TO DIE FOR

chapter 16

"Sarah, what - what do you think you are doing?" Manuel said, trying to catch his breath.

    "Don't you dare move, or I will reunite you with your Anikka directly." she said with a sharp edge on her voice.

"Now come on, sit. Listen, it's either we do this the hard way or the easy way, whichever way you choose, I am okay with either."

From her purse, she grabbed a pen and some ownership documents of Manuel's money, property, and two of his huge sailing cooperations.

"I've already sorted out everything on those papers. All you have to do is sign. How hard could that be."

    "What you gonna benefit from killing me?" Manuel asked.

     "A whole lot than you think, sweetheart, it's a well-known fact that before you met Anikka, I was the only close and dearest person to you. I always accompanied you to your public meetings, parties, awards ceremony, and so on, and the whole world knows how close I've been to you. So it's reasonable that you would put me, the sore owner of two of your companies, and that you would transfer seventy-five percent of your property in my name." she moved closer to him and further pointed the gun on him."Now, sign!"

     Manuel read through the papers carefully and then dropped them on the table and faced her. "listen Sarah you can do whatever you want but am not gonna sign any damn paper, you hear me!"

     She stood up and engaged the gun. There was a set expression on her face that might have meant anything. "Well Manuel, you leave me with no choice, pass my regards to Anikka she was a sweet little girl."

     "Anikka was more than that. She was incredible, strong, and an angel, something you will never be."

      "Watch your tongue Manuel, am not fooling around. Sign the damn papers!"

     The way she was looking at him made his heart pound. He was always a sucker for women. If she had put down the gun, he would have taken her in his arms.

    "On the second thought, there is another way of setting this."

     All the time he was talking, he was getting ready to jump on her. He stood up, his muscles were tightening, and he was judging the distance. It was going to be a pretty desperate jump.

     "How? What other way are you talking about?" asked Sarah intently, focused on Manuel.

    "I can willing divide all my money, properties and  estates with you, how does that sound?"

    The awful little smile flickered at the corners of her mouth. He suddenly realized how Anikka had felt when she was poisoning her. Manuel began to sweat.

    "I don't trust you, Manuel. You've always been so clever, and I am not taking any chances."

    He was ready now to jump on her. In another second, she would see he was ready. It had to be now or never.

    "Okay, Jay!" he shouted suddenly.

"Come in and take her down."

     He had her rattled. She half turned to the door. He launched himself at her. He was a fraction late.

The gun exploded in his face, and he felt a bullet cut  the top of his ear.

Then he was on top of her, trying to grab her wrists. She was as quick and as slippery as a snake.

She nearly rammed the gun on his side, but he knocked it away as she fired. He felt the bullet rip through his coat.

He could feel her hot breath against his cheek as he grabbed the gun. She hit and scratched his face, twisted and kicked.

But he had the gun now. He threw her off and struggled to his feet. And aimed the gun at Sarah...