Chapter 6 - The Shadow in the Hall
I killed the flashlight instantly, plunging the second-floor hallway into pitch darkness.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I pressed my back against the doorframe of Chloe’s bedroom, breathing as silently as possible through my nose.
Heavy, slow footsteps moved along the runner rug in the hallway. Someone was in the house.
"I know you're up there, friend," a harsh, raspy voice called out from the dark. "You were clever taking the back entrance at the restaurant, but you left your SUV’s tire tracks in the mud at the end of the block. Give me the drive, and maybe we let the little girl live."
It was one of the operatives from Apex. He had stayed behind, hiding in the dark, waiting in case someone returned for the hidden evidence.
I reached down quietly, my fingers closing around a heavy brass bookend shaped like an anchor that had been knocked off Chloe’s nightstand during the ransacking.
The shadow moved past the doorway of Chloe’s room, a large tactical handgun held low in his right hand.
I didn't wait for him to turn.
I stepped out of the room, pivoting on my heel, and swung the heavy brass anchor with all my force into the side of his wrist.
Metal hit bone with a sharp, sickening crack. The gun flew out of his grip, clattering down the wooden stairs. The man let out a hoarse grunt of pain, spinning around to throw a heavy left hook toward my face.
I ducked beneath his arm, driving my shoulder directly into his midsection. We crashed together against the hallway banister, the wooden spindles groaning under our combined weight. He reached for my throat, his heavy fingers digging into my windpipe, but I slammed my elbow upward into his jaw, dazing him just long enough to trip his lead leg.
He fell heavily onto his back on the hardwood floor. Before he could recover, I pulled my tactical taser from my belt loop and pressed it directly into his chest.
The high-voltage crackle echoed through the empty house. The man’s body stiffened violently, his eyes rolling back before he collapsed into complete unconsciousness.
I stood up, chest heaving, and retrieved the fallen handgun from the stairs, clearing the chamber and tucking it securely into my waistband.
Marcus ran through the front door a second later, his weapon drawn, looking up the staircase. "Damian! You alright?!"
"I’m fine," I called down, breathing heavily as I stepped over the unconscious man. "Secured the drive. We have an operative down up here. Restrain him, call your transport team, and get him to a secure facility. I want to know who hired him."
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"You got it," Marcus said, motioning for his partner to come inside. "Where are you going?"
"To the rail yard," I said, checking my watch. It was 11:15 PM. "I’m getting Jenna back."
