Chapter 17 - Shadows in the Courtyard
The sprawling central courtyard of the estate, usually a peaceful oasis of manicured boxwoods and marble fountains, had become a killing zone. Through the rain-streaked glass, Vera watched ghostly figures in black tactical gear materialize out of the darkness, moving with lethal synchronization toward the main doors of the mansion.
"Marco!" Enzo barked into his encrypted lapel mic. "They're breaching the east portico. Fall back to the grand staircase and bottleneck them."
"Copy that, Boss. We've got them funneled," Marco’s voice crackled back over the static.
Enzo turned back to Vera, shoving a heavy steel key card into her hand. "Take the private elevator behind the wardrobe. It leads down to the subterranean garage. There's an armored vehicle waiting with a driver. Head south to the docks—"
"I'm not leaving you here to fight an army alone!" Vera interrupted, her voice sharp and defiant.
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Enzo grabbed her by the shoulders, his grip firm, warm, and entirely unyielding. "Listen to me, Vera. This is my world. These men came here for me, using you as bait. If you stay in this room, you become a hostage, and I lose the only advantage I have: absolute focus."
Before she could argue further, a deafening explosion echoed from the lower levels of the mansion. The entire floor shuddered beneath their feet as a secondary blast blew out the front doors of the estate, followed immediately by the rapid, rhythmic crack-crack-crack of suppressed gunfire echoing up the marble stairwells.
