Chapter 6 - NIGHT OF THE HUNTERS
"Stay down," I whispered, reaching into the side drawer of the side table and pulling out a small handgun I kept for emergency security.
Mara crouched low near the sofa, her breathing fast and shallow. "Ethan, what's happening?"
"Someone followed us," I muttered, moving stealthily toward the front window to peek through the blinds.
Through the darkness of the heavy rain outside, I saw two tall figures dressed in black raincoats approaching the front porch. One of them held a heavy iron crowbar, while the other held a silenced pistol aimed toward the doorway.
These were not random burglars. They moved with tactical precision.
"We need to get out through the back door," I whispered, taking Mara by the hand. We crept through the dark kitchen toward the rear exit that led into the dense woods behind the cabin.
Just as I unlocked the back door, the front door was kicked open with a shattering crash.
"Find the girl!" a harsh voice yelled from the living room. "No witnesses!"
I shoved Mara through the back doorway and out into the pouring rain. "Run!" I yelled.
We sprinted through the muddy terrain, the branches of pine trees whipping against our faces as we plunged into the blackness of the forest. Behind us, flashlights beam darted through the trees, cutting through the heavy downpour.
Phut! Phut!
Silenced gunshots struck the tree trunks nearby, showering us with wood splinters.
"Over here!" I pulled Mara behind a large rock formation near the edge of a steep ravine.
"They're going to kill us!" Mara cried out, shivering uncontrollably from the cold rain and terror.
"I won't let them touch you," I said, looking into her eyes. "I lost you once, Mara. I am never letting go of your hand again."
I popped out from behind the rock and fired two shots toward the approaching flashlight beams. One of the pursuers grunted and fell to the ground, while the second ducked behind a tree, returning fire.
Taking advantage of the distraction, I led Mara down the slippery slope of the ravine, scrambling through the mud until we reached a narrow access road running along the base of the hill.
Far down the road, headlights swept through the rain. A black sedan was speeding toward us.
I raised my gun, preparing for another confrontation, but the car screeched to a halt right in front of us, and the driver's side window rolled down.
It was Marcus, my private driver.
"Get in! Quickly!" Marcus shouted, reaching back to unlock the rear doors.
We scrambled into the back seat, and Marcus slammed his foot on the accelerator, sending the car sliding across the mud before gripping the asphalt and speeding away from the woods into the safety of the night.
"How did you know where we were?" I asked, panting heavily as I checked Mara for injuries.
Marcus glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his expression grave. "I've been monitoring your father's private security team, sir. Julian Vane issued a high-priority liquidation order less than an hour ago. I drove as fast as I could."
I looked at Mara, whose body was shaking from cold and exhaustion.
May you like
"Julian issued the order?" I asked.
"Yes, Mr. Callahan," Marcus replied. "Julian Vane isn't just your father's lawyer. He is the manager of the off-shore accounts that funded the cover-up twenty-two years ago."
