I checked the clip of the UZI. A brass 9mm bullet shone like rose gold at the top of the magazine. A spent clip lay on the floor behind the Russian.
I had 35 rounds of death in the long clip that extended well past the handle. Enough to take out a room of Russians. I wouldn’t dare spray it at them with Alexandra possibly caught in the middle though.
Alexandra
Through the screaming downstairs, I’d heard a door smash violently, followed by three loud, clear gunshots. The screaming ceased immediately. Heavy boots thudded along the wooden floor below us ominously. Then a couple loud metallic clicks, followed by silence.
The two remaining men had drawn silver pistols. My captor had a long, brutal knife held at my throat. He backed towards the mattress I’d been seated on moments earlier.
He barked orders in Russian to his henchmen. They stared at him, open mouthed, and he screamed at them in rage. In response, they exchanged glances and shrugged. Then they both ran down the wooden stairs to face Cruz and it was over in an instant.
Cruz
Shoes thudded on the floor above me. I pointed the Uzi at the top of the stairs in my right hand, steadying what I knew would be horrendous recoil by clasping my left palm over my right wrist.
Two men ran down the stairs, guns held low as they sprinted down. I didn’t even have to aim. The UZI bucked violently in my hands as I held down the trigger. I sprayed bullets left to right at the men in an indiscriminate hail. They both tumbled and fell to the floor in a heap, motionless.
I dropped the UZI and drew my short 9mm pistol from my boot, clicking off the safety. I unclipped my combat knife, moving it to the back of my pants, out of sight. After a moment to ensure the two who’d charged down the stairs were in fact dead, I ran up the stairs two at a time with my gun raised in front of me, ready.
Other than a giant Russian corpse with a huge hole in his head, there was only one man left standing. And he had Alexandra held savagely by her hair, a long knife held inches from her neck.
My heart lurched at the sight of her. Head held high, her gaze was defiant. She smiled when she saw me, tears streaming down her lovely cheeks.
I froze. One wrong move and it had all been for nothing. I looked at the Russian, his face was calm. His eyes blazed.
“Cruz, how nice that you could join us. I’m sorry I was not able to be more…hospitable. In other circumstances, I’m sure I could have offered you a lucrative deal, but alas.” He motioned at the body near my feet.
“If you think I’d ever even consider working for you, think again, you slimy fuck. I’m not here for money.” I glanced at Alexandra.
“Aha! I see now. So you are more than just a bodyguard. How very touching.” He sneered. “If I kill her now, all of your considerable efforts will be for nothing. Then I will kill you.” His face started to contort, twitching with anger.
“I don’t think so,” I said calmly, calling his bluff. “You kill her, you got nothing. All of this will be for nothing. Weeks, months of preparation. Promises to your buyer you can’t keep. Debts you can’t pay.” I looked him in the eyes. He seethed with rage. “Listen to me, because I have one final offer for you.” I threw the pistol I was holding down the stairs behind me, the metal clattering loudly on the wooden steps. “I’ll give you one chance to kill me, you dirty Russian fuck. I’m unarmed. That was my last gun I just threw away.” I held my hands up.
“Put your fucking hands on your head,” he spat. “Do it!”
I complied.
He pushed Alexandra behind him, and she fell to the floor heavily with a thud.
My hands were on my head as he cautiously approached, knife held in his right hand at his waist. He inched forward, incredulous as I stood stock still. His eyes were wide, mixed with anger, adrenaline, and fear. He dropped into a fighting stance, his left arm raised in a guard.
He thrust the knife at my gut, punching it forward from his hips, expelling air powerfully as he did so.
I twisted my body to my left, and the knife slashed through air. Then I reached behind my back to draw my own combat knife, and in one fluid movement, I brought the knife up into his gut, twisting the knife brutally as I yanked it back.
Amazingly, he pivoted as I stabbed him, sending his knife slashing across my chest. He’d swung the blade wildly at my neck in a last-ditch attempt to kill me outright. I’d simply leaned back, the tip of the blade merely grazing skin and ripping my t-shirt open, revealing bulging muscles beneath.
