‘GUNS!’ Beth screamed as she broke away and ran across the alley, to the other side. Brakes squealed as vehicles screeched to a stop. ‘TERRORISTS!’ She gestured wildly. ‘THEY’RE GOING TO SHOOT.’
Meghan continued her walk up the alley. Straight towards the two men who were momentarily non-plussed at her sister’s action.
Then they moved at her. Their hands reaching inside their shirts. Movement around her. The cab driver got out, made to cut off her twin. The tea drinker dropped his cup.
They faded from her vision. Just the two men ahead in the bright sunlight as a light breeze played and brought with it the smell of leaves and gas fumes and a hint of perfume.
She would deal with them first. Then, take out as many as she could. Protect her sister as long as she could, even if that meant, she took all the bullets. There was no way they were going to let themselves be captured.
We’ll die. Doesn’t look like Zeb and the rest will get here in time.
The thought didn’t bother her.
She picked up her pace, her eyes boring into the men’s. Noticed the lamp pole on the left, a few meters away from her, a few feet from one of the men.
She burst into a sprint at the post as the men’s hands came out, weapons glinting in the light. She powered off the pavement, left foot coming up to plant itself square against the pole, giving her leverage and flight to spin her body in the air, right leg straightening and sweeping, curving in an arc to catch the nearest man on the neck, dropping him like a log from the force of her kick.
Her bag fell to the ground as her Glock came up. The second man leaped back to get out of the way of the falling soldier. His gun came out.
He was late by several seconds.
Meghan’s first round caught him in the face, the second drilled him in the chest. She landed cat-like and fired into the first man who was clutching at his weapon.
Screams and shrieks filled the air as passersby fled.
Beth, still yelling, hurled her bag at the cab driver who ducked, then dived behind a bike, rolled on her shoulder, lay on the ground and fired blindly, high in the air to scatter the innocents. She heard a double-shot and then a third. Sensed rather than saw Meghan take out the pavement men. Felt a shadow, threw herself out of the way just as a foot crashed into where she had been.
Bearded man. Cold eyes. Gun in his hand, down his body. The cab driver.
She shot him in the chest before he could react, darted to a parked car and peered over it. Locked eyes with Fathi who was several car lengths away, shouting orders and looking directly at her.
He broke off. Pointed at her and yelled.
Not so fast, buddy. She fired a long burst, the sound of the shots like thunder in the small alley, reverberating and echoing off buildings and shops.
The Quds man ducked out of sight as the windows of his vehicle shattered, a mirror burst.
Beth moved immediately and dived to the ground when a round buzzed past her, another struck pavement and blew chips of concrete in the air.
They’ve got me cornered.
Behind her was a small square, a few benches. To her left was the side of a building, to her right was open space and beyond it was Fathi’s car. No cover. Quds men could pin her down with rounds while others circled the line of vehicles and captured her.
Not going without a fight. She changed her magazine. Snapped a glance. Saw three men hurrying across the alley using the cars as cover. No sign of Meghan. People still shouting and screaming, but the alley was clear.
She shot at the men, a loose burst that got them ducking. Ran to the next vehicle.
Peered around it and sensed the incoming figure too late.
‘Approaching,’ Zeb looked at the vehicle parked crossways, blocking entry to Fereydoun Alley. Dark. Some kind of military marking.
He jammed the brakes, swerved the wheel to the left and turned off the engine.
‘Split up,’ he snapped. A needless command since his friends were already off and running, separating to keep distance between one another.
‘Choose your targets,’ he called out as he sped to catch up with them. ‘Shoot to kill only when necessary.’
‘If anything’s happened to Beth and Meg,’ Bwana’s snarled and trailed away.
Zeb knew what the operative meant. All bets were off.
He ran down Special Street, skipped around a couple who were crouching on the pavement in fear. Turned the corner, past the military vehicle. Sensed shadows in it.
Took two steps down Fereydoun Alley when something about that vehicle struck him.
Those men inside.
He slowed and spun on his heel.
Found Mostofi and Nassour staring at him through its windshield.
Watching Beth and Meg get taken down.
He completed his turn just as the beast filled him.