Not A Small-Town Girl

----

Desperation in her voice, Vivian shouted at the woman in

red, "What do you want from us? Will you let my son go?"

The womal}’s smile deepened, but

her eyes darkened with malice. ie

you dort’ want your daughter to

suffersyou can take her placed will

be ance little family lesson@on’t

yotsthink?"

----

Vivian picked up a knife from the ground, her resolve

steeling. She was ready to sacrifice herself for Danielle, but

before she could, Danielle snatched the blade away from

her.

“Who knows if you’ll Keep your word? What if you don’t

release him, even if I do this?" Danielle shot back, her

voice cold and filled with distrust.

The woman in red’s face hardened. "You’re not in a

position to make demands."

“Perhaps, but you are," Danielle said, her voice icy. "Let me

know you can control the bomb. If not, I’ll just kill you, like I

just did your minions."

The woman’s smirk faltered. "You think you can provoke

me? You think I’ll fall for your tricks?" she sneered. "You

lost the moment you came after me."

----

Her eyes burned with rage. She moved to strike Danielle,

but Danielle was faster.

In an instant, Danielle hurled dozens of silver needles,

each finding its mark with lightning speed. Before the

woman could react, Danielle was on her, locking her grip

around her throat.

“You’re going to die before I do," Danielle hissed, her grip

tightening.

The woman in red writhed, but Danielle’s silver needles

held her in place, pain flashing across her face.

----

Just as Danielle prepared to finish

her, the soun@of approaching

footsteps eshoed inthecave.A «~

man, fully armed, stepped into view,

blocking Danielle’s attack. With>a:

swiftivlove, he pulled the needles

froin’the woman’s neck, growling,

"Danielle, I will kill you for this."

"Danielle!" David’s voice rang out from behind.

----

The man threw a series of hidden blades at Vivian.

Danielle, moving with lightning speed, flung herself in front

of Vivian, taking the blades herself.

Blood surged from Danielle’s mouth, but she didn’t have

time to react. The man, seeing reinforcements arrive, threw

down a smoke bomb and retreated, dragging the woman in

red with him.

"Danielle!" David shouted, his voice trembling with fear as

he rushed toward her.

He yanked the blades from her back, pulling her close.

“Danielle, please, stay with me. We’re getting you out ofnoveldrama

here.”

----

Danielle, barely conscious, lifted her eyes and pressed the

remote into David’s hand. "Matthew..." she whispered,

before collapsing into his arms.

David, his heart pounding, barked orders to his men. "What

are you waiting for? Save him!"

Vivian stood frozen, panic flooding her veins. The moment

she realized Danielle had lost consciousness, her heart

shattered. "Danielle, no... please, wake up."

The team managed to free Matthew, defusing the bomb

and confirming he was alive but badly injured. "Boss, he’s

still breathing. Just some superficial wounds."

David nodded, his focus shifting back to Danielle. "Good."

----

Howard, desperate to get to his

daughter, rushed toward her. Jaden,

noticing Xavier’s bloodied body,

stepped forward with a pained lo6k

on higcface. "I’ll carry him," Jadén

offefed quietly, looking at Haward

eo understanding.

Howard didn’t argue. He needed to get to Danielle. They

had all put her in this situation.

"Danielle, please... don’t scare me," Howard whispered,

tears streaming down his face as he cradled his daughter’s

broken body in his arms.