Chapter 4

The hostage-taker raised his megaphone and roared towards my position:

“You cops are truly despicable! I told you no tricks, and you just ignored me, huh?!”

“You even sent a sniper to watch me, are you tired of living?!”

“I’m giving you ten more seconds! If that helicopter isn’t here, we’re all going down together!”

“Ten!”

The air crackled with tension. The hostage-taker had retreated into the most difficult corner for a sniper to hit, the entire situation choked.

I stared at the faintly visible remote in his hand, readjusting my position. If I could just shoot that controller, we still had a chance to turn this around.

But Derek was still prattling on in the comms:

“Don’t panic, everyone. He’s just bluffing. He won’t dare to detonate it, he’s not that ruthless!”

“Nine!”

I had just steady my rifle when Serena suddenly rushed forward and clapped her hand over my scope.

“Didn’t we agree I’d take the shot? Why are you trying to steal it again?!”

I yanked her hand away, only to find the lens smudged and blurry from her sweat.

“Eight!”

I glared at her, but she just pulled off her headset.

“I don’t even think this hostage is worth saving. If he dies, he dies. At least I’ll get some target practice.”

“I’m telling you straight, Cassidy, if this mission fails, all the blame falls on you!”

“Seven!”

“Derek and I already agreed, if the mission goes south, you’re out. He’s sick of clueless women like you. Get ready for disciplinary action, and a divorce!”