12 April, Palace Hotel, City K

As they moved out of earshot, Lexi said "That was interesting, Paul playing the hero."

"That is an oxymoron, Lexi.? When has Paul ever played the hero.."

"Maybe he has grown up finally?"

Matthew chuckled, and said "You do not believe that?"

Shaking her head, Lexi said "No, but by the sounds of it Paul was involved in what happened and he wants to make sure Abigail gets medical treatment." After a pause, Lexi said "We should let Monica know what happened as her parents will not tell her Abigail was injured."

Before Matthew could respond, the lights flickered in the room, and Matthew looked across the room spotting John and Bronwyn Li.? Before he could do anything, the lights flickered again, and as they turned off.? Matthew in his mind immediately discounted the weather as the night was calm.

He then heard glass smashing.? Silence followed, and as he was aware that there was nothing on the threat board, he simply hoped that this was a criminal gang who decided to target the event because of who was gathered there.? He instinctively pushed Lexi to the ground and covered her with his body.? No way did he want her to be hurt.

As the lights turned on, Matthew observed tossed to the side night vision equipment and that the hostage takers had AK-47's in their hands.? Their faces were covered, which meant that they wanted to get out of here alive.? He quickly looked over and caught John and Bronwyn's eyes before just slightly shaking his head to signal to them not to move.? The last thing then needed is to react too quickly and escalate the situation when it did not need to happen.

Matthew, could feel Lexi trembling and he quietly whispered to her "Do not worry, everything will be alright Lexi."

Before Matthew knew it, he heard a voice say "Ladies and gentlemen, we apologise for the inconvenience, but we are here for one person.? If they come forward you will otherwise leave here without injury, but they refused then.."

A voice from in the crowd said, "Well get to it then."

Matthew tensed.? Who could they be here for?? Financial reasons did not seem to be the case, because they were going to let everyone, other than the person they came for, go free.

While keeping Lexi covered, Matthew observed the men walking around the room, herding those to the edges into the middle, before forcing them onto the ground.? Standard procedure.? Control the group, so you can look inwards and outwards at the same time.

After a few minutes, the first voice said "We want Lexi Yao.? Hand her over now, and everyone will go free."

Matthew whispered to Lexi "No way will I let them take you."

The voice continued "Miss Yao you have thirty seconds to make yourself known, otherwise we will kill someone.? And for every minute more you make us wait, another person will be killed."

A woman's voice over to the side bravely called out "Savages,"

"Savages are we.? Gentleman, bring her here." With a pause the voice continued "Come on Miss Yao, your time is running out."

Matthew said "Say nothing Lexi.."

"Five, four, three, two, one.? Your time is up Miss Yao." With that Matthew spotted a Heckler and Koch VP9 pistol being pointed at the head of a woman, before it was fired, and the body dropped to the floor, screaming in pain.? Matthew had no idea who they had just injured, but this was serious.? These people meant business and next time they would kill.? They wanted his wife.

Rather than risking Lexi's safety, Matthew stood up and said "Let her be.."

"Colonel Rong, shut the f*ck up and give us your wife."

"No way.."

"Do not offer yourself.? You are not who we want."

"As I said.."

Before Matthew knew it, the pistol was aimed at him, and he tensed.? Pushing too far, too quickly would see this situation get ever worse for everyone.? The masked man moved closer keeping the pistol pointed at Matthew, with another person following him.? As they reached him, the second person moved and grabbed Lexi from behind Matthew.

As she was pulled to her feet, Matthew saw the terror on Lexi's face.? He felt as terrified as he with what would happen to her.? How much he wished he had his service Sig Sauer P228 with him, but he had promised Lexi that when they came to events such as this and he was not in uniform he would leave his service weapon at home.? Hopefully, John and Bronwyn Li had their weapons.

Out of the corner of his eye, Matthew spotted that John and Bronwyn Li had moved from their initial positions to positions closer to them.

With the weapon still trained on him, the voice said, "Now get on the ground Colonel Rong, or the outcome for your wife will not be pretty."

Matthew, dropped to the ground on his knees, with his back towards the direction that Bronwyn Li was closing in on him from, and instinctively placed his hands behind his back.? With the weapon trained on him, they started retreating from the area dragging Lexi with them, but Matthew observed that they were oblivious to the moves from Bronwyn Li and John.? As they moved closer to the door, Matthew not reacting felt a pistol being placed in his hand and heard Bronwyn Li say "Take my service weapon,? I have a second one with me, but give me a minute to move into position before we move."

Matthew, steeled himself not to move, hoping those behind him would not alert the attackers to the fact that he now had a weapon.? Internally he started counting to sixty, hoping that they did not get outside the room before they could act.

Fifty-seven.., Fifty-Eight.., Fifty-nine...? As soon as he reached sixty, Matthew without signalling immediately stood up, and commenced moving forward.? Out of the corner of each eye, he saw John and Bronwyn Li move as well.

A stunned silence hit the crowd, and the sound of the weapon discharging filled the room.

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