Page 100 of Close Protection

‘Copy,’ Lucy Peterson confirms.

‘You keep left, I’ll look right,’ I instruct Scott as we make our way through the woods. We move silently and carefully, remaining vigilant.

I spot something pink against all the green and brown and narrow my eyes. Five figures come into view in the distance, walking away from us.

‘I have eyes on the hostages,’ I say quietly into the mouthpiece. Scott looks to me when he hears what I said and comes over.

‘Where?’

‘Over there.’ I point. ‘Look for the pink.’

‘Got it. What’s the plan?’

‘We need to get close without them noticing. Let’s pick up speed but be careful of any sticks that could crunch under your boots.’

He nods and we keep moving. As we get closer I can see Daphne next to her mother and two men behind them, hauling an unconscious man who I can only presume is George.

‘We need to take out the two guys first,’ I say just as one of them looks around.

Within seconds bullets go flying.

Scott starts firing back, causing the men to duck and start running, carrying George with them, as we catch up behind them. I don’t want to hit George or Daphne, but I’m a pretty good shot and it’s still relatively light outside so I shoot back.

My bullet nicks one of the men holding George and he stumbles. The unconscious George slumps against the other guy, who staggers, slowing down.

Ahead of them, Elizabeth pulls out her gun, firing at me and Scott as we get closer.

She hits Scott and he falls.

‘The vest caught it.’ He coughs when I slow down. ‘Keep going, I’m fine.’

I keep shooting at the one remaining guy as I run to reach him and George. His shots, mixed with Elizabeth’s, make the journey slower as I dodge bullets while firing my own, but I get a partial break when the man holding George runs out of ammo. He goes to reload but I shoot his hand, then his foot, then his thigh. He screams, falling to the floor, dragging George with him.

I reach them and kick his gun out of the way as Scott joins me, bending down and putting cuffs on the Daveeno guy.

With those two down, Elizabeth is the only one left.

‘Milosh?’ George stirs on the ground, coming to. I look down at him, just as Elizabeth fires the bullet.

Right through my leg.

38Daphne

Click, click, click.

My mother keeps pressing the trigger but nothing comes out.

She has no more bullets.

Before it’s too late, I swipe at her legs with as much force as I can, but I don’t get both of them. She catches and rights herself quickly – but she’s let go of my arm.

I lunge at her, trying to take her down. She falls to the ground beneath me, hitting her head. I don’t have enough time to secure her arms and she reaches into her cleavage and pulls out a small knife.

Well, that was unexpected.

She swipes at my face but I dodge the blade just in time. I try to knock it out of her hand but her grip is too strong. I grab her wrists before she can try again, lifting them over her head. We’re about the same height so it’s alot easier to pull them taut compared to when I did this with Milosh.

I dig my fingers into her wrists as hard as I can and the knife falls from her grasp. I adjust my position and kneel on her stomach to pin her down.

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