I moved back, sidestepping to put myself between him and Alexandra as I kicked away the gun lying near the big dead Russian as I did so.
The man in front of me struggled to stand, blood pouring from the wound in his gut. Even with immediate medical aid, it would still likely be fatal.
“You fucking bastard. This is my favorite t-shirt,” I said calmly, standing a few meters from him.
He laughed softly. “You Americans think you are so funny. It won’t be funny when my employers find you and kill you! I will be waiting for you in hell!” He began laughing maniacally, blood frothing from his mouth.
It was my turn to laugh, deeply and heartily. He looked up at me, frowning. Blood loss had forced him onto his knees and he held onto a chair behind him for support. “You mean the rogue government agents who hired you?” I said. “I don’t think so. Last I heard, two were dead. And the one you were working for—well, let’s just say someone I know was onto him. He won’t be alive for much longer.” I shrugged. “Probably already dead, actually.”
The man in front of me was a vision of rage and disgust as he stood up through the pain, taking a faltering step towards me. “You… you fucki…”
But before he could finish his words, he collapsed to the floor, still. I kicked the knife away from his hand as I approached. I checked his pulse. He was dead.
Alexandra
Cruz had appeared at the top of the stairs like an avenging angel. He was as calm as ever, steady and motionless as he’d taken measure of my captor. My heart swelled at the sight of him, tears flowing from my eyes unashamed.
I’d managed to see the swift and brutal knife fight from my vantage point on the floor. It was over as soon as it had begun. I began weeping uncontrollably with joy as the evil bastard collapsed to the floor.
Strong hands gently raised me from the ground. Blue eyes locked onto mine with deep concern, scanning my body for injury. Big fingers brushed tears from my cheeks.
“Sorry, Lex. I let my guard down for one second, and…” His voice cracked, raw with emotion.
“Shut up, you big idiot.” I kissed him passionately, my tongue massaging his as we locked each other in an embrace. He winced as I grabbed his arms with my hands. I saw blood on his left sleeve.
“It’s nothing.” He grunted, shrugging. “You should see the other guys.”
I laughed, stress and fear lifting as he held me close. I kissed him again. He grabbed my ass.
“Calm down, Cruz.” I leaned back, my dainty arms small around his massive neck. “Not now. Vladimir is staring at us.” I pointed to the guy who’d stupidly poked his head out the window earlier.
We both burst out laughing, tears of manic joy pouring down our cheeks.
Chapter Eighteen
Cruz
Alexandra briefly ran through the kidnap and the proceeding events, the threats from her captors, and the call with her dad.
I tried to apologize again for leaving her alone in the hotel, but she shook her head, raising a finger to my lips. “I said, it doesn’t matter. How were you to know they were in the room?” she said sweetly. “Plus, I was the one who stormed off anyway. Maybe it’s me who should be apologizing.”
I laughed. “Nah, that’s all right, Lex. Can’t blame you for falling in love with me so quick. I am pretty amazing.” I flexed my muscles and she slapped me playfully on the chest.
“Dad!” she said suddenly, her eyes wide. “He must be worried sick!”
She ran to the tablet she’d said was used
for the call earlier. It had managed to remain undamaged throughout the brief gun battle, other than a slight spray of Russian blood on the screen.
We both stood together within view of the camera. I had to duck slightly. The call rang for only a second.
“You said thirty mi….” His face unblurred as the connection improved. “Cruz! You… you’re there? What…?”
“I took care of them, Andrew,” I said. “Did what you paid me to do. Just had a bit of…trouble, back at the hotel. No big deal.”
“No big deal? Ha! No big deal, he says!” He sounded manic with relief. I couldn’t imagine the worry he had likely experienced when the call had dropped earlier. “You wonderful, beautiful man! I… I’m tripling your payment. No, quadrupling it! Fuck it, I’m buying you a yacht!”
