Page 187 of 5+Us Makes Seven

Sorry bro. You’re first. Smoking kills anyway, you know.

I gently pulled the bolt action up and back, chambering a .308 round into the receiver and clicking the bolt back down in one fluid motion.

I aimed the center of the crosshair just above his head. This would be a range-finder. If I got him in his forehead, I’d judged it just right. In the face or neck, I’d need to adjust the scope for my next few shots. It would only take one bullet for me to know.

I breathed in and out once, deeply. Then I held my breath, my finger moving carefully to the trigger. A calmness descended upon me. I took a second to ensure I was deadly still. I squeezed the trigger gently. The rifle bucked in my hands, the butt pushing into my muscled shoulder.

My target’s head snapped back, a red mist spraying in a cloud behind his head as he flinched horribly, instantly dead.

Bullseye.

I yanked the bolt back and forth in a quick motion, the spent cartridge flying from the chamber. The click of the action readying my second bullet.

The sound of the gunshot echoing rippled around the countryside a split second later-- the bizarre effect cause by the bullet travelling faster than the speed of sound.

I could see two more targets that were easy shots in the field. Seeing movement at the window a second later, I decided to ignore them for now.

I aimed the rifle at my second victim, who’d been looking in shock at his dead comrade. I was amazed to see that he recovered almost instantly, his eyes scanning the tree-line. I doubted he could see me, unless he had the eyes of a hawk.

His momentary hesitation cost him his life. I fired off the second round, taking him cleanly through the heart. He took a stuttering step backwards before collapsing on the grass, dead.

I chambered another round, my eyes scanning for my next target.

Three rounds left.

Alexandra

A little while later, the leader returned, waking me from my restless half-sleep.

“Wake up, girl,” he said, gruffly. Something had him riled, and I guessed it was probably Cruz killing the henchman that was supposed to take him out.

I supposed he was going to find out the hard way that he probably didn’t even have enough men to compete against Cruz Miller.

“I am going to call your father. You will speak to him and tell him you are safe. The call will be quick, and he will want to see you. You will video call him briefly.” He paused, his eyes boring into mine. “It is very important that you do exactly as I say. You are going to tell him that you are safe, and that he should comply with our demands. You will tell him that I will hurt you if he does not do as I say.” He smiled sinisterly. “Oh, I should add, Alexandra, you will do as I say, or I will have fun with you first. Then I will hurt you.” He gestured violently to his men around him. “Then I will share you with my men. All twelve of them will be allowed to take their turn and take as long as they want. Then I will hurt you again, badly.” He spat the words of the last sentence out, his anger rising unchecked. “And if your friend from the hotel shows his stupid American face,” he added, “I will kill him. I will fucking string him up and force you to look at his dismembered corpse!”

Just as quickly as his rage rose, it passed. He smiled pleasantly at me.

I got the impression that he was prone to rages, and maybe even had a mental disorder. Either that or he was just a fucking psycho.

And even though I hated it, I felt I had no choice but to do as he said. At least until Cruz killed him. So I looked him square in the eyes. “I’ll do exactly what you want, I promise,” I said.

His eyes roved around my body again. “Good girl. I don’t want to hurt someone so beautiful. It would be a shame. And I have principles. I do not hurt women, as a rule. But this… this is unavoidable.”

I tried my best to look sorrowful. “I know. We all have to do things we don’t want sometimes. It's just the way it is. When you’re ready, let me know. I’ll do exactly as you asked, sir.”

He smiled. “I’ll be back in two minutes. I will…speak to your father first. I need to appraise him of the situation. I hope he is a reasonable man.”

I sat down on the mattress, my mind racing. I knew that if my dad did not meet his demands, or if I did not do exactly what I was asked, I would be in serious trouble. This Vladimir was not a man you messed with.

I hoped he was the head honcho, and that there was no one else above him who would come after us later.

A few minutes later he returned, holding a tablet. “Yes. Do not worry. She is safe.” He turned the tablet to face me. I saw my dad at his desk, gripping the ornate wood. Whiskey was poured into a large glass tumbler in front of him.

“Alexandra! This man said… where the fuck is Cruz!”

I approached the tablet, looking around to make sure I wasn’t breaking some unspoken rule that I shouldn’t leave my little corner of the room. “Don’t worry about Cruz,” I said. “He isn’t here. I don’t know where he is. He might be dead, for all I know.” The leader smiled behind the camera, nodding at me. I cleared my throat and continued. “Listen, Daddy. I’m safe. These men have been very kind to me. They have not hurt me and will not hurt me if you do exactly as they say.” I started to cry, feeling very homesick all of a sudden. “Please, Daddy. I just want to come home.” I held my hands up in a begging gesture, palms clasped. “I promised to help these men if you comply, so they can get me home safe. Okay?”

My dad whitened. He knew the threat. Give them the money, the software, or whatever they were after, or I would not be coming home.