Chapter 5 - The Ambush
Viktor Vance stepped through the smoking wreckage of the doorway, a submachine gun raised in his hands. He scanned the room, his eyes locking onto Claire and the terrified child cowering in the corner.
"A cleaner and a brat," Viktor sneered, raising his weapon. "A shame. But orders are orders. Nobody connected to the Moretti bloodbath survives."
Claire closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around Lily to shield her from the inevitable bullets. She whispered a silent prayer, her mind racing with regret that she had ever taken a job at the cursed estate.
Bang.
A muffled sound echoed, but the bullet didn't hit Claire.
Viktor froze, his eyes widening in shock. A single hole appeared dead-center in his forehead. He swayed forward, lifeless, and crashed heavily onto the concrete floor.
Standing in the blown-out doorway was Dante Moretti. His clothes were stained with ash and blood, a smoking SIG Sauer pistol gripped firmly in his right hand. His chest heaved with heavy breaths as he swept the hallway outside with his gaze before stepping into the room.
"Are you hurt?" Dante asked, his voice uncharacteristically urgent as he looked at Claire and Lily.
Claire shook her head rapidly, too stunned to speak. "You... you came back for us?"
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"I don't leave witnesses behind," Dante said coldly, though his eyes lingered on Lily for a fraction of a second longer than necessary. "And you two are coming with me. The mansion is compromised. Salvatore has made his move."
Dante grabbed Claire’s arm, pulling her and Lily out of the cell and rushing them through the hidden maintenance tunnels beneath the estate. The sounds of gunfire faded behind them as they plunged deeper into the dark, damp earth toward the coastal escape route.
