Chapter 7 - The Final Stand
The subterranean garage was a cavernous concrete bunker echoing with the idle hum of two heavy-duty armored SUVs. When the hidden elevator doors hissed open, Maddox was waiting with a assault rifle raised, ready to fire. He lowered it instantly when he saw Nora stepping out, clutching Leo tightly against her chest.
“Ms. Hayes! Where is the Boss?” Maddox demanded, his eyes scanning the empty shaft behind her.
“He stayed behind to draw them off,” Nora said, her voice shaking with adrenaline, though her eyes burned with fierce determination. She locked the heavy steel inner door of the elevator shaft with the key Victor had given her.
Madox cursed under his breath. “If the Vanguard breaches the upper floors, they’ll flood this garage within minutes. We have to move—get in the SUV!”
“No,” Nora said firmly, stopping in her tracks.
Madox stared at her in disbelief. “Ma’am, my orders are to get you and the boy to the mountain safehouse immediately—”
“My orders,” Nora interrupted, her voice cutting through the hum of the engines with absolute authority, “are to protect Leo. And I am not leaving Victor to die alone.”
She gently set Leo into the back seat of the reinforced SUV, strapping him in quickly. The boy grabbed her sleeve with trembling fingers.
“Nora... please don't let my dad get hurt,” Leo whispered, tears streaming down his face.
Nora cupped his face, smiling softly through her own terror. “Your dad is the bravest man I’ve ever met, Leo. We are going to make sure he wins this. Maddox, lock the vehicle doors from the inside. Keep him safe.”
Before Maddox could argue, Nora turned away, sprinting toward the heavy metal tool lockers against the far wall of the garage. She pulled out a heavy industrial crowbar and a tactical comms headset that Victor had left on the workbench.
Above them, through the concrete ceiling, the muffled sound of heavy explosions shook the bunker. Plaster and dust rained down from the overhead vents.
Nora slapped the comms headset over her ear, tapping the receiver.
“Victor! Victor, do you copy?!” she shouted into the mic.
For a terrifying five seconds, there was only static. Then, through the hiss of interference, Victor’s heavy, ragged breathing came through the speaker.
“Nora... what the hell are you doing? I told you to take Leo and get out.”
“You forgot something important, Mr. Romano,” Nora panted, grabbing a heavy-duty shotgun from the wall rack and jacking a shell into the chamber with shaking hands. “You said in this house, I’m family. And family doesn't run.”
A low, dark chuckle echoed through the comms—a sound mixed with absolute awe and terrifying affection.
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“You stubborn, impossible woman,” Victor muttered, the sound of gunfire roaring deafeningly in the background. “The main server room on the second floor... the master circuit breaker is in the wall panel. If you short out the east wing grid, it will plunge them into darkness and trap them in the corridors. Do it now!”
“On my way!” Nora yelled, turning away from the SUV and sprinting toward the internal service stairs that led back up into the burning mansion.
