Page 35 of Frosted Hearts

"Do we have time for that? Can't we just get in the car and go?" Illeana questions as she follows me down the hallway.

"Sometimes, yes, but this time, I don't want to put you two at risk. If someone is out there while we make our move, then we are at more risk. If someone is out there while I check, thenit's me against them while the two of you are safe in here. If I had more of my team here, then I wouldn't take this route, but it's just me." I don't give her time to say anything before I yank the front door open and step outside. The cold air hits my lungs immediately and makes me wish I had a face cover on. Scanning my surroundings, I make my way down the stairs quickly and move to the right of the cabin. I need to do a full 360 quickly, and then we can move. I keep my ears peeled for any sudden noises that don't belong out in the woods. So far, I haven't heard a car noise, which is good. It doesn't take me long to make my way around the cabin. I don't spot anything out of place in the woods that would give me pause until I get back to the front of the cabin and then I hear it. There's a car approaching.

Fuck!This is not how I wanted this to go. We should have had more time. It's only been ten minutes, if that. I didn't waste time with my quick surveillance. Rushing up the steps, I step back inside the cabin and see both girls huddled by the stairs. Illeana has her arm wrapped around Grace's shoulders as she tries to soothe her. There's no way we're going to make it down the driveway if we made it to the car. Which means we need to hold off here at the cabin.

"We don't have time to leave. I need to get both of you to the safe room now," I command, reaching for the bags Illeana is holding in one hand as I walk past them and down the hall to the office. Neither of them says a word as I sit the bags on the ground and begin opening the safe room, just like I had shown Illeana previously. It doesn't take me long to get the door open and sit the bags just inside the door. I grab Grace from Illeana and guide her into the room while turning on the light inside. It's on a separate power switch and generator from the rest of the house, so if these guys cut the power at any point, the girls will still be alright inside. "Grace, I know you are scared but I need you to stay quiet in this room, okay?" I keep my voice even andcalm as I watch her. The girl is young and terrified. She should never have to go through anything like this, and I hate that we are forced into this position.

Grace nods and moves to the corner of the room, taking up a spot in a pile of blankets and pillows. Turning to look at Illeana once Grace is settled, I give her a soft smile. This woman is so far from the Princess I've been calling her. She still hasn't shed a tear, and despite the face, I can see how terrified she is, she isn't fighting me on anything. "Illeana," is all I get out before a crash sounds from the living room and a loud bang goes off. Instincts kick in and I move both Illeana and I to the ground, my body covering hers as my hand with the gun points to the door of the office.

Shit, I thought I'd have more time to prepare.

When I don't hear another crash or bang, I pull both of us to our feet quickly. "We don't have a lot of time. Do you know how to use a gun?" I ask her quickly as I keep my eye on the door.

"Kinda," she answers, her voice shaking.

"That's going to have to be good enough. Do not point this gun at anyone unless you are sure you are going to shoot. Do not place your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot. This button here," I show her on the side of the pistol, "is the safety. Hit this button when you are ready to shoot. I'm going to lock you in the safe room. Do not open this door unless someone calls out 'Ohana'. If you hear that word then it's safe to open the door."

"What about you?" she asks as I'm pushing her into the room and pulling the door shut.

"I'm going to hold off the threat until backup gets here for me. Stay safe. Oh, one last thing," I dig into my pocket and pull out my phone, handing it to her. "The phone is unlocked, text Knox and tell him we are under attack and tell him the safe word."

Rushing over to a large safe in the corner of the office, I get the combo in and yank the door open. I can't fight these guys with a knife and pistol. No, I need something bigger. Pulling out one of the AKs, I push the door shut on the safe and head out of the room. For added protection, I shut the office door behind me. It won't do much, but it's better than nothing. Just another obstacle these guys are going to have to get through. Running down the hall, I take the stairs two at a time to get upstairs. The higher ground is all I have to help me right now. I'm actually shocked the attackers only threw one flash-bang so far. I expected more.

Another sound crashes downstairs as I settle into a spot in an upstairs window, and another loud bang goes off. Guess I spoke too soon, there is the second flashbang. Looking out the window, I spot four men approaching the front of the cabin. All of them are dressed in black combat pants and black heavy jackets. None of them bothered to cover their faces. Pushing the window open, I raise my weapon and take aim, firing off three shots at the male closest to the staircase. His body drops into the snow, as his companions run for cover. Thankfully, there isn't any good cover out front and I'm able to pick off another man as he tries to get to the corner of the house.

I didn't account for these men to be a distraction. I can hear another window breaking downstairs as well as the front door being kicked open. "Fuck!" I snarl, ducking out of my position and moving into the hallway. With my gun pointed toward the stairwell, I rush down the hall and come to a stop at the top of the stairs, letting off three more shots and taking down the body who kicked in the door. Before I could take a step downstairs, a window in the room I was just in shatters, drawing my attention back that way. I have to trust that the men who came in downstairs aren't going to be able to get into the safe room before I handle the guy up here.

