Inside the villa, backup was delayed, and cell signals were completely jammed.
Loyce moved through the deadly halls like a ghost.
A shotgun blast roared behind her. Steel buckshot obliterated the plaster pillar she had just ducked behind, sending debris flying into her face.
As she rolled and sprinted to find a new angle, someone shouted, "She's by the stairs!"
Loyce dropped to one knee, narrowly dodging a bullet fired from her flank. She lunged into the formal dining room. The long table was set with pristine, unused silver cutlery that gleamed coldly in the faint ambient light.
A massive, muscular man blocked her path, gripping a heavy red fire axe.
The way he stood, slightly bladed with his weight balanced, proved he was a trained fighter—and a dangerous one.
He swung the axe straight at her face. Loyce sidestepped the brutal chop and lashed out with a kick. Despite his size, the man was incredibly fast. He dodged her strike and swung a tree-trunk-sized arm directly at her temple.
Loyce ducked beneath the blow, throwing a vicious, concentrated punch straight into his armpit.
It was a major nerve cluster. Hit it right, and it didn't require much strength to inflict agonizing pain. And Loyce put everything she had into that punch.
The man roared in agony, stumbling back two steps. Wielding the axe one-handed, he swung wildly to keep her back while bellowing, "Shoot her! Kill this bitch!"
Loyce didn't give him an inch. Planting her hands on the kitchen island, she vaulted into the air and drove her knee straight under his chin. The sickening crunch of his jaw shattering echoed through the room as he collapsed to the floor.
Bang!
Another shot rang out, this time from a hunting rifle.
The bullet tore past Loyce's ear and smashed into the luxury wine cabinet behind her. Priceless bottles shattered, spraying crimson wine across the floor like blood.
Loyce hit the ground in a combat roll, scooping up a heavy silver steak knife as she moved. Passing the muscular man who was just trying to push himself up, she drove the silver blade deep into his calf with ruthless precision.
"Aghhh!" The man screamed, crashing back down.
Loyce snatched the axe from his weakened grip and, without a second of hesitation, chopped down on his hand.
"AHHHHH!!!"
His bloodcurdling scream echoed through the entire villa.

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