She looked up, greeted by the crooked smile of Emilio who looked at her like a starving wolf circling an injured deer. Whatever was happening in the forecourt, it had clearly provided Emilio with the confidence that he wouldn’t be disturbed.

‘Are you ready, Mami?’ he whispered, putting his gun down on the filing cabinet that stood next to the door. Alex’s eyes widened with fear, and she once again struggled against her restraints. Blood trickled from her wrists, and Emilio’s eyes flickered with arousal at her fear.

He walked slowly towards her, unbuckling his belt.

As he slid his jeans and boxer shorts to his knees, revealing his arousal, he lunged forward at her, his hands ripping at the buttons of her jeans as she struggled violently. A hard fist crashed into her cheek, knocking her backwards, and her brain shook from the impact. Struggling to regain her thoughts, she could feel her jeans being pulled down, the man’s rough hands gripping her thighs.

Alex prayed for death.

A gunshot erupted in the room, the noise contained by the confined space, and it reverberated like a thunderclap.

Blood splatted the wall.

Emilio slumped to the side, his life escaping through the hole in the side of his skull.

Alex shook from the ordeal and the violent death of the man who had every intention of raping her. As she came to terms with what happened, she turned, and her eyes widened in shock.

Sinclair.

‘I’m sorry, Alex.’ His words were shrouded in sadness. ‘It should never have come to this. I told them you were not to be harmed.’

Gently, Sinclair pulled her jeans back up, helping her to reclaim her dignity. Emilio lay half naked on the floor, slumped forward, his eyes wide open.

Drawn by the gunshot, Raul and Edinson appeared in the doorway, both shocked to stillness at the body of Emilio.

‘What did you do?’ Raul barked, his eyes drawn to Sinclair who stood, offering Alex an apologetic smile.

‘The deal was she wouldn’t be hurt,’ Sinclair yelled with fury. ‘That piece of shit was this close to raping the poor girl.’

‘Jesus,’ Raul uttered.

‘Where the hell are Sykes and Vasquez?’ Sinclair berated Raul. He turned to Edinson, who remained as stoic as always. ‘Big guy, go and bring them back and let’s get this deal done.’

Edinson turned and marched across the forecourt, heading for the break in the panel that would lead him down towards the bar. As the hulking figure approached the exit, Sinclair stepped out of the office. Raul looked back one last time at the body of Emilio and then closed the door.

It didn’t catch on the latch, and it slowly creaked open.

Alex had her opportunity.

Judging from the next sentence she heard from Sinclair, she needed to take it.

‘Fuck,’ Sinclair uttered in a violent whisper. ‘She’s seen my face.’

* * *