Page 83 of Special Agent Murphy

Chapter Forty-nine

Kayti knew fear when she heard it, especially when it rang out in a voice filled with terror. Her senses knew it too because every nerve in her body flashed to full alert. The pulse in her throat throbbed due to her heartbeat’s pounding. And, her mouth felt like the Sahara.

But the gun in her hands stayed steady. As she closed in on the cabin, keeping low, she crept up the steps and peeked into the window.

What she saw made her sick. A man was dragging young Misti’s body on the floor. Her face looked raw, as if he’d hit her, probably to stop her screaming.

He threw her toward the couch and followed with every intention of hurting her. Loosening his belt and undoing his zipper made those intentions clear as hell.

Kayti did a swift reconnaissance of the front yard, to be sure there was no one else coming. Then she pulled her pick from her pocket and used it on the lock. All the while, she heard the sick bastard inside while Misti whimpered her fear.

“Come on, little one. Be nice to me. Serge is fishing so we only have a few minutes for fun before he comes back. Your time’s up now – Daddy came through for you. But you know we can’t let you go. You know that, right? Look, if you’re nice to me and stop all that yelling, I might be able to let you slip away.”

“I’d rather die than have you touch me,” Misti screamed the words, and Kayti knew it would be the last time she’d get slapped by that evil prick.

Opening the door, she came up behind him and stood with her gun out in front, held firmly in both hands.

“Let her go, you fucking pervert, or I’ll shoot you and aim to kill.”

Misti saw her and almost fainted. The rapist clutched his pants closed and slowly turned, his hand reaching out as if to stop her from shooting. “Where’d you come from?” The Russian accent strongly defined his growly voice. The man was an ugly specimen… scary ugly.

“From FBI Headquarters, Washington. You’re under arrest. Get your hands behind your head and kneel on the floor. Do it. Now.”

Cruelty stared her in the face. She saw him weigh his options before he began to follow her directions. It was the slight appearance of satisfaction first and the warning scream from Misti that saved her from the barrel of the gun powering down toward her head.

Swiveling, she sensed the weapon before she saw it. Missing her by inches, she tried to step back and keep control of the room, her gun being the weapon she’d prefer to use.

But no luck. The asshole on the floor jumped to his feet and grabbing her arm, he viciously forced it above her head, so her firearm fell to the floor.

Purposely, she screamed her anger in his face, saw him hesitate, and that gave her the opportunity to knee him, unfortunately in the upper thigh. His swerving away in time saved his precious boys from a shitload of pain. Without missing a beat, her elbow connected to his neck at the same moment that she whirled away so she could aim her foot to his face.

Only that didn’t happen because a threatening voice stopped her cold. “One more move, lady, and this sweet little girl won’t be seeing her precious daddy again.”

Kayti stopped.

“Get over there on the couch and keep her quiet, or I swear I’ll let this animal at the both of you.”

Hysterical, crying as if her heart was breaking, like a baby seeking protection, Misti tried to crawl on top of Kayti. Frantically, she clung, panic making her irrational.

“Calm down, honey.” She peeled away Misti’s clinging body. “It’s going to be okay.” Kayti needed to be able to move quickly. She couldn’t if the girl held onto her.

She saw Draper pistol whip the other man and followed that with his foot slamming into the writhing body. “Didn’t I tell you to leave her alone? I warned you that I’d kill you, moron.”

Thinking to take his mind off killing anyone, Kayti interrupted. “Look here. Senator Bond did as you asked. Bill 539 has been buried. It’s no longer on the calendar for this year. Leave us here, and you guys take off. Get to an airport and go back to where you came from.”

“It’s too late for that. Fucking imbecile here’s psychotic. Can’t help himself. Likes to kill people. Now we’re up to our necks in deep shit.” Suddenly, he aimed his gun and fired a bullet into the groveler’s chest. “I warned him.”

Just then Viktor Baranov burst into the room, a string of fish hanging from his hand. “What the fuck are you doing?” Shock showed by the flare in his dark eyes. He appeared livid. Spitting out another angry fuck, he repeated it a few more times, with each rant his voice growing louder until at the end, he threw the fish away and screamed his fury.

Draper didn’t flinch. Cold, sharp… clear-minded, he answered, “You brought that sicko here. He couldn’t keep it in his pants. Bah! Now he can. Done!”

“We need to get out of here. Nothing was supposed to happen. I told you no violence. The Kremlin will be furious. We’re dead men.”

The two were so involved in their plight, neither noticed the boy squirm past them and slide behind the couch, heading straight for the gun lying there.

Kayti noticed. When she felt Misti stiffen, then saw her eyes darting toward Mark, Kayti grabbed her hand to gain her attention.

Her hard look meant business.Say nothing.

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