Chapter 6 - DANGER AT THE GATES
The following night, an eerie calm settled over the Long Island coastline.
Heavy fog rolled in from the Atlantic, blanketing the estate's sprawling gardens in thick white mist. Security patrols were doubled along the perimeter fence, but the atmosphere inside remained tense.
Hannah sat in the nursery rocking chair, nursing Lucas under the dim glow of a small table lamp. The baby was thriving, his cheeks full and rosy, his eyes bright and alert whenever he looked up at her.
Suddenly, the lights inside the nursery flickered twice... and went out completely.
The gentle hum of the estate's air filtration system died. The entire mansion was plunged into total, pitch-black darkness.
Hannah's heart leaped into her throat.
Downstairs, a muffled explosion echoed through the estate's west wing, followed immediately by the sharp, terrifying crack of automatic gunfire.
RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!
"SECURITY BREACH! SECTOR FOUR!" Viktor's voice screamed through the internal comms, echoing down the hallway outside the nursery. "THE PERIMETER IS COMPROMISED! THEY CUT THE POWER LINES!"
Hannah pulled Lucas tightly against her chest, wrapping him in a thick wool blanket. Her instinct as a mother kicked in—pure, primal survival.
The nursery door burst open.
Hannah gasped, pulling a heavy metal lamp off the side table, raising it like a weapon in the dark.
"Hannah! It's me!"
Adrian stepped into the room, illuminated by the tactical light mounted on his sidearm. He was wearing a dark kevlar vest over his clothes, his eyes fierce and focused.
"Moretti sent a hit squad," Adrian said rapidly, grabbing a heavy tactical bag from a hidden wall safe in the nursery. "They hit the main power junction and breached the east gate. Frank Moretti wants payback."
"Where do we go?" Hannah asked, her voice surprisingly steady despite the gunfire echoing from the floor below.
"The panic room in the basement," Adrian instructed, pulling a silenced handgun from his holster and handing it to her, butt-first. "Do you know how to use this?"
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Hannah looked at the heavy black weapon, then looked at Adrian. "My father was a military veteran. Point and pull."
A brief flicker of fierce respect flashed through Adrian's dark eyes. "Good. Stay behind me. If anyone other than me or Viktor tries to touch you or Lucas, shoot them."
