89 The Reckoning

Wendell turned to glare at Charlotte. "You think I won't have my way tonight? Forget it! The Zhou family will be cut off tonight with no heir. But first, my dear, you and I have unfinished business." Wendell said as he leered at her with lecherous eyes.

Without warning, he pounced on top of Charlotte. She screamed and twisted underneath him. Then she used her knee to hit him as hard as she could in the crotch.

Wendell cursed and immediately rolled off of her. "You won't get out of this! I will have you one time at least!" He yelled.

Charlotte would fight him to the death if she had to. What Wendell didn't know as that she had finally managed to loosen the ropes on her arms. She realized she may not walk out alive but she refused to give in. She felt immense protectiveness for her baby and for her husband who was being lured to Wendell's trap.

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Gordon and the men from the security teams, as well as numerous men from the Black Hand had gathered not far from the location of an abandoned factory that Andrew traced the ransom call to.

Several men formed a surveillance team and crept ever closer to the building under cover of darkness. They couldn't be sure if Wendell had help or how many their might be.

It soon became apparent that Wendell was acting alone, which was of great relief. The men circled back to the staging theater to report. They would break into groups of three to cover the three exits, and on a countdown would breech the doors simultaneously. They gathered into positions and one of them counted.

"On my mark! 1...2...3!" He announced. They stormed the doors, flooding into the main floor where Wendell held Charlotte. It was obvious they had shocked him, but recovered quickly. He grabbed Charlotte in one arm and a huge knife in the other.

"If you come one more step, I'll plunge this into her stomach!" Wendell yelled as he pushed the blade against Charlotte's soft body.

Everyone stopped and looked to Gordon for his orders. Ford made a small movement with his hands indicating what they should do and the he stepped forward.

"Wendell, you grief is with me, not Charlotte. She's innocent. It's me who destroyed your life!"Gordon shouted.

"Which is why I'm about to shatter yours!" Wendell yelled and raised the knife to plunge into Charlotte's baby belly.

There was a loud sound of a gun firing, and then Wendell slumped against Charlotte who was screaming and fell under the wait of The now dead kidnapper.

Gordon surged forward, kicking Wendell's body away. One of Old Jia's men no doubt had a snipers background as he took notice of the kill shot in passing. Gordon scooped Charlotte into his arms and without looking, ran from the building to his car.

"The hospital! Now!" He commanded.