Her heart was still pounding in her throat as Alex pulled through the gates of Tyrone's mansion.
The doors of the car were opened and Miranda was helped out. She limped to the door, where Tyrone stood, waiting for her.
"What happened?" he asked, leading her inside.
"I shot an FBI agent, and someone shot back," she said as he led her to a chair.
He sat her down. "An FBI agent?" he said in shock.
"Yes," Alex nodded. "I saw her kill him."
"Wow, I am impressed. I think I will like having you work for me. I will call the doctor and have him stitch you up," he told her.
She nodded as he leaned down and picked up the briefcase of money.
He then handed it to her. "500 grand, it's yours for a job well done."
"Thanks, but I don't need it."
"How about I open an account for you, then you can have access to it whenever you want?"
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Of course," he grinned and then nodded at one of his men who took the briefcase and left the room.
Tyrone moved her to a couch in his sitting room to wait until the doctor showed up.
A doctor walked into the room minutes later and stitched her leg with glue. "It looks like the bullet just skimmed your leg. I will glue it and then bandage it. Keep the wound clean and dry," he told her. She nodded at him, he left then, leaving her with some painkillers.
She stood then. "I need to go change so I can back to my place."
"It's late, you can spend the night," he told her.
"No, that's okay, I want to go back to my place, I will sleep better there."
"Very well, and thank you, Lara, what you did tonight was exemplary."
"Thank you," she said, as he nodded at Alex.
"Take her upstairs to change and then take her back to the hotel."
Why was she not surprised that he knew where she was staying.
"Of course boss," Alex said, and scooped Miranda into his arms, making her gasp.
He chuckled. "Don't want you hurting your leg any more than needed," he said, carrying her up the stairs. He then deposited her outside the door of the guest room.
"Change, then I will take you back."
She nodded. "Thanks, Alex."
"Anytime," he said gruffly, but he was hiding a smile.
She closed the door and quickly changed, grimacing as she put her jeans back on. Once she was dressed, she opened the door and once again, Alex picked her up and took her down the stairs. He set her on her feet by the front door.
Tyrone was standing by the door and noticed Miranda had the red dress in her hands.
"Keep it," he smiled. "You looked stunning in it."
"Thanks," she smiled.
"I'll call you in a few days. I want you to take it easy, and we need to lie low."
She nodded. "Of course, sir," then headed outside and climbed into the limo. Alex closed it behind her and then climbed in to take her back to the hotel.
Once again, Alex was quiet on the ride back, but he kept glancing at Miranda in the rearview mirror. She looked to be in pain, and he could tell she was exhausted, but he didn't know what to say. He wasn't paid to chat, so he kept his mouth shut.
When he pulled up to the hotel, he opened her door and helped her out.
"Sleep well Lara, I'll see you soon," he said, then climbing back into the limo, he drove away.
She sighed and walked in, ready to hit the sack. She was exhausted. But it was 2:00 in the morning.
In her room, she stripped down, put on pajamas, took the earrings out and the earpiece and put them in the safe, and then her gun went under her pillow. She took a pain pill and then climbed into bed, falling instantly asleep.
It only seemed moments later she heard a pounding on the door. She woke up and glanced at the alarm clock. It was only 3:00. She had barely slept an hour.
She sighed and got up and headed to the door, her gun at the ready. She looked through the peephole and saw Cole and Tyler standing outside.
She opened the door. Cole looked worried, and so did Tyler.
"What's going on?" she muttered sleepily.
"Something happened Miranda, can we come in?" Cole asked.
She nodded and stepped aside. Cole noticed her gun in her hand but didn't say anything.
The two men sat on the couch on either side of her as she sat, setting the gun on her lap.
"Miranda, we came to tell you some news," Tyler frowned.
"It must not be good if you are waking me up," she yawned.
"It's not," Cole said.
"Chad was killed tonight at that drug deal," Tyler said, his jaw clenched.
Miranda gasped and looked at him then at Cole and Tyler. "You are sure it was him?"
Cole nodded. "I am sorry Miranda. Some lady that was doing the drug deal shot and killed him."
"Oh," Miranda whispered, and began to cry, surprising Tyler. He awkwardly patted her on the back.
"I can't believe it," she whispered, as Cole pulled her to him and onto his lap.
"I am so sorry Miranda."
"But wasn't he wearing a vest?" she whispered as tears ran down her face.
Tyler got off the couch and came to kneel in front of her.
"He was, but the bullets were vest piercing." He watched her in concern as Cole held her, but she winked at him, making him hide a smirk.
"Tyler, I am so so, sorry. Where is the woman that shot Chad?" she sniffled.
"She is on the run, but I did shoot her in the leg. We are watching the hospitals to see if anyone matching her description checked in. I wanted to shoot her in the head, but the sight of Chad on the ground distracted me," Cole ground out.
"So she is out there, the murderer of my cousin," Miranda whispered, trying not to wince at how callous Cole sounded. She was just glad that he didn't shoot her in the head. She knew he would never forgive himself for that one.
"The cops and FBI are searching for her as we speak," Tyler ground out. He sure was a convincing actor, but then again, she was convincing the men that she was extremely devastated.
"Good. If I had been there, I would have killed her myself," Miranda ground out.
Tyler held back a smirk at her words. "I am sure you would have, cousin of mine."
"So now what?" she whispered, as Cole held her tight to him.
"Well, there will be an autopsy, and then his body will be sent home to his wife and kids," Tyler said.
"Do you think I could go to his funeral?" Miranda asked.
Tyler frowned. "I don't think that is a good idea, especially where you need to finish your work here."
She sighed. "I know I should, but now I feel like a failure."
"None of this is your fault," Cole assured her. "That drug deal had nothing to do with what you are working on."
Oh, if he only knew, it really was.
He kissed her softly. "We will find that woman, I promise." He was thinking that perhaps the woman had been Miranda, but after seeing her tears, he was pretty sure it hadn't been her.
"I hope you find her, and take her down for me."
"Oh, we will," Cole ground out.
"Good," she yawned and leaned her head against his chest.
He picked her up into his arms. "I am taking you to bed. Care if I spend the night? I don't want you to be alone."
"I'm okay with that," she whispered.
"Good. I'll take the couch."
"I'm right next door too," Tyler said, standing.
She looked at him again. "I am sorry Tyler."
He nodded. "I know, we all are." He then kissed her cheek and went to his room. Cole carried Miranda to her bed after Tyler left, kissed her, then tucked her in and left the room. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Cole wasn't tired though. He took off his shirt and laid on the couch, trying to get comfortable. He felt a pang of heavy guilt weighing on him. He had lied to Miranda. Chad was not dead, but in order to catch the woman who had shot Chad, they would need to keep his secret. He was actually only bruised and would be headed home to spend some time with his family. Cole hated lying to Miranda, and he had asked Tyler why they had to lie since she was a cop too, but Tyler had said something about keeping it close to the vest. He didn't get it, and hopefully, after they caught the ones who shot Chad, they would let her know that he was alive. He hated seeing her cry, it made him feel even more guilty.