Interdiction (A James Winchester Thriller Book 3) (James Winchester Series) by James Samuel (best novels to read for beginners TXT) 📕

the girl were dead, he would stay until he found who killed her. This makes it look like she didn't want anything to do with him anymore."

Yuki's brow furrowed. "Maybe kill Winchester too?"

"Not right now. He is one of the most reliable contractors we have. That's the only reason Gallagher didn't have him neutralised years ago."

"Performance is no substitute for discipline."

"Perhaps not, but we are disciplined, so we will carry out our duties to the letter." Gordon paused as they watched the main road.

A rickety bus arrived. The doors of the mobile rust bucket opened, and a few passengers left the scrum. Gordon's mouth morphed into a slash of a smile as a girl with rich purple hair freed herself from the crush.

"Go," he ordered Yuki. "Remember, Japanese tourist."

Yuki put on a mocking accent. "Oh, me so sorry. Where is my hotel? I am very lost,"

Yuki climbed out of the car and disappeared into a side street with a view to flanking Nazifa in a wide circle. Gordon would form the other half of the pincer movement. He watched her go, her chin tucked into her chest against the howling wind.

Nazifa moved past the car fifty metres away without glancing at it. When she'd moved a few paces away towards the collection of three towers, Gordon started to follow on foot. Like her, he kept his meaty chin down, pulling the scarf up his neck to cover the bottom of his face. A couple of civilians who had left the bus with her followed the same path. One eventually peeled off into the first tower.

Gordon slowed his pace as he trudged through the snowdrifts. The meltwater flicked over the toe of his boot. He squinted ahead of him into the glare of the streetlight. Yuki, his head shaved in a military cut, appeared in the central courtyard looking lost, a crumpled paper tourist map held out in front of him.

Yuki approached Nazifa. His high-pitched broken English sailed on the gusting wind. Gordon quickened his pace, making sure to avoid the snow to cushion his footsteps. One glance to the left and the final bystander disappeared into a building.

Closer and closer Gordon came. His breathing dropped into a steady rhythm. Yuki showed her the map and moved to her side. Gordon pulled the length of rope out of his pocket. The thick, frayed material moved through his hand. Not his favourite choice of weapon, but he wouldn't risk killing her with a garrotte.

"Ah, so desu?" Yuki called happily. "My hotel is here, neh?"

Gordon came within a few feet of her.

"Yes, it is a long walk. Very long walk," replied Nazifa. "It's very cold."

"Hai, hai, yes."

"You know the bus?"

"Hai."

Gordon threw the length of rope around her neck from behind. The scream caught in her throat as Gordon wrenched her backwards. He tightened it and dragged her along with him. The map went flying. Yuki drove a practiced fist into her face. She lost her balance and fell backwards. Gordon kept ragging her around until she lost her footing.

Dazed, Nazifa offered little resistance as Gordon took her down to the icy ground. The two men turned her over. She gasped for air as the click of the handcuffs locked her arms behind her back.

Gordon nodded at Yuki. Together, they took her an end and lifted her. They rushed through the way they'd came, back towards the car. When they came to the road, Nazifa managed to release a little scream.

Gordon dropped her with a thud and tightened the rope around her neck again. Her pallor turned a rich pink, and finally a red. A message that he wasn’t afraid to kill her if she cried for help.

Gordon nodded again for plan B. Yuki lifted her by the legs as Gordon half-dragged and half strangled her. The rest of the way went quietly. They kept their heads down, avoiding the light. If anyone saw what was happening, they wouldn’t make out their faces.

Like they'd practiced, Yuki dropped her legs. She kicked at the air like a can-can dancer as Gordon kept hold of her. Once Yuki opened the trunk, Gordon flung her into it and slammed it closed. They would restrain her properly when they were out of Sarajevo.

"Well done, Yuki," said Gordon after they'd slammed the doors closed.

Nazifa thumped and screamed inside the trunk.

"Thank you, Gordon." He screwed his face up at her shouting. "I don't like her."

"We'll soon solve that. Now, to Croatia. We'll take the quiet route."

Gordon turned on the radio. A turbo-folk song boomed through the car, drowning out Nazifa's cries for help. If all went according to plan, Winchester would soon be on a flight out of Bosnia, heartbroken.

Chapter Fifty

James felt the hole in his heart growing with every passing hour. Every time he called Nazifa, the phone rang and rang until it went to voicemail. No matter how many voice messages he left, she never called him back. She was ignoring him, and James couldn't understand why. That kiss was as much her kiss as it was his. Why couldn't she confront the situation like an adult?

He tossed his phone onto the bed sheets. Running his hands through his jet-black hair and over his face, he stretched his legs. His knees made disconcerting popping sounds as he got out of bed. He'd lost track of how many hours had passed. James had to keep his eyes on the mission. He had to figure out how to get to Vojo Plemenac.

"Sinclair," James called.

"What?" Sinclair replied from the kitchen.

"Do you have anything yet?"

"Yes, I ordered us a pizza five minutes ago."

James rolled his eyes as he entered the kitchen to find Sinclair sitting at the round table, two laptops spread out in front of him. "You know what I mean. Anything