Damnit, I thought that there was only supposed to be maybe one vehicle reaching us this early. I guess Knox's timetable was way off. When I turn around, I see two men barreling down the hall at me. I manage to get off two shots at one of them by the time the second reaches me and kicks the AK out of my hand. "Asshole," I grumble, raising my hands and sending a one-two punch in his direction. The two of us begin trading punches and kicks at each other, trying to get the upper hand. Whoever this guy is, he's trained in combat but not as skilled as me. Thank the fuck for having Trevor train all of us. I wait for my opening patiently as I block his blows, and when I see it, I strike. Kicking his knee out from behind him, his body begins to drop to the ground, giving me a chance to grab him around the neck. Usually, I would try to just choke him out but this time I twist his neck, snapping it and letting his body drop to the ground. I don't have time to wait for him to go unconscious. There's still an unknown number of men in this house.

"Illeana! Come out, come out, wherever you are," one of the men downstairs sing-songs. It sounds like it's coming from one of the bedrooms in the back of the house. Please, please, please Illeana stay in that safe room and don't come out, I pray silently. She's safe in that room and that is exactly where she needs to stay put at. No one will know that she's in there.

Running down the stairs two at a time, I reach the bottom and round the corner at the same time a male is pushing open the door to the office. Grabbing my gun out of the small of my back, I raise it, pulling the trigger twice in quick succession. It doesn’t drop the man, but it does cause him to stumble back. As I take a step in his direction, something comes down on the back of my head hard, dropping me to my knees and causing me to see stars.

Pushing through, I push up from the ground and turn to face the threat behind me. Thank god I didn't drop my pistol, raisingit, I shoot the man in front of me, once in the chest and a second in the forehead. His body drops, and I turn back around to face the man who entered the office.

"Alright, Bitch, I'm not playing around now. Show yourself or your man is going to die. Your choice," the male I shot earlier calls out as he enters the office.

Ah, hell.Of course, he is going to use that taunt. I can only pray that Illeana continues to listen to what I said and not what he is telling her. I need her to trust me and trust that I can take care of myself. I can't fight all these men if she risks herself.

"Hey, Asshole!" I call out when I get closer to the office door. I don't bother to point my gun at him, instead reaching to my ankle quickly to grab my knife. This guy deserves to be hurt, and I have every intention of gutting him. My words work and he turns around to face me, exiting the office. With each step, he takes down the hall toward me, I settle my breathing and wait for him to get close enough to me to strike, except it doesn't happen.

Someone grabs me from behind, their arm wrapping around my neck, making me drop my knife. I grab the man's arm and try to pull it away from my neck. He doesn't budge and I know if I don't do something I'll be out cold in under two minutes. Pulling one arm away, I shove my elbow back and into his side. The man budges slightly, but not enough for me to break free from his hold. He puts pressure on my knees, making me lose my footing and drop to the ground.Fuck.I'm losing ground quickly. If I don't do something I'm screwed and so are the girls.

"NO!" a familiar voice shouts right before a gun goes off. The sounds make me resume my fight even more, tossing and turning my body in every direction I can think of trying to break the man's hold on me. It doesn't work as I feel him stab me in my left side at the same time I manage to kick my leg out and take the man's knee out as well.

"Motherfucker," I gasp, lowering a hand to my side, feeling blood. "You dickhead," I ground out, trying to push the pain aside. With me losing strength, he manages to get me face down on the ground, my eyes pointed down the hallway where I see a sight that makes me see red.

"Get your filthy hands off of me!" Illeana screams. I see her fighting another male's hold as she is being dragged out of the office by her hair.

Goddamnit! Of course, she didn't listen and keep the safe room door shut. Stupid, bullheaded woman! If that guy doesn’t kill her, I will.

"Shut the fuck up, Whore! We only need you long enough for your father to do as told. After that, we can all have our way with you before killing you or selling you. The choice is yours," the male snarls as he slaps her.

Oh hell no!Snarling, I push the pain aside and manage to get enough wiggle room where I can bite the male's arm around my neck. It makes him lose enough balance, so I can flip us around. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see my knife close enough for me to grab. Getting it, I don't bother to go for his stomach or any other area of his body. No, I got straight to his neck, slashing a line along his jugular. His blood sprayed everywhere, even on me. Rising slowly from my knees, I stand and glare at the male holding Illeana. I have no idea where Grace is but I can only face one threat at a time. Right now, that's the man holding my woman.

Running on pure adrenaline, I run forward, swinging a fist right at the man's face that is holding Illeana. He lets go of her hair, and she drops to the ground. I can hear her moving out of the way while I continue the fight. The male gets a punch into my side where my knife wound is, but I manage to stab him in his side as well. His eyes widen as I twist the knife, a snarl forming on my face, I watch him. "You touched my woman and I'm goingto kill you for that!" Pulling the knife out, I plunge it back in three more times, making sure to twist it as I pull it out each time.

"What was that?" I ask as the male tries to mumble something.

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