Second Chance SEAL(50)

“There,” he said. “That was what I wanted. Now go make me something to eat.”

“You asshole,” I said, smiling. “You were supposed to cook me for.”

“I changed my mind.”

“Fine.” I pushed him away and hopped off the sink. “You clean this mess up.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I left the bathroom smiling to myself, practically floating on air. I walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator just as I heard rattling at the front door.

I cocked my head and looked up. I saw a silhouette of a man standing there, trying to get the door open. Suddenly, he rammed against the wood, making the frame splinter.

“Gates!” I yelled.

He was in the room in a second, gun in his hand. The man at the door rammed it again, causing it to break apart.

“Run!” Gates said. “Back door!”

I didn’t have time to think. Two men burst into the room and began to fire their weapons. Gates dove into cover and I sprinted back down the hallway.

I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to stay and make sure that he was okay, but I knew that I was useless in a firefight. He told me to run out the back door, and so I was going to listen. I promised to do as he said.

I moved down the hall, past the laundry room, and kicked open the door. I plunged outside and ran away from the sound of gunshots ringing through the air.

The only thing I could hear was my own heart hammering in my chest, beating a million miles a minute.





Chapter 22





Gates





Fucking mafia guys.

They were a bunch of untrained idiots. The way they shot their weapons suggested they’d never been in a real firefight before. They didn’t work together at all, they just found cover and went crazy, sending as many bullets as possible flying at me.

I was more careful. I chose my shots as well as I could, but it was difficult with all the flying lead all over. I was pretty sure there were three guys, though I couldn’t get a good look at any of them.

One of the three was sneaking around to my right, trying to get an angle on me. I opened fire down toward his legs and he dove back, but not before taking a bullet to the ankle. He screamed out in pain as I fell back further into the house.

Piper ran out the back. She was nowhere to be seen, which was good. I kept the guys pinned down in front of me so that they couldn’t chase her and grab her. She was unprotected, but safe for the time being.

Another guy came toward me. I fired off a few shots, forcing him back. I ducked into a back bedroom and they advanced forward down the hall. I opened fire, hitting one guy in the chest. He dropped, and I knew he was dead. But the guy behind him opened fire, forcing me back.

“Give it up!” someone yelled. “There are too many of us.”

My only answer was more gunfire.

The guy did have a point, though. I was outnumbered in a bad position. I was running low on ammunition and I only had one spare clip in my pocket. Sooner or later, I wouldn’t have any bullets and they’d be on top of me.

I had to come up with a plan. I fired off a few shots and quickly reloaded. There was deadly silence for a second, which meant they were on the move.

I dove out of the room. I rolled as gunshots exploded all around me and came up in the room across the way. Inside, the guy that was trying to get the drop on me was surprised as fuck as I came up to my feet and punched his gun away.

I brought mine around but he tackled me to the ground. I grunted as I hit the floor and released my gun. I rolled, pushing him off, and managed to scramble away. I got to my feet just as he came at me. I blocked his punches and stepped into his range, elbowing him in the throat. He stepped back, choking, as I kicked him in the stomach, sending him toppling.

I grabbed his gun from the floor and put a bullet in his skull.

As I turned to face the next guy, I caught sight of a blurry motion smash down onto my head.

I dropped to the floor, but not before I squeezed off two rounds. The guy that hit me yelled in anger and pain.

He foot struck out, smashing me in the skull, and everything went black.





Chapter 23





Piper





The water was still and beautiful as the breeze shifted slightly across the lake. Behind me, the shouts of men and gunfire screamed across the otherwise beautiful, idyllic morning. Birds scattered across the trees.

My heart was hammering in my chest as I ran. I stumbled over some roots, caught myself, and kept moving. I knew I could be shot by a stray bullet any moment, but I couldn’t slow down. I had to get away. I crashed through some brush and felt scratches run down my body, but I just kept going. Soon, I made it to the edge of the lake.

I stomped down the sandy bank and stepped into the water, feeling the freezing rush against my toes. I looked around at the open space, panicking, trying to find a place to hide.