Liam_Dougan_Oswald

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE HAS LOST EVERYTHING? WHEN HE HAS NO ONE LEFT TO FIGHT FOR AND NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE?

Fresh from breaking up with Jasmine Leigh Olsen, Harlan Brandle goes on a mission to expose a dirty business man in this prequel to Variant Comics' Diamonds and Blood. Along the way, Harlan meets both new and old allies and enemies... but in this world, who can you trust?

BOOK 2 OF THE DIAMONDS AND BLOOD SAGA

Property of a Lady

    Harlan tied Marcos securely to the chair in his hotel room. He then took out all of the things in his coat pocket, including the pink USB.


    Harlan: Yes. That is it. We'll leave him here for the night, tomorrow T.H.E.P.A. will come for him.


    Audrey smiles. Harlan and Audrey walk out of Harlan's hotel room and they walk to the elevator. The two kiss while the elevator reaches the lobby. Harlan and Audrey break, and walk out hand-in-hand. As they approach the door, Audrey wraps her arms around Harlan.


    Harlan: So... I'll go out, get some drinks... then have a night to remember. How about that?


    Audrey: I couldn't think of anything better.


    Harlan smiles and the two kiss one more time before Harlan walks out the hotel and Audrey returns to the elevator.


    Around thirty minutes later, Harlan is walking back towards the hotel, when he meets a homeless man. Harlan regrips the paper bag containing the drinks he has bought, and as he reaches in his pockets, his hand reaches something, Delvey's phone. Harlan fishes money from his other pocket and gives it to the beggar, but his eyes still fixed on the phone.


    Harlan walks back to the hotel, thinking hard about it. Why would Delvey give him her phone? There must be something inside. Something valuable.


    Harlan walks to the hotel. "I need a laptop" his brain goes. He then sees the check in and check out counter. He knows he couldn't tell Audrey about it. He didn't know why, he just had a feeling. Harlan walks to the check in counter. He talks out his T.H.E.P.A. badge, and asks the lady to move over.


    Harlan takes the phone and opens it. He takes out the SIM card, and connects it to the computer. Harlan accesses the messages, all of them to one number. Harlan reads them, and each message makes his heart pound harder.


    Boss, target acquired. Awaiting orders.


    Boss, target already informed about Marcos' residences. Act immediately.


    Boss, target on his way to Seoul. Will arrive in a few hours.


    Boss, target on his way to auction. See you there.


    Harlan reads the messages in shock. He rereads them, hoping he misread all of them, but no. Harlan knew only one person could have sent it. Harlan checked the number, and got his phone and compared it to a number on his phone. He looks at it and curses.


    Harlan then sees a call log there, with the entire phone call recorded. Harlan is about to play it when a new message appears. Harlan opens it and reads it.


    Boss, alone with Marcos now. Will tie up all loose ends. Meet you at rendezvous.


    Harlan unplugs the SIM card and rushes to the elevator. He slams the button and the elevator goes up. As soon as a small gap opens, Harlan exits the elevator and runs down the hallway when... BANG.


    Harlan stops. He knew where the gunshot came from. He takes out his keycard and opens it to see blood dripping from a bed where Marcos' now dead body lies. Audrey turns around, sadness in her eyes.


    Audrey aims the gun at her head, and pulls the trigger.


Audrey Katherine Banner