Failed State (A James Winchester Thriller Book 1) (James Winchester Series) James Samuel (best book clubs txt) 📖

When James flew out of the car a little way back, he saw police officers and masked men duelling across the lanes. They would only have a small window before the police inevitably summoned backup.

James opened the door of the Land Rover and fired at the rear police car. With pinpoint accuracy, he struck an officer in the leg. He went down screaming but alive. Diego shot the nearest officer in the head.

“Go, Diego,” James shouted across the car.

As they got behind the trailing police vehicle, James saw the destruction playing out in full in front of him. Diego’s men and police officers lay wounded and dead in the middle of the road. Some of Diego’s men had automatic weapons, whereas the police had shotguns.

Rosher’s car sat just ahead. A couple of officers had surrounded it, whereas the others hid behind their own cars.

James leapt up from behind the police car and unleashed two shots at the officers protecting the governor. They both went down, crippled but still alive.

He crouched and hurried towards Rosher’s car as fast as he could. James tried the back door of the car. Locked. Using the butt of his gun, he smashed the back window and pointed the gun in the back. Rosher and his wife cowered on the floor.

“Don’t move.” James levelled the gun at Rosher.

He stood and unlocked the door of the car from the inside as the bullets flew around him. Wrenching the door open, he reached in to seize Rosher. James grabbed him by the collar and pulled.

His wife screamed and clung to her husband. Diego moved in and struck Rosher’s wife across the face with the back of his hand. She flew back against the seat with a moan.

“Hello, Alfredo,” said Diego. “Remember me?”

Diego threw the pleading Rosher to the ground. In the vivid light of the golden hour, James saw Rosher to be nothing more than a short, bald fat man with a dark stain growing between his legs.

“Get him to the car,” said James. “I’ll cover you.”

The police hadn’t noticed the now captive governor as they fought for their lives. There were only about three or four officers remaining. James laid down some suppressive fire as they crept back towards Diego’s car.

James turned back to make their getaway when he heard a scream. Rosher’s wife had crept past everyone and leapt upon Diego’s back to claw at his face. James hurtled towards them, as Diego threw Rosher in the back whilst trying to disengage his hysterical wife.

“We don’t have time for this.” Diego tried to strike her but missed.

James seized a handful of hair and tore the madwoman away from Diego. He threw her to the ground and Diego hopped around the other side of the car. James put a hand on the door to close it, but the wife moved with startling speed to throw herself into the back of the car with her husband.

“Forget it,” James muttered.

James jumped into the passenger seat as Diego kicked the engine up and sped away. He sped straight through the middle of the two opposing sides, smacking an officer with the side of the car.

James’ heart leapt as the officer flew over the hood of the car and hit the ground. He watched the rear-view mirror, willing him to move. His body twitched slightly, and James let his shoulders sag. He didn’t need another needless death on his conscience.

“Know the drop-off?” asked James.

“I know it.” Diego’s features sharpened as he glared at the road. “And make that bitch shut up, or I shoot her.”

James peered at Rosher and his wife. The governor had his arms wrapped around his wife. She spoke in rapid-fire Spanish. James only detected the curse words.

“I mean it,” Diego growled.

James fixed the governor with a hard, threatening stare.

Rosher whispered into his wife’s ear. It took a few minutes, but she eventually calmed down. Like a deflating balloon, she sank into her husband’s embrace and wept silent tears.

James had selected the place for them to hide before the operation. He’d had the bright idea of calling Francisco and asking if they could use their bordello to hide the governor. It was a long shot. Francisco only laughed and told him not to cause too much trouble.

The bordello and its collection of buildings served as the perfect place to hide the captured governor. It came with a garage where they could hide the car just in case the police sent up a helicopter.

James and Diego met at the front of the car before deciding what to do with their hostages. Diego pulled off his sweaty mask to reveal some marks on his cheeks from where Rosher’s wife had scratched him.

“Well, that went better than expected. Not a mark on us,” said James.

“Better than expected.” Diego tossed his head. “We’ve got a crazy bitch in the back of the car. Why’d you let her in?”

James threw his hands up. “What was I supposed to do? Pull her back out in the middle of the road when people are shooting every which way?”

“You should have just knocked her out.”

“I’m not going to hit a woman if it isn’t necessary. There are certain unwritten rules everyone has to follow.”

Diego grunted. “Englishmen…”

James didn’t have the desire to argue with Diego. He knew many Mexicans had no qualms about striking a woman who got out of line. James opened the door and jabbed his head at them to get out.

Rosher’s wife had calmed down as the governor cradled her in his arms. Her mascara had left dirty streaks down her cheeks. She didn’t move, paralysed with fear.

“Rosher, don’t make me hurt you,” said James. “Get out of the car. We just