Baldwin kicked his gun over to Han-Jae, who picked it up and tossed it over the wall and down the cliff. Then Baldwin gradually got down on his knees with his hands over his head. His other men dropped their weapons and did the same, kicking them over to Han-Jae before joining Baldwin on his knees.
When Han-Jae had thrown all the guns over the cliff, he issued an order to the man holding Baldwin’s guy hostage. Shaved Head had been pressing the muzzle of his gun against the hostage’s head. He shoved him forward toward the others who were already kneeling. A second later, he joined them and faced their captors.
The window was opening, and Sean knew it. One problem had just solved itself. Leading an assault on a group holding multiple people hostage was problematic. Sean trusted his aim. He knew he could take out one of the North Koreans without harming the hostages, but three could be tricky. He would have had to rely on two others in his group to execute the shot. Adriana would be his next choice. After that, maybe Tommy — who was slightly less accurate than Sean would like.
Now there were only two hostages: the man and the woman. If he could get one of those gunmen to release….
Just as he had the thought, Buzz-Cut released the woman, and the other gunman released her husband. She ran to him and hugged him, but the gunman forced them to get down on the ground like the others.
Sean had hoped for one hostage to be released. Now he had two. That took away the danger of accidentally hitting one, even though they were still pointing their guns at the couple and the men of the Brotherhood.
“We’re going to have to make our move soon,” Tommy said, watching things play out from his cover. “Looks like this is about to turn into an execution.”
Sean nodded. “Yeah.” He looked at his friend and Adriana. “You two come with me.” Then he addressed the other three. “You stay here and cover the path back up to the church. If they try to run, take them out.”
Tommy’s parents exchanged an uncertain glance. They weren’t used to being in such a position.
“Is this the kind of thing you do on a regular basis?” his mother asked.
Tommy rolled his shoulders and put on his best innocent-looking face. “I try not to.”
Sean pushed ahead, careful not to step on any twigs or dead branches. Tommy and Adriana followed close behind, keeping to the shadows to stay out of sight.
The men holding the hostages dipped in and out of view between the trees. Han-Jae was yelling something at Baldwin. He’d moved over to within a few feet of the blond man, pointing his pistol straight at Baldwin’s forehead. He was yelling something, of which Sean was finally able to hear bits and pieces.
As he and his friends drew closer, the full conversation finally came into range. Sean found a cluster of large trees and motioned for Adriana and Tommy to take up positions. They were only fifteen feet from the observation point and another fifteen to the North Korean leader.
Sean pointed at Tommy and then at Shaved Head. Then he gave the same silent instructions to Adriana for Buzz-Cut. The two pressed against their trees and lined up their sights with the targets.
Sean aimed at Han-Jae. He’d take out the leader first, which would cause the others to look their way. Then he could take out the other guy while Tommy and Adriana cut down their men.
“This is your last chance,” Han-Jae said. “Tell me where the sword is, or we will kill all of you where you kneel.” There was no denying the sincerity of the menacing look on Han-Jae’s face.
Baldwin breathed calmly, apparently ready to die for his cause.
Han-Jae raised his weapon high and smacked it across the blond’s face, knocking Baldwin over on his side.
He grabbed the fresh cut on his cheek and struggled to get up. “If you kill us, you’ll never find the sword. We are your only chance.”
Sean knew Baldwin was bluffing. Deep down, he had to admire the guy’s moxie.
Han-Jae stepped back and motioned to the couple kneeling close by.
“Oh no,” Sean hissed. “They’re going to use that couple to get Baldwin to talk.”
“But he doesn’t know anything,” Tommy whispered.
“Yeah. That means we have to go now. You ready to fire?”
Adriana stayed silent but nodded.
“One second,” Tommy said, adjusting his feet to a more stable stance.
His right foot slipped and he grabbed the tree to keep his balance. Doing so caused his left hand to grab a small branch that snapped easily under his weight.
The North Koreans heard the sudden sound, and all turned their attention to the woods.
“Aw, man,” Tommy said.
In an instant, the tranquil silence of the trees turned into chaos. The gunmen unleashed a barrage of rounds at the trespassers, turning branches, leaves, and sections of tree trunks into shredded splinters.
Sean, Tommy, and Adriana kept their backs against the trunks while bullets zipped by them, smashing into the ground and other trees just beyond.
Tommy’s parents and June were out of view, so for the moment Sean knew they were safe. That could change in a moment.
The gunfire came to a sudden stop, but Sean didn’t dare sneak a look. He knew the gunmen were waiting to see if anyone appeared.
Baldwin used the moment of uncertainty to his advantage. “Are you afraid of squirrels now?” His cheek oozed crimson, but there was a bit of sarcasm to his voice.
Sean waited for another moment. He didn’t see it happen, but he heard it. One of the North Koreans was loading a full magazine and dropped the empty one on the ground by accident. It was easy to recognize the sound and told Sean all he needed to know. They were out of ammo and reloading. It was the window he’d been waiting for.
He spun around the tree and raised his weapon, lining up the sights as fast as he could with the Korean leader. In his hurry, his foot stepped on a twig. The snapping sound alerted the gunmen to more danger. Sean fired three quick shots, but Han-Jae — alert to the trouble — dove for cover between the bronze sculpture and the wall near the cliff.
The man behind him wasn’t so lucky. His reaction was slow, and the rounds meant for Han-Jae caught him in the chest and abdomen. He stumbled backward a few steps and then dropped to his knees before toppling over.
Adriana and Tommy jumped into the fray, spinning from behind their trees and taking aim at the two targets they’d lined up a moment ago. The men had already moved, though, and were running up the hill toward the church.
“You gonna take them out?” Sean asked as he fired another shot to keep Han-Jae in his spot.
“On it,” Adriana said. She turned and charged through the trees toward the path.
“I’m coming,” Tommy said, lumbering after her.
Adriana squeezed off a shot. The round splashed into the gravel near one of the fleeing men’s feet.
Sean stalked toward the edge of the woods, ducking in and out of view as Han-Jae took aim and fired one, then two, then three shots. Sean returned fire, keeping a careful count of the rounds he had left in the magazine.
He stuck his weapon around another tree trunk and fired again, taking another step closer. The round pinged off the sculpture and ricocheted into the ether. Sean took a glance at Baldwin and his men who’d surrounded the young couple to keep them safe. Sean could tell the blond guy was looking for a way to help, but he was doing all he could for the moment.
Han-Jae peeked around the other side of the sculpture’s base and squeezed his trigger repeatedly. The muzzle popped loudly. Bullets ripped through the trees again. Two whizzed by Sean’s head. He waited until the volley was over and took aim once more.
Han-Jae wasn’t there. Sean’s forehead wrinkled with a frown. He twisted a little more and saw his target running away down a path to the left. Sean’s finger twitched, squeezing the trigger again and again. Some rounds sailed over the wall, a few smashed into it, but when his weapon clicked, he’d missed with every one.