Chapter 6 - Smoke and MirrorsSilhouettes in tactical gear swarmed the top of the stairwell, assault rifles raised.
"Well, well, well," a cold, smooth voice echoed through the smoke. A man stepped forward into the dim light of the basement, his face partially obscured by a night-vision visor. As he pushed it up, Julian’s fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.
"Marcus," Julian hissed.
Marcus Vance—Julian’s former chief of security and the man who had supposedly died in the warehouse explosion two years ago.
"Surprised, boss?" Marcus sneered, leveling his weapon directly at Julian's chest. "You thought a few physical therapy sessions and a cute little kid were going to bring back your empire? You're a cripple, Julian. And today, the Moretti dynasty finally dies."
Marcus shifted his gaze to Claire, who was shielding Julian with her own body. "Ah, and the electrician's widow. How touching. You brought your whole family to the funeral."
Claire didn't flinch. She reached behind her back, her fingers brushing against a heavy wrench resting on a tool shelf.
"You killed my husband," Claire said, her voice dead steady.
"He was collateral damage," Marcus laughed. "Just like you are."
Marcus raised his rifle to pull the trigger.
CLACK.
From the darkness behind Marcus, a tiny, high-pitched voice echoed across the basement.
"Mister, you're standing on my coloring book!"
Marcus froze, glancing down in sheer bewilderment.
There, standing in the shadows of the doorway with her stuffed rabbit clutched in one hand and a jar of glitter glue in the other, was Ellie. She had slipped away from the panic room via the upper maintenance vent.
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"Shoot the kid," Marcus barked to one of his mercenaries.
The mercenary raised his rifle—and instantly dropped it as a heavy steel wrench caught him square in the temple. Claire swung with the full fury of a mother protecting her child, sending the man crashing into the server racks.