I grinned. “No need, sir. I don’t like boats, anyway.” Alexandra laughed. “I got a contact in Prague. He helped me out earlier,” I said to Andrew, turning serious. “Said these guys were working for rogue government agents. They were planning some sort of cyber terrorist attack. That’s why they wanted your software. The money was irrelevant. I think our friend here wanted to retire.” I paused for a second, jerking my thumb back over my shoulder at the body visible on the corner of the screen. “Thing is, two of those rogue agents were dead already. An old friend of mine, a French dude, was onto the third. Knew where he was. When to hit him. I just gotta make a phone call, ya know, just to be sure.”
Andrew stared at me incredulously, while Alexandra stared with adoration.
“So, this is over. Ain’t no one left to take revenge,” I concluded.
“You need anything, Cruz, you let me know. I mean it. I owe you, big time,” Andrew said, smiling.
“I ain’t joking when I say I’ll remember that, Andrew. Never know when a favor might be useful, right?”
He nodded at me. “I’ll make a call to get a helicopter to you. I just need to know where you are.”
I gave him the location. He scribbled a few notes.
“Oh, Andrew,” I said, “there is one thing I’d like…”
He looked up, eyebrows raised.
I grabbed Alexandra by her waist, squeezing her against me. She kissed me on the cheek.
Andrew stared, mouth wide. “Oh. Oh, I see…” He shrugged. “Cruz, you have my blessing. Just keep her safe.” He laughed. “At least I don’t have to pay you now, anyway!”
We all laughed together.
His eyes watered wistfully. “You’d make a great son-in-law, anyway.”
Alexandra gasped. “Dad!” she shouted in indignation.
Alexandra
Cruz had checked that all of his victims were in fact dead, one-by-one. I saw how efficient he’d been on his approach at the house, arsenal of guns blazing. No one was left alive.
I tried to avoid looking at all the blood and the corpses strewn everywhere. I knew I should be feeling sick or in shock—something more than the pure relief and joy I felt. Maybe it would come in time. Then again, they’d all been horrible murderers, which made it easier, I guess.
Cruz grabbed a few guns and my hold-all and took us to the edge of a forest which was only a short jog away. We sat quietly, waiting for the sound of an approaching helicopter.
My stomach was a knot of emotion, and I longed for Cruz to take me into his big arms and hold me tight. To make love to me, gently. But he was antsy, eyes scanning the horizon for signs of movement. Listening out.
I folded my arms, smoldering with desire. My heart lurched in my chest as we heard the unmistakable sound of approaching rotor blades.
Nicely done, Dad.
Cruz grabbed my hand and we ran down into the farmland, waving wildly at the helicopter as it approached. The chopper descended slowly and landed gently in the field. My hair blew wildly as we approached. Cruz held the door open for me first, taking one last glance at the farmhouse before slipping into the seat next to me.
The pilot nodded at us and pointed to the helmets on the seats in front of us, with microphones attached.
The helicopter was rising already. I felt giddy with relief as the scene of destruction at the farmhouse started to fade into the distance.
We spoke to the pilot and co-pilot through the intercom. “You boys are a sight for sore eyes,” Cruz said, smiling. “Had a bit of trouble down there with some Russians. They ain’t gonna be causing any more trouble now, though.”
The pilot looked down at the farmhouse, shaking his head at Cruz’s understatement.
“Where to?” the co-pilot asked.
Cruz looked at me. “Well, we ain’t got any trouble after us now. Wanna go somewhere? Up to you, doll. You got international clearance guys?”
The co-pilot gave us the thumbs up.
“Let’s get out of Prague,” I said, having to shout over the noise of the helicopter. “We didn’t have a very warm welcome here. Take us somewhere…swanky.”
Cruz
The helicopter ride was loud but comfortable. Alexandra lied on my shoulder, dozing. I stroked her hair with a large hand.
I couldn’t stop looking down at her pretty face as she slept with a content smile on her face. I vowed to myself right then and there that I was going to take care of this girl no matter what.
We made good time, the helicopter flying low and direct. The noise of the blades was broken every now and again by the pilot and co-pilot speaking to regional air control centers in clipped, short sentences. Numbers, vectors. I didn’t understand. I just knew we were getting the fuck out of dodge.
I was distracted from staring at Alexandra by the co-pilot, who mentioned a few exclusive hotels with helipads in neighboring countries. I told him to take us to the nicest one. I didn’t think Alexandra, or her father would worry about the price too much. Not today, at any rate.
