Chapter 17 - SHADOWS IN THE CORRIDORNavigating the subterranean tunnels of the Orelio estate felt like walking through the belly of a mechanical beast. Emergency red lighting cast long, distorted shadows against the damp concrete walls as Dante led Elina through a labyrinth of maintenance shafts toward the old armory.
"If we can reach the perimeter armory," Dante whispered over his shoulder, keeping his body low, "there’s a satellite comms unit and a vehicle bay that Elena’s inner circle hasn't fully integrated yet."
"And Leo?" Elina asked, her breath coming in short gasps as she hurried to keep pace with him. "We can't just leave without him."
"We aren't leaving without him," Dante promised, his voice dropping into a dangerous, icy register. "Once I secure communications, I'm calling in the loyalists. The men who didn't take Elena’s bribe."
Suddenly, the red emergency lights flickered, shifted, and turned a piercing, aggressive white.
ALARM. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED IN SECTOR 9.
A mechanical automated voice blared through the overhead speakers.
"Damn it," Dante cursed under his breath, grabbing Elina’s arm and shoving her behind a heavy steel pillar just as heavy boots rounded the corner ahead.
"Check every corner! The boss wants them found before they reach the surface!" a guard shouted.
Dante didn't hesitate. He slipped a heavy iron wrench off a maintenance rack on the wall. As the first guard walked past their pillar, Dante struck with lethal, silent precision—bringing the heavy metal down hard, dropping the guard instantly before he could fire a shot.
Elina gasped, pressing her hands over her mouth to stifle a cry, but Dante caught her eyes, steadying her with a fierce look.
"Take his radio," Dante ordered softly.
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Elina swallowed hard, reaching down to unclip the encrypted tactical radio from the unconscious guard's belt. She handed it to Dante, her fingers brushing against his calloused palm.
"We're close," Dante said, pulling her forward into the shadows. "Just past the next bulkhead."
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