Chapter 4 - The Siege of Lake Michigan
"Down!" Dominic roared.
In a fraction of a second, Dominic threw himself across the desk, tackling Claire to the floor and covering her body with his own as a hail of high-caliber bullets shredded the books, artwork, and furniture above them.
The sound was deafening. Glass shattered, wood splintered, and the sharp smell of gunpowder filled the air.
"Marko!" Dominic shouted into his collar mic, holding Claire tightly against his chest, shielding her head from falling debris. "Report!"
"Infiltration at the east gate!" Marko’s voice crackled through the comms amidst the sound of intense firefights outside. "They bypassed the perimeter sensors using a thermal jammer! It’s Volkov's mercenary team! At least twenty heavily armed men!"
"Lock down the third floor!" Dominic ordered, his voice cold and commanding despite the chaos. "Move Sophia and the baby into the panic vault immediately! Do not let anyone near that medical suite!"
Claire’s heart was hammering like a trapped bird in her chest. She could feel the violent thrum of Dominic’s pulse against her cheek, the solid hardness of his bulletproof vest beneath his shirt.
"The baby..." Claire gasped out, panic rising in her throat. "I need to get to Leonardo! He needs oxygen if the power goes out!"
"My men will get them into the vault," Dominic said, looking down at her. His face was inches from hers, his eyes burning with a fierce, protective fire. "Right now, I am getting you to safety."
The gunfire outside intensified. Heavy explosive thuds shook the very foundation of the mansion. Volkov was throwing everything he had into this assault.
Dominic pulled a sleek, silver semi-automatic pistol from a holster under his arm, flicking off the safety with a practiced motion. He helped Claire to her feet, keeping her behind him as he backed toward the private reinforced door at the back of the study.
"Stay behind me, keep low, and don't let go of my hand," Dominic instructed softly.
"I won't," Claire nodded, her fear giving way to a sudden surge of adrenaline.
They moved quickly through the dark, red-lit corridors. The estate had transformed into a warzone. The sound of shouting, heavy boots, and automatic gunfire echoed from the lower levels.
Suddenly, a heavy oak door at the end of the hallway burst open. Two masked men in tactical gear stepped through, raising assault rifles.
"Target spotted!" one of them yelled in a harsh Russian accent.
Before the gunman could raise his barrel, Dominic raised his pistol and fired three precise shots. The suppressed thuds were quiet, but devastatingly effective. Both men crumpled to the floor instantly.
Claire squeezed her eyes shut for a second, sickened by the violence, but she kept moving. She knew this was a fight for survival.
They reached the hidden elevator that led directly to the central vault. Dominic pressed his palm against a biometric scanner on the wall. The heavy steel door slid open with a soft hiss.
"Get inside," Dominic commanded, pushing Claire gently into the fortified room.
Inside, Sophia was sitting on a medical cot, holding baby Leonardo tightly against her chest, surrounded by three heavily armed Moretti guards.
Claire ran straight to them. "Are you both okay?"
"We're unhurt," Sophia said, her voice shaking, though she managed a weak smile. "Claire, thank God you're safe."
Claire turned back to the door, expecting Dominic to step inside and seal the vault.
Instead, Dominic stayed outside in the hallway, holding his gun ready.
"Dominic! What are you doing?" Claire cried out, rushing back toward the threshold. "Get in here!"
"The vault can only be sealed from the inside, Claire," Dominic said, looking at her with a look of terrifying finality. "If I come inside, my men outside will have no leader. Volkov’s men will blow the blast doors with C4. I have to go down to the main hall and end this."
"No! You'll get killed!" Claire yelled, tears spilling over her eyelashes. She reached out and grabbed his lapel, refusing to let him go. "You don't have to fight them alone!"
Dominic looked down at her hands gripping his jacket, then looked up into her tear-streaked eyes. A soft, breathtaking tenderness crossed his features.
He reached up, cupping her face with his large hand, his thumb catching her tears.
"Five days ago, I was just a ghost in the dark, Claire," Dominic said gently. "Then you walked into that hospital room and brought light back into my life. I won't let them take that light away."
Before she could stop him, Dominic leaned down and pressed a deep, fiery, desperate kiss to her lips.
It was a kiss born of war, passion, and unspoken promise. Claire’s breath hitched, her fingers tangling in his hair as she kissed him back with everything she had, pouring all her fear and hope into him.
Dominic pulled back slowly, resting his forehead against hers for a fleeting second.
"Seal the door, Marko," Dominic ordered into his comms.
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"Dominic, wait!" Claire screamed.
The heavy titanium blast door slid shut between them, severing their connection and locking Claire inside the silent, impenetrable fortress of the vault.
