Chapter 6 - Siege at the Safehouse
Midnight at the Gold Coast safehouse was usually peaceful,
but tonight the air felt electric with impending doom.
I sat in the command center,
staring at the multi-screen monitor array tracking the perimeter cameras.
Dr.
Marcus Vance was pacing back and forth near the kitchenette.
“She’s asleep,
” Marcus reported,
taking a sip of black coffee.
“But she’s restless,
Dante.
” “Every time a car passes on the street below,
she wakes up in a panic.
” “Can you blame her?
” I replied quietly,
typing a command into the master terminal.
“Enzo has nothing left to lose.
” “A desperate dog bites harder.
” Suddenly,
the central monitor flashed red.
A piercing alarm shrieked through the penthouse suite.
*‘Perimeter breach at service elevator B,
’* the automated security voice announced.
*‘Motion sensors triggered on level twelve.
’*.
I jumped to my feet,
drawing my firearm in a single fluid motion.
“Marcus,
get Nora into the reinforced panic room behind the master closet!
” “What about you?
” Marcus stammered.
“I’m going to greet our uninvited guests.
” I sprinted down the dimly lit hallway toward the service foyer just as the reinforced steel door shuddered under a massive concussive blast.
They were using industrial thermite charges.
Sparks rained down like golden waterfalls across the threshold as the heavy metal hinges melted under intense heat.
With a deafening crash,
the door blew inward,
collapsing in a heap of twisted scrap metal.
Three masked mercenaries clad in matte-black tactical gear swarmed through the smoke,
assault rifles raised.
I didn't hesitate.
I dropped to one knee,
firing twice through the billowing gray haze.
The lead mercenary spun around,
collapsing heavily against the marble wall.
The second operative returned fire,
shattering a priceless antique vase beside my head.
Slipping behind a marble pillar,
I squeezed off another precise round,
catching him in the shoulder plate and sending him crashing backward.
The third mercenary froze,
lowering his weapon as my gun barrel locked squarely between his eyes.
“Drop it,
” I commanded,
my voice dripping with lethal authority.
The man slowly opened his hand,
letting his assault rifle clatter to the floor.
“Who sent you?
” I demanded,
stepping forward and pressing the gun against his forehead.
“Enzo… Enzo’s second-in-command,
” the mercenary choked out,
trembling violently.
“Vito Rossi.
” “He told us to wipe out everyone inside the penthouse.
” “Leave no survivors.
” I smiled coldly,
raising the butt of my firearm and bringing it down hard across his temple.
He dropped like a stone,
unconscious before he hit the ground.
Turning around,
I saw Marcus standing at the end of the hallway,
nodding shakily.
“Nora is safe in the panic room,
” Marcus called out.
“Good,
” I said,
walking over to the wreckage of the door.
May you like
“Because Vito Rossi is about to learn that coming after my house is a fatal error.
”
