I could hear Larry from a distant distance in my head calling my name several times. It looked like everything had paused for a moment in time and things started reappearing slowly. Mr. Ross was shaking me profusely while asking me not to die on him. I coughed.

“Let go, I am fine, move out now,” as I took my gun out of my pouch, Mr. Ross was still with the machine gun. “Shoot anything that looks like a movement and don’t hesitate,” I said.

“They are closing on you, Cassie, hurry, out of there,” Larry said.

Mr. Ross waited for me to catch up with him and started shooting at the men who were now gaining on us. I was tired and did not know why. It could have been the fall. I was gradually regaining my strength and my vision, but I knew if I had to leave the shooting to Mr. Ross, alone, we would be in trouble.

“Keep shooting. Don’t stop, don’t give them any breathing space. I need to do something,” I said.

“Okay, Cassie. I hope it is something that is good and fast,” Mr. Ross said.

I quickly took out the adrenaline package Larry gave me. I have always queried Larry about including it in things I must go with on every assignment. I felt it made me look weak, but right now I need that boost it provides.

“Mr. Ross, keep going forward, in about a hundred and fifty meters you will see a car parked on the road. Keep the engine running,” I said as I handed the car keys over to him.

“So what is your plan?” Mr. Ross asked.

Yeah, Cassie, what’s the plan?” I heard Larry speak from the earpiece.

“I am going to kill all these F***ckers,” I said.

I took the machine gun from Mr. Ross and started moving toward the gang members in the opposing direction. I ensured that none of the men were alive. I shot at everyone I saw. I was vexed that they got me and I ensured that every gang member outside of the building did not survive my wrath.

“You may want to consider going back, they are regrouping, Cassie,” Larry said. It was Larry’s voice that held me back.

“Okay,” I said. “Meet us at the safe house.”

I got into the car and we drove off to the safe house where Larry was waiting for us. He hugged me, he was very happy to see that we made it alive.

“You are hurt, please take a seat and let me look at it,” Larry said.

Larry took out the life pack and began to administer some powder to the wounds. I removed the bulletproof vest and was about to remove the t-shirt I had on me when Larry looked at Mr. Ross, whose constant gaze was on us.

“Go ahead, I have a daughter like her,” Mr. Ross said.

“You can go ahead and call your daughter now, you are safe now,” I said.

“They are just scratches. I do not think that they got any of your vital organs. Please kindly relax, and bite this. I need to remove a bullet,” Larry said.

“Where is the bullet?” I asked.

“Lower abdomen, but it is nothing really. Just stay still and let me get it out.” Larry said.

I was glad to have Larry in my corner, he has been very good to me, though I pay him very well too. Everything he does he does to perfection. He gave me some painkillers and I slept off on the chair.

I woke up to the faces of two men staring at me. I smiled, haven’t they seen a woman in her panties and bra sleeping before?

“Please pass me my clothes, I can see you are enjoying this,” I said to Larry. He laughed and gave me my clothes.

“You guys must be great friends. I can see the way he looks at you, Cassie,” Mr. Ross said.

I did not answer him. I had too many questions to ask him because he did not look like someone who should be here in the type of world where guns control positions and hierarchy.

As I sat there with Mr. Ross, the man I had only known from a file and some pictures, I couldn't help but feel a swirl of confusion and concern. Mr. Ross, his face was still pale from the encounter with those menacing men and he was looking at me with gratitude in his eyes.

"Thank you once again, Cassie," Mr. Ross said, his voice trembling slightly. "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come to my rescue." Mr. Ross said.

“You keep thanking me for a job I obviously know you paid the contractor for. I was paid to get you out of there and that was what I did,” I said.

I offered him a reassuring smile but couldn't shake the gnawing curiosity that had taken root within me. "Mr. Ross," I began tentatively, " if I may ask you, how did you get mixed up with those men? Do you have any idea who sent them after you?" I asked, my gaze focused on him.

His eyes flickered with a mixture of surprise and hesitation, and I realized that there was more to this story than met the eye. "It's complicated, Cassie," he replied cautiously. "I didn't know those men personally, but they were sent to kidnap me by someone with a grudge against me. It's a long and complicated tale." Mr. Ross said.

“So who sent them after you?” asked Larry.

I really have to figure that out. Does it matter now that I am free from them?” Mr. Ross asked.

“Yes, it does, because they will keep coming after you and now that they have seen my face they will come after me. I need to know who sent them after you,” I said.

“Why should they come after us?” Can they find us?” asked Mr. Ross who was now becoming apprehensive.

“You killed their leader and I killed his assistant. That is one thing this gang doesn’t take lightly,” I said.

“Do you even know the gang that kidnapped you?’ asked Larry.

“No, I did have the pleasure of asking them,” said Mr. Ross, who was rather sarcastic, indicating that he was getting angry.

“They are called the Martinez Gang and trust me when I say they will surely come again. Only this time, they do not need to be hired, they have a greater motivation,” I said.

“So what should I do?” asked Mr. Ross.

You must leave town and go into hiding. You have to protect your life and that of your family too,” said Larry.

“Mr. Ross, you have not told me who is behind the kidnapping and I also want to know how you got to know the Contractor and you were able to contact him for your rescue. I am sorry, but if you do not tell me, I can not allow you to leave here,” I said, looking at him with every seriousness I had got in me.

He was a bit startled but he fell back on his chair and sat down as if he was thinking about something.

“You could put my life in danger and my family at a greater risk,” Mr. Ross said.