Chapter 6 - THE BATTLE FOR THE ESTATE
"DOMINIC! COVER BELLA!" Silana roared over the deafening roar of gunfire.
Dominic vaulted over the wooden banister of the second-floor balcony, dropping six feet down onto the landing beside Bella. He raised two pistols, firing continuously, laying down a wall of lead that pushed the remaining attackers back toward the service corridor.
"Move! To the third floor now!" Dominic shouted, shoving Bella toward the stairs.
Bella didn't hesitate. She ran up the grand staircase as fast as her legs could carry her, shielding Leo’s head with her arms to protect him from flying wood splinters and shattered glass.
David Miller, seeing his half-million-dollar prize escaping, panicked. He grabbed a dropped pistol from the floor and bolted up the side staircase, taking a shortcut toward the third-floor hallway.
"BELLA!" David yelled, stumbling out into the third-floor corridor just as Bella reached the top of the stairs.
Bella turned, finding herself trapped. The hallway to the guest suite was twenty feet away, but David was blocking her path, pointing a pistol at her with shaking hands.
"Give me the boy, Bella!" David spat, sweat pouring down his forehead, his eyes wild with greed and panic. "Give him to me, or I swear to God I'll shoot!"
Leo began to cry loudly, terrified by the deafening gunshots echoing from downstairs.
"You're a coward, David," Bella said, her voice dropping into a register of absolute, icy hatred. "You were never a father. You were just a mistake."
"I'm taking him!" David screamed, taking a step forward.
A heavy hand reached out from the shadows of the doorway behind David.
An iron grip clamped around David's wrist, snapping it backward with a sickening CRACK!
"AHHHH!" David shrieked in agony, dropping the pistol onto the carpet.
Silana Moretti stepped out of the shadow of the doorway.
He grabbed David by the throat with his left hand, lifting the scrawny man off his feet and slamming him against the wall with terrifying strength.
"You brought violence into my home," Silana whispered into David's ear, his voice a low, raspy purr of pure executioner's rage. "You threatened the woman I love. And you tried to steal the child who brought light back into my life."
"P-please!" David choked out, his legs kicking uselessly against the wall, his face turning purple. "I'm his real father! Please, Mr. Moretti!"
"A father protects," Silana said coldly. "A father sacrifices. You are nothing."
Silana drew his heavy silver-plated sidearm from his shoulder holster, pressing the cold steel barrel directly against David's forehead.
"Silana! Stop!" Bella's voice called out from down the hallway.
Silana paused. He didn't lower his gun, but he turned his dark eyes to look at Bella.
Bella stepped closer, holding the crying baby against her shoulder. She looked at David—the man who had ruined her life, abandoned her child, and brought war to their sanctuary.
"Don't stain this floor with his blood," Bella said softly, her eyes clear and strong. "Leo has to live here. Don't make him walk over another body."
Silana looked at Bella, seeing the strength and grace in her eyes. The bloodlust in his heart slowly ebbed away, replaced by an overwhelming respect for her words.
Silana turned back to David.
With a brutal blow, he struck David across the face with the heavy handle of his pistol, knocking the man unconscious. David's limp body crumpled to the carpet.
"Dominic!" Silana called out as Dominic bounded up the stairs, his guns still smoking.
"The foyer is clear, boss. All six Castellano mercenaries are down," Dominic reported, taking in the scene.
"Take this trash to the basement," Silana ordered, pointing at David Miller. "Hand him over to the federal authorities anonymously tonight, along with the evidence of his embezzlement and his collusion with the Castellanos. Let him rot in a maximum-security prison for thirty years."
"Consider it done, boss," Dominic grunted, dragging David away by his collar.
Silana lowered his weapon, clicking the safety on. He turned toward Bella and walked over slowly.
He reached out, pulling both Bella and little Leo into his massive, warm embrace.
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Leo stopped crying, burying his face in Silana's shoulder. Bella rested her head against Silana's chest, feeling the steady, powerful throb of his heart.
"You're safe now," Silana whispered, kissing the top of Bella's head. "I promise you, no one will ever hurt you again."
