Chapter 15 - THE MIDNIGHT AMBUSHThree nights later, peace was shattered by the sharp, undeniable crack of a high-powered sniper rifle.
Clack-thud.
The reinforced glass of the sunroom window exploded inward, showering the floor with glittering shards of crystal. Clara instinctively dropped to the floor, rolling behind the heavy marble planter, while Bruno lunged forward, barking furiously at the shattered opening.
Matteo was already moving, drawing his sidearm as he slammed the smart-glass security shutters closed, plunging the room into reinforced darkness.
"Perimeter breach at the east hedge," Leo’s voice crackled through the encrypted comms earpiece. "Three shooters with suppressors. They’re targeting the primary generator."
"They want to blind the estate before they push the front doors," Matteo said, his voice entirely calm amidst the chaos. He looked down at Clara, checking her arms and shoulders for any sign of glass cuts. "Are you hit?"
"I'm fine," Clara said, her adrenaline surging, her mind sharper than ever. She looked at the security monitors flashing red on the wall terminal. "They aren't trying to assassinate us, Matteo. Look at the camera feeds. They’re hitting the server room."
Matteo’s eyes flashed with sudden realization. "Julian didn't just give away offshore accounts. He downloaded the master encryption keys to the family’s international holdings before Leo caught him. Vance isn't trying to negotiate anymore—he’s trying to steal the kingdom."
May you like
"Then we don't wait for them to reach us," Clara said, standing up and grabbing a heavy tactical shotgun from the armory cabinet behind the desk.
Matteo stared at her for a second, a dark, dangerous grin breaking across his face. "Remind me never to play poker with you, Mrs. Moretti."
