CL Hart -From A Distance by CL Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

here, but I'll give you whatever you want...just, please don't take me with you."
    "Believe me, you're safer with me than you would be staying here. We need to leave - now." Kenzie rose to her feet and placed a hand on Cori's shoulder. She felt Cori instantly pull away.
    "You're crazy. I'm not going anywhere with you. You bust into my home, shove a gun in my face, split my lip open," she touched the corner of her mouth as if to emphasize her point, "and you think I'm going to leave with you. No way. Whatever it is that you think I have, or whatever answers you think I can give you, you have the wrong girl."
    Kenzie leaned down to within inches of Cori's face. "I don't care. I said I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I have to." She spoke slowly and clearly as she pulled her gun from her holster. "Now, get the keys to your goddamn car, pick up my bag, and let's go."
    "But you-"
    Cori never got a chance to finish as Kenzie grabbed her by the neck, shoving her thumb into a pressure point just behind Cori's ear. The pain brought instant tears to her eyes and Cori fought back. Bringing her elbow up, Cori fought to turn her body away from the pain. The maneuver didn't surprise Kenzie, as Kenzie turned her wrist, driving her thumb deeper into the soft tissue behind Cori's ear.
    "I know more ways to hurt you than I do to kill you, so just do as I say." Kenzie released the pressure point.
    Cori gasped as the pain was instantly released, holding her ear and jaw.
    "Let's go." Kenzie gestured toward the door. Cori silently complied without further resistance. Kenzie pulled her second gun from her holster, quickly checking the rounds in both. Holstering one gun, she turned to Cori. "Where's your car?"
    "It's in the lot across the street, a red Honda," she said, frustration apparent in her voice.
    "Okay, this is how it's gonna work. We're leaving here. You're going first and I'll be right behind you." She nodded toward the door. "Don't do anything stupid or heroic. I saw how you enjoy the neighborhood children and I'd hate to have to come back here. Understood?" Kenzie aimed her gun at Cori's side until she saw Cori nod. "Once we're in your car, I want you to go east on Anillo Periferico, and then out of town on the 54. Understood?" Cori nodded again.
    "All right, grab my bag there and let's go." Cori picked up the duffle bag and the two left.
    Kenzie was on edge. If she were the shooter, now would be the perfect time to take the shot. The sun was about to set. They would be in the light and the shooter would be in shadows. One shot and then he could easily dissolve into the darkness and be gone. Alert and observant, her eyes swept quickly over the neighborhood.
    Shuffling out and away from the apartment building, she kept one hand on Cori, the other tightly gripping her gun. Though her attention was on their surroundings, she also watched the frightened woman with her. Everything in her told her she had done the right thing, so why didn't she feel better?
    "It's over there." Cori pointed out the small older Honda parked in the vacant gravel lot across the street.
    Cori's direction pulled Kenzie's mind back to the moment. Her lack of focus concerned and annoyed her. Silently scolding herself, she kept her eyes moving like she had been trained. Rooftops, open windows, and the busy streets of Guadalajara, it was all too much for her to take in. Feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable, she gave Cori a nudge with her elbow as they crossed the street. "Hurry up."
    They reached the car and Cori struggled to get the key into the slot as she shifted the bag on her shoulder. Kenzie knew she had brought more than she'd needed for this job. It was Mexico, fifty bucks could buy her just about anything, but the merchandise was not always up to her standards.
    Cori seemed to delay getting into her car. Fumbling with the keys and the lock, her head looked around desperately.
    "Come on," Kenzie demanded, aware of her delay tactics.
    The shot was not