Chapter 16 - Sanctuary Under Siege
Despite Thorne's capture at the boatyard, the threat was far from over.
As Federal Agent Miller took custody of Thorne, his secondary syndicate commander—a disgraced former military contractor named Vance—launched a desperate strike to destroy the evidence stored at the Indiana vineyard.
By 3:00 a.m., rain was pouring over the Indiana estate. Clara and Alessio arrived back at the clinic just as black tactical vehicles smashed through the iron perimeter gates.
"They're burning the estate!" Marco shouted from the guard tower as floodlights cut through the dark.
"Not our home," Alessio said, his jaw locked in stone.
Alessio coordinated the vineyard workers—men who had traded their rifles for pruning shears years ago, but had never forgotten how to fight for their land. Armed with hunting rifles and shotguns, the vineyard crew took defensive positions along the stone walls of the main house.
Clara converted the clinic basement into an emergency triage center, securing Leo and Bruno behind reinforced vault doors.
Gunfire rattled through the grapevines as Vance’s mercenaries tried to breach the courtyard. Mortar flares illuminated the night sky in bright crimson.
"Clara! They're flanking the east wing!" Alessio called out over the tactical radio.
Clara grabbed a medical flare gun from the clinic supply wall, stepped onto the second-floor balcony, and fired a high-intensity magnesium flare directly into the dry hay barn where three mercenaries were taking cover.
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The barn erupted into a brilliant wall of white fire, illuminating the attackers in full view of the vineyard guards.
Within fifteen minutes, the combined defensive fire from Alessio and his men forced the remaining mercenaries to drop their weapons and surrender on the muddy lawn.
