Deceit. [COMPLETED.]

Chapter 68

"The death of a friend."
[PART ONE.]

My shoulder burned like hell.

The whole of my left side was numb and my arm felt heavy.

I looked down to see a hole in my shirt just below the collarbone where red liquid was now forming in an ever-increasing circle. Nakamura was on his stomach. Nathan was on his back wide eyed and staring up at the ceiling.

Adam had been hit. He was in a bad way. His shirt was a mass of blood. He crumpled to his knees in agony.

My mind started to shut down.

I couldn't think beyond my own pain and yet somehow and somewhere in the darkness of my mind someone was telling me to get out as soon as possible.

I still had my gun in my hand. I flicked open the chamber and placed it on the table. I used a knee as a support. I picked out the empty shells and then with my hand shaking uncontrollably, I reached into my pocket for new ones.

'Where are you hit?' I called out over my shoulder. 'Can you walk?'

Adam didn't answer.

I hauled him to his feet grabbing him around his stomach sending shards of pain through his rib cage forcing out a groan.

I prized the door open.

I saw Uri standing there.

He had his hands in his pockets. He was leaning casually against the door frame of the lounge.

If he was surprised at my sudden appearance he was hiding it well.

I started straight for the front door stopping midway across the hall.

Sweat dripped off my brow. I blinked a few times trying to stop it going into my eyes.

Uri watched with a hint of amusement. He saw me struggle and simply shook his head slowly.

'I admire your tenacity but a waste of time don't you think?'

He then seemed to study Adam before his eyes settled on the blood seeping through my shirt.

He brought his lips together in a tight hold.

'It must hurt. You will not get far. A most unfortunate affair but even you must see that the game is already lost.'

At that I looked quickly around, scanning every dark corner, every crevice lifting my head quickly up to the next floor to see if anyone was watching in the shadows but there was no one.

Uri saw what I was doing and casually told me that we were on our own.

'I've told everyone to go home,' he shrugged. 'We heard shots. No offence but I thought you were dead. It didn't seem any point keeping people around.'

He then motioned to the front door.

'Even the men outside have been told that their services were no longer required.'

Adam's body was heavy, my injured shoulder struggling to keep him upright. I allowed my head to sag as I tried desperately to think of what I could do until a noise caught my attention.

I looked up to see that Uri had moved to one side allowing Mr Peng's brother out into the hallway.

So he had lied.

I raised my gun and told him stay where he was.

'Don't even think about it,' I said anger in my voice. 'Or so help me I'll put a fucking bullet in you right where you stand.'