the screams, the panic? The only sound was the thundering of her pulse in her ears.  

Charlie shook her head. Now wasn’t the time. Another muffled shot hit above her head and she twisted deeper into the shadows. Her hand throbbing where a bullet had assaulted it, leaving a jagged hole, and shattered bone.  

Not that it would slow her down.  

Broken bones and bruises healed. Death did not.  

Myari.  

Her sister’s freckled face flashed in her mind. Instead of the usual quick grin, there were bruises, cuts, sightless eyes. A body broken and tossed aside.  

“Just one more step, Charlie. One more. Keep moving.”  

Silence descended, and she straightened. A quick, sweeping glance of the alley revealed she was alone.  

They’d run like cowards.  

So predictable. 

Straightening her jacket with a swift jerk, she pushed her bleeding hand into her pocket and strode out of the alley. The city’s noise swallowed her. The bustle of the crowd, the honking of horns, the rumble of buses. Under her heavy boots, garbage and broken glass crunched. The stench of rotting food, dirt, and human waste tainted the air.   

But they offered no comfort. No warmth. Just left her cold as death.  

One step closer… one more shot.  

~~

Hunkered down next to the AC unit atop the building, Dean adjusted his rifle, tracking the redhead through the scope. Dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, the woman slipped from the grime of the alley, her shoulders hunched. Pain pinched her features, and she appeared to be favoring her left arm.  

Blood hell.  

She didn’t appear to realize how close she had come to death. Not from the syndicate thugs. No, her own recklessness caused her brush with death. 

“Charlotte Parker.” He muttered, dropping his gaze to the small screen by his knee. On the screen, another woman’s photo, one with long auburn hair, blue eyes, stared back at him.  

“Damn kid, I’m sorry. Should’ve been there. Should have seen it coming.” Dean licked his lips, his gaze on drifting to the street below. Charlie didn’t look like the photos Myari had shared.  

She was sharper now. Like a fine–tuned blade. 

Wounded but still standing.  

“Don’t worry about her, Myari, I’ve got her back. Charlie’s safe with me.” 

He stared at the image of the best informant he’d had. An asset to STARR. Her intel had resulted in more than one reprehensible figure being arrested or neutralized.   

Gone. Destroyed.  

Now, her inexperienced sister, a nurse, was navigating the cesspool from which her sister had snatched away from.  

She had fire. Determination. 

“And a frickin’ death wish.” Dean adjusted his weight, tucking the device into the pocket of his pants. Peering through the scope, he allowed a small grin at the sight of two bloody men stumbling from the alley. His orders had been clear, but he wasn’t going to let another civilian get capped on his watch. He wasn’t going to let her die. 

Not today. Not ever. 

Years of experience ensured he had his gear packed up within moments. Rising to his feet, Dean strode across the rooftop. He would stay focused the prize... just because he’d nicked the bastards didn’t mean they wouldn’t try it again.  

Blending into the crowd, Dean kept one eye on the target. She didn’t see him. Didn’t know he was there.  

She didn’t need to know, yet. 

“Status.” His earpiece crackled to lift.  

Dean rolled his eyes. “Targets in motion.” 

“Observe only.”  

STARR’s head commander, Kedanski’s voice was clinical.  

Dean smiled, a grim expression. Observe?  

Yeah, he‘d observe until it became necessary for more. He wasn’t going to risk losing her.