Chapter 31 - The Breach of the Inner Keep
The smoke from the concussion grenade lingered in the soaring grand foyer like a sulfurous fog, obscuring the shattered fragments of the double-paned armored glass. Dante Vatello didn't blink. His boots remained planted firmly on the marble landing as the first wave of black-clad operatives poured through the ruined doorway, their suppressed assault rifles sweeping the high ceilings.
"Hold your fire until they clear the outer corridor," Dante commanded, his voice slicing through the chaos with absolute authority.
Beside him, ten-year-old Leo adjusted his stance, bracing the custom-fitted tactical rifle against his shoulder. His breathing was steady, rhythmic—the exact physiological response of a trained sniper, though he had never stepped foot on a military firing range before this year. His dark, depthless eyes tracked the lead operator’s movement with predatory precision.
Nico and his enforcers held their positions along the second-floor balcony, their weapons locked onto the staircase. The invaders were not local syndicate thugs; their movements were clinical, coordinated, executed with the terrifying efficiency of private military contractors trained in black-site operations.
"Now," Dante whispered.
The estate’s foyer erupted. Twin streams of lead tore through the air from the upper balcony, dropping the front three operatives before they could raise their barrels. At the same time, Leo pulled his trigger. The heavy recoil kicked against his small frame, but the bullet found its target, striking the visor of an advancing mercenary and sending him crashing backward onto the blood-slicked marble.
"They're using the service tunnels!" Nico shouted over the din of gunfire, pointing toward the heavy bronze doors leading to the subterranean kitchens. "The biometric locks have been bypassed!"
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Dante’s eyes narrowed. The Genesis Project wasn't just attacking from the front gates; they had internal access codes. Codes that only someone with master clearance—someone who knew the architecture of the estate down to its foundation cables—could have provided.
"Fall back to the reinforced study," Dante ordered, sweeping Leo behind his protective bulk as a hail of return fire chewed into the ornate stone balustrade. "We fight from the stronghold."
