Chapter 6 - Betrayal at the Cliffside
Red emergency lights flooded the grand hallways of the mansion as sirens wailed.
"Don Lorenzo!" Marco burst into the library, an assault rifle slung over his shoulder, blood running down his temple. "It’s a coordinated attack! The Moretti remnants... they hired mercenary teams! They breached the south gate with explosives!"
Lorenzo instantly pushed Hunter behind him, drawing two hidden handguns from under his tailored jacket. His entire aura shifted from tender lover to apex predator.
"Get Hunter and Leo to the subterranean safe room immediately!" Lorenzo commanded.
"No, Lorenzo! Come with us!" Hunter cried out, her eyes wide with terror as distant gunfire began to echo through the lower levels.
"I need to hold them here until the secondary security force arrives," Lorenzo said, gripping her face in his hands and kissing her forehead fiercely. "Take Leo. Lock the steel doors from the inside. Do not open them for anyone except me or Marco. Trust me, Hunter. I will come back to you."
Hunter nodded, tears streaming down her face. She ran upstairs to the nursery, snatching the sleeping baby from his crib, wrapping him tightly in a blanket, and following Marco down the hidden service stairs toward the fortified basement vault.
However, the attackers had inside help.
A rogue guard, bought off by the Moretti syndicate months prior, intercepted them in the subterranean corridor. Gunfire erupted. Marco killed the traitor, but took two severe hits to his chest, collapsing against the stone wall.
"Miss Higgins... keep going!" Marco gasped, coughing blood as he held off two more approaching mercenaries down the hall. "The vault... twenty yards ahead!"
Hunter clutched Leo to her chest, running blindly down the dimly lit concrete hallway. She reached the heavy titanium door of the safe room, frantically punching in the security code Lorenzo had taught her.
May you like
The heavy lock clicked, and the heavy door slowly swung open. But before she could step inside, a heavy boot kicked the door back, and a rough hand grabbed her by her hair, pulling her backward.
Hunter screamed, shielding Leo with her body as she crashed onto the concrete floor.
