Chapter 7 - The Baker's Courage
"Rosa," Lena said, turning to her assistant. "Stay in this room. Lock the door behind me."
Rosa gasped, grabbing Lena’s sleeve. "Lena, are you crazy?! You can't go up there! There are men with guns!"
"They are going to trap Adrien in the foyer," Lena said, her eyes blazing with a fierce, absolute resolve. "I know this house's floor plan—Marcus showed me the service corridors earlier. The kitchen has an emergency fire suppression override switch."
Before Rosa could stop her, Lena grabbed a heavy brass fire extinguisher resting against the wall, slipped through the heavy steel door, and pulled it shut behind her, locking Rosa safely inside.
Lena moved like a shadow through the subterranean stone corridors, ascending the narrow spiral staircase that led directly into the estate’s commercial kitchen.
The kitchen was filled with thick, black smoke.
Two of Dominic’s mercenaries were dousing the wooden cabinetry with diesel fuel, preparing to light a flare.
Lena didn't hesitate. She stepped out from behind the stainless-steel prep table, raised the heavy fire extinguisher, and pulled the pin.
FOOOOOOOSH!
A blinding, high-pressure cloud of white chemical powder erupted from the nozzle, striking both mercenaries directly in their faces.
The men choked, blinded and disoriented, dropping their flares onto the wet floor.
Lena lunged forward, swinging the heavy cylinder of the fire extinguisher like a battering ram, striking the first mercenary across his jaw, knocking him flat on his back. The second man lunged at her, grabbing her shoulder, tearing her dress collar.
Lena grabbed a heavy copper sauté pan from the overhead rack and slammed it with all her strength against the side of his head.
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The metal rang like a church bell. The mercenary collapsed onto the tiled floor, unconscious.
Breathing heavily, her face covered in chemical soot, Lena ran over to the wall panel, smashed the glass covering the emergency override switch, and pulled the red lever down.
