Chapter 8: The Ambush

Vaughn was already out of the chair when the door downstairs came off its hinges.

"Pistol," he said, holding out his hand.

Astrid looked at him.

"You're my prisoner," she said.

"Do you want a lecture or do you want me alive?"

She threw him the gun from her thigh and took Duncan's shotgun from behind the stove.

"Window," Duncan said, pointing. "Fire escape. I'll hold the stairs."

"You'll hold nothing," Astrid said. "You're a quartermaster."

"I'm a quartermaster with a shotgun."

"Then shoot the first one who comes up."

Boots hit the landing, and the door flew inward.

Duncan fired once.

The first man went backward down the stairs, and the second took his place with a rifle.

Vaughn shot him in the knee.

Astrid kicked the table over and used it for a wall.

Seven men crowded the stairwell, and five of them had submachine guns.

Bullets chewed the plaster above her head.

Vaughn crouched behind the stove beside her, with his shoulder pressed to hers.

"You counted?" he said.

"Seven."

"Eight. One on the roof."

"Then I'll go up and take the roof."

"You hold the stairs. I'll go up."

"Your arm is cut."

"It's a scratch."

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