Chapter 26 - The Siege of the Sanctuary
Before Lorenzo could process Marco’s words, a series of dull, concussive thuds echoed from the upper levels of the estate, followed by the shattering of heavy glass and the rapid, staccato chatter of automatic gunfire.
The mansion was under a full-scale armed assault.
"Move!" Lorenzo yelled, grabbing Clara’s hand and sprinting back up the concrete stairs with blinding speed.
They burst out of the wine cellar and raced through the winding corridors toward the main residential atrium. The estate, usually a fortress of silent shadows, was now a war zone. Smoke drifted down the vaulted hallways, smelling of cordite and burning wool. Security guards in black tactical gear exchanged heavy gunfire with masked intruders clad in reinforced ceramic body armor.
"Clara, stay low!" Lorenzo ordered, firing two rapid shots down the cross-corridor, dropping an advancing mercenary before the man could raise his rifle.
They fought their way toward the grand staircase, stepping over fallen debris and shattered marble. But as they reached the landing leading to the private upper wing where the nursery was located, they found their path blocked.
Marco was pinned behind a marble pillar, his tactical vest smoking from a close-range round, reloading his rifle with frantic efficiency.
"Marco! Status!" Lorenzo shouted over the roar of a flashbang detonating down the hall.
"They came in through the skylights using rappelling gear!" Marco yelled back, firing blindly around the corner. "Dante’s team is holding the ground floor, but the strike team bypassed them entirely. They’re hitting the nursery sector with heavy breaching charges!"
Clara’s face went entirely white. "Lily..."
Without a word, Clara broke cover, sprinting past Marco down the smoke-filled hallway toward the nursery wing.
"Clara, no!" Lorenzo roared, diving after her.
As they rounded the corner, the massive oak doors of the nursery blew outward in a deafening blast of splintered wood and white-hot flame. The shockwave knocked Lorenzo off his feet, sending him crashing hard against the ornate wall paneling.
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Through the dense, choking smoke, two heavily armed mercenaries stepped out of the ruined nursery. In the arms of the lead mercenary, wrapped in a pink fleece blanket, was Lily. She was crying hysterically, her small hands reaching out toward the smoke.
"Mama! Daddy!"
