Chapter 8 - The Price of SurvivalThe mercenaries moved with chilling, military-grade efficiency. The lead operative swept his weapon toward the bed, his flashlight cutting through the smoke.
“Clear the primary zone!” he barked through a comms headset.
I tightened my grip around Maisie and Rosie, pressing their faces against my chest to shield them from the flying debris, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. I had my Beretta out, but a pistol against assault rifles at this distance was suicide.
Suddenly, a heavy ceramic lamp sailed through the air from the opposite side of the room, smashing directly into the lead mercenary’s helmet.
The man staggered back in surprise.
It was all the opening Elena needed. From behind the wardrobe, she launched herself forward, sliding across the polished hardwood floor and sweeping the second operative's legs out from under him. The man hit the ground hard, his rifle clattering away. Before he could recover, Elena slammed the heavy brass base of a broken floor lamp down across his chest, knocking the wind and consciousness out of him in a single, brutal blow.
The lead mercenary whipped his rifle around, aiming straight at Elena.
I didn't hesitate. I raised the Beretta and squeezed the trigger twice.
Bang! Bang!
The rounds caught the mercenary in his ceramic chest plate, knocking him off balance and sending him stumbling backward against the shattered balcony doors.
“Grab the kids! Now!” Elena yelled, lunging forward to finish subduing the second guard.
I didn't look back. I clutched Maisie and Rosie in my arms and sprinted toward the hidden walk-in closet, shoving open the secret hydraulic panel disguised as a shoe rack. The dark, reinforced concrete stairwell yawned open before us, leading deep underground into the estate’s secure panic bunker.
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Elena was right behind me, dragging Vance’s unconscious body down the steps by his collar just as a massive explosion collapsed the upper floor of the master bedroom behind us.
The heavy steel vault door of the bunker slammed shut with a thunderous clang, sealing us off from the fire, the smoke, and the war zone above.
