Chapter 7 - The Hostage
Chloe's terrifying, high-pitched scream ripped through the silent house, instantly freezing the intruders on the stairs.
"Please, do not hurt my baby," she shrieked hysterically from the second floor.
The lead Russian thug cursed loudly and aggressively in his native language.
He ordered his two heavily armed men to continue down into the kitchen while he desperately rushed back upstairs.
I peeked cautiously around the cold edge of the large metal refrigerator.
Two bright beams of light violently swept across the kitchen counters, slowly moving in our exact direction.
Agent Vance raised his pistol, his dominant hand trembling slightly from the severe blood loss.
"I have exactly four rounds left in this magazine," he whispered softly into the dark.
I tightened my firm grip on the butcher knife, my heart pounding aggressively against my ribs.
"Wait until they completely cross the doorway threshold," I instructed him calmly.
The first masked man stepped cautiously into the kitchen, completely unaware of our hidden spot.
Agent Vance stepped boldly out from behind the refrigerator and fired twice in rapid, practiced succession.
The deafening gunshots violently illuminated the dark room with brief, blinding flashes of yellow fire.
The first intruder collapsed instantly, violently clutching his shattered kneecap in absolute agony.
The second thug panicked and instinctively fired a wild, uncontrollable burst from his automatic rifle.
Deadly bullets tore through the wooden cabinets and completely shattered the expensive porcelain dishes hidden inside.
I ducked incredibly low, crawling rapidly across the cold tile floor while the dangerous man was completely distracted.
As he fumbled to reload his jammed weapon, I lunged upward and drove the heavy knife deep into his thigh.
He roared in pure pain and blindly swung the solid butt of his rifle, striking me incredibly hard across the cheek.
I tumbled violently backward, my vision blurring heavily from the brutal, unexpected impact.
The bleeding thug raised his heavy weapon, ready to brutally end my life right there on the kitchen floor.
Before he could pull the heavy trigger, Agent Vance fired his final two rounds directly into the man's chest.
The lethal intruder crumpled to the ground lifelessly, joining his groaning comrade in a pool of blood.
I wiped a small trail of warm blood from my bruised lip and forced myself to bravely stand back up.
"That is two down," I panted heavily, trying to catch my breath.
"Now we just have to deal with the ruthless leader upstairs."
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But as I confidently turned toward the hallway, a blinding tactical light hit my face directly.
The lead thug stood ominously in the doorway, holding Chloe in a tight headlock with a gun pressed violently to her temple.
