Page 72 of Special Agent Isabella

From his actions, she knew there was trouble in the front room. Moving carefully, she headed for the rear of the house and stumbled on the guard lying face down in the grass. Bending, she quickly checked his neck for a pulse. When she felt the light throb of what she searched for, she breathed a sigh of relief. There was blood from a head wound, but he was alive.

Sad to leave him, but knowing she only had minutes to save the others, she tiptoed to the dark area near the kitchen door. Someone had turned off the outside lights. That’s when she tripped over another body… Collin. Limply holding himself in a position beside the wall, she could see the bullet wound in his stomach and the dark blood spreading profusely.

“I can’t go no further, Missy. Y-ye need to stop those filthy buggers.”

Swiftly, she knelt beside him and saw he was fading. She dragged off her hoody. Using her teeth to start a tear, with superhuman strength she ripped off the sleeve, rolled it in a ball, and placed it over the wound, pushing hard to stop the bleeding.

“Hold this here and keep the pressure on it.” Her voice sounded calm, but her heart had sped up so much that her rioting pulse made her feel almost lightheaded.

Collin tried to do as she said but he couldn’t balance himself and follow her instructions. Seeing the difficulty, Bella got behind him, and with her hands under his shoulders, she pulled, maneuvering his body to be supported better against the wall. Then she helped him to control the bleeding again.

In a firmer voice, he commanded, “I’ll be okay. Get in there. They’ve come for the gov’nor.”

“We called for backup. They’ll be here soon. Hang in there. Promise me.”

“I’ll be fine, lass. Go. Help the others.”

Bella patted his cheek affectionately and nodded. “Be here when I get back.” She quickly went to the door and was thrilled when she found it still unlocked.

She slipped inside and made her way to where she knew Tanner would be. Taking a chance, she peeked into the room and what she saw made her blood boil.

Hank’s wheelchair had been flipped on its side while the man himself lay there as if dead. Stacy crouched by her husband while Nan, trying to protect Abbie, stood with the child being forcibly held behind her own body. The scene could be from a stage drama and the players skilled actors. Only it was happening in the real world. The multitude of tears streaking down Stacy’s pale face testament to the extreme tension they were all under.

Two men with high-powered rifles controlled everyone. The larger man, wearing a mask to cover half his face stood in front. “Get up, bitch. Leave the cripple be. We only want you.”

Bella watched as Stacy valiantly tried to stand. As if her legs hadn’t the power to hold her, she fell over.

The skinny dude with his mask weirdly slipping under his chin, went to grab her by the arm and force her to comply.

Before his hands touched her, Tanner appeared behind the asshole. “No one is going anywhere. FBI. Put your guns down slowly. Then put your hands behind your back. Do it now.”

They followed orders and both dropped their weapons. What Tanner didn’t see was the bigger man taking a knife from his boot as he lowered his rifle. Before Bella had a clear shot, he’d turned and dug the blade into Tanner’s thigh.

Bella raced forward; her gun held as a pummel to hit the offender on the side of his head. Her only thought was to make him let go of the knife and to stop him from torturing Tanner.

Seeing there was no longer a gun on him, his partner in crime swiveled around and bent over only to be met with the nozzle of his own recovered rifle.

Hank had maneuvered himself by rolling over in time to clutch the fallen weapon. He’d pulled himself to a sitting position and held the rifle firmly. His knowledge of the firearm became instantly obvious in the easy way he pointed it at the man who’d stilled at the new danger.

Meanwhile, Tanner had grabbed his attacker’s shoulders, holding him off, which gave Bella the chance she needed. With a whack on the back of the attacker’s head, he fell to his knees and then dropped forward. Turning quickly, knowing there was still danger from the other criminal, Bella took in the sight of the major on the floor in charge of protecting his family.

She saw the pride Hank couldn’t hide. He’d needed that honor. Almost as much as he needed the gratitude of the family he’d saved with his quick thinking.

Figuring she’d put the bigger criminal out of service; she wasn’t prepared to be attacked once again. The man on the floor had reached up to pull her arm and yank her to the ground.

With blood streaming down the side of his face, and his eyes wild, filled with hatred and rage, he used his bulk to his advantage. In seconds, he had his arm around her throat.

Not completely balanced, Bella remembered a tactic she’d learned in her martial arts class. Instead of reaching to pull at his arm, with her fading strength, she rammed her fist downward, into the man’s lower stomach.

When his words were cut off with a whining shriek instead of orders for Hank to drop the gun, she then brought her elbow up and made sure it connected to his face… hard. Enough playing around with this prick.

She skirted around him, flipped him over to his stomach, and got his hands together so she could use her plastic tie. Then she bound his feet, not taking any chances.

“You okay,” Bella rushed to Tanner who’d stopped struggling to help her and lay back easy now.

“Just peachy, darling. Go help the others.”

She kissed him swiftly, took out more of the plastic ties she’d brought with her earlier in case she’d need them, and fastened them around the wrists and feet of the man who was being held at gunpoint. As soon as he was under control, Hank put the rifle down and opened his arms for Stacy.

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