Chapter Eight
Kirill took his time opening the door, first moving the chest of drawers he had dragged out from a bedroom before undoing the deadbolt. He listened carefully and watched through the spy hole as he did so while I stood to one side, trembling and all the while telling myself to grow a spine and harden up.
At last he opened the door and stepped out quickly, scanning the corridor before motioning for me to follow. He took my arm in his other hand and kept his gun before him as he led me to the lift, where he stood protectively before me as he waited for it to arrive. He was tall and imposing in his dark coat as he shielded me from unseen dangers with his own body, and I wondered distractedly what the cleaning staff would think if they rounded the corner to find us like that.
The lift arrived then with a soft ping and Kirill turned his head, watching as the doors opened. It was then that I saw a movement down the corridor – a dark-clothed figure stepping out from around a corner, deadly intent conveyed by his sure movement towards us.
'Look out!' I squeaked.
Kirill had already lifted his gun, however, and shot it twice into the lift before I could blink. A bullet chipped itself into the wall beside my shoulder, narrowly missing us both, and I had time to wonder at how eerily silent the fight was while I fought down my panic at my own helplessness. Kirill's free hand reached behind me, grabbed my arm and threw me into the lift as he turned to take aim at the man who had stepped into view.
A strange noise escaped my throat as I stumbled into the lift and almost stepped on the slumped body of a man, face down, a gun still in his hand; there a pool of blood gathering on the carpet and I kept to the edge of the lift to avoid stepping in it. Bizarrely, my first thought was that the cleaning staff wouldn't thank me if I left bloody footprints all over the hotel.
I looked away, quickly, and was in time to see Kirill's bullet take down the man at the other end of the corridor – bodies were beginning to drop around me with alarming regularity, and this time I didn't even flinch. Then the doors shut as Kirill leapt inside and jabbed the button for the first floor.
The classical music playing in the lift was absolutely at odds with what was happening and I was pleased to find that my anxiety was proving easier to control than perhaps might be expected.
'You all right?' Kirill grunted as he changed magazines.
'Yep.' I almost smiled at how calm I sounded – well done, Katya.
We arrived on the first floor then and Kirill stepped out quickly, gun up, scanning the deserted hallways. Finding no one, he took off with long strides, his coat flying, and I followed quickly at a jog.
He led me unerringly to the fire escape, ignoring the large sign that barred entry unless there was an emergency. The concrete stairs were cold and brightly lit, and our footsteps echoed as we clattered down the flights, Kirill in the lead, his gun always at the ready. He kicked down a door and led me out into the alleyway, a blast of cold air hitting my face.
A garbage truck passed by the top of the street, an orange light flashing atop the cab, but otherwise there was no sound or movement. Kirill led me quickly to the illegally parked BMW, tearing off and dropping a parking ticket stuck to the windscreen, and I slid gratefully into the passenger seat.
He took off as soon as his seatbelt was on, hitting the accelerator so hard that my head snapped back against the headrest. We flew out onto the main road, heedless of anyone who might be coming from either direction, but thankfully there were no other drivers around – a first for Paris, but then it was very early in the morning.
Kirill glanced in the rear view mirror and swore softly from between his teeth. I glanced back and saw why – two dark cars were coming up behind us, their lights dazzling me. I turned back to the front and sank in my seat a little with a sigh. Being a target was damn tiring.
I was thrown around in my seat like a rag doll as Kirill disregarded every cautious feeling, driving like a madman as he attempted to evade the two sedans chasing us. It was frightening and I cringed away as we brushed against other cars and signposts, forcing our way through gaps that seemed impossibly narrow.
If this brought back memories to Kirill of his run-in with Bourne he gave no sign, although it was clear that he disliked being the quarry rather than the hunter. All the time his gun lay on his lap and I couldn't help but wince at every bump or corner, half-convinced that it would go off.
Tyres screeched as we rounded a corner and took off down another road, heading straight towards the centre of the city for some reason known only to Kirill. His eyes were intense, his face set as he spun the wheel expertly, diving across two lanes to take another sharp turn.
We were racing down the Avenue des Champs Elysées then, weaving between the vehicles of other startled motorists, and it was strange to find the big road so empty. The two cars following us sped up, one coming up on either side of us, but Kirill pressed the accelerator to the floor and the BMW drew away with a roar from its powerful engine.
Suddenly there were flashes of blue and red lights from behind us and a siren rose, wailing, in the early morning air. It was my turn to swear– that was all we needed. Kirill, too, gave vent to some expletives, and then I was hanging on desperately to the edges of my seat as we swerved onto the roundabout.
'Get my window down,' he grunted.
I obeyed with some confusion, pressing the button on the console that lowered the window, letting in a rush of icy air. Kirill hit the accelerator, turned the wheel sharply, then stomped on the brakes and used the handbrake as well to bring the car to a sudden, swerving halt, his open window facing the oncoming cars. The gun was raised in seconds, bullets spraying from its end, then Kirill hit the accelerator again and we were away.
I twisted in my seat to look back, finding that we now had just one car following us, hot on our tail despite the bullet holes that peppered the car's bonnet. The other remained behind, its windscreen shattered, while the police had pulled up and were approaching it gingerly.
'Where are we going?' I shouted over the roar of the engine and the air coming in through Kirill's open window.
'The airport. Time to get out of here.'
'But I don't have my passport!'
He made no reply, his silence conveying that I was an idiot for thinking that such a menial fact would throw off his plan. I growled to myself in irritation but didn't say anything, not wanting to distract him from what he was doing, for we were flying down a street lined with shops, dodging around some early risers and earning many startled looks. Suddenly there was a bang behind us and the car skidded. Kirill swore and twisted the wheel, steadying it.
'What was that?' I asked anxiously.
'They shot a tyre,' he replied curtly. 'They want you alive.'
I could feel the imbalance in the car and the sound was all wrong; Kirill swore again, thumping the steering-wheel in anger.
'We'll have to find a new car,' he said. 'Hang on-'
But at that moment we were hit from behind as Kirill negotiated another corner at top speed. The car spun wildly, colours streaking before my eyes, and the scream of locked tyres skidding over bitumen was loud in my ears. I had time for just a second of wordless panic before we slammed into something very solid indeed. Glass shattered, metal tore apart with a groan and a screech, and there was a pained cry from Kirill as everything shuddered and slowly grew still.
AN: Well, it's been a while! I seem to forever be promising quick updates and review replies and then failing to do just that, but the only excuse I can offer is life... I just can't seem to keep on top of it. So, as usual, HUGE thanks to everyone who has read and especially those who have reviewed (extra thanks to those who gave me a kick up the butt and told me to get back to this!), and my deepest apologies to those whose reviews I haven't answered - I just can't remember who I have and haven't replied to, so again sorry, I hope not all of you have grown sick of waiting for updates :) Enjoy!
