Chapter 9 - The Burning Estate
Sirens wailed in the distance, cutting through the rainy night air.
The foyer was a war zone of shattered glass, smoking shell casings, and overturned furniture.
Adrien checked the perimeter, kicking away a rifle from an unconscious intruder.
He walked back to Maya, who was still gripping the silver pistol with white knuckles.
She looked down at her emerald-green dress, now stained with soot and dust.
“So much for my promotion,” Maya muttered, exhaling a shaky breath.
Adrien reached out gently, taking the pistol from her trembling hand and sliding it back into his pocket.
He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
“You saved my life tonight,” Adrien said, his voice entirely devoid of its usual coldness.
“You saved mine first,” Maya replied softly.
“This mansion is no longer safe,” Adrien stated, looking around the ruined hallway.
“Rossetti knows where we are. We have to move.”
“Move? Where?”
“My safehouse,” Adrien said, grabbing her hand.
“And we are leaving right now.”
They hurried out through the subterranean garage, bypassing the smoking front gates.
Adrien shoved Maya into the passenger seat of a bulletproof matte-black Mercedes SUV.
He slammed the door, jumped into the driver’s seat, and slammed his foot on the gas.
The SUV tore through the iron gates, launching into the stormy night.
Behind them, the Moretti mansion faded into the distance.
A dark silhouette against the lightning-lit sky.
Maya leaned her head back against the leather headrest, closing her eyes.
“I just wanted to fix a leaky pipe,” Maya whispered into the dark cabin.
Adrien glanced sideways at her, a faint, rare smile touching the corners of his lips.
“Life has a funny way of changing your job description, Maya Collins.”
May you like
“Yeah,” Maya sighed, looking over at the most feared mob boss in the city.
“Next time, I’m sticking to dusting.”
