Page 103 of Hidden Chance

The two men looked at each other. One spoke in Burmese. Then they both laughed.

Jemi stood, keeping her sultry smile. She’d have to move fast. She hadn’t been expecting two.

Lord, you need to remind my reflexes and my muscles how to respond.

The only thing she had going for her was that they wouldn’t be expecting a captive, especially one her age, to fight back. But if she didn’t get them both down quickly, she’d lose that edge and probably the fight.

After pushing the collar of her shirt over her shoulder, she lifted a finger, beckoning the two closer.

When they moved in, she cleared her mind and gave in to her training, launching forward to chop the first man in the neck. Then she elbowed the second in the temple. They were stunned, which gave her the time to add a couple of kicks until they were both on the ground. Before they could rise, she attacked again and again until they were out cold.

Breathing hard, she looked up at the ceiling and nodded in thanks to her Father, then dragged the twomen out of view of the door before she went back to it and knocked. There would be guards waiting out there. Her body had to hold on a little longer.

“We’ve talked it over and thought you should join us,” she purred through the door. “We’re just getting started, so you haven’t missed any of the fun.” When no one entered, she said. “Okay. Your loss.”

She stood back and waited. Finally, the door opened slowly. When the guard entered and didn’t see anyone, he stepped in farther, and Jemi struck. After two quick blows, he was down, and another guard entered. She pulled the gun from the first guard and shot the second, then waited to make sure no more were coming. Once she was confident she was safe, she fell against the wall in exhaustion.

“Just a little more,” she prayed before pushing off to check the hall. It was empty.

She hurried to the next room where she hoped Hannah would be and listened. She could hear arguing. When she opened the door, Pike had Hannah pushed up against the wall.

“Hey.” She pointed the gun. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Pike turned. He looked confused for a moment, then pushed off Hannah, holding his hands up. “You don’t have to shoot me. I wasn’t going to do anything.”

“Liar,” Hannah said.

He turned to her, and she punched him in the face, bloodying his nose.

“Ouch.” She shook out her hand. “Is that supposed to hurt so much?”

“It’s a shock if you’ve never done it before, but you get used to it,” Jemi said, then rested against the door frame.

“Are you okay?” Hannah rushed over to her as Pike remained still, holding his nose.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in a fight. I did okay with the four guys back there.”

“Four?”

“Yeah. I’d rather avoid any more if possible, but there may be more coming if they heard the gunshot.”

“What do we do with him?”

“Did he hurt you?”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

Pike scoffed, then put his free hand up when they both turned to him. “I’ll stay here. I promise. I won’t raise the alarm.”

“No, you won’t.” Jemi walked up to him, hitting him over the head with the rifle. “That should be enough to take him out of the chase for a while.”

Hannah breathed deeply as she looked at his prone body. “He’s still alive?”

“Yeah. I don’t like to kill if I can help it. Besides, it’s almost better if he goes back home and has to pay for his sins over there. I don’t think he’ll like prison much.”

Hannah nodded. “We should get out of here.”

When they entered the hall, Hannah kept close to Jemi’s back. “Where are the others?”

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