Chapter 17 - Fire in the FoyerThe first wave of masked mercenaries swarmed through the shattered front entrance, their night-vision goggles casting an eerie, luminescent green glow across the marble floor.
“Clear the ground floor! Secure the perimeter!” a voice barked through tactical comms.
From the shadows of the upper landing, Daniel raised his rifle and squeezed the trigger. The suppressed weapon barked twice in rapid succession. The lead mercenary dropped instantly, crashing heavily onto the stairs.
Panic rippled through the invading force as they scrambled for cover behind marble pillars and heavy furniture.
“Sniper on the second-floor landing! Suppressing fire!”
A hail of high-velocity rounds chewed into the wood and stone railing surrounding Daniel, sending white stone dust and splinters flying into the air. Daniel ducked low behind a thick stone pillar, returning fire with ruthless efficiency.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the landing, Natalie moved like a phantom in the dark.
Utilizing the shadows and her extensive military intelligence training, she dropped silently over the railing, landing softly behind a group of three mercenaries who were attempting to breach the eastern hallway leading to the back stairs.
Before the first mercenary could turn around, Natalie lashed out with a brutal, lightning-fast roundhouse kick to his temple, sending him crashing into the wall. As the second turned to raise his weapon, she disarmed him with a fluid martial arts sweep, using his own momentum to throw him violently against the marble floor before neutralizing him with a swift strike.
The third mercenary froze, his weapon trembling as he stared down the barrel of her seized firearm.
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“Drop it,” Natalie whispered, her voice colder than the winter storm raging outside.
He didn’t hesitate. He dropped his rifle and threw his hands up in surrender.
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