where we’ll find the last iPad.”
She pushed off the couch and she looked so ragged out, he pulled her into a tight, secure embrace. He couldn’t resist the urge to hug her, even in light of her confession at the café. Maybe in spite of it because she had been so honest when she spilled her guts. He knew this attraction was taking its toll on both of them. He gave her a reassuring squeeze.
“You have been an amazing asset and a brilliant operative, Anna,” he said, his voice low and rough. “After this, we can rest.”
Loosening his hold, he braced himself for her to pull away. But Anna never did anything he expected her to do. She slipped her arms around his waist, knocking him even more off his game as she rested her head against his shoulder. She stayed put, releasing a long sigh, as if she was remembering her confession too and was relieved he wasn’t holding it against her.
“We better get along,” he murmured. She finally let him go. They headed for the exit and the car.
“You are hanging in there, aren’t you?” he asked when they were about halfway to the theater.
“Yes,” she said with a smile. “I can’t believe I missed the clue.”
“If we did, they did, too.” He reached out and squeezed her arm. “Miller was a bloody wanker.”
“And a traitor.”
“Damn right.”
They pulled up to the theater and got out of the car. “Luckily, this is a tourist attraction, and we can go inside.” As they headed toward the front door, the three Czech thugs came out. One of them had the iPad mini.
“Dodger,” Anna said.
“I see them. Let’s back up and get to the car. We know where they live.” Anna went to turn, but one of the guys called out and pointed. All three of them charged toward them. Of course, they would want to capture them, torture them for the whereabouts of the other three iPads. Dodger grabbed her hand and they moved fast toward their vehicle. Then he stopped and instead dragged her down the street, making a right onto Havifská. Anna understood. If they got their vehicle registration, they could start digging. Then she saw them. Three Chinese men. Now they too were in fast pursuit. Dodger ducked down an alley, running the length with their pursuers behind them. There was an altercation between the Czechs and the Chinese that worked in their favor.
Sprinting down Havifská, they made a left onto Na Pikopě Street, passing shops and eateries, the scent of food and gas fumes heavy in the air. Both streets were thick with people either walking fast, riding bicycles, or strolling. They maneuvered around them, the amount of bodies giving them an advantage of disappearing into the crowd.
They darted right onto Panská, then about halfway down, a shot sounded loud in the air. Dodger faltered and gasped, pain ripping into his right shoulder. Anna gripped his hand harder.
“Are you all right?” she shouted.
“Keep going,” he shouted back as blood ran wet down his arm. They ducked into an alley and then turned right, barreling through a gate into a courtyard with trees and a fountain.
Dodger was getting light-headed. There was a wealth of vehicles in the courtyard. He dropped, pulling Anna with him, and began to roll under the vehicles as their six assailants burst into the courtyard.
Sirens sounded in the distance, and Dodger pulled Anna to him, holding her close.
“Shh,” he whispered against her ear.
He watched the feet shuffle, then, as the sirens pulled up to the street outside, the six of them disbursed.
As soon as they were gone, Dodger rolled out, pulling Anna with him. They headed toward Nekázanka, walking fast down the street until they came to a café. Going inside, they headed straight to the restroom and locked the door. Anna grabbed some paper towels to stem the flow of blood.
“Can you make it back to the car?”
He nodded.
“All right,” she said. Back on the street, they backtracked to their car. Looking down Panská, they saw police vehicles, and the crowd was focused on that area. They moved as quickly as they dared up Havifská and looked around for a moment to make sure there were no baddies around.
It seemed they had dispersed, not realizing that he and Anna had come by vehicle.
He handed her the keys and they got inside. He leaned his head back against the headrest. Fatigue, lack of food, sleep, and blood were all catching up to him. He