Page 57 of When You're Safe

A sudden,brilliant flash of lightning tore through the sky, illuminating the corridor instark relief. And in that split second of blinding brightness, an object swungtoward him from the shadows. He barely had time to register the approachingdanger before it connected with a sickening thud to the side of his head.

Pain radiatedoutward, and a feeling of weightlessness took over as Finn was knocked off hisfeet. The world tilted and spun as he hit the cold stone floor, the roar of thestorm outside fading into a distant hum. Blackness threatened to engulf his vision,and he struggled to remain conscious, desperately trying to grasp what had justhappened.

The cold stonepressed against Finn’s face, each breath coming labored and each heartbeatechoing with the sharp pang of the blow. Gritting his teeth, he mustered allhis strength, pushing with his arms to roll onto his back.

His eyesadjusted, and standing above him was a silhouette he’d hoped never to see insuch close quarters. It was Sam Falstaff, a formidable figure even in the dimlight. Cold, steely eyes that bored into Finn’s were set into a face that washardened by a life of bitterness and brutality. The sharp lines of his faceseemed etched in stone, but it was the gun in his hand that truly commandedFinn’s attention. The metallic glint betrayed its recent violent contact withFinn’s head, red droplets dripping menacingly from its butt.

Withoutwarning, Falstaff aimed the weapon straight at Finn’s face. Instinct took over,and with all the force he could muster, Finn thrust his foot into Falstaff’sknee. A grunt of pain was the only acknowledgment, but it provided the briefestof moments for Finn to regain his footing.

The corridorechoed with the sound of their struggle as they grappled for control of thegun. An ear-piercing bang resonated, the bullet narrowly missing its mark. Evendazed, Finn’s history as a special agent and fighting all his life had honedhis reflexes and instincts for close combat. Their punches were swift, themovements a blur. Finn summoned all his strength, pushing Falstaff into anantique cabinet. Wood splintered and trinkets crashed to the ground. ButFalstaff, relentless, retaliated with a solid punch, catching Finn off guard.As Finn stumbled back, Falstaff took aim and fired again, this timesuccessfully hitting Finn’s shoulder.

The shock ofthe bullet’s impact was jarring, but strangely, Finn felt no pain. A rush ofadrenaline flooded his system, making him hyper-focused. He quickly retreated,finding refuge behind a nearby corner. The dim light outside cast a reflectionof Falstaff on a glass window. Finn watched, breath held, timing his next move.

He lunged fromhis cover, striking Falstaff with a surge of energy, nearly gaining an upperhand. But his injury held him back, and Falstaff managed to counter, pushingFinn back. There was now enough space between them. Finn tried to back off, butFalstaff had him in his sights. He aimed once more, ready to finish the job.

Suddenly, witha thunderous crash, a large vase sailed from the shadows, shattering againstthe wall next to Falstaff. Sharp shards sprayed in every direction, a few findingtheir mark on Falstaff’s face. He howled in pain and surprise.

Emerging fromthe shadows, Winters’s face was a mix of determination and concern. Withouthesitation, she grabbed Finn’s arm, steadying him.

Falstaff wasnow on the back foot, running back the way he had come.

“We need to goafter him!” Finn exclaimed, grimacing from the pain.

Winters shoutedback, “You’re injured! Wait!”

Finn, defiant,responded, “Now! Otherwise, I’ll probably be the one paying for that vase. Itlooked expensive.”

Winters didn’thave time to even crack a smile.

With that,they gave chase, their combined efforts driven by the knowledge that SamFalstaff was armed and ready to kill. Just ahead, they caught a fleetingglimpse of him, his figure disappearing down another flight of stairs into thebowels of the castle.

“I bet thatgoes back down to where the DeGreys are,” Winters said above a deafening clapof thunder. “Come on!”

CHAPTER THIRTY

Finn andWinters charged down the stairs, the ancient wood echoing under their hurriedfootfalls. The castle’s long corridors seemed to extend forever, but a scream washeard, which they followed, and soon they emerged into the night air, the storm’scool mist kissing their faces.

The smallercourtyard, typically narrow with its cobblestones and arching shadows, hadtransformed into a dangerous battlefield and a hostage situation.

In the centerof the courtyard stood Sam Falstaff, casting his own tall shadow on Finn’s andWinters’s two parked cars. The dangerous glint in his eyes was unmistakableeven from a distance, and Elizabeth, a captive in his grasp, added to the threat.She struggled, but he tightened his hold, pressing the barrel of his gun firmlyagainst her temple. It was a dark tableau, made all the more eerie by the mutedlight of the stormy night.

The rainseemed to have lost some of its fury, turning into a steady drizzle thatcreated ripples in the puddles forming on the ground. The soaked environment,however, did little to dampen the tension in the air. Every once in a while, alightning bolt sliced through the sky, casting sharp, silvery illuminationsthat gave fleeting clarity to the scene before them.

“Let her go,Falstaff!” Finn shouted, his voice echoing across the courtyard.

Winters, everthe strategist, began slowly and discreetly circling to the left, trying to geta better angle, her gaze never leaving Elizabeth.

Falstaffsmirked, his confidence evident. “I think it’s about time we settle this, AgentWright,” he sneered.

“We can endthis peacefully,” Winters interjected, her voice firm and calm. “Let Elizabethgo, and we can find a way out of this.”

Falstaff chuckled.“Peacefully? I think it’s a bit late for that, don’t you? This family don’tdeserve peace. They deserve hell!”

Elizabeth,despite her predicament, managed to find her voice. “Sam, you don’t need to dothis.”

He tightenedhis grip, causing her to gasp. “Quiet!”

As thestandoff continued, Finn began to slowly inch closer, each step deliberate, hisevery sense focused on Falstaff, looking for an opening.

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