I gently woke her as the helicopter touched down. The pilot turned the blades off for our exit, which made it a much more pleasant experience, especially for Alexandra with her long hair still unkempt from earlier.
We were greeted by a smartly dressed usher, who stared at us incredulously. Alexandra was half asleep, her hair tousled and unkempt from the ordeal at the farmhouse and the helicopter. As for me, my t-shirt hung open at my chest, a thin red line running from my hip to my shoulder. He eyed me briefly, his eyes widening at the sight of the long but shallow wound and the dried blood soaked my left sleeve.
“Welcome, sir. Welcome, madam.” He spoke perfect English with a slight accent I didn’t recognize. “Do you have a reservation?”
“No, ‘fraid not. Any penthouse suites free tonight?” I said.
Damn. Ain’t never said that before.
Alexandra procured a black credit card from her bag and waved it at the usher.
He relaxed immediately, smiling warmly at us both. “Yes, yes. Certainly. Please, follow me.”
Two men in black suits and sunglasses stood at the entrance to the hotel adjacent to the helipad. I felt their gazes on me as we passed. I nodded at them.
Alexandra
I stumbled into the hotel, half asleep. I’d dozed at first, but had fallen into a deep sleep, comforted by Cruz’s muscular arm as I rested my head on him.
He was by my side, strong right arm supporting me as we were taken to the nearby penthouse suite. I gave the usher my dad’s credit card and waved him away.
I had a change of clothes in my bag, but Cruz had nothing other than the blood-stained clothes he was wearing. But somehow, I didn’t think we were going to need many clothes for the next day or so, though…
The thought woke me slightly as we locked the door behind us.
I kissed Cruz passionately, my hand on his hips as we stood there.
“Just need to clean myself up,” he said, looking at his two wounds in turn. He looked like an action hero from a war film, muscles showing through the ripped shirt. Fucking hot, in other words.
“Later,” I whispered. “You look sexy like this.”
He stared down at me, blue eyes sparkling
. He looked like he wanted to rip my clothes off, but he was holding himself back. “You sure you’re all right?” he asked. “I don’t mind if you wanna sleep some more.”
“I don’t want to sleep, Cruz. I want to be with you.” I pressed my body into his, feeling his warmth against me. I felt a sudden bulge rising in his pants as his breathing deepened. I smiled at him, feeling his erection growing quickly. “Looks like you feel the same,” I murmured.
Sexual desire rising, my face flushed, and I felt wetness growing between my thighs. I longed for him to be inside me. But I controlled myself. I wanted this to be gentle and meaningful. I wanted to show him how I really felt.
As well as the sexual tension, I felt a deeper connection, and I was sure Cruz felt something too as his eyes locked onto mine. Emotion and lust seeped through his gaze.
“Well,” he said, voice thick. “What are you waiting for?”
I pushed him in the chest, guiding him to the nearest bed. He sat obligingly on the edge of the mattress. His eyes were wide as he stared at me, his head at the same height as my breasts. I grinned seductively, my hands on his shoulders. My body was teasingly close to his, and I could feel the heat coming off his skin
I slowly lifted my blouse over my head, knowing my breasts would be pushed together enticingly as I removed my top. As the blouse went over my head, I felt his mouth on me, gentle kisses and rough stubble on my soft skin.
Large, strong hands cupped my breasts through my bra as my top fell to the floor.
I leaned forward into him, pushing his face into my cleavage. His eyes widened with pleasure as I gently took his shirt off, pulling it above his head as he kissed me.
A strong but gentle hand was at my crotch, fingers teasing me through my jeans and panties. I moaned softly in his ear.
I looked down at him as I took the shirt off, his biceps bulging deliciously as he sat there, arms raised. Strong abs tensed, powerful shoulders moving rhythmically.
A strip of black cloth was tied around the wound on his left arm. I quivered at the sight of his naked torso—muscled, scarred, and wounded. He looked like the epitome of manliness, the wounds not affecting him at all.
Mr. Beast Page 60