Sworn to Protect (Vows of the Heart) by Kathryn Loch

and wood.
    She ran into the hall. The two agents, their guns drawn, ran toward her. Holly grabbed her and shoved her toward the living room. Bethany saw Ethan at the end of the hall, still in the living room. He leaped to his feet, free of the handcuffs. The two agents had no idea he was loose, thank God.
    Bethany staggered into the entryway just as the door flew open. Two men loomed, looking like something out of a commando raid. They pointed their automatic rifles at her. She dove and covered her head as the spray of bullets ripped through the drywall just above her prone body.
    Ethan started toward her , but stopped when another commando came through the living room window and fired at him. Ethan lunged into the kitchen.
    Bethany looked up in horror at the two coming through the door. Oh, God!
    Gunshots thundered behind her, slower and louder. Jefferies had returned and fired at the two men in the door. One dropped and did not move. Jefferies hit the second and he recoiled , but managed to return fire. Bethany screamed as Jefferies dropped dead at her feet. Behind him, down the hallway, she saw Holly sitting with her back against the wall. Blood covered the agent’s chest. She lifted her gun and emptied the clip into the bedroom. When it clicked, she dropped her arm and did not move again. But no one entered the hallway from the bedroom.
    Ethan fired at the man in the living room. All Bethany could see was a muzzle flash , but the man fell.
    She sucked in her breath and tried to crawl toward Ethan. Bethany had no idea if anyone else was outside. A hand grabbed her leg and yanked her to the ground. “Ethan!” she cried in terror, kicking at her assailant.
    The man Jefferies had wounded managed to crawl toward her. He pointed his rifle at her and squeezed the trigger. Bethany uselessly cringed but the rifle only clicked. Her heart pounded. Jammed!
    The man swore violently, shifted his hold on the rifle and swung it at her.
     

Chapter Five
     
    At the first n oise of the attack, Ethan leapt to his feet, ridding himself of the cuffs. Two men came through the front door, at the same time one crashed through the window in the living room.
    Ethan lunged to the table and grabbed his gun. He pointed it at the man who came through the window , but the man squeezed the trigger on his automatic rifle. Ethan dove into the kitchen, the bullets narrowly missing him.
    The spray hesitated and Ethan came out from behind the corner, shooting. Two bullets struck the man’s chest and the last, his forehead. Ethan’s .45 caliber Colt Defender, with hollow point, copper jacket, Hydra- shok bullets, knocked the man off his feet and killed him.
    Ethan heard Bethany screaming his name and he lunged into the hall. He saw one man, wounded, lift his gun not to shoot her , but to hit her.
    “No!” Ethan roared , aiming his weapon.
    The butt of the rifle descended, slamming into Bethany’s head. Blood spattered. For a heartbeat, Ethan was once again in the warehouse, watching Cordova lift the hammer and strike Rochelle.
    “No!” Ethan roared again. He pulled the trigger rapidly, emptying his clip into Bethany’s attacker. It wasn’t until his gun clicked uselessly did he realize he needed to reload and that all was quiet.
    He stood alone.
    The acrid smell of gunpowder filled the air along with the sickening stench of blood. The house fell silent except for the soft, settling creaks of bullet damaged wood and glass. Ethan remained frozen, shaking violently, his heart slamming hard against his ribs. He couldn’t tear his gaze from Bethany’s limp and blood spattered form.
    “Oh God, no,” he whispered, his voice cracking.
    Somehow he made himself move, but with his single step forward, his legs threatened to buckle. Oh God, how could this have happened? How could Bethany die like this? Like Rochelle?
    His gun still clutched tightly in his hand, he dropped to his knees beside Bethany. With trembling fingers, he touched her face. He