Chapter 83: The Day That Changed

The sun was shining brightly in Los Angeles, casting a pleasant warmth over the busy streets. Thomas, Kendall, and Taylor walked together on the sidewalk, laughing and enjoying a lively conversation. It was one of those perfect days, where the trio seemed in complete harmony with the world around them.

— "Seriously, you should have seen Kendall's face when the photographer asked her to repeat the pose!" Taylor said, laughing and holding Thomas's arm. Kendall rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile.

— "I was exhausted! I didn't know he wanted another pose with the hat," Kendall replied, laughing along with Taylor.

Thomas looked at the two and smiled, enjoying the moment of relaxation. Even with his recent retirement, he still kept his instincts sharp, always aware of what was happening around him. But at that moment, everything seemed calm.

As they approached an intersection, Thomas noticed something unusual. A black car was speeding toward the sidewalk where they were standing. His smile disappeared, and his eyes instantly became more alert.

— "Wait a second," he said, pulling Taylor and Kendall a little to the side, trying to get a better look at the situation. But before he could fully react, the car screeched to a halt, skidding down the street and stopping a few feet away from where they were.

— "It's a kidnapping! Nobody move!" one of the men shouted from inside the car, as the door flew open. Two more armed men got out of the vehicle, moving quickly toward the trio.

Thomas's heart raced, but his mind was already in combat mode. In one swift movement, he pushed Taylor and Kendall behind him and drew the pistol he carried in his holster, always alert for emergencies like this.

— "Stay behind me!" he said firmly, his voice without a hint of hesitation.

Wasting no time, Thomas began exchanging gunfire with the kidnappers. Bullets ripped through the air, and the sounds of gunfire echoed through the streets. He moved with precision and coolness, using his intensive training from his DEVGRU days to protect Taylor and Kendall while he looked for any cover he could. Kendall and Taylor, frightened, crouched behind a parked car, trusting Thomas completely to handle the situation.

Taylor's eyes were wide, but she knew Thomas would do anything to keep them safe. Suddenly, a bullet hit Thomas's arm. He let out a grunt of pain, but he didn't give in. His training and experience kept him going. With a quick movement, he reloaded his pistol with one hand, while pressing the wound in his arm with the other.

"Are you okay?!" Kendall shouted, watching the blood trickle down his arm.

"I'm fine!" Thomas replied through clenched teeth, never taking his eyes off the kidnappers. "Just stay down!"

One of the men tried to get closer, but Thomas fired accurately, hitting him in the shoulder and knocking him to the ground. He knew he needed to control the situation quickly, before things got any worse.

It was then that he heard the sound of another car approaching. A large SUV appeared, packed with more kidnappers, increasing the danger even further. Thomas knew he was outnumbered, but that didn't stop him. He took a deep breath, assessing the situation.

"Damn," Thomas muttered to himself, but his mind was already calculating his next move.

With a swift movement, he positioned himself strategically, taking advantage of the cover of the parked cars around him. He knew the only way to win was to eliminate the threat as quickly as possible. Using his advanced combat training, Thomas began to advance towards the kidnappers, firing precise and lethal shots.

His every move was calculated, every shot was accurate. He took out two of the kidnappers who had gotten out of the second car, while dodging gunfire from different directions. Even with the throbbing pain in his arm, he kept moving forward, determined to protect Taylor and Kendall at any cost.

Taylor and Kendall, watching from behind cover, couldn't believe what they were seeing. Thomas was dealing with six kidnappers, as if it were an elite military mission. The tension was palpable, and fear coursed through their veins, but they knew Thomas wouldn't give up. Finally, after an intense exchange of gunfire, Thomas took down the last kidnapper.

The street was now silent, except for the distant echoes of the shots that had been fired. Thomas's body was drenched in sweat and his arm was bloody, but he stood his ground. He lowered the gun, breathing deeply, trying to control the adrenaline coursing through his body. Taylor ran up to him, followed by Kendall, her eyes full of concern.

"Thomas! Your arm!" Taylor exclaimed, rubbing it gently.

—"I'm fine," he said, with a tired but comforting smile. "Just a scratch."

Kendall, still shaking from the adrenaline, looked down at the bodies of the kidnappers on the ground.

— "Oh my God, Thomas... you really saved us," she said, her voice cracking. "You're always protecting us."

Thomas pulled them both into a quick hug, trying to ease the tension that hung in the air.

— "You two are my priority. Always," he said, his voice firm and sure.

The police and emergency services arrived shortly after, responding quickly to calls from civilians who had heard the gunshots. Officers began to surround the area, while paramedics approached to examine Thomas's arm.

— "Sir, you need to go to the hospital," one of the paramedics said as he checked the wound.

Thomas shook his head.

— "I'll be fine. But I'll let you guys handle this," he said, finally giving in to treatment.

As the paramedics bandaged Thomas's arm, Taylor and Kendall stood by his side, still in shock from what had happened, but extremely grateful for Thomas's relentless presence. Kendall looked at Taylor and then back at Thomas.

"I don't know what we would have done without you today," she said, her eyes filling with tears.

Thomas, ever the soldier, just smiled softly.

"You'll never have to find out," he said, placing a hand on Kendall's shoulder and another on Taylor's waist. "I'll always be here to protect you."

With the situation under control and the kidnappers eliminated, Thomas knew that even in retirement, his mission to protect those he loved would never end.

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