Chapter 233.
I step out fully this time, one gun in each hand now, my arms slightly raised, with every sense sharpening instantly.
My eyes flick from corner to corner, every shadow looks like it might move.
I close the door behind me as softly as I can, barely letting it click into place, then I start moving slowly, each step placed deliberately to avoid making noise.
I reach the staircase and pause again, crouching slightly as I glance over the railing. Thr lower floor stretches out beneath me, I tighten my grip on the guns, take a slow breath, and start descending the stairs.
One step at a time, trying my possible best to stay silent and to stay alive, trying to find Zane...Or anyone...Before whatever is out there finds me first. I move down the staircase slowly, each step placed with care, my body angled low, both guns raised just enough to react if I need to.
Tthats when I see him, in all black from head to to toe, his face fully covered and standing in the middle of the hallway like he belongs here and he’s waiting.
His back is to me, he looks alert but he is unaware that I’m behind him.
My heart slams hard....then steadies in a strange, terrifying way.
This is it, there’s ere’s no hesitation, debate or second guessing. If I don’t act now....He will.
My finger tightens on the trigger and I fire.
The sound explodes through the quiet house, the recoil jolting through my arm, sharper than I expect, but I don’t lose grip. He drops instantl, giving him no warning and for a fraction of a second, everything goes still.
Then reality crashes back in, that gun shot wa was loud enough to wake the dead.
"Shit.
My voice is barely a breat, they definitely heard that. Whoever else is in this house....
They heard that and they would come to the location the sound came from...fuck! Fuck!! Why disnt I check if the damn silencer was on....damn it!. I don’t wait, I rush down the remaining stairs, my pulse roaring in my ears now, every instinct screaming at me to move, move, move. To the Kitchen.
I need somewhere to disappear, somewhere I can....
A hand clamps around my wrist hard. The gun is ripped from my grip before I can even react, it clatters across the floor, skidding out of reach.
My heart leaps into my throat so fast it almost chokes me.
No. No, no, no.....
That was my advantage, rhat was my safety.
And not its....its Gone.
But I don’t get time to panic as the man yanks me backward, trying to pull me off balance.
But this time....i fight
I twist sharply, using the momentum to spin toward him instead of away. Which catches him off gauerd and mt free hand comes up instantly, slamming into his arm, trying to break his grip.
He’s strong but so was the last one and I’m not that girl anymore.
"Let me fucking go!" I snap, my voice raw and furious.
He doesn’t, Instea, he lunges, trying to grab me with his other hand.
I duck low, barely avoiding it, and drive my elbow straight into his ribs really hard. The impact jolts up my arm, but it lands true and
He grunts.
Good.
I don’t stop, I can’t. I pivot on my heel and slam my palm upward toward his jaw, he jerks back just enough that I don’t get a clean hit, but it still connects, but not nearly enough apparently cause he recovers fast, pretty fast.
His hand shoots out again, this time catching my shoulder and shoving me backward. I stumble, nearly losing my footing, my back hitting the edge of the counter painfully, which has the air rushinf out of my lungs.
He comes at me again and I grab the first thing my hand finds on the counter.....A metal utensil holder and I swing hard.
It connects with the side of his head with a dull, sickening thud and he staggers for a second.
But it’s enough, I push off the counter and move, driving forward before he can fully recover. My knee slams upward into his midsection and this time I feel it as he doubles slightly, his grip loosening just enough and I wrench myself free.
My breathing is wild now and erratic but I stay moving. Always moving.
He growls low, angry.....and lunges again but I sidestep just barely, grabbing his arm and using his own momentum against him as I pull and twist, forcing his body off balance and he stumbles past me.
I don’t hesitate, I kick the back of his knee as hard as I can. It buckles instantly as he drops to one knee.
"Stay down!" I snap, though I know he won’t.
Of course he won’t.
He turns, reaching for me again but I’m faster now and more desperate and ruthless.
I grab his collar and slam his head forward....
Straight into the edge of the counter.
He goes still for a split second, then collapses completely. Face down and unmoving.
I stumble back, my chest heaving violently, my entire body shaking with adrenaline.
I don’t trust it, nor again. Never again.
So I step forward and kick him hard in the side but rthere’s no response.
He’s out cold:
I stand there for a second, barely able to process it.
Two. I’ve taken down two.
My hands shake harder now and my throat burns. My heart feels like it’s going to explode but I’m still standing and breathing and I’m not done yet.
I grab the man by his collar, my fingers slipping slightly against the fabric because of how sweaty my hands are.
"Why is everyone in this house tonight built like a truck..." I mutter under my breath, breath still uneven, chest rising and falling too fast.
I drag him anyway...Step by step. His weight fights me the entire way, his boots scraping loudly against the kitchen tiles as I pull him across the floor. My arms burn, my back aches and ny lungs still feel like they haven’t fully recovered, but I keep going until I finally cross into the kitchen fully...
And freeze...when I see Zane.