Page 15 of Saved By the Soldier

I hear someone on the radio telling the person waiting at the car that someone is coming and to hold them. We creep forward. We watch as he takes Emma into the warehouse. We don't see any other cars, or people, so we might be lucky to get in there and surround him without anyone else being there to help him.

We spread out around the warehouse so that we can go in through all the exits. I hear on the radio that all the exits are clear. As quickly as we can, we move silently into the building. Ihear Emma scream at him. She's so tough, she's still fighting his actions.

We move as one and that's when someone accidentally touches an oil drum that is on the ground. They’re everywhere, but he missed it. Viktor turns around toward the sound. He lifts his gun when he sees the FBI. He shoots, but only catches the man's leg. He falls down, and Viktor turns to see the rest of us moving closer. The guys are covering me as I try to get closer to Emma. He moves his gun between officers. He knows that it's over for him.

Hoping that he just gives up and let Emma go. Looks like that’s not happening. He grabs her and holds her in front of himself, using her as a human shield. What a fucking coward.

I hear Sean from behind me. "Viktor, it's the end of the road for you. We've been looking for you for a long time. We've already intercepted the guy who took the pelts. It's your word against his now." We all move an inch further forward. Sean is maintaining eye contact with Viktor.

Emma lifts her head and sees me. That's when the tears start. She is bleeding from the gunshot wound. She has black eyes and they’re so puffy I'm surprised she can see out of them. I notice she has a split cheek. This bastard deserves to die today, but I know Sean wants to take him in so that they can get everyone involved in this operation.

I mouth to Emma, "I'm going to get you, it's okay." She can't see what I'm saying, but she doesn't take her eyes off me.

As Sean keeps talking to him, the rest of us are moving an inch at a time so that he doesn't realize we’re getting closer.

When he notices, he points the gun at Emma's head. Everyone stops. Sean looks over at me. He knows I want to shoot Viktor in the head so that he dies, and I can get to Emma, but I know Sean doesn't want him dead. I can still shoot him in the leg, though, right?

Sean shakes his head. He knows what I’m thinking.

"Viktor, let her go. So far you've only killed animals. No humans. If you kill her then you’re looking at life in prison. If we just go with poaching, then you'll be out in a few years."

Even I know that’s bullshit. He’s going in for life, anyway. I watch Emma as I see him pushing the gun into her temple. She is petrified and I don't blame her. I am too.

One officer moves forward and Viktor sees him. He points the gun at the officer and shoots him. It looks like all bets are off now. Sean shoots Viktor in the leg, so he drops to one knee. I run and push Emma out of the way, landing on top of her. She looks at me and wraps her arms around me.

Before we can get up and get out of the warehouse, Viktor shoots, blindly. It hits me in the back, and I groan as I land heavily on her.

"No," Emma shouts. I hear more gunshots. "Luke, are you okay? Oh my God Luke." I roll off her and try to stand. The pain slices through me, but I've got to get her to safety.

"Come on Emma, we need to get out of here."

"But you've been shot, Luke."

I smile. "So have you."

She looks down to where she was shot. "That was so long ago now."

"Come on let's go before we get shot again." I get up and help her up. I cover her as we leave through the back so that Emma is no longer in his sights.

An ambulance is already there treating the officers who went down earlier.

We both get looked at. We get into the ambulance and go to the hospital together. When we’re both wheeled in, I ask the nurse, "I want to be in the same room as her."

"We can't do that I'm afraid, there is equipment in both rooms, we need to check you over separately."

Emma looks at the nurse. "Please this has been traumatic enough and I want to stay with Luke. He asked me to marry him then everything kicked off on the mountain." She looks at me and winks.

"Oh, you're the girl who was shot on the mountain. And you're her boyfriend?" She looks at both of us. "You've been all over the news. I'll see what I can do." She puts us in one room and then leaves.

"Oh, so I proposed huh?" I look at her and I take her hand. "I think it's a little rushed, but it's a good idea."

"I just had to think on the go." She looks down at our hands.

When her eyes move up to mine, I see a sparkle in hers. "What a first date today was," she says in laughter."

"You mean you put out before the first date? I don't know what to think about that."

We’reboth released from the hospital and I can’t wait to take her to meet my parents. "Hey, Emma, are you okay? You're not nervous, are you?" I take her hand.

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