Chapter 7 - The Final Stand in the Dark
The suppressed rounds from Viktor’s gun whispered through the air, thucking into the plaster wall inches above Daniel’s head.
Daniel’s shots struck Viktor’s tactical vest, forcing the assassin back two steps. The impact bought Daniel just enough time to bridge the distance between them.
Daniel hit Viktor at full speed, tackling him through the wooden door of Room 412.
They crashed into the dark hospital room, shattering a glass IV pole and tumbling across the linoleum floor.
Viktor, larger and heavily trained in hand-to-hand combat, immediately threw a hard elbow that struck Daniel squarely in the jaw. Daniel’s head snapped back, white stars exploding in his vision.
The gun flew from Daniel’s grip, skittering under the medical bed.
Viktor scrambled up, his face twisted in a snarl. He drew a combat knife from his belt, the long steel blade catching the pulsing red emergency light.
"You should have stayed on the highway, cop," Viktor growled, stepping toward Daniel.
Behind the bed, huddled in the corner, three-year-old Eli sat shivering, clutching a small plastic toy tractor to his chest.
Viktor raised the knife, lunging down at Daniel.
Daniel rolled to his left, the blade slamming into the floorboards where his chest had been a fraction of a second earlier.
Daniel grabbed a fallen steel IV bar from the floor, swinging it with all his remaining strength.
The heavy steel pole struck Viktor across the side of his neck with a sickening CRACK.
Viktor stumbled sideways, reeled against the wall, his eyes rolling back in his head. Before he could recover, Daniel surged forward, driving his shoulder into Viktor’s midsection, throwing him through the glass window overlooking the courtyard below.
The safety glass shattered into a thousand glittering pieces.
Viktor tumbled backward out of the fourth-floor window, plummeting into the darkness below, crashing heavily onto the roof of an armored SWAT transport vehicle that had just pulled into the courtyard.
The hall outside suddenly erupted with light and noise.
"CLEAR! CLEAR!"
SWAT operators swarmed into the room, their weapon lights filling the dark space. Agent Vance rushed through the door, his gun drawn, looking from the shattered window to Daniel, who was leaning against the wall, breathing heavily, blood dripping from his lip.
Daniel dropped the steel pole. He didn't look at Vance, nor at the tactical team.
He walked over to the corner of the room, dropped to his knees, and held out his arms.
Eli looked at him, his small eyes filling with tears.
Then, the little boy let go of his toy, stepped forward, and threw his arms around Daniel’s neck, burying his face in the blue uniform shirt.
"You came back," Eli cried softly.
May you like
Daniel wrapped his arms around the boy, holding him close, feeling the steady beat of the child’s heart.
"I promised you, Eli," Daniel whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I promised."
