TAKING A CHANCE
CHAPTER 18

OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, INTO THE FIRE

"Wait, just wait! Daddy, don't do this!" Miriam cried out as she ran forward, throwing an arm around Frank's arm and holding on tightly. "Don't take him away! I love him!"

Ras-Alman made a face at his daughter, his disgust evident on his face. He nodded to one of his goon-squad and Goon 1 stepped forward, took Miriam's arm and pulled her away from Frank.

"Take her upstairs," Ras-Alman ordered. "This is not good for her baby. You will see that she is cared for."

"No, Daddy!" Miriam screamed, yanking free of Goon 1's hold on her. "No. He's my husband! I love him and you can't have him. You can't! He's wonderful and sweet and kind and my baby needs a father. You can't have him. Take THEM away."

She pointed to Joe and Nancy.

"I'm not staying without them, Diana," Frank said softly. "I'm not going to let your father take them away and hurt or kill them. If they go, I go."

"No!" Miriam screamed. "No! You have to stay here with me."

Frank shook his head and stepped away from her. He turned toward his father-in-law. "Is this what you want, Father?" he asked Ras-Alman in a formal tone. "To cause your daughter this distress. It can be easier on all of us. Just let me go."

"I'm afraid not," Ras-Alman said. "You know who I really am. To let you free is not something I can do now. I will not allow you to leave."

He raised his gun again and pointed it right at Frank.

"Do I kill you here, in front of your wife, James?" Ras-Alman asked his son-in-law. "Or do you come quietly?"

"I've thought about that," Frank admitted. "And I've got to admit I don't like either one of those choices. No, actually, I think I'm going to go with option C."

Frank looked at Joe for a minute, then lashed out with a leg and hit Ras-Alman in the gun hand. The gun went flying across the room as Joe hit Goon 2 with a full-on body tackle and Nancy jumped on goon 3's back.

"You… dare!" Ras-Alman's eyes filled with fury as he raced to get his gun. Frank jumped into his path and lashed out with a solid right hook at Ras-Alman's face. The older man ducked and lunged at Frank, trying to tackle him to the ground! Frank slammed down hard on the back of his father-in-law's neck, causing Ras-Alman to grunt in pain.

Joe landed two solid hits on Goon 2 and took one solid hit to his shoulder from the man. Goon 2 fought like a lion, scratching, clawing and even biting.

"You fight like a girl," Joe informed in a hostile voice. "Man, what a baby."

Goon 2 grunted and sent another flying left hook at Joe's face. Joe ducked under it and landed a solid blow in Goon 2's solar plexus, causing the man to grunt and fall backward in a solid whoosh of air! Joe finished him off with a kick to the face that sent the goon reeling backward and collapsing to the ground, unconscious.

Nancy was still on Goon 1's back, her hands over his eyes. He whirled around in a circle trying to get loose of her and he didn't see Joe's hand coming at his face when Joe hit him. Nancy jumped off his back and landed a couple of solid pops of her own, causing Goon 1 to yell in frustration and ram Joe back against a wall.

The two remaining fights didn't last much longer. As Frank was about to take out Ras-Alman for good, the terrorist lunged forward and got his hands back on his gun. He whirled and held it directly on Frank's forehead.

"That is enough," Ras-Alman said. "Let go of my men. Back up and hold your hands above your head."

Joe and Nancy backed up, holding their hands up. They had been so close to taking out all three of them! Frank glared at his father-in-law in defiance.

"I have had enough of all of you," Ras-Alman stated hotly. "You will, all of you, stop this foolishness immediately. You will go with my men out to the car that is waiting out front. If any of you try anything stupid, I will be forced to kill James, right now."

Joe and Nancy exchanged uncertain glances.

"Don't do it," Frank said. "He's going to kill me – us – anyway. Don't make it easy on him. Don't do it!"

Ras-Alman pulled purposefully on the trigger.

"Wait!" Joe exclaimed. "We'll go. We'll go! Come on, Nancy."

Frank nearly deflated where he stood. Joe knew his brother was still a little confused and uncertain but if they all stayed alive, now, they would have a chance to get away later. Ras-Alman pushed Frank toward his men, his gun still squarely aimed at Frank's heart.

"Go. NOW!" Ras-Alman ordered.

Frank stepped toward his brother and their friend and turned once, to glance at Miriam. She stood near the steps that went upstairs, her face pale. Miriam was shaking fearfully, watching Frank with large, eyes and a lost expression on her face.

It all happened in an instant.

Frank took a step toward Miriam.

Miriam suddenly sprang up and ran toward him.

A shot was fired and Frank – and Miriam – fell to the ground as blood bubbled up around them.