AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Gunner studied him as he contemplated his next move. There was a flash of confusion on Petrov’s face. It was likely he’d anticipated walking in on a different scenario. But what?
He held a woman Gunner guessed was Raketa’s mother at gunpoint, but otherwise, it appeared he’d arrived without backup.
“Drop the gun, Makar,” Gunner heard Shiv say to him. “You’re vastly outnumbered.”
They all heard the sound of movement from behind him. Gu
nner leveled his weapon in the direction of the noise at the same time as he watched Petrov fire a second gun into the dark. Immediately after which, they heard the sound of someone hitting the ground.
“You see, being outnumbered will do nothing to deter me. I’m here for my daughters.”
“Which daughters are those?” Gunner taunted.
“You well know, don’t you? Zaryana, my oldest, and my beloved twin girls, Ava and Aine.”
“They aren’t here,” Shiv told him. “It seems whomever you’ve got on the inside set you up for an ambush.”
“Bullshit. I know my daughters are here. You have two choices. Hand them over or Zaryana’s precious mother dies.”
“Shiver is telling the truth,” said Gunner, taking a step toward him. “Your three daughters are in a safe place far away from here. Want proof?” When Gunner made a move for his phone, Petrov pressed the gun more firmly against the trembling woman’s temple and shielded himself with her body.
“Devochka moya,” he heard her softly cry when he eased another step forward.
—:—
Topor held his second gun to her back and pushed her in the directions of the woods. She could no longer see what was happening, but she heard Petrov offer her mother in exchange for her, Ava, and Aine.
“Let her go, Petrov, and you live,” she heard Gunner respond. “You have ten seconds until I shoot.” He started counting backwards from ten.
“Move,” grunted Topor, pushing her to walk faster. At the same time Topor shoved her into the car, she heard Gunner yelling for everyone to stand down.
“No!” she cried when she heard a single gunshot followed by the sound of one set of footsteps, growing fainter as whoever it was ran into the forest.
“Shut up, you stupid girl,” he seethed.
What had happened? Had Petrov shot her mother? Were his footsteps the ones she heard running away? If so, why didn’t she hear more shots, or more footsteps running after him?
—:—
“I’m leaving, but if you come after me, she still dies.” Petrov held up a device that was hard to see in the dark.
“Stand down,” Gunner yelled when Petrov shoved Svetlana away from him.
When Shiver fired, Gunner grabbed his arm, diverting the shot into the trees.
“What the fuck?” Shiv shouted, taking off toward the woods.
Gunner grabbed him again, this time winding his arm around Shiv’s neck. “Let him go.”
“Why?”
“She’s wired.” Gunner showed him where a device was wrapped around Svetlana’s mid-section. “We have to diffuse it.”
“You fucking diffuse it, I’m going after Petrov,” Shiv yelled, trying to wrench free of Gunner’s chokehold.
“You can’t. You heard him. He’ll kill her and maybe us along with her.”
“I have to kill him, Gunner. I have to. How can you not understand?”
