Chapter 78 The Struggle
Anna's POV
The gun went off. The sound exploded through the room.
I threw myself sideways instinctively. The bullet whizzed past my face and slammed into the wall behind me.
Eve cursed. "Shit!"
By then, my hand was already free. I ripped the second hand out of the rope and lunged forward.
Eve fired again. This time the bullet grazed my shoulder and pain tore through me.
I gritted my teeth and kept moving. Stopping meant dying.
I grabbed the chair I had been tied to and hurled it at her.
Eve ducked. The chair crashed into a table. Wine bottles shattered. Glass flew everywhere.
Eve stumbled backward, I didn't waste the opportunity. I charged.
She raised the gun again. I grabbed her wrist. The gun discharged but the bullet hit the ceiling.
Eve kneed me in the stomach. Air left my lungs instantly. I staggered back.
She was stronger than she looked. For a second we simply stared at each other, breathing heavily.
"You should have stayed tied up," Eve said.
I laughed despite the pain. "You should have learned how to tie knots."
Her eyes narrowed, then she attacked.
I barely dodged, her fist flew past my face. I grabbed her arm and twisted. The gun slipped from her hand.
It landed on the floor. Both of us immediately dove for it. I reached it first but Eve grabbed my ankle.
I crashed face-first into the ground. The gun slid away again. "Damn it!"
Eve climbed on top of me, her fingers wrapped around my throat.
I struggled violently. She tightened her grip, my vision blurring.
For a moment I saw genuine regret in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Anna."
I spat in her face, that made herr expression hard.
Then a loud explosion echoed outside. Both of us froze. Another one followed.
The entire building shook, dust rained from the roof.
Eve immediately released me. "What the hell was that?"
My heart started racing. There was only one person crazy enough to attack a place like this. Xavier!
Gunfire erupted outside, automatic weapons.
Eve's face went pale. "No..."
I smiled. "Oh yes."
Another explosion shook the building that shattered the roof.
Eve rushed toward the stairs and looked outside.
The color drained from her face. I pushed myself up and looked too, following her.
My breath caught. There were several helicopters hovering above the forest.
Armed men were rappelling down. The entire compound was under attack, vehicles were burning. I saw bodies littered the ground.
And in the middle of it all, I saw Xavier. Walking calmly through gunfire like death itself, dressed entirely in black.
A rifle hanging from one hand, blood already staining his suit.
He looked terrifying. Eve stumbled backward. "How did he find us?"
I smiled. "Because you're not as smart as you think."
Eve cursed repeatedly. Then she grabbed her phone. Calling Zack.
The line connected immediately. "Boss!"
Gunfire echoed behind Zack. He sounded busy.
"What happened?"
"Xavier is here!"
Then Zack swore. "What?"
"He found the compound!" I heard movement on the other end.
Then Zack spoke again. "Get Anna out."
"I'm trying."
"No." His voice became sharp. "Listen carefully."
Eve froze. "If you can't escape with her..." A pause. "Kill her."
My stomach dropped. Eve slowly lowered the phone.
The call ended. We stared at each other. Neither speaking. Outside, another explosion rocked the building.
Then Eve lifted her gaze. And pointed the gun at me.
My heart skipped. "Eve."
"I'm sorry." She sounded genuine, almost sad.
But the gun remained steady. "If I let you live, Zack kills me."
I slowly raised my hands. "You really believe he'll protect you?"
"I have to believe that."
"No." I shook my head. "You know Zack, honesty isn't his strong suit."
Her fingers tightened around the trigger.
I kept talking. Anything to buy time. "Think about it."
"Shut up," she shouted.
"Zack doesn't care about you," I pressed, hoping my words would get to her.
"I said shut up!" She insisted.
"He'll kill you the moment you're no longer useful," I added.
Something like doubt flickered in her eyes but it quickly disappeared.
I took a step forward.
She cocked the gun. "Don't."
Another explosion interrupted her. The entire wall behind us shook. Cracks spread across it.
Then we heard footsteps. Eve eyes widened.
The door outside exploded inward. Eve looked toward the hallway. Then back at me.
Then toward the hallway again, she was panicking. I could see it.
The footsteps stopped outside the room. Then a familiar voice spoke from the other side of the door. "Open the door." My breath caught. Xavier was at the door.
Eve's face turned white. She took a step backward.
The voice came again, this time softer. Which somehow made it worse. "Eve, I know you're inside."
Eve's gun trembled. Xavier continued. "If Anna has a single scratch on her..." A pause. Then his voice dropped lower. "...I will personally peel your skin off while you're still breathing."
Eve swallowed. The gun in her hand shook visibly now.
"There is no way out for you, Eve." My voice sounded steadier than I felt. "Just give up already."
Outside the room, I could already hear distant shouting of men. Lots of them. They were obviously Xavier's men.
Eve heard them too. A strange smile appeared on her face. "You really think that changes anything?"
"It changes everything." I slowly got to my feet. "Xavier is already here, there's no escaping for you anymore and I'm sure Zack isn't going to come anymore."
Eve laughed. The sound was almost sad. She pointed toward the iron door. "The door is reinforced steel."
BANG! Something slammed against it from outside. The entire room shook.
Eve didn't even flinch. "I don't think they would be able to get through it, and even if they do, it will take them time to break through the door."
BANG! Another impact. Harder this time.
"Enough time," Eve continued calmly, "for me to kill you."
My heart hammered against my ribs.