City of the Dead (Resident Evil Book 3)

by S.D. Perry

“Evil unchecked grows, evil tolerated poisons the whole system.” JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

He’d reached a split in the tunnel, and blocked out his wandering attempts to figure out Ada’s actions, reminding himself that he could ask her when he found her—if he found her.

Ada closed her eyes again, unable to look at him as she spoke. “My head hurts pretty bad, Leon, and the tunnel I saw, on that map—I don’t know where it is, exactly…” “I’ll find it,” he said softly. “I’ll find it, and then I’ll come back for you. Don’t worry about anything, okay?” “Be careful,” she whispered, and then felt his soft lips graze her forehead, heard him stand up and move toward the door. “Just stay here, I’ll be back soon,” he said, and the door opened and closed, and she was alone.

No, Leon would be okay. He was a fighter, he had the sense to run from danger, he was strong and decent—and he didn’t need to have someone like her in his life. She’d been crazy to consider it, even for a moment. It was time to wrap things up, to do what she’d come to do, to remember who she was—a freelance agent, a woman with no qualms about stealing or killing to complete a job, a cool and efficient thief who could take pride in a career with no misses. Ada Wong always walked away with the goods, and it would take more than a few hours with one blue-eyed cop to make her forget it.

Ada told herself that she didn’t deserve Leon Kennedy’s good opinion anyway. She’d never deserved it. Forgive me… As he ran back across the catwalk from the transport bay area and swung west, running blind with fear for her, she stepped out of the hub’s shadows and pointed the Beretta at his back. “Leon!” He spun around, and Ada felt her throat lock at the relief that spread across his face—and struggled not to feel anything more as the joy turned sour, his grin fading. Oh, Jesus, forgive me! “I’ve been waiting for you,” she said, and felt no pride at how smooth and steady her voice sounded. How very cold.