14. You are Hurt

Glass shattered. Boots thudded.

Instinct kicked in for River. He grabbed his gun and dove behind the cabinet while Ellie scrambled to her feet, grabbing Lucas's hand. She didn't hesitate for a second, and neither did Valerie and Tiffany. Valerie had Landon in her arms. All of them ran upstairs immediately.

Gunfire cracked through the house, bullets splintering wood and punching holes in the walls. River peered around the cabinet and spotted masked men swarming inside, assault rifles blazing.

This wasn't just a break-in. It was an attack.

River squeezed off a shot, dropping one of the bastards. The others scattered, ducking behind furniture and returning fire.

He heard his men rushing in, shouting. Bullets zinged by, chewing into the cabinet inches from his face. He leaned out and took aim, squeezing the trigger in a steady rhythm. The intruders fell one by one, their blood pooling on the hardwood.

The gunfire slowed, then ceased. Silence descended, broken only by River's ragged breath