Her Prisoner

Chapter 7

A week later, he is suiting up for a new mission. Just like the first time, he is given very little intel. But he is expected to go along with it regardless.

He puts up on the black stealthy suit and prudently puts the compass in one of his pockets. He grabs his helmet and places it under his arm before stepping out of the room. He finds Natasha waiting outside, on the wall opposite the door.

To his surprise, there is a mat black 4x4 at the tail with the Colonel on the passenger seat.

He and Natasha get in the truck with the tactic team before it drives off to an unknown place. Elbows on his knees, he is quiet, trying to evaluate the distance traveled. She is sitting across from him, giving the men instructions.

After a couple of hours, she opens the box for him to collect his shield.

"About a dozen terrorists are in hiding in a lake house by the woods. We suspect they are scattered all across the area and are expecting us. They're armed and dangerous," she briefs him.

"Any hostage?" he asks.

"The house has been unoccupied for years."

She informs him of the logistical and tactical approach. Of course, he is never left alone — she, and three other men — including Dimitri — are to go along with him.

Soon the truck stops and they all hop off. The black 4x4 pulled down further up the path.

The cold is particularly harsh today; he shoots a glance at Romanoff. She is a wearing a dark brown suede vest over her catsuit.

She loads her guns and he puts his helmet on: the mission has officially started. They enter the woods into small groups, with different itineraries.

They catch sight of a terrorist patrolling a few yards ahead. Natasha whispers instructions into her transmitter; a couple of seconds later, a silent bullet puts him down. They continue to progress in the most absolute silence like predators slowly closing in around the unaware prey.

Romanoff makes every halt and she stands behind a tree trunk to have a look at the surroundings. Her eyes sweep over Dimitri, standing by the tree beside her, then immediately shift back on him. There is the red dot laser gunsight right on his chest. She pounces and pushes him away; the gunshots shred fern behind them. All the agents shoot back.

Still lying on top of Dimitri, she brings her wrist up to her mouth and shouts orders into the transmitter whilst her eyes search for a wound on him. She rolls off him to her back, pulls her gun out, and waits for the rain of bullets to cease momentarily for her to leap back on her feet. One of her men falls dead to the ground.

Steve has found the shooter. He pulls a knife out and throws it; it hits his knuckles and disarms him. Steve runs at him and kicks him hard against the tree, knocking him down.

But other shootings erupt from different parts of the area in the distance. There are Dimitri and another agent with them. She sends Dimitri to back up the other team. The three of them head towards the lake house only 200 yards ahead.

They neutralize the criminals standing by the house. She lets Steve go around from the left side whereas she and her man take left. He notices the lake is completely frozen and across stand woods atop a hill. It's not so far away — hardly 150 yards — and the forest is dark and thick as asphalt. If could reach it, he would disappear completely.

Romanoff's agent steps into the small cabin to check it. Natasha is told via the transmitter that all the men in the woods have been neutralized. Her agent soon comes out onto the porch and glances down at her to let her know it is clear.