Revenge by Mark A. Cooper Page B

laughing as they walked into the villa.
    Just inside the door, Martin felt a cold metal object shoved against his head. Jason turned to face the threat, but it was too late.

Chapter 17
    A second man appeared and held Jason at gunpoint. They were taken into Jean’s bedroom. She was sitting on the bed and crying. Her hair was a mess, and she had a cut just below her left eye. Joanne was hugging her and sobbing. Two more gunmen were in the room, smiling at the boys. They were all wearing black T-shirts and tight black pants. All four men were Chinese and in their midtwenties. Jason could not be sure, but one looked like the man he had seen in Malaga.
    â€œI don’t like to kill children, but I have a job to do. Your husband has caused our boss many problems. So now his family will die. The girl comes with us,” a gunman coldly said. Martin climbed onto the bed and hugged his mother.
    â€œWhat about this boy?” asked a shorter man with a scar on his face, pointing at Jason.
    â€œHe wasn’t part of the job, but he could call the cops before we get clear.” The man looked at Jason, trying to decide what to do with the boy.
    â€œTie me up and gag me, sir. Make sure I can’t get free for hours and hours. You’ll be far away with Joanne by the time someone finds me,” Jason said. He then crouched down and held out his hands in a begging position. “Please, sir. Don’t hurt me.” He started a fake cry. As far as Boudica was concerned, Jason had been killed in the bomb at the Bristows’ apartment.
    â€œVery well. Get something to tie up the boy with,” he ordered. One of the men left to find some rope. “You see, I have a heart. It’s just business. Now who wants to go first? Mother?”
    Joanne clung tight to Jean. Jason caught Joanne glaring at him with hate in her eyes. She was now convinced he was a coward.
    â€œI found a rope. I can tie him to the stove. Boy, come with me,” said the returning gunman. Jason followed him to the kitchen. Once next to the stove, Jason put his hands together, ready to be tied up. The gunman set his gun on top of the stove and moved toward Jason.
    The move was so fast the gunman saw just a blur. Jason grabbed the man’s shirt with his left hand and pulled him toward him. At the same time, Jason threw a full-fisted punch, using everything he had. When his fist was inches from connecting, Jason also threw his shoulder into the blow to increase the power. It struck the man’s windpipe, completely shattering it. He collapsed onto the kitchen floor and held his throat. Jason grabbed the kitchen towel and dove down on the man. He forced the towel against the man’s mouth so his gasping sounds could not be heard. After just over a minute, the man’s wriggling body went limp.
    Not wanting to waste a second, Jason picked up the gun and ran back toward the bedroom. The leader had his gun aimed at the bed. Jason sprinted toward the door, aimed, and fired, shooting the gunman in the shoulder and knocking him down. Jean and Joanne screamed. The loud bang and recoil of the gun also gave Jason a scare. He had shot a gun before, but he was still surprised by how loud it was.
    Jason ran through the door, twisted his body, and aimed the gun at the man behind the wall. Before the man could raise his gun, Jason shot him twice. The first bullet hit him in the neck, but the second missed and buried itself in the wall. Jason kept his momentum going and leapt onto the bed. He landed on his right leg and then he bounced and kicked out with his left at the fourth gunman, catching the man in his chest.
    The gunman was thrown back against the wall. He was stunned but still standing, and worse still, he held onto his gun. Jason landed next to him on the floor and struck out at the hand with the gun. It fired and sent a bullet into the ceiling.
    With his other hand, the gunman grabbed for Jason’s weapon. He wrapped his hand around